In the Upper Story, God creates the Lower Story. His vision is to come down and be with us in a beautiful garden. The first two people reject God’s vision and are escorted from paradise. Their decision introduces sin into the human race and keeps us from community with God. At this moment, God gives a promise and launches a plan to get us back. The rest of the Bible is God’s story of how He kept that promise and made it possible for us to enter a loving relationship with Him.

SUMMARY

The Story continues with Abraham’s great-grandson, Joseph whose story doesn’t get off to a very good start and goes downhill from there. In the process, we see very clearly that God’s plan of redemption cannot be thwarted by man’s evil intentions and feeble efforts. 

Joseph was the 11th of twelve sons so he had little to expect by way of blessing or position through seniority.  Even so, as his father’s favorite Joseph received beautiful gift from Jacob. This gift, coupled with a prediction, guaranteed an intolerable case of sibling rivalry that began with a plot to kill him but ended with Joseph being sold into slavery in Egypt.

The Egypt experience of highs and lows, important jobs and jail time, revealed Joseph’s good character and his talents for interpreting dreams were eventually noticed, giving Joseph a position of power in Pharoah’s government. And then a desperate worldwide famine brought Joseph’s family to Egypt to buy food from him, the brothers that had sold him into slavery.  

And just like that, after all those years apart, Joseph’s actions save his entire family. The Hebrew word actually means preserved as though God had something in mind here; and indeed, He did. Jacob, the brothers, and all the extended family moved to the safety of Egypt where they would survive the famine, and God would in fact safeguard His people and His promises. Joseph saw the Upper Story, the big picture.  He declared to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done” (The Story pg. 34). There it is: redemption in a sound bite. The Messiah would not come for centuries, yet God’s storytelling had begun. Joseph’s life is a precursor, reminding us that though man plans for evil, God redeems for good. Beauty for ashes. Life from death. Man fails, but God prevails. Every time.

QUESTIONS

1. What’s the best promotion you ever received? How did you earn it?
2. If Jacob had learned from his parent’s mistakes, he might not have torn his family apart by showing Joseph favoritism. What are some practical lessons families can learn from their stories? Are there any “family history” issues you need to overcome or avoid? Any items you want to preserve for your family? Do you have a “victory” story that you could share?
3. Even though Joseph experienced betrayal, he went on to enjoy a full and purposeful life in Egypt. What factors or spiritual understandings do you think made this possible? How was it possible for Joseph to forgive his brothers?
4. What are the benefits experienced by Joseph’s employers, Potiphar and the prison warden (The Story pg. 31-32)? How might your boss or others close to you describe your character? What things can you do to gain trust in your work or personal life? How would your workplace benefit if you allowed God to work through you there or what benefits have you seen when you have allowed God to work through you?
5. List the injustices Joseph suffered. What sustained him? Recall a time in your own life that you suffered unjustly for doing the right thing. What sustained you?  How can you avoid becoming bitter when you are betrayed? What helps you trust in God when you are feeling betrayed?
6. Joseph’s brothers had been lying about his disappearance for 20 years, and were afraid of how he might react, especially after their father’s death. They told Joseph a made-up story saying that Jacob had asked them to request that Joseph not harm them. They were having trouble forgiving themselves. Is there a mistake you have made where you’ve found it difficult to forgive yourself?
7. The story of Joseph is a powerful illustration of God’s control over human history. List the ways God’s sovereignty is on display through Joseph’s story. When are we most confident that God is in control? When do we wonder if God is in control?  How does God’s sovereignty impact your personal faith in Him?
8. Did Joseph know what would happen at the end of his story?Who did?  Look up Genesis 50:20 (The Story pg. 34) and have someone read it aloud.  Who intended harm?  Who meant it for good?  Who knew how it was going to work out?  Who had to show humility to allow God’s plan to unfold?
9. S. Lewis said that shadows give us “hints of reality.” And like a shadow that offers a glimpse of the real thing, the story of Joseph invites us to see Jesus. What part of Joseph’s story helps you see Jesus more clearly? How will this change your attitude and actions? Who can you tell this week about God’s mysterious, unfathomable and amazing plan for everyone to be redeemed?

TAKE AWAY

In order to show faithfulness to God, we have to trust that He is sovereign and is working out His plan even when our circumstances look grim.  We must choose faithfulness above all things, and watch God’s plan unfold.

PRAYER

Father, thank You for Your mighty work in our lives.  We know You have an ultimate plan and we know You have the processes to achieve it.  Build our faith, Lord.  Use our circumstances to strengthen our faith in You and to reveal Your sovereignty to us.  Help us to trust You with all things and to be faithful to You in all circumstances.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.