Day 1 (Monday)

Genesis 44:1-34 (Joseph Detains Benjamin, Judah Pleads with Joseph)

Last week, we saw Joseph’s brothers return to Egypt, bringing Benjamin with them, and we saw Joseph greet them with joy (which he concealed from them), and provide a feast for them in his own home, at which he seated them in the order of their birth, a fact which amazed them. We saw the brothers try to return the money which they had paid for the grain the first time they came, which Joseph had commanded be placed in their grain sacks, and we saw Joseph’s steward assure them that he had their payment, and that God must have blessed them in a miraculous way (obviously telling this lie at Joseph’s command). In all of this, we see Joseph treating those who had wronged him with tremendous kindness and generosity, and we see his brothers deeply uncomfortable with the vulnerable position in which they are, and profoundly conscious of their guilt for selling Joseph as a slave years before. This time, we will see Joseph’s final test for his brothers.

Joseph Detains Benjamin

44 Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, 2 and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph told him. 3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their asses. 4 When they had gone but a short distance from the city, Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you returned evil for good? Why have you stolen my silver cup? 5 Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he divines? You have done wrong in so doing.’”

6 When he overtook them, he spoke to them these words. 7 They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants that they should do such a thing! 8 Behold, the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan; how then should we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? 9 With whomever of your servants it be found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.”

10 He said, “Let it be as you say: he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and the rest of you shall be blameless.” 11 Then every man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and every man opened his sack. 12 And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 Then they rent their clothes, and every man loaded his ass, and they returned to the city.

14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there; and they fell before him to the ground. 15 Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that such a man as I can indeed divine?” 16 And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s slaves, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found.” 17 But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father.”

Judah Pleads for Benjamin’s Release

18 Then Judah went up to him and said, “O my lord, let your servant, I pray you, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant; for you are like Pharaoh himself. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father, or a brother?’ 20 And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children; and his father loves him.’ 21 Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes upon him.’”

22 “We said to my lord, ‘The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ 23 Then you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.’ 24 When we went back to your servant my father we told him the words of my lord. 25 And when our father said, ‘Go again, buy us a little food,’ 26 we said, ‘We cannot go down. If our youngest brother goes with us, then we will go down; for we cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ 27 Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons; 28 one left me, and I said, Surely he has been torn to pieces; and I have never seen him since. 29 If you take this one also from me, and harm befalls him, you will bring down my gray hairs in sorrow to Sheol.’”

“30 Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, then, as his life is bound up in the lad’s life, 31 when he sees that the lad is not with us, he will die; and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol. 32 For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame in the sight of my father all my life.’ 33 Now therefore, let your servant, I pray you, remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord; and let the lad go back with his brothers. 34 For how can I go back to my father if the lad is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would come upon my father.”

Reading 8 – 911 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out how Joseph has effectively prepared a stratagem by which he can remove his brother Benjamin from the rest of his brothers, and how this stratagem also functions as a test. If his brothers are as they were before, then losing Benjamin will not be a big deal; they will return to their father, and if the grief kills him, so what; they hate him and Rachel’s sons anyway out of jealousy and resentment. Benjamin will be free of them, and can live with Joseph, or perhaps he would even send messengers to go ahead of his brothers to bring Jacob down to Egypt to dwell with them there. But instead of this, without any question or doubt, the brothers return to Egypt and plead for Benjamin’s life, and for Jacob’s life, with everything that they have, offering themselves in place of Benjamin. They are completely changed, and this will allow what happens next to take place, as Joseph reveals himself to them.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 2 (Wednesday)

Joseph and Asenath – 5

Last time, we saw Joseph refuse the kiss that Aseneth offered him, pointing out very bluntly that it is entirely inappropriate for one such as himself, who has devoted his lips and his entire body to faithful service of the one True God, and who receives with his mouth the sacred blessings of God, to use those lips and mouth for any intimacy with one whose body is given over to the worship of evil demon gods. We also saw Aseneth cut to the heart by these words, and begin to weep, at which point Joseph laid hands upon her and prayed for her, using language very like that of the Church when making a Catechumen, laying claim to her in the Name of the Lord. We then saw her retire to her room, gathering to herself a pile of ashes to use for her repentance. This time, we will see how she proceeds.

James H. Charlesworth, The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha and the New Testament: Expansions of the “Old Testament” and Legends, Wisdom, and Philosophical Literature, Prayers, Psalms and Odes, Fragments of Lost Judeo-Hellenistic Works, vol. 2 (New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 1985), 202–238.

Aseneth’s virgins try to look after her

4 (6) And the virgin (who was) her foster sister, whom Aseneth loved beyond all the virgins, heard her sighing and hurried and woke up the other six virgins. And they went to Aseneth’s door and found the door closed. 5 (7) And they heard Aseneth’s sighing and weeping and said to her, “What have you, mistress, and why do you feel so sad, and what is it that is bothering you? Open (the door to) us, and we will see what you have.” 6 (8) And Aseneth did not open the door, but said to them from within, “My head is (stricken with) heavy pain, and I am resting in my bed, and I do not have the strength to rise and open (the door to) you, because I have grown weak in all my limbs. 7 But go each of you in your chamber and rest and let me be quiet.” 8 And the virgins went away, each into her chamber.

Aseneth throws her valuables away, idols included, and repents in sackcloth and ashes for seven days

(9) And Aseneth rose and opened the door quietly and went into her second chamber where the chests (containing) her ornaments were, and opened her coffer and took out a black and (10) somber tunic. ´And this was her tunic of mourning when her younger brother died. In this Aseneth had dressed and mourned for her brother. 9 And she took her black tunic and carried it into her chamber and closed the door again firmly and slipped the bolt across.

10 (11) And Aseneth hurried and put off her linen and gold woven royal robe and dressed in the black tunic of mourning, and loosened her golden girdle and girded a rope around (her), and put off the tiara from her head, and the diadem and the bracelets from her hands and feet, and put everything on the floor. 11 (12) And she took her chosen robe and the golden girdle and the headgear and the diadem, and threw everything through the window looking north to the poor.

12 (13) And Aseneth hurried and took all her gods that were in her chamber, the ones of gold and silver who were without number, and ground them to pieces, and threw all the idols of the Egyptians through the window looking north from her upper floor to beggars and needy (persons). 13 (14) And Aseneth took her royal dinner and the fatlings and the fish and the flesh of the heifer and all the sacrifices of her gods and the vessels of their wine of libation and threw everything through the window looking north, and gave everything to the strange dogs. For Aseneth said to herself, “By no means must my dogs eat from my dinner and from the sacrifice of the idols, but let the strange dogs eat those.”

14 (15) (16) And after that Aseneth took the skin (full) of ashes and poured it on the floor. And she took a piece of sackcloth and girded it around her waist. And she loosened the clasp of the hair of her head and sprinkled ashes upon her head. 15 And she scattered the ashes on (17) the floor and struck her breast often with both hands, and wept bitterly, and fell upon the ashes and wept with great and bitter weeping all night with sighing and screaming until daybreak.

16 (18) And Aseneth rose at daybreak and looked, and behold, there was much mud from her (19) tears and from the ashes. And Aseneth fell again upon her face on the ashes till evening and until the setting (of) the sun.
17 (20) And this way Aseneth did for seven days, and she ate no bread and drank no water in those seven days of her humiliation.

Aseneth’s first soliloquy on how to take courage to address God

11 1 (1) And on the eighth day, behold, it was dawn and the birds were already singing and the dogs barking at (people who were) passing through, and Aseneth lifted her head (just) a little from the floor and the ashes on which she was lying, because she was exceedingly tired and could not control her limbs because of the want (of food) for the seven days.

And Aseneth was tired and had become discouraged and her strength had gone. And she turned upward to the wall and sat below the window looking east. 2 And she laid her head into her lap, clasping her fingers round her right knee, and her mouth was closed, and she (had) not opened it in the seven days and in the seven nights of her humiliation. 3 And she said in her heart without opening her mouth:

What shall I do, miserable (that I am),
or where shall I go;
with whom shall I take refuge,
or what shall I speak,
I the virgin and an orphan and desolate and abandoned and hated?
4 All people have come to hate me,
and on top of those my father and my mother,
because I, too, have come to hate their gods and have destroyed them,
and caused them to be trampled underfoot by men.
5 And therefore my father and my mother and my whole family
have come to hate me and said, “Aseneth is not our daughter
because she destroyed our gods.”
6 And all people hate me,
because I, too, have (come to) hate every man,
and all who asked for my hand in marriage.
And now, in this humiliation of mine, all have (come to) hate me,
and gloat over this affliction of mine.

7 And the Lord the God of the powerful Joseph, the Most High, hates all those who worship idols,
because he is a jealous and terrible god
toward all those who worship strange gods.
8 Therefore he has come to hate me, too,
because I worshiped dead and dumb idols,
and blessed them,
9 and ate from their sacrifice (s),
and my mouth is defiled from their table,
and I do not have the boldness to call on the Lord God of Heaven,
the Most High, the Mighty One of the powerful Joseph,
because my mouth is defiled from the sacrifices of the idols.

10 But I have heard many saying
that the God of the Hebrews is a true God,
and a living God, and a merciful God,
and compassionate and long-suffering and pitiful and gentle,
and does not count the sin of a humble person,
nor expose the lawless deeds of an afflicted person at the time of his affliction,
11 Therefore I will take courage too and turn to him,
and take refuge with him,
and confess all my sins to him,
and pour out my supplication before him.
12 Who knows, (maybe) he will see my humiliation
and have mercy on me.
Perhaps he will see this desolation of mine
and have compassion on me,
13 or see my orphanage
and protect me,
because he is the father of the orphans,
and a protector of the persecuted,
and of the afflicted a helper.
14 I will take courage and cry to him.

1309 words
Reading 5

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should note how absolute is Aseneth’s repentance. First, she cuts herself off from her handmaidens, her servants who task it is to comfort her and make her life easy. Then she gets rid of all her finery, giving it to the poor, and destroys her idols and gives the fragments of them to the poor, and finally she throws the food which had been dedicated to the idols, not even to her own dogs, but to the wild dogs of the town. All of this she throws through the north window, which the traditional direction from which come the enemies of God; so symbolically, she casts all the wealth and glory of the enemies of God back to them. Then she clothes herself in simple and uncomfortable clothing for mourning, and humbles herself with ashes upon her head and her clothes, and weeps, and prays, humbling herself for a week, and then finally she prays to God, asking for mercy. We might look at all of this and find it deeply uncomfortable, and think that perhaps this is extreme, but the point of all of this is that Aseneth is cutting herself off from every false consolation, and entrusting herself solely to the Lord, and in particular, she is removing from herself every temptation to compromise or to hold on to some fragment of her former life. She is turning wholeheartedly from one way of being to another, and is therefore providing us with a master class in true repentance. Next time, we will see her prayer continue.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 3 (Friday)

Acts 5:21b-42 (The Apostles before the Sanhedrin)

Last time we saw Ananias and Sapphira attempt to deceive the Church and the Holy Spirit, and bring death upon themselves, after which the Apostles continued to heal and to preach, until the High Priest and the party of the Sadducees took action and arrested all of them. But while they were in prison, an angel came and released them, and sent them back to the Temple to continue preaching. We will pick up the story there.

The Apostles before the Sanhedrin

21b When the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council and the whole body of the elders of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the temple police went there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were perplexed about them, wondering what might be going on.

25 Then someone arrived and announced, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” 26 Then the captain went with the temple police and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. 27 When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.”

29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” 33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.

34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time. 35 Then he said to them, “Fellow Israelites, consider carefully what you propose to do to these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and disappeared.”

37 “After him Judas the Galilean rose up at the time of the census and got people to follow him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them—in that case you may even be found fighting against God!”

They were convinced by him, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. 42 And every day in the temple and at home[f] they did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah.

Reading 9 – 553 words 

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should note that it is surprising that Gamaliel, a Pharisee, speaks favorably of the early Church, and urges caution to the Sanhedrin, but that this reflects an important point that we often miss when reading the Scriptures, that the Pharisaic reading of Scripture is, in fact, very close to the Christian understanding, as is even noted by the Lord, who commands His followers to listen to what the Pharisees teach, but not to imitate what they do, because they are so often hypocrites (Matthew 23:2). Gamaliel is also named as the teacher of St. Paul in Acts 22:3. Thus, we should not be particularly surprised to learn that he is actually a saint of the Orthodox Church, which holds that he himself embraced the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in the course of his life; he is commemorated on August 2nd. He also continues to be highly respected in Judaism, which makes him perhaps the last teacher/prophet to be venerated in both Judaism and Christianity, and ranks him among the Old Testament prophets and saints.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 1 (Monday)

Genesis 43:1-34 (The Brothers Go to Egypt with Benjamin)

Last week, we saw Joseph show mercy to his brothers and send all but Simeon home, bringing grain to keep the family alive. He told them, however, that if they came back again, they must bring their brother Benjamin, to prove that they truly were not spies, if they wished to free Simeon and to buy more grain. When Reuben had told their father Jacob this, Jacob had forbidden them to bring Benjamin, even though Reuben offered his own sons as effectively hostages against the life of Benjamin. This time, we will see what happens when the grain runs out.

The Brothers Come Again, Bringing Benjamin

43 Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And when they had eaten the grain which they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” 3 But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food; 5 but if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’” 6 Israel said, “Why did you treat me so ill as to tell the man that you had another brother?”

7 They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions; could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” 8 And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I will be surety for him; of my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame for ever; 10 for if we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.”

11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry down to the man a present, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 12 Take double the money with you; carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight.”

13 “Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man; 14 may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, that he may send back your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” 15 So the men took the present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin; and they arose and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.” 17 The man did as Joseph bade him, and brought the men to Joseph’s house. 18 And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph’s house, and they said, “It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may seek occasion against us and fall upon us, to make slaves of us and seize our asses.”

19 So they went up to the steward of Joseph’s house, and spoke with him at the door of the house, 20 and said, “Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food; 21 and when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was every man’s money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; so we have brought it again with us, 22 and we have brought other money down in our hand to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.”

23 He replied, “Rest assured, do not be afraid; your God and the God of your father must have put treasure in your sacks for you; I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 And when the man had brought the men into Joseph’s house, and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their asses provender, 25 they made ready the present for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.

26 When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present which they had with them, and bowed down to him to the ground. 27 And he inquired about their welfare, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” 28 They said, “Your servant our father is well, he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads and made obeisance. 29 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!”

30 Then Joseph made haste, for his heart yearned for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there. 31 Then he washed his face and came out; and controlling himself he said, “Let food be served.” 32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.

33 And they sat before him, the first-born according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked at one another in amazement. 34 Portions were taken to them from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.

Reading 7 – 954 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out the drama of this story, with the brothers being afraid for their lives, and confused when they are brought to Joseph’s house, thinking that the worst is about to happen to them, because they know that they are deserving of the worst, because of what they had done to their own brother long ago. Then, instead, they are blessed with mercy and kindness, with hospitality and drinking; in this way, Joseph shows us how to be merciful to those who have failed to be merciful to us. It is remarkable indeed that he behaves in this way, when he truly could have had all of his brothers killed in revenge for their violence to him before.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 2 (Wednesday)

Joseph and Aseneth – 4

Last time, we saw Aseneth first encounter Joseph. She had originally rejected the very idea of becoming Joseph’s wife when her father proposed it to her, considering his foreign origins and prior life as a slave utterly beneath her, and giving full credence to the accusation of immorality which had resulted in his imprisonment. Then, however, she saw him, and far beyond being struck by his beauty, she discerned the holiness and grace of God that was in him, and was overwhelmed with repentance for her arrogance. Joseph, in his turn, agreed to meet her when he understood that she was a virgin, dedicated to chastity. This time, we will see them actually meet.

James H. Charlesworth, The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha and the New Testament: Expansions of the “Old Testament” and Legends, Wisdom, and Philosophical Literature, Prayers, Psalms and Odes, Fragments of Lost Judeo-Hellenistic Works, vol. 2 (New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 1985), 202–238.

Joseph will not be kissed by Aseneth, but prays for her conversion

8 1 (1) And Aseneth’s mother went up to the upper floor and brought her and stood her before Joseph. And Pentephres said to his daughter Aseneth, “Greet your brother, because he, too, is a virgin like you today and hates every strange woman, as you, too, every strange man.” 2 (2) And Aseneth said to Joseph, “Be of good cheer, my lord, blessed by the Most High Lord.” 3 And Joseph said to Aseneth, “May the Lord God who gives life to all (things) bless you.” 4 (3) And Pentephres said to his daughter Aseneth, “Go up and kiss your brother.”

5 (4) And as Aseneth went up to kiss Joseph, Joseph stretched out his right hand and put it on her chest between her two breasts, and her breasts were already standing upright (5) like handsome apples. And Joseph said, “It is not fitting for a man who worships God, who will bless with his mouth the living God and eat blessed bread of life and drink a blessed cup of immortality and anoint himself with blessed ointment of incorruptibility to kiss a strange woman who will bless with her mouth dead and dumb idols and eat from their table bread of strangulation and drink from their libation a cup of insidiousness and anoint herself with ointment of destruction.”

6 (6) “But a man who worships God will kiss his mother and the sister (who is born) of his mother and the sister (who is born) of his clan and family and the wife who shares his bed, (all of) who(m) bless with their mouths the living God. 7 (7) Likewise, for a woman who worships God it is not fitting to kiss a strange man, because this is an abomination before the Lord God.”

8 (8) And when Aseneth heard these words of Joseph, she was cut (to the heart) strongly and was distressed exceedingly and sighed, and she kept gazing at Joseph with her eyes open (9) and her eyes were filled with tears. And Joseph saw her, and had mercy on her exceedingly, and was himself cut (to the heart), because Joseph was meek and merciful and fearing God. 9 And he lifted up his right hand and put it upon her head and said:

(10) Lord God of my father Israel,
the Most High, the Powerful One of Jacob,
who gave life to all (things)
and called (them) from the darkness to the light,
and from the error to the truth,
and from the death to the life;
you, Lord, bless this virgin,
(11) and renew her by your spirit,
and form her anew by your hidden hand,
and make her alive again by your life,
and let her eat your bread of life,
and drink your cup of blessing,
and number her among your people
that you have chosen before all (things) came into being,
and let her enter your rest
which you have prepared for your chosen ones,
and live in your eternal life for ever (and) ever.

Aseneth retires in confusion

9 1 And Aseneth rejoiced exceedingly with great joy over Joseph’s blessing, and hurried and went into the upper floor by herself, and fell on her bed exhausted, because in her there was joy and distress and much fear and trembling and continuous sweating as she heard all these words of Joseph, which he had spoken to her in the name of the Most High God. 2 And she wept with great and bitter weeping and repented of her (infatuation with the) gods whom she used to worship, and spurned all the idols, and waited for the evening to come.

Joseph departs after promising to return a week later

3 And Joseph ate and drank and told his servants, “Harness the horses to the chariots”;4  for, he said, “I will go away and drive around the whole land.” And Pentephres said to Joseph, “Let my lord lodge here today, and tomorrow you will go out (on) your way.” 5 And Joseph said, “No, but I will go out today, because this is the day on which God began to make all his creatures, and on the eighth day, when this day returns, I too will return to you and lodge here.”

10 And Joseph went away (on) his way and Pentephres and his whole family went away to their estate.

III. ASENETH’S CONVERSION

A. ASENETH’S REPENTANCE

Aseneth prepares for her repentance in sackcloth and ashes

(2) And Aseneth was left alone with the seven virgins, and she continued to be weighed down and weep until the sun set. And she ate no bread and drank no water. And the night fell, and all (people) in the house slept, and she alone was awake and continued to brood and to weep; and she often struck her breast with (her) hand and kept being filled with great fear and trembled (with) heavy trembling.

2 (3) And Aseneth rose from her bed and quietly went down the stairs from the upper floor (4) and went to the gateway, and the woman gatekeeper was asleep with her children. And Aseneth hurried and took down from the window the skin (which hung there for a) curtain, and filled it with ashes from the fireplace, and carried it up into the upper floor, and put it on the floor. 3 (5) And she closed the door firmly and slipped the iron bolt across and sighed with great sighing and bitter weeping.

929 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should note how Aseneth is told by her parents to go and kiss Joseph, and is clothed in a way that highlights her youth and her figure; we know that her parents want her to marry Joseph, and here it seems that even they are trying to “throw her” at Joseph. But Joseph refuses the intimacy, pointing out how out of order it would be for one who worships the Living God to have any intimacy, even that of a family member, with one who worships idols; he is not disturbed or attracted by her beauty, but is rather compassionate when he sees her response to his words, and recognizes in her that she is not seeking to seduce him, but is indeed as her parents had said, pure and innocent. So he prays for her instead, that she may lay aside the darkness and the error in which she has been raised, and become a daughter of God. And we should note the references to the bread of life and the cup of immortality; these are Psalmic references, but the early Christians would have understood them very clearly to be referring to the Eucharist.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 3 (Friday)

Acts 5:1-21 (Ananias & Sapphira, Apostles Heal and are Persecuted)

Last time we saw the Apostles Peter and John return from being questioned by the Sanhedrin and warned to speak or heal no longer in the name of Jesus. The entire Church assembled with them recognized the challenge of the religious leaders, their rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ and their defiance against Him, and devoted themselves in prayer to continuing in faithfulness to the Lord, regardless of the violence which might come against them. And in preparation for a time of persecution, they began to all sell their property and entrust the proceeds to the Apostles, so that everyone in the Church might be cared for, and there might be no one left in need among them. This time, however, we will see that not everyone in the Church is entirely on board with this.

Ananias and Sapphira

5 But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; 2 with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!” 5 Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. 6 The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him.

7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.

The Apostles Heal Many

12 Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. 16 A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.

The Apostles Are Persecuted

17 Then the high priest took action; he and all who were with him (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), being filled with jealousy, 18 arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said, 20 “Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life.” 21 When they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching.

Reading 8 – 507 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out that Ananias and Sapphira do not die because they failed to give all the proceeds to the Church, but because they had tried to lie to God Himself; in this, they showed that they neither believed, nor trusted, nor were faithful to God, but were instead seeking only to maintain their social position within the Church community by claiming to do what everyone else was doing, while at the same time keeping what they wanted for themselves. They could have kept their money if they wanted, and there would have been no great sin; they could have given only part of it and told the truth, and there would have been no great sin. But they tried to lie to God. Moving forward in the story, we should note how great are the miracles that the Lord is doing through His Apostles.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 1 (Monday)

Genesis 42:18-38 (Joseph Sends his Brothers Home)

Last week we saw Joseph’s brothers arrive from Canaan to buy grain. When they came before Joseph, he recognized them, but they did not know who he was. In the position of the Master of Egypt, he challenged them, accused them of being enemies of Egypt, spying it out for a future invasion, and thus he drove them to tell something of their family story, explaining that they were all brothers, sons of the same father, and that one of their brothers was dead, and the youngest was still with their father. Upon hearing this, he told them that he did not believe them, and that he would keep all of them in prison except one, who would have to return to Canaan to bring their youngest brother back to prove the truth of their words. He then put them all in prison, and that was where we left them last time. We will see now how the story continues.

Joseph is Merciful

18 On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: 19 if you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined in your prison, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households, 20 and bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so. 21 Then they said to one another, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he besought us and we would not listen; therefore is this distress come upon us.”

22 And Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you not to sin against the lad? But you would not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.” 23 They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them. 24 Then he turned away from them and wept; and he returned to them and spoke to them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. 25 And Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, and to replace every man’s money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. This was done for them.

Joseph’s Brothers Return to Canaan

26 Then they loaded their asses with their grain, and departed. 27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender at the lodging place, he saw his money in the mouth of his sack; 28 and he said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!” At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”

29 When they came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had befallen them, saying, 30 “The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us, and took us to be spies of the land. 31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men, we are not spies; 32 we are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.’ 33 Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I shall know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your households, and go your way. 34 Bring your youngest brother to me; then I shall know that you are not spies but honest men, and I will deliver to you your brother, and you shall trade in the land.’”

35 As they emptied their sacks, behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were dismayed. 36 And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin; all this has come upon me.” 37 Then Reuben said to his father, “Slay my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.” 38 But he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he only is left. If harm should befall him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.”

Reading 6 – 615 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should note the basic points of this story; Joseph has put all his brothers in prison, accusing them of lying and of being spies. When he brings them out, he says that he fears God, and therefore that he will only keep one in prison. He then puts their money in their bags, and sends them home. When they find the money, they are afraid. Importantly, however, we see them acknowledging that their imprisonment is God’s justice upon them for their treatment of Joseph; they acknowledge again that it is God who is testing and punishing them when they find the money in their bags. This shows to us that Joseph’s brothers have changed, and also that he is testing them, and truly also testing them in a way that moves them toward repentance. Having their money back again is an advantage that a thief might desire, but gaining it without trying, when you know you will have to return again to buy more grain, puts you in a difficult position, in which you will NEED to confess that somehow your money came back to you. All of this is complicated, and not easy to interpret, but the upshot seems to be that Joseph is merciful and not vengeful to his brothers, but that they have changed, and are confessing and acknowledging their sins, and conscious of their peril.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 2 (Wednesday)

Joseph and Asenath – 3

Last time, we saw Aseneth’s father propose to her that she should be the wife of Joseph; the father praised Joseph for his virtue and for his power, and recommended the match as advantageous for Aseneth. She did not see it that way, and rejected Joseph as beneath her notice, as being a foreigner and a slave and a fugitive, and then denies the virtues that her father has attributed to Joseph, repeating the slander that he had assaulted his mistress when he was the slave of Potiphar. It is clear from this that her father has met Joseph, and understands the truth of things, but that Aseneth has only hearsay to go on, and considers herself to be superior to all, and worthy to marry only a prince. We shall see what happens this time, when Aseneth sees Joseph arrive.

James H. Charlesworth, The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha and the New Testament: Expansions of the “Old Testament” and Legends, Wisdom, and Philosophical Literature, Prayers, Psalms and Odes, Fragments of Lost Judeo-Hellenistic Works, vol. 2 (New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 1985), 202–238.

Joseph arrives at Pentephres’ house

5 1 (1) And a young man of Pentephres’ servants rushed in and says, “Behold, Joseph is standing before the doors of our court.” 2 (2) And Aseneth fled from her father’s and mother’s presence, when she heard (them) speak these words about Joseph, and went up into the upper floor and entered her chamber and stood by the large window, the one looking east, in order to see Joseph entering her father’s house. 3 (3) And Pentephres and his wife and his whole family went out to meet Joseph.

4 (4) And the gates of the court looking east were (5) opened, and Joseph entered, standing on Pharaoh’s second chariot, and four horses, white as snow and with golden bridles, were harnessed (to it), and the entire chariot was manufactured from pure gold. 5 (6) And Joseph was dressed in an exquisite white tunic, and the robe which he had thrown around him was purple, made of linen interwoven with gold, and a golden crown (was) on his head, and around the crown were twelve chosen stones, and on top of the twelve stones were twelve golden rays. And a royal staff was in his left (7) hand, and in his right hand he held outstretched an olive branch, and there was plenty of fruit on it, and in the fruits was a great wealth of oil.

6 (8) And Joseph entered the court, (9) and the gates of the court were closed, and every man and woman, (if) strange, remained outside the court, because the guards of the gates drew tight and closed the doors, and all the strangers were closed out. 7 (10) And Pentephres and his wife and his whole family, except their daughter Aseneth, went and prostrated themselves face down to the ground before (11) Joseph. And Joseph descended from his chariot and greeted them with his right (hand).

Aseneth is shattered at the sight of Joseph

6 1 (1) And Aseneth saw Joseph on his chariot and was strongly cut (to the heart), and her soul was crushed, and her knees were paralyzed, and her entire body trembled, and she was filled with great fear. And she sighed and said in her heart:

2 (5) What shall I now do, wretched (that I am)?
Did I not speak saying that Joseph is coming,
the shepherd’s son from the land of Canaan?
And now, behold, the sun from heaven has come to us on its chariot
and entered our house today,
and shines in it like a light upon the earth.
3 (6) But I, foolish and daring, have despised him
and spoken wicked words about him,
and did not know that Joseph is son of God.
4 (7) For who among men on earth will generate such beauty,
and what womb of a woman will give birth to such light?
What a wretched and foolish (girl) I (am),
because I have spoken wicked words about him to my father.

5 (2) And now, where shall I go and hide from his face
in order that Joseph the son of God does not see me
because I have spoken wicked (things) about him?
6 (3) And where shall I flee and hide,
because every hiding place, he sees
and nothing hidden escapes him,
because of the great light that is inside him?
7 (4) And now be gracious on me, Lord, God of Joseph,
because I have spoken wicked words against him in ignorance
8 (8) And now, let my father give me to Joseph for a maidservant and slave,
and I will serve him for ever (and) ever.

Joseph is convinced that Aseneth will not molest him and agrees to meet her

7 1 (1) And Joseph entered the house of Pentephres and sat upon the throne. And they washed his feet and set a table before him by itself, because Joseph never ate with the Egyptians, for this was an abomination to him. 2 And looking up with his eyes, Joseph saw Aseneth (2) leaning through (the window). And Joseph said to Pentephres and his whole family, saying, (3) “Who is this woman who is standing in the upper floor by the window? Let her leave this house,” ´because Joseph was afraid, saying, “This one must not molest me, too.” 3 For all the wives and the daughters of the noblemen and the satraps of the whole land of Egypt (4) used to molest him (wanting) to sleep with him, and all the wives and the daughters of the Egyptians, when they saw Joseph, suffered badly because of his beauty.

4 (5) But Joseph despised them, and the messengers whom the women sent to him with gold and silver and valuable presents Joseph sent back with threats and insults, because Joseph said, “I will not sin before (the) Lord God of my father Israel nor in the face of my father Jacob.” 5 (6) And the face of his father Jacob, Joseph always had before his eyes, and he remembered his father’s commandments. For Jacob would say to his son Joseph and all his sons, “My children, guard strongly against associating with a strange woman, for association (with) her is destruction and corruption.” 6 (7) Therefore Joseph said, “Let this woman leave this house.”

7 (8) And Pentephres said to him, “Lord, this one whom you have seen standing in the upper floor is not a strange woman, but she is our daughter, a virgin hating every man, and there (9) is not any other man who has ever seen her except you alone today. And if you will, she will come and address you, because our daughter is like a sister to you.” 8 (10) And Joseph rejoiced exceedingly with great joy because Pentephres had said, “She is a virgin hating every man.” And Joseph said by himself, “If she is a virgin hating every man, this (girl) (11) will certainly not molest me.” And Joseph said to Pentephres and his whole family, “If she is your daughter and a virgin, let her come, because she is a sister to me, and I love her from today as my sister.”

1034 words
Reading 3

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should note that Aseneth’s heart is changed toward Joseph as soon as she sees him. It is tempting to see this as relating only to the fact that Joseph is remarkably good-looking, but the words that Aseneth speaks indicate that it is something more; she discerns in him not just beauty, but a bright and brilliant light that sears to the heart of her being, revealing everything that is hidden and unworthy in her. This is a remarkable expression of the idea that those who are godly are filled with the light and glory of God; Joseph’s description, then, is as a type of Christ, filled with and reflecting the light of Christ. In short, Aseneth’s heart is changed toward Joseph not because he is attractive, but because he is holy. And Joseph, for his part, is willing to meet with Aseneth, not because she is beautiful, but because she is chaste, and will not try to seduce him.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 3 (Friday)

Acts 4:23-37 (The Faithful Pray for Boldness, Share their Possessions)

Last week we saw Peter and John brought before the chief priests and elders to give account for the healing and preaching in Solomon’s Portico. The religious leaders were surprised at them, and had forbidden them to teach any longer, but did not punish them, because all the people were amazed at them and favored them. This time, we will see what follows.

The Faithful Pray for Boldness

23 After they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them, 25 it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant:

‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples imagine vain things?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand,
and the rulers have gathered together
against the Lord and against his Messiah.’

27 For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.

The Faithful Share Their Possessions

32 Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33 With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35 They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”). 37 He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Reading 7 – 379 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out that the Church at this point, although Peter and John have been released without any harm, are very much not dismissing the threats made against them. On the contrary, they are acknowledging that this is what has been prophesied, with the quote from the Psalms, and by the Lord Himself, and are asking for strength to continue to walk in faithfulness and obedience to God; with this prayer, they receive a sign from God, affirming and encouraging them, and with this resolution, they proceed to effectively prepare for martyrdom by selling their property to give it to those who are in need. As we will see next time, however, not all of the “Faithful” are in fact on board with this, and prepared to give up their entire lives to serve the Lord. )

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 1 (Monday)

Genesis 41:46-57; 42:1-17 (Joseph Stores up Grain, Jacob’s Sons Go to Egypt)

Last time we saw Joseph brought from the prison to interpret the dreams of the Pharaoh, as the butler remembered his true interpretation from two years before. Joseph made clear that he himself had no power of interpretation, but that such things lie with God alone, whom he served faithfully, and then interpreted the dream, telling the Pharaoh that God had revealed to the king of Egypt that there would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of intense famine. He further recommended to the Pharaoh that a wise man be selected to manage the storage of the grain from the plentiful years, to guard against the years of famine, and Pharaoh selected Joseph himself to fulfill this task, making him the second most powerful man in Egypt, after the Pharaoh only. This week, we will see what follows in the years of plenty and how the famine begins.

The Years of Plenty

46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went through all the land of Egypt. 47 During the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth abundantly, 48 and he gathered up all the food of the seven years when there was plenty in the land of Egypt, and stored up food in the cities; he stored up in every city the food from the fields around it. 49 And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured.

50 Before the year of famine came, Joseph had two sons, whom As′enath, the daughter of Poti′phera priest of On, bore to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the first-born Manas′seh, “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” 52 The name of the second he called E′phraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

53 The seven years of plenty that prevailed in the land of Egypt came to an end; 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; what he says to you, do.” 56 So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

Joseph’s Brothers Go to Egypt

42 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” 2 And he said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live, and not die.” 3 So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might befall him. 5 Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

6 Now Joseph was governor over the land; he it was who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came, and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. 7 Joseph saw his brothers, and knew 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.” 8 Thus Joseph knew his brothers, but they did not know him.

9 And Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed of them; and he said to them, “You are spies, you have come to see the weakness of the land.” 10 They said to him, “No, my lord, but to buy food have your servants come. 11 We are all sons of one man, we are honest men, your servants are not spies.” 12 He said to them, “No, it is the weakness of the land that you have come to see.” 13 And they said, “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more.”

14 But Joseph said to them, “It is as I said to you, you are spies. 15 By this you shall be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 16 Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you remain in prison, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies.” 17 And he put them all together in prison for three days.

Reading 5 – 725 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out how the names that Joseph gives to his sons indicates that he is conscious of the consolation that he has received in his wife and sons in his exile from his father and his family, and yet even that consciousness indicates to us that he misses them. This point becomes significant when the famine begins and his brothers show up before him, asking to purchase grain. Their presence is the resurfacing of his old life, and is also a moment of crisis, of judgment, for him, as they have now come into his power, and he could do anything he likes with them. It is therefore striking that what he does is test them, to see how they behave under pressure. It may be, too, that he is tempted to treat them worse – indeed, it would be shocking if he weren’t – but in the end, he makes that ill treatment a test, and directs them to bring their youngest brother, his own full brother Benjamin, with them the next time, so he can see how they are treating him. We will see what happens as they return home next time.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 2 (Wednesday)

Joseph and Asenath – 2

Last time, we began this very popular work from the early Christian world, in which we find a dramatization of the courtship and marriage of Joseph and Aseneth. This story gives us a nice sense of the context and backstory that the Jewish world at the time of Christ, and the Christian world in its first centuries, understood and assumed when they read the later chapters of Genesis. We should remember, of course, that there was a substantial and active Jewish community in Egypt at the time that this story was composed, and therefore the context may well be anachronistic, and reflect more the reality in Egypt at the time Christ was there. But that, too, is valuable and fascinating to us, and gives us a beautiful window into how the Faithful at the time of the Lord read the Torah.

II. PENTEPHRES’ ATTEMPT TO GIVE ASENETH TO JOSEPH IN MARRIAGE

Joseph’s visit to Pentephres is announced

3 1 (1) And it happened in the first year of the seven years of plenty, in the fourth month, on the eighteenth of the month; Joseph came into the territory of Heliopolis and was gathering the surplus grain of that region. 2 (2) And when he had come close to that city, Joseph sent (3) twelve men ahead of him to Pentephres the priest, saying, “I will lodge with you because it is the hour of noon and the time of lunch, and the heat of the sun is great, and (I desire) that I may refresh myself under the shadow of your house.” 3

(4) And Pentephres heard this, and rejoiced exceedingly with great joy and said, “Blessed (be) the Lord, the God of Joseph, because my lord Joseph thought me worthy to come to us.” 4 (5) And Pentephres called (6) the (steward) of his house and said to him, “Hurry and make my house ready and prepare a great dinner, because Joseph, the Powerful One of God, is coming to us today.”

Aseneth dresses up to meet her parents

5 (7) And Aseneth heard that her father and mother had come from the field, which was their (8) inheritance, and rejoiced and said, “I will go and see my father and my mother because they have come from the field which is our inheritance.” For it was (the) time of harvest. 6

(9) And Aseneth hurried into the chamber, where her robes lay, and dressed in a (white) linen robe interwoven with violet and gold, and girded herself (with) a golden girdle and put bracelets on her hands and feet, and put golden buskins about her feet, and around her (10) neck she put valuable ornaments and costly stones which hung around from all sides, and the names of the gods of the Egyptians were engraved everywhere on the bracelets and the (11) stones, and the faces of all the idols were carved on them. And she put a tiara on her head and fastened a diadem around her temples, and covered her head with a veil.

Pentephres proposes to give Aseneth to Joseph in marriage, but she refuses

4 1 (1) And she hurried and went down the stairs from the upper floor, and came to her father (2) and mother and greeted them and kissed them. And Pentephres and his wife rejoiced over her daughter Aseneth (with) great joy, because they saw her adorned like a bride of God. 2 (3) And they brought out all the good (things) which they had brought from the field which (4) was their inheritance, and gave (them) to their daughter. And Aseneth rejoiced over all the good (things), the fruit, and the grapes, and the dates, and the doves, and the pomegranates, and the figs, because they were all handsome and good to taste.

3 (5) And Pentephres said to his daughter Aseneth, “My child.” And she said, “Behold, (here) I (am), my lord.” 4 And he said to her, “Sit down between us, and I will tell you what I have to say.”
2 (6)(7) And Aseneth sat between her father and mother. And Pentephres, her father, with his right hand grasped the right hand of his daughter and kissed it and said to her, “My child Aseneth.” 6 And she said, “Behold, (here) I (am), lord. Let my lord and my father speak up.”

7 (8) And Pentephres, her father, said to her, “Joseph the Powerful One of God is coming to us today. And he is chief of the whole land of Egypt, and the king Pharaoh appointed him king of the whole land, and he is giving grain to the whole land, and saving it from the oncoming famine.(9)  And Joseph is a man who worships God, and self-controlled, and a virgin like you today, and Joseph is (also) a man powerful in wisdom and experience, and the spirit of God is upon him, and the grace of the Lord (is) with him. 8 (10) Come, my child, and I will hand you over to him for (his) wife, and you will be a bride to him, and he will be your bridegroom for ever (and) ever.”

9 (11) And when Aseneth heard these words from her father, plenty of red sweat poured over her face, and she became furious with great anger, and looked askance at her father with (12) her eyes, and said, “Why does my lord and my father speak words such as these, to hand me over, like a captive, to a man (who is) an alien, and a fugitive, and (was) sold (as a slave)? 10 (13) 

Is he not the shepherd’s son from the land of Canaan, and he himself was caught (14) in the act (when he was) sleeping with his mistress, and his master threw him into the prison of darkness; and Pharaoh brought him out of prison, because he interpreted his dream just like the older women of the Egyptians interpret (dreams)? 11 (15) No, but I will be married to the king’s firstborn son, because he is king of the whole land of Egypt.” 12 (16) Hearing this, Pentephres was ashamed to speak further to his daughter Aseneth about Joseph, because she had answered him daringly and with boastfulness and anger.

906 words
Reading 2

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should note that the accusations which were often made against the Jews AND Christians in the final centuries before Christ, and in early centuries of the Church reflected a great deal of prejudice against uncultured outsiders, those who refused to participate in the “civilized” (that is to say polytheistic) rituals of the dominant society. Aseneth is being presented as a princess indeed, as an exemplar of her time and her prejudices, and perhaps also as very young. She is wealthy, and pious according to the religion of her ancestors, and inclined to view anyone who is not like her as worthy only of being despised. She will not remain in this frame of mind, of course, as we shall see.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 3 (Friday)

Acts 4:5-22 (Jewish Rulers Examine Peter & John)

Last time we saw Peter speak to the crowd that assembled in amazement when the lame man was healed, and call them once again to repentance for the part that they had personally played in the rejection and crucifixion of the Lord. Many of the people who heard him were struck to the heart, and about 5,000 of them believed. Meanwhile, however, the party of the high priest had Peter and John arrested and imprisoned, because they were preaching publicly in the Temple, and especially because they were preaching the resurrection of the dead, which the Sadducees opposed utterly, although the Pharisees believed that it was a true doctrine.

Jewish Rulers Examine Peter & John

5 The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.

11 This Jesus is

‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;
it has become the cornerstone.’

12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus. 14 When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 So they ordered them to leave the council while they discussed the matter with one another. 16 They said, “What will we do with them? For it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it. 17 But to keep it from spreading further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.”

18 So they called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; 20 for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

Reading 6 – 418 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out that the Council of the Jewish leaders here is opposed to the preaching of the Gospel, but perhaps not so violently, at this juncture, at least, as they had been to Jesus. Why this is so is worth considering; it may be that they were simply surprised to see the Disciples of the Lord still active after His execution, or it may be that they feel less threatened by people who are preaching in the name of another than they did by Jesus, Who was Himself the object of the loyalty and expectations of the people. The fact that they are about to begin violently persecuting the Church in a few chapters indicates to me that, while it may be some of both, the relatively mild response here is only their initial, surprised reaction. Seeing the people so amazed by the miracle limits their immediate options, but they will certainly grow in their opposition, even as many of them will abandon their opposition and choose to follow Christ. The rest of the book of Acts will be a time of crisis, and decision, for all the leaders and people of the Jews, and they will never be the same again, whatever they decide.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?