27 May Discussion Guide: Meant for Good Week 4
Ice Breaker
One of the things we value within community is fun. In the midst of all the pressures life throws at us, it is our ability to laugh, play and celebrate together that reminds us we serve a good, loving, and resurrected Lord who stands above it all. So, we want to take the first few minutes of our time together to play, have fun, and celebrate the fact that we belong to Jesus.
Today’s Ice Breaker: Stick the Landing
This exciting challenge is perfect for a head to head match and requires very little to play: just a water bottle and a table or solid surface. The point is to toss the bottle until you’re able to make it land right-side up. It sounds easy but it’s harder than you think! We love the simplicity of this one and the fact that it combines the demand for speed with a need for good aim and skill.
What You Will Need:
- A Water Bottle (for each player)
How to Play:
- Before the challenge, the water bottle is half-filled with water. The player holds the bottle and stands approximately 5 feet away from the table.
- When the clock starts, the player tosses the bottle in an attempt to get it to land right-side up on the table. They must land the bottle correctly within the allotted 60 seconds to win the challenge.
Today’s Discussion
This week we continue our focus in the book of Genesis looking at the life of Joseph; the struggles he faced, the mistakes he made, the betrayal he suffered, and how through it all, what the enemy meant for evil, God purposed for good. As we talk through this past Sunday’s sermon, let us do so with the faith and courage to ask the question, “How might God be doing the same thing in my own life?” Let’s get started.
Discussion Questions
Have you ever had something go seemingly bad, only to see it lead to something ultimately good? If so, would you care to elaborate?
Alguna vez te ha pasado algo aparentemente malo que si hubieras sabido te llevaría a algo bueno hubieras colaborado más?
Genesis 42:7-11
Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them. “Where do you come from?” he said. They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” And Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. And he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land.” They said to him, “No, my lord, your servants have come to buy food. We are all sons of one man. We are honest men. Your servants have never been spies.”
Why do you think Joseph reacted to his brothers this way?
Genesis 43:29-30
‘And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!” Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there.
What do you think changed in Joseph when he saw his brother, Benjamin?
Have you ever been hurt or wronged by someone significant in your life?
Have you come to a place of forgiveness for that person?
How has, or how might, that place of hurt become a place of healing and compassion for others?
Génesis 42:7-11
Al ver José a sus hermanos, los reconoció, pero fingió no conocerlos y les habló duramente. Y les dijo: “¿De dónde han venido?” “De la tierra de Canaán para comprar alimentos,” le respondieron ellos. José había reconocido a sus hermanos, aunque ellos no lo habían reconocido a él. José se acordó de los sueños que había tenido acerca de ellos, y les dijo: “Ustedes son espías. Han venido para ver las partes indefensas de nuestra tierra.” “No, señor mío,” le dijeron ellos, sino que tus siervos han venido para comprar alimentos. Todos nosotros somos hijos de un mismo padre. Somos hombres honrados, tus siervos no son espías.”
Porque crees que José reaccionó hacia sus hermanos de esa manera?
Génesis 43:29-30
Al alzar José sus ojos y ver a su hermano Benjamín, hijo de su madre, les preguntó: “¿Es éste su hermano menor de quien me hablaron?” Y dijo: “Dios te imparta Su favor, hijo mío.” José se apresuró a salir, pues se sintió profundamente conmovido a causa de su hermano y buscó dónde llorar. Entró en su aposento y lloró allí.
Que crees que cambio en José cuando vio a su hermano Benjamin?
Alguna vez has sido herido o maltratado por alguien importante en tu vida?
Has llegado a un lugar de perdón para esa persona?
Como ese lugar de dolor se ha convertido en un lugar de curación y compasión para otros?
Genesis 50:18-20
His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you devised evil against me, but God devised it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
What does it mean for something to be devised? What is Joseph saying here?
If that is true in Joseph’s life, what could that mean about the hurts and disappointments we face in our lives as well?
Génesis 50:18-20
Entonces sus hermanos vinieron también y se postraron delante de él, y dijeron: “Ahora somos tus siervos.” Pero José les dijo: “No teman, ¿acaso estoy yo en lugar de Dios? Ustedes pensaron hacerme mal, pero Dios lo cambió en bien para que sucediera como vemos hoy, y se preservara la vida de mucha gente.
Que significa cuando algo es ideado? Que está diciendo José aqui?
Si eso es verdad en la vida de José, que significa eso para las heridas y las decepciones que tenemos en nuestras vidas?
Devise, as defined by Merriam-Webster, means to plan to obtain or bring about an action or a result. To devise something presupposes the forethought, planning and timing required to accomplish a desired result. In other words, what Joseph is saying here is that his brothers devised a plan to get rid of him. They had an idea to accomplish his removal from the family and they then set things into motion, like throwing him into a pit, pulling him out of that pit and selling him into slavery, tearing up his robe and covering it with blood to deceiver their father, etc. for the purpose of getting him out of the picture. However, Joseph is also saying that in his brother devising, God was also devising His own plan to accomplish a very different result. God allowed Joseph’s brothers to devise an evil plan as part of God’s devising a greater good. Joseph is saying that even in his brother’s evil planning God was at work behind the scenes purposing and accomplishing something great and redemptive. Note, it does not say, “what you devised, God worked for good.” It does not say, “what you devised, God turned into something good.” It says was devising, purposing, through it all. This was not something God was caught off guard by. It was not something God had to figure out what He was going to do in response to. The plan of Joseph’s brothers was purposed and allowed by God as part of a greater plan and purpose God was working for the salvation of not only Joseph and his brothers, but for the entire world in that day.
Idear, según lo define Merriam-Webster, significa planificar para obtener o generar una acción o un resultado. Idear algo presupone la previsión, la planificación y el tiempo necesarios para lograr un resultado deseado. En otras palabras, lo que José está diciendo aquí es que sus hermanos idearon un plan para deshacerse de él. Tuvieron la idea de lograr su expulsión de la familia y luego pusieron en marcha las cosas, como arrojándolo a un pozo, sacándolo de ese pozo y vendiéndolo como esclavo, desgarrándole la bata y cubriéndola con sangre para engañar a su padre, etc. con el propósito de sacarlo de la escena. Sin embargo, José también está diciendo que en lo que su hermano ideó, Dios también estaba ideando su propio plan para lograr un resultado muy diferente. Dios permitió que los hermanos de José idearan un plan malvado como parte de un mayor bien de Dios. José está diciendo que incluso en la planificación malvada de su hermano, Dios estaba trabajando detrás de las escenas, proponiendo y logrando algo grande y redentor. Tenga en cuenta que no dice: “lo que ideó, Dios trabajó para bien”. No dice: “lo que ideó, Dios convirtió en algo bueno”. Dice que fue idear, proponer, a través de todo. Esto no fue algo por lo que Dios fue tomado por sorpresa. No fue algo que Dios tuvo que descubrir en lo que iba a hacer en respuesta. El plan de los hermanos de José fue propuesto y permitido por Dios como parte de un plan y un propósito mayores. Dios estaba trabajando para la salvación no solo de José y sus hermanos, sino del mundo entero en ese día.
John Piper, Spectacular Sins: And Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ
“God did not just overcome evil at the cross. He made evil serve the overcoming of evil. He made evil commit suicide in doing its worst evil.”
The crucifixion of Jesus appeared to be the greatest evil every performed against one person, yet what did Jesus’ crucifixion ultimately accomplish?
How does this Gospel give us the hope and assurance that the things devised for evil in our lives God has devised for good?
John Piper, Pecados Espectaculares: Y Su Propósito Global en la Gloria de Cristo.
“Dios no solo venció el mal en la cruz. Él hizo que el mal sirviera a la superación del mal. Hizo que el mal se suicidara al hacer su peor mal.”
La crucifixión de Jesús pareció ser la maldad más grande en contra de una persona, aún así, que logró por último la crucifixión de Jesús?
Como este Evangelio nos da esperanza y seguridad que las cosas planeadas por maldad en nuestras vidas, Dios las ha planeado para el bien?
Prayer
As we close our time together we want to make sure to take time to pray for, and encourage one another. Can we join you in praying for a family member, friend, or neighbor in whose life you are hoping to see God move in some way? Do you have any personal prayer needs?