The Last Words - Genesis
Read the summary of the Sunday sermon: At the end of Genesis Jacob chooses to bless each of his sons, passing on the covenant blessing to this new nation of 12. The blessing includes Joseph’s sons and it shifts the leading position to Judah. After Jacob dies Joseph’s brothers continue to doubt his love for them and they attempt to deceive him into forgiving them. In the end Joseph’s forgiveness is real and he dies with God’s promises on his lips.
Read: Genesis 48:8-19 & 50:15-26
Discussion Questions:
Much of these chapters revolves around the blessing of Jacob being passed down to his sons. Why do you think it was important for the story of Genesis to end this way?
In Gen. 48:17-20, Jacob blesses Joseph’s younger son with a greater blessing than the older son. Why do you think this is significant to point out? (Hint: think back to the story of Jacob)
Hebrews 11:21-22 tells us that Jacob’s blessing of his sons and Joseph’s instruction to be buried in the land of Canaan was a sign of their faith. How is that the case?
Joseph’s words to his brothers in Genesis 50:20 contain the key to the book of Genesis. Go back through some of the stories of the book of Genesis and list out of the ways that God used the evil purposes of people for his good purposes.
Time and time again, God blesses those who we deem the least deserving (the younger versus the older, the weak versus the strong, etc.). How does this dynamic shape the way we think about God working in our lives?
Is there a hard situation/season of suffering from your past that you can say God turned for good? Is there a situation in your life presently that you need God to work in to bring about good?
Take some time to discuss your favourite moments from the story of Genesis, and what that moment says to you about the character of God.
What are some ways that the book of Genesis, as a whole, leads us to the good news of Jesus?
Prayer: Pray over the answers shared in Question #6, and ask that God would reveal his goodness and love in those situations, even in the face of evil and suffering.
