Bereans of Trinity

In our passage for this study Jacob sets out for Egypt to see his son Joseph before he dies. But before he leaves Canaan, he stops at Beersheba and offers sacrifices to God. Why does God, who named him Israel, call him Jacob? What is significant about Beersheba to Jacob? How does Beersheba compare with Bethel? Why would Jacob be apprehensive about going to Egypt? What four promises does God make to Jacob about going to Egypt? Why does this passage stress so strongly what and who Jacob took to Egypt? We encounter another of the genealogies of Genesis in this chapter. What are some things we can learn from this genealogy? (63 min.)

In this week's passage Joseph's brothers are sent back to Canaan to tell their father Jacob the news about Joseph and to bring their families back to Egypt. This story provides us with striking parallels to the Gospel itself. Why is Pharaoh so pleased to hear of Joseph's brothers? What is Pharaoh's invitation to them? What is significant about the wagons of Egypt? How is Joseph's presentation of the garments typical of Christ? What words of admonition does Joseph give his brothers? Why is Jacob's reaction to the news about Joseph what it is? What does it take to revive Jacob and convince him that his son Joseph is still alive and is ruler over all Egypt? (52 min.)

This lesson continues last week's lesson about Joseph's making known his identity to his brothers. What was Joseph's perspective on the things which had happened in his life? How did the "man" at Shechem figure into God's working in Joseph's life? What makes this particular passage so powerful to us? How is Joseph's forgiveness of his brothers so different from the forgiveness we often see in our experience? How can we learn to show the same kind of forgiveness? Do we even want to? What must have been the most wonderful thing in Joseph's message to his father? How did the brothers' submission turn out to be different from what they had expected, dreaded, and resisted? (61 min.)

In the first of two studies on this passage, we consider the remarkable event when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. Joseph has apparently been surprised by Judah's astonishing plea, and a swell of emotions overwhelms him. His announcement of who he actually is, however, is not welcome news to his brothers. Or is it? How do his brothers respond, and why? Why does Joseph ask what he already knows? What two things does Joseph specifically mention that have heretofore not been openly spoken of. Why must he speak these things? How does Joseph's view of reality make forgiveness possible? How might this encounter be similar to when we will first see Christ? What is the significance of the mention of a remnant? How is the deliverance God accomplishes great? Where are you in your personal "story of Joseph?" (53 min)

Today's lesson includes the longest speech in Genesis, Judah's passionate and eloquent plea to Joseph on his father's behalf. How are Judah's words directed by the Holy Spirit to Joseph's heart? What experiences has Judah encountered in his life that have prepared him for this important moment? Why does Judah refer to Benjamin as a "little child" and as a "lad?" What is the entirety of Judah's speech to Joseph directed at accomplishing? What remarkable character qualities do we see in this man who once sold a brother into slavery? What does this passage teach us about intercession? How is Judah a type of the true Son of Judah? (50 min.)

We have now reached the watershed event in the story of Joseph. In this passage we learn of Joseph's plan to reveal the true attitude of his brothers. Do they speak merely words of repentance, or are they really changed? What is the significance of the three things Joseph instructs his house steward to speak to his brothers? What is all this talk about Joseph's "divining cup?" How does the response of the brothers reveal how effective Joseph has been in his plan? What do we learn about the brothers when they load their donkeys and return to the city? How does Joseph's plan recreate the situation his brothers confronted at Dotham twenty two years earlier? Why does he do this? What is the significance of Judah's offer that they all be Joseph's slaves? How does Joseph protect Benjamin? (58 min.)

As Joseph arrives home for the noon feast planned for his brothers, they bring to him the present they have prepared. What is it about this present? Why is it mentioned repeatedly, only to fade into obscurity in the narrative? What is the significance of the brothers bowing before Joseph? How is it that something that was once so abhorrent to them they now do with such apparent ease? The brothers report that their father is well. Is he, really? Once Joseph overcomes his overwhelming emotions, the feasting begins. Why did Joseph seat the men according to their birth order? What must have been going through Joseph's mind as he feasted and drank with his brothers? (55 min.)

Joseph, seeing his brothers have returned with Benjamin, now puts into action his carefully measured plan. How does the house steward play into this, and what does he think of it? A dominant motif of the narrative is what Joseph knows and what his brothers don't know. What lesson can we learn from this? When the brothers are brought to Joseph's house, they are filled with dread. What is it they fear, and why are the apparently thinking so much about their donkeys? What is the unexpected word his brothers hear when finally at the threshold of their long festering dread? How is this a picture to us of our God? (48 min)

Time is wasting. Jacob's intransigence about Benjamin has meant the family has already forgone two opportunities to secure more food from Egypt. Now Jacob wants his sons to go back, but still without dealing with the root problem. This time Judah steps up to deal with his father. How does Judah's leadership compare with Reuben's? What can we learn from this? What is it that finally breaks through Jacob's incapacity to act? What do we see in Judah's offer to his father? Is Jacob's surrender a response of more fatalistic despair, or is it actually a step towards faith? How do we know? What lesson does this hold for us about the life of faith? (58 min.)

Joseph's brothers return home with the dreaded task of reporting to their father, Jacob, the ugly turn of events in Egypt. How will they attempt to soften the blow to the aged and frail man? Jacob's response to the news, and to the discovery that someone in Egypt is out to get them, triggers a despairing reaction from Jacob. Why does he blame his sons? What is our reaction when tragic events and bad news would overwhelm us? What is the answer to despair? Why does Reuben react as he does with his proposal? How do we respond when we get desperate? What is the answer to desperation? (53 min)