Young Joseph, and Judah and Tamar
Questions for Study 23

Genesis 37:1-38:30
Memory Verse 38:26

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I. Joseph's Youth (37:1-36)

1. Why did Joseph's brothers hate him? What was Jacob's home atmosphere probably like?

2. Describe Joseph's dreams. What did they reveal about God's purpose for Joseph? What did they mean to Joseph? How can we contrast Joseph and his brothers? Does God speak to people in this day and age? Why?

3. What does Joseph's attitude toward his father's errand show us about his character? (12-17)

4. How did Joseph's brothers come to sell him to Midianite traders going to Egypt? Which of the brothers was instrumental in this? (26) Who tried to save him? (21, 28)

5. How did Joseph feel in this situation? (42:21) How did Joseph's brother explain this to their father? How do you think they felt and what they thought about themselves and their actions?

II. Judah and Tamar (38:1-30)

6. Where did Judah go and why? (1) What kind of women did he marry and have children by? (2-5) What kind of people where they? (Gen. 11:15-19; 24:3; 26:34-35; 28:1, 8) Who else married a Canaanite? (Gen. 46:10) What do you remember about him? (34:25, 30; 42:24; 49:5-7) Look up the future of the Canaanites. (Num. 21:3, 33:40; Jos. 5:1, 13:2-5)

7. What kind of man was Judah's first son? (6) His second son? (8-10)

8. What did Judah tell Tamar? (11) What does his words reveal about his understanding of the deaths of his sons and of righteousness?

9. When Tamar heard Judah was coming, what was she still wearing? (14) After being with Judah what did she put back on? (19) What does this say about her?

10. What was Judah's words after he discovered what Tamar did? How did Judah grow through Tamar's actions? What does the fact that Tamar is one of the five women in Jesus' genealogy show about God's view of her faith? (Matt. 1:3)

11. From the events in these chapters, what can you learn about how a man and women's faith (or lack of it) can affect the future of not only ourselves, but others as well?