bsf genesis lesson 27 – The Notes are Good

BSF Genesis: Week 27, Day 5

Questions:

11.
a.
To be remembered by the cupbearer and be shown kindness, to be mentioned to Pharaoh as wrongfully imprisoned

b.
v23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.

12.
He had work to do for God. A ministry to an unbelieving nation who did not know the one true God of Israel

13.
Literally: Joseph was cast into the earth to be left for dead. His identity (coat) was stripped from him. His freedom was sold. He was treated as a possession and false witness befell him, he was cast into a dungeon and forgotten. Yet, he rose from this to a greater ministry, both to save the people of Egypt, but also his own kin.

My Daily Journal:

The means by which God directed Joseph and the lessons He taught him were hard taught. Joseph didn’t sit in a classroom under a kind and gentle teacher. He didn’t read leadership principles from a book. He learned to rely on God and His blessings because there was no one else he could rely on. Joseph didn’t learn grace and fairness from it being bestowed on him by other men. He learned it from longing for it and seeing it come from no where but the Lord.

Yet, even in the darkest circumstances, even in the darkest dungeon, Joseph saw that God was there with him and Joseph learned to trust in God. Joseph’s developed perseverance, patience, trust, character, forgiveness, and leadership from the one true Personal Trainer, God!

What parts of my life could use more time in God’s gym to be worked and strengthened? What hardships and disappointments in my life do I need to re-examine to see God’s presence in them (He is there, whether I see Him or not)? Where do I need to just get to work doing the work that God is giving me instead of spending time and effort fretting about my situation and unfairness I see?

BSF Genesis: Week 27, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

Questions:

8.
a.
He came to them in the morning. He noticed they were dejected. He inquired. He witnessed (interpretations belong to God?) He told them what God interpreted in their dreams

b.
To witness to both men. To be remembered by the cupbearer and be shown kindness, to be mentioned to Pharaoh as wrongfully imprisoned

c.
Rely on God. Pay attention and be fully present each day with them. Look for their concerns and turn them over to God. Be honest with them.

9.
a.
It is not of man or by man but comes from God alone

b.
The feeling of being forgotten. But, also, the feeling of unjustness. He was imprisoned in Potiphar’s house. He would have been able to see all that was under him before but now instead of a slave he was a prisoner. While Potiphar didn’t believe him (or did but had to save face with his wife) Potiphar continued to use Joseph and rely on the blessings of God delivered through Joseph.

10.
Hard work, care, concern, patience, honesty, trustworthiness, management, presence

My Daily Journal:

There were a number of things in today’s lesson that grabbed me. One was the pain and disappointment that people often feel when they are cast out of a relationship but still in the same physical location. This made me think about the pain and disappointment divorce can cause. Like Joseph and Potiphar, there was a change of relationship, but Joseph still lived in his household and still interacted with him.

Secondly, one of the men in our group pointed out that this was the first prison ministry on record. An interesting bible trivia point.

Third, I was struck by how present Joseph was with the cupbearer, baker and God. When we go through hardship it can be distracting and cause us to distance ourselves from others. Sometimes we create that situation by allowing ourselves to become distracted by things we clearly do not hold in higher value but we let fill our attention. For example, our family was at dinner in a restaurant and I noticed another table with a mom, dad and 2 children. Mom and dad both had their phones out texting or surfing or playing games. Who knows, they may have been texting each other. But they were totally ignoring the kids. While they were at a restaurant eating as a family, they weren’t present. For us to be like Joseph and find opportunities to witness, to take peoples’ burdens and lay them at the feet of God (as he did), we must first be present.

What is distracting me that I need to turn off? When do I need to fill my mind more with meditating on the word of God than surfing on facebook?

Our TL pointed us to 2 Corinthians 10:5 and the challenge to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

BSF Genesis: Week 27, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

Questions

6.
a.
my master has withheld nothing from me except you. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God? Not only did he flee the scene but he let go of his cloak

b.
Recognize it as a sin against God, not just men and not just myself. Look for God’s strength and provision and blessing

7.
a.
While he was a servant, he was put in charge of everything in the household and in the field. Recognized and relied on God being with him and showing him favor and kindness through his obedience

b.
By being with me and continuing to teach me to trust and rely in Him alone and not myself. By reminding me to be humble and obedient and show that all the glory is His.

My Daily Journal:

There are some great lessons in temptation in today’s lesson with Joseph. To start with, Joseph knew the rules and didn’t try to bend them or find loop holes. His right and wrong were black and white, not scales of gray. In this regard he recognized that to do wrong was not only against his earthly master but was a sin against God. When we do wrong we tarnish our ability to reflect God’s righteousness.

Within this I also found it very interesting that Joseph had to part with his cloak to be obedient to God. His brothers had already stripped him of his ornate coat, a gift from his father. Now Potiphar’s wife strips him of the cloak given to him as a slave by his master. Each of these trials seems to result in stripping coats from Joseph. This brought to mind the process involved in refinishing furniture. I wonder if God might have a new coat planned in Joseph’s future that, to wear, he needs to abandon his old uniform.

What do I need to let go of so God can bless me with something new? How firm is my conviction to keeping my mirror clean to reflect God’s full glory instead of tarnishing it with sin?

BSF Genesis: Week 27, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

Questions:

3.
a.
Lord is present, Lord gives success, Lord is with people (like Joseph)

Shows kindness and grants favor

Be strong and courageous for God is with us wherever we may go. Expects obedience

b.
Obedience, avoidance of sin, walking in the path of the righteous, meditating on the law (the scriptures) day and night

4.
He was trustworthy. Potiphar was a leader of men and he saw Joseph’s trustworthiness and character. These were not of his own, but a gift from God who continued to bless him and bless everything he did (to the benefit of Potiphar)

5.
a.
Faith in God and in His promises delivered through dreams and a walk with the Lord. He had sustained Joseph through everything so far

b.
through prosperity

My Daily Journal:

Potiphar trusted Joseph because Joseph was trustworthy. Joseph was worthy of trust (trustworthy) not because of his own background, status, heritage, power, position or wealth but because Joseph trusted God. Joseph showed his obedience to God by trusting in Him. God showed his love for Joseph and his power and mercy by blessing everything that Joseph oversaw.

So what does obedience and trust mean. Our Joshua 1 and Psalm 1 references are great illustrations, and I love the way they paint the picture. As parents we learned that it is important not only to teach your kids what not to do but to teach them what to do instead. I remember teaching woodworking. It was important to not only say, don’t put your hand there, but to also say, put your hands here and here instead.

These aren’t do’s and don’ts, but proper methods of teaching and learning. Don’t be afraid, don’t be terrified, don’t be discouraged but instead be strong, be courageous, obey the laws, know that God is with you wherever you may go. Do not walk in step with the wicked, do not stand in the way that sinners take, do not sit in the company of mockers, but instead delight in the law, meditate on it day and night, stand in the assembly of the righteous.