JOSEPH AS A LEADER

WEEK 3

SUBJECT:    CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES

CLASS:    SS2

TOPIC:    JOSEPH AS A LEADER

CONTENT:

• Joseph’s. early life and arrival in Egypt.
• Joseph the governor of Egypt.
• Joseph reconciles with his brothers.

Sub-Topic: 1. JOSEPH’S EARLY LIFE AND ARRIVAL IN EGYPT:

GENESIS 37: 1-28

Joseph’s father was Jacob and his mother was Rachael living in Hebron in Canaan. He was seventeen years old when he was keeping his father’s flock with his brothers – the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wife. Joseph was hated by his brothers for five reasons:

1. His first dream of his brother’s sheaves bowing down to his sheaves;
2. The sun, moon and eleven stars bowing to him;
3. He was always telling his father about the bad things his brothers were doing;
4. Their father loved him more than any other of his sons; and
5. A long sleeve robe of many colours their father made for him.

These led to a plot to kill him.This opportunity came when Jacob told Joseph to check on the welfare of his brothers. He got to Shechem and discovered by the help of a man that they had moved to Dothan.

As his brothers saw him at a distance, they conspired to kill him to forestall realisation of his dreams. Reuben advised he should not be killed, but kept in a dry well, but Joseph was sold in his absence as advised by Judah to the Midianite traders, who later sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver instead of killing him.

When the traders got to Egypt, they re-sold Joseph to Potiphar, an Egyptian army officer. While in Portiphar’s house, he served faithfully and he was made the head of his household. He was later sent to prison because Portiphar’s wife falsely accused him of rape.

EVALUATION

1. Why was Joseph sold by his brothers?
2. How was he sold and for how much?
3. Mention the experiences he went through before his imprisonment (from his father’s house).

Sub-Topic: 2. JOSEPH THE GOVERNOR OF EGYPT.GENESIS 41: 1-57

In the prison, he was in charge of other inmates as he delightfully helped them in interpreting their dreams (Chief Butler and Chief Baker).

After two years in prison, he interpreted dreams for Pharaoh who had two dreams. The first dream about seven cows gaunt and thin which came out of Nile ate seven other sleek and fat cows; while the second was about seven ears of thin and blighted grain from the east wind swallowed another seven plump and full ears.

The chief Butler introduced Joseph to Pharaoh promising only him could interpret his dream.

Joseph interpreted the dream as one and he stated that the implication of these, was that the seven years of food surplus would be followed by seven years of acute-food shortage. Its effect would be so

devastating that the memory of the seven previous years of food surplus would be completely obliterated. He then made recommendations to Pharaoh to appoint a wise man to be in charge of grain storage.

Due to the fact that Joseph was a man of immense intelligence and the only one whom God bestowed wisdom to interpret the dream, Pharaoh appointed him as the second in command (Prime Minister) to be in charge of storage and distribution of grains, gave him his royal seal ring, commissioned him and gave him an Egyptian name ZAPHENATH-PANEAHand a wife Asenath.

EVALUATION

• Who introduced Joseph to Pharaoh?

• State Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams.

• State the outcome of Joseph’s dream interpretation on Egypt and himself.

Sub-Topic: 3. JOSEPH RECONCILED WITH HIS BROTHERS. GENESIS 45: 1-15

Joseph desired to make himself known to his brothers and so he devised a means of arresting them for theft of his royal cup by the youngest-Benjamin.

They were all brought back to Joseph at his command and he ordered all his servants out of the room they stayed, cried aloud that the report was even sent to Pharaoh’s palace and thereby made himself known. He sent for his father as he forgave his brothers, the family became united and they started leaving in Goshen in the land of Egypt.

The names of the twelve sons of Jacob were:

1. Reuben
2. Simeon
3. Levi
4. Judah
5. Issachar
6. Zebulon
7. Dan

iix.    Naphtali

1. Gad
2. Asher
3. Joseph; and
4. Benjamin.

EVALUATION

1.Narrate the story of Joseph in Canaan and indicate how he came to assume leadership role in Egypt.

1. State any two leadership qualities find in him.

GENERAL EVALUATION

Objective Test:

• God prepared Joseph for his leadership role in Egypt through     a. The love which his father
  

had for him b. The trials and temptations of his earlier years c. His disagreement with his brothers d. His encounter with Potiphar’s wife. (JUNE 2013 SSCE. Q3)

• Joseph named his first son “Manasseh” because God made him     a. King in Egypt b. Forget his hardship c. A ruler of Israel d. Fruitful in his father’s land (JUNE 2012 SSCE. Q5)

• According to Joseph’s interpretation to Pharaoh’s dreams; the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind represented seven years of     a. Famine b. Abundant c. Farming d. Harvest (JUNE 2011 SSCE. Q1)

• When Joseph was sent to his brothers, he met them pasturing at     (a). Hebron (b). Bethel (c).

Beersheba (d). Dothan (JUNE 2010 SSCE. Q4)

• Which of the following wasnotpart of the honour done to Joseph when Pharaoh made him a ruler in Egypt? (a). Joseph was made to address the people (b). The land of Goshen was given to Joseph (c). Joseph was dressed in garments of fine linen (d). A gold was put around Joseph’s neck (JUNE 2008 SSCE. Q3)

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. Narrate the dreams of Pharaoh. (JUNE 2010 SSCE. Q2)
2. In what three ways did the interpretation of the dream affect Joseph and his people? (JUNE 2010 SSCE. Q2)

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT:

1. Give an account of Joseph’s first encounter with Pharaoh.
2. State any three qualities of his that earned him Pharaoh’s favour.

PRE-READING ASSIGNMENT:

Read about Moses as a leader – his early life, how God equipped him and how he led Israelites out of Egypt.

WEEKEND ACTIVITY:

Compare Joseph’s leadership style with that of Moses.

REFERENCE TEXTS:

• CRS for SS2 by L.O Udokporo et al; by Melrose Publishers.

• Fundamentals of CRK for SSS Book One/SSCE Section A by A.E. Osubele; Doves Publishers.

• Essential CRK for SSS by Edmond Okoli; Tonad Publishers Limited.

• Revised Standard Version Holy Bible (RSV); Bible Society.

QUIZ QUESTIONS:

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