THE TRUST THAT OVERCOMES
In Genesis 50:20, we read Joseph’s final words to his brothers. They are a capsule of his life’s view: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” This amazing perspective reflected a life that had embraced the living God and trusted Him completely.
As you face the pains, heartaches, and mistreatments of life, it is only by complete confidence in the goodness and plan of God that you can overcome. The things that could destroy you can become building blocks on the journey of faith as you look for the hand of God in all the circumstances of life. “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith” (1 John 5:4).
If you have never confessed your sin and trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, life can be a jumbled ball of confusion. But the One who died for your sins and gave Himself for your failures can bring rightness with God, forgiveness of sin, and a new sense of wholeness and purpose into your weary soul. Christ came into the world because of His love for you, and that love can bring an end to the emptiness or bitterness or sinfulness that wracks your life.
Accept by faith the gift of eternal life and personal forgiveness He offers, for the only way to really overcome forever is to accept the victory of Calvary that He accomplished for you.
“The free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Now that is real victory—and real overcoming.
—Extracted from the Discovery Series booklet Joseph: Overcoming Life’s Challenges
Download the full booklet here: http://discoveryseries.org/discovery-series/joseph-overcoming-lifes-challenges/
NOTE TO THE READER:
The publisher invites you to share your response to the message of this book by writing to Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 2222, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-2222
FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION OR SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION
We hope you’ve enjoyed this story and it’s many characters. It is our desire to whet your appetite for God’s Word and His ways—to apply His principles to your life.
We pray that you will finish this comic and pick up the Bible with a new excitement and anticipation of knowing the God of the Word more deeply. May you search Scripture for the sheer joy of being in God’s presence. Below are some questions to get you started:
CHAPTER 1: FAVORITE BUT DESPISED
Thinking Through:
Do you think it is normal to assume that families will be places of warmth, love, acceptance, and security? How true is this in your family?
Key Text: Genesis 37:1-36
In what ways does Joseph’s special tunic (Gen. 37:3,23,32) picture the troubled relationships that Joseph has with his parents and brothers? How is it an apt description of Joseph’s attitudes toward his family?
This passage contains elements of pride, parental favoritism, envy, hatred, family conflicts, and sibling rivalry. How does it teach us to be alert to these issues? How does it prepare us to respond to betrayal and treachery?
How do you think God was involved in the events of Genesis 37?
Refer:
According to Romans 5:3-4, James 1:2-4, and 1 Peter 1:6-7,
why are trials good for us? What good can come through trials? Do you think these biblical writers are realistic or unrealistic in their perspectives of trials? Why?
Reflect:
Consider a situation in which you fell victim to the scheming of a friend or schoolmate. How did you feel at the time of betrayal? What good has come out of that situation? What insights from this study can you apply to that experience?
CHAPTER 2: DILIGENT BUT UNREWARDED
Thinking Through:
Someone said, “Life in a fallen world seldom rewards right living.” In what ways has life been unfair to you? Can you think of an incident in which you were unjustly penalized or punished for doing the right thing? How did you respond?
Key Text: Genesis 39:1-23 and 40:1-23
What does the phrase “the Lord was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2-3,21,23) mean in practical terms? How was God’s presence seen, and what was its impact?
What did Potiphar’s wife do in her attempts to entice Joseph to sin? (vv.7,10,12). How did Joseph resist in each case?
What did Joseph expect the cupbearer to do for him? (Genesis 40:14). How do you think Joseph’s faith was affected when the cupbearer failed to remember him? (40:15,23).
How would you describe Joseph’s inner character? His convictions? His relationship with and devotion to God? What role (if any) do these play in his victory over temptation and disappointment?
Refer:
What temptations do you constantly face? Does 1 Corinthians 10:13 encourage or frustrate you in your battle with temptations? Why?
Reflect:
What are some of the things that have helped you in your own battles with temptation? (Check all appropriate boxes.) How have these helped?
The Word of God
Scripture memorization
Prayer
Fleeing the scene
Avoiding the places of temptation
Knowing your own limitations and weaknesses
Telling a friend about it
Other (please describe)
CHAPTER 3: A DREAM COMES TRUE
Thinking Through:
Which is more difficult to handle—failure or success? Which one poses a greater threat to Christians? Why?
Key Text: Genesis 41:1-57
How many times and in what different ways does Joseph acknowledge God in this chapter? What does this say about the sovereignty of God and the humility of Joseph?
Pharaoh appointed Joseph to the second highest-ranking position in Egypt (Gen. 41:41-44). What dangers and temptations do you think Joseph would have to face and overcome in this role?
The Joseph in Genesis 41 is very different from the Joseph
in Genesis 37. What transformation took place in Joseph’s life? How did the 13 years of betrayal, hardships, trials, disappointments, humiliation, and prison contribute to making Joseph into such a man?
Refer:
Joseph told Pharaoh that “God can tell you what it means and set you at ease” (Gen. 41:16). How is peace that recognizes the control of God over life’s failures and successes produced in one’s heart? What biblical texts reinforce this idea?
Reflect:
Theologian Samuel Rutherford said, “Praise God for the hammer, the file, and the furnace. The hammer molds us, the file sharpens us, and the fire tempers us.” Joseph experienced it all, and he was ready to be used of God. What have been God’s hammer, file, and fire in your life—and what have they prepared you for?
CHAPTER 4: CLOSING A CHAPTER OF HURT
Thinking Through:
Why is forgiveness the only real remedy for broken relationships and the only real escape from the grip of bitterness?
Key Text: Genesis 50:20-21
In the context of these verses, the brothers feared retaliation by Joseph following their father’s death. Why do their words in Genesis 50:16-17 bring Joseph to tears?
In verse 20, Joseph acknowledged a balance between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. How is that balance revealed? Is it a balance you can explain? Why or why not?
Joseph responded to their words of fear with words of comfort and kindness (v.21). How does this response mirror the character of Christ? The character of the Christian?
Refer:
According to Colossians 3:12-14, what attitudes and virtues are to be characteristic of a Christian who is in conflict with another believer?
Reflect:
Consider the relationships in your life. Are there matters of resentment, anger, hurt, or mistreatment that have disrupted those relationships? Joseph’s example teaches us that forgiveness is the only meaningful solution to those issues. What steps will you take to reconcile with those who have hurt you?
These questions are extracted from the Discovery Series Bible Study guide Conquer Life’s Challenges. Each Discovery Series Bible Study guide is built on one of our Discovery Series booklets enhanced with thought-provoking questions. It is a helpful resource for anyone who wants to go deeper into God’s Word.
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Joseph s story has every dramatic ingredient—favoritism and pride, sibling rivalry and cruelty, lust and betrayal, heroism and compassion. In the midst of it all, you see the hand of God in his life. In the ups and downs and through the twists and turns, God is working out His purpose, and Joseph s life shows that, in every situation, God is in control.
