WEEK 2

Introduction
From last week’s study, we were able to see the life of Faith of Noah, the
supporting attributes of his life and how he stood for righteousness in the
face of opposing corruption. This week, we will be looking at another
Bible character but before we do, how does the study of Noah generally
apply to us as 21st century believer?
Noah is symbolic of the believer
The then World is symbolic of the world which now is. Both of them are
markedly identified with evil and corruption in an increasing measure.
The ark is symbolic of Jesus Christ. Whoever comes to, and is hidden in
him shall be saved from the corruption that exist in this world through
lust.
As believers, we have been called unto a life of righteousness and
holiness (1Thess. 2:12;4:3-7, Col. 1:10) a life that shines forth the light of
God in a dark world (Matt. 5:16, Phil. 2;15, 1Pet. 2:9). We are in the
world but not of the world.
Part of this assignment requires that we let our light shine by doing good
works, preaching the gospel, and being a blessing. The other part requires
that we take a stand against evil, resisting the devil and shunning every
appearance of evil. We have not just being called to a passive life of
avoiding evil but of vigorously rejecting evil and insisting that the will of
God be done in and around your life.
Know that you cannot back down or refuse to engage this fight else you
will be a casualty of war. You are God’s price possession. The devil
cannot do anything directly to God but he can get to God indirectly
through you. Thank God we already have our victory in Christ.
For the Unbeliever, it is a darker and more terrible situation.

We know this season is a fasting season for many of us at our local

churches. God will be making various scriptural emphasis both personally
and collectively (as a church) so the study has been carefully organized in
such a way that it is not cumbersome.

You are free to ask your friends to join you in this study in order to foster
team spirit, mutual encouragement, and collaboration as you study. You
are also encouraged to make notes of your reflection as you study. You
will likely refer to them in the coming days.

This week we will be studying the Life of JOSEPH. HAPPY STUDYING

 JOSEPH
Brief Overview
Joseph is the 12th child of his father (11th son of his father- Jacob, but first
son of his mother Rachel). He was born into a polygamous setting which
had its own intricacies. As you study this week, keep an open mind for
the dynamics that exists in this family, how Joseph stood out despite the
disadvantages of his background, and what we can learn from all of it.

Joseph means the Lord has taken away my reproach (Gen. 30:23)

Monday 29th January,

Read Gen. 37 and 39

As you read, ponder on;

Chapter 37
1. The family dynamics of the family of Jacob.
Joseph though 17 years was entrusted with the responsibility of feeding
the flock despite having 10 older brothers. He in a sense didn’t enjoy “last
-born privilege”.
Jacob (Israel) loved Joseph more than all his children and it was very
obvious (he made a coat of many colors for him). This is primarily
because he was the first son of the woman he truly loved (Rachel) and
also the child of his old age. Old men are more attached to the children
born to them in their old age. Jacob was 91years old when Joseph was
born. (You will do a little research on this as you do your assignment)

What kind of environment will such selective love create amongst the
children?

2. Did Joseph make a mistake by telling his brothers of his dreams?

One expression of envy is that those who hold such emotions are not able
to speak peaceably to the one who they hold such emotion towards.
Note that the father got a proper understanding of the dream and rebuked
him (37:10) but you truly cannot get God to change his mind when he
makes up his mind about a person just because you do not approve of it.

Notes
When people have set their mind to do good or evil, it takes the divine
power of God to make them change their mind. This is the reason why
our hearts must be surrendered to God and our desires purified so that
they can align with God’s our will and purposes for us.

God always finds a way to preserve his children in the midst of the threats
of men. For them, it may be a venture of get rid of the believer and/or
make money but for God, it is his preserving plan for his children.

Chapter 39
As you read, ponder on this;
1. Vs 2, he (Joseph) was a prosperous man…
How did he prosper? What is God’s definition of prosperity? How can a
man in slavery be said to be prosperous?
Joseph prospered by the presence of God and it was evident. The
blessedness of God’s presence on him overflowed to the rest of
Potiphar’s house.
How did he sustain God’s presence upon his life in strange land where
didn’t have family or spiritual associations to leverage on?

2. The Temptation of Potiphar’s wife

What did Potiphar’s wife see in Joseph? Was it just because he was
hardworking and meticulous, was it his good looks?
What made Joseph resist her advance? What exactly gave him the
strength to say No? (I believe Potiphar’s wife must have been a very
beautiful woman)

Notes
The meaning we attach to the circumstances of our lives determines how
we will respond to them. Sometimes, we see temptations that we should
avoid as blessings we should embrace and that is why we are never able
to overcome it.

Before you attach a meaning to any occurrence in your life, you must first
understand God’s nature and see how it aligns with his nature. There are
issues you may even be required to set time aside to seek the face of God
in order to secure his verdict/perspective concerning that issue.

Some of the blessings in our lives are actually tests from God to see how
we will handle them so he can quality us to handle greater things.

How are you handling the blessings of friendship, authority, resources,

opportunities etc in your life. Do you know that God will qualify you for
greater things based on how faithful you are in handling them? (Heb. 3:5,
Luke 16:10-12)
You need to know that God has the way he blesses his own and he will
not bless a lie or anything contrary to his nature.

Note that sometimes we are punished or even suffer for doing the right
thing but never back down. This is the life we have been called to. Jesus
said “whoever must come after me must deny himself daily, take up his
cross and follow me” (Luke 9:23)

Are you willing to suffer for doing right? Are you willing to stand for
doing right even if you would have to stand alone?

Tuesday 30th January,

Read Genesis 40 and 41
As you read, ponder on this;

Chapter 40
1. Do you genuinely care for people? Can you tell when they are happy,
sad or bothered? People don’t care how much you know until they know
how much you care.

Joseph was a caring person. He was able to notice that something was
wrong with them just by looking at their faces without them saying
anything to him.

2. Do you trust God for revelations and insights in areas where you need
clarifications? Do you believe he can reveal things to you when you ask
because you have a relationship with him?If you do not believe, you
won’t even ask in the first place.

Vs 8b …Do not interpretations belong to God? This is a statement of

Faith. By his relationship, he knew that God was able to make known the
hidden/secret things to his children.

ACTIVITY
This week, I encourage you to ask the Lord in sincerity of something you
want him to reveal to you and you will see him reveal it. Be sensitive to
receive so you don’t keep asking even after he has revealed.
(Remember the assignment from last week on how God speaks to you).

Notes
Most times, people disappoint us when we expect them to reciprocate a
kindness we have previously shown them. Our trust should always be on
God. I can only imagine how Joseph must have felt after he was forgotten
by the Chief Butler. But God never forgets his own. (Jer. 17:5-8)

Chapter 41
Joseph has had opportunities to sharpen his spiritual gifts- (the gift of
wisdom) by interpreting the dreams of the Baker and the Butler. Now he
was before Pharaoh. Because he had trusted God for small victories, he
could still trust him for bigger ones.

Ponder on this;
1. What are your spiritual gifts? If you think you have none, then you
think so because you haven’t yet found them out.
(For further study on this, read Rom. 12:3-8, 1Cor. 12:7-11. Refer to me
if you need further clarifications)

2. Do you take advantage of opportunities to sharpen your spiritual gifts?

A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.
(Prov. 18:16)

Wednesday 31st January,

Read Genesis 42 and 43

As you read ponder on this;

Chapter 42
1. The first installment of Prophecy fulfillment (42:6). This was already
13 years plus after. They bowed to him, he knew them but they didn’t
know him.

God’s word concerning your life will prevail as long as you refuse to
compromise and you choose to obey the revealed will of God that you
already know.

Has God given you a promise by a dream, vision or a prophetic word? Be

rest assured that it will surely come to pass. Hold onto it for it will surely
come to pass.

b. Vs 9
“And Joseph remembered the dream…” as if he had even forgotten it. He
was not even expecting it to happen anymore. Now he was in the
fulfillment of the dream and yet he needed to be reminded.
Keep on the path of truth and righteousness. Let God worry about
bringing his word to pass.
2. The fear of God in a man attracts and sustains the presence of God
Vs 18
Joseph had always lived in the fear of God while with his father and all
through his stay in Egypt. This is pioneering power of the presence of
God in his life.

To live in the fear of God is to live in a moment by moment

consciousness of God presence. To sustain God’s presence is to live in a
constant consciousness of God’s presence.
By fear, we mean to live in deep sense of respect for God’s presence such
that it under-guards what you say, what you do, how you react, etc.

A heart that fears God moves from only just asking “what do men think/
how does men see me” to “how does God sees me/ what does God think
of my word, thought, actions”? This heart knows who is to be feared

What motivates your actions? Do you have a set of priorities or

consideration that guides your decision? What/who tops that priority?

Vs 21
They had always lived in the guilt of the evil they did to Joseph and when
they faced a challenge, they quickly linked it to the guilt in their heart.
This is how we respond when we have unconfessed sins/ guilt in our
heart.
This is how the devil takes advantage of unconfessed sins in the life of a
believer.
The devil can also take advantage of sins confessed and forgiven if the
believer doesn’t believe that he has been forgiven by God.

Unconfessed and unrepented sin can cause guilt. When God draws our
attention to a sin, he brings it to our consciousness and expect us to make
amends. When we sin against God, we must remember that we have an
advocate with the Father, Jesus the righteous. Go to him for cleansing and
forgiveness. Receive it by confessing our sins and asking for forgiveness,
then accepting forgiveness and believing that you have been forgiven.

These are important in your spiritual journey and it will be a continuous

activity throughout your walk with God.
Are there any unconfessed sins in your life? If yes, Why have you not
confessed them? What is holding you back? Do you know that God is
willing to forgive you if you confess them not.
Is there a sin in your life that you have ‘confessed’ but the enemy is still
using against you? Believe that God has forgiven you and live forgiven.
(1John 1:9, Prov. 28:13, Rom. 8:1)

Also ponder on the display of Wisdom by Joseph in dealing with his

brothers. He was trying to investigate them without them knowing that he
is actually doing so. The questions he asked and how he asked those
questions, the use of an interpreter, putting back their monies, the
detaining of Simeon (vs 7, 12, 19-20, 23, 25,33)

Chapter 43
Ponder on and enjoy the discourse of
1. Judah’s persuasive skill to Jacob, his play of words and the hook: if
you want to get food, release Benny or forget about the food and we all
starve to death for we ain’t going back without him.

Why was Judah the one who Jacob listened to? Reuben tried but couldn’t
persuade his father.
Why was Judah the one that his words prevailed over the resistance of his
father Jacob.
(Reuben means strength)
(Judah means Praise)
Add praise to your request and see your resistance fall like a pack of
cards. Praise will prevail where strength has failed.

ACTIVITY
Take out 20 mins or more today to praise God to the best of your
knowledge. Praise him for the things you are asking for like you already
had them (Jonah 2:9- he praise God for salvation even while in the belly
of the fish and it provoked the manifestation of vs 10).

2. Think about the idea of presenting Gifts to Joseph by Jacob.

Gifts are given for different reasons; to express love, to win favor, to
reciprocate a good gesture, to pervert justice/right judgment, etc.
As a wise man, Jacob understood that Gift is also a pacifier. It soften the
disposition of an angry person toward you.
 Think of someone who you would like to smoothen your relationship
with(someone you have not really had a good relationship with but
you would love to).
 Think of a gift that suits them
 Get them a gift this week.
Thursday 1st January,
Read Genesis 44 and 45

Chapter 44
As you read, ponder on;

-The wisdom of the missing cup, and the detention of Benjamin.

-The plea of Judah to Joseph.
-Joseph was constantly doing things that will make them keep coming
back to him.

You word is your bond. Don’t be quick to make promises and when you
do, make sure you keep them. In a event where you are not able to meet
up with the promise you made because of our human nature and the
unpredictability of our world, make sure you duly communicate with the
person who you made the promise to (even if you made the promise to
God).

God wants a relationship with you. Everything that God is doing in your
life is only drawing you back to himself. Don’t let your flesh/the enemy
take advantage of what God has given you to take you away from the
Lord. Let it keep making you love and serve the lord even more.

Ponder
Are there things in your life that started out as a blessing from the Lord
but are gradually becoming the excuse why you can’t love and serve the
Lord even more? Identify those things, seek God’s mercy and change
your mind. Deliberately thing of ways you can love and serve the Lord
more with your time, energy money and other resources.

Chapter 45
Ponder on this

-Why were his brothers unable to answer him? Why were they troubled
by his presence? Could this be another test? They must have thought
“Could this be a trick question that he wants to use to trap us”?

Jacob presented himself initially as a hard man. Now he is presenting

himself as a brother. This must be a trap.

-this golden statement from Joseph: “for God send me before you to
preserve life” (vs 5)
Joseph had secured God’s verdict for the situation and knew there was
use for anger, and bitterness. It was God all the way.

Have you secured God’s verdict for the situations in your life? There may
not be any reason to be bitter towards anyone.

Joseph’s gift was given to him for the preservation/deliverance of his

family and not just himself but he had to take a personal responsibility to
nurture it and to sustain the presence of God upon his life.

 Are you developing yourself in the use of your gifts, grace, skills etc?
 Are you taking a personal responsibility to walk with the lord and to
cultivate his presence in your life?
 If you don’t want to do it for yourself, do it for your family.
Remember that God gave you what you what you have for their
preservation.
ACTIVITY
Ask the lord to show you his verdict concerning the current phase of life
you are in now and to tell you what to do next
Ask the lord to open your understanding to a gift, grace, or a skill that
you possess but don’t know yet or you don’t know how to utilize it and
ask him to show you what to do.
Friday 2nd January,
Read Genesis 46 and 47

Chapter 46
As you read, ponder on?

1. Vs 3 Why was it important for God to speak to Jacob concerning his

trip to Egypt assuring him of his promise and presence with him?
God in a vision of the night had to reassure Jacob that going to Egypt was
also in his will for him. This enabled him to go to Egypt without any
form of fear leaving nothing behind.

This is important for the believer because the voice of the lord calms the
storm and breaks the cedar (Psalms 29:3-5).

He is able to stand tall to any challenge he faces on the way. Victory in

any situation for the believer begins with knowing certainly that the Lord
is with him and if that is true then nothing can stop or defeat him. Faith
begins from a place where the will of God is known and that knowledge
comes by hearing the voice/words of the Lord (Rom. 10:17)
2. The excitement and recommendation of Joseph’s brother by Joseph to
Pharaoh. He was not shy to associate with them despite their low status.

Why did Joseph ask his brothers to tell Pharaoh that they are shepherds
seeing that Egyptians didn’t rear cows? Was it because he wanted them to
have an exclusive occupation so they can dwell in an exclusive area?

Joseph empowered his people. He didn’t just give them a place to stay but
he gave them what to do so they will not be a burden to him or anyone.

Many scholars believed Egyptians were vegetarians and didn’t eat meat.
Others believed some of them worshiped gods who had the similitude of
animals and therefore considered them an abomination to eat their meat
or interact with those who rear them for their meat.

Are you ashamed of associating with your parents, family relatives etc
because of their low status?

Chapter 47
Ponder on this
1. We see that Jacob was 130 years now. How old was Joseph at this
time? 32, 33, 34,…?

Jacob blesses Pharaoh by the honor of his age and the covenant of
blessing upon him.
To bless is to speak well of someone or something. He spoke well of
Pharaoh in the present and of the future of his personality and posterity.

When you know you are blessed, then you know that God can bless a
man because you said so.(Gen.12:3). Primarily, your blessing as a
believer finds expression through the words that come out of your mouth.

ACTIVITY
TODAY, Speak words of blessing over your life, family, friends and
country. Don’t just speak about their present. Speak about and into their
future. Say to the righteous “it is well with you…” (Isa. 3:10, Psa 91, 92)

2. We also see the proficiency by which Joseph dispensed his duties as

the Prime Minister of Egypt. Through his wisdom and
coordination/organization, he got cattle, horses, flocks, money, lands and
continuous tribute to Pharaoh. He created a system that constantly
generated revenue for the government of Pharaoh thereby making
Pharaoh technically the owner of everything; lands, animals and people.
How do you do when task are committed to you? Do does task get better
or worse? What is the evidence of the presence of God on your life?

God by the wisdom that operated in the life of Joseph shows us the
principle of exchanging value (goods{food} and services{managerial
skills}). This is one of the ways by which God blesses his people. You
should have something (goods/services) that people need and are willing
to pay for.
 Know what you have
 Know who needs it
 Let them know you have it
 Know how to exchange it for money
What do you have? Have you identified it/them? Are you developing
it/them? Are you deploying it/them?

Saturday 3rd January,

Read Genesis 48 and 50
Chapter 48
This chapter speaks of the blessing of the sons of Joseph by his father
Jacob.
Always speak a blessing wherever you go.

Ponder on the crossing of the hands of Jacob. Why should he do that?

Manasseh was on his right side as the first son and Ephraim on the left
but instead he crossed his hands putting his right hand on Ephraim and
the left one on Manasseh.
A precedence has been set for us all through the scriptures
Cain and Abel
Ishmael and Isaac
Esau and Jacob
Zerah and Pharez
Manasseh and Ephraim
The first Adam and the Last Adam (Jesus).
The Old and the New

What is the implication of this for the believer?

Physical Life and Spiritual Life(new life in Christ)

Chapter 50
The death of Jacob, mourning and the death of Joseph.
Joseph’s statement of Faith being assured of God’s visitation to his
people.

Joseph even to the point of death knew that he was not an Egyptian and
was not supposed to be permanently buried in Egyptian. He then
entrusted the responsibility of carrying his bones out of Egypt to his
brothers. His stay no matter how long was temporary. Egypt was not his
home.

Many of us get so comfortable with this world that we even forget that
our assignment and stay here is temporary. We should be looking forward
to the Lord’s coming. The thought of his coming should rejoice our soul
and not scare us.

Assignment
1. From our study, what is definition of Prosperity from God’s
perspective
2. How can one sustain the presence of God upon his life. What are some
practical steps that can be taken to achieve this
3. Itemize some benefits of the presence of God in a person’s life using
relevant verses. (from our study and beyond)

Bible Search: how old was Jacob when Joseph was born. How old was
Joseph when Benjamin was born? How old was Benjamin when Joseph
was sold into slavery.
Gen. 37:2, 41:46-49,53-57,45:6, 47:9,28)

Submit as a single pdf on or before 10pm Sunday 4th January, 2024. I

wish you all the best.