September 23, 2018 C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON. UNIT II: MAN'S LOVE TOWARD MAN : LESSON FIVE : TOPIC - LOVE DISPLAYED IN JACOB'S FAMILY.
September 23, 2018 C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON. UNIT II: MAN'S LOVE TOWARD MAN : LESSON FIVE : TOPIC - LOVE DISPLAYED IN JACOB'S FAMILY.
C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
UNIT II: MAN'S LOVE TOWARD MAN.
September 23, 2018
LESSON FIVE
LOVE DISPLAYED IN JACOB'S FAMILY.
PART II.
JOSEPH'S LOVE WAS DIFFERENT (Genesis 45;50)
Loving is never theoretical but practical. Joseph's love to his brothers can't just be quantified. Imagine the expression of passionate love instead of revenge. What a man who knew God! He admitted that vengeance is of the Lord, for he had already set them free in his mind before they fearfully approached him for forgiveness.
A. WELCOMED HIS BROTHERS PASSIONATELY (45:1-15)
And Joseph said to his brothers, "please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt" (v. 4).
i. vv. 1-3: Reconciliation takes maturity. Having identified his brothers, ordinarily, he should have paid them back in their own coins. But Joseph showed true love (not vengeful) to his wicked brothers.
ii. vv. 3,4: On identifying Joseph, the brothers were obviously scared to their bones. Startlingly, Joseph allay Ed their fears (vv. 4-8). That is true love (Prov. 10:12).
iii. Please come near to me (v. 4) were Joseph's words in welcoming his brothers. He meant what he said; no hypocrisy or prank-playing. He still loved them with agape, even then in the situation of famine they found themselves. How do you handle your perceived enemies? (Prov. 25:21,22)
iv. vv. 5-8: show that Joseph saw things differently. Seeing God's mercy persists, and that He had predestined him, sending him ahead of them for their deliverance.
v. His large-heartedness (cf. Phil. 2:5) accommodated his brothers when they came. How easily do you disengage from malice? (Eph. 4:31; Heb. 12:15).
vi. Only God could tell what might have happened to them, if they had known that Joseph is the man to meet in Egypt. Fortunately for them, Joseph was there working and waiting for their arrival.
B. WASN'T READY FOR REVENGE (50:15-21)
Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?" (v. 19)
i. v. 15: Their father (whom they thought was their uniting factor, and the only reason why Joseph hadn't taken his pound of flesh) was dead (49:29ff). Naturally, they thought that it was Joseph's time of reprisal. After all, their wicked hearts would have done worse, if they were in his shoes.
ii. vv. 16-17: Whether what they claimed here about their father was true or not, do you think it would have been enough to save them from Joseph's sword, had he carried the wicked heart they possessed? (cf. Prov. 28:1)
iii. v. 17b: Joseph's cry, here, was not that of weakness, but a demonstration of passionate love for those wicked brothers (cf. Jn. 11:35).
iv. v. 18: The unhidden genuine passion in Joseph's countenance as he wept, robbed off on the brothers, as they also fell down weeping profusely. Only God knows what ran through their minds at that point, as to what Joseph was about doing, that made them to declare, Behold, we are your servants.
v. vv. 19-20: They must have surprised hearing those words from Joseph who should have just enslaved them thence. Yet, he didn't put himself in the place of God, the Avenger (vv. 19,20; cf. Deut. 32:35; Rom. 12:18-21).
vi. v. 21: Only pure mature love could have made him to reassure, comfort and speak kindly to those wicked brothers. May God give us such grace. Amen!
vii. Joseph's love for his brothers was natural and godly. He had enjoyed the good hand of God. He allowed God's Word in his life to show the future generations, the efficacy of reconciliation, which of course has been carried out by Christ for humanity.
LESSON DERIVED
1. Your attitudes in life matter to God, how you 'deal' with your enemies, inclusive.
2. It is only true love for God that can make you desist from avenging yourself so that God can defend your course and receive the glory, now and forever.
QUESTIONS
1. How can we discourage favoritism in our homes?
2. "The more you love and focus on God in Christ Jesus, the less you are bordered by the misbehavior of people around you." Discuss.
SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
ANSWER TO QUESTION 1
i. We must first know and understand what it means to show favoritism and its effects.
ii. Favouritism should be understood as a sin before God.
iii. Armed with the consequences of favouritism, we should refused to practise it.
iv. This can be discouraged in homes provided when the home is ruled by Christ.
vi. Parents should not point out that one child is better than the other.
vii. Let assignments, communication, relationship, affection, etc., be evenly demonstrated and distributed in homes.
viii.The understanding of individual uniqueness should not be underrated.
ANSWER TO QUESTION 2
It is good to be good, but naturally, where one is expecting the best and he is let down, he feels bad. This is what we should know about man, despite our uniqueness; the individual differences still have their place. All that was done by Christ our master, is yet not seen to go well with some. It is of man to cause stumbling block and man is also bound to be offended. Therefore, overlooking of issues and focusing on ones area of discipline and concern should be given priority. Scripturally, the whole heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9) Therefore, do all you can and keep praying for your steadfastness and change of heart for all, even those who offended you.
LIFE APPLICATION
The love displayed in Jacob's family was built on favouritism, this caused both of them old age pains and agony. As this was displayed by Isaac and Rebeccah with the result that led to jealousy, hatred even separation among their children, so it happened with Jacob. For Jacob openly showed his love for Joseph and this again earned him a long lasting year of mourning for Joseph until he was called to the land of Egypt and eventually where he became the foundation for the enslavement of the whole Israel nation.
In fact, the end point of favouritism is always disastrous. There was a story of a man who married to two wives and their children respectively. As time went on, he loved the younger wife and her son more than the first wife whose children were female. As a godless father, he denied them of his care left alone their mother, with the female children to struggle for their survival. In the course of life, the female children were successful in their endeavours. Bit the favoured son has nothing good to show for the special love lavished on him.
A day came when their father was hospitalised; but before his recovery, the son has sold all the father's properties. Although prior to this time, the successful female children had sent their mother on overseas' holiday trip. And to the father while he came out to his consciousness; he could not even locate those girls for reconciliation. Thus, he lived the remaining of his life in lamentation, until his death. What a painful experience he had? Therefore, let us love equally and respect the uniqueness of individuals.
CONCLUSION
The scenario of Isaac and Jacob in the kind of partial love displayed, has enough lessons for us, if we must have a pleasant, delightful and peaceful end as parents. Both Isaac (Rebeccah) and Jacob would, in one way or the other, regret their wrongful deeds. They could not see Jacob's life in his God-given prosperity, because they died without enjoying their children.
Click to read previous CAC Sunday Schools Manuals Here
READING ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE SECOND WEEK
Mon. 17: Don't Hold Christ's Faith with Partiality (Jas. 2:1)
Tue. 18: Don't show Partiality to Anyone (Jas. 2:2-4)
Wed. 19: Don't Deprived the Poor of Love (Jas. 2:5-7)
Thur. 20: Doing Partiality is Against God's Love(Jas. 2:8-9)
Fri. 21: Don't Transgress Against God's Love.
Sat. 22: Do Everything in God's Love (Jas. 2:12,13)
C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
UNIT II: MAN'S LOVE TOWARD MAN.
September 23, 2018
LESSON FIVE
LOVE DISPLAYED IN JACOB'S FAMILY.
PART II.
JOSEPH'S LOVE WAS DIFFERENT (Genesis 45;50)
Loving is never theoretical but practical. Joseph's love to his brothers can't just be quantified. Imagine the expression of passionate love instead of revenge. What a man who knew God! He admitted that vengeance is of the Lord, for he had already set them free in his mind before they fearfully approached him for forgiveness.
A. WELCOMED HIS BROTHERS PASSIONATELY (45:1-15)
And Joseph said to his brothers, "please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt" (v. 4).
i. vv. 1-3: Reconciliation takes maturity. Having identified his brothers, ordinarily, he should have paid them back in their own coins. But Joseph showed true love (not vengeful) to his wicked brothers.
ii. vv. 3,4: On identifying Joseph, the brothers were obviously scared to their bones. Startlingly, Joseph allay Ed their fears (vv. 4-8). That is true love (Prov. 10:12).
iii. Please come near to me (v. 4) were Joseph's words in welcoming his brothers. He meant what he said; no hypocrisy or prank-playing. He still loved them with agape, even then in the situation of famine they found themselves. How do you handle your perceived enemies? (Prov. 25:21,22)
iv. vv. 5-8: show that Joseph saw things differently. Seeing God's mercy persists, and that He had predestined him, sending him ahead of them for their deliverance.
v. His large-heartedness (cf. Phil. 2:5) accommodated his brothers when they came. How easily do you disengage from malice? (Eph. 4:31; Heb. 12:15).
vi. Only God could tell what might have happened to them, if they had known that Joseph is the man to meet in Egypt. Fortunately for them, Joseph was there working and waiting for their arrival.
B. WASN'T READY FOR REVENGE (50:15-21)
Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?" (v. 19)
i. v. 15: Their father (whom they thought was their uniting factor, and the only reason why Joseph hadn't taken his pound of flesh) was dead (49:29ff). Naturally, they thought that it was Joseph's time of reprisal. After all, their wicked hearts would have done worse, if they were in his shoes.
ii. vv. 16-17: Whether what they claimed here about their father was true or not, do you think it would have been enough to save them from Joseph's sword, had he carried the wicked heart they possessed? (cf. Prov. 28:1)
iii. v. 17b: Joseph's cry, here, was not that of weakness, but a demonstration of passionate love for those wicked brothers (cf. Jn. 11:35).
iv. v. 18: The unhidden genuine passion in Joseph's countenance as he wept, robbed off on the brothers, as they also fell down weeping profusely. Only God knows what ran through their minds at that point, as to what Joseph was about doing, that made them to declare, Behold, we are your servants.
v. vv. 19-20: They must have surprised hearing those words from Joseph who should have just enslaved them thence. Yet, he didn't put himself in the place of God, the Avenger (vv. 19,20; cf. Deut. 32:35; Rom. 12:18-21).
vi. v. 21: Only pure mature love could have made him to reassure, comfort and speak kindly to those wicked brothers. May God give us such grace. Amen!
vii. Joseph's love for his brothers was natural and godly. He had enjoyed the good hand of God. He allowed God's Word in his life to show the future generations, the efficacy of reconciliation, which of course has been carried out by Christ for humanity.
LESSON DERIVED
1. Your attitudes in life matter to God, how you 'deal' with your enemies, inclusive.
2. It is only true love for God that can make you desist from avenging yourself so that God can defend your course and receive the glory, now and forever.
QUESTIONS
1. How can we discourage favoritism in our homes?
2. "The more you love and focus on God in Christ Jesus, the less you are bordered by the misbehavior of people around you." Discuss.
SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
ANSWER TO QUESTION 1
i. We must first know and understand what it means to show favoritism and its effects.
ii. Favouritism should be understood as a sin before God.
iii. Armed with the consequences of favouritism, we should refused to practise it.
iv. This can be discouraged in homes provided when the home is ruled by Christ.
vi. Parents should not point out that one child is better than the other.
vii. Let assignments, communication, relationship, affection, etc., be evenly demonstrated and distributed in homes.
viii.The understanding of individual uniqueness should not be underrated.
ANSWER TO QUESTION 2
It is good to be good, but naturally, where one is expecting the best and he is let down, he feels bad. This is what we should know about man, despite our uniqueness; the individual differences still have their place. All that was done by Christ our master, is yet not seen to go well with some. It is of man to cause stumbling block and man is also bound to be offended. Therefore, overlooking of issues and focusing on ones area of discipline and concern should be given priority. Scripturally, the whole heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9) Therefore, do all you can and keep praying for your steadfastness and change of heart for all, even those who offended you.
LIFE APPLICATION
The love displayed in Jacob's family was built on favouritism, this caused both of them old age pains and agony. As this was displayed by Isaac and Rebeccah with the result that led to jealousy, hatred even separation among their children, so it happened with Jacob. For Jacob openly showed his love for Joseph and this again earned him a long lasting year of mourning for Joseph until he was called to the land of Egypt and eventually where he became the foundation for the enslavement of the whole Israel nation.
In fact, the end point of favouritism is always disastrous. There was a story of a man who married to two wives and their children respectively. As time went on, he loved the younger wife and her son more than the first wife whose children were female. As a godless father, he denied them of his care left alone their mother, with the female children to struggle for their survival. In the course of life, the female children were successful in their endeavours. Bit the favoured son has nothing good to show for the special love lavished on him.
A day came when their father was hospitalised; but before his recovery, the son has sold all the father's properties. Although prior to this time, the successful female children had sent their mother on overseas' holiday trip. And to the father while he came out to his consciousness; he could not even locate those girls for reconciliation. Thus, he lived the remaining of his life in lamentation, until his death. What a painful experience he had? Therefore, let us love equally and respect the uniqueness of individuals.
CONCLUSION
The scenario of Isaac and Jacob in the kind of partial love displayed, has enough lessons for us, if we must have a pleasant, delightful and peaceful end as parents. Both Isaac (Rebeccah) and Jacob would, in one way or the other, regret their wrongful deeds. They could not see Jacob's life in his God-given prosperity, because they died without enjoying their children.
Click to read previous CAC Sunday Schools Manuals Here
READING ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE SECOND WEEK
Mon. 17: Don't Hold Christ's Faith with Partiality (Jas. 2:1)
Tue. 18: Don't show Partiality to Anyone (Jas. 2:2-4)
Wed. 19: Don't Deprived the Poor of Love (Jas. 2:5-7)
Thur. 20: Doing Partiality is Against God's Love(Jas. 2:8-9)
Fri. 21: Don't Transgress Against God's Love.
Sat. 22: Do Everything in God's Love (Jas. 2:12,13)
September 23, 2018 C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON. UNIT II: MAN'S LOVE TOWARD MAN : LESSON FIVE : TOPIC - LOVE DISPLAYED IN JACOB'S FAMILY.
Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
September 23, 2018
Rating:
Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
September 23, 2018
Rating:
Blessed; Thanks; GOD bless the ministry
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