Bible Story: Joseph Helps His BrothersReference: Genesis 41-46 Joseph was one of Jacob’s 12 sons. His brothers were so jealous they had sold him as a slave in Egypt. But God protected him and promoted him all the way up to be Pharaoh’s governor! Joseph ruled the whole land of Egypt under Pharaoh. God showed Pharaoh and Joseph that a great famine was coming. Famine is when no food grows. Joseph stored grain during the good years to prepare Egypt for the famine. Finally, the famine came. All the food ran out in Egypt and the surrounding nations. The people were hungry. Everyone came to Joseph to buy food, including Israel. Jacob sent 10 of his sons to Egypt to buy grain.  Joseph was ruler over Egypt. Jacob’s other sons came to Joseph to buy food. They didn’t know they were talking to their brother Joseph. (Rub your tummy.) Image courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org Joseph pretended to be a stranger to his brothers. He tested them to see if they were truly sorry for what they had done. He made them bring their youngest brother Benjamin back with them if they wanted to buy more food. When Benjamin came, Joseph hid his cup in Benjamin’s food sack. He accused Benjamin of stealing from him and said Benjamin must be his slave.  When the brothers came again for food, Joseph hid his cup in Benjamin’s sack. You took my cup, he said. Now you must be my slave. (Scared face!) Image courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org His brothers were so heartbroken for Benjamin that his brother Judah offered to take Benjamin’s place. Now, Joseph knew they were sorry. He told them he was their brother Joseph. He hugged them and said he would take care of all of them. Jacob and his sons’ families all moved to Egypt.  When Joseph saw that the brothers loved Benjamin, he told them he was their brother Joseph. Joseph hugged them and took care of them. (Hug.) Image courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org Our Bible story reminds me of the prayer verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:15, which says, “Be sure that no one pays back wrong for wrong. But always try to do what is good for each other and for all people" (ICB). Even though Joseph’s brothers had been very mean to him when he was younger, Joseph did not pay back their wrong. Instead, he gave them food and took care of their families. Do you have a brother or sister? Sometimes you need to say, I’m sorry. Sometimes you need to forgive. God can help you be friends again. Dear Father God, Thank you for my family. Help me say I’m sorry, and help me forgive. In Jesus’ Name, Amen Nature Window: Natural DisastersDo you like to check on the weather and know when it will be sunny or rainy or cold or hot? Sometimes, the weather becomes so intense, it destroys or hurts the earth and its creatures. When destruction happens from natural causes, we call that natural disasters.
In our Bible story, there was likely a drought that caused the great famine in the land. Drought is when there is no rain for a long time, and all the plants die. When plants die, then animals and people don’t have food to eat. God gave Joseph a plan to get through the natural disaster. Do you have a safety plan at home to deal with natural disasters? Memory Mastery: Second Coming Song Jesus is coming back soon! Image courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org VERSE 1 Up in the sky high, high, high, Jesus is coming again. (REPEAT) CHORUS We will see Him. We will hear Him. Yes, the whole world will know. We will see Him. We will hear Him, when Jesus comes back for me and you!...when Jesus comes back for me and you! VERSE 2 When the trumpet sounds, the Lord will shout, and the dead in Christ shall rise! (REPEAT) Mission Trip: Bibles for ChildrenThis quarter the world church is helping our brothers and sisters in the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean division provide Portuguese Bibles for children in Mozambique, Sao Tome, and Principe. Please send your coins all quarter long to go to the world church mission project.
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