In short, Joseph took advantage of his power to deal with a group he knew could be untrustworthy because of their earlier treatment of him. His motive was to discern the present character of the people he was dealing with.
Full Answer
What can we learn from Joseph’s story?
Joseph’s story gives us an idea how God works in the grand scheme of things. God knows every detail of our lives. He is our Father and like an earthly father, “no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalms 84:11). The lessons from the pit Joseph’s life are POWERFUL.
How did Jacob treat Joseph’s brothers?
Jacob, their father, loved Joseph the most and gave him special treatment like putting him in charge of his brothers and giving him a fancy coat. Joseph’s brothers were jealous and angry of all the special attention he was getting.
Why was Joseph imprisoned for doing the right thing?
The wife of Potiphar accused Joseph of “mocking” her and Potiphar’s anger was aroused against Joseph. So Joseph was imprisoned for doing the right thing. When it comes to overcoming life’s challenges, lessons from the life of Joseph are very important to learn.
Why did God allow Joseph to suffer?
God Had a Purpose for Allowing Joseph to Suffer By Joseph’s own testimony, the sufferings of Joseph—physical, mental, and emotional agonies—had been allowed by God so that Joseph could fulfill God’s plan: to save many lives.
What is the moral lesson of the story of Joseph?
Joseph's dreams first get him into trouble, but his ability to understand them leads him to be chosen by the Pharaoh and to save the world. We could learn a lesson about the mysteries of how the world works. Believers and non-believers can see it as an illustration of the need to keep trying and persevere.
How did Joseph overcome his problems?
And one of the lessons that is critical to the matter of overcoming is the lesson of patience. Though Joseph was unjustly imprisoned again, he went about the business of being useful where he was. He faithfully served and patiently waited be- cause he was learning that he was not there by ac- cident.
What does the story of Joseph teach us about suffering?
The overarching life lesson gleaned from the experience of Joseph can be expressed this way: “Life's road has potholes and obstacles, but God (not coincidence) builds a bridge over the potholes using the very obstacles that once blocked our way—IF AND ONLY IF we trust and obey Him.
What does the story of Joseph teach us about forgiveness?
Forgiveness enabled Joseph not to seek revenge or become bitter and angry (Genesis 50:19-21). Forgiveness caused Joseph to become a loving and caring person. This was a special blessing from God. Loving forgiveness will prevent a person from seeking revenge that will hurt people.
How did Joseph overcome discouragement?
Joseph's constant reliance on God kept him from becoming discouraged and also enabled him to act wisely. This wisdom was noticed, and Joseph eventually rose to become Pharaoh's chief officer. In addition, he was reunited with his family and was able to bring much good into their lives.
How did Joseph overcome temptation?
He could never let down his guard; the temptation posed by this woman was a daily battle. One day Joseph found himself in a dangerous circumstance—alone in the house with the woman—“none of the household servants were there. She grabbed him by his garment and said, “Sleep with me!” (Gen.
How did God lead Joseph and how did he respond What do you learn from this?
He was described in the Bible as a righteous man. Even when personally wronged, he had the quality of being sensitive to someone else's shame. He responded to God in obedience and he practiced self-control.
How did God lead Joseph and how did he respond?
But God sent an angel to Joseph to verify Mary's story and reassure him that his marriage to her was God's will. Joseph willingly obeyed God, in spite of the public humiliation he would face. Perhaps this noble quality made him God's choice for the Messiah's earthly father.
How did Joseph show his trust in God?
Joseph has apparently learned to trust God through his ordeal as he showed faith in God to reveal the interpretation of dreams to him by asking them to tell him their dreams, saying, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” (Genesis 40:8). The chief cupbearer shared with Joseph his dream (Genesis 40:9–11).
What can kids learn from Joseph?
Forgiving people is not always easy. But when we forgive, we show the fruit of God's love! Use this lesson to teach elementary students about forgiveness through the story of Joseph.
What does the story of Joseph show about our relationship with God?
Joseph- shows that since Joseph's brothers had meant to do harm to him, but everything ended up okay, that God always has a plan for us, even if it isn't obvious at first.
In what ways did Joseph indicate forgiveness toward his brothers when they came to Egypt?
Joseph and his brothers cried with happiness. Joseph forgave them for selling him as a slave. He said God led him to Egypt to save them from the famine.
Lesson No. 1: Doing The Right Thing Does Not Always Lead to Physical Relief
The jealousy, hatred, and resentment of Joseph’s brothers led them to sell Joseph to the Midianite traders. Joseph was brought to Egypt where the M...
Lesson No. 2: God Will Make All Things Work Together For Good
The life of Joseph might have begun with the wrong note. He was loved by his father so much – something he has no control of – to the point that hi...
Lesson No. 3: There’S No Excuse That’S Good Enough to Break God’S Commandments
Joseph, in a very young age, lost everything. Joseph could have all the reasons to do what is right in his own eyes and just forget God’s way of li...
Lesson No. 4: Learn The Art of Delayed Gratification
We live in a world where we are bombarded with many opportunities of instant gratification. Technological advancement made our life easier to the p...
Lesson No. 5: Obedience to God’S Commandment Brings Lasting Blessings
It is undeniable that living God’s way of life is tough. We can read from the scripture numerous passages that tell us how difficult it is to answe...
What led Joseph to sell to the Midianite traders?
The jealousy, hatred, and resentment of Joseph’s brothers led them to sell Joseph to the Midianite traders. Joseph was brought to Egypt where the Midianite traders had sold him to Potiphar, “an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard” (Genesis 37:36).
Why was Joseph a successful man?
Because of this, the “LORD was with Joseph and he became a successful man” (Genesis 39:2). The blessings of God helped Joseph to find favor in the sight of his master and eventually made him be the overseer of his house.
Why was Joseph imprisoned?
The wife of Potiphar accused Joseph of “mocking” her and Potiphar’s anger was aroused against Joseph. So Joseph was imprisoned for doing the right thing. When it comes to overcoming life’s challenges, lessons from the life of Joseph are very important ...
Why doesn't God bless us?
Of course, God will not bless us because we are righteous and we are entitled of his blessings. He blesses us because of his love and mercy. As this might be the case, God still expects us to follow His commandments for his commandments lead to eternal life (John 12:50).
What happened to Joseph after 11 years of faithful service to Potiphar?
Because of this, his brothers sold him and was brought to a foreign and unfamiliar land. After about 11 years of faithful service to Potiphar, he was rewarded with imprisonment.
What if my Christian life is smooth sailing?
If your Christian life is always smooth sailing, you better think twice whether you are really on the right track and on your way to eternal life or not. Because if you are not suffering, it is most probably that you are on the wrong boat. Life is expected to be hard and full of challenges.
What does God say about pain?
However, God has this to say for those who still choose to follow Him: “For it is a sign of grace if a man, desiring to do right in the eyes of God, undergoes pain as punishment for something which he has not done.
Object Lesson and Main Events of the Story of Joseph
Can you still see the light? [It isn’t as bright, but yes, the light can still be seen.]
Life Application of the Story of Joseph
Once he was sold into slavery, Joseph needed to grow up quickly. He made better choices. He relied on God. Joseph allowed his light to shine continuously, no matter his circumstances. Joseph knew God had a plan for his life. He just didn’t know when, or how, it would all take place.
What to teach next spiral?
Sign up below for three lessons from the Victory in Jesus book you can use now to jump start your object lesson Bible teaching plan.
Monday – I Will Trust God Even When Life is the Pits
This lesson introduces Joseph and his family and describes the events leading up to Joseph’s brothers selling him into slavery.
Tuesday – I Will Trust God to Help Me Do Right
This lesson covers the time period in Joseph’s life when he is working for Potiphar but then unfairly accused by Potiphar’s wife.
Wednesday – I Will Trust God Because He Has Big Plans for Me
This lesson covers the time period in Joseph’s life when he was in prison until the time Pharaoh promotes him to the second-highest position in Egypt.
Thursday – I Will Trust God to Help Me Forgive Instead of Getting Even
This lesson covers the time period in Joseph’s life when he encounters his brothers during the famine and finally reveals his true identity to them.
Friday – I Will Trust God to Bring Good Out of Bad
This lesson reviews the life of Joseph for lessons about how God uses even the bad things in our lives to bless us.
What does the dream of the grain sheaves mean?
The meaning of the dream of the grain sheaves is symbolic of the family needing grain (provision) and bowing to Joseph when he is in power in Egypt. He was in a place of power and provides for everyone.
What does Joseph's dream teach us?
Joseph and his dream can teach us a lot about having character and a healthy dream life. So, grab you Bible and let’s get started…. Joseph is pretty epic! His life and achievements have been used in Biblical teachings for 100’s of years. And when it comes to the part of Joseph’s dreams things get really interesting!
What did Joseph dream about?
Like I mentioned above, Joseph was clueless what the process was going to be. His dreams only revealed a part of what God was going to do. You are not going to know everything that’s going to happen in your life. But what you do know is that God will be with you every single step of the way. It’s about trusting in Him.
What age did Joseph Boasted have his dreams?
Joseph Boasted About His Dreams. At the age of 17, you know that Joseph knew he was daddy’s favorite and that his older brothers were jealous. And from what we read he didn’t technically go to his family humbly asking for their help in understanding the dream.
Why was Joseph's life cut short?
Upon his arrival his sightseeing was cut short because he was sold to Pharaoh’s captain Potiphar to be a servant in his house, but the Lord was with Joseph. Picking the story back up in Genesis 39, things were starting to shape up for Joseph.
What is Heartstone about?
Heartstone is a journey of destiny, a story of a life turned upside-down for the best possible reason. Step into the story and discover what happens when a broken life has a head on collision with a broken world! [WARNING] This book isn’t for the faint of heart.
Why was Joseph put in prison?
Not really, because it was short lived. Due to the false accusation of Potiphar’s wife to her husband, because Joseph would not sleep with her, Joseph was cast into prison. Joseph paid the price for impeccable integrity, but the Lord was with Joseph.
What can we learn from Joseph's life?
Let’s bring it all together with some lessons we can all learn from Joseph’s life: 1) God’s plans and purposes are far greater than our own! 2) God provides and blesses those who persevere to follow Him. 3) Suffering to God’s people is not always bad! God can use the most painful time of our life for His good.
What to do when you feel like God doesn't care?
When you find yourself in a situation where you feel like God doesn’t care, put your faith in what Scripture tells us about the nature of God. Remember, “He will never leave you or forsake you.”. Many of us get stuck in the “what God is NOT doing” narrative.
How many brothers did Joseph have?
Last week we learned about Joseph and his 11 brothers. Jacob, their father, loved Joseph the most and gave him special treatment like putting him in charge of his brothers and giving him a fancy coat. Joseph’s brothers were jealous and angry of all the special attention he was getting.
What is the lesson about Joseph being sold into slavery?
Joseph is Sold into Slavery (Genesis 37:12-26) Sunday School Lesson. This is the second lesson in a series of 5 lessons about Joseph and the incredible way God used him to bless his people.
What did Reuben say to Joseph?
Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.” (Genesis 37:21-22) The brothers agreed with this new plan. When Joseph reached them they grabbed him, ripped off the beautiful coat from their father, and threw him into the cistern nearby.
Why did Jacob send Joseph out to check on the sheep?
Jacob sent Joseph out to check on them and see how they were doing. Joseph went in search for his brothers. His brothers were off in the distance and could see him coming even from a long way off. This gave them time to hatch and evil plan.
Who sold Joseph's robe to Pharaoh?
When they returned home they showed the robe to their father Jacob. Jacob mourned for his lost son, thinking a ferocious animal had killed him. Meanwhile the merchants who had bought Joseph traveled to Egypt where they sold Joseph to one of Pharaoh’s officials named Potiphar.
Did God leave Joseph?
Joseph must have been scared as he was taken to a foreign land far away from his whole family. But we will see later in the story that God never left Joseph. Even though his brothers had done terrible things to him, God would use Joseph in an incredible way to bless His people.
Was Jesus put to death?
In fact, people planned truly wicked things to do to him, just like Joseph’s brothers. Jesus was put to death, which is the greatest evil there is! But God is so good and so gracious that He allowed good things to come from this terrible event.
Why did God allow Joseph to suffer?
By Joseph’s own testimony, the sufferings of Joseph—physical, mental, and emotional agonies—had been allowed by God so that Joseph could fulfill God’s plan: to save many lives.
What did Joseph do to help his betrayers?
Joseph Rejected Bitterness and Chose to Forgive . As Joseph responded to suffering with faith, meekness, and humility, God molded and shaped a leader. And that leader would not only end up saving his betrayers’ lives, but he would fully forgive them and provide abundantly for their needs.
Why did Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of Egypt?
The reason Pharaoh placed Joseph in charge of Egypt was because of the wisdom he displayed when Pharaoh needed to have his dreams interpreted. You see, as we see in Genesis 41:17-24, Pharaoh was having some odd dreams: So Pharaoh told him the dream. "I was standing on the bank of the Nile River," he said.
What did Joseph tell Pharaoh about the seven cows?
Joseph told Pharaoh the seven healthy cows (think angus beef) represented seven years of harvest. The seven gaunt cows (probably the kind of cows they use to make Steakums) represented seven years of famine.
What did the seven gaunt cows represent?
The seven gaunt cows (probably the kind of cows they use to make Steakums) represented seven years of famine. This is a great reminder that economic cycles have been going on for thousands of years and are actually normal. Economies go up and they go down. We’ve seen this here in the United States.
Why is Joseph's wisdom timeless?
This is because his wisdom was given to him by God, the creator of everything. Joseph understood that all good advice comes from God.
How long did Joseph know Egypt was in the economic boom?
In the other 720 months, the economy grew. So, Joseph knew Egypt was in the midst of an economic boom (part of the economic cycle). Joseph told Pharaoh that for the next seven years they should save one fifth (20%) of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.
How many recessions have there been in the US?
We’ve seen this here in the United States. In the past 70 years, the US has had 12 recessions averaging about 10 months each. In the past 70 years, there have been 840 months. About 120 of those months were spent in recession. In the other 720 months, the economy grew.
Who is Steve Scalici?
Steve Scalici is a Certified Financial PlannerTM with Treasure Coast Financial.