Lesson Focus “Forgive as the Lord forgives you.” Colossians 3:13
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. “ Romans 8:28
“And FORGIVE us our trespasses as we FORGIVE those who trespass against us.” Matthew 6:12
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Joseph Forgives (Genesis 42-45)
This story represents the first step in God’s chastening of the ten brothers who had treated Joseph so shamefully. Joseph’s actions toward his brothers were not done out of hate but love. Joseph, a God fearing man, was deeply concerned for the spiritual welfare of his brothers. Joseph's acceptance of what God had allowed to come into his life, together with his loving forgiveness toward his brothers, serves as a model for all who would follow.
The famine again brought the brothers to Egypt to buy grain. (Only ten brothers made the trip since Joseph and Simeon were already in Egypt). Unknown to the brothers their fate rested in the hands of Joseph, whom they had sold into slavery some twenty-odd years earlier. Joseph wanted to be certain that they had not only truly repented of their sins against him, but that they had also changed their sinful, selfish ways. He tested them by pretending to threaten Benjamin, their youngest brother.
Joseph revealed himself to his brothers when they demonstrated that they would sacrifice themselves rather than see harm come to Benjamin. This was indication that a profound change had been worked in their hearts. The reunion that followed was therefore heartwarming and complete without reservation of any kind.
Certainly one will want to discuss the forgiveness the brothers received and the joy at finding out their brother was alive. What relief they must have felt in knowing that the sin that had been burning in their hearts was forgiven. Joseph certainly had the power and could have made his brothers suffer greatly for their sin. We see in Joseph a true man of God who was both loving and forgiving. The chastening of the Lord through Joseph had brought the brothers to repentance and forgiveness. The brothers could now see, by faith, that God had sent Joseph to save lives. The fact that God turned their evil plan to serve His purpose does not excuse the sin they committed. It does demonstrate to us that our loving and gracious God is merciful and long suffering toward us all. God does not want anyone to die in unbelief.
Chapter 43 Jacob again demonstrates some of the same character flaws that marked his early years. He continues to allow one son, Simeon, to suffer in Egypt rather than risk his cherished son Benjamin in his mind the only living son of his beloved Rachel. He then blames his other sons for telling the truth to the "Egyptian ruler" (Joseph) when he asked them about other sons.
Jacob then resorts to the tried and true tactic of gifting himself into the good favor of another (remember his attempt to pacify his brother Esau in Genesis 32). Finally Jacob realizes that he has no choice but to trust in the Lord and send Benjamin with his brothers. He is still wrestling with God.
Though Joseph invited his brothers to dine with him, they, the Egyptians, and Joseph himself were all actually served in different areas of Joseph's house to preserve proper protocol. It was an abomination for Egyptians to dine directly with foreigners.
The brothers were filled with wonder when they were seated according to age. They had evidently never revealed their relative ages to the Egyptians and very likely believed that "the Egyptian ruler" must have determined this by divination.
Joseph again tested his older brothers by showing favoritism to Benjamin. He was no doubt observing them closely for signs of the old jealousy he remember all too well.
Chapter 44 By implicating Benjamin for the theft of the ruler's cup, Joseph was arranging one final test for his brothers. He gave them the chance to escape with their lives if they would give up Benjamin. The brothers he had known in his youth would have gladly accepted Joseph's offer. His brothers now demonstrated the change that had been wrought in them by not only refusing to give up Benjamin but also by offering to take his place.
In Judah we see not only a changed man but also a picture of his most famous Descendant. As Judah was willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of both his brother Benjamin and his father, so Christ Jesus willingly sacrificed himself for all mankind.
Chapter 45 The moment of revelation was a private moment between Joseph and his brothers, therefore he orders all Egyptians from the room. Like Moses after him, living the life of a wealthy, powerful Egyptian had not changed Joseph's allegiance.
Joseph demonstrates no lingering animosity toward his brothers. He recognized the hand of God in what had happened and was thus able to truly forgive them.
There has been some attempt in modern times to characterize the land of Goshen as substandard land passed off to the Children of Israel as something valuable. This land was in fact very valuable and remains fertile to this day. The area was given to Joseph's family at a time when Joseph was at the height of his power in Egypt. All of Egypt, from Pharaoh on down, looked with grateful eyes upon Joseph as their national savior. It seems unlikely they would have rewarded him with poor land or that Joseph, second only to Pharaoh, would have accepted a poor region for his family.
The picture of Jacob's sons revealing the news to their father that Joseph was alive is one of the most poignant and heartwarming in the entire Bible. We should view this scene as but a small taste of the indescribable joy all Christians will one day experience in heaven.
Bible Story Joseph Forgives Genesis 42-45
Read from your Bible. Ask students to find it in a Bible too. Those that can read can follow along. Choose the passages you would like to read aloud. Use visuals to help tell the story.
Introduction: We have been talking about Joseph. Who is Joseph? What do you remember about him? How many brothers did he have? Did they like him? What did they do to Joseph? What happened to Joseph? Who took care of Joseph through all of these bad things? What did Joseph end up doing in Egypt? (How did God use Joseph?)
Jacob heard there was food in Egypt, so he sent his ten oldest sons there to buy food. When the ten brothers got to Egypt, they came to the governor of the land and bowed down before him. This ruler was their brother Joseph, but they didn't know who he was. He knew them and spoke to them in an angry way.
"Who are you, and where do you come from?" asked Joseph."We come from the land of Canaan,” said the brothers. "You are spies!" said Joseph.
The brothers said, "No, my lord, we have come to buy food. We are brothers. We are honest men. We are not spies." But Joseph said, "No. You are spies! You have come to see if you can take over our land."
"We are twelve brothers that live in Canaan with our father. Our youngest brother is at home and one brother is gone." Joseph again said, "You are spies! You shall not leave until your youngest brother comes here." So he put them into prison for three days. There they sat and thought about all the things happening to them.
On the third day, Joseph said to them, "If you are honest men, let one brother stay in prison, and you return to your land with the food. But bring your youngest brother back to me to prove you aren't lying."
Then they said to each other, "We are guilty. Long ago we heard our brother Joseph plead with us to save him, and we didn't listen. Now we are paying for it."
Reuben said, "Didn't I tell you to leave him alone? You didn't listen. Now we are being punished." Joseph listened to them talk.
He saw they were sorry for what they had done to him. Then Joseph had his servants tie up Simeon, while his brothers watched, and lead Simeon away to prison.
Joseph told his servants to fill the brothers' sacks with food and put their money back inside the sacks.
On their way home, one of the brothers opened a sack of grain to feed the donkeys, and he found his money. Then they were all afraid. "What is happening? What is God doing to us?" they asked.
When they got home, they told their father Jacob everything that had happened. As they emptied their sacks of food, they found money in each sack.
Jacob said, "You have taken Joseph from me, and now Simeon is gone, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me. Everything bad is happening to me."
Then Reuben said, "Trust me. I will bring Benjamin back to you or you can kill my two sons." And Jacob said, "No. Joseph is dead. If anything would happen to Benjamin, I would die of sadness."
The brothers had gone to Egypt. Why? What happened? What now?
When the grain that they had brought back from Egypt was gone, Jacob told his sons to go back to Egypt and buy more. Judah reminded Jacob that they couldn’t return to Egypt without Benjamin along. Jacob blamed them for telling the Egyptian ruler about Benjamin. He said, “Why did you tell him?”
They answered Jacob, “The man asked us directly. Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother? So we told him the truth. How would we know he’d want us to bring Benjamin?”
Then Judah said, “Send the boy with me. I’ll take care of him. If I don’t bring him safely back, you can blame me the rest of my life.”
So Jacob gave in and let them go and take Benjamin along. He also sent great presents along to obtain favor in the ruler’s sight. They all took the money and more to repay. And Jacob sent them away with the Lord’s blessings.
When they had arrived before Joseph, Joseph had his servants take them to his home to dine at noon with him.
The brothers didn’t understand. They were afraid and thought Joseph would make them all slaves because of the money they had found in their sacks on the way home last time they came to Egypt. They pleaded with Joseph’s servant and told him what had happened with the money.
But the servant said, “Peace be with you and do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your fathers has given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money.” Then he brought Simeon from prison to join them.
They cleaned up, got the gifts, and met Joseph at noon. They bowed down before him and Joseph asked them about their father and he met Benjamin. Then Joseph left and he cried in private. His brothers were seated to eat; oldest to youngest. They were amazed. When they were served Benjamin received five times as much as the other brothers. So they drank and were merry with him.
After the meal, Joseph commanded his servant to fill the brothers’ sacks with food and put each man’s money into the sacks as well. Also Joseph told his servant to place his silver cup in the sack of the youngest.
The next morning the brothers left. Joseph sent his chief servant after them and told him what to say. When the servant caught up to them he said, “Why did you steal my lord’s cup after he was so good to you?”
“Why are you accusing us? We brought back the money we found. We are honest. If you find the cup let that man die and the rest of us will be your slaves.
The servant answered, “Whoever has the cup can be my slave and the rest can go free.”
When Joseph’s servant searched the sacks of grain, he found the cup in Benjamin’s sack. Then Joseph’s brothers tore their clothes and each man returned to the city with Joseph’s servant. When they came before Joseph, they all fell before him and Judah pleaded for Benjamin. Judah begged for his father’s sake to take Benjamin’s place in prison.
Then Joseph couldn’t hold back anymore and he commanded all but his brothers to leave the room, but everyone heard his loud cries. “I am Joseph,” he said, “Is father still alive? Please come here. I am Joseph. You sold me into slavery, but God was with me and set me as ruler to save lives. There are still 5 years of famine left. Go, tell my father I am a ruler here and he should come be with me to live.” He hugged, kissed, and cried with his brothers.
When Pharaoh heard of Joseph’s family, he was pleased and told Joseph to send for his father’s household . Pharaoh would give them the best of the land of Egypt. He said, “You would eat the fat of the land.”
Joseph sent the brothers home to Canaan with carts to ride in, provisions for the journey, changes of garments. Benjamin was given 30 pieces of silver and 10 donkeys loaded with the goods from Egypt.
Joseph said, “Do not be troubled on your way home! Go and bring my father to me!”
They arrived home and told Jacob that Joseph was alive! They told their father everything that they had said and done.
Jacob believed them and said, “Joseph my son is still alive! I will go and see him before I die.”
Dear Jesus, You have shown me how much I am loved by my Father in heaven. Help me to remember that no matter what I have done wrong, God the Father has freely forgiven me of all my sins for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Bible Challenge “Forgive as the Lord forgives you.” Colossians 3:13
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. “ Romans 8:28
“And FORGIVE us our trespasses as we FORGIVE those who trespass against us.” Matthew 6:12
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Read this passage from your Bible. Ask students to locate it in a Bible too. Help them learn this verse.
Activity 1: What the Bible Tells Us Prayer ACTivity Write a prayer that will remind us of the main points presented in this lesson. Use the acronym ACTS as explained below.
A (Acknowledge who you are praying to)
C (Confess)
T (Thank)
S (Supplicate - ask)
Closing Prayer Lord Jesus, I know You are always with me, guiding me, protecting me, and making all things work out for my good. Please give me strength to overcome temptation, for without You I am helpless against the attacks of the devil. Please help me to give all glory to You for the gifts and abilities with which You have blessed me. Please forgive me all my sins and keep me forever as Your child and heir. In Jesus saving name. Amen.
Game Game 1: In Awe of God
Use this activity to illustrate how God is in control of many things at once. He knows what is going on and all things are meant for our good! Just when Joseph’s situation seemed hopeless, God was there to help Joseph out.
You’ll need: Jacks or other small balls for half of the students in a group
What you’ll do: Divide group in half – half will do this activity, while the other half gives them the objects Groups trade places
Ask for a volunteer and give him the jacks (balls) and tell them their job is to keep all of the jacks spinning or balls bouncing until you tell them to stop. As some of them stop spinning or bouncing, they will need to get them spinning or bouncing again. Keep giving them more and more jacks or balls until it is impossible for them to keep up.
Talk about it: Talk about how hard it is to keep up with many tasks all at the same time. Keeping all of the jacks spinning was not an easy task, but how hard would it be to keep them spinning for several hours or even days? What if you had to keep them spinning, while cleaning your room, feeding the dog, and doing your homework, all at the same time? God keeps lots of things going at the same time. Make a list on the board – some examples may include:
God hears everyone’s prayers
God keeps each planet in place, and all the stars.
God knows the number of grains of sand on every beach.
God knows every thought of every person.
God knows each child before it is born.
God supplies each person with his or her daily needs.
God supplies the needs of all the little creatures of the world.
We could never understand or begin to know all the things God does at the same time. But everything God does, He does for our good.
Science Experiment Seeds and grains display and flour making demonstration
Put out a display of seeds, dried beans, popcorn, rice, and oatmeal. Demonstrate making flour by crushing some oatmeal with a rolling pin. Let the children take turns make oat flour.
Talk about or show some of the different things that can be made from flour. (pasta, breads, etc.)
Service Project: Make cold water playdough with flour for Preschool Class or day care
Uncooked Playdough Materials
Bowl
1 cup cold water
1 cup salt
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
food coloring
3 cups flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Directions
In bowl, mix water, salt, oil, and enough tempera paint or food coloring to make a bright color.
Gradually add flour and cornstarch until the mixture reaches the consistency of bread dough.
Store covered.
Closing Activity “Forgive as the Lord forgives you.” Colossians 3:13
Pray: Dear God, thank you for loving me and taking care of me. Thank you for sending Jesus to take away my sins. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
