Genesis Worksheet - Chapter 42

Genesis Chapter 42

We saw Joseph come from prison into royalty in Chapter 41's reading as he was able to interpret Pharaoh's dreams, telling him to prepare in 7 years of plenty for the 7 years of famine to come.  In this lesson, we will see the famine come over the entire earth and effect the family of Jacob (Israel) and the brothers that had sold Joseph into slavery 13 years before.... Joseph was 17 when they sold him.. now he is a 30 year old man and second in rank to Pharaoh himself.

1.  Jacob had heard that there was grain in Egypt, so he sent the 10 brothers to buy grain so that they would live and not die. 

Why didn't Jacob allow the youngest son, Benjamin, to go with them? vs. 4 -

2.  Who did the brothers bow down to in order to buy grain when they arrived in Egypt?  vs. 6 -

3.  They did not recognize him, but he knew who they were.  Joseph remembered the dreams which he had about them bowing down to him. 

What did he say to them at that time under his disguise? vs. 9 -

4.  The brothers said who they were and that they were from one father in the land of Canaan.  They said the youngest was with their father and the other one was no longer alive. 

What did Joseph say they must do in order to leave the land and go back home to prove they were not spies. vs. 15-16 -

5.  Joseph put all the brothers in prison for 3 days.  What did he tell them to do on the 3rd day in order to live? vs. 19-20 -

6.  What did the brothers say to one another when they were told this by the ruler of Egypt? vs. 21-22 -

7.  They didn't know that Joseph understood them for there was an interpreter between them.  What did Joseph do when he turned away from them after hearing this? vs. 24 -

8.  Who did Joseph take from them and bound up to keep while the others went? vs. 24 -

Joseph ordered that the sacks they brought be filled with grain and all their money restored to their sacks and gave them provisions for their journey back to Canaan.  They loaded their donkeys and went back.

9.  What did  they fear when they realized their money had been returned to them in their sacks? vs. 28, vs. 35

They explained everything that had happened to their father Jacob when they got back.  They explained how the lord of the land had kept their brother Simeon and now demanded that the youngest brother be brought back to him so that he would know they were not spies.

10.  How did the father Jacob respond to this news? vs. 36 -

11.  Reuben gave his word that he would make sure Benjamin came back to him and even put his own sons up as the guarantee. 

What did Jacob (Israel) say to him? vs. 38 -

Application:

Jacob is afraid to let Benjamin go.  He worked 14 years to have Rachel for a wife.  Her first son, Joseph, has been killed by a wild beast (he has believed this for 20 years now)...and Rachel herself died on their journey giving birth to young Benjamin.  Benjamin is a young man now, but the youngest of Jacob's son and the only son left from his beloved Rachel.  Can you understand why it is so hard for him to let him go, even if it means the only survival for the family as a whole?

Have you been in situations of having fear of trusting God in this way because of past circumstances?  I know I have. 

Let's look at some verses today on worry, anxiety, and fear and see why we don't have to fear or try to control things.  God can be trusted and relied on.

Look up and comment on these:

• Philippians 4:6-8 -
• 1 John 4:18 -
• Isaiah 41:10 -
• Luke 12:25 -
• I Peter 5:7 -

Your summary and prayer today:

 

 

 

Written for RTB websites by B.LeMoine, use with email permission only.

Genesis Worksheet - Chapter 41

Genesis Chapter 41

In yesterday's reading, we saw that Joseph was put in charge of the two prisoners of Pharaoh, the cupbearer to the king and also the chief baker to the king.  They both had dreams they could not interpret.  Joseph interpreted them but gave all the credit to God, not himself.  He asked that the cupbearer remember him before the king since he had been put in prison for false accusations and was innocent.  The cupbearer did not remember him.  Now it is two full years later....

1.  At the end of two full years from the time that Joseph had interpreted the cupbearer's dream and it had come true that he (the cupbearer) got out and was back in service to Pharaoh .... Pharoah had a dream himself that he was standing by the Nile River. 

• What came up first from the river? vs. 2 -
• What came up after them? vs. 3 -
• What did the ugly and lean (guant) cows do to the others? vs. 4 -

2.  Pharaoh woke up from that dream, but fell asleep again and had another dream.

• What did he dream this time? vs. 5 -
• What happened after that? vs. 6 -
• What did the thin ears do to the plump ones? vs. 7 -

3.  Pharoah woke and realized he had had these dreams.  His spirit was troubled and so he called for the magicians of Egypt and its wise men to come interpret the dreams.  None could tell him what they meant. 

Now, the chief cupbearer remembers Joseph (this is two full years later)...

• What does the cupbearer tell Pharoah at this time? vs. 9-13 -

4.  Pharaoh sent for Joseph and they hurried him out of the dungeon to his side.  They had him shave and change his clothes first.  Pharoah told Joseph he had heard that he could interpret dreams. 

• What was Joseph's humble answer? vs. 16 -

5.  Pharoah explained the dreams exactly as he had them.  Joseph told Pharoah that his dreams were one and the same; that God had told Pharaoh what He was about to do.

• What did the seven good cows and the seven good ears of corn represent? vs. 26 -
• What did the seven ugly cows that came up after them and the seven thin ears of corn scorched by the wind represent? vs. 27 -
• What was the summary Joseph gave to Pharaoh from God? vs. 28-31 -
• What was the reason for having two dreams that meant the same? vs. 32 -

Joseph explained to Pharaoh that he should set a man discerning and wise over the land of Egypt to set overseers in charge of the land.  Joseph said they should exact a fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance.  They should gather all the food of the good years that were coming and store up the grain for food in the cities under Pharaoh's authority and guard over it.  The food then would be a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine that would follow, so that the land would not perish during the famine.

6. 

What did Pharaoh say to his servants? vs. 38 -

What did Pharaoh say to Joseph? vs. 39 -

7.  Joseph is going from prisoner to prince over the land in one moment's time!  Pharaoh set Joseph over  his house and said that all the people in the land would do homage to him.  Only Pharaoh himself would have more authority than Joseph.

• What did Pharaoh give to Joseph?-vs.42 -  1)      2)     3)
• What did Pharaoh name Joseph? vs. 45 - 
• Who was given to Joseph for a wife? vs. 45 -
• How old was Joseph when this promotion occured? vs. 45

Joseph was 17 when his brothers sold him into slavery.  It had been 13 years since he had his own dreams that he had waited to come true.

8.  What did Joseph do during the seven years of plenty? vs. 47-49 -

9.  Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, born to him. 

• What did Joseph name the firstborn son and what did the name mean? vs. 51 -
• What did Joseph name the second born son and what did the name mean? vs. 52 -

10. When the seven years of plenty ended, the famine began as Joseph had said God had shown. 

Where did the famine have effect? vs. 54, 56

11. Where was the only place to have bread during the famine years? vs. 54, 56 - 

12. When the people were famished in Egypt and they cried out to Pharaoh, he sent them to Joseph. 

Who else had to come and buy grain from Joseph at that time and why? vs. 57 -

Application:

13. God gave the prophet Amos a Word about the type of famine there will be in the last days.  What kind will it be?

• Amos 8:11-12 -

14. What should you and I be storing up in the days of plenty so that we will have the spiritual manna for them in the days of famine?

• Matthew 4:4 -
• Matthew 28:20 -
• 2 Timothy 3:14-17 -

Your summary and prayer today:

 

 

Written by B.LeMoine for RTB websites.  Email for permission to use in any other way.  Thank you.

Genesis Worksheet - Chapter 40

Genesis Chapter 40

In yesterday's reading, we saw that Joseph was a faithful servant in Potiphar's house, but Mrs. Potiphar lied about him, falsely accusing him of lying with her when the opposite was true.  Potiphar did not check the facts; he just got angry and threw Joseph into the place where the king's prisoners were confined. We saw that God continued to give Joseph favor and that the chief jailer put Joseph in charge of the prisoners because he saw that God was with him.  After some time, the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt (Pharaoh) had offended their lord and he had thrown them into prison.  He put them in the same place that Joseph was in.

1.  Who did the captain of the bodyguard (Potiphar) put in charge of the two new prisoners? vs. 4 -

The cupbearer and the baker both had a dream the same night, each man with his own dream and each dream with its own interpretation.  When Joseph came to check on them the next morning, he noticed they seemed dejected.  Joseph asked them, "Why are your faces so sad today?"

2.  They told Joseph they had both had a dream and there was no one to interpret the dreams. 

What did Joseph say to them? vs. 8 -

3.  What was the dream of the cupbearer? vs. 9-11

4.  What was the interpretation that Joseph gave him for the dream? vs. 12-13

5.  What request did Joseph make of the cupbearer? vs. 14 -15

6.  What was the dream of the chief baker? vs. 16-17 -

7.  What was the interpretation that Joseph gave him for the dream? vs. 18-19 -

8.  The dreams came true on Pharoah's birthday. 

What did he do for the cupbearer that day? vs. 21 -

9.  What did he do to the chief baker that day? vs. 22 -

10.  Did the cheif cupbear remember Joseph as he had asked him to? vs. 23 -

 

Note:  We know from Scripture that it will be 2 full years before the cupbearer finally mentions something to Pharaoh about Joseph. The timing will be in God's perfect plan, but how do you think it made Joseph feel to find out that the cupbearer had forgotten all about him? Has anything similiar ever happened to you?  Has someone promised you something and let you down?

11.  Just in case it looks to us like Joseph had an easy time in the prison always, read and comment on this verse:

• Psalm 105:16-19 -

So much has gone wrong for Joseph.  It would be easy for him to chunk his faith and do wrong things if he is going to get punished and be forgotten for doing the good things for others.  Joseph is wanting to please God above all else and God will reward him richly for it.  When our faith is going through the fire, we must remember that God will reward our faith in due time.

12.  Read and comment on these:

• Galatians 6:9 -
• 1 Peter 5:10 -
• James 1:12 -
• Philippians 1:6 -

Your summary and prayer today:

 

 

Written for RTB Websites by B LeMoine, use by email permission only.

Genesis Worksheet - Chapter 39

Genesis Chapter 39

Today we join Joseph again.  He has been taken down to Egypt where Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, has bought him from the Ishmaelites. Remember how he got here.  His brothers made a plan to kill him, but decided to sell him instead and stage the story to their father that a wild beast must have attacked and killed their brother, returning to him only the blood stained multi-colored coat they had dipped in goat's blood.

1.  Even though Joseph, only 17 years of age, had been rejected by all of his brothers and discarded as nothing to them ...

... but, had the Lord rejected Joseph? vs. 2 - 3

2.  What happened as a result of God' s favor and blessing in Joseph's life? vs. 4-6 -

We are told that Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.  Potiphar's wife desired him and asked that he lie with her.

3.  What was Joseph's answer to her? 

Who did he realize he would be sinning against to do such a thing? vs. 8-9

She would not stop, but spoke to Joseph day after day with the same temptation.  He continued to reject her offer.  One day when he went to do his work, there was no one else around and Mrs. Potiphar made another advance to him, catching him by his garment.  She yelled "Lie with me!".  He left his garment in her hand and fled, running outside away from her.

What are we told to do when temptation comes upon us like this?

• 2 Timothy 2:22 -
• James 4:7-
• 1 Corinthians 10:13 -

4.  She was frustrated not getting what she wanted.  She lied in regard to him. 

What did she tell the men of her household? 

What did she tell Potiphar when he got home? vs. 14-18 -

5.  How did Potiphar react when he heard this? 

Did he get the facts or just believe his wife?  vs. 19-20 -

Where is the blessing in Joseph's life now that he has been falsely accused and lied about and all for ...  doing his best and being godly?

6.  What did the Lord do for him in the prison cell? vs. 21-23 -

Application:

7.  How can Joseph's example help you apply Peter's writings to your life from the New Testament?

• 1 Peter 2:13-25 -
• 1 Peter 3:13-17 -

Your summary and prayer today:

 

 

 

Written for RTB websites by B LeMoine, use by email permission only.

Genesis Worksheet - Chapter 38

Genesis Chapter 38

In chapter 37, we read the account of Joseph being sold to Ishmaelites by his brothers who hated him and were jealous of him for being the favorite of his father, and also for telling his dreams he had of how they would bow down to him.  Joseph was sold in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the body guard.

Joseph's story will continue in Chapter 39, but Chapter 38 has been inserted to show what is going on with the family back home....

1.  What reason did Judah have to depart from his brothers? 

Who did he go to visit and where was he from? vs. 1 -

2.  Judah's friend, Hirah, was from Adullam, a Canaanite city southwest of Jerusalem. 

While Judah was there, he had relations with the daughter of Shua, a certain Canaanite.  She conceived and bore a son. 

What did she name him? vs. 3 -

3.  This must have been more than a visit and Judah must have taken her for a wife since we see that she conceived again and gave birth to another son. 

What did she name him? vs. 4 -

4.  Yes, she conceived yet again.  She was in the land of Chezib when she gave birth to him. 

What did she name him? vs. 5 -

5.  Judah took a wife for his firstborn son, Er.  Her name was Tamar. 

What was Er like in the eyes of the Lord and what happened to him? vs. 7 -

6.  Judah told the next oldest brother, Onan, to have relations with Tamar to raise up offspring for his brother's name. 

Onan was with her, but did not want to get her pregnant because the baby would be considered his brother's and not his own.  Therefore, he wasted his seed on the ground in order not to give offspring to his brother.  This means of birth control is called "onanism" and it is named after this brother Onan.

The details of the law of the brother-in-law is given for us in Deuteronomy.  Read it and comment about what God said concerning it:

• Deuteronomy 25:5-10 -

7.  How did the Lord feel about what Onan refused to do and what happened to Onan as a result of his disobedience? vs. 10 -

8.  Judah told Tamar to remain a widow in her father's house until his son Shelah grew up. 

What was Judah's fear of what might happen to him as well? vs. 11 -

9.  After a considerable time Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died.  When the time for mourning ended, Judah went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 

Tamar was told that her father-in-law, Judah, was going up to Timnah to shear sheep. 

What did she do and why did she do it? vs. 14 -

10.  When Judah saw her on the road, her face was covered.  He assumed she was a harlot (prostitute) and so he offered her a goat from his flock for her services (not knowing this was his daughter-in-law Tamar)....she knew it was him though...and she got him to give her something until he made good on the pledge of the goat for payment. 

What did she ask him to give her for a pledge of payment? vs. 18 -

1)          2)          3)

11.  Tamar, his daughter-in-law, conceived a child.  She went back home and put on her widow's garments.  When Judah sent the goat by his friend, Hirah the Adullamite, to get the pledged articles back from her, he could not find her.  He asked the men of her place saying, "Where is the temple prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?"...

What did they answer him? vs. 21 -

12.  Hirah returned to Judah to tell him that the men said there was not a temple prostitute that had been there. 

To keep from being a laughingstock among them, Judah said he would just let her keep the things she had gotten from him since she could not be found and he still had the goat. 

• What was Judah told about 3 months later concerning his daughter-in-law, Tamar? - vs. 24 -
• How did he respond to this act of unfaithfulness she had done? vs. 24 -

13.  As she was brought out for her punishment of death, she sent word to her father-in-law, Judah, that she was pregnant by a man whom these things belonged to.  She sent the things he had left with her - the signet ring, cords, and staff. 

• What was Judah's response now? vs. 26 -

 

Judah was not with Tamar again after knowing who she was, but she did conceive twin boys and gave birth to Perez and to Zerah.  The first one came out and the midwife tied a scarlet thread on his wrist to know which was the firstborn....(Zerah)....but he drew back his hand and behold the brother came out first instead....(Perez)...and she said "What a breach you have made for yourself."....

Note:  Perez, born of this seemingly tragic circumstance, became the head of the leading clan of the tribe of Judah and the ancestor of King David.

14.   Read and comment on:

• 1 Chronicles 27:1-3-
• Ruth 4:18-22 -

15.  Follow this generation from David and who do we have in the lineage from Perez?

• Matthew 1:1-17 (find Perez in vs. 3) ...

Application:

God knows our human frailties and still uses us to fulfill His purposes, even with our mistakes and failures.  If Perez had learned that he was born out of lies and deception from his grandfather and a mother who played a prostitute, he might have felt he was a 'mistake'...yet he became a captain over a leading clan of his father's household and in the lineage of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Maybe you were a product of an unfortunate rape or other circumstance, maybe given up for adoption, or other things that make you feel a little less significant.  The Lord sure doesn't feel that way.

Maybe your personal failures of the past make you feel unfit to serve and be used of God.  The Lord doesn't judge you by your past either.  Psalm 139 says that He knows every day of your life before there is one of them lived out.  He has a plan and a purpose for your life regardless of the circumstances that brought your conception or the mistakes and failures of your past.

16.  Read what the apostle Paul says about this in regard to his own life and calling:

• Galatians 1:13-16 -
• What did Paul do to the church of Jesus Christ as a zealous Jew? vs. 13-14 -
• When did God set Paul apart for Himself and His purposes? vs. 15 -
• What means did God to call Paul to be His? - vs. 15 -
• When did God choose to reveal Jesus to Paul? vs. 16 -
• What was Paul's calling from God? vs. 16 -

17.  Does the testimonies of Perez and Paul encourage you today? 

Share your reasons with us. 

Your summary and prayer today:

 

 

 

Written for RTB websites by B LeMoine, use by email permission only.