WHEN WE SUFFER... INSTEAD OF RUNNING, FIND REST IN THE STEADFAST LOVE OF GOD. (Genesis 40:1-23; Psalm 13)
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SERMON NOTES:
Suffering and Silence
Genesis 40:1-23; Psalm 13
When you suffer… instead of running, find rest in the steadfast love of God.
Joseph gets assigned to care for important prisoners. (1-4)
Joseph faithfully serves and trusts God. (5-8)
Joseph interprets the dreams and asks for help. (9-19)
The interpretations come true, but Joseph is forgotten. (20-23)
How can we find rest when it seems like God is silent in our suffering? (Psalm 13)
- Be honest with God. (1-4)
- Trust in God’s steadfast love. (5a)
- Rejoice in your salvation. (5b)
- Worship. (6)
study questions:
For the Next Lesson – Genesis 40:1-23
1. Read verses 1-4. What is the setting for this historical account of Joseph? Who are the main people that are a part of Joseph’s life in this narrative? What were their jobs, and why were they in prison? What do you think the prison life was like for Joseph? Take a few minutes to really consider what his life was like.
2. Read verses 5-19. How would you summarize the cupbearers dream and interpretation? What do you learn about Joseph’s feelings about his situation in verses 14-15? How would you summarize the baker’s dream and interpretation? What was Joseph’s attitude toward interpreting the dreams (consider verse 8 and his overall response)? What do you think motivated this attitude? Make sure to consider the dreams he had about his future back in Genesis 37:5-11 as you think about his motivation. How is Joseph’s view of God influencing his response to his situation and his interpretation of the dreams?
3. Read verses 20-23. What happened to the cupbearer and baker, and how did this compare to Joseph’s interpretation of their dreams? How do you think Joseph felt when he realized his interpretations came true? How do you think he felt when the cupbearer forgot about him? Have you ever felt this way in your life? How so?
4. So what. What attributes of God do you believe Joseph embraced during this trying season in his life? When you face trying seasons in your life, what is important to remember and trust about God? Someone once said we should not interpret God’s love through our circumstances, rather we should interpret our circumstances through God’s love. Why is this important, and how can you apply this to your life?