Patience
WELCOME TO WEEK 5
This month we’ve learned that God makes and keeps his promises. Although we might fail to keep a promise, God does not fail and never forgets the promises He makes. What God says will happen, will happen. This week we will see that God fulfills the promise he gave to Joseph.
BIBLE STORY
Joseph’s life was not an easy life from the beginning to end, but there was a mix of good and bad times. Listen to the following events in Joseph’s life. Hold up your happy emoji if you think the event was happy, or your sad emoji if you think what happened was happy or sad.
-Joseph is given a coat of many colors
-Joseph has a dream that he believes God is tell him he will rule over others’ one day
-He is asked to check on his brothers and they throw him in a pit
-Joseph is sold into slavery
-Joseph works as a slave in Potiphar’s house.
-Joseph becomes head over Potiphar’s household
-He is then wrongly sent to prison by Potiphar’s wife
-Joseph holds a high position within prison
-Joseph interprets the baker and cupbearers dreams
-Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream
-Pharaoh asks Joseph to be in charge of storing away grain for the future
-Joseph is placed as second in command to Pharaoh over the kingdom
-Josephs brothers come to Egypt in look of food
-Joseph is able to provide food for his family in a time of famine
-Joseph Forgives his brothers for throwing him into a pit
-Jacob is brought to Egypt and is able to see Joseph again
In the story of Joseph there are some happy and sad moments. Through the sad and difficult moments, Joseph still trusted God would fulfill what He said He would do. God had revealed to Joseph that he would run over others but it took some time for it to happen. When God makes a promise He keeps that promise, even when it doesn’t happen in the time we think it should.
Finish reading the story of Joseph in Genesis 40:1-41:40; 45:1-8
What dream did the cupbearer have? (A vine with 3 branches budding with ripened grapes, that were squeezed into Pharaohs cup)
What did the cupbearers dream mean? (That in 3 days Pharaoh would restore the cupbearers position)
What dream did the baker have? (3 baskets of bread on his head that the birds came and ate from the top of his head)
What did the bakers dream mean? (In 3 days Pharaoh would put him to death)
How much time passed before the cupbearer remembered Joseph to Pharaoh? (2 years)
What was Pharaoh’s dream? (7 fat cows grazing in the field and then 7 skinny cows came and ate up the fat cows but remained skinny; 7 good and full head of grain growing in a single stalk and then 7 thin heads of grain swallowed up the 7 full heads)
What did Joseph say these dreams meant? (They would have 7 years of plenty and then 7 years of famine)
Who did Joseph credit as knowing how to interpret dreams? (Not himself but God)
Who did Pharaoh ask to be in charge of preparing for the 7 years of famine? (Joseph, because God had given him the interpretation and plan)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Activity
God promised Joseph many things and he fulfilled those promises in the right time. Print and cut out the stalks of wheat and place them on the floor around the room. Read the promises on each stalk of wheat/grain as the children gather them and place them in a “storehouse” a basket.
Materials: printed and cut promise stalks, scissors
Alternate
Create your own finger puppets with the characters of Joseph, Pharoah, and brothers, or as many characters as you would like. Use this video as a guide to make finger puppets if needed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_PTSn-jDcg&t=132s Use, felt, scrap material, or old pillowcases for your puppets as well as other colorful felt, markers or buttons. Use your finger puppets to retell the story of Joseph with a puppet show. Demonstrate for your child and then allow time for them to play and discover the puppets as well and retell the story in their own words.
Materials: various arts and crafts materials, spare pieces of cloth, felt or material, glue, googly eyes, markers
Independent activity:
Complete the following activity sheet, pencil
Materials: printed activity sheet
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Complete the following craft on a sheet of construction paper to illustrate the grain collected in Egypt to prepare for the years of famine. Follow the instructions on the following website to create the picture.
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
What are 2 difficult things that happened to Joseph?
How did Joseph keep trusting God while he was a slave?
When Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, who did he give credit for it?
How did giving God credit for the dream show that Joseph trusted God?
How would you describe Joseph at the beginning of the story compared to him at the end?
Practical Application at Home
Sometimes it is hard to do an easy task. We sometimes think that an easy task is not worthy of our time. Throughout Joseph’s life as a slave, he was given many tasks to do that were simple. He could have easily believed he was supposed to do something far greater for God, so he couldn’t be bothered with such small unimportant tasks. But that is not how Joseph worked. Even when given task of a common slave, he did his best and quickly showed others He was a hard worker. When he worked hard at these slave tasks, he was given more responsibility and greater tasks. We can also do our best at even the tasks that seem boring or not important enough. Make a list of tasks you are often asked to do that you do not enjoy or simply do not want to do. Then make a commitment to work harder at those tasks this week and to do your best. Here is a short list to get you started.
- Sweeping the floors. Instead of doing a rushed job, be sure to clean the floors and leave no dust behind-Dusting the furniture: dust even the places you do not think anyone else will see
-Making your bed: try to get the bed straight and neat with no lumps or wrinkles
-Taking out the trash: take out the trash without being reminded that it is trash day
-Doing your homework: complete the assignment fully and neatly, then double check your work
When you try your best at your assignments and chores you may find that others notice the extra care you give to your work. This may lead to them trusting you with other tasks or greater responsibilities they know you can handle.
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Donate to a local food shelter or toy drive this Christmas season. As a family, volunteer together or pick out toys you think another child your age might enjoy.