“Lesson 41: Genesis 44–46,” Old Testament Seminary Student Material (2018)
“Lesson 41: Genesis 44–46”
Lesson 41
Genesis 44–46
Prepare to Learn
Prepare your mind and heart to learn. Music, especially the hymns of the Church, can invite the influence of the Holy Ghost. Consider listening to a hymn before you begin your study.
Begin your study with prayer.
What can you do when you make a choice you regret?
Listen to Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as he tells a childhood story. What did he learn that helped him experience great joy?
Repentance
Briefly ponder the following questions: What do I need to repent of? How do I repent?
Joseph’s Silver Cup
As you study Genesis 44, look for insights into what we must do to repent of our sins.
In Genesis 44:1–2 we learn that as Joseph’s brothers were preparing to return to Canaan, Joseph devised a plan that would prevent them from leaving Egypt. As part of this plan, Joseph asked one of his servants to secretly place his servant’s cup inside Benjamin’s bag of corn.
Read Genesis 44:4–6, looking for what happened when Joseph sent someone after his brothers and they were accused of stealing.
Quiz 1
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According to verse 9, what did the brothers say they would accept as a consequence if one of them was found with the silver cup?
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The guilty brother would need to drink poison from the silver cup.
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The guilty brother would be put to death, and the other brothers would be enslaved.
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They would work for Joseph for seven years.
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Finding the Silver Cup
Read Genesis 44:16, looking for what Judah said when the cup that was put in Benjamin’s bag was found.
What do you think Judah meant when he said, “God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants”?
What Judah Was Willing to Do
In Genesis 44:17–31 we learn that Joseph explained that he would not kill Benjamin but would make him his servant instead. Judah told Joseph how worried their father, Jacob, was about letting his youngest son, Benjamin, go to Egypt for fear of losing him like he had lost another son—Joseph. Judah was worried that Jacob would die if Benjamin did not return.
Read Genesis 44:32–34, looking for what Judah was willing to do so that Benjamin could go free. (The word surety in verse 32 is similar to a guarantee.)
Judah’s Example
Judah’s willingness to acknowledge his iniquity (see Genesis 44:16) and to be enslaved in place of his younger brother is evidence that his heart was changing. While we may not know how completely repentant Judah and his brothers were, from Judah’s example we can learn a valuable truth about repenting of our own sins.
By looking at Judah’s example, how would you finish the following sentence to form a principle?
Sincere repentance includes …
Sincere Repentance
One principle we can learn from Judah’s example is that sincere repentance includes acknowledging our wrongs, turning away from sinful actions, and having our heart changed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Think of people you know who have been willing to make significant changes to their attitudes or behaviors in order to repent. How can you follow their example by allowing the Savior Jesus Christ to change some of your attitudes or behaviors? (Consider taking a moment to write a response in your Notes on LDS.org or in a personal journal.)
Thoughts and Feelings
Read Genesis 45:1–4, considering what thoughts and feelings Joseph and his brothers might have had at this time.
1. Reply to one of the following questions:
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After hearing Judah express his concern for his father and his brother Benjamin, what do you think Joseph may have thought and felt as he decided to reveal his identity to his brothers?
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Verse 3 indicates that Joseph’s brothers “were troubled” when Joseph told them who he was. What thoughts and feelings might Joseph’s brothers have had when they learned that this Egyptian ruler was really their brother?
Trials and Difficulties
Joseph’s life was full of trials and difficulties. Think of all the hardships he experienced because of the choices of others. His brothers hated him, he was sold into slavery, he was separated from his parents, he was tempted to be immoral, he was falsely accused, and he was kept in prison for years.
Read Genesis 45:5–9, looking for what Joseph understood about his trials.
Considering words or phrases from these verses, what advice do you think Joseph might give today to someone experiencing trials or difficulties?
Trials Becoming Blessings
Some advice that Joseph might give to someone today is expressed in the following principle: If we are faithful, God can direct our lives and help us make trials become blessings for ourselves and others.
2. Reply to the following questions:
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What can we do to remain faithful to God during our trials?
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When have you felt God directing the course of your life, or the life of someone you know, to make trials or difficulties become blessings? (Do not share experiences that are too private or personal.)
Joseph’s Example
Remember that Joseph’s brothers “were troubled at his presence” (Genesis 45:3) when they discovered who he was.
Read Genesis 45:14–15, looking for how Joseph helped ease their concerns.
What principle can we identify from Joseph’s response to his brothers and the joy he experienced as a result?
Healing and Peace
One principle we can identify from Genesis 45:14–15 is that forgiving those who have wronged us helps us experience healing and peace.
Think about someone who may have hurt or wronged you. Consider what you might do to forgive this person so that you both may experience healing and joy.
As an optional activity, you may want to watch the video “Forgiveness: My Burden Was Made Light” (8:24), located on LDS.org. In this video, Christopher Williams recounts his experience of forgiving the drunk driver who killed his pregnant wife and two of his children.
Together Again
In Genesis 45:16–28 we learn that when Pharaoh heard about Joseph’s family, he sent Joseph’s brothers back to Canaan with wagons loaded with food and gifts and invited Jacob’s family to come to Egypt. When the brothers arrived home in Canaan, they told Jacob that Joseph was alive and in Egypt. At first Jacob did not believe them, but when he saw the wagons, he said, “Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die” (Genesis 45:28).
Genesis 46:1–30 records that Jacob took all of his family and their possessions and traveled to Egypt. On the way, the Lord spoke to Jacob in a vision and told him not to fear settling his family in Egypt because He would be with Jacob and would make his posterity into a great nation. Jacob and Joseph experienced a joyful reunion.
Important Truths
The following truths were identified in this lesson:
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Sincere repentance includes acknowledging our wrongs, turning away from sinful actions, and having our heart changed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
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If we are faithful, God can direct our lives and help us make trials become blessings for ourselves and others.
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Forgiving those who have wronged us helps us experience healing and peace.
Doctrinal Mastery Review
The following scripture passages are associated with the doctrinal mastery topic “The Plan of Salvation”: Moses 1:39; Abraham 3:22–23; Genesis 1:26–27; Joshua 24:15.
The more you see and work with doctrinal mastery scripture passages, the more likely you will be to remember them. Consider writing the references to these scripture passages and key phrases in a place where you will see them often.
Quiz 2
Match the passage on the left with the key phrase on the right.
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Answer Key
Quiz 1: (1) b
Quiz 2: (1) 1-d, 2-b, 3-c, 4-a