Vantage Point –noun: a position from which something is viewed; point of view

Pictures look different depending on who’s looking. For instance, what do you see in the picture above? Some see a beautiful young lady with a tiny nose and fancy necklace. Others see an old, wrinkly woman with a wart on her huge nose. What factors might influence our perception?

Think about the “pictures” or scenes from your life. Write a 3-5 word caption that best describes the following experiences:
My favorite childhood memory:
My worst childhood memory:
First day of middle school:
My first dating relationship:
My proudest accomplishment:
My most embarrassing moment:

We choose to frame some memories, but some we’d rather delete. Thankfully God sees life totally different than we see it. We don’t see the big picture, but God always knows what he’s doing. As the following story shows, God uses all our life scenes, good and bad, to accomplish His plan.

Gen. 37: 3-4

How did Israel (Yep, the same “Jacob” we read about yesterday) feel about his son, Joseph?

How did Joseph’s brothers feel about him?

Read 37:17b-24

Did Joseph do anything to make his brother’s hate him?

Describe a time you faced something hard even though you didn’t deserve it:

Read verses 25-28

Joseph had every right to get angry with God. He was beaten up, hated by family, and sold into slavery. I’m sure he was extremely confused. He probably even questioned God. Even when it didn’t make sense, Joseph stayed faithful.

Read Gen. 39:2-5 Things finally got better for Joe. Until….

Read 39:6b-10

Why didn’t Joseph sleep with his boss’s wife? (Verse 9)

Eventually Potiphar’s wife spreads lies about Joseph, and has him thrown in prison for 2 years.

Name a time you got in trouble for doing or saying the RIGHT thing.

When is it hard to trust that God sees the big picture?

Finally once again, God transforms Joseph’s situation.

Read 41:41

Sometimes the pictures in your life are happy and easy. Friends are loyal, relationships are encouraging and your spiritual life is strong. Other times it seems like everything is falling apart.

Read Romans 8:28. How do you know that God sees the big picture of your life?

What does he want to teach you in the tough times?

Are you more likely to be desperate for God when things are easy or when things are hard?

How can studying God’s word encourage you in the tough times?

What do you think God sees when he looks at the big picture of your life? What plans or goals does he have for you?

Closing moment: Read about what happened when Joseph confronts his brothers: Gen. 50:15-21