The Dreamer

September 6, 2026

Joseph receives a dream from God, but his journey toward that dream begins with betrayal, slavery, and seemingly accidental circumstances. Although God seems absent from Genesis 37, He is quietly directing the story. Join us for part one of But God, where we will learn that when we cannot see what God is doing, we can trust that He is still at work.

Passage

Genesis 37:2-34

Principle

God’s ##silence## is not ##absence##

Practice

Trust what you ##know## about ##God## when you don’t ##understand## what He is ##doing##.

Small Group Questions

Use this outline for personal reflection, as a couple or family, or with a small group.

HANGOUT

Every family has certain stories that are told repeatedly and other subjects that are rarely discussed. What was your family especially good at talking about? What did your family tend to avoid?

HEAR

Read Genesis 25:27–28; 27:5–10; 29:30–35; and 37:2–4

How did favoritism create competition and division between family members? What other patterns do you see in this family?
In Genesis 29, what did Leah appear to believe she had to do to earn Jacob’s love? How might that belief have shaped her and her children?
How did the unresolved wounds of one generation become more destructive in the next?

Read Genesis 37:18–35

How did the brothers justify their treatment of Joseph? What does this reveal about the danger of allowing resentment to grow without confronting it?
The brothers allowed their father to grieve for years while continuing to conceal the truth. Why do families sometimes protect a destructive pattern rather than confront it?
Which statement seems most evident in this family’s story: “What gets ignored gets repeated” or “What one generation tolerates, the next generation intensifies”? Explain your answer.

Read Romans 8:14–17

Does the Scripture teach that we are doomed to repeat the sins of our families? Why or why not?
How can our identity as God’s children help us challenge messages, habits, and roles we inherited from our families of origin?
What healthy qualities — such as faith, generosity, perseverance, hospitality, or service — did your family pass down that you want to continue strengthening?

HUDDLE

What is one family pattern — positive or negative — that you recognize in yourself? If it’s positive, how can you strengthen and pass it on? If it’s destructive, what different response might God be asking you to practice? Talk about it, invite accountability, and take time to pray together.

Daily Reading

This week’s readings trace the family patterns that shaped Joseph’s story and remind us that God remains at work even when His purposes are hidden.

Day 1: Genesis 37:1-11
Day 2: Genesis 37:12-36
Day 3: Genesis 25:19-34
Day 4: Genesis 27:1-29
Day 5: Genesis 29:15-35
Day 6: Psalm 139
Day 7: Romans 8:18-30

Memory Verse: Genesis 50:20

Think Deeper

When have you experienced betrayal or deep disappointment?
What is your knee-jerk reaction to God when life goes off the rails?
How do you see God in past trials when you couldn’t see Him in the middle of the crisis?