Genesis Series: chapter 37.

EXPLORING GENESIS SERIES:

 

THE BIBLE: EXPLORING GENESIS SERIES.

CHAPTER 37: JOSEPH

  

In chapter 37, Joseph has 2 dreams which we share with his brothers and his father. The jealousy of the brothers is predicable since they believed their father loved Joseph more than them. The father also listens to Joseph telling them of the dream, rebukes him in front of his brothers but as vs 11 tells us” … but his father kept the saying in mind.

In the next few verses, we catch a glimpse of Joseph’s personality obeying his father’s command as he looks for his brothers at Shechem and as he approaches Dothan. Sadly, for Joseph, his opportunistic brothers seized the chance to kill him despite Reuben’s misgivings about it (vs 21-22).

From vs 26-336 through Judah’s instigation, the brothers sell Joseph, their brother, and later cover up their treachery as they explain their wicked deed to their father, who was grief stricken. 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1.             How do we treat others who have different ideas/dreams than ours?

2.             Are we jealous/engage in ‘tall poppy’ syndrome with the ‘dreamers’ in our workplace, family and parish?

3.             Are we like Joseph’s father who keeps the peace with his children but ponders the meaning of Joseph’s dreams?

4.             Consider how far would jealousy drive you in a family, workplace or parish situation?

5.             Are we like Reuben, unafraid to speak out   against the wrong (of his brothers), or do we get caught by the ‘Judah’ personality and become enmeshed in wrong doing?

6.             Do we grieve for the wrong of others (eg

7.             Joseph’s father)?

8.             How do we treat people who are in deep grief- do we allow them to grieve at their own pace, or our own by attitudes of ‘time to move on’ or ‘get over it’.?