Study Guide
Joseph, Part 5 / Purpose in the Prison / Genesis 40:1-23
In Genesis 40, Joseph is still waiting in prison—forgotten by people, but not forgotten by God. Instead of letting bitterness steal his purpose, Joseph notices the pain of others and humbly offers the gifts God gave him for God’s purposes. Even in seasons of delay, disappointment, and feeling overlooked, our future is not in the hands of those who remember us, but in the hands of the God who never forgets. As we continue our journey through Joseph’s story, we’ll discover how to keep serving faithfully while trusting that God is still working.
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Icebreakers
- What’s one highlight from your summer that you’d love to share with the group?
- What is one area of your life as a follower of Jesus that you want to grow and develop over the next 10 weeks? How are you going to pursue that growth?
Read Genesis 39:21-40:23 (NLT)
Discuss It
Joseph continued to faithfully do what had been entrusted to him, even while he was in prison. What stands out to you about Joseph’s response to his circumstances? Why do you think he was able to respond in such a fashion?
Additional Thought
Joseph’s faithfulness doesn’t mean that his time in prison wasn’t difficult. Scripture never asks us to minimize our pain in trial in order to prove our faith. Instead, Scripture shows that suffering can be deeply felt without denying God’s faithfulness or determining how we respond to it.
Additional Scripture
2 Corinthians 4:7–10, 16–18
Additional Question
Paul acknowledges two realities in this passage: genuine suffering and enduring hope. Where do you see both in these verses? What does this passage teach us about how our view of God and eternity can shape the way we experience pain in the present?
In Genesis 40:6-7, we read that while Joseph was experiencing his own pain and disappointment, he still noticed that the cupbearer and baker were hurting and offered what God had given him to help them. Why can our own pain make it difficult to notice the people and needs around us? Why is it important that we look for opportunities to serve, and use what God has given us for the sake of others, even when our own circumstances are still unresolved?
Additional Thought
Dreams held significant meaning in ancient Egyptian culture, and Egyptians even developed “dream books” and relied on interpreters to understand them. Yet Joseph redirects the men away from human sources to interpret dreams to God (vs.8- “Interpreting dreams is God’s business. ”). As humans, pain, waiting, and uncertainty can make us desperate for answers and turn us to the wrong places. Joseph reminds us that our desire for answers should never drive us away from putting our in God alone.
Additional Scripture
Isaiah 8:19–20 (NLT)
Additional Question
Why do pain, disappointment, and uncertainty often make us desperate for answers? What can our search or pursuit for answers reveal about where we’re actually placing our trust? (If willing, can you give an example of where you’ve found yourself doing this before?)
Joseph isn't given an explanation from God for why he’s in prison, but Genesis 39:21 tells us that God was with him. If we know that God is with us at all times, why do we still struggle to trust Him in difficult circumstances? What helps us recognize that God is still with us when life seems to suggest otherwise?
Additional Thought
Without realizing it, we can begin treating faithfulness like a transaction: If I trust God, obey Him, pray, and do what’s right, then surely He will give me the outcome I’m hoping for. But Biblical faith isn’t rooted in what God gives us; it is rooted in who God is. Habakkuk describes losing every visible sign of provision and still choosing to rejoice in God Himself.
Additional Scripture
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NLT)
Additional Question
What does Habakkuk 3:17-18 reveal to us about trusting God for who He is versus trusting God for what He can do for us? What areas of our lives are we most tempted to make our faith dependent on the outcome God gives us (i.e., where have we made a deal with God)
Apply It
Genesis 39:21
By the end of chapter 40, Joseph is still in prison, still waiting, still has unanswered questions and was forgotten by someone he had helped. Yet none of those things changed what was true: the Lord was with him. God doesn’t promise that we will never experience pain, disappointment, or seasons we don’t understand, but throughout Scripture He repeatedly promises His presence.
As you consider what you’re currently walking through, where do you need to stop measuring God’s presence by your circumstances and begin reminding yourself, “The Lord is with me here”?
PRAY: How can we be praying for you this week?
About the Current Sermon Series
In The Story of Joseph, we’ll follow a journey marked by dreams and betrayal, temptation and waiting, purpose and restoration—and discover how God was at work through it all. From the pit to the prison to the palace, Joseph’s story reminds us that even when we can’t see what God is doing, He is still writing a bigger story. Join us for this nine-week series as we learn to trust God’s promises and see the bigger picture.