Christ-Light Connections: Joseph is Sold by his Brothers and in Potiphar’s House

The theme of this week is God permits sorrow to enter a Christian life. As we track the life of Joseph, we finally meet an obedient believer who repeatedly expresses his faith in God! Yet, Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into to slavery, falsly accusued, and imprisoned. Compared to the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God is hidden and works behind the scenes. 

Joseph also prefigures Christ. In a sense, he parallels Christ’s life as he is betrayed, suffers, and is imprisoned. In the next story he is restored and glorified for the salvation of the starving nations. 

Joseph’s story teaches us that God can and does work everything out for the good of his people.

OT Set 1 9A

Joseph is Sold by His Brothers– Genesis 37:1-35

Context

Remember how favoritism has run in the family? Abraham loved Isaac more than Ishmael. Rebekah preferred Jacob while Isaac preferred Esau. Jacob’s favorite wife was Rachel and now his favorite son is Joseph. As we discussed in previous stories, favoritism causes great pain in families and fosters jealousy and hatred.

Big Themes

Joseph’s Attitude and Dreams (Genesis 37:1-7)

As Joseph tattles on his brothers and shares the prophecies from his dreams, he does nothing to improve his relationships with his brothers but instead fans the flames of hatred. Was teenage Joseph being arrogant? Was it really a good idea to tell his brothers about his dreams?

Besides the prophetic dreams, it all looks rather normal to me. My children are always quick to point out their siblings’ failures and to elevate their own good deeds. Adults are pretty good at this too, we’re just usually better at being tactful about it.

Conversation Starter:

• How can having a best friend or favorite friend be hurtful to others?
• Do you ever dislike others because they have something you do not?
• We know God loves everyone but does God like some people better than others?

The Twelve Tribes of Israel

If your children are old enough, it would be interesting to discuss the men that made up the nation of Israel. The chapters surrounding this highlight their sin and shame. Why do you think God picked these men through whom he would build his chosen nation and preserve the line of the Savior?

The beginning of Joseph’s hardships

If we did not know the outcome of this story, we would probably be asking,

“Why God?”

“How could you allow this, God?”

“Do you care, God?”

I wonder if Joseph asked similar questions.

Conversation Starter:

• Is it okay to question God during hard times? Why or why not? (Consider the new name given to Jacob, “One who struggles with God” as you answer.)
• Can you think of examples of believers who questioned God and then grew in their faith? Can you think of believers who questioned God and fell away?

Digging Deeper

The Seeds of Faith resource provides context and deeper connections.

• Joseph was hated by his brothers, who threatened him with death and sold him into slavery, but he was rescued by God. God’s Son, Jesus, was also hated and was killed for our sin. He is our deliverer from sin, death, and the power of the devil.
• Law: Hatred ruins relationships and separates me from others and from God.
• Gospel: Jesus’ death and resurrection restore my relationships with God and others.

In 40 Minutes in the Old Testament, two episodes cover the content.

• Episode 47 is about bad parenting, bad reports, one colorful coat and two dreams you should keep to yourself.
• Episode 48 is about what Joseph’s brothers decided to do to him and how it pre-figures Christ along with some stories about how brothers treat each other.

OT Set 1 9B

Joseph in Potiphar’s House and in Prison — Genesis 39, 40

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Context

Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold as a slave and 30 when he got out of jail. The story begins in Potiphar’s house. Right away, we are reminded that the Lord was with Joseph (Genesis 29:2).

Big Themes

Well…this is a bit of an awkward story to tell children.

It’s pretty hard to dance around what Mrs. Potiphar wants from Joseph. Parents and teachers will probably handle this in different ways depending on the age of the children they are instructing. With my children at home, stories like this provide a platform for a bit of sex education. The advice I once was given was to answer any question my children ask about sex. What they ask, is what they are ready to know. This story could provide a platform to talk about lust, temptation, and faithfulness in marriage.

Parents, we need to talk about sex and intimacy early and often with our children, otherwise, the internet and their peers will do it for us. A bit of awkwardness now could spare our child a lot of heartache and sexual dysfunction later.

Joseph resists sin

Not only does Joseph say “no” to Mrs. Potiphar, he even refuses to be alone with her (Genesis 39:10). He also uses God’s name refusing to sin against him (Genesis 39:9). In faith, Joseph resists sin. 

Conversation Starters:

• Why did Joseph avoid Mrs. Potaphar?
• What tempts children your age? What helps you avoid it?

Joseph is falsely accused

After trying so hard for so long to say no to sin and temptation, Joseph got smacked with horrible consequences anyway and was sent to prison.

American’s sexual culture today is also combatant against Christians who desire to live out God’s design for sexuality. Christian teens are suffering significantly. Culture pushes the young to discover their sexual identity. If one upholds a biblical view of marriage the persecution can range from being called a bigot to receiving the blame for the high rate of suicides among homosexuals. Unfortunately, culture has changed so much so quickly, that the church and parents of this generation have not caught on quick enough to provide the support and education our young people need.

Parents and teachers, please pray for our youth and seek out ways to understand and support them in the face of these trials.

Conversation Starters:

• Share times when you or someone you know suffered for doing what was right.
• What similarities do you see between Joseph’s life and Jesus’ in this story?
• For older children: What sexual pressures do people your age face? It could be as simple as look at the pictures of these hot guys/girls or more intense such as virginity is embarrassing.

Joseph in Prison

As Joseph begins his life in prison we are reminded again that God was with him (Genesis 39:21). But here, Joseph comes to his lowest point. He has already lost his home, his family, his freedom and his reputation. When he interprets the cupbearer’s dream he briefly has a thread of hope. As the week and months pass by, it becomes evident that the cupbearer did not speak up for Joseph. Hope died last. Joseph’s reality was as far from his prophetical dreams as it could get.

God seems to do some of his best work when we are at our lowest points.

When all hope is gone, he steps in and saves us. Just as Jesus died on the cross and was sealed in the tomb, hope evaporated. Then, in the quiet of despair, Jesus rose in power and glory bringing salvation and causing us to look up from ourselves and only and always to him.

Some children may be going through a place of despair that they cannot or may not want to express. Just as Joseph couldn’t see what was coming, neither can we. Remind children that no matter how we may feel, hope is not dead. It lives on because of Jesus. Through the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to look up and away from ourselves. We find our rescue and identity in him.

Conversation Starters:

• Why does Genesis keep reminding us that God was with Joseph?
• Parents, do you have low points you can share with your children? How did you suffer? How did God help you?

My really great homework idea:

As I think about what it may have been like to be in Joseph’s sandals, I wanted to find a Psalm of lament that could have been his prayer. I think it would be an interesting exercise to have students find a Psalm that they think matches. Here are a few to try. There are many more that would be good matches. If you try this out, please share your answers in the comments.

• Psalm 4:1-8
• Psalm 13:1-6
• Psalm 43:1-5

Digging Deeper

The Seeds of Faith resource provides context and deeper connections about Jacob’s flight and dream. Their key points are:

• The Lord was with Joseph and, through him, saved Joseph’s family and others. God promises to be with us in every situation, and through his Son, Jesus, a descendant of Joseph’s brother Judah, God saves us from our sin.
• Law: I sin when I do not want to live out my vocation or forget that God is with me in my troubles; these sins, like all sin, condemn me to eternal death.
• Gospel: Nevertheless, God is with me in all my troubles and offers me and all who sin His steadfast love and mercy for the sake of His Son, Jesus.

In the 40 Minutes in the Old Testament Podcast, multiple episodes cover these chapters. Lots of listening, but interesting if you have the time.

• Episode 50 is about Joseph getting hit on by his boss’s wife, how he handled it and how sin turns us in on ourselves. No good deed goes unpunished in this episode.
• Episode 51 is about Joseph’s time in prison, who he meets there, the dreams they have and what it means when God remembers.