Joseph Taken to Egypt (Genesis 37; 39-46; 50)
Dear families,
Today’s passage tells of God’s faithful covenant being carried from Abraham to Isaac, then to Jacob, and now Joseph. Jacob loved Joseph more than his brothers because he was born to Jacob in his old age. Jacob’s favoritism toward Joseph caused the others to feel deep anger toward Joseph.
Beyond Jacob's treatment of Joseph, his sons grew even angrier after hearing of their brother's dream, in which Joseph would reign over each of his siblings and their parents, too. The brothers’ jealousy and anger loomed so large that they schemed to take Joseph’s life; however, they settled with selling him into slavery instead, making it appear as though an animal had killed him.
In Egypt, Joseph became a slave of the officer Potiphar, who promoted him over his household. God gave Joseph great success in serving his new master. Joesph obeyed God amidst life’s challenges, even against the temptation of Potiphar’s wife, in which he declared, “...how could I sin against God?” Though this refusal would send Joseph to prison, God was with him and granted him favor despite his terrible circumstances. Even the warden knew God was with him.
God gave Joseph the ability to interpret his fellow prisoners’ dreams and Pharaoh’s dreams as well. God's sovereign care to be with Joseph and give him the ability to interpret dreams resulted in him being raised to oversee Pharaoh's entire household. As Joseph served Pharaoh, God granted him wisdom to provide grain during a famine, not just for others in the land, but for his brothers as well. This is a full-circle story of God's sovereign provision, faithfulness, and grace through trials.
At the closing of Genesis, Joseph—in the aftermath of slavery, famine, and injustice—declares that God used his brothers’ evil plans to bring about flourishing for His people. Joseph extended words of comfort, courage, and kindness his brothers did not deserve.
In Christ, we receive an even greater gift—everlasting life, the undeserved bestowal of immeasurable peace, courage, and kindness. Christ experienced injustice and suffering on our behalf so that we might gain eternal life and redemption. As faithful to God as Joseph was, Jesus is even more faithful, forever renowned as the suffering Servant who takes away our sin. Pray for your kids to place their faith in the One who redeems our sins and suffering for His glory and our good.
Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.
FAMILY TALKING POINTS
STORY POINT
This is the main point to emphasize from today’s Bible story.
Preschool: God was always with Joseph and took care of him.
Kids: God was always with Joseph and blessed him.
CHRIST CONNECTION
This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
Babies & Toddlers: God’s plans are good.
Younger Preschool: Even when bad things happened, God had a good plan. Jesus was killed on a cross, but He rose again to rescue people from sin.
Older Preschool: Even when bad things happened, God had a plan for good. Jesus never sinned, but He was arrested, beaten, and killed on a cross to bring about our good—so people could be saved from sin through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
Kids: Even when bad things were happening in Joseph's life, God had a plan for good. Bad things also happened to Jesus. Jesus never sinned, but He was arrested, beaten, and killed on a cross. Those things happened to bring about our good—so people could be saved from sin and death through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER
This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.
Younger Preschool: Who is in control? God is in control.
Older Preschool: Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything.
Kids: Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything in heaven and on earth. Nothing is outside of God’s good plan.
KEY PASSAGE
This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.
Babies & Toddlers: God can make bad things good. Genesis 50:20
Younger Preschool: God can make bad things good. Genesis 50:20
Older Preschool: You planned evil against me; God planned it for good. Genesis 50:20
Kids: You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people. Genesis 50:20
** Next week: The Suffering of Job (Job)