08. God Saves Joseph and His Family

What the Story Says

1. How did Jacob feel about his son Joseph?

   Jacob loved Joseph more than he loved his other eleven sons (#08-01).

2. Why did Joseph’s brothers hate him?

   They hated Joseph because Jacob loved Joseph more than he loved his other sons, and because Joseph dreamed he would rule over his brothers (#08-02).

3. What did Joseph’s brothers do to get rid of Joseph?

   Joseph’s brothers sold him as a slave (#08-02). Then they deceived their father into thinking that an animal had killed Joseph (#08-03).

4. Why did the Egyptians put Joseph in prison?

   The wife of Joseph’s Egyptian master lied and said Joseph tried to sleep with her. Her husband believed her and sent Joseph to prison (#08-05).

5. What did God do for Joseph while he was in prison?

   Joseph remained faithful to God, so God blessed him even in the prison (#08-05).

6. How did Joseph get out of prison?

   Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret (#08-06). When Joseph told him the meaning of the dream, Pharaoh made Joseph the second most powerful person in Egypt (#08-07), (#08-08).

7. Why did Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt?

   There was a great famine and there was no food for them in Canaan (#08-10). They came to Egypt to buy food (#08-11).

8. How did Joseph treat his brothers when they came to him in Egypt?

   Joseph first tested them to see if they had changed. Then he told them who he was and promised to take care of them all in Egypt (#08-12).

9. Who became the twelve tribes of Israel?

   God changed Jacob’s name to Israel. The descendants of each of his twelve sons then became the tribes of Israel (#08-15).

What the Story Means to Us

1. What mistake did Jacob make in the way he treated his sons?

   Jacob loved one of his sons more than he loved his other sons. This was the same mistake that his father Isaac made. As a result, Jacob’s sons hated Joseph and sold him as a slave.

2. Why was God with Joseph even as a slave and as a prisoner?

   Joseph was always faithful to God, even when he suffered for doing the right thing. Therefore, God blessed Joseph and eventually restored him to his family.

3. How did God make it possible for Joseph to go from prison to the palace in Egypt?

   God caused Pharaoh to have a dream that no one could interpret. He then revealed the meaning of the dream to Joseph. In that way, God provided a way for Joseph to be released from prison and to begin to rule over Egypt.

4. Why did Joseph not punish his brothers?

   Joseph’s brothers sold him as a slave. He could have been very angry with them. But Joseph saw that God was the one who sent Joseph to Egypt through his brothers’ evil actions. God did this to save Joseph’s entire family. Therefore, Joseph forgave his brothers and took care of them.

5. Why did Jacob move his family to Egypt?

   God caused the famine so that Jacob would have to move his family to Egypt. God wanted them to grow into a large nation there.

Summary

God sometimes caused bad thing to happen and allows people to do evil things. But God is always in control. He is doing the things that will fulfil his plan. He allowed Joseph’s brothers to sell him as a slave so that Joseph would be in Egypt. He even allowed Joseph to be in prison. But he blessed Joseph even there. Next, God cause Pharaoh to have a dream for Joseph to interpret. This made Joseph the second most powerful man in Egypt. Finally, God sent a famine throughout the land so that Jacob and his family would have to come to Egypt for food. But God had already place Joseph in Egypt to care for them during the famine. God was always working in Joseph’s live, and Joseph was always faithful to him.