Portion to Study: Gen. 37:1-36.
Portion to read with class: Gen. 37:1-5, 24-36.
Texts to memorize: Rom. 14:12 and Rom. 14:11.
OBJECTIVES:
1. To show the opposing conditions in which Joseph lived, being loved and hated.
2. To mark the different ways in which Joseph is a type of the Lord Jesus.
3. To explain how prophecies at the moment they are given are not always understood.
4. To draw attention to the high cost of being honest and just as seen in the life of
Joseph.
5. To teach submission and humility in Joseph's reaction to suffering.-
SCENE No. 1.
PLACE: A Field where Joseph fed the flock.
DEVELOPMENT of LESSON: -
- Joseph was the second youngest of twelve sons of Jacob, and he is first found at work,
feeding the flock.
- Verse 2 begins to recount the "generations (family history) of Jacob".
- Instead of beginning with the oldest brother, Reuben, it begins with Joseph.
- No doubt this is because Joseph was being given the place of firstborn.
- He had a special place in Jacob's heart because he had been born in his old age and was
the firstborn of his favorite wife.
- His father made him a coat of many colours, no doubt an evidence of the special love he
felt towards him.
- At the age of seventeen, he had two dreams, one a dream that takes place on earth,
binding sheaves, and the other is related to the heavens, having to do with the sun and
moon and stars.
- In both dreams Joseph is being honoured while his brothers are given a lower place.
- His brothers already hated him for the preference his father had for him, and on hearing
his dreams, they hated him yet the more. He had spoken the truth, but they were
unable to accept the message of the dreams.
- Joseph's name means, "He (God) will add (sons)"
>> Apl. Those who came in touch with Joseph received blessings added by God.
- Apparently Jacob kept Joseph close to him, rather than letting him go with the
older sons who left to take their father's flock to other pastures.
>> Cmt. Joseph is a figure of the Lord Jesus Christ and the teacher should bring out
the comparisons that can be found.
>> It is better not to leave this typical part of the teaching to the end, but try
to illustrate it at each stage.
>> Ex. Joseph, a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, was BELOVED OF HIS FATHER and
HATED BY HIS BROTHERS.
SCENE No. 2.
PLACE: Countryside with Joseph's brothers and the flock.
DEVELOPMENT of the lesson: - Jacob sends Joseph to find out how his other sons and the
flocks were getting along.
- This is a father concerned about the well being of his sons.
>> Apl. God the father is concerned about all mankind.
- Joseph's words, HERE AM I (v.13) show how promptly Joseph obeyed his father's will
- Fulfilling his father's will was going to mean suffering for Joseph.
- Joseph was to bring a reply back to Jacob, who knew he could trust the veracity of his
words. Joseph would be just.
>> Apl. As was Joseph, the Lord Jesus was the SENT ONE by the Father for the
wellbeing of the people.
>> Jesus was quick to OBEY. See Heb. 10:7.
- Joseph told the truth, Example. v.2.
>> The Lord Jesus not only told the truth, He is The TRUTH Personified.
- Before Joseph even reached his brothers, they began to CONSPIRE against him. See John
1:11.
- From the distance, Joseph would be known by his coat of many colours.
>> Apl. The "coat" of the Lord Jesus Christ was His characteristic
holiness, visible to all.
- One outstanding virtue of Joseph was his sense of righteousness. He immediately
knew what was right and what was wrong.
- Telling his father about the behavior of some of his brothers was due to his concern for
truth and righteousness.
- The actions of those brothers went against the father's purposes for good. These
acts of the brothers were a betrayal of the father.
- The absence of sensitivity and conscience in the brothers is evident when they sat down
to eat after throwing Joseph into the pit or cistern there in the desert.
- The lowest place was given to Joseph. The Lord Jesús suffered the worst of
deaths, the death of the cross. Phil. 2:8.
- Reuben and Judah did not desire the death of their brother.
>> Apl. Not everyone during the life of Christ desired His death.
- Reuben and Judah, however, did not step forward and side with him strongly.
>> Apl. Many think they are on the Lord's side, but have never truly become His, as
their lives show by their lack of testimony.
SCENE No. 3.
PLACE: Countryside.
DEVELOPMENT of the lesson:
- Joseph's brothers bargain with the Midianites, and agree on a price for Joseph, who is
brought up out of the pit and sent off into slavery in Egypt.
- Joseph is SOLD for 20 pieces of silver. The Lord Jesus was SOLD for 30.
- Joseph has been completely rejected by his brothers. They plan to say he is dead,
for they never expect to see him again.
>> Cns. When the Lord Jesus was put to death, people never expected to see Him again
either. But one day they WILL see Him, but at that time, it will be as Judge.
>> Apl. These brothers represent those who do not accept Christ, the Sent One by God
for our salvation.
>> Cmt. This scene can be used to illustrate the rejection suffered by Joseph.
>> Apply this to the Lord Jesus Christ.
SCENE No. 4.
PLACE: The home of Jacob.
DEVELOPMENT: - Joseph's brothers show Jacob the coat of many colours, stained by blood.
- They lie when they tell their father that they have found it in this condition.
Soon they told a series of lies.
>> Cns. When one lie is told, the next one and the ones following must be bigger
each time to cover up the previous ones.
>> Cmt. This is a good time to point out to the children how serious deception is.
Show them that one can get involved in the lie of another when he or she look for
support and says, "Isn't that right?", when it is otherwise.
>> One must be brave enough to speak the truth.
>> Cns. Jacob deceived his father with the skins of the kids of the goats. Now his
own sons deceive him using the blood of a kid of the goats.
>> Apl. Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.
>> Cns. Although he does not yet know it, Joseph's sufferings are going to bring
about blessing for Jacob's family and for many others as well.
- What would be Joseph's thoughts as he travels away from his brothers? |
