October 12 | Genesis 37 | The Last Toledot

  1. Often we see children duplicate the weaknesses as well as the strengths of their parents. What strengths and weaknesses have you seen passed down in your own family? How have those strengths/weaknesses affected you?

  2. Read Genesis 37:1-4. How would you describe family relationships at the outset of the story? Jacob suffered as a boy from parental favoritism. How has that perpetuated family pattern affected the lives of his sons?

  3. Read Genesis 37:5-11. In what form does God’s special revelation come to Joseph? How are the symbols in the two dreams interpreted by his family? Why do you think God reveals his will to Joseph through dreams so early in the story?

  4. Read Genesis 37:12-28. How do the brothers respond to Joseph’s dreams? Ironically, the brothers’ actions set off a sequence of events that will eventually lead to the fulfillment of Joseph’s dreams. What does that tell us about God’s will and how we respond to it?

  5. In the sermon today, we explored the Toledot of Genesis - ‘records of generations’ that document God’s covenant faithfulness in every generation. The last of the Toledot occurs in Genesis 37:2. What is the significance of this placement in light of the story that unfolds in the chapter? How is God’s faithfulness on display here?

Robb EsperatComment