Key Theme: Forgiveness
[Core Gospel Concepts: Forgiveness, Sin, Faith]
Jacob had twelve sons. His youngest-but-one was named Joseph. Jacob loved Joseph more than the other sons. He even gave Joseph a beautiful coat with many colors. When the other sons saw that their father Jacob loved Joseph more than them, they hated Joseph. When he told them about his dreams that suggested they would some day bow down to him, they hated him even more.
One day Joseph went to the place where his brothers were taking care of the sheep and goats. At first the brothers planned to kill him, but ended up selling him to some merchants on their way to Egypt. After that they slaughtered a goat and covered the coat with blood, and then took it home to Jacob, who mourned Joseph’s death, thinking a wild animal had killed his son.
In Egypt Joseph became the slave of a man named Potiphar. Even though Joseph served his master well and brought God’s blessing to his home, he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife of seducing her and was thrown into jail. Even in jail God blessed Joseph. He became known as one who could tell the meaning of dreams. When Pharaoh had a troubling dream, God showed Joseph the meaning to give Pharaoh. There would be seven years of good harvest and seven years of famine. Pharaoh was so happy that he made Joseph governor over all Egypt so that he could oversee the preparation for the famine.
After seven years, there was a famine in Egypt. There was also a famine in Canaan, where Jacob and his sons lived. But there was still grain in Egypt because Joseph had stored grain during the seven years of good harvest. Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, so he sent ten of his sons to get grain. When Joseph's brothers arrived in Egypt, Joseph recognized them, but they did not recognize Joseph. They came to Joseph and bowed down before him, because Joseph was the governor of Egypt. After some time, Joseph saw that they were truly sorry for selling him into slavery. Then Joseph tearfully revealed himself to them. He said, "I am Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed because it was God’s plan to send me here. There will be seven years of famine. But God sent me ahead of you to save your lives by making me ruler of all Egypt under Pharaoh.”
After this, Joseph sent for his father, Jacob, and all his family. Jacob lived there in Egypt seventeen years before he died and was taken back to Canaan to be buried. After Jacob died, Joseph’s brothers were afraid Joseph would punish them for what they had done to him, so they begged him again to forgive them. But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. —-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Optional Memory Verse: Genesis 50:19-21 - But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them