Free for every church

Free Bible lesson for kids · Joseph

Joseph Saves Egypt

Pharaoh saw that the Spirit of God was in Joseph and set him over all the land of Egypt, with his own ring, fine linen and a gold chain. In the seven years of plenty Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, and when the famine came there was bread in Egypt. Pharaoh told the hungry people, “Go unto Joseph,” and all countries came to Egypt to buy corn.

Bible passage
Genesis 41:37–57
Big idea
God lifts up the humble and uses them to help many people.
Memory verse
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:10 (KJV)
Ages
Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
Time
About 45 minutes
Included, free
Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game

The story

Pharaoh said, “Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” (Genesis 41:38). He set Joseph over all the land of Egypt, put his own ring on Joseph’s hand, dressed him in fine linen, and put a gold chain around his neck (Genesis 41:41–42). Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh (Genesis 41:46).

In the seven years of plenty, Joseph gathered grain like the sand of the sea, so much that he stopped counting (Genesis 41:48–49). God gave him two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim (Genesis 41:50–52). Then the famine came, just as Joseph had said, but in Egypt there was bread (Genesis 41:54). When the hungry people cried out, Pharaoh said, “Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do” (Genesis 41:55). People from all countries came to Egypt to buy grain (Genesis 41:57).

Read it in the Bible: Genesis 41:37–57 (KJV)

37And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. 38And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 41And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 43And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. 44And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. 45And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. 46And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. 47And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. 48And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. 49And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number. 50And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him. 51And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house. 52And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. 53And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. 54And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. 56And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. 57And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

Questions to ask

  1. What did Pharaoh say about Joseph?

    “Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” (Genesis 41:38).

  2. What did Pharaoh give Joseph?

    His ring, vestures of fine linen, a gold chain, and his second chariot (Genesis 41:42–43).

  3. What did Joseph do in the seven years of plenty?

    He gathered corn as the sand of the sea and laid up food in the cities (Genesis 41:48–49).

What this story teaches

  • God lifts up those who humble themselves (James 4:10).
  • God’s Spirit gave Joseph wisdom to serve others (Genesis 41:38–39).
  • God can make us fruitful even in hard places (Genesis 41:52).
  • God’s word came true: the famine came just as He said (Genesis 41:54).
  • God uses His people to help many others (Genesis 41:57).

Jesus, the Bread of Life

Hungry people came to Joseph for bread so they could live. Jesus is the bread of life: whoever comes to Him will never hunger.

John 6:35

A 45-minute lesson plan

5 minWelcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Ask God to help us be humble, and to use us to help others.
10 minThe story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next.
10 minTalk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “God lifts up the humble and uses them to help many people.” What does that mean for us?
5 minMemory verse. Say James 4:10 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone.
10 minActivity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions).
5 minPray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week.
  • Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
  • Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
  • Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.

Game time

For kids · game · indoors · about 10 minutes

Go Unto Joseph

You need: Popcorn, small cups, a leader as Joseph

  1. Kids are hungry travelers from far countries.
  2. One at a time, they come to Joseph and say the password: “Go unto Joseph!”
  3. Joseph gives each one a cup of “corn” (popcorn). Enjoy the snack together.

Pharaoh told the hungry people, “Go unto Joseph.” God used Joseph to save many lives.

For youth group · activity · indoors · about 90 minutes

Food Pantry Day

You need: A local food pantry that welcomes youth volunteers

  1. Volunteer together: sort cans, pack boxes, serve families.
  2. Work with smiles and kind words.
  3. Talk afterward about Genesis 50:20.

God put Joseph in the right place to feed the world. He can use you to feed people too.

Pray

Ask God to help us be humble, and to use us to help others.

Questions people ask

What did Pharaoh say about Joseph?

“Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” (Genesis 41:38).

What did Pharaoh give Joseph?

His ring, vestures of fine linen, a gold chain, and his second chariot (Genesis 41:42–43).

What did Joseph do in the seven years of plenty?

He gathered corn as the sand of the sea and laid up food in the cities (Genesis 41:48–49).