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Sunday, August 16, 2026

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



Explore Bible story dot org Business Card designed by Debbie Dunn using PowerPoint

Saturday, August 15, 2026

Bible tale: Part 3 of 9 - Joseph (11th son of Jacob)

 Part 3 of 9 - Joseph (11th son of Jacob)

Genesis 40-41

re-told by Debbie Dunn












Story highlights:

* Joseph said dream of chief cupbearer meant he’d resume serving Pharaoh

* Joseph said dream of chief baker meant he’d be hung in 3 days 

* Joseph made 2nd in command after explaining Pharaoh’s dreams



Bible role-play begins:


Narrator #1: While Joseph was in prison, he met two new prisoners: the chief cupbearer and the chief baker of Pharaoh.

 

Narrator #2: One night, each of them had a puzzling dream. They wondered, "What did my strange dream mean?"

 

Narrator #1: The next morning, Joseph saw their sad faces and asked what the source of their troubles was.

 

Narrator #2: They said to him, "We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them."


Narrator #1: Joseph said, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell me about your dreams."

 

Narrator #2: The chief cupbearer went first. He said, "In my dream, there was a vine before me. The vine had three branches."


Narrator #1: "I saw each branch bud, then flower, then be covered with clusters of grapes. I squeezed those grapes into Pharaoh's cup and handed it to him to drink."

 

Narrator #2: Joseph said, "Behold! The 3 branches represent 3 days. In 3 days, Pharaoh will lift up your head from this place and restore your job to you."


Narrator #1: "As you again serve Pharaoh his cups of wine, please tell him of my kindness to you so that he can set me free as well."


Narrator #2: The chief baker said, "Oh! Please consider my dream and hopefully provide me with good news. In my dream, I had 3 cake baskets on my head."


Narrator #1: "In the uppermost basket, there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh. Before I could give it to him, birds came and ate all the food in the 3 baskets on my head."

 

Narrator #2: Joseph sighed and sadly said, "The 3 baskets stand for 3 days. In 3 days, Pharaoh will lift up your head from off your body and hang you on a tree. Then, the birds will eat your flesh."


Narrator #1: On the 3rd day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he gave the chief cupbearer back his job and hanged the chief baker.

 

Narrator #2: Did the chief cupbearer keep his promise to Joseph? Nope! He forgot.

 

Narrator #1: Two years passed. Joseph was now 30 years old. At that time, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had a frightening dream.

 

Narrator #2: Pharaoh called for his magicians and wise men. But no one could reveal to him the true meaning of his dreams.


Narrator #1: The chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Pharaoh, I just recalled that there is a man in prison who can interpret dreams. His name is Joseph."


Narrator #2: Pharaoh ordered, "Bring Joseph to me!"


Narrator #1: Joseph shaved, cleaned up, and changed clothes. He then came to Pharaoh to hear about his dreams.

 

Narrator #2: Pharaoh said, "Joseph, in my first dream, I saw 7 plump cows come up out of the Nile River to eat grass."


Narrator #1: "Next, I saw 7 ugly, thin cows come up out of the river, and they ate the 7 plump cows. Even so, they were just as thin and ugly as before."

 

Narrator #2: "In my second dream, I saw 7 plump ears of corn growing on one stalk. Then, 7 thin and withered ears of corn appeared. They swallowed up the plump ears."


Narrator #1: Joseph said, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do."

 

Narrator #2: "The 7 good cows and the 7 good ears of corn represent 7 years of plenty where there will be plenty of food for everyone to eat."


Narrator #1: "The 7 thin cows and the 7 thin ears of corn represent 7 years of famine that will follow those 7 years of plenty."

 

Narrator #2: "Wise Pharaoh that you are, you should appoint someone trustworthy to be set over Egypt as an overseer."


Narrator #1: "This overseer should take up one-fifth of everybody's crop and store it up during the 7 years of plenty."

 

Narrator #2: "Then, when the 7 years of famine happen, Pharaoh will have plenty of food to use and share so that all the people will live and not die."


Narrator #1: Pleased, Pharaoh turned to Joseph and said, "Since God has shown you all this, there is none so wise as you. You shall become my second-in-command and be that wise overseer to save us from what is to come."

 

Narrator #2: Pharaoh took the signet ring from his own hand and put it on Joseph's. He gave him fine clothes to wear and a gold chain on his neck.


Narrator #1: He commanded everyone to bow to Joseph and obey his every command. Only Pharaoh would be more powerful than him.

 

Narrator #2: So, Pharaoh gave 30-year-old Joseph a new name. Joseph was also married to the daughter of a priest.


Narrator #1: During the 7 years of plenty, Joseph took one-fifth of all the food produced and stored it away in safety.

 

Narrator #2: Joseph managed to gather up so much food that it was as much as the sand of the sea.

 

Narrator #1: Before the 7 years of famine began, Joseph and his wife had 2 sons: Manasseh [Muh-na-suh] and Ephraim [Eff-rum].

 

Narrator #2: Next week, you will hear about the amazing things that happened during the 7 years of famine. FYI:

 











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 3 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



Explore Bible story dot org Business Card designed by Debbie Dunn using PowerPoint

Bible tale: Part 2 of 9 - Joseph (11th son of Jacob)

 Part 2 of 9 - Joseph (11th son of Jacob)

Genesis 39

re-told by Debbie Dunn









Story highlights:

* Joseph served as a slave to Potiphar th captain of Pharaoh's guard.

* Potiphar's wife falsely accused Joseph of trying to sleep with her.

* Joseph was cast into Pharaoh's prison for many years.


Bible role-play begins:


Narrator #1: Do you recall the tragic news of what happened to Jacob's 11th son, Joseph?

 

Narrator #2: Joseph's ten older brothers sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt.


Narrator #1: Then, they went home and pretended that a wild animal must have torn him to pieces and eaten him.

 








Narrator #2: His father, Jacob, also known as Israel, refused to be comforted for the loss of his favorite son.


Narrator #1: So, who was Joseph sold to? Joseph was sold to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard, the Egyptian king.

 

Narrator #2: God was with Joseph every step of the way. Not only that, but God also caused everything that Joseph did for his Egyptian master, Potiphar, to be successful.


Narrator #1: When Potiphar saw that everything that Joseph did for him in the house, in the field, and with his money was so successful, he gave Joseph a special job.

 

Narrator #2: Potiphar made Joseph his overseer. An overseer is someone put in charge of Potiphar’s entire house and over all that he had.


Narrator #1: As the years passed, Potiphar became so confident that God would bless everything Joseph did; he had no concern for anything except what he would eat in his next meal.


Narrator #2: There was just one problem. Joseph was so handsome and fit that Potiphar's wife had a crush on Joseph.


Narrator #1: She kept trying to convince Joseph to sleep with her. Of course, Joseph refused.

 

Narrator #2: There was no way that Joseph would break God's law nor do anything that would cause his master, Potiphar, to be sad or hurt.


Narrator #1: Day after day, when Potiphar was not around, his evil wife would try again and again to convince Joseph to be with her. He always refused.

 

Narrator #2: But one day, Joseph went into the house to work when he thought everybody was either in the field or away from home.


Narrator #1: Unfortunately, Potiphar's evil wife was there. She was tired of Joseph always saying "NO" to her.

 

Narrator #2: She sneaked up, grabbed his robe, yanked it off of him, and demanded, "Lie with me."


Narrator #1: Joseph left his robe in her hands and fled away out of the house as fast as he could.

 

Narrator #2: Of course, his rejection deeply hurt her pride. So, she cried out to the men of her household and lied to them.


Narrator #1: She held up Joseph's robe and said, "That Hebrew slave, that Joseph, tried to sleep with me. When I cried for help, he left his robe and ran away."

 

Narrator #2: When Potiphar came home, his evil wife repeated her lie to him about Joseph trying to sleep with her.


Narrator #1: Sadly, Potiphar believed his wife and refused to believe Joseph, who truthfully denied it.

 

Narrator #2: Filled with anger, Potiphar threw Joseph into the prison where the king kept all his prisoners.


Narrator #1: Poor Joseph! His brothers betrayed him by selling him as a slave when he was 17.

 

Narrator #2: Now, his Egyptian master, whom he had faithfully worked for during ten or more years, refused to believe he was innocent.


Narrator #1: The Bible clues us in that he was in prison for at least two years.

 

Narrator #2: During those two or more years, God was with Joseph. He showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.


Narrator #1: As a result, the prison keeper put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners in that prison.

 

Narrator #2: Whatever was done in that prison, it was trustworthy Joseph who did it.


Narrator #1: The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because God was with him


Narrator #2: And whatever Joseph did, the Lord made it successful.

 

Narrator #1: Please tune in next week to find out the wonderful thing that happened to him when Joseph turned 30. 
























Narrator #2: END OF SKIT. Let's give our



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 2 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



Explore Bible story dot org Business Card designed by Debbie Dunn using PowerPoint
volunteers a great big hand!