Joseph Makes Himself Known To His Brothers (Genesis 45)

Joseph makes himself known to his brothers. (Genesis 45) Bible Lesson. Teen Bible Lesson.

Scripture Text:

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Genesis 45

Questions:

1. Who in your family makes the most noise when crying? Who “never” cries? When was the last time you wept openly? For what?

2. Who in your family is the one who will forgive anyone anything? For whom does forgiveness come only with difficulty? Which one are you like? How so?

3. If you were visited by a loved one who came back 22 years later “from the dead”, what proof would you need that this person was indeed the one you had given up for dead?

4. Why do you think Joseph and Benjamin have a special relationship (connection)?

5. Why do you suppose Joseph sent off his brothers with the final word, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”?

6. As Joseph reveals himself for who he really is, how does he also make God known for who He is, has been and will be (vv. 5 – 11)?

7. What would bring “tears of joy” if it happened for you sometime soon?

8. What is one thing you have learned from Joseph’s story that would be most helpful to share with someone experiencing tough times? Why not share with that person this week?

9. What do you do when confronted with the pain you have caused others?

10. What do you typically do when you have the opportunity to forgive others?

11. How do you feel about Joseph’s perspective that God (and not his brothers) actually put him through the things he experienced? How does that make you feel about your own trials and suffering? How would your attitude and relationship with God be different if you shared Joseph’s view?

12. In your situation of living with a broken relationship, how can you relate to this song?

• Things have been strained for a long time
• I would to experience that kind of happy ending
• I would like to see them squirm a little
• They would be shocked if I had Joseph’s attitude
• I would be shocked if they had Jospeh’s attitude
• I can see God’s purposes to an extent in what they have done to me

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My Brother Won’t Forgive Me

(My Brother Won’t Forgive Me) Bible Question.

Question:

“I made a silly comment that deeply wounded a member of the church where I worship. I quickly realized my sin and went to the individual involved as well as his family. I apologized to each and all of them. Some of them forgave me, but my brother will not. He says I didn’t mean it and so he will not come to church or talk to me. What can I do?”

Answer:

Injurious wounds inflicted on one’s soul, psyche, sense of worth and emotions can be devastating. And forgiving others (or ourselves) can be one of the most difficult things a person can do. In both situations, the pain and hurt can be life-altering.

You have taken the most important step already. You have admitted you sin and gone to those you hurt and confessed your wrong. “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another” (James 5:16).  When we know we are wrong, the first thing to do is admit and confess to those we have injured. You have done that.

Now, the forgiveness is up to your brother. If he will not accept your confession as genuine there is only one thing for you to do: live in such a way to demonstrate you mean it. As to say to all that you have repented of this mistake.

When someone came to John to be immersed, he said to them, “Therefore bring forth fruits in keeping with repentance” (Luke 3:8). John seems to have suspected that these people were looking for a religious ritual to ensure they were good people. He tells them to change, to demonstrate that this act of penitence was genuine and then their immersion would have meaning.

In your situation you can go out of your way to be kind, to be supportive and to be patient. You can speak highly of the people so that your silly comment will be seen to have been a foolish mistake, not your genuine opinion. You can act in such a way that others will see you respect this individual.

Finally, forgiveness is something that must come from the wounded person. Jesus had much to say about forgiving others . . .

“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” – Matthew 6:14, 15 (New American Standard Bible)

The Lord warns us that our willingness to (or unwillingness) to forgive will have much to do with God’s willingness to forgive us. Jesus says it plainly: if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us.

So, allow time to heal this wound and work on the heart of your brother. Perhaps, as you bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, he will soften and forgive. The rest is between your brother and God. Leave it there.

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How Forgiving Does God Want Us To Be?

The Parable of the Unmerciful, Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21 – 35). Bible Lesson / Teen Bible Lesson

The sacrifice of Jesus pays for the sins we have committed, no matter what they are (Romans 3:21 – 26). But does it also apply to crime and lawlessness such as murder, robbery, treason, rape and terrorism? Could God truly forgive someone who causes such pain? Could He expect us to forgive such a person if they truly came to Christ? If he or she never came to Christ?

In Matthew 18: 21, the apostle Peter asks Jesus a question about forgiveness. Like most of us, Peter wondered about the limits of forgiveness. Examine Jesus’ answer and then answer the 17 questions that follow. . .

“Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.

When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.

So the servantfell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii,and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’

So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.

When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place.

Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’

And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

– Matthew 18:21 – 35 (English Standard Version)

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The Debt to the Master (verses 23 – 27)

1. How much was this debt?

2. A talent of silver was worth about 6,000 denarii. (A denarius was a day’s wage for the average working man.) How many days would the servant have had to work for the master to pay off the debt? How many years? How many lifetimes?

3. What is represented by the servant’s debt to the master in this parable?

4. What principle can we learn from these verses?

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The Debt to the Second Servant (verses 28 – 34)

5. How much was the debt?

6. Estimating the modern value of a denarius as $100, how much was this debt?

7. Why was the first servant’s response to the debt reasonable?

8. Why was the response wrong, nevertheless?

9. What is represented by the second servant’s debt in this parable?

10. What principle can we learn from these verses?

11. What will happen to our previously forgiven sins if we refuse to forgive another?

12. Do we forgive others so God will forgive us? Or does God forgive us so that we will have a forgiving attitude? Explain.

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Multiple Choice Application Questions

13. What is hardest for you?

• forgiving again and again
• not punishing those who hurt me
• forgiving from my heart – I can say the words but I don’t feel them
• wondering how I can forgive without encouraging irresponsibility

14. What have you found helpful in dealing with strained relationships?

• being up front with the person
• ignoring it and hoping for the best
• asking someone else to mediate
• writing out my feelings
• breaking off the relationship

15. What is the most important thing you have needed (or need now) to be able to forgive “from your heart”?

• talking through my pain
• receiving counseling
• appreciating God’s forgiving me
• seeing the other person as human and hurting himself/herself
• foregoing the pleasure of self-pity

16. Which character in the parable do you relate to most?

• first servant – I’m forgiven by God but still struggling to let go of bitterness
• second servant – I’m not perfect but I don’t deserve this treatment
• the master – I have gone to great lengths to be merciful to someone

17. What do you need to do to find the freedom that forgiveness brings?

• talk to the person who hurt me
• tell that person I’ve forgiven them
• hold that person accountable for the consequences of their actions
• look for ways to show kindness to that person
• ask God for strength
• ask forgiveness for my wrongs

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