4. The Pitfall of Hard Times
Question 1:
How did people deal with the COVID pandemic initially?
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
Life is full of ups and downs. A star quarterback throws a game-winning touchdown, and his name is plastered all over the media. The following week, however, a bone-crushing injury brings his career to a shocking end. He goes from hero to zero within seven days. The opposite can also happen. A teenage girl living in poverty creates a YouTube® video of her favorite song, and it goes viral, traveling all over the world. Within days, she’s offered multiple opportunities to sing. Her meteoric success inspires young musicians everywhere.
Sudden reversals can happen to all of us, creating a test of our faith and character. For many of us, the arrival of the pandemic in 2020 caused just such a sudden reversal.
In today’s study, we’ll see Joseph travel from the prison to the palace in a single day. His years of suffering were finally repaid with personal reward. Pay attention to the way Joseph kept his eyes on God through the good times and the bad. While success can cause some to grow self-absorbed, Joseph modeled for us what it means to remain faithful no matter how high or low life takes us.
THE POINT
Trust God to see you through any crisis.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Genesis 41:28-32
28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.”
As in previous moments of Joseph’s life, it was a dream that created a domino effect for him. This was the third time this had happened. He first told his brothers about a dream and it landed him in Egyptian slavery (Gen. 37:5-11). Later, the dreams of a baker and a cupbearer could have freed him from prison but did not (40:8-23). Now, two years later, the powerful Egyptian pharaoh awoke with a troubled soul, desperately looking for an interpretation to his own dreams. This third dream sequence of Joseph’s life would catapult him to success.
At this point, the last domino to fall related to the cupbearer’s earlier dream. Joseph had asked the cupbearer to remember him before Pharaoh when he was released from prison (v. 14). The cupbearer did just that—two years later! Now with Pharaoh’s dreams likely the main topic around the palace, the cupbearer remembered his error. Of course, it was all in God’s timing.
Pharaoh’s dreams were visually vivid: healthy grain, thin grain, fat cows, and skinny cows. Only one Person could give the meaning of those dreams, and that was the One to whom Joseph looked when Pharaoh gave him the opportunity. “But God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires” (v. 16). Joseph concluded the interpretation by saying, “the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon” (v. 32).
Question 2:
What are some ways we can seek wisdom from God?
The way that Joseph unashamedly spoke for God should inspire us all. While Pharaoh believed himself to be divine, Joseph unapologetically represented the one and only true God. Rather than giving himself the credit, drawing attention to his own ability to interpret dreams, he chose to give all glory to God. Joseph was thoroughly God-centered in the lowest and highest moments of his journey. Nothing took his eyes off the Lord.
Sudden reversals can be a test. When we experience a sudden reversal moving from a good situation to a bad one, we can become downcast. We might assume God has abandoned us. On the other hand, when our lives take a turn for the better, we can be tempted to become big-headed. Instead of thinking God has forsaken us, we can be the ones who forsake God, walking away from Him in our thoughts and practices. In fact, success can often cause a greater spiritual struggle than a season of loss.
Unfortunately, this is the story of far too many people. Joseph, though, was like a steady oak. Through adversity, he kept his eyes on God. When wisdom was needed, Joseph was ready. He maintained a walk with God even during dark days; so, when the time came, he was in a position to hear from God and display the wisdom needed in that moment. Regardless of any “reversal of fortune” we might experience, we would be wise to do the same and keep our focus on God.
Genesis 41:47-49
47 During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.
We have to admire Joseph’s initiative. Without missing a beat, Joseph offered a brilliant “business plan” to get them through the rough years ahead (41:33-36). Pharaoh recognized the talent behind Joseph’s plans, so he promoted Joseph to second in command. The pressure was on. The plan he had recommended to Pharaoh was now his to own and execute.
For the first seven years, the rains came down and the crops came up—just as the Lord had said! The economy was booming, and throughout the ancient Middle East, people celebrated the riches produced. Through those wealthy years, Joseph did not become overconfident, however. He took full advantage of the season of surplus and put the food in every city to prepare for the years of starvation. ”Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure” (v. 49). Joseph was wealthy, but he never allowed the power to hypnotize him. He kept his eyes on the Lord and remembered what God had said.
Question 3:
When do you find it easy to follow God’s plan?
Over the past decades, tragedy has come upon America in previously unimagined ways. Just as a new millennium began, hijackers attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and an era of terrorism began. The comforts and safety we had known in previous decades changed overnight and a “new normal” was upon us. Then, eighteen years later, while the economy was soaring, a news story began to leak out, telling of a virus spreading. Within weeks, a global pandemic shut down church services, restaurants, and concerts. Social distancing, mask wearing, and video calling became common. How quickly life can change!
As we read the story of Joseph, we encounter a man who was prepared to deal with plenty and with poverty. He did not allow seasons of wealth to lull him to sleep; instead, He followed the plans of God, storing away for the future and expecting the unexpected. There is wisdom for all of us here.
There is wisdom for all of us here.
Question 4:
When is it most challenging for you to follow God’s plan?
FRUITFULNESS AND FAMINE
Pharaoh’s dream was centered on the themes of fruitfulness and famine.
Use the space below to record specific ideas or images you connect with each of those things in your life.
Then write a prayer, thanking God for lessons learned through both.
Fruitfulness: Famine:
My Prayer:
_______________________________
“I have complete confidence that God is able to take care of any situation and provide an answer to any question or problem—He has all the resources of the universe to draw upon in helping each one of us through any type of crisis if we will trust Him.”
CHARLES STANLEY
Genesis 41:50-54
50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” 52 The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” 53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food.
While the Egyptian economy was thriving, Joseph experienced other blessings as well. The Lord gave him the gift of family. In those first seven years as prime minister, Joseph fathered two sons, and their names had significant meaning for Joseph.
Manasseh. Manasseh means “he who causes to forget.” The birth of that little boy helped Joseph put the past behind him.
Ephraim. Ephraim means “fertile” and describes the season of life Joseph was enjoying.
The names Manasseh and Ephraim were meaningful names because of what they signified, but they were also special because they were Hebrew names. It’s easy to overlook this critical decision Joseph made to keep his allegiance to the God of Israel. Surrounded by Egyptian culture, he did not waiver from his faith in the Lord. “Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah” (Gen. 41:45), but he would always maintain his Hebrew name Joseph. He was heading into hard years of struggle, but he kept his faith strong and ready for what God was doing.
Joseph learned by trial that the Lord could be trusted. We must do the same. As the world becomes increasingly secular, the beliefs of Christianity will be considered more and more old-fashioned and out-of-touch. Christians will be increasingly marginalized, and believers will need to count the cost of being associated with Jesus. While we resist the hard times with all our might, they can be moments of great spiritual growth. Hold on even in times of “famine.” With time, we will see that God is still at work.
Question 5:
What motivates you to remain fruitful even in times of famine?
LIVE IT OUT
Trust God to see you through any crisis. Choose one of the following applications:
- Make a list. Make a list of all the beautiful things happening in your life right now. Tape it to your bathroom mirror and begin every day with praise.
- Consider. Consider all the hard things you are going through right now. As you pray while you take a walk around your neighborhood, read them aloud and give them all to God.
- Memorize. Memorize Isaiah 26:3. It’s an easy one! “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
I love roller coasters. The high-speed hills and drops are a thrill and my kids get a kick out of hearing dad scream. If only this were true in my everyday life as well. Let’s face it: sudden turns in work or in family create stress, uncertainty, and fear. Joseph seemed to keep his cool no matter what life threw at him, and this is a sign of true spiritual maturity. Let’s take a lesson from the dreamer’s playbook!
Teacher's Notes:
1. The
Pitfall of Betrayal, Temptation,
Injustice, Hard Times, Bitterness, Guilt & Grudges
· Betrayal:
God is at work, even when it’s not obvious.
· Temptation:
Remembering what is at stake helps us overcome temptation.
· Injustice:
Press forward despite injustice.
· Hard
Times: Trust God to see you through any crisis.
When
have you experienced a sudden reversal of circumstances?
The Beverly Hillbillies - 1st Episode
We
have all been impacted by economic downturn. It could be as minor as paying
more for food and gas, or as major as losing a job or house.
God is
bigger than the economy or world markets.
In the
Book of Genesis, we see how God prepared and led Joseph during the hard times
the people were about to experience. While our situations are different from
Joseph’s, the Bible offers some principles in this story to help us stand
strong during our own hard times.
The
Setting: When Pharaoh had a perplexing dream, his butler, who had
been restored to his official position in the king’s court, suddenly remembered
Joseph. He recalled his ability to interpret dreams, so he commended him to
Pharaoh. After being fetched from prison, Joseph, again with insight from God,
interpreted the king’s dream. God was warning Pharaoh of things to come — seven
years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. Joseph laid out a
strategy for leveraging the abundant years in order to survive the barren
years. In response, Pharaoh appointed Joseph with full authority to implement
the strategy.
Genesis
41:28-32
28 “It
is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29
Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but
seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be
forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. 31 The abundance in the land
will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe.
32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter
has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.”
To
whom did Joseph give credit for what he said to Pharaoh? What did Pharoah’s
dream mean? In what ways do we see the activity of God in these verses? Why was
God not surprised by the turn of events that were about to occur in Egypt?
1. Seek
God’s wisdom.
· God is
actively working out His sovereign plan.
· God
chooses to make Himself, His ways, and His will, known to all who will look and
listen.
· God is
in control during the good times and the hard times.
Genesis
41:47-49
47
During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph
collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and
stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields
surrounding it. 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of
the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond
measure.
Genesis
41:46, Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king
of Egypt.
Based
on the information in verse 46, how many years had passed since Joseph had been
sold into slavery by his brothers (see 37:2)?
30 –
17 = 13
Who
did Pharaoh select to be his administrator to manage food collection and
distribution during the fourteen-year cycle?
What
are some things you know for certain about God’s plan for your life?
2. Follow
God’s plan.
· Don’t
give up on God.
· Work
out God’s plan.
· Be
true to the opportunities the Lord provides to make a difference in your world.
· Live
today for the future.
· Faithfulness
to God’s plan brings immeasurable blessing; if not sooner, then later according
to His timing.
Genesis
41:50-54
50
Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath
daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and
said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s
household.” 52 The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has
made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” 53 The seven years of abundance
in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph
had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of
Egypt there was food.
Who
was Joseph’s wife? What were the names of the two sons born to them? What
meanings did the names of Joseph’s sons have that are fitting to the story?
What took place that affirmed Joseph’s interpretation of what God was going to
do?
3. Be
fruitful even in famine.
· God brings
blessing that overcomes anything that has troubled or afflicted us.
· Obedience
to what the Lord has called us to do will bring us blessing and great joy.
· God’s
revelation is true, and we do well to live our lives in faithfulness to it.
· We can
trust God to bring us through any crisis.
Conclusion: About
13 years had passed since the time Joseph was sold into slavery until his
promotion in Egypt. But through it all, Joseph continued to trust God and his trust
was rewarded. When we trust God, the Lord will make a way somehow. “Wait on the
LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the
LORD!” (Psalm 27:14).
How
was God working in Joseph’s life these 13 years?
The
verses describe a time of two crises. One was the continuing plight that had
begun for Joseph some thirteen years earlier at age seventeen. At thirty, he
now faced a critical point of opportunity. Neither predicament was of his
choosing. One seemed designed by the evil intent of his brothers; the second in
response to the authority of the Egyptian Pharaoh. Neither was true, as Joseph
would later testify. The events of Joseph’s life were directed and used of a
righteous, holy God for His purpose.
Nevertheless,
Joseph was called to come before the Pharaoh, an audience he had longed for but
one that had, up to that point, been denied to him. As any of us do in
important situations, he surely wanted to make the most of this new
opportunity. Joseph faced his crisis with confidence — the confidence of having
the Lord with him. Even though Joseph may not have said it directly, his
confidence that the Lord was present with him became his mantra in life.
The
crisis of opportunity was related to the economic disaster that threatened the
stability of Egypt, the leadership of the Pharaoh, and the surrounding nations.
Personally, Pharaoh feared what he did not understand and was troubled by not
knowing what to do.
God
was fully aware of what was going on. In fact, none of the things we have
identified as crises were disasters in the eyes of God. They were only the next
steps in the plan of God to fulfill His purpose, plan, and promise to raise up
a people who would bring glory to His name.
This
session reminds us that none of the events of our lives, not even difficult
situations that rear their ugly heads, are beyond the scope of God’s knowledge
and ability. Some He may have intentionally designed — as the seasons of
prosperity and famine in Egypt — and others resulted from the choices of others
— decisions like those of Joseph’s brothers, Potiphar’s wife, and a neglectful
butler. No matter, God was fully capable of using them for Joseph’s good.
The
Lord God extends His grace by helping us deal with each critical situation. Our
role is to seek His wisdom, follow His plan, and press forward in faithful
service to Him through it all.
With
what life crisis are you struggling currently?
While
it is not healthy to deny our feelings and to act as if our struggles aren’t
real, what are you doing to learn from the current crisis that would increase
your faith and draw you closer to God?
Spend
time with God, asking for Him to reveal Himself to you and affirm your desire
that He do His redemptive work in your life as only He can.
How
confident are you that you are seeking God’s wisdom and following His plan no
matter what you face?
