BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER IS THERE ANYTHING GOD CANNOT DO? God can do all things according to His character. God sent Joseph to Egypt and blessed him so that he rose to a position of great authority. When Jesus came to earth, He gave up His position of honor in heaven to be the Savior of the world. memory verseREAD THE STORY:
This week, kids learned what happened after Joseph’s brothers sent him to Egypt. Jacob had recognized his favorite son’s bloody robe and concluded that his 17-year-old son had been torn apart by a vicious animal. He was devastated by the news of Joseph’s apparent death. No one could comfort Jacob. (Gen. 37:33-35) For the next 20 years, Jacob lived with the grief of losing a child. But Scripture shows us what Jacob couldn’t see: God was with Joseph, making him successful and blessing him in Egypt. Joseph worked for Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh, but when Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him of attacking her, Joseph ended up in prison. God gave Joseph the ability to interpret dreams. Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker were also in custody when they each had a dream on the same night. “Interpretations belong to God,” Joseph explained. Then Joseph told them what the dreams meant. The cupbearer would be restored to his position, but the baker would be executed. Two years later, Pharaoh had a dream which no one could interpret. But the cupbearer remembered Joseph and his ability to interpret dreams, and Pharaoh summoned Joseph. God revealed what would happen: there would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Pharaoh took action, putting Joseph into a position of power to help prepare Egypt for the future. He recognized that Joseph was wise and that God was with him. God sent Joseph to Egypt and blessed him so that he rose to a position of great authority. God used Joseph to help Joseph’s family and many others. When Jesus came to earth, He gave up His position of honor in heaven to be the Savior of the world. As you talk to your kids, point them to our God who is with us and blesses us. He blessed us in the greatest way by sending His Son, who gave up His position of honor, to be the Savior of the world. He calls us to action in sharing the gospel with the whole world. Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week. FAMILY STARTING POINTS
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BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER IS THERE ANYTHING GOD CANNOT DO? God can do all things according to His character. Joseph’s brothers turned against him, but God protected Joseph and used him as part of His plan. In a similar way, people turned against God’s Son, Jesus. Jesus’ death was God’s plan to rescue sinners. MEMORY VERSE: I have been the Lord your God ever since the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and no Savior exists besides me. Hosea 13:4 READ THE STORY:
Jacob grew up in strife with his twin brother, Esau. He spent many years away from his family to avoid Esau’s anger. God spoke to Jacob in a dream and reaffirmed to Jacob the promise He gave to Abraham and Isaac. Finally, God called Jacob home to the land of Canaan. God blessed Jacob and changed his name to Israel. Jacob had 12 sons. They would become the leaders of the tribes of Israel. But Jacob’s favorite son was Joseph. Joseph was the son of Rachel, Jacob’s favorite wife, and Jacob didn’t hide his favoritism. He gave Joseph a gift that his other sons did not get: a beautiful coat of many colors. Of course, this did not endear Joseph to his siblings. Neither did Joseph’s announcement that God had spoken to him in dreams—dreams that revealed that one day everyone in Joseph’s family would bow down to him. Joseph’s brothers planned evil against him, and Joseph ended up in Egypt. Maybe Joseph felt alone in Egypt. Had God forgotten Joseph? No. Joseph’s brothers turned against him and tried to kill him, but God protected Joseph and used him as part of His plan to rescue his family. In a similar way, people turned against God’s Son, Jesus. Jesus’ death was God’s plan to rescue sinners. Jesus experienced true loneliness and ultimate suffering as He died on the cross for our sins. God raised Jesus from the dead. When we trust in Him, God forgives our sin. Emphasize with your children that we won’t experience true loneliness because Jesus promised to always be with us. (Matt. 28:20) And compared to the weight of glory awaiting believers, our suffering on earth is a “momentary light affliction” (2 Cor. 4:17). As you talk about this story with your kids, remind them that God is in control of our lives, and He accomplishes His plans in and through us—even as He works through the suffering and injustice we sometimes experience. We can trust God’s faithfulness. Through all circumstances, God’s will prevails—all for His glory and our good. FAMILY STARTING POINTS:
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER DOES GOD KEEP HIS PROMISES? God always keeps his promises because He is faithful. God changed Jacob’s life and gave him a new name, Israel. Jesus’ death and resurrection provided sinful people the way to be adopted into God’s family. We also receive a new name—children of God. (John 1:12) MEMORY VERSE: I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. Genesis 28:15 READ THE STORY: Jacob found himself stuck between a rock and a hard place. After stealing his older brother’s blessing, he fled his home to escape Esau’s anger. He spent time with his uncle Laban, got married, and fathered many children. Overall, Jacob prospered. God blessed him, but Jacob’s time with his uncle Laban did not end well. Laban’s sons accused Jacob of taking their father’s wealth. God was with Jacob and when He told Jacob to leave, Jacob did not hesitate. He gathered his family and all of his possessions and headed home to Canaan with Laban in pursuit. But uncertainty awaited Jacob in his homeland. His brother Esau was there. The last time Jacob saw Esau, Esau wanted to kill him. God had reaffirmed to Jacob the promise He gave Abraham and Isaac, and He had promised to be with Jacob. But with Laban behind him and Esau before him, how could Jacob possibly survive? Jacob tried to prepare for his meeting with Esau. He strategically divided his family into separate groups. He sent gifts ahead of them to appease Esau. That night, Jacob anxiously awaited word from Esau, and that is when he encountered the Lord. Did Jacob win the wrestling match? Was he stronger than the Lord? The victory was ironic; Jacob did not win by strength (God proved His power by crippling Jacob with just a touch) but by confessing his dependence on God’s blessing. Jacob had nowhere else to turn. He could not succeed by his own strength. Jacob held onto God and would not let go. God poured out His grace on Jacob. He blessed Jacob and gave him a new name, Israel. From Jacob’s descendants—from the nation of Israel—God would bring into the world His Son, Jesus. As you talk with your kids about this story, emphasize that God changed Jacob’s life and gave him a new name, Israel. Jesus came so that we might have a changed life, forgiven of sin. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Jesus’ death and resurrection provided sinful people the way to be adopted into God’s family. When we are adopted into the family of God we also receive a new name—children of God. (John 1:12) FAMILY STARTING POINTS:
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