Lesson: Joseph & His Heart

Session 5

Scripture Reading

Introduction: The Dilemma

Joseph was:

1. ______________ by his brothers
2. ________ into slavery by the Midianites
3. Falsely ___________ by Potiphar's wife
4. Unjustly _____________ by Potiphar
5. _______________ by the chief cupbearer

And now at last, Joseph is the one with all the power and authority. Finally he is the one in _______________.

• How will he react?
• Joseph's _____________ has been deeply wounded over and over.
• What condition is it in now?
• Why would God allow all these detours?
• Because God cares more about the _________________ of the dreamer than He cares about the _________________ of the dream.

A. The Famine

• The famine was ______________ all over the world, including Canaan.
• Jacob heard there was grain in ____________, and sent his sons there to buy some.
• Jacob sent ten sons to Egypt, but insisted that _____________ stay home.

• When they arrived in Egypt, they bowed down to Joseph, ______________ the dream God had revealed years ago.
• Joseph recognized his brothers right away but _______________ to be a stranger.
• Joseph spoke to them ____________ and accused them of being spies.
• The brothers tried to convince Joseph they were _______________ men.

B. The Test

• Joseph tested their ________________ by keeping one of the brothers in prison while the rest returned to Canaan to deliver food and bring Benjamin to Egypt.
• The brothers believed they were being ____________ by God because of how they had treated Joseph.
• Reuben said they were guilty and would have to give an account for Joseph's ___________.
• The brothers did not realize Joseph understood their whole conversation because he used an _______________.
• Joseph turned away from them and began to ___________.
• Chapters 42–47 record a lot of detail as the brothers travel home and back to Egypt.
• Joseph is _____________ their character.
• Is he also giving himself time to _____________ what to do?

C. The Reunions

• When the brothers returned to Egypt with Benjamin, they ____________ down to Joseph two more times.
• Joseph was deeply _____________ when he saw Benjamin and left the room to weep in private.

• Joseph finally revealed his true _______________ to his brothers and wept loudly.
• Joseph asked about his father, and found out Jacob was still __________.
• The brothers were terrified because of their ___________.
• Joseph told them not to be distressed, and told them it was really ______ who had sent him to Egypt.
• Joseph sent his brothers to go get their father and bring him back to Egypt, and _________ to provide everything they needed.
• Joseph ___________ all his brothers and wept over them.

• The brothers returned to Canaan and told their father that Joseph was ________ and was the ruler of all Egypt.
• Jacob was stunned and ____________ to believe them.
• After seeing all the provisions Joseph had sent, Jacob was ____________ and eager to see his son.

• When the family arrived in Egypt, Joseph ____________ his father and wept for a long time.
• Jacob said he could now die in ____________ since he knew Joseph was alive.

• Joseph settled his family in the ____________ part of Egypt and provided them with food during the famine.
• Joseph often made the right choice, but the Bible makes it clear that his decision to forgive was a deep _____________.

Conclusion…

Our Response

• Joseph had the ultimate opportunity for revenge, but chose ___________________ instead. Why do you think he made this unexpected choice?
• We have all been mistreated at different times in our lives. Who is the person that has hurt you the most? What would it look like for you to ______________ reconciliation over revenge?
• Sometimes it seems like Joseph automatically did the right thing without ever having to think about it. But the Bible makes it clear that he had very raw emotions and ______________ deeply with all he had to process. Why do you think we so often refuse to acknowledge and deal with our emotions?