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Scripture Story: Genesis 39–41.


Commentary: Patriarchs and Prophets, chapter 20.

life is hard . . . work!

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Photo by Barin Von Foregger

keytext
“Then Pharaoh
“After she said him
had given to Joseph,
a drink,
‘Since God has made all thisfor
known
flashlight she said, ‘I’ll draw water
to you, there is nothey
one so
your
discerning
camels too, until have finished
“God was glorified by the faithfulness of His servant. It was His purpose that in purity and and wise as you. You shall be in
drinking’”
uprightness the believer in God should appear in marked contrast to the worshipers of charge of my palace, and all my
idols—that thus the light of heavenly grace might shine forth amid the darkness of hea- (Genesis
people are24:19, NIV).to your orders.
to submit
Only with respect to the throne will I
thenism” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 217).
be greater than you.’”

(Genesis 41:39, 40, NIV)


what
some time, each
of the two men—the cup-
bearer and the baker of the king
of Egypt, who were being held in

do you think? prison—had a dream the same night,


and each dream had a meaning of its
Have you ever had to do something that you wouldn’t have own.”
chosen to do? Write down five things that you would never have
done if someone hadn’t made you do it! “Then Joseph said to them, ‘Do not
1. _________________________________________ interpretations belong to God? Tell me
2. _______________________________________
3. _____________________________________ INTO your dreams.’

4. ____________________________________
5. ___________________________________ THE “Now the third day was Pharaoh’s
birthday, and he gave a feast for all his

STORY
officials. He lifted up the heads of the
Now answer these questions: chief cupbearer and the chief baker in
1. Which of these would you do again even the presence of his officials: He
though you didn’t want to do it originally? restored the chief cupbearer to his
2. Which of the above will you never do again? “The Lord was with Joseph position, so that he once again put the
3. Has anything good ever occurred out of a and he prospered, and he lived in cup into Pharaoh’s hand, but he
the house of his Egyptian master. hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph
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situation that at first seemed like a curse?


4. Do you work hard at something even if . . . Now Joseph was well-built and had said to them in his interpretation.”
you don’t necessarily want to do it? handsome, and after a while his
master’s wife took notice of Joseph “When two full years had passed,
and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’ Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing
But he refused. ‘With me in charge,’ by the Nile, when out of the river there
he told her, ‘my master does not came up seven cows, sleek and fat,

did you concern himself with anything in the


house; everything he owns he has
and they grazed among the reeds. After
them, seven other cows, ugly and

know? entrusted to my care. . . . My mas-


ter has withheld nothing from me
except you. . . . How then could I
gaunt, came up out of the Nile and
stood beside those on the riverbank.
And the cows that were ugly and gaunt
• Pharaoh changed Joseph’s name to do such a wicked thing and sin ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then
6 Zaphnath-paaneah when he promoted against God?’” Pharaoh woke up.”
Joseph to vizier.
• The Joseph story is also retold in the Koran. “When his master heard the “Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, ‘The
• Ancient Egypt was known for its architecture [false] story his wife told him, dreams of Pharaoh are one and the
and grand monuments. It is possible that the saying, ‘This is how your slave same. God has revealed to Pharaoh
Hebrews who came into Egypt during the time of treated me,’ he burned with what he is about to do. The seven good
Joseph were responsible for building many things anger. Joseph’s master cows are seven years, and the seven
we still see today. took him and put him in good heads of grain are seven years; it
• There are many books on in- prison, the place where is one and the same dream. The seven
terpreting dreams, and many the king’s prisoners lean, ugly cows that came up afterward
people make their living by in- were confined.” are seven years, and so are the seven
terpreting what dreams mean. worthless heads of grain scorched by
The difference between what these “After they had the east wind: They are seven years of
people do and what Joseph did is been in cus- famine.’”
simple—Joseph didn’t interpret tody for
the dreams; he simply gave people “Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since
God’s interpretation of the dreams. God has made all this known to you,
there is no one so discerning and wise
as you. You shall be in charge of
my palace, and all my peo-
ple are to submit
to your orders. Only
with respect to the throne
punch lines
will I be greater than you.’” “Do everything without complaining or arguing . . . in order that I may boast on the
day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing” (Philippians 2:14-16, NIV).
(Genesis 39:2-8, 19, 20; 40:4, 5, 8, 20-22; 41:1-4, 25-27,
39, 40, NIV) “The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has
watched over your journey through this vast desert. These forty years the

OUT Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything”
(Deuteronomy 2:7, NIV).

OF THE “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to
poverty” (Proverbs 14:23, NIV).

STORY “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is


to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being con-
Where do you see God’s hand in this story?
tent in any and every situation. . . . I can do every-
thing through him who gives me strength”
(Philippians 4:12, 13, NIV).

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.


What is the difference between interpreting dreams and relaying God’s in- Let nothing move you. Always give your-

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terpretation? selves fully to the work of the Lord, because
you know that your labor in the Lord is not
in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV).

What made Joseph succeed so often in the tasks he undertook?

other
Did Joseph ever take the easy way out? Explain.

eyes
“A free lunch is only found in
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How did God answer Jacob’s prayer for the safety of His people years
ahead of the request?
mousetraps.”—John Capuzzi.

“All labor that uplifts humanity


has dignity and importance and
What do you think it is more important to do—to go where
should be undertaken with pain-
God leads us, even when it is unpleasant, or to understand staking excellence.”—Martin Luther King, Jr.,
what God is doing every moment of our lives?
20th-century U.S. clergyman.

“Always give a hundred percent, and you’ll


never have to second-guess yourself.”—Tommy John
with Dan Valenti, My Twenty-six Years in Baseball.
makingitreal
Sabbath Tuesday to make a commitment to something eternal
ook at your answers to the What Do You hat was Joseph’s role in the events rather than only those temporary things of this
L Think? exercise. Read the Scripture Story
for this week (Genesis 39–41). What two
W happening to him? In the Flashlight
section it says that “God was glorified by the
world. See if practicing the small commit-
ments can lead to even greater commitments
things made Joseph continually stand out? ___________________ of His servant.” in time!
One was his connection with God; the other What does that mean? How did Joseph’s
was his willingness to live honestly and faithfulness affect how the Egyptians viewed Friday
transparently. He was just not willing to God? What might your faithfulness do for hat does the example of Joseph mean
change the truth in order to be safe. In this
way, he lived recklessly. He lived by a code
those in your world? What are the people
around you learning about God’s character
W to you today? Is there a way to relate
Joseph’s trials and tribulations to yours? Can
that compelled him to do his best no matter from your faithfulness? How does Joseph’s life his successes be yours? Where does the bib-
what the job. In every situation there were encourage you that it is possible to affect how lical story intersect with your life? Are you will-
things he would rather not have done, but he others see God? ing to enter into a similar type of relationship
did his best regardless. with God for the long haul? Can you be faith-
Wednesday ful even when you don’t feel like it? It won’t
Sunday t is always good to dig deeper into the Word hurt to give it a try!

T he Bible says that “the Lord was with I of God. By simply going to www. biblegate
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Joseph and he prospered” (Genesis 39:2, way.com and doing a search for the words you
NIV). What does this mean? Can you go think are a theme for this week you might
through life saying that “the Lord is with you”? come up with your own list of texts that relate
Why do you think Joseph prospered because to what this lesson is about.
Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International
of this? Whose will came first in his life—his Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible
own, his employer’s, or God’s? Read the Punch Lines and focus on the last Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
texts. What do they mean to you? Do you ever
Note that he was truly seeking what God feel as if you are working in vain? Have you
wanted for him, and in return he was honored ever felt that you are trying to do what God is
by those around him as being wise and hard- asking but can’t seem to get it right? Paul
working. How would that approach make a dif- knew the secret to contentment—faithfulness
ference in your life? anyway, through His grace.
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Monday Thursday
ead the Key Text again. How would you aithfulness is a question of commitment.
R feel if someone said that to you? But no-
tice to whom Pharaoh gave credit first. He
F Are you committed to doing something re-
gardless of how you feel? Are you willing to try
seemed to understand where Joseph’s wis- something radical over the next few weeks?
dom and discernment had come from. Commit to something you know is good for
you (eating habits, exercise, etc.) and practice
What would cause people to see you as it for no less than a week. Once you have
someone who is filled with the wisdom of made it a week, try for two, and then try for
God? How often do you take time to listen for more. It is a good idea to keep a journal for
what God wants you to do? How does God yourself in order to track your successes. In this week’s reading*
speak to you? Besides through His Word, it three weeks you will have built a new habit. Patriarchs and Prophets,
might be that He tries to communicate with chapter 20.
you through circumstances; it might be It might not feel good all the time, but in the
through people in your life, or the leading of end you know it is good for you. It’s about *A special adaptation of Patriarchs and Prophets has
the Holy Spirit. Have you ever taken the time making a commitment to something and stay- been created just for you by the White Estate and the
to find out? ing faithful. Imagine how much better it will be Pacific Press Publishing Association. Get more info
about it at: www.cornerstoneconnections.net. By fol-
lowing this plan you will read at least one book of the
Conflict of the Ages Series each year.

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