Further Thought: Ellen G. White, “Joseph in Egypt,” pp. 213–223;

“Joseph and His Brothers,” pp. 224–232, in Patriarchs and Prophets.

“The three days of confinement were days of bitter sorrow with

Jacob’s sons. They reflected upon their past wrong course, especially

their cruelty to Joseph. They knew if they were convicted of being

spies, and they could not bring evidence to clear themselves, they

would all have to die, or become slaves. They doubted whether any

effort any one of them might make would cause their father to consent

to have Benjamin go from him, after the cruel death, as he thought,

Joseph had suffered. They sold Joseph as a slave, and they were fearful

that God designed to punish them by suffering them to become slaves.

Joseph considers that his father and the families of his brethren, may be

suffering for food, and he is convinced that his brethren have repented

of their cruel treatment of him, and that they would in no case treat

Benjamin as they had treated him.”—Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts,

book 3, pp. 155, 156.

“Joseph was satisfied. He had proved his brethren, and had seen in

them the fruits of true repentance for their sins.”—Ellen G. White,

Spiritual Gifts, book 3, p. 165.

Discussion Questions:

 In class, dwell on the question at the end of Thursday’s study.

Do you think that Joseph would have been so gracious to his

brothers had things not turned out so well for him? Of course, we

can’t know for sure, but what indications, if any, in the entire story

of Joseph reveal to us the kind of character that Joseph had, which

could help explain his graciousness?

 In what ways can we see in Joseph a kind of precursor to

Christ and what Christ went through?

 Joseph had tested his brothers. In what similar ways does God

test us?

 Even after all those years, the brothers realized their guilt in

what they had done to Joseph. What does this teach us about how

powerful guilt can be? And though we can be forgiven and accept

God’s forgiveness, how do we learn to forgive ourselves, no matter

how unworthy we are of that forgiveness?