A Great Cloud of Witnesses - Joseph: Part 6 of 13

Preview: Faith heroes. This is the sixth lesson in a thirteen-part series of lessons on this subject.


Scripture Reading: Genesis 30:1-2, Genesis 30:22-25.

Memory Verse: Genesis 37:3.

1. Do we find in the foregoing Scriptures that Joseph was a special blessing to both parents and was probably the result of Rachel’s prayers? Discuss.
2. How did Joseph’s brothers respond to him? Genesis 37:4-5.
3. How did God inform him of his future mission? Genesis 37:6-7, Genesis 37:9.
4. How did his father and brothers react to his dream? Genesis 37:8, Genesis 37:10-11.
Note: Joseph’s brothers resented him already because their father favored him. Now they truly hated him because they thought he felt superior to them. The ungodly people today take this same stand against the godly.
5. How did his brothers seek revenge? Genesis 37:13-14, Genesis 37:18-20.
6. How did God preserve his life? Genesis 37:21-27.
7. How did Joseph get to Egypt? Genesis 37:28, Genesis 37:36.
8. How was Jacob affected by this deception? Genesis 37:29-35.
Note: Many years earlier Jacob had deceived his father, now he was reaping (with interest) what he had sown. Galatians 6:7.
9. What connection was there between God’s promise to Abraham and Joseph being sold into Egypt? Genesis 15:1-7, Genesis 15:13-16.
Note: Before Abraham even had a child, God showed him the land of Canaan (Israel today) and promised he would give it to his descendants forever, but before they would inhabit it, they would be in bondage in another nation for four hundred years. Joseph was Abraham’s great grandson. The time had come to make preparations through him to move his people into Egypt. Is it not astounding the methods which God uses to fulfill His promise in His timing? Just as He preserved and prepared Moses to lead them out, He was preparing Joseph to lead them in.
10. How did Stephen bear witness of God’s fulfillment of His promise? Acts 6:8, Acts 7:1-14, Acts 7:17.
Note: Although there may be many hard trials between God’s promise and the fulfillment, let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we will reap if we faint not. Galatians 6:9. Joseph’s faith and obedience made him a mighty witness, not only in his day, but it testifies to us today. Hebrews 11:21. I strongly urge you to prayerfully study the life of Joseph; how he honored God in all of his ways.

To Be Continued…

Other Lessons* in this series:

A Great Cloud of Witnesses: Part 1 of 13
A Great Cloud of Witnesses - Abel Enoch Noah: Part 2 of 13
A Great Cloud of Witnesses - Abraham: Part 3 of 13
A Great Cloud of Witnesses - Isaac: Part 4 of 13
A Great Cloud of Witnesses - Jacob: Part 5 of 13
A Great Cloud of Witnesses - Joseph: Part 6 of 13
A Great Cloud of Witnesses - Moses: Part 7 of 13
A Great Cloud of Witnesses - Joshua and Caleb: Part 8 of 13
A Great Cloud of Witnesses - Rahab: Part 9 of 13
A Great Cloud of Witnesses - Deborah and Barak: Part 10 of 13
A Great Cloud of Witnesses - Gideon: Part 11 of 13
A Great Cloud of Witnesses - Jephthah: Part 12 of 13
A Great Cloud of Witnesses - Our Place: Part 13 of 13

*Lessons in a series may not necessarily be in the same category.