TEXT: Genesis 38 & 39

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

   2. Recall how Jacob's favorite son became a slave in Egypt.

2. SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES
   3. Who is Judah?

   4. Who is Tamar, and what is her relationship to Judah?

   5. From the following scriptures, what obligation did Israelite families have toward widows? (Deuteronomy 25:5-10, Ruth 3:12-13, and Ruth 4:2-10)

   6. 1. Why was that obligation not passed on to the second son, Onan?

      2. Why was it not passed to the third son, Shelah?

   7. What change occurred in Judah's marital status?

   8. 1. What desperate measure did Tamar take?

      2. Why might she do this?

   9. What was Judah's, her father-in-law's, reaction when he found out she was pregnant out of wedlock?

   10. How did Judah react when he realized he had a part in this saga?

   11. What names were given to the twins born to Judah and Tamar?

   12. We know so little about Joseph's brothers' lives. From Matthew 1:3, why is this story included in the Genesis account?

   13. From Genesis 39, what can we learn about Potiphar, the owner of Joseph?

   14. What did Potiphar observe about Joseph?

   15. How far in Potiphar's house did Joseph advance?

   16. Describe why Potiphar's wife might have found Joseph appealing.

   17. How did Joseph view her daily advances?

   18. How did she react to Joseph's refusal?

   19. Describe Potiphar's reaction to his wife's accusations against Joseph.

   20. Discuss Joseph's treatment in prison and why he was treated this way.

3. MAKING THE CONNECTION
   21. What are we told in the New Testament about Christian responsibilities to widows? (See 1 Timothy 5:13-16.)

   22. What did Jesus say about adultery? (See Matthew 5:28.)

   23. If anyone truly had a "roller-coaster life," it was Joseph—up one minute, and down the next.
       1. From Acts 7:9, what part did Stephen say God played in Joseph's life?

       2. What from the following scriptures indicates the same is true for us today?
          Matthew 6:25-34 –

          Matthew 28:20 –

          Hebrews 13:5 –

          1 Peter 5:7 –

4. SEARCHING THE HEART
   24. Potiphar reaped the benefits of God's blessings from Joseph's righteousness. How can we maximize the effects of God's blessings on those around us today?

   25. How do others sometimes respond when we refuse to participate with them in wrongdoing? (See also 1 Peter 4:1-4.)

   26. This lesson reveals testimony that human perfection is not prerequisite to God fulfilling His plan and purposes. What are the implications of this fact for you?

5. SEARCHING OUR LIVES (Choose one of the following to complete and discuss for next week.)
   27. Prepare a meal or an outing for a widow, and report on what you learn.

   28. Seek out someone who may be at the low point of their life. Tell them the story of Joseph and that God is with them also.

   29. Identify a time when you have been a blessing to someone else this week.

   30. Go ride the Farris wheel in downtown Fort Smith this week. Afterwards, discuss the different perspectives between the upper and lower views and how this may or may not be similar to life's experiences.