27th September 2026 (am) – Genesis 37:1 – 17

Andy Bruins preaching from Genesis on Sunday 27th September 2026.

We come to the beginning of the last of 10 accounts (or histories) in the book of Genesis – this is the account of Jacob, which essentially concerns the life and career of his beloved son, Joseph.
Joseph was the oldest son of the love of Jacob’s life, Rachel. And as such, Jacob could not help but treat him differently, which created a huge problem between him and his brothers.
This problem was only compounded by the dreams that Joseph shared with his family; prophetic dreams that clearly indicated that he would one day rule over them!
And so, the scene is set for an amazing story about the providence of God and His promise to bless the nations.

Q What might be concerning, and what might be comforting about God knowing the future?

Q Read v1-4. Why did Joseph’s brothers hate him? How does Jacob make matters worse? It could be easy to think that Joseph is not helping himself here! But what else might be going on (see 1 Peter 4:3-5)?

Q Read v5-11. What is the obvious, surface implication of these dreams for Joseph’s family? What slightly more intriguing details are included?

Q What do you think motivated Joseph to share these dreams with his family? What are the different reactions Moses records in v11?

Q Read v12-17. How do we see the hand of God at work in these verses?

Q How does Joseph present a shadow of Jesus in this story so far?

Q Read John 15:18-21. What kind of response should we expect when we share what God has revealed to us with an unbelieving world? What encouragement is there here for us?