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Jacob had twelve sons, but his favourite was Joseph. Joseph’s brothers were jealous, so they conspired together and sold him as a slave to some traders heading for Egypt. They told their father that Joseph was dead.
Bible verses used in this episode:
Outline:
- Extreme family tensions and dreams (Genesis 37:1-11)
- Brothers take revenge (Genesis 37:12-32)
- Jacob’s grief (Genesis 37:33-35)
- Joseph ends up in Egypt (Genesis 37:36)
Tips for teaching children:
- Guide children in writing the names of their siblings on small cards to form prayer reminders. Pray for the siblings in class and then send the cards home so the children will be reminded to continue praying.
- Draw an outline of a coat and decorate it with paints, stickers or glitter.
- Learn the names of the 12 sons of Jacob (from Genesis 35:23-26)
- Sing the “Sons of Jacob Song” song.
Tips for teaching adults:
- A long-sleeved coat was a symbol of favouritism and status. Challenge class members to display objects or photos representing status and honour and discuss why these are considered important.
- There is much negative emotion in this story, leading to tragedy. Most of the students in your class can probably relate to the emotions in the story. Ask the class to think about and discuss the following questions:
- How is your family like or unlike this family?
- Have you felt like your sibling was favoured over you? How did this make you feel? How have you dealt with your feelings?
- Which character do you identify with? Why?
- Each of us might experience jealousy or resentment at times. How do you deal with jealousy and resentment in your life? How should you deal with these? Encourage the class to speak to one another about how they can deal with jealousy and resentment.
- Pray that we may learn to love and accept one another.
Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:
Bible Lesson: Joseph Sold By His Brothers
Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.
Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.
Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com
For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org
