Good News Club: Joseph, the Beloved Son (single page version)

Lesson introduction: If I only had one Dum Dum to give, you might be tempted to be jealous of the one who received it.

When we get angry about what someone else has that we don’t, that’s called jealousy.

Content and Explanation:

Laban’s deceit (Genesis 29:18 “Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.””).

Jacob > grandson of Abraham > great promises, the Lord Jesus Christ to save.

Jacob > uncle, Laban.

Laban has made Jacob an offer to marry Rachel if Jacob agrees to work for him (clean room & get ice-cream).

But then, when Jacob got married, Laban switched out the daughters and gave Jacob his daughter Leah instead! (Genesis 29:25–26 “So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived (always wrong) me?” But Laban said, “It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn.”)

Jacob’s wives (Genesis 29:27–28 “27 “Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years.” 28 Jacob did so and completed her week, and (in addition to Leah) he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.”).

When God created people, he made a man, Adam, and his wife, Eve (Genesis 2:24).

Friends, both Laban and Jacob were not following God’s ways - this is sin (define).

Jacob’s growing family problems (Genesis 29:31 “31 Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb [gave her children], but Rachel was barren.” ) [Reuben, Simeon, Levi, baby Judah].

Friends, notice how Rachel responds to this circumstance (Genesis 30:1 “1 Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she became jealous of her sister; and she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die.””). - this is an unhappy home!

Rachel becomes a mom (Genesis 30:22–24 “22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God gave heed to her and opened her womb. 23 So she conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” 24 She named him Joseph, saying, “May the Lord give me another son.””).

Rachel will also give birth to Jacob’s final son, Benjamin; unfortunately, she will die in childbirth (Genesis 35:16 “16 Then they journeyed from Bethel; and when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and she suffered severe labor.” Genesis 35:18 “18 It came about as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.” ). - how sad Jacob must have been to lose Rachel

The son of Jacob’s favorite wife becomes his favorite son (Genesis 37:2–4 “2 These are the records of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought back a bad report [tattling to make himself look good] about them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic. 4 His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated [this was an unhappy family] him and could not speak to him on friendly terms.”).

Joseph dreams (Genesis 37:5–8 “5 Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have had; 7 for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 Then his brothers said to him, “Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.”).

Application: Jealousy and deceit are sins and encourage more sinning.

Identification of the sin: jealousy and deceit

Laban deceived Jacob by giving him Leah as his wife instead of Rachel

Jacob’s home was unhappy with jealous wives and children.

Friends, deception and jealousy can lead to more and more sins in our lives when we lie (cover up wrong) and are jealous (hurt others - ignore or worse).

Jesus can save us from all sins, including deceit and jealousy.

Friends, Jesus can forgive all sins, including deceit and jealousy (1 John 1:9).

Scripture Memory - James 3:16 “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” (X2)

Jealousy leads to more sins.

We must ask the Holy Spirit to help us remember that jealousy is sin.