Explore the Bible Lesson Preview February 24, 2019 Reunited Background: Genesis 42: 1-50:26 Lesson: Genesis 45:1-15

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1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview February 24, 2019 Reunited Background: Genesis 42: 1-50:26 Lesson: Genesis 45:1-15 Motivation: The key to Joseph s life was his faith in God. It sustained him through family troubles, through disappointment, slavery, imprisonment and loneliness. His faith ultimately allowed him to forgive and restore his family ties. Examination: I. Unexpected Confrontation (42:1-6) A. The Crisis When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, Why do you keep looking at each other? (1) In 41:56 we read the famine was severe in every land. and this certainly impacted Jacob and his family in Canaan. When faced with crisis, Jacob became a man of action. He challenged his sons to stop standing around and do something to fix the problem. This is probably a good lesson for all of us. When faced with a problem, we have several options: 1) stand around and do nothing, 2) complain to others, or 3) do something to make things better. Our first priority of doing should involve prayer. B. The Command Listen, he went on, I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us so that we may live and not die. So 10 of Joseph s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. (2-3) J. Vernon McGee makes a great point (Thru the Bible, Vol. 1, p. 169): We demonstrate our faith by what we do (James 2:18). How do we know he had faith that there was grain in Egypt? Because he sent his sons to get some. 1 / 17

2 C. The Caveat But Jacob did not send Joseph s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he thought, Something might happen to him. (4) Jacob s protection of Joseph s brother, Benjamin, should have been a warning to the other brothers that their father suspected foul play in Joseph s disappearance. It was obviously not as easy to put one over on the old man as the brothers thought. D. The Confrontation The sons of Israel were among those who came to buy grain, for the famine was in the land of Canaan. Joseph was in charge of the country; he sold grain to all its people. His brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the ground. (5-6) Here is the fulfillment of Joseph s first dream recorded in Genesis 37. (cf. 42:9). II. Strong Accusation (42:7-16) A. The Tension When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke harshly to them. Where do you come from?, he asked, From the land of Canaan to buy food, they replied. (7) How different are the circumstances from when Joseph last saw his brothers! He was being led into slavery while they were counting his purchase price and devising lies for their father. Now, Joseph is in charge and asking the questions. B. The Transformation Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. (8) The last time the brothers saw Joseph, he was a seventeen year-old boy. Depending how many years of the famine have elapsed, Joseph could be almost 40! Not only did his age deceive them, he now dressed like and Egyptian, looked (clean shaven) like an Egyptian, talked like an Egyptian, and, yes, even walked like an Egyptian! Besides all this, the brothers thought Joseph had been dead for more than twenty years. Our expectations greatly influence our perceptions. C. The Threat You are spies. (9, 12, 14, 16) All of the interplay in verses 9-20 is designed by Joseph to answer two questions: 1) What is the state of my family, especially father and Benjamin? 2) Have my brothers changed? These two questions followed him for two decades; he wisely delayed his own disclosure in order to gain some answers. 2 / 17

3 D. The Test Send one from among you to get your brother. The rest of you will be imprisoned so that your words can be tested to see if they are true. If they are not, surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies! (16) Believers Study Bible, p. 65: 42:11 Joseph s test is devised to see if they are truly honest, or if they will do to Simeon or to Benjamin what they did to him. Their repentance is shown in v. 21. III. Conflicting Signals (42:17-28) A. A Taste of Their Own Medicine So Joseph imprisoned them together for three days. (17) Just as the brothers placed Joseph in confinement which ultimately led to prison, they were now confined. Truly, what goes around comes around. B. Actions are Stronger than Words if you are honest (19) The brothers proclaimed themselves to be honest in verse 11. Yet, Joseph had no case history to prove it. Thus, he decided to let them put their words into action. C. Divine Justice May Seem Delayed but is Always Exact Obviously, we are being punished for what we did to our brother (21) Change is so much better when we allow God to prompt it! As the Vice President of Egypt, Joseph could have ordered an army to take his brothers captive in Canaan anytime in the past seven years. Yet he was content to let God work it our (Romans 12:19). Manipulation is when we try to change someone; faith is when we wait upon the Lord (Isaiah 40:21) to do it. D. I Told You So But Reuben replied, Didn t I tell you not to harm the boy? But you wouldn t listen. Now we must account for his blood. (22) In Genesis 37:21-22, Reuben counseled his brothers to shed no blood. In fact, Reuben alone desired to return Joseph safely to Jacob. Thinking Joseph to be dead, Reuben stated that the blood debt had come due. E. Joseph s Emotion They did not realize that Joseph understood them, since there was an interpreter between them. He turned away from them and wept. (24) Joseph s trust in God and refusal to retaliate is being blessed by evidence of repentance on the part of his brothers. 3 / 17

4 F. The Fear of the Guilty As they began emptying their sacks, there in each man s sack was his bag of money! When they and their father saw their bags of money, they were afraid. (28) Proverbs 28:1 The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as lions. (NIV). How often are our own fears linked to past or present sin? IV. Agonizing Report (42:29-38) But Jacob answered, My son will not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If anything happens to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hairs down to Sheol in sorrow. (38) Remember the brash young Jacob who was overconfident, over-anxious and overwhelming? Here we find a broken old man, desperately trying to cling to what he holds most dear. Joseph s trust in God is in stark contrast to his family s fear (35). Israel presumed Joseph to be dead; he knew Simeon was in an Egyptian prison. We close chapter 42 with the family blaming one another, paralyzed with fear, sitting still until death inevitably arrives (2 Kings 7:3). V. Difficult Decision (43:1-14) J. Vernon McGee calls this the most dramatic chapter in the Book of Genesis (Thru the Bible, Vol. 1, p. 173) Joseph receives confirmation of the two questions that have plagued him: 1) What is the state of my family, especially father and Benjamin? & 2) Have my brothers changed? Notice that the chapter is filled with irony: A. Irony of a Lost Brother When they had used up the grain (2) No plan was made to rescue Simeon. No attempt was made to go back to Egypt until their food was exhausted. How sad it is that some Christians will not do what s right until they re forced to do it. In effect, Simeon had taken Joseph s place in prison. B. Irony of a Substitutionary Brother I will be responsible for him (9) Judah, who hatched the scheme to sell one brother (37:26-27), was offering his own life as a surety for 4 / 17

5 another. J. Vernon McGee comments, ( Thru the Bible, Vol. 1 p. 175: Friend, you and I have a Surety today, and He came from the tribe of Judah. The Lord Jesus took that place and became my Shepherd, took my place and took my penalty. I was not able to meet His standard. I was not able to come up to His level. But the Lord Jesus stepped in and became my Surety and gave His life for me. What a picture of Christ we have here! (Philemon 18) C. Irony of the Traveling Brothers balsam honey resin, pistachios, and almonds. (11) The comparison with the Ishmaelite caravan of 37:25 is inevitable. Obviously, the three items carried by both caravans were favorite trade goods to the Egyptians. The irony occurs when you realize that the previous caravan had carried another trading good: Joseph! Now they re bringing his brother Benjamin as a precondition to trade. D. Irony of the Dependent Brothers May God Almighty cause the man to be merciful (14) Contrast the independent attitude of the brothers in chapter 37 with their present dependency. Before, when plotting first to kill and then to sell Joseph into slavery, the brothers thought they were independent of God, their father, and even common morality. Now they are returning to their brother in complete submission, completely dependent upon God. VI. Surprising Reception (43:15-34) A. Irony of the Fearful Brothers They intend to overpower us, seize us, make us slaves and take our donkeys (18) The brothers had been invited to a royal palace to have lunch with the Premier of Egypt! In a few short hours they would be making merry (34). But, right now they were dead men walking. What had seemed so appropriate to do to Joseph (37:27), was not so appealing when possibly done to them. (Matt. 7:12) B. Irony of the Dense Brothers May you be well. Don t be afraid. Your God and the God of your father must have put treasure in your bags (23) It seems that Joseph had not been idle in the matter of sharing his faith. Whereas the Patriarchs of Israel were shaking with fear, the Egyptian greets them with Don t be afraid. It s an indictment to a Christian when an unbeliever has to point out God s goodness. 5 / 17

6 C. Irony of the Dreaming Brother And they bowed down to honor him. (28 cf. 26) The scoffing and rebuking of chapter 37 has become the reality of chapter 43. Be careful who you step on as you climb the ladder of success because you may meet the same person on your way back down. D. Irony of the Loving Brother overcome with emotion for his brother (30) In spite of all the hatred and ill treatment, Joseph loved his brothers, especially Benjamin. In this regard, he was most like Jesus (Matt. 5:44). E. Irony of the Serving Brother Portions were served to them from Joseph s table. (34) J. Vernon McGee ( Thru the Bible, Vol. 1, p.175) This is a marvelous, wonderful picture of something that is yet to be fulfilled. I hope that you will see this. The prophet Zechariah tells us that Jesus Christ is going to make Himself known unto His brethren someday. They are going to ask Him about the piercing of His side and the nail prints in His hands. He is going to say to them in that day, These I received in the house of My friends. Then they will recognize Him, and they will weep. He is the One who has provided salvation for them. He is the One who gave His life for their redemption. This is going to take place when the Lord Jesus comes back to the earth. He will be revealed to His brethren, the nation Israel. There will be a remnant there who will know Him. Many of His brethren did not believe on him when He came the first time, but at that time they are going to know Him. Likewise, the brothers of Joseph are the ones who delivered him into slavery. They sold him, got rid of him. But now he is going to make himself known to his brethren. Someday our Lord Jesus Christ is going to do just that. McGee notes three additional aspects of this meal: 1) Joseph ate with his brothers, not the Egyptians. (32), 2) Joseph knew them he arranged them in order of birthdate! (33), 3) Joseph served them. To his true brother, he gave five-fold. (34). Zech. 12:10-13:5; Isaiah 66:8 VII. Demanding Test (44:1-34) Joseph s final exam for his brothers was as heart wrenching as it was revealing. 44:9 we also will become my lord s slaves brings the story full circle. Verse 16 is loaded with application: A. What shall we say to my Lord? How can we plead? Rom. 2:1 therefore you are inexcusable, O man 6 / 17

7 B. How can we justify ourselves? Eph. 2:1 And you he made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins... (Psalm 51) C. God has exposed your servant s iniquity. Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord; and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. (Psalm 51) D. We are now my Lord s slaves Paul calls himself a slave of Christ in Romans 1:1 and calls us Christ s slaves in 1 Cor. 7: Judah offers himself as a substitutionary slave in verse 34. VIII. Revealed Joseph could no longer keep his composure in front of all his attendants, so he called out, Send everyone away from me! No one was with him when he revealed his identity to his brothers. 2 But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and also Pharaoh s household heard it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, I am Joseph! Is my father still living? But they could not answer him because they were terrified in his presence. 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, Please, come near me, and they came near. I am Joseph, your brother, he said, the one you sold into Egypt. (45:1-4) The entire story reaches its pinnacle in this chapter as wrongs are righted and hurts healed. What principles of the Christian life do we see in Joseph s life? HCSB, p. 83, 45:1-4 Joseph was overwhelmed by Judah s words. Not wishing to lose his dignity before his Egyptian attendants, he ordered everyone but his brothers out of the room. Joseph then released more than 20 years of pent-up emotions, weeping so loudly that the Egyptians outside the room heard it. Joseph s revelation of his true identity undoubtedly spoken in Hebrew, not Egyptian-so terrified his brothers that they could not answer 7 / 17

8 his question about his father s well-being. Violating protocol, Joseph ordered the brothers to come near to him so he could speak to them more intimately, this time explicitly identifying himself. A. Transparency is the Foundation of Communication But speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:15) Joseph finally declared himself to his brothers (1-4); the total complexion of their relationship immediately changed. Real Christian love requires honesty; many families are harmed by secrets kept from one another. B. Reconciliation Takes Precedence Over Revenge First be reconciled to your brother (Matt. 5:24) Joseph shows his love by not seeking revenge and by reaching out in love. Amazingly, in verse 5, he doesn t even want them to condemn themselves (cf. 24). C. Trust That God Sees the Big Picture All things work together for good (Romans 8:28) Verses 5-8 emphasize God s divine providence. Believer s Study Bible, p. 69: 45:5 Joseph recognized the overriding providence of God in all that had befallen him. He did not fail to acknowledge that his brothers had sinned and were responsible for it, but he saw that God s plans for good had taken their sin into account and used it. IX. Remnant And now don t be worried or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. 7 God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. 8 Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt. (45:5-8) HCSB, p.83, 45:5-8 These verses stand as the theological high point of the account of Joseph s life (chaps ) and one of the most eloquent affirmations in the Bible regarding God s sovereignty in human events. With amazing spiritual maturity Joseph confessed that God had worked beyond the foul intentions of his older brothers to accomplish two vital things: to preserve life 8 / 17

9 through Joseph s leadership leading up to and during the seven-year famine, and to establish Israel as a remnant on the earth (within the land). The word remnant is an important term used to refer to Israel as the people group who would pass along God s blessings throughout the generations (Ezr 9:8; Is 10:20; 28:5; Jr. 23:3). Three times Joseph affirmed that it was God -not his brothers-who had sent him to Egypt. Therefore, the brothers did not need to be worried or angry with themselves. Indeed, God had made Joseph a father, a top-level advisor to Pharaoh, and a ruler over all the land of Egypt. X. Reunion Return quickly to my father and say to him, This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay. 10 You can settle in the land of Goshen and be near me you, your children, and grandchildren, your sheep, cattle, and all you have. 11 There I will sustain you, for there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you, your household, and everything you have will become destitute. 12 Look! Your eyes and my brother Benjamin s eyes can see that it is I, Joseph, who am speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all my glory in Egypt and about all you have seen. And bring my father here quickly. (45:9-13) HCSB, p. 83, 45:9-15 Joseph, who has once presented a plan to Pharaoh to save Egypt, now offered a plan to his brothers to same Israel s clan by moving them to Egypt to live in Goshen during the five more years of famine that were to come. Goshen was a region in the eastern portion of Egypt s Nile Delta and was also known as the land of Rameses (47:11). The 9 / 17

10 brothers who were still having trouble believing that Joseph was not only alive but a ruler in Egypt, watched as Joseph threw his arms around Benjamin and wept. To their amazement, he also kissed each of his brothers who had once plotted to kill him. XI. Restored Then Joseph threw his arms around Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept on his shoulder. 15 Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept, and afterward his brothers talked with him (45:14-15) Joseph was deeply wronged by his brothers and certainly had reason to exact revenge. However, he demonstrated God s forgiveness that is unmerited, complete and unilateral. When we forgive, we are acting in a God-like manner (Eph. 4:32). XII. Providential Invitation (45:16-28) Christian love Results in Gracious Giving for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7) Verses picture the bounty of grace that love pours out. All the gifts were unmerited. The brothers came to Egypt to purchase grain. Joseph gave them gifts that they could never earn or deserve. (Eph. 2:8-9) The invitation included: A. A New Home I will give you the best of the land of Egypt (18) As Christians, we have citizenship in Heaven (Phil 3:20). B. A Mandate to Bring Others Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your young children and your wives and bring your father here. (19). Jesus gave a commission to every believer to bring others to Him (Matt. 28:18-20; 2 Cor. 5:17-21). C. Gifts (22-23) Jesus promised gifts to all Christians (Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12). D. Peace Don t argue on the way. (24) Jesus said, Peace I leave with you let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid 10 / 17

11 (John 14:27). E. Reunion Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go to see him before I die. (28) To his father Israel, news of Joseph s sudden reappearance was nothing short of a resurrection. The hope of every believer is the resurrection of the dead and its resulting glorious reunion. (1 Cor. 15:12-19) XIII. Worthwhile Move (46:1-34) When Pharaoh invited Israel and his family to move to Egypt, there must have been some reluctance. Canaan was the land promised by God, not Egypt. Also, Abraham had gotten into trouble in Egypt. Yet the chapter closes on a happy note. What can we learn: A. In a Time of Transition, First Seek God (46:1-4) Israel sacrificed to the God of his father Isaac and sought direction. This was a major contrast to the head-strong young man who was so overbearing. Of course, we should seek God s direction every day; but, the fact that Israel offered sacrifices reminds us that transitional times may require us to go beyond business as usual and to especially concentrate on God s leadership. God honored Israel s sacrifice and comforted him. B. In a Time of Transition, Consider Everyone s Needs (46:5-27) Genealogies may not ring your bell for Bible Study; but, their inclusion is significant: 1. The list of people is a picture of the unity God desires for His people. They were all present and accounted for. (Stephen s number of 75 (Acts 7:14) included Joseph s grandsons.) Ephesians 4: / 17

12 2. The list of people includes Christ s ancestors (Matthew 1). 3. The list of people is a foreshadowing of another list in heaven. (Rev. 21:27) C. In a Time of Transition, Plan Ahead, (46:28-34) Notice that both Israel and Joseph are pro-active rather than reactive: 1. Scout Ahead Now Jacob had sent Judah ahead of him... (28) 2. Savor the Change threw his arms around him and wept for a long time. (29) 3. Smooth the Bumps all shepherds are abhorrent to Egyptians (34) The word cattle in the KJV is probably best understood as livestock. Joseph is not telling his brothers to lie; nor are they as stupid as they appear to be in 47:3. Believer s Study Bible, p. 27: 46:34 Joseph s plan was to use the Egyptian prejudice against shepherds to provide his family with a place where they could flourish. It also helped them to remain culturally and spiritually distinct. Goshen was in the eastern Delta region, not far from the court at Memphis (cf. 34:25). XIV. The End of Joseph s Story (47:1-47:31) A. A Promising Home (47:1-12) In a time of transition, be humble (remain dependent upon God). The best way to see the change in Israel s life is to contrast the brash Jacob of 29:4-14 with the humble Israel of 47:9. Jacob said to Pharaoh, My pilgrimage has lasted 130 years. My years have been few and hard, and they have not surpassed the years of my fathers during their pilgrimages. Here s a lesson in human relations: humility and genuineness endear you to new people much more than arrogance and pride. (Matt. 23:12) 12 / 17

13 B. A Benevolent Administration (47:13-26) Joseph has been criticized for taking advantage of the people s poverty. By the end of the chapter, the Pharaoh owns all the land and all the livestock. The end of the story, though, is one of gratitude You have saved our lives. We have found favor in our Lord s eyes and will be Pharaoh s slaves. (25) When the issue is survival, property rights and possessions become moot points. Joseph, in fact, took desperate measures to save an entire culture; the people called him a savior, another comparison to Christ. C. A Timely Promise (47:27-31) carry me away from Egypt (30) Jacob/Israel has become a very wealthy patriarch of a large nation. He made Joseph promise to take his bones back to the land of promise. The cave at Machpelah was the family burial plot of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah and Leah, (49:31). Jacob realized that his change of geography did not negate God s promise. XV. Special Blessings (48:1-22) Upon his deathbed, Israel reflected upon his life and adopted Joseph s sons as his own (Hebrews 11:21). Jacob had been in Egypt for seventeen years and is 147 years old. Several prophecies are valuable in helping us understand Jewish (and Christian) history. All Henry Morris quotations are from The Genesis Record (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1976.) Jacob recounted God s blessings and gave praise for the Angel who has redeemed me (16). This is the first use of redeem in the Bible. We associate the Angel with Jesus Christ. Jacob gave the double blessing of the first-born to Joseph by making his two sons equal to Joseph s brothers. The incident of blessing the younger (19) is in line with Isaac being chosen over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, and Joseph over Reuben. We are reminded that the only birth order that s important to God is the New Birth. (John 3:7, 36) XVI. Prophetic Pronouncements (49:1-33) 13 / 17

14 A. The Future of Reuben (49:3-4) you will no longer excel In the history of Israel, the tribe of Reuben never furnished a leader of any kind for the nation as a whole. In the later journeys to the promised land, the Reubenites were the first tribe to ask for a place to settle, not waiting to cross the Jordan with the others (Numbers 32). They participated in the erection of an unauthorized place of worship (Joshua 22:10-34). During the later wars with the Canaanites, in the days of Deborah and Barak, the tribe of Reuben failed to answer the call to arms (Judges 5:15,16). Jacob s prophecy concerning Reuben has continued to be fulfilled ever since. Never has Reuben excelled in anything. ( Morris, p.652) B. The Future of Simeon and Levi (49:5-7) I will disperse them throughout Jacob and scatter them throughout Israel. This prophecy was fulfilled in different ways in the case of each brother. Simeon was given an inheritance within the inheritance of the children of Judah (Joshua 19:1), but some of the sons of Simeon were captured and dwelled in some of the lands of the Edomites and Amalekites, outside of Canaan (I Chronicles 4:39-43). In the days of the divided kingdom, many of the Simeonites left Israel to join Judah (II Chronicles 15:9). Apparently, they were eventually either mostly assimilated by Judah or scattered outside of Israel altogether, and little is heard of them after the days of King Asa. As far as Levi is concerned, his descendants never had an inheritance of their own in the land, but only cities scattered throughout all the other tribes (cities of refuge (Numbers 35:5-6, 11-15), Joshua 21:1-3). However, the Levites largely redeemed themselves by their stand against idolatry in the days of Moses (Exodus 32:26). (Morris, p. 653) C. The Future of Judah (8-12) J. Vernon McGee writes about the key prophecy that The scepter will not depart from Judah. (49:10; Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah in Rev. 5:5) D. The Future of Dan (16-18) He will be a snake by the road...the reference to the serpent may also refer symbolically to the fact that it was the Danites who introduced idolatry into the land of Israel on a regular official basis (Judges 18:30, 31). It was also in Dan that Jeroboam, who led the rebellion that culminated in the divided kingdom, set up one of his two golden calves (I Kings 12:28-30). It may be that this is why Dan is not listed among the tribes in Revelation 7:4-8. This line of inquiry has led many to believe that the anti-christ will come out of 14 / 17

15 the tribe of Dan. E. The Future of the Remaining Tribes (19-33) Gad (19), Asher (20), Naphtali (21), Joseph (22-26) and Benjamin (27) are all blessed in the latter half of the chapter. XVII. Fulfilled Obligation (50:1-14) Jacob saw the promised land as a physical place; we see it as a spiritual home. His insistence upon being buried in Canaan (rather than Egypt) was in line with his desire to possess the land. Some ancient sources suggest that the normal time needed to embalm a body was thirty days; the period of mourning for a Pharaoh was seventy-two days. So, the high regard for Joseph is seen in the royal burial of his father. (cf. Joshua 24:32 for Joseph s burial) XVIII. Confirmed Forgiveness (50:15-26) You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result. (20) This is a key not only to understanding the Joseph story but also to understanding the Christian life. Romans 8:28 means, at least in part, that God can take bad things that happen to us and turn lemons into lemonade. Such a view on life should help us be slow to anger, quick to forgive, and generous in thanksgiving. Application: 1. God enables us to move to new opportunities. 2. God provides us a view of the future through prophecy. 3. God comforts us with His providential direction in the midst of adverse circumstances. 15 / 17

16 Leader Pack Item 3: Poster: Family of Abraham; Item 4: Key Verse: Genesis 28:14b; Ite m 8: Memory Verses Bookmark; Item 12 : Handout: Path to Reconciliation. Biblical Illustrator: pg. 75 The Splendor of Egypt in Joseph s Day ; Notes: **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: Dates: 2/ Summit trip to Israel Don Munton (TL); 2/15 - Marriage Matters; 2/24 - Parent Commitment; 3/6 Midlink bonus night; 3/9-14 RUSHMORE; 3/23 Family Movie Night; 3/30 Men:Serve; 4/3-12 Israel trip Carolyn O Neal; 4/5 ReCreate Date Night; 4/5-6 MS Lockout; 4/7 MIYCO; 4/13 NextGen Training; 4/14 All Adult LBS Leaders Lunch; 4/18 Broken for You; 4/ 19 Good Friday offices closed; 4/20 Easter 5:00; 16 / 17

17 4/21 Easter Sunday 9:30/11:00 am & 5:00 pm; 4/25-27 SWOC Spring Week of Choir; 4/27 Deacon widow & widowers lunch. 17 / 17