Teacher BIBLE STUDY Once Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent his sons to Egypt, except for Benjamin. No one in Canaan knew how long the famine would last, and later clues lead us to believe that it was early into the famine when Jacob sent his sons to Egypt. Joseph recognized his brothers immediately, but they did not recognize him. Through several rounds of tests, Joseph determined that his brothers hearts had changed and that they were sorry for selling him into slavery. Jacob was hesitant to let his sons return to Egypt for more grain, especially with Benjamin in tow. He reluctantly let Benjamin go with Judah s promise of protection for him. Can you image Jacob s fear after losing Joseph? Joseph s final test involved Benjamin; it played heavily on his brothers concern for their father and Jacob s desire not to lose another son. Unable to hold his composure any longer, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers. Focus now on Genesis 45:4-8. Joseph explained why God allowed him to be taken to Egypt. Even though his brothers intended this for his harm, God actually intended this for good. Have you ever struggled to see how bad situations in your life can lead to positive results? Joseph told his brothers they would be set apart as a remnant for a great deliverance. God told Abraham many years before about what would happen. (See Gen. 15:13.) Little did Joseph know that his brothers and their families would be in Egypt for the next 400 years. Joseph was to go to Egypt to prepare a place for his family to survive and become a great nation the nation of Israel. God s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ was sustained through the remnant left in Egypt for 400 years. Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 3 Session 5 1 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Younger Kids Bible study OVERVIEW Session Title: Joseph s Dreams Came True Bible Passage: Genesis 42:1 46:34; 50:15-21 Big Picture Question: Why did God send Joseph to Egypt? God sent Joseph to Egypt to establish a remnant. Key Passage: Genesis 28:15 Unit Christ Connection: Despite difficult circumstances, God remained faithful to the people to whom His promise was given, in preparation for the salvation that would come through Jesus Christ. Small Group Opening Welcome time Activity sheet (5 minutes) Session starter (10 minutes) Large Group Leader Countdown Introduce the session (1 minute) Timeline map (1 minute) Big picture question (2 minutes) Sing (4 minutes) Key passage (3 minutes) Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Discussion starter video (6 minutes) Prayer (3 minutes) Small Group Leader Key passage activity (5 minutes) Bible story review (10 minutes) Activity choice (10 minutes) Journal and prayer (5 minutes) 2 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
The BIBLE STORY Joseph s Dreams Came True Genesis 42:1 46:34; 50:15-21 When Jacob learned that Egypt still had food despite the famine, he sent 10 of his sons to buy some of the grain. Benjamin stayed home. Joseph was in charge of who received food, so the brothers came to him and bowed down. Joseph recognized them, but they did not recognize him. Joseph remembered his dreams where his brothers bowed down to him. Joseph accused them of being spies and put them in prison for three days. On the third day he told them they could all go home except for one. The brothers could prove they were not spies by bringing their brother Benjamin on a return trip. Joseph told his servants to fill each brothers sack and give their money back without telling them. When they discovered the money, they were afraid of being accused of stealing it. They told their father everything, but Jacob would not let the brothers take Benjamin because he was afraid he would never see Benjamin again. However, when all the grain was gone, Jacob asked the sons to return. Judah said they would only go back with Benjamin and promised to return with him. Jacob agreed and told them to take enough money to pay for the grain they received the last visit, too. They also took a special gift for Joseph. When Joseph saw the brothers arrive with Benjamin, he invited them to his home for lunch. They offered to return the money from last time, but a servant assured them they did not owe anything. When Joseph arrived, the brothers gave him his gift and bowed before him. When Joseph saw his younger brother, he left and cried. After eating, Joseph instructed a servant to fill each man s bag with grain and again put their money back. In addition, the servant was to put one of Joseph s silver cups in Benjamin s bag. After the brothers left, Joseph told his servant to pursue them and accuse them of stealing the cup. They denied taking it and agreed that if anyone was found with the cup, they would all become Joseph s slaves. When the cup was found in Benjamin s bag, they all returned to Joseph s house. Joseph told the brothers that only Benjamin would be kept as a slave. Judah pleaded with Joseph. He offered Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 3 Session 5 3 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
to stay instead. Joseph was overcome with emotion and sent away all of his attendants. He told his brothers who he was. They didn t respond because they were scared Joseph would want revenge. Joseph assured them, God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God. Joseph told his brothers to go home and gather all their family and belongings and come back to Egypt, where they would live free from the famine. Joseph sent supplies for the return trip and gifts for Jacob. When the brothers returned and explained to Jacob what had happened, he was stunned and didn t believe them until he saw all the supplies they came back with. Jacob was happy and excited to go see Joseph. On the way Jacob had a vision, and God spoke to him. I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you back. All of Jacob s family, from sons to great-grandsons, headed to Egypt. Joseph met his father and they hugged and wept. The family was blessed in Egypt, but Jacob got older and died. Joseph s brothers were worried that he would finally have revenge on them, so they told him that Jacob had asked that he forgive his brothers for their sin. Joseph responded, Don t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result the survival of many people. Joseph comforted them and spoke kindly to them. Christ Connection: Joseph recognized that though his brothers intended evil, God planned his circumstances for good to establish a remnant of God s people (Genesis 45:7). Likewise, though those who crucified Jesus intended it for evil, God s plan for the sacrifice of His Son was for the good of all people. Through Jesus death on the cross, God again saved a remnant of people. 4 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Small Group Opening Session Title: Joseph s Dreams Came True Bible Passage: Genesis 42:1 46:34; 50:15-21 Big Picture Question: Why did God send Joseph to Egypt? God sent Joseph to Egypt to establish a remnant. Key Passage: Genesis 28:15 Unit Christ Connection: Despite difficult circumstances, God remained faithful to the people to whom His promise was given, in preparation for the salvation that would come through Jesus Christ. Tip: As kids arrive this is a great time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to your group. Missing Supplies activity sheet, 1 per kid pencils LOW PREP any strong bag or suitcase books, rocks, or other weight Welcome time Arriving activity: My dream As kids arrive, tell them to find two other kids and share something they hope to do one day, maybe a place to visit or activity they want to do in the future. Before class starts, allow a few kids to share these hopes with the class. Say We call these future hopes dreams. Sometimes those dreams come true. In today s Bible story, we will see someone s real dreams come true. Activity sheet (5 minutes) Guide boys and girls to complete the activity sheet. Say A set of brothers will find something today they thought was lost forever. Only it s not supplies. Session Starter (10 minutes) Option 1: Weighed down Fill a duffle bag, backpack, or suitcase with heavy items (rocks, books, so forth). Make sure it is heavy enough to be difficult for a kid to carry. Encourage the kids to line up single-file. Invite the children to pass the bag to their neighbor until the bag has reached the end of the line. The Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 3 Session 5 5 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
last person will pass the bag back down the line to the front. Explain that the relay will be timed. Announce the time and repeat to see if the kids can improve the time. Remove the weight in the bag and play again. Say Which relay was harder, the one with the heavy bag or the empty one? When we don t forgive others, it s like carrying a heavy weight. We end up bitter and angry; but when we forgive, the weight is lifted. That s what happens in today s Bible story. table cloth or newspaper cups, 8 water dish soap washable tempera paint, 4 colors drinking straws, 1 per kid white construction paper, 1 sheet per kid Option 2: Dream bubbles Before class, fill eight cups halfway with water. Add a generous squirt of dish soap and washable tempera paint to four of the cups. Use a different color for each cup. Cover a table with newspaper or a table cloth. Place the four cups with paint at different places on the table. Place a plain water cup beside each paint cup. Give each child a piece of white or light-colored construction paper and a straw. Invite the kids to line up in front of one cup of paint. Demonstrate how to insert the straw into the cup and blow until bubbles form above the rim. Each student will then place his paper over the bubbles, creating a marble look. Put the straw in the water cup to remove excess paint. Allow kids time to use each color. Say In cartoons, little bubbles appear above the head of a dreamer. That doesn t happen in real life, but today s Bible story proves sometimes dreams do come true. Transition to large group 6 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Large Group LEADER Session Title: Joseph s Dreams Came True Bible Passage: Genesis 42:1 46:34; 50:15-21 Big Picture Question: Why did God send Joseph to Egypt? God sent Joseph to Egypt to establish a remnant. Key Passage: Genesis 28:15 Unit Christ Connection: Despite difficult circumstances, God remained faithful to the people to whom His promise was given, in preparation for the salvation that would come through Jesus Christ. countdown video notepad pencil timeline map Countdown Show the countdown video as your kids arrive, and set it to end as large group time begins. Introduce the session (1 minute) [Bring a notepad and pencil.] Leader Thanks to you, we have had some great investigative reports for the last several weeks. This week is our last, but don t despair because I have a feeling today s story is going to be a great one. Let s once again collect all our tips and see if we can get to the bottom of this investigation. If you have figured out the details of today s story, don t tell. Others are still investigating. Timeline map (1 minute) Leader Why don t we start off with a look at our Bible timeline map? Last week, poor Joseph had it rough, but he remained faithful even when he was rejected. Here s a great tip to start. It turns out Joseph s story continues. This has become a two-part investigation. Hmm! From this picture, does anyone have any ideas about what might happen to Joseph today? Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 3 Session 5 7 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Big picture question (2 minutes) Leader The best place to answer those whys is in your Bible. I want to see them. If you ask, Why do we do this every week? That s a why question I have the answer to. I want you to always be prepared to know who God is and His plan for your life. To do that, you need God s Word. So, let s take a moment and show it off. Now, let s look at one of those questions you might be asking, especially after last week. Here s our big picture question: Why did God send Joseph to Egypt? Starry Night Wherever You Go key passage slide or poster Bibles, 1 per kid Joseph s Dreams Came True video Sing (4 minutes) Leader Our second tip is that God had a reason to send Joseph to Egypt. Often times, we don t know why something happened to us until much later. Sometimes we may never know why, but we know someone who knows the answer God. Let s praise Him with our theme song. Sing together Starry Night. Key passage (3 minutes) Leader Let s review our key passage. Hopefully, you have it memorized. Try it without looking at the poster. God knew where Jacob was headed when He said this to him. God knew why He sent Joseph to Egypt. Our last tip is a dream come true. Joseph s dreams from last week s story come true. Sing together Wherever You Go. Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Leader Let s examine all of our tips before today s story. The story is about Joseph, why God sent him to Egypt, and his dreams come true. Can anyone tell me more about this story? All these tips lead us to Genesis 42. 8 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Choose to tell the Bible story in your own words, using the script provided, or show Joseph s Dreams Came True. Leader Joseph dreamed as a boy that one day his brothers would bow before him, and his dreams came true. When Joseph tested his brothers, they acted very differently than the brothers who threw him into the pit. They recognized what they did to Joseph was sin, and when faced with the opportunity to betray Benjamin to slavery, they were willing to take his place instead. God used this family reunion to preserve His covenant with Abraham that was passed on to Isaac and then Jacob. Why did God send Joseph to Egypt? God sent Joseph to Egypt to establish a remnant. A remnant is a group of people who are saved from a disaster, like a famine. God saved this group of people to fulfill His covenant plan. Judah, who offered to take the place of Benjamin as Joseph s slave, is included in Jesus family tree. God saved this remnant so that we could be saved, too. Jesus also came to save a remnant of people who know and love Him. Use Scripture and the guide provided with this session to explain to boys and girls how to become a Christian. Assign individuals to meet with kids who have more questions. If this is not possible, encourage boys and girls to ask their parents, small group leaders, and other Christian adults any questions they may have about becoming a Christian. Ask the following questions about today s Bible story: 1. Why did Jacob s sons go to Egypt? (to get food, Genesis 42:1-2) 2. What did the brothers do when they went before Joseph? (They bowed down, Genesis 42:6) 3. What did Joseph accuse them of? (being spies, Genesis 42:9) Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 3 Session 5 9 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
4. When did Joseph tell his brothers who he was? (when Judah offered to be his slave if he sent Benjamin home, Genesis 44:33 45:1) 5. Beside Joseph, who else was sent to save a remnant of people? (Jesus) Why, Why, Why? video big picture question slide or poster Discussion starter video (6 minutes) Leader How many of you have ever asked why about something you didn t understand? Take a look at this video. Play Why, Why, Why video. Leader Have you ever asked why? Why did I not get picked for the team I tried out for? Why didn t I get a better grade on the test I studied so hard for? The why for all the things Joseph went through was so God could use Joseph to save His chosen people. How do you deal with those why questions you face? Do you trust that God knows and has a plan? It may take a few years, or you may never know why some things happen, but you can be sure that God knows and He can be trusted. Show the big picture question slide or poster. Leader What a great ending to the story of Joseph, and great investigative reporting, too! Did you notice the answer to the big picture question? Why did God send Joseph to Egypt? God sent Joseph to Egypt to establish a remnant. Repeat the question, and let the kids answer. Invite the kids who have already had a birthday during the year to ask the question and the kids with birthdays later in the year to answer. Swap roles and repeat. Prayer (3 minutes) Before transitioning to small group, make any necessary announcements and lead the kids in prayer. When you pray, 10 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
thank God for saving His people. Also, pray that each child will understand how she can be part of the remnant saved from sin. Dismiss to small groups Insights for Large Group Leaders Here are some tips to guide you as you present the gospel to kids in a large group setting. Focus on the gospel. Don t stress about reading every Scripture and every statement given in the guide. Focus on helping kids see their need for a Savior and how Jesus defeated sin. Allow kids an opportunity to respond without pressure from adults or peers. Try to have counselors available to meet one on one with kids. Make sure kids know who they can talk to and when they can talk. Be as concrete as possible. Avoid abstract or highly symbolic phrases like inviting Jesus into your heart or the blood of Jesus covers you. Abstract phrases often lead to distraction and confusion for concrete thinkers. Pray. Pray. Pray. Spend time in prayer as you prepare for the large group session. Pray during the large group time. Pray throughout the week for the kids who heard the gospel presentation. Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 3 Session 5 11 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
The Gospel: God s Plan for Me Ask kids if they have ever heard the word gospel. Clarify that the word gospel means good news. It is the message about Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation. Use the following guide to share the gospel with kids. God rules. Explain to kids that the Bible tells us God created everything, and He is in charge of everything. Invite a volunteer to read Genesis 1:1 from her Bible. Read Revelation 4:11 or Colossians 1:16-17 aloud and explain what these verses mean. We sinned. Tell kids that since the time of Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God (Romans 3:23). The Bible calls this sin. Because God is holy, God cannot be around sin. Sin separates us from God and deserves God s punishment of death (Romans 6:23). God provided. Choose a child to read John 3:16 aloud. Say that God sent His Son Jesus, the perfect solution to our sin problem, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. It s something we, as sinners, could never earn on our own. Jesus alone saves us. Read and explain Ephesians 2:8-9. Jesus gives. Share with kids that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can be welcomed into God s family for eternity. This is the best gift ever! Read Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; or 1 Peter 3:18. We respond. Tell kids that they can respond to Jesus. Read Romans 10:9-10,13. Review these aspects of our response: Believe in your heart that Jesus alone saves you through what He s already done on the cross. Repent, turning from self and sin to Jesus. Tell God and others that your faith is in Jesus. Offer to talk with any child who is interested in responding to Jesus. 12 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Small Group LEADER Session Title: Joseph s Dreams Came True Bible Passage: Genesis 42:1 46:34; 50:15-21 Big Picture Question: Why did God send Joseph to Egypt? God sent Joseph to Egypt to establish a remnant. Key Passage: Genesis 28:15 Unit Christ Connection: Despite difficult circumstances, God remained faithful to the people to whom His promise was given, in preparation for the salvation that would come through Jesus Christ. key passage poster or slide dry erase board and markers (optional) paper marker scissors cup Key passage activity (5 minutes) Make sure the key passage, Genesis 28:15, is visible for each child, either as the printed poster or written on a whiteboard. However, cover the key passage poster until after the end of this activity. Recite the key passage together. Say Does everyone remember our key passage? Joseph found out that God had been with him the whole time, just like God was with Jacob. Joseph recognized that all the things that had happened were not the fault of his brothers but the plans of God. Why did God send Joseph to Egypt? God sent Joseph to Egypt to establish a remnant. Ask the kids to repeat the key passage together. Before class, print or write the key passage on a sheet of paper and cut it into phrases of two or three words. Remind the kids about the royal cup the servants put in Benjamin s bag. Place the phrases in the royal cup. Ask the kids to each draw a phrase from the royal cup. Encourage them to put the phrases in the right order. Assist as needed. Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 3 Session 5 13 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Bibles, 1 per kid small group visual pack big picture question slide or poster Bible Story Review (10 minutes) Help the kids find Genesis 42 in their Bibles. Use the small group visual pack to show kids where today s Bible story is on the timeline. Say Today s story covers the remaining chapters of Genesis. Can anyone tell me what division of the Bible Genesis is in? (Law) What are the five books that make up the Law? (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) Review the Bible story provided, or summarize the story in your own words. Say Joseph understood that all the bad things that had happened to him led him to a position to save thousands of lives, especially the lives of the people God promised to bless. Show the big picture question slide or poster. Say Why did God send Joseph to Egypt? God sent Joseph to Egypt to establish a remnant. This remnant or small group of people would grow to be an entire nation and one day produce the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. The covenant, originally given to Abraham, has been expanded to all those who choose faith in Jesus Christ. Let me tell you how to become a Christian. As time allows review the gospel: God rules. The Bible tells us God created and is in charge of everything. (Genesis 1:1; Revelation 4:11; Colossians 1:16-17) We sinned. Since the time of Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God. (Romans 3:23; 6:23) God provided. God sent His Son Jesus to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. (John 3:16; 14 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Ephesians 2:8-9) Jesus gives. Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again so we can be welcomed into God s family. (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18) We respond. Believe that Jesus alone saves you. Repent. Tell God that your faith is in Jesus. (Romans 10:9-10,13) LOW PREP whole grain cereals, any variety serving bowls, 1 per cereal small serving spoons, 1 per bowl chocolate chips or raisins (optional) ziplock bags, 1 per child Activity Choice (10 minutes) Option 1: I spy Play I Spy. Ask for a volunteer to start the game. Explain that the volunteer must find something in the room and identify it by color saying, I spy something yellow. Give the rest of the kids the opportunity to guess what the volunteer spied. If after several guesses the kids have no answers, ask the volunteer to give another clue. If you still don t have any correct responses, ask the volunteer to reveal the answer and pick someone to spy next. If someone correctly identifies the object, he gets to spy next. Say Even though Joseph knew his brothers were not spies, he accused them to test them to see if they had changed. Joseph realized that their treatment toward him had a greater purpose. Why did God send Joseph to Egypt? God sent Joseph to Egypt to establish a remnant. Option 2: Grain-ola mix Take each bowl and pour in a different type of whole grain cereal. Add a bowl with raisins or chocolate chips if you wish to add a little more flavor. Place a small serving spoon in each bowl. Give each child a ziplock bag, and instruct the kids to line up behind a bowl. Limit servings based on Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 3 Session 5 15 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
number of kids, so each child can get a serving from each bowl. Kids can seal the mix to take home, give away as a mission project, or eat as a snack in class. Say Joseph was put in charge of making sure people had enough grain to eat when they got hungry. God used Joseph to make sure His covenant people didn t starve. Why did God send Joseph to Egypt? God sent Joseph to Egypt to establish a remnant. journals journal sheet, 1 per kid crayons pencils Bible story coloring sheet Journal and Prayer (5 minutes) Distribute a journal sheet for each child. Instruct the kids to draw or write on their journal sheet. For example, encourage the kids to draw Joseph s brothers bowing to him. Older kids can write the big picture question and answer. The journal is a great place to write prayer requests, too. Keep the journals in the classroom so they will be available every week or as often as you wish to use them. Say One last time, what is our big picture question and answer for today? Why did God send Joseph to Egypt? God sent Joseph to Egypt to establish a remnant. Make sure each child puts this week s journal sheet in his journal. Collect the journals. The children may also color the Bible story coloring sheet. Take prayer requests aloud if time remains. End the session with prayer, thanking God for making His plan obvious, not just to those directly involved but to us through His Word. Pray for the children by name, and ask God to always make His plan for their lives clear to them, too. 16 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Journal Page Key Passage: Genesis 28:15 Session 1: The Promise Reaffirmed Genesis 25:19-26; 26:1-6; 28:10-22 Session 2: The Stolen Blessing Genesis 25:27-34; 27:1-45 Session 3: Jacob s New Name Genesis 32 33 Session 4: Joseph Sent to Egypt Genesis 37:1-36; 39:1 41:57 Session 5: Joseph s Dreams Come True Genesis 42:1 46:34; 50:15-21 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. TM
TM Why did God send Joseph to Egypt? God sent Joseph to Egypt to establish a remnant. UNIT 3 Session 5 Kids Printables 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. Big Picture Question
TM Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. Genesis 28:15 UNIT 3 All Sessions Kids Printables 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. Key Passage Poster hcsb God s Covenant with People
And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. Genesis 28:15 TM UNIT 3 All Sessions Kids Printables 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. Key Passage Poster KJV God s Covenant with People
Joseph s Dreams Come True Genesis 42:1 46:34; 50:15-21 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. 005508647 2012_FAL.indd 26 3/15/12 12:41 PM
005508647 2012_FAL.indd 25 3/15/12 12:41 PM UNIT 3 Session 5 Younger Kids Activity Pages Bundles dles of grain Coins Bags Find three of each item: Instructions: Three of Joseph s brothers are looking for the supplies they were given by their brother in Egypt. Help them find those items in the picture below.
TM UNIT 3 Session 5 Joseph s Dreams Came True 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. OK TO PRINT