Christian Education for all ages.

October 1, 2023

UNIT 1: Early Israelite History

LESSON 5: JOSEPH AND PHARAOH

STUDY TEXT: GENESIS 41:1-57

CENTRAL TRUTH: God gives wisdom and understanding to His followers.

KEY VERSE: Genesis 41:52 (New King James Version) – And the name of the second he called Ephraim: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

Quite some time elapsed between the previous lesson and where we pick up the story of Joseph in Genesis 41. Upon arriving in Egypt, Joseph was purchased by Potiphar, an officer in Pharaoh’s palace guard. Because of the Lord’s blessing on him, Joseph was soon put in charge of the entire household. When Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him and falsely accused him of assault, Joseph was imprisoned for an unknown number of years. Even there, God was preparing him for an important role in the history of Israel.

God repeatedly told His people, “You will be my people, and I will be your God” (see exodus 6:7; Isaiah 46:4; Jeremiah 30:22). Often this statement is joined by the promise that God would live among them (see Leviticus 26:12; Exodus 29:450. This promise recalls the perfect relationship held between God and humanity in the Garden of Eden before the Fall. It also looks forward toward salvation coming to the world through Christ (see Zechariah 2:11; Revelation 21:3).

The promise begins to take shape among the patriarchs, especially Joseph. Through this lesson, we will see how God walked with Joseph in Egypt, just as He had preserved Joseph earlier. We will also see how this relationship was accompanied by faithfulness.

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