Genesis Chapter 37

Joseph’s brothers previously killed an entire city of men and they now sold their youngest brother into slavery.  Had they been arrested for their crimes at this moment, what should be the nature of their punishment?

What was Joseph attempting to communicate to his brothers by sharing the details of his two dreams? (Genesis 37.5-37.9).

Who or what was “the LORD” who killed Judah’s first and second-born sons, Er and Onan? (Genesis 38.38.7; 38.10).

Consider Judah’s actions since arriving in the land of Canaan.  What crimes could Judah have been placed on trial for having committed and what should his punishment be?

Upon discovering that his unmarried daughter-in-law Tamar was three months pregnant, Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!” (Genesis 38.24). What does Judah’s willingness to “burn” his daughter-in-law as she carried his unborn twins within her womb indicate about the kind of person Judah was at this point in his life?

Who or what was “the LORD” who “was with Joseph”? (Genesis 39.2; 39.21).

Who or what was the “God” who Joseph refused to “sin against”? (Genesis 39.9).

The narration states the following: “So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, ‘Your servant did to me after this manner,’ that his anger was aroused” (Genesis 39.19). Was Joseph’s master angry because he believed, or did not believe, his wife’s accusation? 

What did Joseph mean to imply by simultaneously stating that interpretations of dreams “belong to God” while encouraging Pharaoh’s chief butler and baker to “Tell them to me, please”? (Genesis 40.8).

How was Joseph able to correctly interpret the baker and butler’s dreams?

What did Joseph mean when he told Pharaoh, “God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace” and that “God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do”? (Genesis 41.16; 41.25).

What is “the Spirit of God” that Pharaoh claimed was “in” Joseph? (Genesis 41.38).

Who or what was the “God” who Joseph referred to as having “made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house”? (Genesis 41.51).

Who or what was the “god” who Joseph referred to as having “caused [him] to be fruitful in the land of my affliction” (Genesis 41.52).

Why did Joseph act “as a stranger” to his brothers and refrain from immediately revealing his identity to them? (Genesis 42.7).

Joseph said, “I fear God.” Who or what did Joseph fear? (Genesis 42.18)

When the brothers asked, “What is this that God has done to us,” who or what was the “God” who they were referring to? (Genesis 42.28).

Who or what was Joseph’s servant referring to when he told Joseph’s brothers, “Your God and the God of your father has given your treasure in your sacks”? (Genesis 43.23).

What do Judah’s words and actions throughout the duration of his life teach humanity about notions of crime, punishment, and forgiveness?

Consider Joseph’s situation: After suffering from the crimes that Joseph’s brothers inflicted upon him, what would Joseph’s moment-to-moment perspective towards life have been to allow him to be able to forgive his brothers for the confinement they forced him to endure?

What does Joseph’s life experience teach humanity?

How would the narrative have been different had Joseph been unable to forgive his brothers?

Who or what was the “God” who “spoke to Israel in visions of the night”? (Genesis 46.2).

How did Joseph’s actions make Pharaoh an all-powerful ruler at the time of famine? (Genesis 47.14-47.47.26).

Who or what was the “God” who Joseph told his father “has given” him children “in this place”? (Genesis 48.9).

Who or what was the “God” who Israel had told Joseph “will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers”? (Genesis 48.21).

Why would Jacob want to be sure that he would be buried in the same cave as Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah? (Genesis 49.29-49.33).

How do Joseph’s final words to his brothers mirror the truth of the present moment? (Genesis 50.19-50.26).