Sessions 9-10 Jacob and his sons move to Egypt
- Teresa
- Aug 14, 2019
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 14, 2020
Genesis 37-50
Jacob (aka Israel) fathers 12 sons and 1 daughter. Genesis 37-50 tell of how the family moves from Canaan and settles in Egypt. This can be covered in 2 sessions, or 1 longer session.
Session 9: Joseph goes to Egypt
Read and/or watch a video on Genesis 37- 41
Video 1: Joseph gets sold off to Egypt
Source: Saddleback Kids on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnlqKPIZQzI
Video 2: Joseph in Egypt
Source: Saddleback Kids on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SCAXrEmRRA
Discussion
Jacob (Israel) and his wives have 12 sons, in the following order:
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. He also has a daughter Dinah. The 12 tribes of Israel would come from the 12 sons.
What bad things did Joseph's brothers do? Why did they do it?
Joseph's brothers were jealous of Joseph because their father loved him more. They also hated him for the dreams he had, where he was reigning over them.
His brothers wanted to kill him. Reuben stopped them and asked them to throw him into a pit. Reuben actually intended to come back to save him later. However Judah instigated the brothers to sell him off to Mid'ianite traders, who took Joseph to Egypt.
The brothers then took Joseph's coat, dipped it in goat's blood and lied to Jacob that a wild beast had devoured him. (Jacob's sons deceive him, just as he had deceived his father Isaac many years ago by donning his brother Esau's coat).
What happened to Joseph in Egypt? What can we learn from Joseph and how he responded to his trials?
Joseph was first sold to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. The Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hands, and Potiphar put him in charge of the household. He was later thrown into prison, framed by Potiphar's wife. Even in prison God was with him and he did well, and Joseph was put in charge of all the prisoners. After a few years, after interpreting Pharaoh's dreams, Pharaoh placed him in charge to govern over Egypt.
Despite all his misfortunes - mistreated by his brothers, sold as a slave, framed by his master's wife, and alone and forgotten in prison - Joseph never loses faith in God. He is always honest, hardworking and courageous. He is also humble, and gives all credit to God, and continues to trust God's will. Eventually, because of him, he is able to bless Egypt and the surrounding countries, to provide for the people in times of famine.
Reflect: Can we keep our trust in God, even when things are difficult?
What does Pharaoh dream about, and what does Joseph tell him about what it means?
Pharaoh dreams that there are seven fat cows which come onto the banks of the Nile and feed, followed by 7 thin and gaunt cows. Joseph said that God had revealed that the seven fat cows were seven years of plenty throughout Egypt. They would be followed by seven years of famine. Pharoah should appoint someone to take a fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven good years and store up the food, so that it could be a reserve against the seven years of famine which were to follow.
Session 10: Joseph forgives his brothers
Read and/or watch a video on Genesis 42-50
Video 3: Joseph forgives his brothers
Source: Saddleback Kids on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndETu4bzwAY
Video 4:
Source: Saddleback Kids on YouTube
Discussion:
As Joseph had foretold, the seven good years of harvest were followed by seven years of famine. The famine affected the surrounding countries as well. Many, including his brothers, came to Egypt in search of grain.
How does Joseph test his brothers? Did they pass the test?
He accuses them of being spies and imprisons them for 3 days. For him to believe them, he asks that they bring their youngest son Benjamin back. He detains Simeon and sends the rest back to Canaan with their money and provisions.
Later, the brothers return to Egypt with Benjamin. Joseph sends them back with sacks of food, and instructs his men to place a silver cup in Benjamin's bag. On their way back to Canaan, they are stopped by Joseph's steward. Benjamin is accused of stealing Joseph's silver cup and is detained.
Joseph was testing them to see if they had changed. When Benjamin is accused, Judah pleads for his release and tells of his father's heartache should Benjamin not return. He also offers to stay in Benjamin's place and be a slave, so that Benjamin can go back with his brothers. Contrast this with the young Judah, who was the one to sell Joseph off and lied to his father about his brother's fate.
After Jacob's death, his brothers, afraid that Joseph would punish them, ask for forgiveness and offer to become Joseph's slaves. How does Joseph respond?
In Genesis 50:20, Joseph told his brothers "As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant for it to be good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today". Joseph understands that God has a plan for us, even when things look like they are not going well, God is working through them for good.
Genesis concludes with Jacob's family settling down in Egypt. What progress has been made towards God's fulfillment of His promises to Abraham?
The family has grown to be 70 strong. Abraham and Sarah started with only 2 people, and there is now a tribe of 12 family units, from which the 12 tribes and future kingdom of Israel would come. We will see in the later books that the future kings, David, Solomon as well as Jesus would come from the family line of Judah (Jacob's fourth son).
However, they have moved away from the promised land of Canaan, and would remain in Egypt for about 400 years. Nothing is recorded in the Bible for these 400 years, and salvation history will pick up again in the Book of Exodus.
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