Bible Essentials

Genesis 40:1-23

Joseph in Prison

Opening

• Share life updates
• Review highs and lows of the week
• Share prayer requests and praises

Icebreaker

• Have you ever gotten in trouble for something you didn’t do? What happened?

Genesis 40:1-23

• Read the passage
• What is the context for this passage?
• Joseph’s brothers hated him and sold him into slavery.
• Joseph ended up in Egypt and was sold to Potiphar.
• Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, and he refused.
• Potiphar’s wife accused Joseph of trying to seduce her, so Potiphar had Joseph thrown in prison.

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Genesis 40:1-23

• Read the passage again, in a different version if available.
• Summarize the passage in your own words.

What does the passage say about God?

• God provides interpretations for dreams.

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What does the passage say about people?

• People are easily offended.
• People must suffer the consequences of their actions.
• People have dreams, and these dreams sometimes have significant meaning.
• People can read body language to discern emotions of others.

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What does the passage say about people?

• People can show care and compassion for others.
• People ask others to return favors that they have done.
• People celebrate birthdays.
• People tend to forget their promises.

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What does the passage say about God’s plan?

• God’s plan was to plant seeds that would eventually gain Joseph the attention of Pharaoh.

Discussion

• How does the passage fit into the overarching story of the Bible?
• Joseph’s life was all about waiting for God to move him to the next step.
• Jesus also knew that he needed to wait until the time was right to act.
• We can trust God to know when to take us to the next step in our lives too.

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Discussion

• What else strikes you about this passage?
• How does the passage affect how you view God? How you view yourself?
• How does this passage affect how you will live your life?