lOMoARcPSD|255728 27
BIBL 104
O
LD
T
ESTAMENT
C
HARACTER
S
KETCH
B
IBLE
S
TUDY
T
EMPLATE
Name: Anthony Hall
Date: 10/8/2018
Section: BIBL 104 –B18
I. Observation
Step One: For this character-sketch Bible study I will be studying: Joseph
Step Two: Identify and list all the Bible passages on the person.
NIV Study Bible
•
Genesis 30:24-25
•
Genesis 37:1-36
•
Genesis 39:1-23
•
Genesis 40:4-23
•
Genesis 41:12-57
•
Genesis 42:3-25
•
Genesis 43:15-34
•
Genesis 44:1-45:28
•
Genesis 47:1-31
•
Genesis 50:1-26
Step Three: Read through each passage, making general observations based on first impressions.
List (in complete sentences) at least 10 general observations from the Bible passages on your
character.
1. Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son. (Genesis 37:3)
2. Joseph’s brothers hated him due to their father’s affection for him. (Genesis 37:4)
3. Joseph experienced prophetic visions through dreams. (Genesis 37: 5-9)
4. Joseph’s brothers originally plotted to kill him. (Genesis 37:20)
5. Reuben convinced his brothers to sell Joseph as opposed to killing him. (Genesis
37:21,22)
6. Joseph was sold to an Egyptian named Potiphar. (Genesis 39:1)
7. Joseph was accused of trying to sleep with Potiphar’s wife and was sent to jail. (Genesis
39:11-20)
8. Joseph interpreted dreams while he was in prison. (Genesis 40:8-22)
9. Joseph was revered for his ability to interpret dreams. (Genesis 41:41-45)
10. Joseph was very influential and powerful in Egypt. (Genesis 42:6)
11. Joseph was not recognized by his brothers. (Genesis 42:7,8)
12. Joseph forgave his brothers. (Genesis 50:15-21)
Page 1 of 8
lOMoARcPSD|255728 27
BIBL 104
Step Four: Ask the key questions and observe other structural or grammatical
Elements.
Observations related to “Who?”
Joseph was one of the twelve sons of Jacob. He was the second son of Jacob and Rachel.
His other eleven brothers were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad,
Asher, Benjamin, and Naphtali. Joseph was a Shepard when he lived with his family. From the
beginning of the story of Joseph he was big for interpreting dreams. He interpreted a dream of
his own that got his brothers angry at him. Joseph had a dream that his family would be bowing
down to him. Because of this his brothers kidnapped him and sold him into slavery. He gained
his masters favor while a slave in Egypt and quickly rose the ranks. He was falsely accused of
trying to sleep with his master’s wife and was put in prison. While in prison he interpreted the
dreams of two of Pharaohs officials. He eventually gained the favor of Pharaoh after interpreting
some of his dreams and was put in charge of all the grain in the land of Egypt. His brothers
eventually came to him, not knowing who he was, and asked for grain because of a famine. He
finally revealed himself to them and he had his whole family move to Egypt. Joseph later died
and he was placed in a coffin in Egypt until his bones were later buried in Shecham.
Observations related to “What?”
What made Joseph’s brothers angry at him? Joseph had a dream that his family and
brothers were all bowing down to him.
What was Joseph acused of that led to his imprisonment? Potifar’s wife acuse Joseph of
trying to sleep with her. What really happened was that Potifar’s wife tried to sleep with Joseph
and Joseph ran away from her.
What was Joseph tasked with doing in Egypt? After winning Pharaos favor from
interpreting his dreams, Joseph was given great power over Egypt. Since Joseph had interpreted
Pharoas dream to mean that a great faman was coming to Egypt and the surrounding ares, he was
put in charge of Egypt’s food supply.
Observations related to “Where?”
The where in the story of Joseph is a very important one because this will set the tone for
the rest of the Old Testament and ultimately the Bible. Joseph lived in the land of Caanan. He
Page 2 of 8
lOMoARcPSD|255728 27
BIBL 104
tended shep while there. He went to pasture sheep with his brothers in Shecham but they had
gone to Dothan. When his brothers saw him from a distance coming to Dothan they plotted to
kill him. He was then sold to Ishmaelites and taken to Egypt where he was sold to Potaphar.
The story of Joesph concludes in Egypt. Israel continued to expand and became a large
population group in Egypt.
Observations related to “When?”
The story of Joseph takes place before the foundation of Israel and before the twelve
tribes had formed. It is the precursor to the rest of the Old Testament in that it sets the stage for
the next book and future troubles for Israel.
Observations related to “Why?”
There are three Why questions from the story of Joseph. The first one being; why was
Joseph favored by his father over his other brothers? Jacob loved Joseph more because he was
the son f his old age. (Genesis 37:3) Another why question from the story is; why was Joseph
sold by his brothers? The answer to this relates back to the first question. Since Jacob fvored
Joseph over all his brothers, they resented him for that. Another reason is because of a dream
that Joseph had. Josephs dream was that they were all tending sheep and his brothers sheaves
bowed down to his sheaf. He had a following dream that the sun, the moon, and eleven stars
were dowing down to him. This was interpreted as His brothers bowing down to him. This
angered them greatly and caused them to plot against him. They originally wanted to kill him,
but Reuben convinced them otherwise and they sold him to the Ishmaelites. The last question
from this story is; why was Joseph rising to power in every position after he was sold? The
answer is that he never lost faith in God. God gave him this amzing ability to interpret dreams
and Joseph used that to his advantage by interpreting the dreams of his fellow inmates and tha
eventually interpreting the dreams of Pharoah which led to his promotion in Egypt.
Step Five: Construct a timeline that details the life of your Bible personality.
1. Joseph was born to Rachel and Jacob
2. Joseph was given a varicolored tunic by his father.
3. Joseph had a dream about his brothers bowing down to him.
4. Joseph’s brothers plotted to kill him but wound up selling him to the Ishmaelites.
5. Joseph was bought from the Ishmaelits by an Egyptian office named Potiphar.
6. Joseph was accuse of trying to sleep with Potiphars wife and was put into prison.
7. Joseph interpreted the dreams of Pharoa’s cup-bearer and the chief baker.
8. Joseph interpreted Pharoas dream.
9. Joseph was made ruler over Egypt.
Page 3 of 8
lOMoARcPSD|255728 27
BIBL 104
10. Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt for grain.
11. Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and and brought his family to Egypt.
12. Joseph died and his bones were put in a coffin in Egypt.
II. Interpretation
Step Six: Determine what Biblical wisdom can be gained from this character. Carefully look
through your general observations based on your first impressions, your deeper study, and
your timeline. What biblical wisdom can you gather about your character? Write out five
elements of Biblical wisdom that can be understood from your character. Provide a concise
explanation of each of these elements.
A. Trust In God
This is probably one of the most obvious lessons that can be larned from the story of
Joseph. Joseph experienced God’s favor from a young age. He was favored by his father
over his brothers and was given a special tunic as a gift. Than all of that came to an end
and he lost it all. Yet he still trusted in God and God. His trust in God led him to become
his masters favorite. But again, everything was gone and he was thrown in prison. Even
thought he had gone through all these hardships, he still trusted in God. He eventually
interpreted Pharoah’s dreams and was made ruler over Egypt. Through all Joseph went
through, he still trsuted in God.
B. Forgiveness
Joseph had a pretty rough go of things. His own brothers tried to kill him. He could have
let that anger build up over time and than when his brothers came to see him he could’ve
have had them killed instead he chose to forgive them and show them compassion In
Genesis 50:19-20 states, “But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's
place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring
about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”
C. Patience
Time after time Joseph was sent back down to the lowest places. For example, he was
favored by his father over all his brothers. His brothers tried to kill him and he bcame a
slave. He gained his masters favor, but than was thrown in jail. Joseph had every reason
to be angry at God but he had the patience that God was going to work things together for
his good.
Page 4 of 8
lOMoARcPSD|255728 27
BIBL 104
D. Obedience
Joseph’s willingness to listen to God is what perservered him through all of these
situations. God spoke to Joseph through dreams and Joseph listened and obeyed God.
This ready obedience to God is something that we can all learn from.
E. Love
Joseph’s love for his family and love for God is something that helped him get through all
of his hardships. Scripture says that he weeped when he saw his brothers. It was not an
anger that Joseph had towards them, but a deep love that propelled him to act kindly
towards them.
III. Correlation
Step Seven: Ask, “How does this character’s life reflect other truths found in the Scriptures?”
List and explain 3 truths from this person’s life that fit within all of the Bible. Your explanation
must note how these truths fit the framework of God’s Word.
A. God always works for the good of those who love him.
The story of Joseph is a marvelous story of how when we put our faith in God he will
do a good work in us. We will never experience the trials that Joseph had to face but
when we go through the trials in our life, we can rest assured that God is going to do
good work in us. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes all things to
work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according
to his purpose.”
B. Forgiveness sets the forgiver free from anger.
While Joseph’s brothers were set free in a sense when Joseph forgave them, Joseph
was really the one that had a weight lifted off of his shoulders. He had years to let
that bitterness against his brothers grow and fester and when he saw them he wept
because he rembered them. Forgiving them set not only his brothers free, but also
Joseph.
C. Love conquers all.
Joseph’s love for his brothers and family is a hallmark of this story. He is able to
forgive them out of love. He pushes all the horrible things that they did to him aside
Page 5 of 8
lOMoARcPSD|255728 27
BIBL 104
because of the love he has for them. 1 Corinthians 13:13 sayas, “ But now faith,
hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Step Eight: Ask, “How does this character’s life point me to Jesus?” List and explain 3 ways the
life of your character can point to the person and work of Jesus Christ.
A. Joseph forgave those (his brothers) who had persecuted him., just like Jesus.
After all his brothers had put him through and all the evil that they had done to him,
Joseph still forgave his brothers. Just like Jesus forgave those who persecuted Luke
23:34 states that while Jesus was on the cross he said, “But Jesus was saying, "Father,
forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."
B. Joseph was put through triles.
Just as Jesus was put through trials. Wether that be in the desert when he was
tempted by Satan or his ultimate beating and death. Joseph was put through
numerous hardships and trials yet he still had a faith and a trust in God that got him
through it.
C. Joseph, just like Jesus was favored by his father.
Joseph was favored by his father over his brothers. His father even gave him a
special tunic. This angered his brothers which cause them to plot to kill him. Jesus
was also favored by his father and that angered the people. And just ike in the story
of Joseph, his own people plotted ot kill him.
IV. Application
Step Nine: What points of application can be made using the Four Common Questions? List and
explain 1 point of application for each of the Four Common Questions.
A. The question of duty
Joseph was given the assignment by pharoa to rule over Egypt and be in carge of the
food supply. Joseph knowing his past and knowing the dreams that he had took this
Page 6 of 8
lOMoARcPSD|255728 27
BIBL 104
task with the utmost caring. As Christians when we are given a task by God we
should relize that this not from man but from God and should work at it diligently.
B. The question of character
Jospeh’s character is evident in the fact that no matter what bad situation he was in he
always seemed to rise to the top. When he was a slave he won his masters favor and
than he ultimately ywon the favor of pharoa. As Christians we should act like Joseph.
No matter what the bad situation is that we are in, we remember God and we radiate
his light.
C. The question of cause
God had a purpose for Joseph from the beginning. All that Joseph went trhough,
from slavery to prison, was for God’s purpose. Joseph says in Genesis 50:20, “As for
you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this
present result, to preserve many people alive.” As Christians we need to realize that
even though we may be going through a difficult season, God is going to use that
experience for his purpose.
D. The question of discernment
Joseph had the uique gift of interpreting dreams. He could see God speaking to him
in his dreams from earyl on and though that ultimately got him in trouble with his
brithers, it arguably saved his life when he was in prison. As Christians we should be
diligent to the call of God and how he is trying to move us.
Page 7 of 8
lOMoARcPSD|255728 27
BIBL 104
References
New International Version Study Bible, Zondervan House, 1984
North American Standard Bible, The Lockman Foundation, 1995
Page 8 of 8
