Are You Kidding Me?! - It's Your Own Fault

Genesis 42–44

This text is about how God used a series of tests to get Joseph's brothers' attention. The brothers never mentioned God, never thought about God, so God allows some things to happen in their lives to get them to focus on Him.

Who's got a funny story about how someone blamed someone else for something they did wrong?

What makes it difficult to accept responsibility for your actions?
(Because no one likes to fail.)

What feelings do people avoid when they constantly blame other people for their actions?
(Guilt, shame, attention, insecurity, etc.)

What does our tendency to blame others reveal about the human heart?
(We're selfish, and would rather someone else face the consequences of our failures.)

Why is it so important to take full responsibility for our sin, failures or shortcomings?
(When you blame others, you give up your power to change.)

God will test us to see if we are actually learning, growing, and moving forward from the things we admitted and took responsibility for. He wants us to grow up! Are there any tests you're in the midst of right now? How are you doing?

God doesn't test us because He doesn't know how weak/strong we are. He tests us because WE don't know how weak/strong we are. Have you ever gone through a test, and then realized how spiritually weak or strong you were? What was that like?

What test does God seem to be giving you over and over again? Why do you think he wants you to retake it?

Testing should make us spiritually stronger (James 1:2, 4). What do you need to do, and what do you need to ask God for help with in order to become stronger and pass your test(s)?
(The only way you're really going to know what you will do is to go through some things and be faithful to God. Stick with things, don't give up and run away, and don't blame everyone else for your problems.)

Next Steps:

Accepting responsibilities can be difficult, but this builds character and confidence, earns respect, and can motivate us to complete our work. What responsibility do you need to accept in order to accomplish the work God has for you?

Moving forward requires faithful actions. What area do you need to be faithful with in order to move forward in your walk with God?