(a) Highlight the problems encountered by Joseph with his brothers.
(b) Indicate how Joseph and his brothers were reconciled
(c) What three lessons can be learnt from the relationship between Joseph and his family?
(A) Problems Encountered by Joseph with His Brothers (Genesis 37:1-28)
(i) Joseph was the son of his father's old age and specially loved by him.
(ii) His brothers hated him for this favoritism
(iii) In addition, Jacob made for Joseph a long robe with sleeves depicting Joseph as a would be heir instead of Reuben the eldest son. Thus the brothers hated Joseph.
(iv) Again, Joseph had a gift for dreams which he narrated to his father and brothers
(v) His brothers hated him the more because all his dreams, implied that Joseph will rule over them.
(vi) Furthermore, Joseph's ill reports about his brothers increased their hatred for him
(viii) Joseph was however sold to Ishmaelite traders who also sold him to an officer in Egypt.
(B) How they were reconciled (Genesis 45:1-15)
(i) Famine in Israel led Joseph's brothers to seek for corn in Egypt
(ii) On their second visit to Egypt, Joseph revealed himself to them, as the one they sold into slavery.
(iii) Joseph wept aloud in front of them and inquired about his father
(iv) He told them that God sent him before to preserve life/His predicament was thus, a divine scheme
(vi) Though what they did was evil, God meant it for good
(vii) Joseph have an open invitation to the family to settle in Goshen
(viii) He gave them abundant food and clothes to return home
(ix) Joseph shed tears of joy over Benjamin and the rest of his brothers with kisses to assure them of his love.
(C) Three Lessons to be Learnt
(i) Need for genuine forgiveness
(ii) Need for true reconciliation
(iii) Need to help and do good to those who hurt us
(iv) Need to respect our elders/be diplomatic
(v) Avoid hatred and evil.
(vi) Avoid favoritism
(vii) Need to show remorse when we do wrong/ability to own up/accept responsibility for wrong done
(viii) What God has destined no one can change
(ix) care for others, especially in times of need
(x) being good role models
(xi) Avoiding unnecessary disputes/ peaceful settlement of disputes
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