The document discusses Joseph's life journey from age 17 to 30 based on the biblical account in Genesis 37-41. It highlights how gossip and favoritism bred resentment among Joseph's brothers, and his insensitivity intensified their jealousy and anger. Though they threw him in a pit, the document suggests that sometimes hardship is part of God's plan, and believers can find hope by reflecting on God's faithfulness in the past and presence in the present.

1. “The truth is you
don't know what is
going to happen
tomorrow.
Life is a crazy ride”
Eminem

2. Series
‘Life on a rollercoaster
with Joseph’
Today
‘Life in the pit’

3. For everything that was written in the
past was written to teach us, so that
through the endurance taught in the
Scriptures and the encouragement they
provide we might have hope
Rom 15:4

4. Joseph’s biography (Gen 37-50)
1. Birth to 17 yrs (30:24 – 37:2)
2. 17 to 30 yrs (37:2 – 41:46)
3. 30 yrs to death (41:46 – 50:26)

5. Gossip breeds discord
Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was
tending the flocks with his brothers, the
sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his
father’s wives, and he brought their father
a bad report about them
Gen 37:2

6. Gossip breeds discord
… a gossip separates close friends
Proverbs 16:28
What dainty morsels rumours are,
but they sink deep into one’s heart
Proverbs 18:8 NLT

7. They are full of envy, murder, strife,
deceit and malice. They are gossips,
(whisperer, secret slanderer)
Rom 15:4

8. Favouritism breeds resentment
Now Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph
more than any of his other sons,
because he had been born to him in
his old age; and he made an ornate
robe for him
Gen 37:3

9. Favouritism breeds resentment
When his brothers saw that their
father loved him more than any of
them, they hated him and could
not speak a kind word to him
Gen 37:4

10. Insensitivity intensifies jealousy and anger
Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his
brothers, they hated him all the more. ‘Listen to
this dream I had: we were binding sheaves of corn
out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and
stood upright, while your sheaves gathered round
mine and bowed down to it.’
Gen 37:5-7

11. Insensitivity intensifies jealousy and anger
His brothers said to him,
‘Do you intend to reign over us?
Will you actually rule us?’
Gen 37:8a

12. Insensitivity intensifies jealousy and anger
And they hated him all the more because of
his dream and what he had said
Gen 37:8b

13. Sometimes the pit is part of God’s plan
So he (Jacob) said to him,
‘Go and see if all is well with your brothers
and with the flocks, and bring word
back to me.’ Then he sent him off
from the Valley of Hebron
Gen 37:14

14. Sometimes the pit is part of God’s plan
But they saw him in the distance … they plotted to
kill him. ‘Here comes that dreamer!’ they said to
each other. ‘Come now, let’s kill him and throw
him into one of these cisterns and say that a
ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see
what comes of his dreams.’
Gen 37:18-20

15. Sometimes the pit is part of God’s plan
So when Joseph came to his brothers, they
stripped him of his robe – the ornate robe he
was wearing and they took him and threw
him into the cistern. The cistern was empty;
there was no water in it
Gen 37:23-24

16.  Reflect on the past
 Realise God hasn’t abandoned us
And the Lord was with (him) Joseph
 Recognise that God is in control
And we know that in all things God works
for the good of those who love him, who
have been called according to his purpose
Rom 8:28