Session 9
the result of the brothers’ plot.
23 When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped off Joseph’s robe,
the long-sleeved robe that he had on.
24 Then they took him and threw him into the pit.
The pit was empty, without water.
25 They sat down to eat a meal, and when they looked up, there was a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead.
Their camels were carrying aromatic gum, balsam, and resin, going down to Egypt.
26 Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?
27 Come on, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him,
for he is our brother, our own flesh,” and his brothers agreed.
28 When Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit
and sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took Joseph to Egypt.
Believers must be aware of callousness in their own lives.
Robe
Traditionally, this robe has been imagined as a multi-colored garment,
though the Hebrew is unclear.
The Hebrew text has been interpreted to mean either a long robe reaching to the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet
or a coat with diverse colors.
This latter interpretation follows the Septuagint (Greek) or Vulgate (Latin) translations of the Hebrew text.
Whatever the specifics of the robe,
this special garment signaled Jacob’s elevation and distinction of Joseph.
Ironically this robe that had given Jacob great pleasure became the symbol of his continuing anguish
when the brothers presented it to their father after dipping it in goat’s blood
(Gen. 37:31-35).
imagine Joseph in a pit, stripped of his robe, and hearing his brothers eating while they ignored his pleas.
Add a third stick figure with a thought bubble.
Inside the thought bubble, write the word pit.
First, instruct adults to pray for someone they know who is in a “pit” right now.
Suggest they ask God to bring hope and healing to that individual.
Second, instruct adults to ask God about any pits they may be living in right now-and about any bitterness that may be coming from that.
Urge them to seek His healing and forgiveness.
Genesis 37 ends with the brothers dipping Joseph’s coat in blood and lying to their father while Joseph is sold in Egypt.
They may have thought they were rid of Joseph, but God had other plans.
He was at work despite their evil schemes and Joseph’s desperate situation.
Review these points from Apply the Text on page 90 of the Personal Study Guide:
Encourage adults to consider how they can apply these principles to their lives this week.
Guide the group to reflect on this statement:
I am fighting jealousy in my heart.
Direct them to silently rate their agreement on a scale of 1-5,
with 1 being “a little” and 5 being “overwhelming.”
Challenge them to talk with God this week about how they can overcome the destructive pull of jealousy.
Conclude the session with prayer,
praising God for his mercy and forgiveness.
Ask Him to protect adults’ hearts against jealousy and hatred
and to heal broken relationships within the family and within the church.
Reinforce the session by sending an individual text or email to each adult in the group, asking how you can pray for them, especially in terms of broken relationships with family members and with other believers. Also, spend time this week praying specifically for healthy relationships within the Bible study group. Be sure to contact anyone who missed the session and encourage them to come back this week.
Secure a copy of the lyrics to
“Heal the Wound” by Point of Grace.
Direct the group to read the lyrics as you play a recording of the song.
Encourage them to reflect on God’s mercy and how God can take away jealousy and hatred.
Share that jealousy can be a dangerous thing if it’s not dealt with.
Challenge adults to consider the damage jealousy or envy might be doing in their relationships as they dig into today’s verses about Joseph and his brothers.