Joseph: “Only in Your Dreams”

In my first instalment (available here) of a series on the life Joseph (Genesis 37-50), I refer to two expressions:

“You can choose your friends,
but you cannot choose your family.”

“All happy families resemble each other,
but each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
—– –Leo Tolstoy

Acknowledging that this could be an uncomfortable and even painful conversation, thinking about these questions over lunch or supper with your family sometime may also be helpful and healthy.

What do you wish had been different in your family while you were growing up?

What do you wish were different in your home now?

How is/can love and acceptance flow(ing) through your home instead of favouritism?

How are/can you nurture(ing) contentment instead of jealousy, celebrating your and each other’s accomplishments?

How are/can you be(ing) active in your kids’ lives, investing quantity time with them?  What are some practical ways you can honour your parents?

Here are some additional discussion questions about the events of Genesis 37…

Imagine you’re one of Jacob’s children.  What are your feelings towards Joseph?  What are your feelings towards your father?

Why do you think Jacob hadn’t learned the dangers of favouritism from his own experiences with his father and brother?

Why do you think Jacob doesn’t realize the foolishness of sending Joseph to his brothers?

What do you think of Joseph by the end of Genesis 37?  Likeable?  A victim?  Lonely?  A brat?