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Joseph's Coat

Main Points to Remember
1) Bragging can be hurtful to others
2) We must control jealousy, not let it control us

Vocabulary:
     jealousy:  disliking someone because of what they have
Prayer: Father, we thank you for protecting us through the difficult times like Joseph went through.

Lesson:
Genesis 37:3-36

Lesson Texts:
Jerri Fusch's lesson text: Joseph's Brother Sell Him

Activity: Make a robe from a striped cloth or shirt and have the students take turns being Joseph. Discuss how expensive and different a striped coat would have been in those times, and how clothes were made by hand to last for many years.

Discussion: What things make you jealous today? What might your friend show off at school that would make you envious? A brand name pair of shoes? A portable electronic game? Why do some kids use things to establish their importance? Because the world teaches them that possessions determine your worth. What really makes us important? God says that we are his children if we love Him and love one another. Our “status” is reflected by how we treat others. Should we really be jealous of someone who only feels important because of what they own? No - we should emphasize that we value them for who they are, not what they own.

Activity
: Review Jacob's family tree. Have the students use generic paper people (like Bible Friends) to illustrate the lesson. Name them and post them on a board, using yarn or dots to connect the family lines. A great source for OT family tree information is: http://bible.ort.org/books/gened2.asp


   Photo map showing Joseph's journey to Egypt.

Map of Joseph's Journey to Egypt
in 800x600 and 1024x768, FREE from eBibleTeacher.com

True/False
1. Joseph dreamed that he would rule over his brothers.    T
2. Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him. T
3. Jacob treated all his sons the same.  F
4. All of Joseph’s brothers wanted to kill him. F
5. Joseph was sold as a slave. T

Memory WorkGenesis 37:3 "Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him."Psalm 121:7-8 "The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

Review Activities from Jerri Fusch
Answer the following questions about today’s story:

1. Why do you think Jacob sent his son Joseph to check up on his brothers?
2. What did Joseph’s brothers plan to do when they saw him coming?
3. How did Reuben plan to save Joseph?
4. What did the brothers see coming that made them change their plans?
5. How much money did the brothers get for selling Joseph?
6. What did the brothers do with Joseph’s coat?
7. What did the brothers tell their father Jacob?

UNSCRAMBLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS FROM OUR STORY.
LODOB
STROBHER
ACOT
SMEARD
ATOG
VEGAR
THEDA
COJAB
SPEJOH
ILIK
RATOPPIH
LODS
LEWL
DWIL LANAIM

Read Genesis 35:23-26 in your Bible. How many sons did Jacob have? The first initial of each of their names is shown below. Finish their names.
1. R __________
2. S __________
3. L __________
4. J __________
5. I __________
6. Z _________
7. J _________
8. B _________
9. D _________
10. N _________
11. G _________
12. A _________

  

Review Questions (can be used with Joseph gameboard)



 linguistic questions
1. What is a slave? (A person who is owned by another person)
2. Unscramble this word: Yejasoul
3. Name Jacob’s sons.
   activity questions
1. Act out the dream of the sheaves.
2. Sing the Sons of Jacob song.
3. Draw a coat of many colors  emotion questions
1. How do you think Joseph felt to be honored in his dream? (He was surprised and felt important - he wanted his brothers to share in his excitement)
2. How do you think Joseph’s brothers felt when he was bragging about his dream? (Even more jealous than they already were)
3. How did Jacob feel when his sons told him Joseph was dead? (He was devastated with sorrow)application questions
1. Should we brag, even about things that are true?    (No - we can be honest without bragging)
2. Is it OK to pick on the teacher’s pet?  (No - we can’t “punish” the student for the teacher’s actions)
3. Does anyone like friends who constantly talk about themselves? (No)

fact questions
1. How many brothers conspired against Joseph? (10 - Benjamin was not yet born)
2. What gift did Jacob give only to Joseph? (a coat of many colors)
3. What did the brothers do instead of kill Joseph? (Sold him as a slave)

review questions
1. How did the brothers convince Jacob that Joseph was dead? (They tore his coat and dipped it in blood)
2. Why did the brothers hate Joseph so much? (Jacob showed him extra favor, and he bragged about being more important than they)
3. Why did Jacob love Joseph so much? (He was the only son [at that time] of his favorite wife)