FAITH CHALLENGE
Genesis
12-50: Abraham to Joseph
Scripture: Genesis 37-50
(the Joseph story)
Memory Verse: Romans 8:28
“We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him.”
Concepts:
Objectives: Students will be able to:
Gathering Time: (Coach)
The Coach leads the opening
routine: snack, fellowship, prayer wall activity, and prayer chain. Name tags are available.
Workshop Lesson Procedure:
Introduction: (Coach)
Scripture/Bible Story: (Guide)
Jacob had four wives and four sets of children. These half brothers and sisters didn’t get
along with each other. Things got even
worse when the most favored son -- named Joseph -- had two dreams that made his
brothers angry. One dream showed their
bundles of wheat bowing down to his bundle of wheat. Another had the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowing to his
star. To most of the other brothers,
that sounded like Joseph was trying to take over the whole family. So, they kidnapped Joseph, sold him to a
slave trader who took him to Egypt and tricked Jacob and Joseph’s other brother
Reuben into believing that a wild animal had eaten him. All this happened when Joseph was just 17.
The slave trader sold Joseph to a man in Egypt named Potiphar, who was captain of the king’s guards. Joseph was a good and wise servant, but when he rejected the sexual advances of Potiphar’s wife, she convinced Potiphar to throw him in jail. While in jail, Joseph showed an uncanny ability to interpret dreams. This ability caught the attention of Pharaoh, who had been having disturbing dreams of his own. Joseph not only interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams, but advised the Pharaoh on how to manage the coming famine that the dreams predicted. Pharaoh was so impressed with Joseph’s wisdom that he made Joseph second in command. By now, Joseph was 30 years old.
Meanwhile, the famine spread all over the world and
people began to travel to Egypt to buy their vast supplies of food. Among the travelers were some of the
brothers of Joseph. Though they did not
recognize Joseph, Joseph did recognize them.
At first Joseph did not treat them very well. He accused them of being spies and ordered them to leave one
brother behind, travel back to Canaan, and not return unless they brought
Joseph’s little brother Benjamin with them.
Joseph then sent them back to Canaan with sacks full of grain.
When their grain ran out, the brothers returned to
Egypt with Benjamin, and Joseph set out to test them again. He filled each of their sacks with grain,
but also added one of his own silver cups to Benjamin’s sack. As they were returning to Canaan, Joseph
sent his steward after them to accuse them of stealing the cup. When the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack,
Judah, fearful that Benjamin would be imprisoned, offered to remain in Egypt in
place of Benjamin. At this offer,
Joseph could no longer contain himself.
He revealed his true identity, forgave his brothers for selling him into
slavery, and was reconciled. The
brothers then sent for Jacob and the whole family was reunited.
Application: (Guide) [See attached
script. Come back to discussion #1, 2,
3, and 4 at the places marked in the script.]
During each of the following
discussions, write down on a clean piece of flip-chart paper each of the modern
situations the children think of.
[Discussion #1]
To help the class remember
that family jealousies are still present today, ask them to relate examples or
incidents from their own lives. Spend a
few minutes to help them see that a story like Joseph’s could still happen
today.
Conclude discussion #1 and return to the script.
[Discussion #2]
Ask the class to give
examples from their own lives about times when they (or others) might find
themselves in situations where they are afraid to do the right thing. If necessary, give prompts on teasing,
bullies, shoplifting, drug abuse, etc.
[Conclude discussion #2 and return to the script.]
[Discussion #3]
Spend a few minutes reviewing
the story so far. Ask students to
retell the story and then discuss how Joseph might have felt at this time. Ask
questions such as “Do you think Joseph felt abandoned by God?” Ask students to give examples of how other
people might react in similar situations.
“Do you think some people lose hope?”
Perhaps the recent situation of the 9 miners trapped in Pennsylvania
could be used as discussion of how they felt and whether they gave up hope or
not.
[Conclude discussion #3 and return to the script.]
[Discussion #4]
Again review the story and/or repeat the play to assure students understand what has happened to Joseph, including the following points
Talk briefly with the class
about the meaning of reconciliation using questions and discussion. Explain that in the end of the Joseph story,
Joseph and his family are reconciled. Discuss
what this example says to us about God’s work in the world and what we are
called to do.—God works for reconciliation and wants us to
work for it as well.
Wrap-up: (Guide)
1. Review the visual on the timeline and the memory
verse.
2. Ask students to tidy up.
Closing: (Coach)
1. The coach conducts the closing prayer time. One way to include the memory verse might be to have the class recite it in parts such as: “We know that God is always at work/for the good of everyone/who loves him.”
2. Close/lock the door and turn off the lights.
Preparation in advance: (Guide)
1. Check out the room before your first Sunday workshop so that you know where everything is located.
2. Make copies of the script for each
student—approximately 20. It might also
be helpful to highlight specific parts on the scripts. On the scripted handed to the child who
plays the Judge, for example, highlight the Judge’s speaking parts.
3. Write the memory verse, Romans 8:28 ‘We know that God
is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him.’ On a poster board or
large piece of paper to post in the room.
4. Write the list of characters for the script on the
whiteboard or large piece of paper: the Bailiff, Judge Smacker, Jacob, Levi,
Reuben, the Jailer, the King, Joseph, and members of the jury.
Supply List
References
Genesis 37, 39 & 40
“The Case of
the Amazing Dream Baby”
Bailiff: [He motions for everyone to stand] “All rise! Family court is now in session! The Honorable Judge Smacker will hear the
case!”
Judge: [Judge comes in and sits in chair at front of room. Judge bangs gavel or hammer on wood block
provided.] “Be seated.” [Everyone
sits down.] “The court will now take up ‘The Case of the Amazing Dream
Baby.’ Bailiff, call the first
witness.”
Bailiff: “The court calls Jacob!”
Jacob: [He stands and walks to the witness chair placed near the judge.]
Judge: “State your name for the
record.”
Jacob: [He grins sarcastically.] “Well, duh! It’s Jacob.”
Judge: [bangs gavel] “Enough of that!
Just answer the court’s questions. . . Where do you live and what is your occupation?”
Jacob: “I live in the Land of
Canaan. I raise sheep. It’s the
family business. My father Isaac
did it, so did his father Abraham. People
call us the Biblical patriarchs. We
have a special blessing from God Almighty.”
Judge: “Do you have a family?”
Jacob: [proudly] “Darn right I
do! I got four wives and 12 sons,
countless daughters. The boys are named
Joseph and Reuben and Levi and--”
Judge: [interrupts] “--You don’t have to name them all. So you have a blended family. You have more than one wife plus
half-brothers and sisters living in the
same household. Do you have a favorite
child?”
Jacob: [shakes his head] “Nope. I
love ‘em all the same.”
Levi: [interrupts] “That’s a lie!
Everybody knows he loves Joseph best, your honor. He bought
Joseph a fancy coat from Abercrombie & Fitch, but the rest of us had
to get our stuff at Walmart!”
Judge: [bangs the gavel] “That’ll do!” [turns
back to Jacob] “Is this true? Do
you love Joseph best?”
Jacob: [shakes his head] “No, no.
It’s like I told you. I love ’em
all the same.”
Judge: [addresses jury members] “Members of the jury, do you believe him?”
Jurors: [all together, loud] “Liar! Liar!
Pants on fire!”
Jacob: [leaves the witness chair]
Guide: “O.K., let’s stop the trial
for a minute and discuss what we’ve heard.
[discussion #1]
*************
Guide: “Now let’s start the trial
again.”
Bailiff: “Next witness! The court calls Levi to the stand.”
Levi: [he sits in the witness chair]
Judge: “Levi, you are Joseph’s
brother?”
Levi: “His half-brother. Jacob is our father, but Leah was my
mother.”
Judge: “One day when you were
working in the fields, did you and several of your brothers push Joseph into a dry well and threaten to kill
him?”
Levi: [shrugs his shoulders] “Well. . . it wasn’t quite like that. . .”
Judge: [to the jury] “Jurors, do you believe him?”
Jurors: [loudly] “Liar! Liar! Pants on fire!”
Levi: [sounding sullen] “O.K.,
maybe me and some of the boys pushed him in -- but he had it coming.”
Judge: "And why is that?"
Levi: "Isn't it obvious? Those dreams of his. . . In
the first dream we were all cutting wheat, and Joseph dreamed that our
bundles of wheat bowed down to his bundle.
Naturally, that made us angry and jealous. Then Joseph had a second dream.
He dreamed that the sun, the moon and the eleven stars bowed down to his
star. Don’t you see? He wanted to make us his servants!"
Judge: "So you and your
brothers decided to get rid of him?"
Levi: "Well -- except for
Reuben. [makes an “L” with his thumb and
forefinger and holds it over his
forehead] He's such a loo-zer."
Judge: [bangs the gavel] "You're dismissed." [Levi
leaves the witness chair]
Bailiff: "The court calls Reuben to the stand!"
Reuben: [takes the witness chair]
Judge: "What was your role
in this conspiracy to get rid of your brother Joseph?"
Reuben: [alarmed] "I didn't want to hurt Joe! I talked Levi and the others into pushing Joe into a dry well so
that they wouldn't kill him on the spot.
I planned to come back and rescue him after they left."
Judge: [to the jury] "Do you
believe him?"
Jurors: [loud] "Woof! Woof! He's telling the
truth!"
Judge: [to Reuben]
"So what happened then?"
Reuben: "I went off hoping
that my brothers would leave, but when I sneaked back to rescue Joe, my brothers were still there, and Joe was
gone! I found blood on his coat! I thought he was dead. I wanted to puke my guts out, but instead, I
cried!"
Judge: "Thank you,
Reuben. You may step down. [Reuben
steps down. The judge nods to the Bailiff.]
"Call the next witness!"
Guide: "Good job! Give
yourselves a hand!" [start discussion #2]
***********
Guide: “Now let’s start the trial
again.”
Bailiff: “The Court calls the
Jailer!”
Jailer: [takes a seat in the witness chair]
Judge: [to the Jailer] “State your name and occupation.”
Jailer: “My name is Lock M.
Up. I’m the Jailer at the King’s jail.”
Judge: “You had custody of a
Hebrew man named Joseph, didn’t you?
Tell us about this prisoner.”
Jailer: “Yes, I remember that one
clearly. You meet all kinds in the jail
business, but that young man was special.
I wouldn’t dare turn my back on some of those guys, but the Hebrew
Joseph was different. He was a model
prisoner. He showed an upbeat attitude
from day one. . . He’d do his chores and offer to help with other things too. Once I realized his talent and his sense of
responsibility, I gave him more and more duties. After a while, he was practically running the place.” [the Jailer covers his mouth and then
uncovers his mouth and says] “Oops, I shouldn’t have said that. The King might not like it.”
Judge: “I would have expected
Joseph to be very sullen and discouraged, but you describe him as ‘upbeat’ and
helpful. How do you think he managed
that?”
Jailer: [shrugs] “Oh, you know these Hebrews. . . He was always praying to
his Hebrew God and saying that God was with him. Stuff like that. I
worship Isis myself, but I’ll have to admit that the Hebrews are strong in
their faith.”
Judge: “Thank you. Mr. Up, you may step down.”
Guide: “O.K., let’s stop the trial
for a moment. [start discussion #3]
*************
Guide: “Now let’s start the trial
again.”
Bailiff: The court calls the King
of Egypt.”
King: [takes a seat in the witness chair]
Judge: “You are the King of
Egypt, are you not?”
King: [seeming bored] “Yes, that’s me: King of Egypt, Father of the Nile,
Potentate of the Pyramids, and so forth and so forth. . . but all my friends
call me ‘Your Royal Highness,’ and you can do the same.”
Judge: “Mr. Highness, tell us how
you came to have a special advisor named Joseph.”
King: [anxious] “This won’t take long will it? I’m scheduled to have lunch with some generals, magicians and big
bucks contributors to the ‘I’ll Be King Forever Campaign.’”
Judge: “We’ll be brief. Just tell us about Joseph.”
King: “All right then. . . Let’s
see. . . You just can’t get good help these days. My butler failed to iron my loin cloth. Then my cook put so much pepper in my stew that it gave me
gas. I had both of them thrown into
jail. While they were there, both of
them had dreams, and this young Hebrew Joseph was able to tell them what the
dreams meant. . .
In the meantime, I had two dreams of my own. In one of them, I saw seven fat cows eating
grass by the river, and seven skinny, ugly cows came out of the river and ate
the fat cows. I had another one in
which seven healthy stalks of wheat were eaten up by seven dry, puny stalks of
wheat. Well, I knew these dreams were important, but I couldn’t interpret them
-- and neither could any of my advisors or magicians. One of those idiots
actually suggested that the dreams meant that I should go to McPharoah’s every
day and eat hamburgers for breakfast, lunch and dinner. . .”
Judge: “Go on.”
King: “Well, to make a long story
short, I heard about this Hebrew Joseph who could interpret dreams, and I had
him brought to me, and I told him my dreams and asked him what they meant. And he told me that they meant that Egypt
would have seven years with good harvests and lot of food and then seven years
with very bad harvests and no food. . .”
Judge: “And how did you react?”
King: “As you can imagine, I was
very concerned. Joseph came up with a
wonderful idea that flew rings around everything that my other advisors
suggested. Joseph said I should buy up
surplus grain during the seven good years, store it, and then have it ready
during the seven bad years. Well, I was
so impressed that I made Joseph the most powerful man in the land --except for
my royal self, of course -- and I gave authority over the whole country.”
Judge: [to the jury] “Is he telling the truth?”
Jurors: [loud] “Hooray! Hooray! He’s not lying today!”
King: [offended] “I never lie -- unless it a matter of national
security or political convenience or--.”
Judge: [interrupts] “--Thank you, Mr. Highness. You may step down.”
Bailiff: “Next witness! The court calls Joseph to the witness
stand.”
Joseph: [he takes a seat in the witness chair.]
Judge: “You are Joseph, son of
Jacob, grandson of Isaac, and great grandson of Abraham.”
Joseph: [smiles] “That’s me. I’m a son of a son of a son.”
Judge: “You became the most
powerful man in Egypt and you put the grain storage plan into place, is that
correct?”
Joseph: “You got it. During those seven good years, I bought and
stored so much grain that they started calling me Captain Crunch.”
Judge: “What happened when the
seven bad harvests started?”
Joseph: “People got hungry. The famine spread all over Egypt and then
all over the whole region. Pretty soon, we were the only ones with any food,
and we began to sell it so the people wouldn’t starve. . . In fact, the famine
got so bad, it affected my people back in the Land of Canaan.”
Judge: "How did you learn
about that?”
Joseph: "Some of my brothers
-- the very ones who’d sold me into slavery -- showed up to buy grain. I recognized them, but I’d changed so much
that they didn’t recognize me.”
Judge: "Were you angry at
them?”
Joseph: “No.”
Judge: [to the jury] “Is he telling the truth?”
Jurors: [loudly] “Liar! Liar! Pants on fire!”
Joseph: “All right. All right.
I was steamed and I yanked them around a little bit. At one point I pretended to think that they were
foreign spies. Another time I made it
look like one of the guys had stolen a silver cup, and I threatened to punish
him. . . but when it came down to it, they were still my brothers. I was so glad to see them that I finally
busted out crying and told them who I was.
They were scared at first, but I promised them that I’d already forgiven
them.”
Jurors: [all together, not believing what Joseph said] “You forgave
them? Liar! Liar! Pants on--”
Joseph: [interrupting] “--Stop it! Give me a break!. . .” [explaining] “Just look what
happened. Because of my dreams, the
people of Egypt and my whole family were saved from the famine. God stood by us through the whole thing, and
my troubles turned into something good.
Daddy, got to meet my Egyptian wife and our two sons before he died of
old age. My brothers even begged my
forgiveness. The whole thing worked out
for the best -- thanks to God.”
Judge: [after a long pause, the judge strikes the gavel] "The court finds that God is faithful
to those who love God. [to the jurors]
“What does the jury say?”
Jurors: [very loud] "AMEN!”
Guide: “Very good! Let’s discuss what’s we’ve heard.” [start discussion #4]