God Helped Joseph Lead Egypt
Genesis 41
Our story comes from the book, or part, of the Bible called Genesis. Genesis means "the beginning."
The Bible tells us of a young man named Joseph. When Joseph was seventeen years old, his brothers sold him to some Ishmaelites as a slave. They took Joseph down to Egypt.
Potiphar, an Egyptian, one of Pharaoh's officers, the captain of the guard, bought Joseph from the Ishmaelites.
God was with Joseph, so that he prospered for many years in the house of his master, the Egyptian.
But Joseph was accused of something he didn't do. Joseph was arrested and put into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were kept.
One day, the king of Egypt had a bad dream.
The king told his dream to many people. But no one could tell the king what his dream meant.
The king of Egypt called for Joseph.
The king said, "I had a dream.
No one can tell me what it means. Can you tell me what it means?"
Joseph asked God to help him understand the king's dream. God helped Joseph. Joseph told the king, "There will be 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 good years. The fields will grow lots of grain. There will be plenty of food to eat."
Then Joseph continued. "After the seven good years, there will be 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 bad years. Plants won't grow."
"People will be hungry.”
Joseph told the king to find a leader to help the people save food during the seven good years. Then they would have food to eat during the seven bad years.
The king said, "You are very wise."
"I will make you my leader to take care of my people."
The king gave Joseph his special ring that he used to stamp special papers. The king gave Joseph beautiful clothes to wear.
And the king gave Joseph a chariot to ride in. When people saw Joseph with the ring, clothes, and chariot, they would know that Joseph was the leader who would take care of them.
During the seven good years, everything happened just like God had said. Lots of grain and other foods grew in the fields.
Whiz, bumpety, bump. Joseph rode in the chariot all over Egypt.
He had the people store grain in big buildings.
Then the seven bad years happened.
The grain stopped growing. Soon the people were hungry.
Joseph opened the buildings. The people were able to buy the grain they needed.
God gave the people a leader, Joseph, to take care of them. God helped Joseph be a good leader. God gives us leaders to take care of us too.
God had a plan for Joseph. And Joseph's story is looking much better. But it is not over yet. God has a plan for us, too. We can trust in God's plan.
Joseph was made a leader in ancient Egypt. God definitely used Joseph's various life experiences to lead him to that role. God also gifted Joseph with the wisdom to help the Egyptians plan ahead and survive a terrible seven-year drought. Joseph was supported by the Pharaoh and probably also by the people he led.
Think about your child. God has given that child to you. He has given you to your child to lead him and take care of him. God has prepared you through your various life experiences to become the parent you are today.
Ask the Lord to give you wisdom to lead your child in the way He wants you to.
Play follow-the-leader with your child. Have her imitate your actions as you work, play, and pray. Name leaders she can follow.
Read stories with your preschooler about how leaders care for us. Talk about who helps you take care of your child.
Many of the leaders in your child's life may work with little thanks for all the care they give. Let your preschooler help choose a fun way to say thank you to them. You might want to bake some cookies or make thank-you cards.
Show your child grains, such as flour, rice, corn, oats, and cornmeal. Explain what they are used to make. Let your child pretend to be a worker who obeyed Joseph. Help him pour grain into a paper sack and store it until you ask for it. Remind your child to "Trust in the LORD" to provide food for him.
Make a picture list of the leaders in your child's life (Sunday school teacher, babysitter, family, preschool teacher, etc.). Pray for each leader by name and thank God for giving your child each one.
Our story comes from the book, or part, of the Bible called Genesis. Genesis means "the beginning."
The Bible tells us of a young man named Joseph. When Joseph was seventeen years old, his brothers sold him to some Ishmaelites as a slave. They took Joseph down to Egypt.
Potiphar, an Egyptian, one of Pharaoh's officers, the captain of the guard, bought Joseph from the Ishmaelites.
God was with Joseph, so that he prospered for many years in the house of his master, the Egyptian.
But Joseph was accused of something he didn't do. Joseph was arrested and put into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were kept.
The king told his dream to many people. But no one could tell the king what his dream meant.
The king of Egypt called for Joseph.
The king said, "I had a dream.
No one can tell me what it means. Can you tell me what it means?"
Joseph asked God to help him understand the king's dream. God helped Joseph. Joseph told the king, "There will be 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 good years. The fields will grow lots of grain. There will be plenty of food to eat."
Then Joseph continued. "After the seven good years, there will be 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 bad years. Plants won't grow."
"People will be hungry.”
Joseph told the king to find a leader to help the people save food during the seven good years. Then they would have food to eat during the seven bad years.
The king said, "You are very wise."
"I will make you my leader to take care of my people."
The king gave Joseph his special ring that he used to stamp special papers. The king gave Joseph beautiful clothes to wear.
And the king gave Joseph a chariot to ride in. When people saw Joseph with the ring, clothes, and chariot, they would know that Joseph was the leader who would take care of them.
During the seven good years, everything happened just like God had said. Lots of grain and other foods grew in the fields.
Whiz, bumpety, bump. Joseph rode in the chariot all over Egypt.
He had the people store grain in big buildings.
Then the seven bad years happened.
The grain stopped growing. Soon the people were hungry.
Joseph opened the buildings. The people were able to buy the grain they needed.
God gave the people a leader, Joseph, to take care of them. God helped Joseph be a good leader. God gives us leaders to take care of us too.
God had a plan for Joseph. And Joseph's story is looking much better. But it is not over yet. God has a plan for us, too. We can trust in God's plan.
Bible Paraphrase: “The plans of the LORD stand firm forever.” (“But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” Psalm 33:11 NIV)
Text Truth: I am part of God's plan.
Family Devotional
Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh's presence and traveled throughout Egypt. — Genesis 41:46
Joseph was made a leader in ancient Egypt. God definitely used Joseph's various life experiences to lead him to that role. God also gifted Joseph with the wisdom to help the Egyptians plan ahead and survive a terrible seven-year drought. Joseph was supported by the Pharaoh and probably also by the people he led.
Think about your child. God has given that child to you. He has given you to your child to lead him and take care of him. God has prepared you through your various life experiences to become the parent you are today.
Ask the Lord to give you wisdom to lead your child in the way He wants you to.
Activities You Can Do at Home
Follow the Leader
Play follow-the-leader with your child. Have her imitate your actions as you work, play, and pray. Name leaders she can follow.
Read about Leaders
Read stories with your preschooler about how leaders care for us. Talk about who helps you take care of your child.
Thank a Leader
Many of the leaders in your child's life may work with little thanks for all the care they give. Let your preschooler help choose a fun way to say thank you to them. You might want to bake some cookies or make thank-you cards.
Following Joseph
Show your child grains, such as flour, rice, corn, oats, and cornmeal. Explain what they are used to make. Let your child pretend to be a worker who obeyed Joseph. Help him pour grain into a paper sack and store it until you ask for it. Remind your child to "Trust in the LORD" to provide food for him.
Thank God for Leaders
Make a picture list of the leaders in your child's life (Sunday school teacher, babysitter, family, preschool teacher, etc.). Pray for each leader by name and thank God for giving your child each one.
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Story illustrations are the copyright of Sweet Publishing and licensed by FreeBibleimages (http://freebibleimages.org) for free download under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike 3.0 unported licence.
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