TEXT: Genesis 36 & 37

1. SEARCHING OUR MEMORIES
   1. Discuss what you chose to do from last week's "Searching Our Lives" suggestions.

   2. What was the end result of Dinah's brothers' revenge?

2. SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES
   3. 1. Who was Edom?

      2. From whom did his wives come?

   4. 1. Why did Esau leave Canaan with his family and his possessions?

      2. Where did they dwell?

   5. Esau was the father to what people?

   6. Read Genesis 27:39-40 and discuss how Isaac's blessing to Esau was fulfilled here in Genesis 36.

      Ezekiel 35 tells of the harsh life and hill country that the Edomites possessed. The Israelites were told not to hate their Edomite kinsmen (Deuteronomy 23:7), who were also descendants of Abraham, but the Edomites became symbols of hardened unbelievers. Obadiah was sent to them during the sixth century B.C. prophesying the destruction and extinction of Edom. The Herods of Jesus' day came from Edomite stock. Following the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, the Edomites were heard of no more.

   7. From Genesis 37:1, where was Jacob now making his home?

   8. 1. Why was Joseph Jacob's favorite son?

      2. What was one way Jacob showed his partiality to Joseph?

   9. What reasons can be found for the brothers' dislike of Joseph?

   10. Tell of Joseph's two dreams.

   11. 1. What was the brothers' response to the dreams?

       2. How did his father react?

   12. 1. On what errand did Jacob send Joseph?

       2. Considering the situation, was this wise?

   13. 1. With jealousy and hatred out of control, what did the brothers plan for the approaching Joseph?

       2. What role did the oldest brother Reuben play?

       3. How did God use Judah's hatred in this situation?

   14. Describe the action the brothers took to cover their deed.

   15. How did Jacob react?

   16. 1. Where did the Ishamaelites take Joseph?

       2. To whom did they sell him?

3. MAKING THE CONNECTION
   17. According to Romans 1:29 and Galatians 5:19-21, envy is classified along with what other sins?

   18. What is a later outstanding event of betrayal in which money was involved?

   19. Read 1 Peter 3:8-9. In human relationships, what higher characteristics are Christians called to develop, even when they have been wronged?

4. SEARCHING THE HEART
   20. What parenting lessons for us are to be found from these two chapters?

   21. 1. From Genesis 37:2, was the teenager Joseph wrong to have brought a bad report about his brothers to his father?

       2. When should we speak up about family members' actions or lifestyles?

   22. Identify the negative emotions the brothers experienced toward Joseph. How can we overcome these kinds of emotions that rob us of our Christian joy?

   23. Having been sold as a slave in a foreign country, might Joseph regret having shared these dreams he viewed as divine – but his brothers considered grandiose – or would he have taken comfort from them?

5. SEARCHING OUR LIVES (Choose one of the following to complete and discuss for next week.)
   24. Take time this week to make a child know they are special to you and to God.

   25. Call a distant relative and let them know you fondly remember them. Pray for them in your family prayer time.

   26. Esau had given up his birthright for a mere pot of lentils in an instant, but received other blessings. Cook up a pot of beans (or stew), and share with someone to bestow a blessing of your time and service.

   27. Begin to restore a strained relationship with a relative. Start now with a prayer asking God to appropriately soften your heart, giving you wisdom and kind words.