Bible Study - Overcome (1) - Overcome Betrayal - Genesis 37:19-27; 39:1-2 - October 19, 2014

Bible Study – Overcome (1) – Overcome Betrayal – October 19, 2014

This is lesson (1) in our series entitled “Overcome: Living Beyond Your Circumstances.”

Our focus scripture for this lesson is Genesis 37:19-27; 39:1-2.

GOD is at work, even when it’s not obvious.

For the next six (6) lessons our scripture will be in Genesis and focus on various issues we face in life such as: Betrayal, Temptation, Being Forgotten, Hard Times, Bitterness and Earthly Mindset. Our series focuses on the life of Joseph.

Often, it is difficult for individuals to see the hand of GOD leading and directing their lives particularly when he or she is going through difficult times. The Bible gives us the opportunity to view the life of a person, nations and people groups and see HIS hand at work in their lives. When we look back on our walk with the LORD, often we can see that HIS hand was at work in our lives when we least expected.

The life of Joseph will be our focus in these six lessons.

In the book of Genesis up to Chapter 37 the focus was on creation, Adam and Eve, original sin, Noah and the flood, Abram (Abraham), Isaac, Jacob and Esau. The span of time from the birth of Abram to the birth of Joseph is about 250 years. Genesis Chapter 37 focuses the lineage of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We have the opportunity to see GOD’S hand at work to preserve HIS chosen people through whom the promised Messiah, JESUS would come to earth. The fourth son of Jacob is Judah. It is through the lineage of Judah that David and JESUS would come. So as we study, focus on the role of Judah in the life of his brother Joseph. Also, note that the lineage of JESUS has all sorts of characters.

GOD was working to preserve the lives of the lineage of Abraham, who would become HIS chosen people and through whom the promised Messiah would come. Joseph became number two in power in Egypt. Joseph’s family came to Egypt and settled there. Joseph died and his ancestral family remained in Egypt which led to their slavery for about 400 years. GOD heard their prayers and came to their rescue by calling Moses to act in HIS behalf. Thus, GOD revealed Himself to the Israelites through Moses and signs of HIS presence during their exodus from Egypt en-route to the Promised Land. At Mount Sinai GOD told Moses that HE had chosen the Israelites to be HIS people and be a witness to the world, if they agreed. They agreed and GOD made a covenant with them, which held until JESUS gave HIS life, by the shedding of HIS blood upon the cross, to pay the sin debt, in full, for all who would place their faith in HIM.

The JESUS lineage came though Jacob’s son Judah:

Joseph’s father, Jacob, was a deceiver. He deceived his father, Isaac, into giving him the blessing that should have gone to his brother Esau. His mother, Rebekah, wanted Jacob to receive his father’s blessing instead of Esau. Esau was the first born of her twins and she helped Jacob to deceive his father. Jacob had four wives but his favorite wife was Rachel. Rachel birthed two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. Jacob favored Joseph and treated him special. He gave Joseph a special ornate robe of many colors. Joseph wore his robe with pride and it irritated his brothers. Joseph knew he was special and he flaunted it. He told his brothers about a dream he had where his brothers and father all bowed to him. He tattled on his brothers to their father. Joseph had a streak of arrogance.

All of this set the stage for GOD to achieve HIS plan through Joseph. At the end of our series, we will see what Joseph had to say about GOD’S involvement in his life.

Jacob sent Joseph to find his brothers who were grazing his flocks near Shechem. Joseph arrived at Shechem. He was looking for his brothers and he encountered a man who directed him to Dothan. Joseph found his brothers in Dothan. Let’s explore!

Let’s read this account as recorded in Genesis 37:15-18:

15 A man found him there (Shechem), wandering in the field, and asked him, “What are you looking for?” 16 “I’m looking for my brothers,” Joseph said. “Can you tell me where they are pasturing their flocks?” 17 “They’ve moved on from here,” the man said. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’” So Joseph set out after his brothers and found them at Dothan. 18 They saw him in the distance, and before he had reached them, they plotted to kill him.

Joseph had his faults but as we see his life’s story unfold, we will see that he was a man of integrity. Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold to the Ishmaelites/Midianites. The term Ishmaelites identifies the ethnic descent of those who made up the caravan to whom Joseph was sold. The term Midianite identifies their home, where the group came from. Midian is located east of Jordan and south of Edom. 

Let’s read Genesis 37:19-24:

19 They said to one another, “Here comes that dreamer! 20 Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal ate him. Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!” 21 When Reuben heard this, he tried to save him from them. He said, “Let’s not take his life.” 22 Reuben also said to them, “Don’t shed blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him”—intending to rescue him from their hands and return him to his father. 23 When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped off his robe, the robe of many colors that he had on. 24 Then they took him and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.

“Here comes the dreamer” was not a flattering remark coming from Joseph’s brothers. It was a remark of disgust. His brothers had had enough of Joseph’s arrogance. He walked toward them wearing his special robe. They would show him that he was nothing. So they hashed out a quick plot to place him in a pit and say that a wild animal had eaten him. Such a fate would kill those dreams he had, which they hated. If these dreams had been Joseph’s, then I do not think we would be reading this story but his dreams came from GOD. GOD had a plan and HE was at work, even though Joseph did not have a clue of GOD’S plan for him.

This was desert country and there were cisterns scattered over the area to catch rain water. These pits were made using clay and shaped like a bottle. Being placed in one of these pits meant that the poor soul placed in the pit could not escape unless he had help. At first, Joseph likely thought his brothers were joking around with him but he soon learned the truth. He had an ally in the oldest brother, Reuben. Reuben diffused their immediate anger toward Joseph with a plan to get them not to kill Joseph, place him in pit and to come back later to free him. At least at this point he saved Joseph’s life. Reuben was the first born of Leah. Reuben had issues as well but GOD used him to stop the other brothers from killing Joseph.

The other brothers listened to Reuben and stripped Joseph of his robe and threw him into the pit. Did they have a conscience about what they had done? Let’s explore!

Let’s read Genesis 37:25-27:

25 Then they sat down to eat a meal. They looked up, and there was a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying aromatic gum, balsam, and resin, going down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh,” and they agreed. 28 When Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for 20 pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took Joseph to Egypt.

Were his brothers worried about what they had done? No! They sat down and ate. It is likely Joseph had not eaten but they gave his welfare no thought.

GOD’S timing is always perfect. As the brothers were relaxing and eating, along comes a caravan of Ishmaelites. Do you think that was by chance? No! It was by divine appointment. They saw that the caravan was carrying goods to be sold in Egypt, so they knew that these people had an eye for business and likely wanted to make a buck. Joseph’s brother Judah had an idea! Let’s make some money by selling Joseph to these people going to Egypt. Great idea, his brothers must have replied!

So they pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him to the Ishmaelites for 20 pieces of silver. To put this into perspective, a year’s wage for a shepherd was 8 shekels of silver. It is interesting that later, the price for dedicating a male between 5 and 20 years old to the LORD was 20 shekels of silver as recorded in Leviticus 27:5:

1 The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When someone makes a special vow to the Lord that involves the assessment of people, 3 if the assessment concerns a male from 20 to 60 years old, your assessment is 50 silver • shekels measured by the standard sanctuary shekel. 4 If the person is a female, your assessment is 30 shekels. 5 If the person is from five to 20 years old, your assessment for a male is 20 shekels.  

Joseph was 17 years old.

Let’s read Genesis 39:1-2:

1 Now Joseph had been taken to Egypt. An Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.

We fast forward to Joseph’s arrival in Egypt. He was sold to an Egyptian named Potiphar. Potiphar was Pharaoh’s bodyguard. Potiphar’s official title in the original Greek is “the captain of the guard.” Bible scholars think that Potiphar was the captain of the executioners. Potiphar was a powerful person in Egypt and likely wealthy. Do you think GOD orchestrated that arrangement? You BET! Joseph was a slave in the right place at the right time.

How would Joseph respond to his plight? Would he be angry with GOD? Would he have a bad attitude? Would he be the model servant and honor GOD?

Let’s examine verse 2:

The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.

These words reveal that Joseph and GOD were in relationship. The word “Lord” is the title which reveals a covenant relationship between GOD and HIS people. GOD had chosen Joseph because GOD knew Joseph’s heart. He positioned Joseph to preserve HIS people to fulfill HIS promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Joseph had to be a man of integrity and hard worker. As Joseph obediently served, GOD brought about his success. Often we think that we did this and that. We did work hard and GOD allowed us to be rewarded. Once we arrive at a point of power, what do we do?

Joseph’s brothers removed his status when they removed his robe. But they could not remove his faith and trust in GOD. In fact, his circumstances likely drew him closer to the LORD. When we are in difficult circumstances, place your trust in CHRIST. I am not saying that your troubles will disappear but you have the assurance CHRIST will go through your circumstances with you.

Here is a quote from one of the commentaries I study. It is “Bible Studies for Life” Leaders Guide ISBN2330-9822, item 005075045, published quarterly by LifeWay, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, page 98 and 99:

“Joseph’s brothers had stripped him of the outward distinction of the special robe his father had given him. However, they could not strip him of wisdom and grace. The brothers separated him from friends, relatives, and country; however, they could not take from him the Lord’s presence. His brothers cut him off from blessings, robbing him of freedom, and confined him to a cistern; however, they could not cut him from communion with the Lord. Finally, Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, but they could not make a slave of him. He could still freely choose to follow the Lord and to do right instead of wrong. Joseph was blessed, wonderfully blessed, even in the house where he was a slave.

But despite the betrayal of Joseph’s brothers, Joseph’s God did not betray him. Quite the contrary, the Lord continued to have His hand upon Joseph, both blessing him personally and giving him favor in the sight of those around him.” Well stated.   

How would we respond to such an ordeal? Blessings!!!