Story of Joseph
Swanson, John August. Story of Joseph, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Lib[rary, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56562 [retrieved August 18, 2023]. Original source: Estate of John August Swanson, https://www.johnaugustswanson.com/.
|
You Know Better Than I from Joseph, King of Dreams
Spiritual Practices: Keyword Listing
Keyword listing is a method of observational Bible study. It doesn’t require any special skills, tools, or training. You can read more about the process of keyword listing here. You can choose any word or short phrase to study using keyword listing. For this passage, we suggest the following keyword(s) to start your study.
Starting Points
Keyword listing is a method of observational Bible study. It doesn’t require any special skills, tools, or training. You can read more about the process of keyword listing here. You can choose any word or short phrase to study using keyword listing. For this passage, we suggest the following keyword(s) to start your study.
Starting Points
- Joseph (and related pronouns) - explore what Joseph says and does in this passage
- God (and related pronouns) - explore what God had done in Joseph's life
Spiritual Practices: Breath Prayer
Overview
Joseph had been through a lot. He had been sold into slavery by his brothers, worked his way up in Potiphar's house, was falsely accused by Potiphar's wife, thrown in prison, and forgotten there. Now he is face to face with his brothers. Instead of getting vengeance on them for what they had done to him, Joseph looks back and sees how, despite everything, God's hand had brought him to where he was; he could see God's purpose for his life at this moment.
We sometimes do a great job of remembering our challenges, but we don't always see how God has worked or is working through those challenges to bring us to a place of restoration and purpose. Sometimes it helps to step back and look for how God has and is working in our lives instead of focusing only on our challenges. That is what this breath prayer is about.
Prayer
Abba Father, let me see your hand.
Overview
Joseph had been through a lot. He had been sold into slavery by his brothers, worked his way up in Potiphar's house, was falsely accused by Potiphar's wife, thrown in prison, and forgotten there. Now he is face to face with his brothers. Instead of getting vengeance on them for what they had done to him, Joseph looks back and sees how, despite everything, God's hand had brought him to where he was; he could see God's purpose for his life at this moment.
We sometimes do a great job of remembering our challenges, but we don't always see how God has worked or is working through those challenges to bring us to a place of restoration and purpose. Sometimes it helps to step back and look for how God has and is working in our lives instead of focusing only on our challenges. That is what this breath prayer is about.
Prayer
Abba Father, let me see your hand.
Spiritual Practices: Breath Prayer
Overview
This is an amazing scene of forgiveness and reconciliation. Joseph was hated by his brothers and sold into slavery by them. Now, years later, we see Joseph's forgiveness and his reconciliation. It took a lot of time and some changes in perspective, but Joseph was finally able to forgive and be reconciled to his brothers. God's desire is always for forgiveness and reconciliation. He extends forgiveness to us and he wants us to extend forgiveness to others (Matthew 6:12, 14). Forgiveness is not always easy. It wasn't for Joseph either. We usually need God's help to forgive. That is what this breath prayer is about.
Prayer
Forgiving and reconciling God, help me to forgive as you do.
Overview
This is an amazing scene of forgiveness and reconciliation. Joseph was hated by his brothers and sold into slavery by them. Now, years later, we see Joseph's forgiveness and his reconciliation. It took a lot of time and some changes in perspective, but Joseph was finally able to forgive and be reconciled to his brothers. God's desire is always for forgiveness and reconciliation. He extends forgiveness to us and he wants us to extend forgiveness to others (Matthew 6:12, 14). Forgiveness is not always easy. It wasn't for Joseph either. We usually need God's help to forgive. That is what this breath prayer is about.
Prayer
Forgiving and reconciling God, help me to forgive as you do.