110 SESSION LifeWay

Transcription

1 110 SESSION 3

2 The Point Keep doing what God has gifted you to do. The Passage Genesis 39:21-23; 40:5-8, The Bible Meets Life We all find ourselves from time to time in less than ideal circumstances. A rainy day at the beach is one thing, but sometimes those circumstances have far greater impact on our lives. We can feel like our dreams are gone or the world has passed us by. The Book of Genesis shows us Joseph a man who had been forgotten and left in prison was not defeated by his circumstances. The Setting In return for his purity and integrity in refusing the advances of his master s wife, Joseph wound up in prison. Even there God blessed him and gave him favor in the warden s eyes. Two of Pharaoh s out-of-favor officials were in prison and had disturbing dreams. Joseph, with God s insight, interpreted the dreams. In return, Joseph asked only that one official, who was about to be restored to Pharaoh s service, to remember him when that day came. The official forgot. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 111

3 What does the Bible say? Key Words Cupbearer (40:5) A highranking official responsible for tasting the ruler s wine before serving it to him to ensure it did not contain poison. Often the cupbearer became the ruler s confidant and adviser. Lifted up the heads (40:20) The phrase lifted up the heads carried a double meaning: it signified restoration for the cupbearer and death for the chief baker. Genesis 39:21-23; 40:5-8, (HCSB) 39:21 But the LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him. He granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 The warden put all the prisoners who were in the prison under Joseph s authority, and he was responsible for everything that was done there. 23 The warden did not bother with anything under Joseph s authority, because the LORD was with him, and the LORD made everything that he did successful. 40:5 The Egyptian king s cupbearer and baker, who were confined in the prison, each had a dream. Both had a dream on the same night, and each dream had its own meaning. 6 When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they looked distraught. 7 So he asked Pharaoh s officers who were in custody with him in his master s house, Why do you look so sad today? 8 We had dreams, they said to him, but there is no one to interpret them. Then Joseph said to them, Don t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams. 40:20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh s birthday, he gave a feast for all his servants. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker. 21 Pharaoh restored the chief cupbearer to his position as cupbearer, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh s hand. 22 But Pharaoh hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had explained to them. 23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. 112 SESSION 3

4 THE POINT Keep doing what God has gifted you to do. GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes DISCUSS: Invite your group members to turn their attention to the image on page 93 of the Personal Study Guide (PSG). Ask: When have you rediscovered something you forgot you had? RECAP THE PSG: When my oldest child was around 5 years old, I forgot her and left her at a restaurant. We were on vacation in Florida, traveling in a large SUV with three rows of seats. As our family left the restaurant, my daughter slipped into a game room near the exit. She always sat in the back of the car and kept to herself, content within a nest of books and blankets. So, my wife and I assumed she had already hopped in as we buckled the other kids into their car seats. It wasn t until we pulled into the driveway of our rental home five miles away that my wife asked, Where s Katherine? TIP: Public speaking is a fear for some people. Be careful not to put members on the spot to read aloud or answer a question. Notes SAY: Have you ever felt forgotten? Ever felt like the world has passed you by like friends and family have gone on to bigger and better things and you re just stuck? The life of Joseph offers proof that God doesn t forget you. He s always aware of your circumstances. GUIDE: Call attention to The Point on page 94 of the PSG: Keep doing what God has gifted you to do. PRAY: Pause to pray for your group members who may be in a situation like Joseph s where they may feel forgotten. Pray also for those who ve gone to God with a specific prayer request for months or years; pray that their faith would be strengthened by today s study. Display Pack Item #9 to communicate the session topic. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 113

5 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Genesis 39:21-23 Notes 39:21 But the LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him. He granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 The warden put all the prisoners who were in the prison under Joseph s authority, and he was responsible for everything that was done there. 23 The warden did not bother with anything under Joseph s authority, because the LORD was with him, and the LORD made everything that he did successful. READ: Ask a group member to read Genesis 39:21-23 aloud. SUMMARIZE: In our last session, we learned that Potiphar s wife tried to seduce Joseph. When she failed, she lied and unjustly accused Joseph of attacking her. As punishment, Potiphar put Joseph into a prison for political prisoners (a place where the king s prisoners were bound). RECAP: Look at Joseph s situation. He went from being the favored son of Jacob to being a slave, but he served with excellence. Now he had gone from being a slave to a prisoner. His position went from bad to worse. We don t know what Joseph did to distinguish himself in prison, but he did it with excellence and consequently was given responsibilities and authority. ALTERNATE QUESTION: What s your first reaction when someone acts unjustly toward you? DISCUSS: Question 2 on page 96 of the PSG: How do we remain faithful when we find ourselves where we didn t expect to be? ENHANCEMENT: Bring your group s attention to Pack Item #9, Deuteronomy 31:8 poster, as you discuss Question 2. TRANSITION: An Egyptian prison surely was a far cry from where Joseph expected to be, but instead of wallowing in self-pity, he continued to serve. 114 SESSION 3

6 THE POINT Keep doing what God has gifted you to do. Genesis 39:21-23 Commentary When Joseph fled (session 2), Potiphar s wife showed her true character. She had no concern for Joseph. Potiphar s wife called in other slaves and made up a story that vehemently charged Joseph with the sin she had proposed to him. The woman, having tried in vain to make Joseph guilty by sleeping with her, sought revenge. Holding up Joseph s garment, she accused him of trying to rape her. She later repeated the same thing to her husband. In both cases she placed on Potiphar the blame for bringing in a Hebrew and giving him so much authority (vv ). When Potiphar heard the words of his wife, he seems to have believed her because his wrath was kindled. As punishment, Potiphar put Joseph into the prison for political prisoners (a place where the king s prisoners were bound). At that moment Joseph s place of imprisonment probably did not seem very significant, but it would prove to be quite providential. The incident that would one day lead to his release was directly related to the place where Potiphar imprisoned him. Some Bible students have wondered why Potiphar did not have Joseph put to death for such a serious crime as his wife accused him of. Some have speculated that Potiphar might not have believed his wife. After all, he knew her well and he knew Joseph. W. H. Griffith Thomas speculated: For appearance sake Potiphar must take some action, but the precise action taken tells its own tale. He evidently did not credit her story. 1 Once again the Bible tells us, the LORD was with Joseph. God showed His presence by His kindness. This is the important Old Testament word hesed. It can be translated steadfast love, unfailing love, loyalty, or mercy. This word was used in prayer to describe God s character (Genesis 24:12,14; 32:10). The word refers to the covenant faithfulness and loving kindness of the Lord. Life is not always fair; Justice does not always triumph. When you have done the right thing and are punished rather than rewarded, that is a test of faith. But Joseph s conscience was clear. He had done what was right, and he entrusted himself to God. The Lord granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. After an undisclosed length of time, this man recognized Joseph s ability and trustworthiness. He followed the example of Potiphar and gave great responsibility to Joseph. He put all the prisoners who were in the prison under Joseph s authority. Since Joseph was so responsible, the warden did not bother with anything under Joseph s authority. Joseph s situation seemed to deteriorate continually. In a period of time he had been reduced from favored son to favored servant to favored prisoner favored at each step, but on a downward trend. From the privilege of the quarters of one of the top officials in Egypt to the misfortune of imprisonment, Joseph continued to use his God-given abilities, and the LORD was with him, and the LORD made everything that he did successful. 1. W. H. Griffith Thomas, Genesis: A Devotional Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1946), 373. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 115

7 5 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Genesis 40:5-8 Notes 40:5 The Egyptian king s cupbearer and baker, who were confined in the prison, each had a dream. Both had a dream on the same night, and each dream had its own meaning. 6 When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they looked distraught. 7 So he asked Pharaoh s officers who were in custody with him in his master s house, Why do you look so sad today? 8 We had dreams, they said to him, but there is no one to interpret them. Then Joseph said to them, Don t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams. READ: Ask a group member to read Genesis 40:5-8 aloud. SUMMARIZE: While Joseph was the administrator of the prison, Pharaoh s chief cupbearer and chief baker offended the ruler (40:1). While the cupbearer and baker were in prison, each had a dream. The dreams occurred on the same night, and each dream was unique with its own meaning. The men were troubled because they couldn t understand their dreams and no one could interpret. Joseph agreed to help and told them the ability to interpret dreams came from God. ALTERNATE QUESTION: Joseph s actions displayed his faith in God. What do you find most remarkable about Joseph s faith? DISCUSS: Question 3 on page 97 of the PSG: What are some little things that allow us to demonstrate God s concern to others? TRANSITION: The next verses show how God used Joseph in this experience, proving once again that He was with him. 116 SESSION 3

8 THE POINT Keep doing what God has gifted you to do. Genesis 40:5-8 Commentary While Joseph was the administrator of the prison, Pharaoh s chief cupbearer (v. 9) and chief baker (v. 16) offended the ruler (40:1). The Hebrew verb translated offended is often rendered sinned and may indicate the two servants had committed some crime against the king or were suspected of doing so. Whatever the two officers had done or were accused of doing angered Pharaoh. They held important official positions in the ruler s court. The chief cupbearer supervised a staff and was responsible for tasting the ruler s wine before serving it to him to ensure it did not contain poison. Often the cupbearer became the ruler s confidant and adviser. To be the king s cupbearer involved great responsibility and significant privilege. The chief baker probably occupied an influential position also. He and his staff were responsible for the king s food, which no doubt had to meet royal standards consistently. The cupbearer and baker were confined while an investigation proceeded to determine their guilt or innocence. While the cupbearer and baker were in prison awaiting their fates, each had a dream. The dreams occurred on the same night, and each dream was unique with its own meaning. In that time, dreams were viewed as important vehicles of revelation about the future; dreams play significant roles in Genesis (20:3-7; 28:10-15; 37:5-11). Though God did not generate all dreams, He used some to communicate His plan and purpose. The biblical record implies strongly that the servants dreams were part of God s activity on Joseph s behalf and, more broadly, on behalf of the Lord s covenant purpose. On the morning following the two men s dreams, Joseph approached them to begin his daily duties. He immediately noticed they looked distraught. The Hebrew term can mean sad, or vexed. In the context of verse 6, the term likely carries the force of fairly intense anxiety. The two men s body language indicated they were disturbed, and Joseph picked up on their state of mind. Acting on his observation, Joseph asked the reason for the two servants sadness. The two men immediately responded: We had dreams. That they had no one to interpret the dreams intensified their gloom. Their words lamented their not being free to consult the professional interpreters in Pharaoh s court. Many ancient nations had interpreters of dreams. In Egypt, these interpreters developed books in which they recorded symbols by which dreams could be interpreted. The two officials knew where to find interpreters but did not have access to them. The Hebrews view of dream interpretation differed markedly from that of other nations around them. Joseph s question to the two distressed dreamers called for a yes answer: Don t interpretations belong to God? Here God translates the Hebrew word Elohim, which stresses God s majesty and creative power. The question was a direct challenge to reliance on diviners. To Joseph, God was the originator of dreams that conveyed revelation from Him, and He alone gave people the power to interpret them. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 117

9 15 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Genesis 40:20-23 Notes 40:20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh s birthday, he gave a feast for all his servants. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker. 21 Pharaoh restored the chief cupbearer to his position as cupbearer, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh s hand. 22 But Pharaoh hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had explained to them. 23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. READ: Ask a group member to read Genesis 40:20-23 aloud. SUMMARIZE: Joseph interpreted the cupbearer s dream to indicate that in three days he would be restored to his position of service to Pharaoh. Unfortunately, Joseph interpreted the baker s dream to mean that in three days he would be executed. Joseph requested that when the cupbearer was restored, he remember Joseph and speak to Pharaoh on Joseph s behalf perhaps gaining his freedom from prison. Both of Joseph s interpretations were proven correct. Sadly, the cupbearer regained his former position but forgot Joseph and his request. ALTERNATE QUESTION: When have you felt God using you in a specific situation for His purposes? DISCUSS: Question 4 on page 98 of the PSG: When have you felt forgotten? SUMMARIZE: God is always aware of our circumstances. Like Joseph, we can choose to follow God while we wait to see what He is doing in our lives. DO: Divide your members into groups of 3-4 people each. Within each small group, direct members to take turns sharing aloud their responses to the activity on page 99 of the PSG. In Good Time: You ve been wait-listed for the graduate program you ve been working years to get into. ]] Trusting God s timing will impact my faith by ]] While I wait, I can be assured that God is ]] While I wait, I can DISCUSS: Question 5 on page 99 of the PSG: How do we support one another to keep doing what God has gifted us to do? 118 SESSION 3

10 THE POINT Keep doing what God has gifted you to do. Genesis 40:20-23 Commentary The chief cupbearer was the first to recount his dream to Joseph. As might be expected, his dream reflected his former task in Pharaoh s service. The cupbearer dreamed he saw a vine with three branches. The grape-growing process was telescoped. In rapid succession, the branches budded, blossomed, and produced clusters of ripe grapes. In his dream, the cupbearer held Pharaoh s cup, picked the grapes, squeezed the juice into the cup, and served it to the king. Joseph interpreted the dream to indicate that in three days the cupbearer would be restored to his position of service to Pharaoh. Joseph requested that when the cupbearer was restored, he remember Joseph and speak to Pharaoh on Joseph s behalf. Encouraged by Joseph s favorable interpretation of the chief cupbearer s dream, the chief baker described his dream. It, too, reflected his former work in Pharaoh s court. In the baker s dream, he bore three baskets of bread and other assorted baked goods on his head. Before he could deliver the goods to Pharaoh, birds devoured the contents of the top basket. An immediate contrast became alarmingly clear: the cupbearer had served Pharaoh a cup of wine while the baker had not arrived with his goods intact. Joseph s interpretation of the baker s dream was not nearly so positive. In three days the baker would be executed. The third day after Joseph interpreted his fellow prisoners two dreams, Pharaoh celebrated his birthday by hosting a feast for all his servants. The term referred to Pharaoh s officers. Pharaoh used the occasion as an opportunity to make object lessons of his chief cupbearer and his chief baker. At the celebration, as Joseph had predicted, the ruler lifted up the heads of the two officials who had previously offended him. The phrase lifted up the heads carried a double meaning: restoration for the chief cupbearer and death for the chief baker. The chief cupbearer not only was exonerated but also was restored to his former position, demonstrating Pharaoh s trust in this servant and his sense of justice toward all his servants. Innocent servants would be entrusted with the honor of serving Pharaoh. As Joseph had said, however, the chief baker was hanged. His beheaded body was impaled. The chief baker provided the opposite object lesson. Apparently, he had been found guilty of some crime against Pharaoh. All Pharaoh s servants needed to learn that crimes against the king would lead to death. Everything had happened exactly as Joseph had forecasted. In the unfolding events, Joseph suffered another setback that left him in another seemingly hopeless situation. The chief cupbearer forgot him. Surely the thought of Joseph s request must have crossed the cupbearer s mind repeatedly. Did he not care? Did he deliberately not keep his word? Whatever the reason for the official s failure to follow through, Joseph remained in prison. The cupbearer let Joseph down. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 119

11 5 minutes LIVE IT OUT SAY: How can you be faithful to what God is calling you to do? Notes GUIDE: Lead your group members to consider the responses to the Bible study listed on page 100 of the PSG. ]] Memorize Deuteronomy 31:8a to fortify your faith when you face uncertainty. ]] Sharpen your skills. Take advantage of any volunteer training your church may offer and be ready to volunteer when the opportunities arise. Make a point to volunteer in a variety of settings to find out where your giftedness best fits. ]] Be willing to gain a larger perspective. In a season of doubt? Struggling to see how God will work in your situation? Keep in mind that seasons of difficulty come and go; commit to remain steadfast as you trust in God s timing. Wrap It Up SAY: Joseph could have easily felt forgotten. Instead of abandoning his faith in God, Joseph remained faithful and God s presence marked his life and his work. What can we learn from Joseph s attitude? Press on. Keep serving. Trust that God is at work. While you do, use the gifts He s given you and be a part of His work in the world. 120 SESSION 3

12 My group's prayer requests Additional suggestions for specific groups (women, men, collegiates, and singles) are available at BibleStudiesForLife.com/blog. And for free online training on how to lead a group visit MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife. Hope For the Barren Heart Fear is natural. Faith is supernatural. When we don t understand and can t overcome, we react in fear. It s a natural response of humanity. Our fear may paralyze us in depression or indecision. Or our fear may motivate us to unwise actions. When we turn to God, and when we trust in Him, we react in faith. To continue reading Hope For the Barren Heart from HomeLife magazine, visit BibleStudiesforLife.com/articles. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 121