Bible tale: Part 6 of 9 - Joseph (11th son of Jacob)

 Part 6 of 9 - Joseph (11th son of Jacob)

Genesis 43

re-told by Debbie Dunn

Story highlights:

* Benjamin traveled with his brothers to Egypt 

* Joseph's brothers hope to buy more food from Governor of Egypt  

* Brothers did not recognize that Joseph whom they sold into slavery was now 2nd-in-command

Bible role-play begins:

Narrator #1: It is still the second year of the 7-year famine of hardly any food or grain to eat.

 

 

Narrator #2: As you likely recall, Joseph's ten older brothers took their donkeys and made the 250- to 330-mile trip from Canaan to Egypt to buy the only food available.

Narrator #1: They had no idea that the governor of Egypt, the 2nd-in-command, was their younger brother Joseph, whom they had heartlessly sold into slavery 20 years before.

 

Narrator #2: As we mentioned last week, Joseph had a different name, an older face, and a different hair and clothes style.

Narrator #1: He also pretended that he could only speak Egyptian instead of their native language of Hebrew. Joseph even used an interpreter to communicate with them.

 

Narrator #2: Joseph had harshly accused them of being spies instead of honest men. He held Simeon as hostage and gave them a direct order.

Narrator #1: "Do NOT ever come back here again to buy food without bringing your youngest brother Benjamin as proof that you are actually honest men!"

 

Narrator #2: As you know, Benjamin was Joseph's actual baby brother, whom he had not seen in 20 years. Their mother had died giving birth to him.

 

Narrator #1: But Jacob did not want to lose his last connection to his favorite wife, Rachel, by sending her second son to Egypt.

 

 

Narrator #2: Jacob, also known as Israel, had already lost Joseph, her firstborn son. It would break his heart to lose Benjamin, as well.

Narrator #1: But when the family ran out of grain, Jacob said to his nine older sons, "Go back to Egypt to buy us a little more food."

 

Narrator #2: His fourth son by Leah, Judah, reminded his father of what the governor of Egypt had ordered.

bring this trouble on me by telling that leader you had a younger brother?"

 

Narrator #2: The brothers explained, "That governor accused us of being spies. We told him we were honest men who would answer all his questions truthfully."

 

Narrator #1: "He asked us if our father was still living. He asked us if we had any other brothers. We answered 'YES' to both questions."

 

Narrator #2: "We never could have guessed he would use our words against us by demanding to see young Benjamin in person."

Narrator #1: Judah then said, "Father, send the boy with me, and we will go at once to buy food. That way, we can all live and not die of starvation."

 

Narrator #2: "I promise you, Father, that I will personally guarantee his safety. I will be responsible for him. I will bear all the blame if I cannot successfully bring him back to you."

Narrator #1: The sound of hungry stomachs growling could likely be heard all around their tent.

 

Narrator #2: Finally, their father had to give in. Jacob sighed, "If it must be, then do this. Bring that governor a gift of the best products of our land."

Narrator #1: "Bring him a little balm (a good-smelling medicine made from plants), a little honey, some spices, some myrrh (an anointing oil used to make perfume), some pistachio nuts, and almonds."

 

Narrator #2: "Also, bring him twice the amount of silver coins. That way, you can pay for the grain you purchased before plus the grain you will buy now."

Narrator #1: "Finally, take Benjamin with you. May God Almighty grant you mercy before the governor so that he will let Simeon go, return Benjamin, and bring all of you safely home."

 

Narrator #2: "As for me, if I die of a broken heart, so be it. What will be, will be."

Narrator #1: So, Joseph's nine older brothers and his little brother Benjamin started on the 4- to 6-week journey to Egypt to buy some life-saving grain.

 

Narrator #2: When they finally arrived, Joseph spotted the young brother he had not seen in 20 years.

Narrator #1: Joseph turned to his trusted steward and whispered, "Take these men to my house. Slaughter an animal and prepare a meal, so that they can eat a noon-day meal with me."

 

Narrator #2: When his brothers saw that the steward took them to Joseph's actual house, they were very frightened.

Narrator #1: They worried that they would be accused of being thieves since their silver had been in their sacks.

 

Narrator #2: They wondered, "Does that governor plan to attack us? Will he overpower us? Will he seize us as slaves and take our donkeys?"

Narrator #1: Quickly, they turned to the steward and said, "We beg pardon! When we came down here before, we discovered our silver in our sacks as well as the grain."

 

Narrator #2: "Please believe us that we did our best to pay for the grain that we bought. We really are honest men!"

Narrator #1: "We even brought you twice the amount of silver to pay for that former purchase, plus the grain we wish to buy today. Please believe us!"

 

Narrator #2: Would the steward believe them? Or would their poor father never see his beloved sons again? Tune in next week to find out what happened next.

Narrator #1: END OF SKIT. Let's give our volunteers a great big hand!

Are you a Bible enthusiast or do you lead a Youth Group or Family Bible Study? To get a FREE PDF download of this story, click on this link below:

Free PDF download of Part 6 of 9 - Joseph (11th son of Jacob).

Do you want more stories about Joseph & his 11 brothers? If so, visit the 12 sons of Jacob chapter from my EXPLORE BIBLE STORY dot org website.

Click here to get more stories about Joseph & his 11 brothers.

My ever-expanding Explore Bible Story dot org website includes Bible stories and Biblical Family Trees about

• Creation, Adam, & his Descendants
• Noah, the Ark, & the Flood
• Abraham & Sarah
• Isaac & Rebekah, Esau & Jacob
• Jacob & his 4 wives
• 12 sons of Jacob who became known as the 12 Tribes of Israel
• Moses who was from the line of Levi
• Joshua who became leader of Israelites after death of Moses
• 12 Judges of Israel including Deborah, Gideon, & Samson
• Kings of Israel including Saul, David, & Solomon
• 4 Major Prophets of Israel: Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel
• 12 Minor Prophets of Israel
• More Prophets of Israel: Samuel, Nathan, Elijah, & Elisha
• Women from Old & New Testament
• Jesus Christ, our Messiah, Lord, Savior, & King of king
• 12 Disciples of Jesus
• Apostle Paul & other Significant Followers of Christ
• Triune God: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit
• The Free Gift of Salvation & The Sinner's Prayer
• About Website: Explore Bible Story.org
• About the author: Debbie Dunn

Bible tale: Part 5 of 9 - Joseph (11th son of Jacob)

Part 5 of 9 - Joseph (11th son of Jacob)

Genesis 42

re-told by Debbie Dunn

Story highlights:

* His brothers didn't recognize governor was brother Joseph 

* Joseph accused his 10 older brothers of being spies

* Joseph ordered his brothers not to return to Egypt unless they brought young-Benjamin

Bible role-play begins:

Narrator #1: To catch you up, we are now into the 2nd year of a 7-year famine of no food and very little water for the land of Egypt.

 

 

Narrator #2: The famine had reached the surrounding countries, including Canaan, where Joseph's father and 11 brothers lived.

Narrator #1: Their father, Jacob, also known as Israel, had sent his 10 oldest boys to Egypt to buy some food.

 

Narrator #2: Little did the brothers guess that the 2nd-in-command of all of Egypt would be their younger brother Joseph, whom they had sold into slavery about 20 years before.

Narrator #1: Joseph would have been tough for them to recognize. After all, he was older. His name was different. His hairstyle and clothes were very different.

 

Narrator #2: Additionally, Joseph pretended that he could only speak Egyptian, and not their native language of Hebrew.

Narrator #1: Before revealing himself, he wanted to test their characters to see if they were kinder and more honest people than they had been.

 

Narrator #2: So, Joseph pretended not to believe their story. He even accused them of being spies.

Narrator #1: Joseph's ten older brothers exclaimed, "No, my lord. Your servants have come to buy food. Your servants are honest men, not spies."

 

Narrator #2: Through an interpreter, Joseph demanded that unless he could see their youngest brother, Benjamin, with his own eyes, they must surely be spies.

Narrator #1: He put them in jail for three days. Finally, Joseph let all but one of them go to retrieve their youngest brother.

 

Narrator #2: In that way only could they prove that they were honest men and not spies.

Narrator #1: Joseph selected Simeon to remain behind in prison. Joseph then had all their sacks filled with plenty of grain.

 

Narrator #2: While waiting for the food, the 10 brothers talked among themselves.

Narrator #1: They determined this must be a punishment from God because years before, they had shown no mercy when they sold their younger brother into slavery.

 

Narrator #2: Joseph had to turn away so they could not see him weeping. When he got himself together, he had them watch Simeon being bound and put back in prison.

Narrator #1: Joseph told them, "Do not show your face to me ever again unless you come back with your youngest brother Benjamin. That is the only way I will believe you are honest men and not spies."

 

Narrator #2: In the meantime, Joseph had his servants load up their sacks with grain and hide the pouches of silver coins they had brought to pay for the grain in the bottom of each sack.

Narrator #1: Leaving Simeon behind, the nine brothers sadly loaded the grain onto their donkeys' backs. Then, they headed back to the land of Canaan.

 

Narrator #2: That evening, at the place where they planned to stay the night, one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey.

Narrator #1: He called out, "Oh, no! Look! My pouch of silver coins is still in my sack. That Egyptian governor will believe we are thieves who stole the grain instead of buying it."

 

Narrator #2: Their hearts sank. They turned to each other, trembling. They said, "What is this that God has done to us?"

Narrator #1: When they came home to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan, they told him the long, sad story.

 

Narrator #2: When they unloaded their donkeys, they discovered that every sack was filled not only with grain but also with their pouches of silver coins.

Narrator #1: Their father and the nine brothers were badly frightened. Their father, Jacob, cried out.

 

Narrator #2: He said, "You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more. Simeon is no more. And now you want to take Benjamin as well. Everything is against me!"

Narrator #1: Then the oldest brother, Reuben, said to his father, "Father, you may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring Benjamin back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him and Simeon back."

 

Narrator #2: But Jacob said, "No. You will not go down there with my youngest son. I have already lost Joseph, and now I've lost Simeon. If I lost Benjamin, too, I would surely die of a broken heart."

Narrator #1: What will they all do when their sacks of grain are empty and they face starving to death?

 

Narrator #2: Will their father, Jacob, finally change his mind? Tune in next week to find out.

Narrator #1: END OF SKIT. Let's give our volunteers a great big hand!

Are you a Bible enthusiast or do you lead a Youth Group or Family Bible Study? To get a FREE PDF download of this story, click on this link below:

Free PDF download of Part 5 of 9 - Joseph (11th son of Jacob).

Do you want more stories about Joseph & his 11 brothers? If so, visit the 12 sons of Jacob chapter from my EXPLORE BIBLE STORY dot org website.

Click here to get more stories about Joseph & his 11 brothers.

My ever-expanding Explore Bible Story dot org website includes Bible stories and Biblical Family Trees about

• Creation, Adam, & his Descendants
• Noah, the Ark, & the Flood
• Abraham & Sarah
• Isaac & Rebekah, Esau & Jacob
• Jacob & his 4 wives
• 12 sons of Jacob who became known as the 12 Tribes of Israel
• Moses who was from the line of Levi
• Joshua who became leader of Israelites after death of Moses
• 12 Judges of Israel including Deborah, Gideon, & Samson
• Kings of Israel including Saul, David, & Solomon
• 4 Major Prophets of Israel: Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel
• 12 Minor Prophets of Israel
• More Prophets of Israel: Samuel, Nathan, Elijah, & Elisha
• Women from Old & New Testament
• Jesus Christ, our Messiah, Lord, Savior, & King of king
• 12 Disciples of Jesus
• Apostle Paul & other Significant Followers of Christ
• Triune God: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit
• The Free Gift of Salvation & The Sinner's Prayer
• About Website: Explore Bible Story.org
• About the author: Debbie Dunn

Bible tale: Part 4 of 9 - Joseph (11th son of Jacob)

 Part 4 of 9 - Joseph (11th son of Jacob)

Genesis 41-42

re-told by Debbie Dunn

Story highlights:

* Joseph rationed food supplies during the 7 years of plenty.

* Joseph distributed food during the 7-year famine.

* Joseph's 10 older brothers came to Egypt to buy food for their families.

Bible role-play begins:

Narrator #1: Please recall that Joseph, the eleventh of Jacob's twelve sons, also known as Israel, has been in Egypt since he was seventeen years old.

 

Narrator #2: First, he was a slave for Potiphar, the Captain of the Guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.

Narrator #1: Next, due to the lies of Potiphar's wife, Joseph was thrown into prison for ten or more years.

 

Narrator #2: Then, at the age of 30, Joseph became the 2nd-in-command in all of Egypt. This benefit was a result of God's perfect plan for Joseph's life.

Narrator #1: God gave Joseph the ability to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh's chief cupbearer and then of Pharaoh himself.

 

Narrator #2: God gave Joseph the gift of being responsible, worthy of respect, trustworthy, and super intelligent.

Narrator #1: Thanks to all these gifts from God, Joseph wisely knew to take 1/5 of everybody's crops during the seven years when there was plenty of food for everyone to eat.

 

Narrator #2: As it states in Genesis 41,"Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea."

Narrator #1: "It was so much that Joseph stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure."

Narrator #2: Sadly, the 7 years of abundance came to an end in Egypt. Just as God told them, there was now going to be 7 years of famine.

 

Narrator #1: What is famine? It is a severe and prolonged shortage of food and water, leading to widespread hunger and starvation.

 

Narrator #2: If it were not for Joseph, many people in Egypt would have died.

Narrator #1: Thanks to Joseph listening to God, the people of Egypt have the chance to live and not die.

 

Narrator #2: There was also a famine in all the other lands around Egypt. But only in Egypt was there food.

Narrator #1: When all of Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh, their king, for food.

 

Narrator #2: Pharaoh said to them, "Go to Joseph and do what he tells you."

Narrator #1: Joseph opened up the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians so they would not starve.

 

Narrator #2: People from other countries around Egypt heard that there was food in Egypt.

Narrator #1: "And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere."                [Genesis 41:57]

 

Narrator #2: In the land of Canaan, the place where Joseph's father and 11 brothers lived, they also had hardly any food left to eat.

Narrator #1: Please recall, Joseph's father believes that a wild animal killed Joseph.

 

Narrator #2: Joseph's ten older brothers know they sold Joseph to be a slave. In the 20 or more years that have passed, they likely guess he is either still a slave or dead.

Narrator #1: Joseph's father, named Jacob and also Israel, turned to his sons one day. He said, "Why do you just keep looking at each other?"

 

Narrator #2: Their father said, "I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die."

Narrator #1: Then 10 of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. But Jacob did not send Joseph's younger brother, Benjamin, because he feared something bad might happen to him, as well.

 

Narrator #2: Do you recall Joseph's dreams he had when he was 17 years old about his brothers bowing down to him? That dream is about to come true.

 

Narrator #1: Joseph's 10 brothers went to the place where you could buy grain in Egypt. As soon as the governor of Egypt walked out, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.

 

Narrator #2: Please recall that Pharaoh had given Joseph a new name. So, there was nobody there who would call him Joseph.

Narrator #1: Joseph immediately recognized his older brothers, but they had no idea that the governor of Egypt was the younger brother they sold as a slave 20 or more years before.

 

Narrator #2: Joseph pretended to be a stranger. He also pretended that he could only speak Egyptian and not their language of Hebrew.

Narrator #1: Through an interpreter, he harshly asked, "Where do you come from?"

 

Narrator #2: His 10 older brothers replied, "We came from the land of Canaan to buy food."

Narrator #1: Joseph accused, "You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected."

 

Narrator #2: They said, "No, my lord. Your servants have come to buy food. We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies."

Narrator #1: Joseph again pretended not to believe them and accused them of being spies.

 

Narrator #2: They said, "Your servants were 12 brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more."

Narrator #1: Will Joseph agree to sell them food? Will Joseph reveal that he is their brother who is still alive? Tune in next week to find out.

 

Narrator #2: END OF SKIT. Let's give our volunteers a great big hand!

Are you a Bible enthusiast or do you lead a Youth Group or Family Bible Study? To get a FREE PDF download of this story, click on this link below:

Free PDF download of Part 4 of 9 - Joseph (11th son of Jacob).

Do you want more stories about Joseph & his 11 brothers? If so, visit the 12 sons of Jacob chapter from my EXPLORE BIBLE STORY dot org website.

Click here to get more stories about Joseph & his 11 brothers.

My ever-expanding Explore Bible Story dot org website includes Bible stories and Biblical Family Trees about

• Creation, Adam, & his Descendants
• Noah, the Ark, & the Flood
• Abraham & Sarah
• Isaac & Rebekah, Esau & Jacob
• Jacob & his 4 wives
• 12 sons of Jacob who became known as the 12 Tribes of Israel
• Moses who was from the line of Levi
• Joshua who became leader of Israelites after death of Moses
• 12 Judges of Israel including Deborah, Gideon, & Samson
• Kings of Israel including Saul, David, & Solomon
• 4 Major Prophets of Israel: Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel
• 12 Minor Prophets of Israel
• More Prophets of Israel: Samuel, Nathan, Elijah, & Elisha
• Women from Old & New Testament
• Jesus Christ, our Messiah, Lord, Savior, & King of king
• 12 Disciples of Jesus
• Apostle Paul & other Significant Followers of Christ
• Triune God: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit
• The Free Gift of Salvation & The Sinner's Prayer
• About Website: Explore Bible Story.org
• About the author: Debbie Dunn