Lesson Learned: Joseph’s brothers treat him badly.
Materials Needed: old pillow case, finger paints
Bible Verse:
Genesis 37:23-36
23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing— 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.
25 As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.
26 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.
28 So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.
29 When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. 30 He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now?”
31 Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. 32 They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.”
33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”
34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him.
36 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.
Talking Points: Jacob loved all his sons but he treated Joseph very special. Jacob gave Joseph a special coat with many colors on it and the brothers were jealous of Joseph because of it so they sold him to some men going to Egypt. Joseph’s brothers treated their brother badly, and this is not want God wants. God wants us to love others, especially our brothers and sisters.
Questions: Do you ever get upset with your brother or sister? Why? Do you think God likes it when you get mad at them? When you do get mad at them, what do you think you should do?
Activity:
The Multi-Colored Coats
Cut out a hole for the child’s head on the sewn end of the pillow case. Cut out arm holes on each side. Let the child paint the pillow case with fingerpaints; when it dries, let the child model their new coat for you.
This is a great activity too:
http://www.dltk-bible.com/crafts/mpaperjoseph.htm
Prayer: Praise be to God! Please help us to love our brothers and sisters and be nice to them. We know you love all of us very much. Amen!