GENESIS 

Chapter 39 

If you don’t have a Bible handy, click this link for Genesis Chapter 39.

Verse 1:          Joseph sold to Potiphar.
Verses 2-6:     Joseph is successful.
Verses 7-15:   Potiphar’s wife tries to cause Joseph to sin.
Verses 16-20: Potiphar’s wife lies and Joseph goes to prison.
Verses 21-23: Joseph is successful in prison.

Discussion:
--- Do bad things happen to good people?
--- Has something bad happened to you? How did you handle it?
--- When something bad happens, who do you blame? God? Parents? Spouse?
--- Others saw the Lord in Joseph – do others see the Lord in you?
--- Joseph made the best of each situation. Have you had opportunities to take something bad and turn it into good?
--- Has someone lied to get you into trouble? Have you lied to get someone else into trouble? How did that make you feel?
--- How do you handle temptations? What temptations do you face? Do you give in or get out?
--- We show our true character in the midst of trouble. What has your character said about you?

See also:
Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

1Corinthians 10:13  No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

GENESIS 

Chapter 38 

If you don’t have a Bible handy, click this link for Genesis Chapter 38.

Verses 1-5       Judah leaves the family – picks a Canaanite woman for a wife and has 3 sons (Er, Onan, Shelah).
Verses 6-7       Fast forward – Judah’s son Er gets married to Tamar. But he was wicked and the Lord slew him.
Verses 8-10     Tamar is given to Onan . Onan realizes that an heir would not be his so he makes sure she does not get pregnant with his child. God was not happy with Onan and he dies as well.
Verse 11          Judah tells Tamar to wait for his younger son (Shelah) to be old enough to get married. But Judah was being deceitful and did not want Selah to marry Tamar.
Verse 12          Judah’s wife dies.
Verse 13 – 19  Tamar finds out that Judah is in town and plans a trap for him (she dresses as a harlot). Judah falls for it.
Verses 20-23    Later, Judah tries to pay the harlot but she can’t be found (Tamar gets rid of the harlot clothes and puts her widow clothes back on).
Verses 24-26    3 months later Judah finds out that Tamar is pregnant and then he finds out that he is the father.
Verses 27-30    Tamar has twin sons (Perez, Zerah). Note: Jesus will come thru Perez’s line (thru Tamar and Judah). Zerah is the ancestor of Achan (Joshua 7:1)

Discussion:
-- Does Judah leave because he feels guilty about Joseph?
-- Judah gets married but he is unequally yoked. Good idea? Bad idea?
-- Judah’s sons are wicked and 2 die because of their wickedness. Did Judah teach them about God? Was he being a godly influence?
-- Tamar decides to be deceitful (a running theme in this family) Was this a good idea? Jesus will come thru Judah’s line – did God take something bad and turn it to good?
-- Judah wanted Tamar to be burned – until he found out he was the father. Why did that matter?
-- Zerah was going to be born first but somehow he switched places with his twin and Perez was born first. Was there a reason that Perez needed to be the first born?
-- Would you consider this family as being dysfunctional?
-- Why would God choose this family as the ancestors of His Son?
-- Have you researched your family tree and found that you have some bad ancestors? You and Jesus have that in common!
-- God put Leah (Judah’s mom) in the ancestor line of Jesus. Why did He pick Leah? Was it because she was unloved?
-- Do you feel unloved or second best? Do you feel like you don’t matter? Well, you do matter! Just look at Leah and Tamar and how God used them for His glory.

GENESIS 

Chapters 36 and 37 

If you don’t have a Bible handy, click this link for Genesis Chapter 36 and Chapter 37.

Chapter 36
Verses 1-8       Esau takes his wives, children and goods and leaves the land of Canaan.
Verses 9-14    Genealogy of Esau (wife Adah – son   Eliphaz; wife Basemath – son Reuel; wife Aholibamah – sons Jeush, Jaalam and Korah).
Verses 15-19   Genealogy of Esau’s sons.
Verses 20-30   Genealogy of the family of Timna (Eliphaz’s concubine). Esau (Edom) is connected to Horites thru Timna).
Verses 31-39   The kings of Edom before Esau. (Edom had kings, Israel did not)
Verses 40-43   The chiefs of Esau.

Chapter 37
Verses 1-2       Joseph gives his father a bad report on his brothers.
Verses 3-4       Jacob loved Joseph the most and made him a coat of many colors.
Verses 5-11     Joseph has 2 dreams and tells them to his family. The dreams were not received well.
Verses 12- 17  Jacob sends Joseph to check on his brothers.
Verses 18- 20  The brothers conspire against Joseph to kill him.
Verses 21-24   Reuben (Leah’s son) doesn’t allow the brothers to kill Joseph.
Verses 25-28   The brothers sell Joseph to a company of Ishmaelites.
Verses 29 -35  Reuben returns and finds out that Joseph has been sold. They come up with a plan to tell their father that a wild animal killed Joseph.
Verse 36          Joseph is sold to Potiphar.

Discussion:
-- Was Joseph a tattletale? Or was he just doing what his father asked him to do?
-- Are you someone’s favorite? Are others jealous because of it? Are you jealous of someone that is a favorite?
-- Did Joseph know he was the favorite? Did he take advantage of that?
-- Have you ever been in an awkward position where you knew the truth would cause others to be angry with you? How did you handle it?
-- Did Joseph know his dreams were a prophecy or was he just being arrogant?
-- God’s plan was for Joseph to be in Egypt. Was it God’s plan for Joseph to be sold by his brothers or did God just use it for His plan?

Crafts for Children
White t-shirts
Fabric paint
Have each child make their own “shirt of many colors”.

Coloring Pages:

To print out coloring pages: Click on the image, select copy image, then paste the image onto a document (such as Word). You can make the image smaller or larger - then print.