In this lesson, children learn that God helped Joseph explain Pharaoh’s dreams and prepare Egypt for a long famine, so God can be trusted even when things are hard. This lesson works for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God knows what is coming, and he helps his people be ready. Joseph trusted God, and God used Joseph to save many people.
Memory Verse
Genesis 41:16
Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It isn’t in me. God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”
(WEB)
Put one hand over your heart and lift the other hand up toward the sky as you say it together. Do this three times, then sit down and whisper it once more. Each time, push your hand a little higher to show God is above everything.
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, healthy cows came up out of the river and ate grass. Then seven thin, ugly cows came up and ate the fat cows, but they stayed thin. Pharaoh woke up feeling worried and then fell asleep again.
In the second dream, seven full heads of grain grew on one stalk. Then seven thin, dry heads of grain sprouted and swallowed up the full ones. Pharaoh woke up troubled. In the morning he called all his wise men to explain the dreams, but none of them could.
Then the king’s cupbearer remembered a young man named Joseph, a Hebrew who had been put in prison. Joseph had once explained the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker, and everything happened just as he said. So Pharaoh sent for Joseph in a hurry. Joseph cleaned himself up and came to the king.
Pharaoh told Joseph about his dreams. Joseph said, “It is not in me, but God will give Pharaoh an answer.” Joseph explained that God was showing Pharaoh what was going to happen. There would be seven years of plenty, followed by seven years of hunger.
Joseph also gave Pharaoh a plan. He said Pharaoh should find a wise man to save food during the good years so Egypt would not starve later. Pharaoh looked at Joseph and said, “Can we find anyone like this, a man with the Spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh made Joseph the leader over all of Egypt, second only to himself.
Joseph stored up huge amounts of grain. The famine came just as God had shown. People from many countries came to Egypt to buy food, and Joseph shared the grain with everyone who came.
Read It Together
Genesis 41:25
Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dream of Pharaoh is one. What God is about to do he has declared to Pharaoh.
(WEB)
Point out that Joseph says God is the one who is about to do these things. Ask children what it means that God knows the future and tells his people what is coming.
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 how Pharaoh saw that God’s Spirit was with Joseph. Talk about how people can notice when God is helping someone, even when that person is far from home.
Genesis 41:51-52
51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, “For”, he said, “God has made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.” 52 The name of the second, he called Ephraim: “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
(WEB)
Point out the names Joseph gave his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Explain that Joseph remembered God’s kindness even after hard years, and ask children what good things they can thank God for.
Talk About It
- What did Pharaoh feel when he woke up from his dreams, and how do you feel when you have a bad dream?
- Why do you think Joseph told Pharaoh that God was the one who could explain the dreams?
- What did Joseph do to get ready for the hard years, and what can you do to get ready for hard days?
- How did Joseph keep trusting God even when he was in prison for a long time?
- What is one thing God has given you that you can thank him for today?
Activity Ideas
Draw the Seven Cows and Seven Heads of Grain
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Draw seven fat cows and seven thin cows on one side of the paper, and seven full heads of grain and seven thin heads of grain on the other side. Let children color the fat cows and full grain bright and healthy, and the thin ones gray or brown. Talk about how the pictures show good years and hard years.
Stand Tall, Then Slump Down
No supplies are needed. Ask children to stand up tall with their arms stretched up when you say “plenty,” then slowly sink down low and wobble like thin grain when you say “famine.” Call out the words in a random order a few times. Finish by having everyone stand tall again and say the memory verse together.
Pantry Promise Jar
You will need an empty jar, a marker, and some dried beans or rice from the kitchen. Let the child put a few beans in the jar each day for a week, just as Joseph stored grain. On the last day, talk about how God helps us prepare and how we can trust him for what is coming. Let the child take the jar home as a reminder.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God is sovereign over the future and over the rise and fall of nations. Joseph’s wisdom came from God, not from his own cleverness, and his story points to God’s faithfulness through suffering. Joseph’s rise from prison to power shows God’s providence working even when the path looks confusing.
Avoid suggesting to children that trusting God will always bring instant success or that wise planning guarantees a good result. Joseph waited many years in prison before God brought him out, so be careful to speak about God’s faithfulness rather than promising quick rewards.
A Prayer to Close
Father, thank you that you know what is coming and you care for us. Help us trust you when things feel hard, just like Joseph did. Teach us to be wise and ready, and to remember your kindness every day. Amen.
