C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR MARCH 26, 2023 : LESSON FIVE/DIVISION II, TOPIC – JACOB’S SONS AND HOW THEY FARE UNDER GRACE
C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR MARCH 26, 2023 : LESSON FIVE/DIVISION II, TOPIC – JACOB’S SONS AND HOW THEY FARE UNDER GRACE
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH Nigeria & Overseas
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
THEME: Some Characters WHO GROW in the Grace and KNOWLEDGE
January - June, 2023
Unit Two: Spiritual Growth Before Christ Came
March 26, 2023
LESSON FIVE / DIVISION II
MEMORY SCRIPTURE
All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them. And he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own blessing (Genesis 49:28).
INTRODUCTION TO DIVISION II:
II. THE WISE, GODLY JOSEPH
Joseph became wise, not because he was trained under a roof different from his older siblings, but because she'd chose to be a lover of God. Despite all he went through, right from when he was in his father's house, till he got to Egypt, and then to the throne, he chose to be wise and godly. This division showcases the story of his wisdom and godliness. We have a lot of learn from it!
LESSON OUTLINE
II. THE WISE, GODLY JOSEPH
A. MEETS HIMSELF IN EGYPT
B. MAKES GOD KNOWN IN EGYPT
MAR. 26: II. THE WISE, GODLY JOSEPH (Genesis 37:12-36; 40:41)
Wisdom and godliness are good possessing both is an outstanding victory, success and fulfillment in the journey of life. On the whole, get wisdom, and add godliness to it.
A. MEETS HIMSELF IN EGYPT (27:12-6)
_Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard (v. 36).
i. vv. 12-14: Joseph's brothers were grazing their father's flocks near Shechem when their father sent him to check on their welfare. Unknown to him, destiny was taking him egypt(cf. Amos :6; Rom. 8:28).
ii. vv. 15-20: Seeing him coming afar off, they thought of ending his big dream (cf. 1 Jn. 4:7,20), the reason they hated this dreamer (v. 19), but God's grace had something better for him in offing.
iii. vv. 21:28: Instead of the brothers to appreciate and harness God's special grace on Joseph, they envied, hated an sold him into slavery. What is your attitude to those you think have grace/talents/skills/achievements more than you? Don't be callous.
iv. vv. 29-34: Reuben returned, only to find that Joseph before them, though sold as a slave (Psa. 105:17).
v. 36: Grace saved Joseph from being killed, and landed him in Egypt. That Potiphar purchased him carries rich possibilities. At least, he wasn't sold into obscurity. Grace at the work (cf. Rom. 8:28).
vi. Even though Joseph's brothers reduced him from a brother to a slave, God's grace was there, waiting to lead him to fulfillment. While men pull down, grace lift up (Psa. 75:6).
B. MAKES GOD KNOWN IN EGYPT (chaps. 40-41)
So Joseph answered Pharaoh saying, it is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer ó peace (41:16).
i. Joseph's determination and choice to follow YAHWEH and make Him known, landed him in trouble (prison), from where he was brought to limelight (cf. 39:7-19), It pays to choose God above all else, not minding the initial pains-a sign of spiritual growth (cf. Dan. 1:8)
ii. How would Joseph's statement in Gen. 39:9 not continue to haunt Potiphar's promiscuous wife all the days of her life? God had been glorified and true godly character had been entrenched, a part from God's grace that Potiphar's household enjoyed with Joseph's presence. Joseph didn't misappropriate the grace.
iii. 41:1-14: in Pharaoh's presence, grace helped Joseph to boldly show YAHWEH as the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God who shamed the wisdom of Egyptian magicians, sorcerers and idols.
iv. Joseph's promotion in Egypt's administration means the revelation of the God's presence and pre-eminence there. This necessitated the influx of everyone everywhere to Egypt for food during the famine. The presence of a true spirit-filled child of God in a place means God is there.
v. vv. 38-39: Joseph was promoted because of 2 rare qualities: his character and countenance. Grace refined him inside and outside, because he chose not to abuse God's grace, and was at alert to proclaim the God of grace, whenever and wherever the need arose.
vi. Our success is in direct proportion to God's grace and our response to it. Joseph was successful in whatever he did as Potiphar's servant, a prisoner, and a national leader, because God was with him and he revered God's grace (39:8-9, 23).
vii. Like Joseph, when you are for God, God is for you. Let the whole world gang up against you, God will go with you, because you are for Him, and He will showcases Himself.
LESSONS DERIVED
1. God is with us, no matter our life's situations. Wherever Joseph was, God was at work in his life in ways Joseph could not have understood at that time.
2. If Joseph survived both spiritually and physically, you too can. The power and strength greater than anything Joseph had, was with him. You only need to cooperate with the God of grace.
QUESTIONS
1. Describe Reuben and Judah, and discuss why they failed. Any lesson for us today?
2. How did Joseph get to Egypt and what made him successful there? Copiously draw out useful lessons for your Christian pilgrimage.
SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS:
ANSWER TO QUESTION 1:
i. Reuben was the first son of Jacob through Leah.
ii. Judah was Jacob's fourth son, through Leah.
Why they failed
i. Reuben failed because he couldn't control his feelings (lust) and the fact that he had a corrupt mind - he went up to his father's bed (Gen. 49:4).
ii. Judah's moral recklessness, ungodly association, and inability to sustain integrity led to his failure.
Lessons for today
i. Avoid bad company (1 Cor. 5:9; 15:33; 2 Cor. 6:14).
ii. Avoid sin, even in its faintest manifestation (1 Thess. 5:22).
iii. Bring your body under the control of grace (Col. 3:1-5).
iv. There are forces that contend with your destiny/fulfillment. Identify and combat them with/in prayers, humility and total submission to God's grace (1 Thess. 5:17; 1 Pet. 5:8).
ANSWER TO QUESTION 2:
i. Joseph's brothers had stripped him of his coat of many colours and thrown him inside a pit.
ii. On the advice of Judah (Gen. 37:26), they sold him to the Ishmaelite for 20 shekels of of silver. The Ishmaelites, in turn, sold him into slavery in Egypt (Gen. 37:28).
iii. Envy and hatred from his siblings took Joseph to Egypt as a slave in Potiphar's household.
What made him successful there?
i. Grace made Joseph successful in Egypt.
ii. He responded positively to, and cooperated with grace.
iii. He didn't take God's abiding presence for granted, but revered God's grace (Gen. 39:8-9, 23; 2 Cor. 6:1).
iv. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 1:7); Joseph feared God!
Useful lessons for our Christian pilgrimage.
i. For God-glorifying and successful pilgrimage, a complete land uncompromising bond with grace is essential (cf. Eccl. 12:13).
ii. The situations we go through in life are not meant to mar or destroy us, as children of God. God works behind the scene to fulfill in us, His eternal redemptive programme for our good (Rom. 8:28).
iii. It doesn't matter the situation you are made to go through, as long as your love for God isn't waning, He would come through for you at the right time.
LIFE APPLICATION
There were two brothers, once upon a time, who received predictions about what the future held for each of them. One was told that he had the destiny to become very great and prosperous, while the other would be an average person who might die as a pauper. As time went by, the brother with the prediction of a bright future ended up as labourer for a big-time farmer, because he neither went to school nor learnt a trade. Conversely, the brother with unfortunate prophetic destiny to be hardworking. Surprisingly, that made him to become a captain of industries, business magnate, and an education consultant. He was indeed prosperous. Joseph was in a very precarious situation as a result of his sibling's wickedness. Yet, he chose to make the most of his situation, by cooperating with YAHWEH and refusing to be embittered by his brothers' wickedness. You too can make something out of your present unpalatable situation, if you see God's hand in it. Cooperate with the God of grace, and you won't regret you did.
CONCLUSION:
We thank our Lord God Almighty for bringing us to a successful completion of lesson five that borders on Jacob's sons and how they fared under God's grace. Readers are encouraged to allow God's grace to have its full place in their lives by fully inculcating the godly life, disposition, and wisdom of Joseph. May you fare well under God's grace in Jesus' name. Amen.
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS FOR WEEK TWO
Mon. 20: Grace Vindicates Joseph (Gen. 42:21-38)
Tue. 21: Grace Makes Thinks Work For Joseph (Gen. 45:7-8)
Wed. 22: Grace Makes Joseph To Be Compassionate (Gen. 45:1-5)
Thur. 23: Grace Helps Benjamin Back To Joseph (Gen. 43:8-14)
Fri. 24: Grace Makes Them Meet Again (Gen. 45:14-16)
Sat. 25: Good News To Jacob: Joseph's Preservation (Gen. 45:25-28)
C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR MARCH 26, 2023 : LESSON FIVE/DIVISION II, TOPIC – JACOB’S SONS AND HOW THEY FARE UNDER GRACE
![C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR MARCH 26, 2023 : LESSON FIVE/DIVISION II, TOPIC – JACOB’S SONS AND HOW THEY FARE UNDER GRACE]()
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March 25, 2023
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