Last week we took a little rabbit trail, but this week we are in Genesis 43 and, ‘On the road again, going places where i’ve …been’.

Genesis 43 - ‘On the road again, going places where i’ve …been’.

Let’s read the chapter!

Can you put the chapter into your own words?

What do we learn about family dynamics in the first several
verses?

As we have mentioned almost every week, what more do we discover about Joseph’s brother’s character in this chapter?
verses; 3, 7-9, 18-20

And what do we discover about Joseph’s character?
verses; 16, 27, 29-31

What contrasts do you see between Joseph’s faith in God and the faith of his family?

Looking at verse 14, the use of the term, ‘God Almighty’ for God. In Hebrew this term is, ‘El Shaddai’.

El-Shaddai means God Almighty. ‘El’ points to the power of God Himself. ‘Shaddai’ seems to ...  signify one who nourishes, supplies, and satisfies. God desires to bless man and provide in abundance all of man’s needs. This name is indicative of a God who is powerful enough to do just that. Only an all powerful God can bless all mankind with all manner of blessings. (Parentcompany.com - names of God)

Who is God to you?

From verse 6 to verse 14, what do you think has happened to  Israel?

Jacob's sons went down the second time into Egypt to buy corn. If we should ever know what a famine of the Word means, let us not think it much to travel as far for spiritual food, as they did for bodily food. Joseph's steward had orders from his master to take them to his house. Even this frightened them. Those that are guilty make the worst of everything. But the steward encouraged them. It appears, from what he said, that by his good master he was brought to the knowledge of the true God, the God of the Hebrews. Religious servants should take all fit occasions to speak of God and his providence, with reverence and seriousness. -  Matthew Henry

SPECS on Bible study
S - sin to confess and stop

P - promise to have or keep

E - example to follow

C - command to do or obey

S - stumbling block or problem to avoid or go around

Hey everyone, Joseph's brothers are 'on the road again' in Genesis 43! So come on down to Harvest Hills Community Church in Clinton for the Bible discussion!

Genesis 43 - ‘On the road again, going places where i’ve …been’.

Let’s listen to the chapter!

What do we learn about Israel’s family dynamics in the first several
verses?

As we have mentioned almost every week, what more do we discover about Joseph’s brother’s character in this chapter?

And what do we discover about Joseph’s character?

Please comment on this statement: ‘Joseph did not have K-LOVE radio, he did not have Wednesday night Bible study, nor did he have Christian conferences. His wife did not have Beth Moore Bible studies. His father had a personal encounter with God in Genesis 32.

Yet Joseph seems to be the spiritually mature person in this story.’

What do you think? Can you grow if all your ‘helps’ are taken away?

Looking at verse 14, the use of the term, ‘God Almighty’ for God. In Hebrew this term is, ‘El Shaddai’.

El-Shaddai means God Almighty. ‘El’ points to the power of God Himself. ‘Shaddai’ seems to ... signify one who nourishes, supplies, and satisfies. God desires to bless man and provide in abundance all of man’s needs. This name is indicative of a God who is powerful enough to do just that. Only an all powerful God can bless all mankind with all manner of blessings. (Parentcompany.com - names of God)

Who is God to you?

Again in verse 14, what do you think has happened to  Israel?

Let’s compare verse 32 with Acts 6.1

To be a “Hellenist” was to adopt the language and culture of the Greeks, while to be a “Hebrew” was to adopt a more traditional Jewish language and lifestyle.

For the purpose of our study, we want to apply this ‘separation’ between groups to our churches today. Questions;
Do we have any separation like this in our churches today?

Who do you talk to at fellowship time?

Who do you sit with at potluck meals?

SPECS on Bible study
S - sin to confess and stop

P - promise to have or keep

E - example to follow

C - command to do or obey

S - stumbling block or problem to avoid or go around

On a cold Wednesday night, we are going to have a HOT Bible discussion on Genesis 42, at Harvest Hills Community Church in Clinton! Hope to see you there!

Genesis 42; Joseph’s brothers go to Egypt - 22 two years after selling him!

Let’s read the chapter!

Joseph spoke harshly to his brothers, called them spies, pretended to be a stranger to them, challenged their honesty, wept for them, gave them food, gave their money back, sent them back to their country,  unharmed; What do we learn about Joseph from the things he did?

What are we discovering about his brothers in this chapter?

Comparing verse 18b with 28b, what can we say about Joseph’s and his brother’s relationships with God?

If you were Joseph, how would you have reacted?

Let’s re-read verses 21-22, and Psalm 51:3-4;  ‘For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge’. With these verses in mind, let’s talk about guilt & personal responsibility.

Pastor Scott’s article for the paper that he sent out today talked about the things God allowed in his life to lead him to where he is today. In chapters 37-42, we see the things God allowed in Joseph’s life to bring him to this position of leadership in Egypt. How about you? What things has God allowed in your life to bring you to where you are today?

God “broke” Joseph’s brothers by making them go to Egypt for food, God “broke” Joseph by taking him out of comfortable circumstances and stretching him. God often has to “break” us before He can use us.

How has God “broken” you? How did it “strengthen” you?

Are you willing to let God do whatever He needs to in your life to make you usable to Him? If not, why? Be honest with the Lord, and ask Him to make you willing, trusting His loving and sovereign hand in your life.

D.L. Moody commentary: The Holy Spirit is already here. He has not been absent from this earth for 2,000 years; He has been in the church and He is with all believers. So the moment our hearts are emptied of selfishness and ambition and self-seeking and everything that is contrary to God’s law, the Holy Spirit will come and fill every corner of our hearts; but if we are full of pride and conceit, ambition and self-seeking, pleasure and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God. Many Christians are praying to God to fill them when they are full already with something else. Before we pray that God would fill us with the Holy Spirit, we ought to pray that He would empty us. There must be an emptying before there can be a filling.

SPECS on Bible study
S - sin to confess and stop

P - promise to have or keep

E - example to follow

C - command to do or obey

S - stumbling block or problem to avoid or go around

Wednesday night Bible discussion on the life of Joseph at Harvest Hills Community Church in Clinton. We are going to fill in some blank spaces on the notes tonight! All are welcome!

Joseph, a man who had faith in God!
Review, through Genesis 41

Let’s consider the following examples of faith in the life of Joseph:

It was Joseph's faith in God that helped him have _____________ over the envy and hatred of his own brothers to him. Genesis 37.4,
Genesis 37.11;

It was Joseph's faith in God that helped him remain _____________ to God despite being thrown into a pit by his brothers. Genesis 37,24.

It was Joseph's faith in God that helped him ___________________ the misfortune of being forced out of his house.  Genesis 37.28.

It was Joseph's faith that helped him with the traumatic change from being a dear son of his father’s to being a slave in a _____________ land, Genesis 37.36.

It was Joseph's faith in God that helped him _______________the temptations when Potiphar's wife wanted to seduce him.  Genesis 39.7-8.

It was Joseph's faith in God that helped him overcome the ________ accusations of being thrown into prison for a crime he did _________ commit. Genesis 39.20-21.

It was Joseph's faith in God that helped him interpret the __________ of the butler and baker when Joseph was in prison. Genesis 40.8.

It was Joseph's faith in God that helped him cope with being ________________ by the butler, after the butler regained his freedom. Genesis 40.23.
It was Joseph's faith in God that helped him________________ the dreams of Pharaoh. Genesis 41.16.

It was Joseph's faith in God that allowed him to not become ________________when him became prosperous. Genesis 41.41.

Chuck Smith commentary: Now isn't it interesting how clear is our hindsight? As we look back on the trials of our lives and those hard places that we came through, when we were crying out to God and saying, "Oh God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from the cry of my roaring? God, I prayed day and night and You don't hear. Lord, where are You?" And we thought that surely God had forsaken us and God wasn't concerned with us. And surely we were going to perish in the wilderness. But now as we look back, we see how God was just working out His perfect plan all the way along.

Paul, looking back in his life could see the purposes of God for each situation. Why he was born in Tarsus. Why he was educated at the feet of Gamaliel. Why he had a Greek background and a Hebrew background both. And he could see then how God was preparing him for the special ministry and special mission.

And Joseph now in the position of ruler over Egypt, he could see now the total plan of God and the picture now begins to come into focus and make sense. All of that was to get me to this place. If I'd never been thrown in the prison I would have never met the butler. I'd never have been able to interpret his dream. I'd never have been called to interpret the Pharaoh's dream. The prison experience is necessary. If I hadn't been sold by my brothers as a slave, I'd never come to Egypt, you see. And so you start looking back and all of a sudden, click click click, oh-ho-ho, I see God's hand. God's been working. His hand is on my life.