More surface-level in information, but there were some good cross-references and lessons that brought out themes I may not have considered before.
Summary:
Minter chronicles the life of one of the most popular figures of the Bible, Joseph. From his family background and God's relationship with the children of Abraham even before Joseph was born, to the well-known multi-colored coat and those events, all the way to Joseph's last breath. Minter shows how God showed his faithful care to Joseph and his people and even the rest of the world through Joseph, and in turn how that faithfulness was returned by the righteous followers. Along with faith, the study covers other prominent themes such as forgiveness, jealousy, temptation, the importance of attitude, provision and generosity, and more.
Verdict: 6.5/10
Regarding Bible studies, it's difficult to find a good balance between surface-level explanation and deeper analysis. This is mainly because the authors have to cater to two different types of audiences: those that know the story inside and out and are looking for academic or spiritual depth vs those that are not familiar with the story and need to recap the main action.
I felt that this book was fairly balanced but tended towards the later surface-level group. The questions annoyed me at times as there were so many straightforward reiterations. For example, you would read a passage about the brothers selling Joseph and a followup question might be, 'where did the brothers sell Joseph too?' Of course everyone knows it's Egypt. It's a classic Sunday-school one word answer, and while it leads to a greater point next, I thought it was very unnecessary.
I still found several very impactful lessons that had a lot of depth. There was still new aspects to the story that provided a new context or were brought out by fresh historical or cultural or cross-referenced details. But there weren't as many as I would have liked.
I thought it was also extensive in how many different verses you had to look up throughout the Bible and how much work went into each week. It was a lot of reading and a lengthy video at the end of each five days. My group had a hard time discussing this one as there just wasn't as many tie-ins with us, and it was a lot to remember each week. If you're looking for a quick study for people on the go, this isn't it. But if you have the time and are willing to put in the work, it's still rewarding.
Kommentare