Genesis 42:10-20 Having been accused of spying by Joseph in the passage we looked at last Sunday, his brothers rise to their own defense. Their defense consists of three assertions. Why do they expect these claims will sway the great Zaphenaph Peneah (Joseph)? Are the brothers truly honest men as they claim? How does their claim to integrity reflect our human natures? How does Joseph appear to his brothers? What plan does Joseph make to test his brothers? How and why does he alter his plan? What scenario is Joseph creating for his brothers, and what can we learn about our own testings from this? (62 min.)

Keywords Joseph, Benjamin, Dreams, Testing

Genesis 42:1-9 Resuming our study of the life of Joseph, we learn about the first encounter between Joseph and his ten estranged brothers. What is the contrast we see between the story of Joseph so far, and how we find the family of Jacob back in Canaan? What lesson has Jacob seemingly failed to learn? How is the journey of the brothers to Egypt a metaphor of Israel and the Messiah? How has Joseph changed since his brothers last saw him? How did he "disguise" himself? What was Joseph's motive in charging his brothers with spying? What is the significance of Joseph remembering his dreams? What does this tell us about his motives? (50 min.)

Keywords Joseph, Dreams, Benjamin, Brothers

Genesis 41:29-44 Joseph continues on with his interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams, explaining the meaning of the cows and heads of grain. He then moves directly into advising Pharaoh of a course of action to take. Was Joseph being presumptuous in offering such advice apparently unsolicited? How was Joseph so ready with with wise advice to give to Pharaoh? What kinds of things do we learn about Joseph in this passage? Was Joseph being self-serving in describing the kind of person Pharaoh should look for? What was the response of Pharaoh's servants to Joseph's appointment? Of what other two figures in scripture is Joseph an illustration? (58 min.)

Keywords Joseph, Pharaoh, Dreams, Famine

Genesis 41:14-28 Joseph begins this day like any other day in prison, with no reason to believe it will be any different. Before the day is out he is standing in Pharaoh's court. What can we learn from the suddenness with which Joseph's circumstances changed? Joseph's reply to Pharaoh regarding his ability to interpret dreams reflects two important things about spiritual people exercising their spiritual gifts. What are they? How is Pharaoh's telling of his dreams different from how the narrator told them earlier in the chapter? What does this tell us about Pharaoh's frame of mind? What two factors does Joseph point out are the basis of his interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams? What is to be learned from the fact that God has spoken to Pharaoh? (61 min.)

Keywords Joseph, Dreams, Pharaoh

Genesis 41:1-14 After two years of having been forgotten by the chief cupbearer, at the age of 30 Joseph's situation suddenly takes a radical turn for the better. Over the past thirteen years, what things has Joseph been learning that will serve him well in his future? What is the most important quality has God been building into Joseph's life during these difficult years? What obvious symbolism do we note in Pharaoh's dream? Who were these "magicians" upon whom Pharaoh called for an interpretation? What was their training and skill? Why is their inability to interpret Pharaoh's dream significant? How was Joseph's ability to distinguish between the dreams of the two officials important? (59 min.)

Keywords Joseph, Pharaoh, Dreams, Interpretation

Genesis 40:16-23 We continue our study of Joseph and the dreams of the two Egyptian officials. What do we discover about the baker as he waits to tell his dream? What was wrong with the baker's understanding about messages and messengers? How was his dream similar to his companion’s? How was it different? What is remarkable about Joseph in his giving of this interpretation? How does this narrative serve as a metaphor of the righteous and the wicked in judgment? (60 min.)

Keywords Joseph, Dreams, Baker, Cupbearer

Genesis 40:1-15 Joseph, now in prison, encounters two high government officials who are thrown into prison with him. Why dose the narrative of this event stress that they were in prison "with" Joseph? How does Joseph conduct himself in this encounter with these two men? How do we treat the people with whom we have apparently chance encounters? How do the dreams of these two men compare and contrast with the other dreams in the Joseph narrative? Though Joseph is faithful to God in all his misfortune and suffering, yet we see he really does suffer and really does seek release. What is the place of lament in the experience of the child of God? What did Joseph want in his pleas to the cupbearer? What if God had granted him his request at this time? Why does God wait to answer our pleas in our laments? (66 min.)

Keywords Joseph, Dreams, Cupbearer, Lament

Genesis 37:5-11 Joseph is a dreamer. He has two dreams which appear to be of great significance. How did Joseph view those dreams? What are two reasons why Joseph was given those dreams? What did the Psalmist mean when he said God's word was "testing" Joseph? Why might this have been Joseph's greatest test? Why did Joseph tell his dreams to his brothers? What was it like growing up in a home where none of your ten older brothers could speak to you on "friendly terms?” How might this have influenced Joseph's actions? (50 min.)

Keywords Joseph, Dreams

Genesis 37:1-11 At the end of Esau's brief toledot we find a marked contrast between him and Jacob. Why do the unbelievers prosper while the person who lives by faith seems often to do so in vain? As we begin the toledot of Jacob and the story of Joseph, we find that God communicates differently than he did with the patriarchs. What is that difference? Why did Joseph benefit from the elevation he encountered at the hand of his father? How was Jacob’s favoritism harmful to the son he loved? What was the significance of the "varicolored" tunic he was given? (44 min.)

Keywords Jacob, Joseph, Dreams