This lesson teaches children that God can give wisdom to someone who trusts Him, even in a hard place, and that God can use that wisdom to help many people. It is designed for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God knows what is going to happen, and He can help us know what to do. When we trust Him, He can give us wisdom to help others.
Memory Verse
Genesis 41:16
Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It isn’t in me. God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”
(WEB)
Teach children to place both hands together like they are giving something away, then open their hands out wide. Say “God gives the answer” as you open your hands. Repeat the motion together three times.
The Story: Genesis 41 for Kids
Pharaoh was the king of Egypt, and one night he had two strange dreams. In the first dream, seven fat cows came up out of the river. Then seven thin, ugly cows came up and ate the fat cows. In the second dream, seven full heads of grain grew on one stalk, and seven thin, dry heads of grain swallowed them up.
Pharaoh woke up troubled. He called in all the wise men and magicians of Egypt, but none of them could tell him what the dreams meant. The king was worried, because he knew the dreams were important.
Then the chief cupbearer remembered a young man named Joseph. Joseph had been put in prison, but he had correctly explained the cupbearer’s dream while they were there. The cupbearer told Pharaoh, “There is a young man who can tell you what your dreams mean.”
Pharaoh sent for Joseph right away. Joseph cleaned himself up and came before the king. Pharaoh said, “I have had a dream, and no one can tell me what it means. I hear that you can explain dreams.” Joseph answered, “I cannot do it myself, but God will give Pharaoh an answer.”
Joseph told Pharaoh that God was showing him what would happen. The seven fat cows and the seven full heads of grain meant seven years of plenty. The seven thin cows and the thin heads of grain meant seven years of famine that would follow. Joseph also suggested that Pharaoh find a wise leader to store up food during the good years. Pharaoh was pleased and made Joseph the leader over all of Egypt, and during the years of plenty, Joseph gathered huge amounts of grain. When the famine came, the people of Egypt and many other countries had food because of what God had shown Joseph.
Read It Together
Genesis 41:15-16
15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It isn’t in me. God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”
(WEB)
Point out that Pharaoh asked for help from someone he had never trusted before, and Joseph humbly said the answer came from God, not from himself. Ask children to notice how Joseph gave God the credit.
Genesis 41:38-40
38 Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Because God has shown you all of this, there is no one so discreet and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and according to your word will all my people be ruled. Only in the throne I will be greater than you.”
(WEB)
Show children that Pharaoh recognized God’s Spirit in Joseph and trusted him with great responsibility. Point out that God can use a person who was once in prison to bless a whole nation.
Genesis 41:53-54
53 The seven years of plenty, that were in the land of Egypt, came to an end. 54 The seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
(WEB)
Explain that everything happened just as Joseph had said, because God’s word always comes true. Help children see that God keeps His promises even when we cannot see what is coming.
Talk About It
- What do you think Pharaoh felt when he woke up from his dreams and could not understand them?
- Why do you think Joseph said “It isn’t in me” instead of taking credit for knowing the answer?
- How did God help Joseph even when he was in prison?
- What would you do if you were asked to help someone who was worried and needed an answer?
- How can we remember that God knows what is going to happen in our lives?
Activity Ideas
Dream Pictures Craft
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and scissors. Ask each child to draw one dream picture showing either the seven fat cows or the seven full heads of grain. Then ask them to draw a second picture showing the thin cows or thin grain eating up the good ones. Let children share their pictures and tell what the dream means in their own words.
Wise Leader Game
You will need a small bag of dried beans or cereal pieces and a bowl. Set up a simple game where children take turns carrying beans from one bowl to a storage container, pretending to store grain like Joseph did during the years of plenty. Then have them stop and pretend the famine has come by sharing a few beans with each other. Talk about how storing food wisely helps everyone.
Take-Home Dream Journal
You will need a small notebook or a sheet of paper folded in half and a pencil. Encourage children to draw one thing they are thankful for and one thing they want God’s help with this week. Ask them to show the page to their family at dinner and pray together about the items they listed.
Teacher Notes
This chapter shows that God is sovereign over history and can reveal what He is going to do through people who trust Him. Joseph does not take credit for his wisdom but points to God as the source, which is a model of humility for adults and children alike. The chapter also shows that God can raise up someone from difficult circumstances to serve a great purpose.
Be careful not to suggest that every dream from God must be interpreted in the same way or that people today should expect the same kind of supernatural revelation. Keep the focus on God’s faithfulness and His care for people, and avoid overstating how the story applies directly to modern experiences.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You that You know what is going to happen and that You are always with us. Help us trust You when we do not understand, and help us be humble like Joseph when You help us. Give us wisdom to help others, and help us remember that You keep Your promises. Amen.
