Dear Parents, We hope the following summary of the Sunday School lesson will help you in discussing the lesson with your children and in working through this booklet together. SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Genesis 41
Joseph He Chose to Obey
BIBLE STORY SUMMARY: God revealed to Pharaoh what He was about to do in two dreams. He provided Joseph to interpret the dreams, and Joseph was elevated to the highest position in the land after Pharaoh. God provided for Joseph to make preparations to save lives during the famine. LESSON FOCUS: Joseph was faithful to God even when he had to wait and suffer. God has a plan for my life, but He has to prepare me for His work first. WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT GOD: God speaks through and does His work through those who trust Him and are obedient to Him. LET’S TALK ABOUT WHAT WE’VE LEARNED: What were the two dreams Pharaoh had? In the first, seven fat cows were eaten by seven skinny cows. In the second, seven healthy heads of grain were eaten by seven thin, scorched heads of grain. Whom did Pharaoh ask to help interpret the dreams? First he asked the magicians and wise men of Egypt; they could not help him. Then his cupbearer remembered that Joseph had accurately interpreted dreams before, and he told Pharaoh about Joseph. Pharaoh then called Joseph from prison right away. What did Joseph tell Pharaoh about the dreams? God would provide the meaning: Seven years of plenty would be followed by seven years of famine. How did Pharaoh respond to what Joseph had told him? He elevated Joseph to a position just under himself, giving him authority throughout the land. Joseph was to see that food was set aside during times of plenty so there would be food during the years of famine.
Will you choose to obey God and serve Him each day, even when He allows you to suffer? Will you allow God to change your life and prepare you for the work He has planned for you?
God Makes His Plan Known
Joseph in Pharaoh’s Palace This Week’s Memory Verse Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23 to 24
See you on Sunday!
Copyright 2003 Berean Baptist Church 309 E. Co. Rd. 42 Burnsville, MN 55306 952-432-7168
MONDAY – WORKING FOR THE LORD
Say our memory verse out loud two times. It’s OK to peek today.
Let’s take a look at our new memory verse before we study about Joseph. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. November 16, 2003 Colossians 3:23 to 24
Write down two things that you work at each day. 1 _____________________________________ 2 _____________________________________ Read Genesis 39:3 to 6 and Genesis 39:22 to 23. Circle each sentence that tells what kind of worker Joseph must have been. Cross out the sentences that are wrong about Joseph. He was honest and could be trusted.
He liked to steal things.
He was lazy.
He worked hard and did his best.
How much do you think Joseph got paid when he was a slave and when he was in prison?
Nothing
A little
A lot
Why do you think he worked so hard? ______________________________________ Look at the jobs that you wrote down. How could you do those jobs “with all your heart, as working for the Lord”? 1 __________________________
2 __________________________
Ask God to help you do your best.
SATURDAY – THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE
FRIDAY – A NEW JOB FOR JOSEPH Read Genesis 41:39 to 43. Who was the man chosen to be a part of God’s really big plan to save people during the famine? (Verses 39 to 40)
Say our memory verse out loud. Then draw a picture of yourself doing something your very best, as doing it for God.
J ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ! Pharaoh, king of Egypt, gave Joseph some important jobs to do. He put Joseph in charge of his palace, and all of Pharaoh’s people had to obey Joseph. Where was Joseph to rule? (Verse 41) The whole land of ___________! Why did Pharaoh choose Joseph to rule over all of Egypt? (Verses 38 to 39) Joseph listened to God and had God’s wisdom. It was part of God’s plan to save people from dying in the famine. Joseph had been obedient to God all through his life. All of the above Draw a line around four gifts that Pharaoh gave to Joseph to show that Joseph was like the king. (Verses 42 to 43) Chariot to ride in
Lots of money
New clothes of fine linen
Gold chain to wear
Pharaoh’s special ring
New shoes
Read Genesis 41:56 to 57. Did everything come true just as God said it would?
Yes
No
Do you think God is the same today as He was in Joseph’s time?
Yes
No
Will you pray and thank God for keeping His promises to you? Practice saying all the lines of our memory verse.
TUESDAY – JOSEPH WAITS IN PRISON
WEDNESDAY – PHARAOH’S DREAMS
Read Genesis 41:1. Last week our story ended with Pharaoh’s cupbearer forgetting his promise to help get Joseph out of prison. Two full years passed.
(Today we are looking at the true story in Genesis 41:1 to 16.) Read Genesis 41:1 to 7. One night, Pharaoh, the king, had two dreams. What happened in the dream about the cows?
Draw a box around the face that shows how you think Joseph felt while he waited in prison.
The seven _________ _________ ate up the seven _________ _________.
What happened in the dream about the grain? Read Genesis 37:2. How old was Joseph when his brothers sold him?
The seven ____________ heads of grain ate up
________
the seven ____________ heads of grain.
Read Genesis 41:46. How old was Joseph when he was finally out of prison? ________ God used these 13 years to get Joseph ready for the work He had for him! During that time, Joseph was learning to obey God. Joseph did his best, doing his work to please God. When you have to wait for something, how do you feel?
Will you choose one statement from below and pray that God will help you remember His promises to you?
God has a plan for my life. In heaven God will reward my work. God is always with me. God wants me to be obedient every day. Ask God to help you remember His promises to you. Practice saying the first two lines of our memory verse.
Pharaoh could not figure out these dreams, and neither could any of his helpers. Then, Pharaoh’s cupbearer finally remembered Joseph, who had told him and the baker about their dreams two years earlier! Pharaoh called for Joseph right away. Read Genesis 41:16. When Pharaoh asked Joseph to tell him what his dreams meant, Joseph told him, “I cannot do it, but _______________ will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” Joseph wanted to make sure God got the credit for what He did through Joseph. Giving God credit is like putting a spotlight on God. Mark an X by each statement that gives credit to God. _____ I am so good looking, and I do everything so well. _____ God sure gave us good weather today. _____ Everyone likes me because I am so funny. _____ God helped me be patient when I felt angry. _____ I wasn’t worried, because God was with me. Ask God to help you see when He helps you.
THURSDAY – GOD SHOWS JOSEPH THE FUTURE Read Genesis 41:25 to 32. Match the things from the dreams with what they meant. Seven fat cows Seven skinny cows Seven healthy heads of grain Seven worthless heads of grain
Seven years of good crops and plenty of food Seven years when no crops would grow
Why did God give these dreams to Pharaoh? To let Pharaoh know what was going to happen. Pharaoh could get ready for the coming famine. The people would not all starve to death. God cares for all people. All of the above God loves all people! He knew ahead of time that a great famine would come to Egypt and that thousands of people could die. Read Genesis 41:33 to 37. What kinds of things did Joseph tell Pharaoh about God’s plan to save Egypt? Find a very smart and wise man to be in charge of Egypt. Have the people eat extra food now so they won’t starve during the famine. Put away a fifth of the crops during the seven years of plenty. Store the extra grain until it is needed during the famine. Did Pharaoh believe Joseph? Yes
No
He wasn’t sure
Tell God, “Thanks,” that He loves all people. How much of the memory verse can you say with your eyes closed?