Hi All Readers!

How is it going? If you have any questions you may e-mail me and we will see if we can make things more clear.

Remember, if you missed some days in your devotions, just pick the Bible up again today and begin where we are now. It often gets to be too much to try and catch up, than we want to just quit. Please don't quit! Start again today where we are all reading.

This week we will be reading about the life of Joseph as we end the book of Genesis. At the end of the week we will begin the book of Exodus. Moses wrote the book of Exodus. Exodus means, "exit." Therefore, it is the account of the Israelites coming out of Egypt and going back to the Promised Land. The exodus took place about 1500 years before Christ. The book reveals the name of God, his attributes, his redemption, his law, and how he is to be worshipped. Exodus shows that God is the God of history. Exodus continues the story begun in Genesis.

The NT reading and additional questions are at the end again.

DAY ONE, JANUARY 15 - GENESIS 37-38
Chapter 37
Why was there strife between Joseph and his brothers?
Joseph did the right thing by pointing out the wrongs of his brothers but it seems Joseph's attitude and arrogance made everyone dislike him. How do we sometimes do the right thing but with the wrong attitude and motivation? What are the results?
How did favoritism harm family relationships here?
Have you every experienced the consequences of (or been party to) favoritism, arrogance, and spoiled kids?
What happens to Joseph?
How does the actions and lies of the brothers escalate here to keep covering up their sin?
Have you ever seen that happen in your life?
Chapter 38
Who are the people in this chapter and what is their relationship to each other?
How do we see God's intervention in the events of Judah and his children?
What does Judah say to Tamar and what really are his intentions? Are they the same?
It seems most of the people in this chapter were in the wrong. Our sins usually find us out. We can't hide from God. What was the condition of Judah's heart when he realized he was wrong (Vs. 26)?
Is there something you need to make right, a sin you needed to renounce, or a change you need to make? It is better to choose to do the right thing on our own then to have our sins find us out.
Look in Matthew 1 and see if you can find any of these people in the genealogy of Jesus. There are only 5 women mentioned in Jesus genealogy - one of them was Tamar. God honored her. Why do you think that is?

DAY TWO, JANUARY 16 - GENESIS 39-41
Chapter 39
Where did Joseph end up?
What did Potiphar see in Joseph (Vs. 2-3)? What was the result?
What did Potiphar's wife want?
How did Joseph respond?
Have you ever been offered something that seemed desirable and you knew no one would find out? What did you do? Why didn't Joseph give in to Potiphar's wife (Vs. 9)?
Do you feel like you sin against God when you do something wrong?
Have you ever been unjustly treated like Joseph? What kind of an attitude did you maintain?
What can you learn from Joseph's example?
Chapter 40
What does Joseph do in this chapter?
In whom does he give the credit (vs. 8)?
What did the cup-bearer do about Joseph (vs23)?
How do you treat someone who has done you a good thing? How do you treat others who bring God's message?
Chapter 41
How does Joseph get out of prison and after how long?
Again, to whom does Joseph give the credit (vs.16)?
What advise does Joseph give to Pharaoh after he interpreted the dreams?
Why did they give Joseph the position (vs. 38)?
How did Joseph handle his position?
Many times God give us things out of his grace but it is our responsibility to handle it well for personal satisfaction, the glory of God, and the benefit of others. How well are you handling the things God has given you?

DAY THREE, JANUARY 17 - GENESIS 42-44
Chapter 42
Why do you think Joseph was acting the way he was towards his brothers?
Do you think Joseph still loves his brothers? Why or why not?
How do you feel about people who wrong you?
In vs. 21 it indicates that the brothers were so afraid in this situation cause they thought they were being punished for what they did to Joseph. Unconfessed sin can cause anguish, terror and haunt us for many, many years. Peace comes from confessing our sins and turning from them. Is there a sin you need to confess?
How did Jacob respond when the brothers said they had to bring Benjamin back with them?
How do you think it made the brothers feel?
Have you ever hurt someone else because you were more concerned about your hurt?
Chapter 43
Why do you think the brothers were so afraid to go back to Joseph? Do you think any of the extreme fear has to do with the fact they have unconfessed sin?
How did Joseph respond when he saw the brothers?
How did the dreams Joseph have as a boy come true?
Why don't you think the brothers recognized Joseph with all the extra things he had done for them? Some times sin can cloud our vision too - do you think this might be the cause?
Chapter 44
In vs. 16 it says, "God is punishing us for our sins." Which sin do you think they were referring to? Do you think God was really punishing them for that or are their guilty conscious too painful they just think that?
How did Joseph's actions bring the brothers to confession?
How do you think if feels to finally confess after so many years of anguish?
Have you ever felt that burden lifted from your life?

DAY FOUR, JANUARY 18 - GENESIS 45-47
Chapter 45
What does vs. 5 say?
How did God mean this for good?
What would have happened if Joseph had not been obedient to God and exhibited a godly attitude throughout all of this?
How did God change Joseph from a spoiled arrogant youth to a godly man that he could use?
Are you willing to let God change you into the person he wants you to be?
How have you seen God's hand of protection in difficult situations?
Why do you think Joseph calls after the brothers not to quarrel along the way?
What would God tell you not to do along the way of life due to your sin tendency?
Chapter 46
What promise does God give to Jacob? How did it sound similar to the promise God gave to Abraham and Isaac?
How many people went to Egypt? Remember that number for later in the book of Exodus.
Who seems to be the leader in the family now? Note: Did you know that Reuben, Simon and Levi were older and should have been the leaders. There was something about their character that took that responsibility away. Do you remember from the genealogy in Matthew who was in the line of Jesus?
How did God prepare just the right place for the family to live together?
What is the occupation of the family? Note: Do you remember that Jesus is called the Good Shepherd in the Bible? People of that time would really understand what that meant.
Chapter 47
How was Egypt blessed due to Jacob, Joseph and his family?
How can we, as Christians, be a blessing to others?
As you reflect back on Jacobs's life how did you see God's hand in it?

DAY FIVE, JANUARY 19 - GENESIS 48-50
Chapter 48 and 49
are the blessing Jacob gives to his family. As you read the chapters note how Jacob views their character and how it will be used in either a positive way, or a negative way in some instances.
What would God say about your character?
What blessing would you receive from him?
May each of you strive to grow in godly character, maturity and relationship with God. May your blessing be sweet!
Chapter 50
How was bringing Jacob's body back to Canaan a sign that the people would return one day?
How did old fears return to the brothers?
What was Joseph's response?
How have you experienced a return of unnecessary fear?
When God forgives us, our sin is gone and we can stand on that promise. We need to live in hope and joy as people who are forgiven by God. God doesn't hold it against us!
After reading the book of Genesis, what new insight do you have about God?
What lessons did you learn from the lives of the people Genesis tells about?

DAY SIX, JANUARY 20 - EXODUS 1-2
Chapter 1
More than 200 years have taken place since the death of Joseph. That is why the new Pharaoh did not know the history of the Israelites.
How were Shiphrah and Puah risking their lives? Why were they?
How do we see God's blessing on the people?
How have you experienced the blessing of God in your life?
Chapter 2
Where was Moses placed and why?
Who found him?
What should have happened to Moses?
This is a familiar Bible story. Is there anything new you found out today?
How have you seen God's protection in your life?
Where did Moses grow up?
What did he see happening to his people after he became an adult?
Why did Moses leave Egypt? Where did he go?
What did God hear coming from the Israelites?
What did God remember?
To whom do you cry when you are in anguish?

DAY SEVEN, JANUARY 21 - EXODUS 3-4
Chapter 3
Where did Moses go while tending sheep? Note: remember that location it will be significant later.
What did Moses see and how did he respond?
Why did God appear to Moses?
God told Moses he wanted to send him to deliver this people from Egypt. Moses has a number of excuses. What are the excuses and how does God answer him? (Vs. 11, 13, 19 might help)
What do God's answers mean?
What do they mean to you?
In Vs. 14 God calls himself the "I AM." That is an important name of God. Often it is translated Yahweh or Jehovah. It means God is, was, and always will be. It means God is every thing we need for all time and place.
What comfort do you gain from knowing that God is your I AM?
Chapter 4
Moses continues with his excuses. What are they and what is God's response to him? (Vs. 1, 10, 13)
What do they mean? What do they mean to you?
God handles a lot of excuses. He knows we often feel inadequate, insignificant, ill equipped, and unable. God reassures us through all those excuses that he will be with us, be our everything, give us meaning, and make us able. He knows that we aren't perfect and might make some mistakes but he wants us to be available to him. He wants to use us. There is only one excuse that makes God angry and that is when we say, "Send someone else." God doesn't want unwilling servants!
Where is God asking you to serve him and what is your response to him?
How is Pharaoh going to respond to Moses message?
God still expects Moses to do what he asks him even if people aren't responding. Have you ever been discouraged when you told someone God's message of salvation and they didn't respond?
Circumcision was a sign of the covenant and promises God gave his people. Moses' family wasn't circumcised. They needed to be prepared for service by showing they received God's promises to the Israelites.

YOU CAN ALWAYS USE THESE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS FOR ANY BIBLE READING:

Always begin your time of God with prayer. Ask him for understanding and insights. You can pick out a verse, thought or feeling from the passage and think on it (mediate) on it all day. Meditating on God's word means to digest it, put it into your mind, think on it, and concentrate in different ways on the passage.

Some ways you can do this is:
1. Put yourself into the scene.
2. Emphasize different words in the verse.
3. Paraphrase the passage in your own words.
4. Pray the passage back to God if it is a prayer, song, poem, etc (personalize it).
5. Use SPACE PETS acrostic to ask some standard questions.
     S - Sins to confess? Do I need to make restitution?
     P - Promises to claim? Have I met the conditions(s)?
     A - Attitudes to change? Am I willing?
     C - Commands to obey? Even if I don't feel like it?
     E - Examples to follow? One to copy or avoid?
     P - Prayers to pray? Is there something I need to tell God?
     E - Errors to avoid?
     T - Truths about God or the Bible I need to believe?
Adapted from 12 Dynamic Bible Study Methods (Chapter 1) by Richard Warren and William A. Shell.