2025-09-28 Joseph 09 (shared slides).pptx

Lesson 9 of 9
Joseph: From Pit to Palace
Perseverance
(Acts 7:9-16)
September 28, 2025

Heritage Bible Master Class is a non-denominational group of senior adults who love the Lord and His word.

We meet at Heritage Palms Country Club, South of Fred Waring, East of Jefferson, Indio, 10:15 Sunday morning.

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Just let them know at the gate that you’re there for the Bible study and the guard will let you right in.

1. Lesson 9: Perseverance (Acts 7:9-16) September 28, 2025

2. Acts 7:9-16

3. Acts 7:9-16 (NIV) Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him 10 and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.

4. 11 "Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food. 12 When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our forefathers on their first visit. 13 On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph's family.

5. 14 After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all. 15 Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our ancestors died. 16 Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money.

6. Question 1 How does Stephen's summary of Joseph's life in Acts emphasize perseverance through suffering, and what details does he highlight that Genesis doesn’t?

7. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (Acts 7:9b-10a)

8. Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food. (Acts 7:11)

9. Question 2 In what ways does Joseph's story demonstrate that perseverance is not passive waiting but active faithfulness in present circumstances?

10. The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. (Genesis 39:2, NLT)

11. Potiphar noticed this and realized that the LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. (Genesis 39:3, NLT)

12. But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the LORD made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. (Genesis 39:21, NLT)

13. When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they looked distraught. (Genesis 40:6, CSB)

14. Joseph’s administrative excellence during Egypt's crisis demonstrates how active perseverance prepares for opportunities that passive waiting cannot seize.

15. Question 3 How does the span of Joseph's trials (13 years from slavery to prime minister) teach us about God's timeline versus our expectations?

16. He was thirty years old when he began serving in the court of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. And when Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence, he inspected the entire land of Egypt. (Genesis 41:46, NLT)

17. At Age Thirty Joseph became Vizier (Gen. 41:46) David became king (2 Sam. 5:4) Levites began temple service (Num. 4:3) Jesus began his ministry (Luke 3:23)

18. Joseph’s Preparation Household management: administrative skills & cross-cultural competence Prison administration: experience with difficult personalities under resource constraints Extended timeline: tested his faith & his patience with divine timing

19. Question 4 What role does maintaining excellence and integrity throughout trials play in Joseph's eventual exaltation, and how do we maintain standards when discouraged?

20. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. (Genesis 39:5, NIV)

21. “No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9, NIV)

22. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.” (Genesis 39:22, NIV)

23. Maintaining Standards During Discouragement Anchor identity in calling rather than circumstances. Find meaning in serving others, not personal advancement Practice integrity when no one observes or applauds View present trials as preparation rather than punishment

24. Question 5 How does Joseph's perseverance affect multiple generations, from saving his family to establishing Israel in Egypt, and what is the generational impact of our perseverance?

25. Austrian archeologists have discovered a 4,000-year-old administrative center with over 30 storage facilities that ancient Egyptians used to store grain.

26. Generational impact often operates through character formation rather than material legacy

27. Question 6 In what ways does Joseph's story illustrate that perseverance often means succeeding in one area while suffering continues in another?

28. The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. (Genesis 39:2, NLT)

29. But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the LORD made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. (Genesis 39:21, NLT)

30. Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." The second son he named Ephraim and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering." (Genesis 41:51-52, NIV)

31. Divine presence doesn't guarantee comfortable circumstances but rather provides grace to flourish within difficult ones.

32. Question 7 How does the New Testament perspective on Joseph's life add meaning to his sufferings that he couldn't have fully understood at the time?

33. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 50:20, NIV) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8, NIV)

34. Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place." So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt. (Genesis 50:24-26, NIV)

35. Question 8 What does Joseph's ability to name his sons Manasseh ("forgetting") and Ephraim ("fruitful") teach about processing and moving beyond past pain?

36. Manasseh (“Forget”) Ephraim (“Fruitful”)

37. Question 9 How does Joseph's death in faith, still in Egypt but pointing to the Promised Land (Hebrews 11:22), demonstrate ultimate perseverance?

38. Joseph Died Looking Forward Focus on the community’s future, rather than his own legacy Confident in divine timing despite extended delays Connects present reality and future hope

39. Question 10 In what ways does Joseph's perseverance prefigure Christ's suffering and glory, and how does this give meaning to our own struggles?

40. Joseph and Jesus Favored son is rejected Suffering comes before exaltation Silence when facing injustice The rejected one becomes the life-giver

41. Joseph and Jesus Forgiveness to the ones who did the wrong Blessing rather than retribution Provision rather than punishment Relationship rather than revenge

42. Lesson 9: Perseverance (Acts 7:9-16) September 28, 2025

43. Lesson 1 Moses’ Birth and Exile: An Unexpected Deliverer Exodus 1:1-2:25 October 5, 2025