Bible Study - Joseph (10)
BIBLE STUDY
Wednesday 4th March
Joseph – A Life of Integrity and Wisdom
Session 10
Nothing But the Best for God’s People
Passage for Study: Genesis 47:1-28
Outline of Talk:
* We need to recall the central feature of the Joseph “story”, which is God bringing first Joseph, then his family, into Egypt by means of a widespread famine which crippled the region. It’s all about God’s long-term plan for his covenant people Israel. God’s eye is on the exodus - still hundreds of years in the future, but the major event representative of redemption in the Old Testament.
* God’s “timetable” for Joseph’s life fits into this plan that God has for his people. By the time Jacob and his family settle in Egypt the region of “Goshen” is ready for them! It suits their needs exactly, as also God’s purpose for them. His provision always suits his purpose for his people, even if that provision includes challenging and distressful events and experiences.
* We can see three features applicable to Jacob’s family, also pertinent to God’s people, in this passage. These are:
(1) their identity and distinctness;
(2) their unity;
(3) their superiority.
Questions for Discussion Session:
1. In God’s providence, whatever “Egypt” he may send us into will always contain a “Goshen” region for us. At times it may not look as attractive as “regions” round about us, but God knows it is more suited to what he has in mind for us. Discuss this using the following passages:
a. Psalm 33 v 18-22.
b. Psalm 119 v 67-72
c. Isaiah 43 v 1-2
d. Matthew 5 v 11
e. 2 Corinthians 1 v 3-4
f. 2 Corinthians 4 v 16-18
Questions 2-4 are designed to draw out these features and how they apply to the life of the individual Christian and the Church today.
2. In his wisdom Joseph told his father and brothers to tell Pharaoh that they were shepherds when he asked them what their occupation was (46 v 31-46 v 6). This would ensure that they were separated from the Egyptians, thus ensuring that they would keep their identity in distinction from the Egyptians.
a. What is it that makes God’s people distinct?
See Colossians 3 v 3 and 1 Peter 2 v 9-10.
b. How should our Christian distinctness show itself?
See Matthew 5 v 13-16 and 1 Peter 2 v 9b.
c. How should we set about maintaining our distinctness as Christians?
3. With Jacob now in Egypt, the family is again united around him. See Philippians 1 v 27-29, 2 v 14-16 and Ephesians 4 v 1-3
a. Why is unity such an important requirement for the Church? List as many reasons as you can.
b. What practical measures can we take to try and prevent fragmentation and maintain unity?
4. In Genesis 47 v 7-10 we read that Pharaoh was blessed by Jacob – the most powerful man in the world blessed by an old Hebrew! The same principle applies in verses 13-26 - the Egyptians came to Joseph to save them in their distress.
See Deuteronomy 33 v 26-29 and 2 Samuel 7 v 23. Then compare 1 Corinthians 3 v 21-23.
a. In what sense are God’s people “superior” to all others?
b. In what ways is this not true?
c. How does this “superiority” sit alongside the biblical requirement of humility?
