The Scriptures don t tell us if Joseph immediately knew why he was being. contained contradictory elements and defied explanation. Pharaoh sought out

Bible Story: Joseph Helped the King (Genesis 41) Bible Phrase: God will help me (Isaiah 50:7). Bible Truth: God will help me do His work. Old Testament Unit 5: Joesph Lesson 3: Joseph Helped the King God s Unfolding Story 1. God created everything. 2. People disobeyed God. 3. God chose a special people. 4. God sent Jesus to help us. 5. Jesus began the Church. 6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us. Suggested Schedule: Arrival Centers 25 minutes Clean-up Time 5 minutes Bible Story Time 15 minutes Craft Time 10 minutes Snack Time 10 minutes Game Time/Dismissal Hour B Unfolding God s Story for Teachers As believers, we know that spiritual maturity often is grown through adversity. In the depths of pain, disappointment, and sadness, we come to understand more fully the abundance of God s grace and power in our lives. At the time of hardship, we may not be aware of God s plan or His purpose; but we hold to the promise that He is working in all things for His glory and our benefit. If we surrender to the knowledge that God is in control, we can rest assured that we are in His will. Surrendering enables us to grow to be more Christlike. Joseph s life was about surrender. Joseph went from favored son to slave in a very short time. Then a false accusation sent him from the position of overseer to the role of prisoner. The highs and lows this young man experienced easily could have broken his faith and his character. Yet Joseph remained connected to God. He knew the Lord was in control. Please read Genesis 41. Two years after Joseph correctly interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh s baker and cupbearer, God honored Joseph s patient faith. The Pharaoh, the highest ruler in Egypt, had dreams that involved three important symbols: cows, grain, and water. The dreams were troubling to the Pharaoh because all these things represented life to the Egyptians. They even worshiped them. Also, the dreams contained contradictory elements and defied explanation. Pharaoh sought out his wise men, but they could not interpret the dreams. Finally, the cupbearer remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh about him. The Scriptures don t tell us if Joseph immediately knew why he was being released, cleaned up, and ushered in front of royalty. Surely he might have wondered if his life was about to end. Joseph trusted God once again. The Pharaoh informed Joseph of his dreams and asked him to interpret them. Joseph quickly responded, God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer (Gen. 41:16). Joseph knew from where the understanding came. Of course, he had to tell the truth about what the dreams meant. Would you tell the Pharaoh the bad news as well as the good? This had to have weighed on Joseph s heart, but Joseph surrendered the outcome to God and revealed the dreams interpretation. God blessed Joseph s obedience, giving him both the interpretation and a solution to the problem. The Pharaoh was so impressed he made Joseph his second-in-command. God had a plan for Joseph that was part of His unfolding story. The fulfillment of the plan would bring honor to Jehovah God, sustain the livelihood of Israel, and bring the nation of Israel to Egypt. The story would continue. For Joseph, servitude led to surrender. Surrender fulfilled God s plan. What is God asking you to surrender? Lesson Plan Arrival Greet children at eye level and express how happy you are to see them. Be sure each child has a name tag and the security measures of your church are followed. Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly encourage children who have brought items from home, such as toys and books, to place them on a shelf while they are working with other materials. Assure children their items will be safe and they can take them home at the end of the session. Help each child make a choice where he or she would like to begin his or her Center Time. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT05 Lesson 3 Hour B Page 1

Puzzle Center: Work Puzzles Offer a variety of non-fantasy wooden or cardboard puzzles for children to work. What to Do: Invite preschoolers to work puzzles. Encourage children to finish puzzles before leaving the center. Give guidance rather than working a puzzle for a child. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, look for opportunities in conversation to say the Bible phrase or to briefly tell the Bible story. Home Living Center: Role Play Small rocking chair; sink and stove unit and small table and chairs; plastic dishes; child pots and pans; pretend food items What to Do: Encourage preschoolers to set the table and to pretend to make a meal with the food items. Link to the Bible Story: As preschoolers play, express that in today s Bible story a young man named Joseph helped the king know how to store food so people could have food later, when the crops would not grow. Center Time Art Center: Sponge Painting White construction paper Several colors of tempera paint Sponges - 4 Paper plates What to Do: Print today s Bible Phrase, God will help me (Isaiah 50:7), on each paper. Cut sponges into fruit shapes by drawing outlines of fruit on the sponges with a marker. Next, dampen each sponge and then cut around the drawing. Pour colors of tempera on the plates. Invite preschoolers to press the fruit-shaped sponge into the paint and onto their paper. Link to the Bible Story: Share with preschoolers that long ago a young man named Joseph was taken far away from his family to live in another country. Comment Joseph helped the king of that country store enough food to eat later, during a time when the crops would not grow. Share the Bible Phrase and express that God was with Joseph and helped him to know how to help the king. Bible Learning Center: Puzzle Copies of Activity Page: Puzzle, Joseph Helped the King (Reproducible) Washable markers or crayons Glue, child scissors, construction paper What to Do: Children can color the picture, then cut it apart to make a puzzle. Some children may choose to glue the puzzle back together on a piece of construction paper. Another idea: fold the construction paper and staple on the sides to make a pocket for their puzzle pieces. Link to the Bible Story: Express to preschoolers that this picture is from today s Bible story. It is called Joseph Helped the King. Comment that Joseph helped the king save food for the people to use during a time when the crops would not grow because of lack of water and other problems. Block Center: Build with Blocks Wooden blocks What to Do: Provide a small carpet if possible. Blocks are best located in a corner of the room away from the traffic flow. Link to the Bible Story: As children play in the Block Center, express that in today s Bible story a young man named Joseph helped the king store grain for the people to eat during a time when grain would not grow. Joseph led the people to build buildings that would hold the grain. Suggest to children they build a square tower. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT05 Lesson 3 Hour B Page 2

Clean-up Time Encourage preschoolers to help at clean-up time. Assign specific tasks for preschoolers to do such as placing all the crayons in the basket, throwing away the trash, gathering all the glue sticks, etc. Guide children to the Bible Story Time area. Bible Story Time Bible Teaching Picture Joseph Helped the King (Reproducible) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Reproducible/Cardstock) Introduction Show the God s Unfolding Story Cube. Express to the boys and girls that even though we find many stories in the Bible, the Bible really tells one big story, and all the little stories are a part of the big one we can call God s Unfolding Story. Tell children that each picture represents a part of God s Unfolding Story. Turn the cube and talk about each part of the story. (Refer to page 1.) Express that every story from the Bible is from one of these main parts in God s Unfolding Story. Today s story is from the third part, God chose a special people. Express the following in your own words. We have been studying about a young man in the Bible named Joseph. Joseph lived far away from his family. He was in prison for something he did not do. We also have learned that God was with Joseph and helped Joseph do some amazing things. In our story today, God is going to use Joseph to help the king. Something very special is going to happen to Joseph. Bible Story Joseph Helped the King (Genesis 41) Joseph spent more than two years in the Egyptian prison, but he knew that even though he was in prison, God was with him. One night, as the entire nation slept, the king had two dreams. When the king awoke the next morning, he was very disturbed about his dreams. He knew they meant something important, but he did not understand what. So he called all his helpers and asked them to explain the dreams but no one understood them. One of the king s helpers, the cupbearer, went to the king. He told him that once he had been in prison and had had a dream. The cupbearer said a young man named Joseph helped him know the dream s meaning. The servant told the king, Everything happened just as Joseph said. So the king called for Joseph. Joseph got all dressed up for his meeting with the king. The king said to Joseph, I have had dreams, and I need to know what they mean. Joseph replied, I cannot tell you what the dreams mean, but God can. So the king told Joseph about his dreams, and God helped Joseph know what they meant. Joseph told the king his dreams meant that for seven years, the land would have plenty of food, but after that time the crops would not grow and there would be little food. The king was grateful for Joseph s help so grateful he put Joseph in charge of all the land. Now Joseph was no longer in prison! He had a very important job and would help many people. God helped Joseph know what to do so the people would have food. In cities all over the land, Joseph made buildings to store grain. For seven years the people brought sacks of grain to the buildings. They filled up all the buildings with grain. After seven years, just like God said, the grain stopped growing. But the people did not go hungry. Joseph had stored enough grain for everyone to have food to eat. Talk Time 1. Show the teaching picture for today s Bible story and use some of these questions for discussion. Why was the king troubled? Who helped Joseph know what the king s dreams meant? How did the king help Joseph? Did the people have enough food to eat? 2. Read the Bible phrase on the teaching picture. Say the phrase together, God will help me (Isaiah 50:7). Express to children that Joseph loved God, and he depended on God to help him. 3. Close the Bible Story Time by inviting children to join you in prayer. Thank God that He will help those who love him do work for Him. 4. Direct children to Craft Time. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT05 Lesson 3 Hour B Page 3

Craft Time: Bible Character Stick Puppet What to Do: plate to make the stick puppet. Link to the Bible Story: Link to Bible Story: As children work, suggest that when the as: obey our parents, show kindness to our friends, show courage when we are afraid, and help others. Snack Time Be sure to wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you prayer to God for the snack. When snack time has ended, encourage preschoolers to help with cleaning up. Game Time / Dismissal Memory Game What to Do: one of the food items. Ask children to open their eyes and guess which item is name them all. procedures. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT05 Lesson 3 Hour B Page 4

Resources and Supplies Old Testament Unit 5: Joesph Lesson 3: Joseph Helped the King Hour B Standard Art Supplies Standard Equipment (Supplies that are generally in the room) Washable markers Crayons Child scissors Playdough and accessories Drawing paper Easel (optional) Glue/glue sticks Tempera paint, 4 colors Tape/masking tape Pencils/colored pencils Hole punch Teacher scissors Stapler/staples Permanent markers Watercolors Paintbrushes Yarn (Equipment that is generally in the room) Bible Small beanbag for Bible Story Time Assorted wooden/cardboard puzzles Set of wooden blocks Small cars and trucks Doll bed Baby doll (soft plastic) Stove/sink unit Play dishes/pots and pans Small table and chairs Small carpet for block area Play food items Storage shelf for blocks Tables and chairs for art, puzzles, and Bible Learning Center CD player/children s Worship CDs Reproducibles (Included with the lesson plan downloads) Activity Page: Puzzle, Joseph Helped the KIng (1 copy per child) Stick Puppet (1 copy per child) Teaching Picture: Joseph Helped the King (1 copy per class) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Cardstock 1 copy per class) Parent Page (1 copy per child) Coloring Page, Joseph Helped the King Additional Art Materials White construction paper (1 per child) Sponges - 4 Additional Craft Materials Wiggly eyes (2 per child) Craft sticks (1 per child) Additional Bible Learning Materials Construction paper (1 per child) Additional Game Time Materials Plastic food items 7 or 8 God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT05 Lesson 3 Hour B

Activity Page: Puzzle, Joseph Helped the King Instructions: One copy per child. Color the Bible story picture and cut apart on the dotted lines. Glue the puzzle together on a sheet of construction paper. OT05 Lesson 3 Hour B Bible Learning Center God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com

Craft Time: Stick Puppet, Joseph s Headdress Instructions: One copy for every child. Cut out the headdress. Color the headdress and glue to the back of a paper plate. Add facial features. Tape a craft stick to the back to make a puppet. OT05 Lesson 3 Hour B Craft Time God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com