God Provides for Joseph’s FamilyTarget: • To show that God will work miracles through others to supply our needs.• To reinforce the messages in previous lessons regarding Joseph’s

purposeful walk with God.

Text: Genesis 42:1 - 47:12

Memory Verse: “But my God shall supply all your need” Philippians 4:19

Preface: (FOR THE TEACHER)According to Wikipedia: “A miracle is an event not ascribable to human power or the laws of nature and consequently attributed to a supernatural, especially divine, agency.[1] Such an event may be attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that God may work with the laws of nature to perform what are considered miracles.[2] Theologians say that, with divine providence, God regularly works through created nature yet is free to work without, above, or against it as well.[3]The word "miracle" is often used to characterize any beneficial event that is statistically unlikely but not contrary to the laws of nature, such as surviving a natural disaster, or simply a "wonderful" occurrence, regardless of likelihood, such as a birth. Other miracles might be: survival of an illness diagnosed as terminal, escaping a life-threatening situation or 'beating the odds’." “Dreams” were the miracles in Joseph’s life. His dreams were given to him by God. They got him in trouble and out of trouble, in jail and out. No one can deny his dreams were “not ascribable to human power or the laws of nature and consequently attributed to a supernatural, especially divine, agency.”

The Law is Our Schoolmaster Leading Us to ChristLevel 1 Lesson 12 Miracles - Provision

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Activities and Materials: Story Memory

Verse Craft A Good Supply

At least 14 balloons (Joseph and his 11 brothers, Jacob, Pharaoh) black permanent marker, tape

Magazines with plenty of pictures of food, safe scissors, glue, glue sticks or paste, paper plates (enough for 1 per child), strips of paper with the memory verse typed out

supplies of beans, macaroni, cereal, rice, or other item that students can manage to put into baggies easily.

Streamers or canned string

A Good Supply: Students will need to wash their hands carefully before they begin this activity. Provide tubs of rice, macaroni, beans, cereal, popcorn, or other small item that students can scoop up with cups and put in small baggies. If you provide cereal or something that is ready to eat, they can scoop out some in a small bowl or plate to eat now and put some in a baggie for later. As students work on scooping and filling a few baggies explain that the Bible tells us about a time when people had to store up food for later when they would not be able to buy any - anywhere - that's called a FAMINE.

Prayer: Gather class and tell them that God has food for our souls when we get full of the Holy Ghost AND He will never run out. We are the baggies and Jesus will fill us full and running over with joy, peace and righteousness. Let's open our hearts like we opened these baggies and ask Jesus to fill us with His Spirit. (We know repentance cannot be overlooked when we are filled with the Holy Ghost, but let the children open their hearts and know that God can supply all their souls' needs, including conviction.)

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Memory Verse:(Sing to the tune of “London Bridges Falling Down;” include reference)

But my God shall supply your need, All your need, all your need.

But my God shall supply all your need,Philippians 4:19!

Worship: Sing variation of the song: Jehovah Jireh, My Provider

Jehovah Jireh, my providerJesus will take care of me (point up and then to self)My God knows everything I need (point up and then to head for “knows”)He will never run out of anything (move index finger back and forth for “never”)He will tell His angels to watch over me (put hand to brow and look down, look left and right)Jesus will take care of me, of me, of me (point up and then to self)Jesus will take care of me (point up and then to self)

Teacher: Children, let’s take time to thank Jesus for taking care of us and giving us what we need. We’re going to say, “Thank you, Jesus” as we clap our hands (all together), stomp our feet, raise our hands, and jump up and down. This may be so much fun as they participate in praising the Lord that you may want to repeat it a few times.

Story Introduction:Introduction - Janitor Joe comes in, arms loaded with supplies. God supplies all our needs! “Here are your provisions!” Teacher – What are provisions? I ordered toilet paper!

Explain that provisions are things we need. Ask children to name some things they need. (Clothes, food, shoes, house)

Pg 3For this lesson you need two balloons with faces drawn on each side. On one side draw a happy smiling face and on the other draw sad/angry faces. One can be blown up completely and tied off to represent Joseph healthy in Egypt. The other will be blown up and the air let out gradually throughout the lesson to represent the other brothers weak and starving in the desert. (See pictures below. Draw faces on the balloons while they are inflated.) If you have more helpers or a class that likes to get involved you could have a balloon for each of the brothers that they can air up and let out as needed. Show sad, deflated balloons. They don’t look very happy do they? They look kind of puny (skinny) too. I wonder what’s wrong. They look like their needs are not being met; like they have not eaten in a long time. They must be very hungry! (Make sure sad face is showing; shrink balloon little by little.)

Did you know God can use other people to help supply our needs? We know that because our parents supply for us. But have you ever thought that YOU could provide for your family? Well that’s what happened in our Bible story today. Let’s listen:Ring tone or signal to turn chairs to Old Testament side of room for Bible Story.

Story:Does anyone remember Joseph and his brothers? Joseph's brothers sold him and he ended up in Egypt. There were many years that passed and God blessed Joseph and put him into a place that he could save his brothers lives!

There had been a great famine in the land and God showed Joseph a plan so that the people did not starve. (Hold up the happy side of the Joseph balloon). He was the man that the people had to come to for food. Over where Joseph's brothers lived, they were about to starve. (Hold up withering sad faced brother balloon and speak for it, like a puppet, "I'm so hungry and weak. Can we make it?"). They heard about a place in Egypt where they could get food for their families, so their father Jacob sends ten brothers to go get food. He wouldn't let them take Benjamin with them. (Explain who Benjamin is here. Now, Benjamin was

the next best thing to Joseph, etc. Show the withered sad balloon leaving, if using more balloons leave one withered balloon with Joseph and the others leaving).When they finally arrived in Egypt, Joseph immediately recognized his brothers, but they had no idea who he was. They bowed before him (illustrate using balloons) and didn’t know who he was. He decided to test his brothers to see if they had changed. He acted like he didn't trust them and they confessed that they had another brother. He kept Simeon with him while the rest returned home to retrieve Benjamin.

Pg 4Their father Jacob was not happy that they had left Simeon and that they expected to take Benjamin back (show a very sad but blown up balloon for Jacob). He made them wait until they used all their food to return with Benjamin. (Gradually wither the balloon for Jacob to show their hunger). All of the brothers returned to Egypt to Joseph.

Joseph was very moved to see Benjamin (show smiley Joseph balloon), but sad that they were so hungry, and that they did not know him (show sad side of Joseph balloon). He gave them food and gave the most food to Benjamin. Then, he surprised them all, He asked them to eat a special meal with him! They were very surprised, but went to the meal. (Option: Blow up balloons and tape to table smiley side up as they join Joseph for dinner.) There they found Simeon who was happy and healthy (blow up the brother balloon and tie it off showing the happy side). Then the biggest surprise of all happened, Joseph told him who he was! He then told them to go and get their father Jacob and their families because there was a land prepared for them in Goshen to live near him.

When they returned with Jacob and their families there was a party and everyone was so happy that God had provided for them and blessed Joseph to take care of them! (Now have a celebration party. Let the kids blow up balloons, throw streamers, use silly string, etc. to show how excited the children of Israel were to be with everyone together. Let class enjoy the reserve food, if prepared in the earlier activity.)

Craft:

Provide magazines with plenty of food pictures and allow children to cut or tear them out.Provide paper plates and assist children with gluing the pictures to the plates.Have pre-typed slips of paper with today’s memory verse cut out and ready to be added to the plates.If desired, a string for hanging can be attached to the back of the plate.

Invitation to Pray:Children, God has supplied all our physical needs. That means our food, clothes, houses, etc. And we need to thank Him and praise Him for that. Our greatest need of all is spiritual. We need to be filled with the Holy Ghost. Let’s thank God for all He has provided for us, and then ask Him to forgive us for any bad things that we have done, and fill us with His Spirit.Sing “He’s all I need” while children pray. Have helpers ready to pray with children. Pg 5

Dismissal/Take home:Let each child take home a balloon character from the story.

Visuals:Joseph Balloons

1. Start by blowing up the balloon to draw on the face. Draw the face with a permanent marker.

2. Place the smile at the stem end and a straight line on the rounded end. Place the eyes in the middle of the two lines. Once the face is drawn on, hold it while it is blown up so the ink can dry.

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3. Once the ink has dried you may let the air out of the balloon. Oh, he looks famished already.

4. When telling the story, Joseph’s brothers are coming because of the famine. Blow the balloon up only part way. Hold the balloon stem side up and with your hand covering the top. This will keep the smiley face on the top covered. Practice holding the balloon this way, before you tell the story. It may take a little practice.

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5. The more air you let out of the balloon the sadder and more famished they become.

6. Blow the brother balloons back up and hold them with the stem side down so the balloon now has a smile because their bellies are full.

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