When It Goes Wrong

Before you start

Joseph's brothers sell him into slavery. In Egypt he serves faithfully, is falsely accused and imprisoned, and years later rises to save many lives in a famine, including his brothers'. Genesis 50 is the moment he speaks to them after their father dies.

Read Genesis 37:18–28; 39:1–6; 50:15–21 aloud from any translation. Invite volunteers to read; never put anyone on the spot.

Icebreaker · 5 minutes

Without details, share a time a plan fell apart. What happened next?

Observe · what does it say?

1. What did Joseph's brothers do to him, and why?
2. In chapter 39, what does Joseph keep doing even as a slave?
3. What does Joseph say his brothers intended, and what does he say God intended?

Interpret · what did it mean?

1. Joseph never calls what his brothers did good. What is the difference between "you meant evil" and "God meant it unto good"?
2. Joseph's words came after many years. Why does that matter?

Apply · what does it ask of us?

1. Is there a setback this semester you need to bring to God honestly, without pretending it's fine?
2. Who is one person you could help this week out of what you've been through?

On your campus

Pair this study with a REACH Stay Enrolled workshop: "A bad semester is not the end of your story."

Closing prayer

God, You see what was done to us and what went wrong. We don't pretend it was good. Bring good out of it, in Your time, and keep us faithful in the meantime. Amen.

Take home

Name one setback to God in prayer this week, honestly.