Overcomer: Lesson 1, Living through betrayals

I. Gn. 37: 19-22,27

A. Betrayals indicate the power of relationships in our life.

1. IT comes from people we have entrusted ourselves too.

2. It can be a most devastating hurt in our life.

3. Think of Jesus’ betrayal by Judas and the by Peter’s denial.

B. Joseph’s relationship with his brothers was rooted in three things:

1. Jacob his father had betrayed Esau (his brother) See GN. 27. Family generational behavior of betrayal.

2. Joseph was Jacob’s favorite (coat of many colors indicating favoritism)

3. Joseph was boastful about his dreams that spoke of dominating his brothers and the family line. He was the youngest brother.

C. The bible and dreams

1. The dream played an important role in the life of Joseph. Later on in his life, dreams would give insight and understanding for future events in Egypt.

2. Daniel uses dreams to understand God’s plan for his people in exile.

3. St. Joseph (in the NT) was guided by dreams to take Mary as a wife and protect the newly born child.

II. Gn. 37: 23; 39:1-3.

A. See also Gn. 37:34-35. Joseph enjoyed the affection and favoritism of the father.

1. Jacob in the betrayal lost his son. He thought he was dead.

2. Joseph in the betrayal lost his family status and seemingly his future.

3. Acts of betrayal have unintended consequences.

B. Betrayal does not define your story.

1. Joseph may have thought his life was over.

2. Joseph’s life was to unfold many miles into a different culture and country.

3. But God was at work, working out his plan.

4. One can see in Joseph, with him being the “favorite” son-Jesus who was God’s only begotten Son who was betrayed by Judas and the Pharisees of Israel.

C. God granted Joseph favor in Potipher’s house.

1. TO overcome betrayal means adopting a big picture.

2. A “God-like” perspective means to understand how that pain might be re-purposed in God’s plan.

3. Jesus’ cross and its’ humiliations and pain was re-purposed for the world’s salvation.

Reflection questions:

1. Where have you experienced betrayal? What did that feel like to you?

2. How has betrayal made it difficult to trust?

3. Can you look back on your life and see how God worked things out when you were betrayed?

4. How did God re-purpose your pain in the betrayals of your life?

Session 2: Overcomers: Overcoming temptation

I. Gn. 39: 1-21.

A. The Lord’s hand was on Joseph meaning the Lord’s power was leading him.

1. Success for Joseph meant to accomplish the Lord’s purposes

2. V. 2-He was being formed to be an effective leader and administrator.

3. V. 4-overseer-authority over the palace and possessions of Potiphar’s house

B. Vv. 6-18

1. Temptations to Joseph was an assault on chastity

2. He avoids the near occasions of sin

3. He overcomes sin by refusing to place himself in circumstances that would be

Tempting.

C. V. 20

1. Prison-mild punishment considering he was a foreign slave who was accused of attempted rape of an Egyptian noble woman.

2. Lord’s favor upon him in prison, so he could accomplish his purposes.