Yahweh was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master the Egyptian. His master saw that Yahweh was with him, and that Yahweh made all that he did prosper in his hand. Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. From the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, Yahweh blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake. Yahweh’s blessing was on all that he had, in the house and in the field. He left all that he had in
Joseph’s hand. He didn’t concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate.
Joseph was well-built and handsome. After these things, his master’s wife set her eyes on Joseph; and she said, “Lie with me.”
But he refused, and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, my master doesn’t know what is with me in the house, and he has put all that he has into my hand. No one is greater in this house than I am, and he has not kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
Introductory Discussion Questions
If you were sold into slavery, what would your attitude be? Would you have any goals?
If you were to hire a worker, what kind of worker would you look for? What qualities would you look for?
What are some temptations that people face?
What can we do to resist temptation?
Does our worldview (what we believe about the world) help us with temptations? Why or why not?
Introductory Slavery Discussion
In groups, discuss why slavery is wrong. Discuss some reasons and write them down, and have one person in the group share your thoughts.
Next, discuss why slavery has been used throughout history. Discuss some reasons and write them down, and have one person in the the group share your thoughts.
Synonym Matching
prosperous overseer
master blessed
favor handsome
ministered think about
house sin
concern himself kindness
well-built helped
wickedness home
Antonym Matching
sold ugly
prosperous lesser
master bought
handsome consented
wife poor
refused goodness
greater husband
wickedness slave
Listening Blank Fill
The Midianites sold him into Egypt to Potiphar, _____ officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard.
Yahweh _________ with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. _______ was in the house of his master the ________________. His master saw that Yahweh was with him, __________ that Yahweh made all that he did prosper ________ his hand. Joseph found favor in his sight. He __________________ to him, and he made him overseer over __________ house, and all that he had he put _______________ his hand. From the time that he made him __________________ in his house, and over all that he ___________, Yahweh blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake. _______________ blessing was on all that he had, in the ___________________ and in the field. He left all that he had _______ Joseph’s hand. He didn’t concern himself with _________________, except for the food which he ate.
Word Bank Fill in the Blank
________________ was well-built and __________________. After these things, his master’s wife set her eyes on Joseph; and she said, “Lie with me.”
But he refused, and said to his master’s ____________, “Behold, my master doesn’t know what is with me in the house, and he has put all that he has into my ________________. No one is greater in this house than I _________, and he has not kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and ____________ against God?”
Joseph
hand
sin
am
handsome
wife
Verb Bank Fill in the Blank
Joseph ___________ well-built and handsome. After these things, his master’s wife set her eyes on Joseph; and she ______________, “Lie with me.”
But he __________________, and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, my master doesn’t know what is with me in the house, and he ______________________ all that he has into my hand. No one is greater in this house than I ____________, and he has not kept back anything from me but you, because you ______________ his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and ___________ against God?”
has put
sin
are
was
said
am
refused
Pair Work Discussion Questions
A
What did you think of this story? Did you like it? Why or why not?
Why did Joseph prosper?
Why did Potiphar make Joseph an overseer of his house?
What kinds of workers do you like (hardworking, complaining)?
How does Yahweh (God) work among men in this story?
After Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his house, what happened?
B
What was the only concern of Potiphar?
What should we do when we are tempted?
Why did Potiphar's wife take an interest in Joseph?
What was Joseph's reason for refusing to sin?
Do you know what happens in the story next? Can you guess?
Joseph leaned upon belief in God to do the right thing. What beliefs do we lean upon to do the right and good thing?
Research and Writing
Using the internet, look up the Midianites and the Ishmaelites. Find out who they were and prepare to share your findings with the rest of the class.
Chinese Version
1约 瑟 被 带 下 埃 及 去 。 有 一 个 埃 及 人 , 是 法 老 的 内 臣 ─ 护 卫 长 波 提 乏 , 从 那 些 带 下 他 来 的 以 实 玛 利 人 手 下 买 了 他 去 。
2 约 瑟 住 在 他 主 人 埃 及 人 的 家 中 , 耶 和 华 与 他 同 在 , 他 就 百 事 顺 利 。
3 他 主 人 见 耶 和 华 与 他 同 在 , 又 见 耶 和 华 使 他 手 里 所 办 的 尽 都 顺 利 ,
4 约 瑟 就 在 主 人 眼 前 蒙 恩 , 伺 候 他 主 人 , 并 且 主 人 派 他 管 理 家 务 , 把 一 切 所 有 的 都 交 在 他 手 里 。
5 自 从 主 人 派 约 瑟 管 理 家 务 和 他 一 切 所 有 的 , 耶 和 华 就 因 约 瑟 的 缘 故 赐 福 与 那 埃 及 人 的 家 ; 凡 家 里 和 田 间 一 切 所 有 的 都 蒙 耶 和 华 赐 福 。
6 波 提 乏 将 一 切 所 有 的 都 交 在 约 瑟 的 手 中 , 除 了 自 己 所 吃 的 饭 , 别 的 事 一 概 不 知 。 约 瑟 原 来 秀 雅 俊 美 。
7 这 事 以 後 , 约 瑟 主 人 的 妻 以 目 送 情 给 约 瑟 , 说 : 你 与 我 同 寝 罢 !
8 约 瑟 不 从 , 对 他 主 人 的 妻 说 : 看 哪 , 一 切 家 务 , 我 主 人 都 不 知 道 ; 他 把 所 有 的 都 交 在 我 手 里 。
9 在 这 家 里 没 有 比 我 大 的 ; 并 且 他 没 有 留 下 一 样 不 交 给 我 , 只 留 下 了 你 , 因 为 你 是 他 的 妻 子 。 我 怎 能 作 这 大 恶 , 得 罪 神 呢 ?
Exercise Answers
Synonym Matching: prosperous-->blessed, master-->overseer, favor-->kindness, ministered-->helped, house-->home, concern himself-->think about, well-built-->handsome, wickedness-->sin.
Antonym Matching: sold-->bought, prosperous-->poor, master-->slave, handsome-->ugly, wife-->husband, refused-->consented, greater-->lesser, wickedness-->goodness.
Listening Blank Fill: an, was, He, Egyptian, and, in, ministered, his, into, overseer, had, Yahweh's, house, in, anything.
Word Bank Fill in the Blank: Joseph, handsome, wife, hand, am, sin
Verb Bank Fill in the Blank: was, said, refused, has put, am, are, sin.