Joseph Endured His Trials

1. Read the chapter summaries for Genesis 29-30, 35. List the birth order of Jacob’s 12 sons.
• Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulon, Joseph, Benjamin

2. Read Genesis 37:1-11 and the Institute Student Manual commentary for Genesis 37:3, “What Was the Coat of Many Colors?” (pg. 93). Write an explanation of possible reasons Joseph’s brothers were envious of him.
• The coat of many colors is a “long coat with sleeves…” It reaches to the wrists and ankles worn by noble men and king’s daughters. In this situation, the coat represents the birthright of the firstborn. There were four first born sons who may had feelings they each have claim to their rights.

                                               i.     Ruben: was the firstborn of all the sons but lost his rights. He have not accepted the fact.

                                             ii.     Simeon: he was the second son of Leah and next on line after Ruben lost his right. He would have come after Ruben.

                                            iii.     Judah: he could argue the disqualification of the three sons. First was for Ruben after losing his right. Second was for Simeon and Levi because of the massacre of the Shechemites, which also disqualified the two brothers.

                                            iv.     Dan: his mother Bilhah was considered Rachel’s property, he could claim that he was Rachel’s firstborn after Ruben lost his.

                                             v.     Gad: he was the firstborn of Zilpah and therefore he could easily claim his birthright after Ruben lost his.

                                            vi.     Joseph: his dreams dignified his future leadership, which added to his brothers’ resentment.

3. List the challenges in Genesis 37 that Joseph faced. How do you think Joseph felt about his challenges? How are Joseph’s challenges like the ones young people face today?
• His brothers conspired against Joseph because of his birthright. He was thrown in to a pit, sold him to be a slave in Egypt. His brothers even thought of murdering him. He was accused of wanting to sleep with is boss’s wife after fleeing away. He was sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit. He later realized that the Lord is working on him. He was “spared” because the Lord needed him to save his family. He did gave his brothers a hard time when they came to ask for provisions, but he eventually forgave them.
• Today, young people are tempted from every direction. Others walk away, other play right along sinning, and others go straight into it. Young or old, we are all tempted to blame God when life gets too hard. Joseph could’ve easily given up but he didn’t. By doing do, he was able to save his family from the famine.

4. Read Genesis 39:2-3, 21, 23 and find a phrase that is similar in all four verses. Then answer the following questions:

·       What did Joseph do in Genesis 39 that allowed the phrase in verses 2-3 to still be true in verses 21, 23? When do you think Joseph made the commitment to be morally clean?

o   I think he made this commitment at a young age. It is a choice. Once he made a choice to make himself clean, nothing else really mattered. He made himself strong and fortified so that when temptation came, he was able to walk away form it.

·       Give examples from Genesis 40-41 and the Institute Student Manual commentary for Genesis 39:21-23; 40:1-23 (pg. 95) that illustrate how the Lord remained with Joseph.

o   He was able to interpret dreams. He was appointed to be in charge of the prisoners. He continued to be righteous, he continued to trust in the Lord that’s why he continued to gain favor in the eyes of the Lord.

·       Write two or three paragraphs listing the lessons you learn from the life of Joseph. What can you learn from Joseph about turning bad experiences and circumstances into good ones?

o   I was searching for the same answers as I began to read the story of Joseph. It was easy for him to give up and blame God because of what happened to him. In today’s world, it is just as easy to give up as to tell a person in deep waters to have faith. We can never really tell what we would do when we ourselves are in the depts of our challenges.

o   It is what it is. Faith is the first principle of the Gospel. It lays the foundation of a person’s sound footing in this life. A person has to act, and faith requires a person to act to find out what’s in store for him. If he doesn’t, he becomes subject to others’ exercise of their own agency leaving him feeling the world is moving without him, and therefore “alone.” There is always a choice that has to be made. Doing nothing is a choice, so as doing something to improve and get out of a rut is a choice. One makes a person move forward, the other makes him rot in his gave of his own making.