Week 5 | Genesis 39-47

Have you ever wondered where God was in the midst of your suffering? The story of Joseph in Genesis asks this question and provides the answer: God’s providence and His presence. 

Key Themes

• How do we interpret the story of our lives? Where is God and who is He? Do we see our lives through the lens of God’s providence--”God’s good, wise, and sovereign guidance and control of all things”?  From slavery to false accusations to imprisonment, the story of Joseph can seem very out of control. And yet we see in these chapters (and specifically Genesis 45) how Joseph interprets his many years of affliction.
• Pay attention to what the author of Genesis is communicating about the Lord’s providence and presence in the story. What do the explicit references to God in Genesis 39:2, 39:21, 39:23, 40:8, 45:7 and 50:20 show us about God’s presence and role in Joseph’s life?
• How does Joseph understand God’s role in His affliction and suffering? How do we see this in his responses to his pain, his blessing, and the return of his family?

Resources

Below are additional resources to help you engage with the narratives we are reading this week and have already covered.

The Providence of God

How God Reveals Himself 

Lineage of Jesus

Questions for Application

When you look back over the course of your life, what evidence do you see of God’s sovereign control and providence bringing you to where you are today? What does God’s providence show you about the big moments of your life right now? The mundane moments of your life?

How might God be forming your character today in the midst of affliction? 

Reconciliation in relationships requires repentance and forgiveness. Is there a relationship in your life that is in need of reconciliation?