New Covenant Fellowship Church
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
A PLACE FOR EVERY RACE

Bible Study

EXPERIENCING THE GOODNESS OF GOD IN THE WORST OF CIRCUMSTANCES

BY DR. BERNIE MILLER

 
  1. Why was Joseph enslaved in Egypt?

    a. Read the selected verses from Genesis 37 for answers.

    1. v3     He was________more than all the others
    2. v4     He was________
    3. vs5-7He had a ______
    4. v8    He was ________
    5. v11  His brothers were_______of him
    6. v18 His brothers _______against him
    7. v23-24 He was _______into a pit
    8. v28 His brothers _______him to traders from Egypt
     
    b. Joseph's name means " He increases"
  2. Read Gen. 39:1-23. What was the most repeated statement in this chapter?
Genesis 39: 2-3  2. The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.
3. When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did,
Genesis 39:21 But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.
Genesis 39:23 The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph's charge because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made to prosper.
a. God's goodness is rendered "favor" in verses 4 and 21.
 Genesis 39:4-5 . Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.
5. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.
Genesis 39:21 But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.
b. In the midst of the worst of circumstances, we can count on God's goodness.
c. What did Joseph reveal about all sin in verse 9?  9. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?"
3. Now Joseph is Imprisoned in Egypt-Genesis 39:19-23
19. When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, "This is how your slave treated me," he burned with anger.
20. Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison,
21. the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.
22. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.
23. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. 
 
4. We can't really know the depth of our character until we see how we act under pressure. James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3. because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
  • a. Consider it- (do it once and for all)
  • b. Pure joy - All joy (every part) "unmixed joy." Not just "some joy" along with much grief.
  • c. When - "Whenever"
  • d. You encounter _ Literally to fall around or into the midst of; to fall among as in Luke 10:30 (he fell amoung robbers).
  • e. Various-Variegated, (an assortment of)
  • f. Trials/ temptation- a putting to proof (by experiment [of good], God uses trials to examine or prove us for good; experience [of evil], solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication adversity.
Literal rendering of James 1:2-4: "Consider it a matter for unadulterated joy whenever you fall into the midst of variegated trials which surround you, knowing experientially that the approving of your faith, that faith having been put to the test for the purpose of being approved, and having met the test, has been approved, produces a patience which bears up and does not lose heart or courage under trials. But be allowing the aforementioned patience to be having its complete work in order that you may be spiritually mature and complete in every detail, lacking in nothing."
  • g. When God is the agent, the trial is accompanied with variegated grace. 1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
  •  h. The trial is for the purpose of proving us; 1 Peter 1: 6-7  In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
5. If you were enslaved and then imprisoned for something you didn't do, how would you respond?
6. When you are in adverse circumstances, do you remember that God is sovereign-that He is in charge?
 
 
 
 
 
Joseph's Strengths and accomplishments:
  • Rose in power from slave to ruler of Egypt
  • Was known for his personal integrity
Lessons from his life:
  • What matters in not so much the events or circumstances of life, but your response to them.
  • With God's help, any situation can be used for good, even when others intend it for evil

Past Bible Studies