LESSON 3: JOSEPH, THE SON OF JACOB

Esau tried to kill Jacob because he stole birthright and blessings, so Jacob fled to Laban, the brother of Rebekah. There he took care of Laban’s flocks of sheep. Laban had two daughters, Leah and Rachel. Rachel was beautiful. Jacob worked hard to take care of Laban’s sheep, and God blessed Laban through Jacob. Laban’s wealth increased. Laban gave his daughters as wives to Jacob.

Years passed, and Jacob had twelve sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. Joseph was born in Jacob’s old age, so Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons and made a tunic of many colors for him. His brothers became jealous.

One day, Joseph had a dream in which all the brothers’ sheaves bowed down to his sheaf. Joseph told this dream to his brothers, who asked, “Shall you indeed reign over us?” A few days later, he had another dream: “The sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to him.” His father rebuked him, and his brothers could not speak peacefully to Joseph.

Jacob sent Joseph to find his brothers in the field. Seeing him from afar, they conspired against him and cast him into a pit. When the Midianite traders passed by, they pulled Joseph up and sold him for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, dipped the tunic in the blood, and sent it to their father. Jacob mourned for many days.

The Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard. Joseph cried and prayed to God while in the pit, and God listened to his prayers. This teaches us that God answers our honest prayers. Envy can have severe consequences, as seen in this story. (Galatians 5:21)

MY PRAYER:

GOD, REMOVE ENVY FROM MY MIND AND FILL MY HEART WITH GODLY LOVE.

BIBLE VERSE:

Genesis 37:3

“Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him.”

Note to Teachers:

• Make the students understand that jealousy will take us away from God.
• When our hearts fill with God’s love, we will stay away from jealousy. Ensure students understand this truth and prepare to inherit the Kingdom of God.
• Students must realize that God listens to honest prayers.

Reading Portion:

Genesis 37

Rearrange the Following Statements:

1. Joseph was sold to the Midianites traders.
2. Jacob ran off to Laban’s house.
3. Jacob made a tunic of many colours for Joseph.
4. They sent the tunic to their father after dipping it in goat’s blood.
5. Joseph shared his dream with his brothers.
6. His brothers put Joseph into a pit.

Write here:

1. ______________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________________
5. ______________________________________________________________________
6. ______________________________________________________________________

Answer the Following:

1. How many children did Jacob have?
2. Which son did Jacob love the most?
3. What were the dreams that Joseph saw?
4. Who put Joseph into the pit?
5. What did the brothers do to Joseph’s tunic?
6. For how much money was Joseph sold off?