Lesson Objective:
The children will see that God’s plan always comes to be, even when it doesn’t make sense.
Scripture:
Genesis 40-41.
Arrival:
When the children arrive, take them to the sitting area and sing with them.
Prayer:
Take prayer requests and pray with the children.
Lesson:
Review with the children what you have learned so far about the story of Joseph. Remind them about his dreams, the coat of many colors, and the way his brothers sold him into slavery. Review the way he fled from sin with Potiphar’s wife, only to end up in prison. Resume the story at that point:
When Joseph was in prison, God still remembered him. At this time, God would sometimes give people messages through their dreams. One night, God sent a dream to two other prisoners, the Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker (explain what a cupbearer is if you need to). These two men came to Joseph and told him about their dreams. Joseph, with God’s help, knew the meaning of the dreams. The cupbearer would be found not guilty of his crime and would be let out of jail. The baker would be found guilty. Joseph asked the cupbearer, “when you get out of prison, tell Pharaoh about me and how I am innocent, and ask him to let me out too.”
Sure enough, the cupbearer was let out, but he forgot about Joseph. In fact, for two years nothing happened. That’s a long time!
Then, one night Pharaoh had a dream, and none of the wise men could help him understand what it meant. He was complaining about it, and his cupbearer suddenly remembered how Joseph had told him the meaning to his own dream. He told Pharaoh, and Pharaoh sent for Joseph.
When Pharaoh met Joseph, he asked him, “Can you tell me what my dream means?” Joseph answered, “No, I can’t. It’s my God that gives me the meaning to the dream.” Pharaoh told Joseph his dream, and Joseph told the meaning.
“This is a warning from God. For the next seven years, the crops will grow well, but then after that there will be seven years of famine. During that time no crops will grow and the people will go hungry.”
Pharaoh was worried. He wondered what he should do. Joseph told him, “since there will be seven good years, store up all of the extra food. Then the people will have enough to get through the hard years.”
Pharaoh was so impressed with the wisdom God gave to Joseph, that he put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt. The only man on earth who was more important than Joseph was the Pharaoh himself!
Remember how we talked about God having a plan? Well, this was it! God took Joseph to Egypt and then to jail so he could meet the cupbearer, who would eventually bring him to Pharaoh. In the next lesson, we will see how this plan finally plays out, allowing Joseph to fulfill the dreams he had as a child.
Memory Verse:
Genesis 50:20 – Start learning this verse with the children.
Craft/Game:
Take the time to learn a new song:
Pharaoh’s Dream (Tune: Yankee Doodle)
Pharaoh had two dreams one night
That were so strange to him.
The wise men tried with all their might
To know what they must mean.
But Pharaoh’s dreams were strange to them
Their meaning was not clear.
So Pharaoh sent for Joseph
Who was inside the jail.
Then Joseph with the help of God
Interpreted the dreams
Seven years of plenty,
Then seven years of famine.
Dismissal:
Remind the children to come back the coming week in order to hear the final part of Joseph’s story. Have them watch during the week for times when something seems bad, like Joseph going to jail, but ends up working out well, like when Joseph was the second in command of the entire empire.
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