Chapter 49
We read about the life of Israel/Jacob come to an end.  What blessing would you impart to family members?

Jesus came through the descendant of Judah.  Which one of the prophecies, do you most identify as being Jesus in your life?

In the questions for Chapter 35, you were asked to write each name of the sons of Jacob and write them in a way you could add to it.  This is a good chapter to continue this exercise: add where you see God in their lives.

In verse 28, do you view the prophecy to each son as a blessing? Why or why not?

Chapter 50
We don’t read about Israel/Jacob having interactions with the Egyptian people.  Yet there was great mourning for him.  Do you think it was because of Joseph?  Why or why not?

In verse 15, the brothers made a wrong decision based on what they thought about Joseph.  At times, do you make decisions on what you believed was the thoughts of someone?

In Genesis 45:8 and again here in verse 20, Joseph is reassuring his brother of truth.  When have you had to be reminded of truth?

FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH – in verses 24 & 25, Joseph is looking towards a hope for his body to be taken with the children of Israel, when they leave Egypt. We have hope greater than that.  According to these verses (and more), what is our hope? Romans 15:12-13, 1^st Peter 1:13, 20-21, 1^st John 3:1-3. 

EXODUS 1
In verse 9, how did the Egyptian king define the word “wisely”?

DIG DEEP- Find verses where God’s word defines wise.  How does God’s word define wise according the verses you found? (Google is an easy way to dig deep)

Verse 11 – How do you envision “hard labor”?

Verse 17 – What does it mean to fear God?

Chapter 2
A sister is near her brother in the river.  A mother gets to nurse her own baby in her own home.  The mother gets paid to take care of her own child.  In your own words, how is God already showing he is against Pharaoh?

Moses came from Levi.  What prophesy from Genesis chapter 49, do you see that Moses exhibits in this chapter?

Verses 24-25 can be difficult verses to understand.  Use Genesis 15:13-15 to help you interpret these verses.   Here are some other verses which may help you.  Revelation 18:5, Revelation 16:19, Genesis 8:1, Numbers 10:9, Isaiah 49:15-16, Genesis 19:29, Genesis 30:22.  Acts 10:31 Psalm 98:3.   Write your thoughts.

Chapter 3
Verse 6 – How could Moses have known about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

God tells Moses He is “I AM”.  In your life, how is God the “I AM”?

Write a prayer to God thanking Him for who He is in your life today.

If you only had this chapter in the Bible, what would be your perspective of God, Moses and the children of Israel?

Chapter 4
No indication that Moses has had a previous conversation with God.  What is the first conversation you remember having with God?

Using verses 3 – 9 & 23 – Write a list of what God is going to use to convince the Egyptians to let His people leave Egypt? example – staff to snake,

What is the typical conversation you have with God, about the things He asks you to do?

When do you worship?

What encourages you to worship?

FROM THE PASTOR – What character(s) of God do you see?

How have you seen them in your life or in the lives of those you know?

This week the format has been changed a bit.  Hang on!  Read chapters 43 – 45 and remember what you read in chapter 42 or go back and read it as well.

The brothers have to go back to Jacob/Israel and explain that Joseph is alive.  Remember, Benjamin probably does not know about the secret. They are probably having this discussion in secret…, again. 

Scenario – You are one of the brothers.  The brothers decide to make up a plausible story, of how they found his tunic covered with blood, and yet Joseph is alive. 

Is your thought – no big deal, I have been hiding secrets for years?

Scenario – You are one of the brothers.  You tell them you are going to go along with their story, but in your head, you decide to finally reveal your secret, to your father. 

When contemplating how to tell your father, would you start by reminding your father of some of the stories you have heard through the years, of his interactions with Laban?

Would you tell him, only of the role, you played in the deception?

Would you tell him the full truth, regardless of the consequences?

Now, imagine you are Jacob/Israel.  What would your initial reaction/emotion be, concerning the deception/secret?

Chapter 44

Like Joseph, have you been so overwhelmed with long term emotion, that you could not control it?

Joseph deceived his brothers in chapter 44.  What do you imagine the motive was?

Do you think Joseph would have made Benjamin a slave? Why or why not?

Judah demonstrates the same character trait in this chapter, as he did when the brothers were going to kill Joseph. What word, would you use to describe it?

What long term character have you seen in one of your relatives?

Chapter 45

Joseph knew who God was in his life.  Are you as convinced of who God is in your life?

Looking back into your life, was there a time where God had to convince you, of His presence?

In your own words and thoughts, connect 45:15 to 45:24.

Chapter 46

In 46:2 God talks to Israel, then addresses him as Jacob.  Your thoughts?

What would be, some of your concerns, about moving to a new country, at your current age?

46:34 – What is loathsome, disgusting, or an abomination to you?  Would you do anything, in your power, to keep it from touching your life?

Chapter 47

We do not know how Jacob blessed Pharaoh.  How would you bless someone, you have met for the first time?

God insured Israel got the best of the land.  What has God given you, that you would define as, the best of the land?

Chapter 48

Do you believe that Jacob had the right to claim Joseph’s sons as his? Why or why not?

1^st Peter 3:17-18 – Is this applicable to the story of Joseph?  Why or why not?

FOR REFLECTION – MY OWN STORY

I am more likely to: be emotional or be reserved

I am more likely to: demonstrate affection or hold back

I am more likely to: be family-centered or be work-centered

I am more likely to: be direct or beat around the bush

I am more likely to: plan for the future or take one day at a time

I am more likely to: hold a grudge or forgive

When confronted with pain that I have brought on others, I___________________

When I have the opportunity to forgive others, I____________________________

It is difficult to see God’s plan for my life because_________________________

I want to see God at work in my life by,___________________________________

Which statement(s) is true – I don’t see God at work in my life …

because I really don’t believe he has a purpose for me.

because I have never asked God to open my eyes to see Him in the everyday.

because I do not forgive those who have hurt me.

because I don’t know how to be a blessing to others.

because______________________________________

If you do see how God is at work in your life. 

What is your purpose?

How do you see Him, in your life?

When did you have to forgive someone who hurt you?

How have you blessed someone?

He is at work in my life when________________________________

FROM THE PASTOR – What character(s) of God did you see this week in the reading?

APPLICATION – Where have you seen the character(s) to be true in your life?  Write an example.

CHAPTER 37

Growing up how well did you get along with your siblings or cousins? Has the relationship changed for the better or the worse?

How do you hear from God most often?

Canaan came from which one of Noah’s sons?

Jacob came from which one of Noah’s sons?

Read I Corinthians 10:13. Now according to Genesis 37:20 what ways of escape, could the brothers have taken?

Why do you think Joseph’s dreams, angered his brothers?

What do you think was behind the desire to kill Joseph?

We don’t know the conversation Joseph was having with his brothers, when they were throwing him in the pit.  What conversation would you be having?

How do you view Reuben different than his brothers?

Ishmaelites are mentioned in this chapter.  Who is Ishmael and who did God say he would be? (Genesis 16:12)

In this chapter, choose only one part of the story as the crime?  Why did you choose it?

Judah was Joseph’s protector.  According to 2^nd Thessalonians 3:3 who is our protector? 

Write a conversation to God thanking Him for a specific time he protected you.

In verses 22 and 29, Reuben was not part of the plot to sell Joseph.  Was he innocent?  Why or why not?

CHAPTER 38

Do you see a double standard concerning men and women in today’s culture? 

Have you experienced a double standard between you and men in general?  Did it or does it change God’s plan for your life?

In your life, when has God brought something good out of a bad situation?

In verse 6, how would you define “evil in the sight of God”?

Was Judah honest with Tamar in verse 11 and 14?

What are your thoughts concerning Tamar in verses 14-19?

CHAPTER 39

How would Romans 8:28-29 fit Joseph just now?

How do these verses fit in your life just now?

Have you seen where someone was blessed because of another person? (verse 5)

FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH – Joseph’s sin would have been against God, not Potiphar or his wife. Psalm 51:3-4, Psalms 41:4, 2^nd Samuel 12:13

39:14-18 – In your own words, what was the evil? Put a name to it.    

Considering verses 21 – 23, was Joseph’s life free of trouble?  Why or why not?

CHAPTER 40

Where in your life are you feeling imprisoned? 

What is the conversation you are having with God for your release?

FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH- Interpretations belong to God (verse 8)  1^st Corinthians 12:10, 2^nd Peter 1:20-21

When you hear the word dungeon, what are your thoughts?

Have you made a decision, based on something you saw in someone else’s life?  Did it go well for you?

CHAPTER 41

Would you rather have a glimpse of the future or have a journey to the past? Why?

Have you ever felt God had forgotten about you? _____ What did He do, to let you know He was still there?

It was 2 years before the cupbearer mentions Joseph to Pharoah.  Given the same situation would you get discouraged?

Do you give God credit – always, sometimes, seldom or never? (verse 16)

Did Joseph have wisdom on his own? Why or why not?

Have you asked God for wisdom in an area or in areas of your life?

Read the following verses – 1^st Corinthians 1:30, 1^st Corinthians 2:5 and 7, Ephesians 1:8 and 17, Colossians 1:28, Colossians 2:3, Colossians 3:16.  Ask God to help you use wisdom more often in your life.

In your own words, personalize and rewrite Colossians 3:16.

FUN STUFF – If you could choose what your name means, what would it be? (41:50)

CHAPTER 42

If you were “Queen for The Day”, what would you have the commoners do?

What past trouble, would you like God to help you forget?

Define Repentance?

Should repentance be judged (discerned) on its intention? Its emotion? Or its results?

When someone has deeply wronged you, are you most likely to seek revenge or reconciliation?  Be honest with God about this question.

Do you or have you had, what seems like a hopeless situation?

Simeon was left in jail when his brothers went back to their father.  Do you think he was treated poorly based on the emotion Joseph had? 

FROM THE PASTOR – What Character(s) of God did you see? How have you seen this/these in your life or in the life of someone close to you?

CHAPTER 31

If you could advise Jacob, what would you tell him to do about relationship to Laban?  Remember, only use an absolute truth as discernment, not as a religious judgement. 

The Deception Continues !!!!

God told Jacob to leave.  Was he obligated to tell Laban he was leaving?  Why or why not?

What did Rachel do, to show she had become like her father?

Do you think Rachel and Leah would have agreed to leave if their father was still rich?  Why or why not? (Verses 14-16)

In this chapter, how is God, “the God who sees”?  Write the verse(s) you used.

What is your definition of the word “VOW”?

Do you think God caused Jacob to prosper because of the vow? Explain your thinking, there is no concrete answer.

Based on Genesis 28:22, how much of Jacob’s wealth was not touchable by Laban?

CHAPTER 32

What was one meeting or encounter you dreaded?  Why did you dread it?  Did you do everything you could to avoid it?  Do you still have a negative bias or attitude towards the situation?  As you can see, you need to dig deep.

In verse 7, what is the unfounded belief found in Abraham, Isaac, and now Jacob?

In a nutshell what was Jacob’s prayer to God in verses 9 – 12?

Do you believe you can wrestle with God for a blessing?  Why or why not?

CHAPTER 33

What dreaded family reunion or get together turned out much better than expected?

When is it easier, for you, to forgive others?

When is it easier, to feel forgiven?

In verse 32:7 & 13, why did Jacob send gifts to Esau?

In verse 33:10-11, What did Jacob say was his reason?

Compare 32:7 & 13 and 33:10-11 – what conclusion do you have?

Let’s remember that an alter is built to or for God.  There are several reasons Jacob could have decided to build an altar to God.  After reading these few chapters, what are some of those reasons.

CHAPTER 34

The deceptions continue!!!

What or who is your family’s pride and joy?

What was or is one unbearable loss you had or dread?

Define anger in verse 7 and deceit in verse 11 according to what happened in this chapter. 

What was the truth which was spoken in verses 13 – 18?

How did Hamor and Shechem convince the men to be circumcised according to verse 23? 

In your selfishness have you ever convinced someone to do something?

Matthew 5:44 Jesus tells you what your responsibility is concerning enemies.  Write a conversation to God, thanking him for the peace He can and does give you, when you obey this?

This chapter could have a lot of emotion attached to it for you.  Write a conversation to God about your thoughts.  Ask Him to give you what you need to have peace either in your “good for them” or “how could he” emotion.  This could be a secret place for you, which you have never allowed to come to the surface.   If so, it is destructive for you to keep it in the secret place. 

CHAPTER 35

In your life, when have you lingered at Shechem (a place to prosper and be religious) instead of going to Bethel ( your designated “house of God”)?

What is your Bethel?  Write it down.  Give it a name.  Have a conversation with God about it.  This is important to your spiritual health. 

It appears Jacob knew there were people with him who had foreign gods.  Do you think it was Jacob’s responsibility to rid them before now?  Why or why not?

Why do you think Jacob hid the gods and jewelry instead of destroying them? 

We do not see Jacob fearing the people of Canaan.  Why do you think he did not fear?

El Bethel – The God, of the house of God. The God! Of the House of God!  How do these two different expressions take on meaning in your life? (Verse7)

Reuben in essence slept with a step mother.  Yet there is no mention other than Israel (Jacob) heard about it.  Any thoughts on the lack of any conversations or outcome?

Write the names of the son’s of Jacob (Israel) in your notebook.  Write them in a way you can add to them.  For example:

Reuben –  first born, slept with fathers concubine, etc….

Simeon – Leah’s son, defended Dinah his sister, etc..

Levi – Leah’s son, defended Dinah, etc…

So on and so forth.  These men make up the whole of Israel.  They are important.  But it is important to remember their lives as people like us.

CHAPTER 36

In your family, how far back have you gone?

It was important to God to have Esau’s generations mentioned. Why do you think God did this, in light of Jacob getting the blessing, and not Esau?

What are your thoughts concerning the use of the chief throughout this genealogy?

CHAPTER 25

It appears Isaac and Ishmael were on speaking terms. Have you been in a situation where you had to cooperate with a family member who was difficult?

FUN STUFF – What was the worst trade or swap you have made?

DIG DEEP – Did you read where Abraham ever prayed that Sarah would get pregnant?

In this passage, (be truthful with yourself) How are you similar to Esau?

How are you like Jacob?

In your own words what does the word Despised mean – verse 34.

What is a birthright?

What does it mean to despise the birthright?

CHAPTER 26

What is the first thing you thought when you read verse 7?

Compare 25:11 with 12-14 in this chapter. Write your thoughts.

In verse 24 God tells Isaac why he was going to be blessed. Do you want to be blessed because of you or are you okay being blessed because of someone else?

Write a prayer of thanksgiving in detail with one of the blessings you have received.

FUN EXERCISE – this will give insight into who you are. Again, be truthful with yourself.

1) What do you do when there is a Jacob (scheming to take what is yours) in your life?

2) When God blesses people in whom I don’t approve I _________________________________________

3) When there is a competition and/or conflict in my family, I ______

4) I have tried to encourage healing in my family by _________________

CHAPTER 27

Think back to Eve, who and how did she manipulate?

Who and how did Sarai manipulate?

Who and how did Rebekah manipulate?

How have you manipulated someone? Be truthful, you have. Even if it was where you wanted to go to dinner.

When Jacob lied to Isaac, do you think it was for himself, for his mother, or both? Why do you think this?

Remember and mark verses 39 and 40. In the following chapters you will see this fulfilled.

Have you ever been in a place where life was not worth living? How did you process it, to get through it?

If this did not apply to you; have you had someone close to you who felt this way? What was your role in their pain?

Think of your family. Who makes life difficult for you?

What do you do?

FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH- Luke 6:27-28

How should you respond to the difficult people in your life?

CHAPTER 28

What spiteful thing have you done?

Did it turn out well?

In light of what we know about Ishmael in Chapter 16:11-12; look back to 27:40 and compare to 28:9. Write your thoughts about where Esau went to get a wife.

This is the first mention of a pillar being built and given a name. A pillar is an outward sign or object of meeting with God. An oath is from an inward pledge or vow. An altar is built to or for God.

If you chose to build a pillar what would be its purpose?

FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH – Romans 6:4

What is our outward sign to God and the world?

CHAPTER 29

In your own words, how are Laban and Jacob alike?

Do you have relatives who have the same traits?

Have you been told you have the same traits as a relative?

In your opinion is it a good trait or a bad trait?

When you want a situation or someone to change, what do you do?

CHAPTER 30

Sarai and Rachel – What are your thoughts?

Who was Sarai and what did she do?

Who was Rachel and what did she do?

When you compete, do you get intense, and want to win at any cost?

The deception continues. Has deception from someone in your life caused pain or made a situation more difficult?

Have you been the deceiver? Be honest with God about it. This is important to your spiritual health.

This is a great story. Humanity at its core. What is the foundational truth about people and their heart? Gen 8:21

Jacob’s actions do nothing to deserve a blessing from God at this point. But what did God tell him in 28:13-15?

Who promised it and was it dependent on Jacob’s actions?

FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH- Who and what is our promise according to these verses? Romans 3:22, 1st Corinthians 1:30, 2nd Corinthians 5:21

FROM THE PASTOR – What character(s) of God did you see this week in the reading?

APPLICATION – Where have you seen the character(s) to be true in you life? Write an example.