Our Mess, His Masterpiece

Brentwood Baptist Our Mess, His Masterpiece Genesis 45:16-20 September 25, 2016 Teaching Plans

PREPARATION

> Spend the week reading through and studying Genesis 45:16-20. Consult the commentary provided and any additional study tools (such as a concordance or Bible dictionary) to enhance your preparation.

> Determine which discussion points and questions will work best with your group.

> Pray for our pastors, the upcoming group meeting, your teaching, your group members, and their receptivity to the study.

HIGHLIGHTS

Biblical Emphasis: Jacob is united with Joseph, and God’s people are saved.

Teaching Aim: God is in control of all things and can take what people intend for our harm and turn it for our good.

INTRODUCTION As your group time begins, use this section to help get the conversation going.

1. Do you have a favorite movie that has a happy ending? If so, what is it?

2. Does your family celebrate family reunions? How often do you have them and what are they like?

3. When you think about heaven, what do you anticipate most? Do you ever think about being reunited with loved ones?

We all love a happy ending. After a series full of twists and turns, Joseph’s story reaches its pinnacle when he reveals his identity to his brothers and extends forgiveness to them. Not only did Joseph forgive them, but he also longed to be reconciled to them. Joseph asked his brothers to bring his father and the entire family to live in Egypt. As we survey Joseph’s story, we can see how God used what was intended to harm Joseph for his good, and thousands of lives were saved as a result. In the same way, across the entire story of Scripture, we see the sovereignty of God working in every situation to reconcile a lost world to Him. Joseph’s family reunion points us to the ultimate reunion with the family of God.

UNDERSTANDING Unpack the biblical text to discover what Scripture says or means about a particular topic.

> Have a volunteer read Genesis 45:16-20.

 What does Pharaoh’s invitation to Joseph’s family tell us about his feelings toward Joseph?  According to verses 18-20, what did Pharaoh offer them?  In previous weeks we’ve learned about how sin affects an entire family. In the same way, how did Joseph’s favor and blessing extend to his entire family? How have you seen evidence of this in your own family?

Joseph, who had presented a plan to Pharaoh to save all of Egypt, had also presented a plan to save his brothers by moving them all to Goshen. Joseph knew there were five more years of famine to come. It’s likely that he and Pharaoh had already discussed the idea and Pharaoh gave his approval. Pharaoh’s words not only affirmed what Joseph had promised, but he offered even more saying, “Do not be concerned about your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.”

 Joseph supplied his brothers with everything they needed and more for their journey. How do you respond when someone treats you with extravagant grace?  What similarities do you see in Joseph’s story and the cross? In what ways is Jesus “the Greater Joseph”?  How did Jacob respond to the news that Joseph was alive?

Joseph not only forgave his brothers, he also blessed them extravagantly. Twenty years earlier the brothers had taken Joseph’s robe of many colors from him when they sold him into slavery (37:23). Now Joseph supplied each of them with new clothes to wear. In the Bible, a new set of clothes often signifies a new beginning (35:1-7; 41:14). Joseph’s brothers had sold him for twenty pieces of silver, but Joseph gifted Benjamin with fifteen times that amount. He also provided ample food and everything they needed for their journey, along with a piece of advice, “Don’t argue on the way.”

 As Jacob traveled with his family to Egypt, God spoke to him in a vision. What did He tell him?  What does this teach us about the character of God?

Jacob and the entire family left Hebron (37:14) and journeyed for about a week before they came to Beersheba, a town on the southern tip of Canaan (John 15:21,

2 28). Beersheba was a sentimental place for Jacob, since his father Abraham had dug a well there (Gen 21:30) and it was there that Abraham had offered up Isaac on Mount Moriah (22:19). Jacob, in his old age, was likely nervous as he embraced the change of moving to a foreign land. He paused to build an altar and worship the Lord.

 What are common feelings when we are faced with change?  Do you think change is more difficult on the elderly? Why or why not?

That night, the Lord appeared to Jacob in a vision, which was the first vision granted to a patriarch since the time of Abraham (15:1). God called the elderly patriarch’s name twice, which signified a special revelatory moment. God told Jacob not to be afraid because He would be with him, and God affirmed His promise to make Abraham’s family line into a great nation. God also promised to bring Jacob’s descendants back, and he promised his beloved Joseph would put his hands on the patriarch’s eyes, meaning he would be present at his death.

 How did Jacob respond when reunited with Joseph?  What impact did Joseph’s forgiveness and grace have on the family? What can we learn from his example?

Joseph’s eleven brothers had already been united with him, and now it was finally Jacob’s turn. After twenty-two years, Jacob could see the hand of God in all that had taken place. Despite his past sins, Judah proved himself faithful, and his descendants were eventually named the royal tribe (49:8-12). Joseph’s dreams had all come true. Now it was his season to share the joys and sorrows of life with his extended family.

 How is the entire Bible a story of forgiveness, redemption, and reconciliation?  Where do you see yourself in God’s greater story?

Joseph’s story points us all to the grander narrative of Scripture. Through Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity to be forgiven, redeemed, reconciled to God, and to become a member of God’s family. Ultimately we, too, will participate in the ultimate reunion of the family of God.

APPLICATION

3 Help your group identify how the truths from the Scripture passage apply directly to their lives.

1. What does this story teach us about the concept of forgiveness, grace, and reconciliation? 2. As a biblical community, how can we encourage one another to focus on God and His sovereignty? 3. How would our lives be different if we refused to hold grudges?

PRAY Give thanks to God for the reconciliation He offers us in the work of Christ. Pray each group member will be full of grace and eager to forgive as we have been forgiven.

COMMENTARY

4 Genesis 45:16-20

45:9-28. The 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. Affirming the commands Joseph had given, Pharaoh told him to have his brothers load their animals with food, go on back to Jacob in Canaan, and then return with their families.

New to the set of instructions was Pharaoh’s provision of wagons from the land of Egypt to transport the weaker members of the clan down to Egypt, the promise that Joseph’s family could live in the best of the land of Egypt, and that they would be permitted to eat the richness (“the fat”) of the land. Joseph supplied his brothers with generous provisions for the journey back to Canaan, as well as items for the clan’s return to Egypt.

The translation of Joseph’s final command (Do not quarrel) is uncertain and may also mean “Don’t fear” or “Don’t take undue risks.” Jacob experienced a storm of emotion when the group returned from Egypt. Initially he experienced relief, as all 11 brothers came back to him. “His heart became numb” (was stunned) when he was told that Joseph was still alive. Jacob agreed to go to see him before he died. God’s promise of blessing to Jacob (32:29; 35:9) had proven true.