Joseph In Prison Genesis 40:1-41:57

Transcription

1 Lesson 030 Joseph In Prison Genesis 40:1-41:57

2 MEMORY VERSE MATTHEW 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. WHAT YOU WILL NEED: As many interview sheets as the number of children in your class, pencils and chairs. A basket, fake or real groceries, some grocery lists, and a timer. A tape of jungle or Caribbean music. ATTENTION GRABBER! Interview a Friend Keep the interview a secret until partners are chosen. You can choose partners by placing chairs in the room back to back and playing musical chairs. But in this case, there will be the exact amount of chairs necessary for everyone to sit on. When the music stops have everyone sit down, then have them turn the chairs around to interview the person sitting opposite them. This way you won t have only friends pairing up. Give each child a pencil and a copy of the provided interview sheet. Have them ask the questions on the sheet and write down the answers. When the whole class is done collect all of the sheets, allow some of the students to introduce their interviewee to the class. See how many of the questions they remember the answers to. Can anyone remember the answers to ALL of the questions about their partner?

3 When a few introductions have been made, point out that even though we can t even remember all of the answers to questions we ve just asked, God will always remember everything. He knows us perfectly and God never forgets us. LESSON TIME! Today we are going to learn about Joseph s time in prison and about how God worked it all out for good. Joseph was seventeen years old when he was sent down into the land of Egypt and thirty years old when he was summoned before Pharaoh. He must have spent thirteen years total in Potiphar's house and prison. This was a long time of waiting for Joseph. And it may have even seemed like a waste for a bright young man to spend such a long time in servitude and in prison. In God's planning, however, it was not a waste at all, but was necessary preparation for the great position of leadership He would call Joseph to. In all those years God never forgot Joseph, but took Joseph through a very rigorous training program. Then when God judged him properly seasoned and ready for the great work he would accomplish for His people and for the world He then began to change things for Joseph. The times when it seems God has forgotten us are the times He watches closest. And when we get to the place where we can look back at the work that God has done in our lives, it is those times we will never forget. Sometimes we can lose sight of what God is doing and just look at our problems. We need to remember that God is still in control and that God never forgets us. G EN ES I S 40 I t c am e t o p as s af t e r t h e s e t h i n gs t h at t h e bu t l e r an d t h e bak e r o f t h e k i n g o f Egy p t o f f e n d e d t h e i r l o r d, t h e k i n g o f Egy p t.

4 An d Ph ar ao h w as an gr y w i t h h i s t w o o f f i c e r s, t h e c h i e f bu t l e r an d t h e c h i e f bak e r. S o h e p u t t h e m i n c u s t o d y i n t h e h o u s e o f t h e c ap t ai n o f t h e gu ar d, i n t h e p r i s o n, t h e p l ac e w h e r e J o s e p h w as c o n f i n e d. An d t h e c ap t ai n o f t h e gu ar d c h ar ge d J o s e p h w i t h t h e m, an d h e s e r v e d t h e m ; s o t h e y w e r e i n c u s t o d y f o r a w h i l e. T h e n t h e bu t l e r an d t h e bak e r o f t h e k i n g o f Egy p t, w h o w e r e c o n f i n e d i n t h e p r i s o n, d r e am e d a d r e am, bo t h o f t h e m, e ac h m an ' s d r e am i n o n e n i gh t an d e ac h m an ' s d r e am w i t h i t s o w n i n t e r p r e t at i o n. An d J o s e p h c am e i n t o t h e m i n t h e m o r n i n g an d l o o k e d at t h e m, an d s aw t h at t h e y w e r e s ad. S o h e as k e d Ph ar ao h ' s o f f i c e r s w h o w e r e w i t h h i m i n t h e c u s t o d y o f h i s l o r d ' s h o u s e, s ay i n g, " Wh y d o y o u l o o k s o s ad t o d ay?" An d t h e y s ai d t o h i m, " We e ac h h av e d r e am e d a d r e am, an d t h e r e i s n o i n t e r p r e t e r o f i t. " An d J o s e p h s ai d t o t h e m, " D o n o t i n t e r p r e t at i o n s be l o n g e, p l e as e. " T h e n t h e c h i e f bu t l e r t o l d h i s d r e am t o J o s e p h, an d s ai d t o h i m, " B e h o l d, i n m y d r e am a v i n e w as be f o r e m e, an d i n t h e v i n e w e r e t h r e e br an c h e s ; i t w as as t h o u gh i t bu d d e d, i t s bl o s s o m s s h o t f o r t h, an d i t s c l u s t e r s br o u gh t f o r t h r i p e gr ap e s.

5 T h e n Ph ar ao h ' s c u p w as i n m y h an d ; an d I t o o k t h e gr ap e s an d p r e s s e d t h e m i n t o Ph ar ao h ' s c u p, an d p l ac e d t h e c u p i n Ph ar ao h ' s h an d. " An d J o s e p h s ai d t o h i m, " T h i s i s t h e i n t e r p r e t at i o n o f i t : T h e t h r e e br an c h e s ar e t h r e e d ay s. N o w w i t h i n t h r e e d ay s Ph ar ao h w i l l l i f t u p y o u r h e ad an d r e s t o r e y o u t o y o u r p l ac e, an d y o u w i l l p u t Ph ar ao h ' s c u p i n h i s h an d ac c o r d i n g t o t h e f o r m e r m an n e r, w h e n y o u w e r e h i s bu t l e r. B u t r e m e m be r m e w h e n i t i s w e l l w i t h y o u, an d p l e as e s h o w k i n d n e s s t o m e ; m ak e m e n t i o n o f m e t o Ph ar ao h, an d ge t m e o u t o f t h i s h o u s e. F o r i n d e e d I w as s t o l e n aw ay f r o m t h e l an d o f t h e H e br e w s ; an d al s o I h av e d o n e n o t h i n g h e r e t h at t h e y s h o u l d p u t m e i n t o t h e d u n ge o n. " Wh e n t h e c h i e f bak e r s aw t h at t h e i n t e r p r e t at i o n w as go o d, h e s ai d t o J o s e p h, " I al s o w as i n m y d r e am, an d t h e r e I h ad t h r e e w h i t e bas k e t s o n m y h e ad. I n t h e u p p e r m o s t bas k e t t h e r e w e r e al l k i n d s o f bak e d go o d s f o r Ph ar ao h, an d t h e bi r d s at e t h e m o u t o f t h e bas k e t o n m y h e ad. " S o J o s e p h an s w e r e d an d s ai d, " T h i s i s t h e i n t e r p r e t at i o n o f i t : T h e t h r e e bas k e t s ar e t h r e e d ay s. Wi t h i n t h r e e d ay s Ph ar ao h w i l l l i f t o f f y o u r h e ad f r o m y o u an d h an g y o u o n a t r e e ; an d t h e bi r d s w i l l e at y o u r f l e s h f r o m y o u. "

6 N o w i t c am e t o p as s o n t h e t h i r d d ay, w h i c h w as Ph ar ao h ' s bi r t h d ay, t h at h e m ad e a f e as t f o r al l h i s s e r v an t s ; an d h e l i f t e d u p t h e h e ad o f t h e c h i e f bu t l e r an d o f t h e c h i e f bak e r am o n g h i s s e r v an t s. T h e n h e r e s t o r e d t h e c h i e f bu t l e r t o h i s bu t l e r s h i p agai n, an d h e p l ac e d t h e c u p i n Ph ar ao h ' s h an d. B u t h e h an ge d t h e c h i e f bak e r, as J o s e p h h ad i n t e r p r e t e d t o t h e m. Y e t t h e c h i e f bu t l e r d i d n o t r e m e m be r J o s e p h, bu t f o r go t h i m. Joseph probably spent several years in prison, but only one event is recorded in all this time, because it led to Joseph eventually being let out of prison. The Pharaoh s butler and baker were thrown into the prison where Joseph was. The butler was the overseer of Pharaoh s vineyards and wine cellar as well as his cupbearer. He was responsible to see that all drinks served to the King were both safe and of the best quality. Likewise, the baker was responsible for the food in the same way. The butler and the baker had somehow offended Pharaoh and were thrown into the same prison as Joseph. It does not say what their crimes were, but it is very possible that it was a capital offence, because the baker lost his head over the matter. Some believe that maybe the guards found poison and threw the baker and the butler in prison because they are the ones who could get the poison to Pharaoh. It s believed that they were thrown in jail while an investigation tried to uncover the guilty party. We can't be certain because the Bible does not specifically say. We know that they were put under Joseph's care. One night, they each had dreams that really bothered them. The Egyptians always believed that dreams were symbolic of something

7 that would happen. These two men, with their dreams about positions they held for Pharaoh, didn't know for sure if the dreams had a bad or good meaning. So, when Joseph came to check on them in the morning, they were obviously upset. Joseph asked them what was the matter and they told him that they had dreams that night and they did not know the meaning. Then Joseph pointed out that the interpretations of dreams belong to God. He asked them to tell him their dreams. Here Joseph is in this prison, in this trial, being punished after doing what was right, but he is still trusting God. He hasn't given into his circumstances, but still has faith in God. Sometimes when we are in difficult times we are tempted to blame the Lord or think He doesn t care any more. That wasn t the case with Joseph. He still put his trust in the Lord even when times were very hard. Joseph was young when God gave him the dreams about ruling over his family. God was going to use Joseph's life in a tremendous way and Joseph was ready for God to use him. But God's timing is not always our timing. In fact, it almost never is. We must seek God for His perfect will in our lives and trust Him to work everything in us in His perfect time, whether it is going to school, doing jobs around the house or whatever God calls us to do, be faithful in that. Just look at Joseph. He was made a slave and was taking care of someone else s house, but he was faithful in doing his best and God blessed him for that. He was also faithful in doing his best while in prison, so he was blessed and made head over the prisoners. God would use his experiences at Potiphar's house, and later in prison, to make him a leader. One day Joseph would take care of the whole land. Just think of how he learned to organize and how he learned management at Potiphar's house. He learned to deal with people in prison. God never forgets us. He has a special plan for our lives.

8 The chief butler reports his dream and receives Joseph s interpretation. In his dream, there was a vine with three branches. As he dreamed, he observed the branches budding, blossoming and finally bearing luscious bunches of grapes. The grapes were immediately ready for plucking, so the butler dreamed that he picked them and then pressed the grape juice from them into Pharaoh s cup, which had mysteriously appeared into his hand. Joseph's divine revelation, told him that the three branches represented three days, and this meant that in three days he would be released from prison and restored to his former office. The butler was happy at the revelation and Joseph asked him to remember him before Pharaoh and told the butler that he was kidnapped and innocent of any wrongdoing. The baker hearing the favorable report told Joseph about his dream. In his dream he was carrying baskets of baked goods on his head to Pharaoh. Birds came and ate the baked goods out of the baskets. Joseph informed him that the interpretation was entirely different than that of the butler's. The three baskets again represented three days, but instead of being reinstated at that time, his very head would be removed from his body and his body hanged on a tree. Instead of the birds eating Pharaoh s bread, they would be eating his flesh. The interpretations had come to pass exactly as Joseph had said. Joseph's hope of being released went with the butler, but the Bible says the butler forgot him. But we know that God did not forget him. God never forgets us. I wonder what Joseph was thinking in that prison. When would God release him? He still put his trust in the Lord. G EN ES I S 41:1-13 T h e n i t c am e t o p as s, at t h e e n d o f t w o f u l l y e ar s, t h at Ph ar ao h h ad a d r e am ; an d be h o l d, h e s t o o d by t h e r i v e r.

9 S u d d e n l y t h e r e c am e u p o u t o f t h e r i v e r s e v e n c o w s, f i n e l o o k i n g an d f at ; an d t h e y f e d i n t h e m e ad o w. T h e n be h o l d, s e v e n o t h e r c o w s c am e u p af t e r t h e m o u t o f t h e r i v e r, u gl y an d gau n t, an d s t o o d by t h e o t h e r c o w s o n t h e ban k o f t h e r i v e r. An d t h e u gl y an d gau n t c o w s at e u p t h e s e v e n f i n e l o o k i n g an d f at c o w s. S o Ph ar ao h aw o k e. H e s l e p t an d d r e am e d a s e c o n d t i m e ; an d s u d d e n l y s e v e n h e ad s o f gr ai n c am e u p o n o n e s t al k, p l u m p an d go o d. T h e n be h o l d, s e v e n t h i n h e ad s, bl i gh t e d by t h e e as t w i n d, s p r an g u p af t e r t h e m. An d t h e s e v e n t h i n h e ad s d e v o u r e d t h e s e v e n p l u m p an d f u l l h e ad s. S o Ph ar ao h aw o k e, an d i n d e e d, i t w as a d r e am. N o w i t c am e t o p as s i n t h e m o r n i n g t h at h i s s p i r i t w as t r o u bl e d, an d h e s e n t an d c al l e d f o r al l t h e m agi c i an s o f Egy p t an d al l i t s w i s e m e n. An d Ph ar ao h t o l d t h e m h i s d r e am s, bu t t h e r e w as n o o n e w h o c o u l d i n t e r p r e t t h e m f o r Ph ar ao h. T h e n t h e c h i e f bu t l e r s p o k e t o Ph ar ao h, s ay i n g: " I r e m e m be r m y f au l t s t h i s d ay. Wh e n Ph ar ao h w as an gr y w i t h h i s s e r v an t s, an d p u t m e i n c u s t o d y i n t h e h o u s e o f t h e c ap t ai n o f t h e gu ar d, bo t h m e an d t h e c h i e f bak e r,

10 w e e ac h d r e am e d a d r e am i n o n e n i gh t, h e an d I. Eac h o f u s d r e am e d ac c o r d i n g t o t h e i n t e r p r e t at i o n o f h i s o w n d r e am. N o w t h e r e w as a y o u n g H e br e w m an w i t h u s t h e r e, a s e r v an t o f t h e c ap t ai n o f t h e gu ar d. An d w e t o l d h i m, an d h e i n t e r p r e t e d o u r d r e am s f o r u s ; t o e ac h m an h e i n t e r p r e t e d ac c o r d i n g t o h i s o w n d r e am. An d i t c am e t o p as s j u s t as h e i n t e r p r e t e d f o r u s ; s o i t h ap p e n e d. H e r e s t o r e d m e t o m y o f f i c e, an d h e h an ge d h i m. " So Joseph had continued in the prison for two more years. We are not told if Joseph became discouraged in all this time, but we know that he kept his faith in God and trusted Him. We should remember to trust God in those times of discouragement and know that God has not forgotten us, but has a plan in store for our lives. God never forgets us. Pharaoh had two dreams that troubled him greatly, especially since none of Pharaoh s wise men or magicians could interpret the dream. He dreamed that seven plump healthy cows were standing half submerged in the water and then they came out of the water for pasture. The troubling part about the first dream was that seven ugly thin cows came up and devoured the seven fat cows. The second dream had a similar meaning. Seven plump ears of corn on a single stalk were swallowed up by seven thin and scorched ears of corn that sprouted after them. It was then that the chief butler finally remembered Joseph. Knowing Joseph's ability to interpret dreams, he told Pharaoh the two year old story about how the Pharaoh had been angry with him

11 and the baker and how they had dreams and were troubled, but this man Joseph interpreted them precisely and everything he said came to pass. We are starting to see how God's master plan is coming to pass. If Joseph had gotten out of prison when the butler was released, Pharaoh would not have had his dream yet. Who knows where Joseph would be, maybe back with his family, but perhaps in a place that when Pharaoh did have the dream he could not be there to interpret it. So we will see that the land would have fallen into severe famine without the revelation of the dreams had not Joseph been there to interpret for Pharaoh. God never forgets us, but knows what is best for us. G EN ES I S 41:14-44 T h e n Ph ar ao h s e n t an d c al l e d J o s e p h, an d t h e y br o u gh t h i m h as t i l y o u t o f t h e d u n ge o n ; an d h e s h av e d, c h an ge d h i s c l o t h i n g, an d c am e t o Ph ar ao h. An d Ph ar ao h s ai d t o J o s e p h, " I h av e d r e am e d a d r e am, an d t h e r e i s n o o n e w h o c an i n t e r p r e t i t. B u t I h av e h e ar d i t s ai d o f y o u t h at y o u c an u n d e r s t an d a d r e am, t o i n t e r p r e t i t. " S o J o s e p h an s w e r e d Ph ar ao h, s ay i n g, " I t i s n o t i n m e ; G o d w i l l gi v e Ph ar ao h an an s w e r o f p e ac e. " T h e n Ph ar ao h s ai d t o J o s e p h : " B e h o l d, i n m y d r e am I s t o o d o n t h e ban k o f t h e r i v e r. S u d d e n l y s e v e n c o w s c am e u p o u t o f t h e r i v e r, f i n e l o o k i n g an d f at ; an d t h e y f e d i n t h e m e ad o w.

12 T h e n be h o l d, s e v e n o t h e r c o w s c am e u p af t e r t h e m, p o o r an d v e r y u gl y an d gau n t, s u c h u gl i n e s s as I h av e n e v e r s e e n i n al l t h e l an d o f Egy p t. An d t h e gau n t an d u gl y c o w s at e u p t h e f i r s t s e v e n, t h e f at c o w s. Wh e n t h e y h ad e at e n t h e m u p, n o o n e w o u l d h av e k n o w n t h at t h e y h ad e at e n t h e m, f o r t h e y w e r e j u s t as u gl y as at t h e be gi n n i n g. S o I aw o k e. Al s o I s aw i n m y d r e am, an d s u d d e n l y s e v e n h e ad s c am e u p o n o n e s t al k, f u l l an d go o d. T h e n be h o l d, s e v e n h e ad s, w i t h e r e d, t h i n, an d bl i gh t e d by t h e e as t w i n d, s p r an g u p af t e r t h e m. An d t h e t h i n h e ad s d e v o u r e d t h e s e v e n go o d h e ad s. S o I t o l d t h i s t o t h e m agi c i an s, bu t t h e r e w as n o o n e w h o c o u l d e x p l ai n i t t o m e. " T h e n J o s e p h s ai d t o Ph ar ao h, " T h e d r e am s o f Ph ar ao h ar e o n e ; G o d h as s h o w n Ph ar ao h w h at H e i s abo u t t o d o : T h e s e v e n go o d c o w s ar e s e v e n y e ar s, an d t h e s e v e n go o d h e ad s ar e s e v e n y e ar s ; t h e d r e am s ar e o n e. An d t h e s e v e n t h i n an d u gl y c o w s w h i c h c am e u p af t e r t h e m ar e s e v e n y e ar s, an d t h e s e v e n e m p t y h e ad s bl i gh t e d by t h e e as t w i n d ar e s e v e n y e ar s o f f am i n e. T h i s i s t h e t h i n g w h i c h I h av e s p o k e n t o Ph ar ao h. G o d h as s h o w n Ph ar ao h w h at H e i s abo u t t o d o.

13 I n d e e d s e v e n y e ar s o f gr e at p l e n t y w i l l c o m e t h r o u gh o u t al l t h e l an d o f Egy p t ; bu t af t e r t h e m s e v e n y e ar s o f f am i n e w i l l ar i s e, an d al l t h e p l e n t y w i l l be f o r go t t e n i n t h e l an d o f Egy p t ; an d t h e f am i n e w i l l d e p l e t e t h e l an d. S o t h e p l e n t y w i l l n o t be k n o w n i n t h e l an d be c au s e o f t h e f am i n e f o l l o w i n g, f o r i t w i l l be v e r y s e v e r e. An d t h e d r e am w as r e p e at e d t o Ph ar ao h t w i c e be c au s e t h e t h i n g i s e s t abl i s h e d by G o d, an d G o d w i l l s h o r t l y br i n g i t t o p as s. N o w t h e r e f o r e, l e t Ph ar ao h s e l e c t a d i s c e r n i n g an d w i s e m an, an d s e t h i m o v e r t h e l an d o f Egy p t. L e t Ph ar ao h d o t h i s, an d l e t h i m ap p o i n t o f f i c e r s o v e r t h e l an d, t o c o l l e c t o n e -f i f t h o f t h e p r o d u c e o f t h e l an d o f Egy p t i n t h e s e v e n p l e n t i f u l y e ar s. An d l e t t h e m gat h e r al l t h e f o o d o f t h o s e go o d y e ar s t h at ar e c o m i n g, an d s t o r e u p gr ai n u n d e r t h e au t h o r i t y o f Ph ar ao h, an d l e t t h e m k e e p f o o d i n t h e c i t i e s. T h e n t h at f o o d s h al l be as a r e s e r v e f o r t h e l an d f o r t h e s e v e n y e ar s o f f am i n e w h i c h s h al l be i n t h e l an d o f Egy p t, t h at t h e l an d m ay n o t p e r i s h d u r i n g t h e f am i n e. " S o t h e ad v i c e w as go o d i n t h e e y e s o f Ph ar ao h an d i n t h e e y e s o f al l h i s s e r v an t s. An d Ph ar ao h s ai d t o h i s s e r v an t s, " C an w e f i n d s u c h a o n e as t h i s, a m an i n w h o m i s t h e S p i r i t o f G o d?"

14 T h e n Ph ar ao h s ai d t o J o s e p h, " I n as m u c h as G o d h as s h o w n y o u al l t h i s, t h e r e i s n o o n e as d i s c e r n i n g an d w i s e as y o u. Y o u s h al l be o v e r m y h o u s e, an d al l m y p e o p l e s h al l be r u l e d ac c o r d i n g t o y o u r w o r d ; o n l y i n r e gar d t o t h e t h r o n e w i l l I be gr e at e r t h an y o u. " An d Ph ar ao h s ai d t o J o s e p h, " S e e, I h av e s e t y o u o v e r al l t h e l an d o f Egy p t. " T h e n Ph ar ao h t o o k h i s s i gn e t r i n g o f f h i s h an d an d p u t i t o n J o s e p h ' s h an d ; an d h e c l o t h e d h i m i n gar m e n t s o f f i n e l i n e n an d p u t a go l d c h ai n ar o u n d h i s n e c k. An d h e h ad h i m r i d e i n t h e s e c o n d c h ar i o t w h i c h h e h ad ; an d t h e y c r i e d o u t be f o r e h i m, " B o w t h e k n e e!" S o h e s e t h i m o v e r al l t h e l an d o f Egy p t. Ph ar ao h al s o s ai d t o J o s e p h, " I am Ph ar ao h, an d w i t h o u t y o u r c o n s e n t n o m an m ay l i f t h i s h an d o r f o o t i n al l t h e l an d o f Egy p t. " Now Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and Joseph was taken out of jail and shaved and made presentable before Pharaoh. And as he stood before the King, he maintained that same attitude of dependence on God, declaring that it wasn't him, but it was God who would give Pharaoh an answer of peace. Pharaoh then told his dreams to Joseph, and without hesitation he interpreted the dreams for Pharaoh, adding to his interpretation advice that he should appoint officers and conserve the plenty of the first seven years in order to supply the need for the next seven.

15 The dreams then being interpreted, Pharaoh recognized that Joseph was a man who had the Spirit of God. Pharaoh then appointed Joseph to a great position of authority. He would be first in the kingdom. Only Pharaoh was more powerful. Pharaoh realized that Joseph had spoken under the direction of God. The appointment of power was then followed by Pharaoh placing on the hand of Joseph his own signet ring, dressing him in fine linen, placing a gold chain around his neck, and made to ride in the second chariot. As he rode, men accompanied him crying out to the people along the way to bow a knee to him. God can certainly change everything for us in an instant. We need to remember that He doesn t forget about us and will work all things together for good in our lives (Romans 8:28). Grocery Goof-ups! You will need a basket, fake or real groceries, some grocery lists, and a timer. Set the items in rows around the room to represent the shelves in a grocery store. Ask your class, As much as your mothers love you, have they ever forgotten something you wanted or needed from the store? The answer will most probably be affirmative. Have your students pick a grocery list from several. They must read the list and give it back to you. Then have them shop for the items they must remember. You can make this as difficult as is age appropriate. Set the timer for 30 seconds and let them shop. Compare the items they have collected with the lists they ve turned in. When your students are done shopping, explain that it s easy to forget an occasional item or two when there are so many items to remember, but God never forgets. He is always thinking of us, and working circumstances together to teach us and express His love for us. God never forgets us.

16 We now see God blessing His faithful servant Joseph, and showing him that He had not forgotten him. God had this incredible plan for his life and that all the hardships were necessary to make him the man of God that God wanted him to be. God never forgets us. G EN ES I S 41:45-57 An d Ph ar ao h c al l e d J o s e p h ' s n am e Z ap h n at h -Paan e ah. An d h e gav e h i m as a w i f e As e n at h, t h e d au gh t e r o f Po t i -Ph e r ah p r i e s t o f O n. S o J o s e p h w e n t o u t o v e r al l t h e l an d o f Egy p t. J o s e p h w as t h i r t y y e ar s o l d w h e n h e s t o o d be f o r e Ph ar ao h k i n g o f Egy p t. An d J o s e p h w e n t o u t f r o m t h e p r e s e n c e o f Ph ar ao h, an d w e n t t h r o u gh o u t al l t h e l an d o f Egy p t. N o w i n t h e s e v e n p l e n t i f u l y e ar s t h e gr o u n d br o u gh t f o r t h abu n d an t l y. S o h e gat h e r e d u p al l t h e f o o d o f t h e s e v e n y e ar s w h i c h w e r e i n t h e l an d o f Egy p t, an d l ai d u p t h e f o o d i n t h e c i t i e s ; h e l ai d u p i n e v e r y c i t y t h e f o o d o f t h e f i e l d s w h i c h s u r r o u n d e d t h e m. J o s e p h gat h e r e d v e r y m u c h gr ai n, as t h e s an d o f t h e s e a, u n t i l h e s t o p p e d c o u n t i n g, f o r i t w as w i t h o u t n u m be r. An d t o J o s e p h w e r e bo r n t w o s o n s be f o r e t h e y e ar s o f f am i n e c am e, w h o m As e n at h, t h e d au gh t e r o f Po t i - Ph e r ah p r i e s t o f O n, bo r e t o h i m. J o s e p h c al l e d t h e n am e o f t h e f i r s t bo r n M an as s e h : " F o r G o d h as m ad e m e f o r ge t al l m y t o i l an d al l m y f at h e r ' s h o u s e. "

17 An d t h e n am e o f t h e s e c o n d h e c al l e d Ep h r ai m : " F o r G o d h as c au s e d m e t o be f r u i t f u l i n t h e l an d o f m y af f l i c t i o n. " T h e n t h e s e v e n y e ar s o f p l e n t y w h i c h w e r e i n t h e l an d o f Egy p t e n d e d, an d t h e s e v e n y e ar s o f f am i n e be gan t o c o m e, as J o s e p h h ad s ai d. T h e f am i n e w as i n al l l an d s, bu t i n al l t h e l an d o f Egy p t t h e r e w as br e ad. S o w h e n al l t h e l an d o f Egy p t w as f am i s h e d, t h e p e o p l e c r i e d t o Ph ar ao h f o r br e ad. T h e n Ph ar ao h s ai d t o al l t h e Egy p t i an s, " G o t o J o s e p h ; w h at e v e r h e s ay s t o y o u, d o. " T h e f am i n e w as o v e r al l t h e f ac e o f t h e e ar t h, an d J o s e p h o p e n e d al l t h e s t o r e h o u s e s an d s o l d t o t h e Egy p t i an s. An d t h e f am i n e be c am e s e v e r e i n t h e l an d o f Egy p t. S o al l c o u n t r i e s c am e t o J o s e p h i n Egy p t t o bu y gr ai n, be c au s e t h e f am i n e w as s e v e r e i n al l l an d s. Pharaoh then gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah, and gave him a wife, and her name was Asenath, who was a daughter of an Egyptian priest in the land of On, which was the city of the sun, the great educational center of Egypt. Joseph was thirty years old at this time and his position gave him the opportunity to travel all over Egypt. Pharaoh s dreams were coming to pass; the land was producing abundant crops for seven years, and Joseph put them into storage in the Egyptian cities. He always followed God and gave God the glory for all the success. He then had two sons with which he gave Hebrew names, the first

18 he named Manaseh, which means "forget," because God had made him forget the misery of his separation from his family. The second he named Ephraim, which means "fruitful," because God had made him fruitful in the land of Egypt. Joseph's wisdom bore fruit; the seven good years were indeed followed by the seven years of famine. Not only did the Egyptians come and buy grain, but people from all over the land came to buy grain. God would use this famine to bring Joseph's family back together. Isn't God awesome? We see in this story that God never forgot Joseph, not for a second. God had this plan in Joseph's life, and Joseph trusted God, and God was with him. God is always with us; He will never leave us or forsake us. We can't get away from God no matter how hard we try; He is always with us. He is there when it feels like we are all alone, or feels like we are locked up in prison. God is with us and not only with us, but working in our lives constantly. Circumstances are really just the fingers of God molding us more and more in the image of His Son. God never forgets us. Jungle Bungle Seat your students in a circle. Tell them you will be testing their memories to see if they can remember as well as God can. If it is available, play a tape of jungle music (African, Indian, Australian stuff will do). Have them tell you their favorite jungle animals to spark some enthusiasm. Then begin the game. Going around the circle have the first child make a jungle animal sound, then have the second child make the first sound and add his own sound. The third child repeats the first and the second sound and then adds his own. Repeat this around the circle. If anyone forgets the sounds he must point his index finger and touch his hand to his forehead to represent an elephant s trunk. They must keep their trunk up while the whole class repeats the

19 sounds to help him. Go around the class, maybe even a couple of times depending on class size and time. Explain to the class that it s difficult to remember when there are so many things to remember, but God never forgets any of us ever. As many people as there are in the whole world, He knows the number of hairs on each head...and that s always changing! God never forgets us. PRAYER Lead the children in a prayer of thanksgiving for God s continual remembrance of His children. If there are any children who have not yet responded to the gospel, give them opportunity to do so.

20 Template - Interview A Friend Interview A Friend! What is your name? When is your birthday? What is your favorite color? What is your favorite food? What is your favorite thing to do? What is your favorite school subject? What do you what to do when you grow up? If you could go on vacation anywhere in the world where would you go? Do you have any pets? What are their names? What is your favorite verse in the Bible? What are the names of your brothers or sisters?