AGES 1-7 Primary, Sunday School, Bible Study, Church & Home
Joseph Forgave His Brothers finger puppets. Children can use the puppets to tell how Joseph was sold into Egypt as a slave by his brothers. Joseph became a leader in Egypt helping the Pharaoh store wheat for the time there would be no food. This is when Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy food. Joseph was able to feed them and forgive them.
The Reason Joseph Was Sent to Egypt
Genesis 45:7 “And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”
Little LESSON LIFESAVER Activity
Jesus Wants Us to Forgive: Joseph & Brothers finger puppets
OBJECTIVE: Encourage children to forgive, be kind, and serve others like Joseph who was sold into Egypt.
CRAFT ACTIVITY Joseph and Brothers finger puppets
1. Print or copy the activity for the children. Roll puppets around a pencil to curl into shape and tape the backs.
2. Have the children slip their puppets on their fingers and then act out the story of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt by his brothers. And how he forgave them. (See story ideas above and below.*)
THOUGHT TREAT Bread or crackers (grain) like the grain Joseph gave his brothers.
ACTING OUT THE SCENES (using the puppets)
See more details of the story below*.
SCENES for Ages 1-5 or 4-7
• Jacob had twelve sons. His favorite son was Joseph, so he gave him a beautiful coat of many colors. This made the brothers jealous so they tore off his coat and threw him in a pit.
• Joseph told his brothers that one day they would bow down to him. This made them angry so they sold him as a slave and told their father that Joseph was killed by wild beasts which broke his heart.
• Joseph was taken to Egypt where he became the slave of Potiphar a rich man who was captain of the Pharoah’s guard. A pharoah was like a king. One day Potiphar’s wife told a lie about Joseph and he was put in prison.
• There was a man in prison who had a dream and Joseph was able to him understand the meaning of his dream. When the man was free, he learned that the Pharaoh had a dream he did not understand. So, he told him about Joseph.
• Joseph told him that the first dream of 7 FAT COWS meant that there would be 7 years of feast (where there would be a lot of food). His second dream of 7 SKINNY COWS meant that there would be 7 years of famine (where there would not be food).
• The Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of storing wheat and extra food for 7 years. Then when the famine came Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy grain.
• They did not
• Joseph was called to tell the Pharaoh that his dream of 7 FAT COWS meant there would be 7 years of feast there there would be a lot of food for the people.
• The dream of 7 SKINNY COWS meant that there would be 7 years of famine where there would not be food for the people. So the Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of saving wheat for 7 years.
• When the famine came Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy wheat. They did not know it was their brother Joseph selling them the wheat. He told them who he was and they bowed down to him.
• Joseph forgave his brothers and asked them to bring the family to come live with him in Egypt.
• This was God’s plan for Joseph to go to Egypt to save the people from dying of starvation.
*MORE DETAILS OF THE
Story of Joseph Forgiving His Brothers
see Discussion Points & Scriptures to Underline (below)
The account of Joseph can be found in Genesis 37, 39–42.
Joseph, the son of Jacob had 10 older brothers who did not like it when Joseph received a special coat of many colors from their father. They were even more jealous when he told them of his dream that someday his brothers would bow down to him. This made most of them angry and they called him “the dreamer,” plotting against him.
One day they tore off his coat and threw him into a deep pit, then sold him as a slave to merchants passing by on their way to Egypt. They ripped Joseph’s coat and placed goat’s blood on it to show their father that wild beasts had eaten him. Both Joseph and his father were brokenhearted. Joseph must have been saddened that his brothers did not love him and he couldn’t be with his father Jacob. Jacob was very sad thinking he would not see Joseph again.
Joseph was bought by Potiphar to be his slave. This man was the captain of the Pharaoh’s guards. One day Joseph was put into prison because Potiphar’s wife told lies about him because he would not do what she asked him to do. But God did not forget faithful Joseph.
While in prison, a baker and a butler who were the Pharaoh’s servants, had puzzling dreams. Through God’s power, Joseph was able to tell them the meaning of their dreams, e.g., the butler would be freed from prison. Then the Pharaoh had dreams that no one could interpret for him. The butler told the Pharaoh that Joseph who was still in prison could tell the meaning of dreams. Summoned to the royal court, Joseph listened to the dreams and told the Pharaoh what they meant: The Pharaoh saw in his dream(s) 7 fat cows and 7 skinny cows. Joseph said there would be 7 years of famine (no food) after 7 years of plenty (much food).
The wise Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of storing the food for the famine. After seven years of plenty, the famine came. Joseph’s 10 hungry brothers were sent to Egypt to buy food.
They went to Joseph to buy corn, bowing down to him, not knowing it was Joseph as he was wearing fine Egyptian clothing. He said, “I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.” They were speechless and afraid he would be angry with them. But Joseph forgave his brothers telling them that their God Jehovah sent him to Egypt to prepare and save his family.
Joseph’s father and brothers and their families came to live in Egypt where they had plenty to eat. They were all blessed by Jehovah.
DISCUSSION POINTS (Scriptures, Jesus Christ, Forgiveness)
• Joseph’s story is about forgiveness. Joseph was sold by his brothers and was taken to Egypt to be a slave (Genesis 37:12-28).
• How do you think Joseph felt?
• God had a wonderful plan for Joseph. He watched over him and made him an important man in Egypt (Genesis 41:38-43).
• The Pharaoh had a dream. Joseph interpreted the dream. The dream warned of a big famine coming to the land. The king was impressed with Joseph’s wisdom and courage and put him in charge of storing wheat to feed the people during the famine (Genesis 41:1-41).
• Many years passed and the famine came. Joseph’s brothers heard about the wheat in Egypt and went to get some because their own country was also in famine (Genesis 42:1-5).
• Joseph’s brothers discovered that Joseph was still alive and that he was an important man in Egypt (see Genesis 42:1-8; 45:1-15).
• How do you think Joseph felt to be with his brothers again? (See Genesis 45:14-15).
• Was Joseph angry with his brothers? (See Genesis 45:5).
• How do you think Joseph’s brothers felt toward him?
• How did Joseph show he had forgiven his brothers? (See Genesis 45:5-15).
BIBLE SCRIPTURES TO UNDERLINE:
• Genesis 45:5
“Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.”
• Genesis 50:17
“So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin.”
• Numbers 14:18
“The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression.”
• Psalm 32:5
“I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.”
• Psalm 86:5
“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”
• Nephemiah 9:17
“Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.”
• Matthew 6:12
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
• Matthew 6:15
“But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
• Genesis 45:7 Explains the Reason Joseph Was Sent to Egypt:
“And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”
WHO’S WHO?
WHO IS JEHOVAH?
Jehovah – Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father’s Son
When Jehovah speaks to people, He is usually representing Heavenly Father. In the Old Testament, Jehovah is usually referred to as LORD.
After He was born in Bethlehem, He was known as Jesus Christ.
Jehovah’s Father is our Heavenly Father, the father of our spirits.
He loves and watches over us always.
We worship Him and pray to Him.
WHO WAS PHARAOH?
Pharaoh – In ancient Egypt, the king was called the pharaoh.
WHO WAS ISRAEL?
Jehovah told Jacob he would be called by the name Israel. He was the father of 12 sons and one daughter, and his posterity are called “the children of Israel.”
I would like to buy your puppets but I am wondering if I can deposit a set amount into an account for me as I will probably want more activities later.
Joanne: We only have the option to purchase DOWNLOAD the activities as you go, not a PAY AHEAD and DOWNLOAD LATER option. We have activities available in BUNDLES (see our BUNDLES SAVE $ pages). If you purchase the FORGIVENESS finger puppets as indicated, you will need to have a minimum of $2.50. Hope this helps.