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Bible Story-time Survivor Man (Joseph) Genesis 30-46

1 Jacob character 12 Sons of Jacob Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Gad, Asher, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali 1 Pharaoh character 2 Merchants 1 Jailer

Last month, we talked about how in the beginning, God created a MAGNIFICENT paradise, and everything was good. (but it didn’t stay that way did it?) Survivor Man

Last month, we talked about how in the beginning, God created a MAGNIFICENT paradise, and everything was good. (but it didn’t stay that way did it?) People broke God’s rule, and suddenly, the world was BROKEN. So for generations now, God’s people had felt lost but God hadn’t given up on them. He was preparing a way to rescue them and that included a promise to a man named Abraham. Survivor Man

God promised that Abraham’s family would one day become an entire nation that would bless the whole world. Abraham and Sarah had only one son, but they had two grandsons. One of them, named Jacob, had 12 sons. And one of those sons was named Joseph. So Abraham was Joseph’s great-grandfather. Joseph had a very interesting life, and today we’re going to learn about his life of courage Survivor Man

Joseph was one of Jacob’s 12 sons. But he wasn’t just one of the 12—he was actually the favorite son of his father Jacob. Survivor Man

Joseph was one of Jacob’s 12 sons. But he wasn’t just one of the 12—he was actually the favorite son of his father Jacob. Survivor Man Jacob even gave Joseph a beautiful coat to wear that showed everyone that Joseph was his favorite.

Joseph was one of Jacob’s 12 sons. But he wasn’t just one of the 12—he was actually the favorite son of his father Jacob. Survivor Man As you can imagine, this didn’t go over so well with the other sons. And Joseph didn’t make it any easier on them when he would share the dreams he had with his brothers—dreams of his brothers and parents bowing down to him.

Joseph was one of Jacob’s 12 sons. But he wasn’t just one of the 12—he was actually the favorite son of his father Jacob. Survivor Man Even though Joseph was his father’s favorite son, these kinds of dreams didn’t exactly make him his brothers’ favorite!

One day when Joseph was visiting his brothers, they grabbed him and threw him into a pit. Survivor Man Why do you think they would do this?

This was not the end of the story though was it? A travelling band of Merchants happened along and the brothers decided to sell Joseph to them. They were heading for Egypt and knew they could sell Joseph and make a profit. Survivor Man Joseph was sold as a slave in Egypt.

Survivor Man Joseph was sold to a very rich man named Potiphar and became head over all of his household.

Survivor Man But then Joseph was accused of doing something bad (which he didn’t do) and was thrown into prison.

Survivor Man But then Joseph was accused of doing something bad (which he didn’t do) and was thrown into prison. But that is not the end of our story is it?

Survivor Man But then Joseph was accused of doing something bad (which he didn’t do) and was thrown into prison. Even in prison, Joseph found ways to be useful. He discovered a talent of interpreting dreams for people.

Survivor Man One day, Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret, involving skinny cows eating fat ones and weak stalks of grain swallowing up healthy ones. Someone remembers how Joseph interpreted his dream in jail and tells Pharaoh about you. He was summoned to Pharaoh to interpret his strange dream.

Survivor Man Sounds like it’s going to take a lot of courage to tell Pharaoh what his strange dream means. One wrong word, one mis- step, and Pharaoh could have Joseph thrown back in prison—or even killed.

Survivor Man Joseph explains Pharaoh’s dream: Seven years with plenty of food are coming. But after that, there will be seven years with no food. People could starve!

Survivor Man Pharaoh saw Joseph’s courage and how God was with Joseph, so he puts him in charge of all of Egypt. He spends the next seven years of plenty to prepare for the seven years with no food to come. And when the seven years of no food arrives, people from all over the world have to come buy their food from him.

Survivor Man Joseph’s father and brothers back in Canaan are feeling the effects of the famine, so his father sends his brothers to Egypt to try to buy food. His brothers kneel before him to ask for food but don’t realize who he is. Fortunately, Joseph decides to forgive his brothers and realizes that this is part of God’s great plan to save His people.

Time after time, Joseph’s life went up and down, but he always trusted in one BIG thing we know to be true: God was in control. He had a plan for Joseph’s life. That plan not only saved Joseph and his family, but it also saved a whole lot of Egyptians. Survivor Man