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CASE STUDIES OF GOD AT WORK

Week 9
Aug 31-Sept 6, 2024

Word of the Day-Blessings


FAMILY THEME

God Provides

WE ARE USING THE ICB VERSION OF THE BIBLE

4But God’s mercy is great, and he loved us very much. 5We were spiritually dead because of the things we did wrong against God. But God gave us new life with Christ. You have been saved by God’s grace.




MONDAY
Read Genesis 41:41-43, 46-49(ICB)

41Then the king said to Joseph, “Look! I have put you in charge of all the land of Egypt.” 42Then the king took off from his own finger his ring with the royal seal on it. And he put it on Joseph’s finger. He gave Joseph fine linen clothes to wear. And he put a gold chain around Joseph’s neck. 43The king had Joseph ride in the second royal chariot. Men walked ahead of his chariot calling, “Bow down!” By doing these things, the king put Joseph in charge of all of Egypt.

46Joseph was 30 years old when he began serving the king of Egypt. And he left the king’s court and traveled through all the land of Egypt. 47During the seven good years, the crops in the land grew well. 48And Joseph gathered all the food produced in Egypt during those seven years of good crops. He stored the food in the cities. In every city he stored grain that had been grown in the fields around that city. 49Joseph stored much grain, as much as the sand of the seashore. He stored so much grain that he could not measure it.

Because God worked in his life, Joseph went from slave to leader. Click on the two things Joseph did NOT do as leader.


He killed Pharaoh.

He stored up food.

He collected gold.

He was placed over all of Egypt.


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Sometimes God provides opportunities for us to make a difference, even in difficult situations.


TUESDAY
Read Genesis 41:55-42:8(ICB)

55The time of hunger became terrible in all of Egypt. The people cried to the king for food. He said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. Do whatever he tells you to do.” 56The hunger was everywhere in that part of the world. And Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the people of Egypt. This was because the time of hunger became terrible in Egypt. 57And all the people in that part of the world came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain. This was because the hunger was terrible everywhere in that part of the world.

The Dreams Come True

1Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt. So he said to his sons, “Why are you just sitting here looking at one another? 2I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy grain for us to eat. Then we will live and not die.” 3So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. 4But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with them. Jacob was afraid that something terrible might happen to Benjamin. 5Along with many other people, the sons of Jacob, also called Israel, went to Egypt to buy grain. This was because the people in the land of Canaan were hungry also. 6Now Joseph was governor over Egypt. He was the one who sold the grain to people who came to buy it. So Joseph’s brothers came to him. They bowed facedown on the ground before him. 7When Joseph saw his brothers, he knew who they were. But he acted as if he didn’t know them. He asked unkindly, “Where do you come from?” They answered, “We have come from the land of Canaan to buy food.” 8Joseph knew they were his brothers. But they did not know who he was.

Long ago, Joseph’s brothers had sold him into slavery. Now, they came to him for help. What do you think Joseph wanted to do or say to them?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

God provides us with opportunities to forgive others.


WEDNESDAY
Read Genesis 45:1-8(ICB)

Joseph Reveals Who He Is

1Joseph could not control himself in front of his servants any longer. He cried out, “Have everyone leave me.” When only the brothers were left with Joseph, he told them who he was. 2Joseph cried so loudly that the Egyptians heard him. And the people in the king’s palace heard about it. 3He said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” But the brothers could not answer him, because they were very afraid of him. 4So Joseph said to them, “Come close to me.” So the brothers came close to him. And he said to them, “I am your brother Joseph. You sold me as a slave to go to Egypt. 5Now don’t be worried. Don’t be angry with yourselves because you sold me here. God sent me here ahead of you to save people’s lives. 6No food has grown on the land for two years now. And there will be five more years without planting or harvest. 7So God sent me here ahead of you. This was to make sure you have some descendants left on earth. And it was to keep you alive in an amazing way. 8So it was not you who sent me here, but God. God has made me the highest officer of the king of Egypt. I am in charge of his palace. I am the master of all the land of Egypt.

Joseph asked his brothers about their ____________. Then, he told them to ____________. He told them not to be ____________ with themselves. It was ____________ who had sent him to ____________ people’s lives and to ____________ over Egypt.

ANGRY / GOD / COME CLOSE / FATHER / SAVE / RULE



THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Reflecting on the ways God has provided for me can give me courage!


THURSDAY
Read Genesis 45:9-15(ICB)

9“So leave quickly and go to my father. Tell him, ‘Your son Joseph says: God has made me master over all Egypt. Come down to me quickly. 10Live in the land of Goshen. You will be near me. Also your children, your grandchildren, your flocks and herds and all that you have will be near me. 11I will care for you during the next five years of hunger. In this way, you and your family and all that you have will not starve.’ 12“Now you can see for yourselves. The one speaking to you is really Joseph. And my brother Benjamin can see this. 13So tell my father about how powerful I have become in Egypt. Tell him about everything you have seen. Now hurry and bring him back to me.” 14Then Joseph hugged his brother Benjamin and cried. And Benjamin cried also. 15Then Joseph kissed all his brothers. He cried as he hugged them. After this, his brothers talked with him.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Reconciliation is a powerful way to practice God’s love.


FRIDAY
Read Genesis 45:16-21, 25-28(ICB)

16The king of Egypt and his officers learned that Joseph’s brothers had come. And they were very happy about this. 17So the king said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers to load their animals and go back to the land of Canaan. 18Tell them to bring their father and their families back here to me. I will give them the best land in Egypt. And they will eat the best food we have here. 19Tell them to take some wagons from Egypt for their children and their wives. And tell them to bring their father back also. 20Tell them not to worry about bringing any of their things with them. We will give them the best of what we have in Egypt.” 21So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them wagons as the king had ordered. And he gave them food for their trip.

25So the brothers left Egypt and went to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26They told him, “Joseph is still alive. He is the ruler over all the land of Egypt.” Their father was shocked and did not believe them. 27But the brothers told him everything Joseph had said. Then Jacob saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him back to Egypt. Now Jacob felt better. 28Jacob, also called Israel, said, “Now I believe you. My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Imagine Joseph had not forgiven his brothers and had put them in prison instead. How would things have ended differently for . . .

Joseph’s brothers ?

Joseph’s father ?

Joseph ?


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

God can do great things when I show kindness to people who have hurt me.


CHECK IT OUT

His brothers left him for dead, he lived as a slave, and he was sent to prison for something he didn’t do.

Most people would think God forgot about Joseph, but Joseph didn’t believe that. He knew God was with him every step of the way. He obeyed God and made the most of every situation. Because of that, God was able to use Joseph for incredible things.

Rest assured, God will never forget you. You might not have it all, but with Jesus you have all you need.

Even in our darkest moments, God provides for us. Check out these verses and see what God's Children received:

PEACE (Philippians 4:7, ICB)
STRENGTH (Psalm 29:11, ICB)
COMFORT (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, ICB)
FORGIVENESS (Ephesians 1:7, ICB)
LIFE FOREVER (Romans 6:23, ICB)
GOOD THINGS (Matthew 7:11, ICB)
ESCAPE FROM TEMPTATION (1 Corinthians 10:13, ICB)
GRACE (James 4:6, ICB)






JUNIORS CHALLENGE

Together with your family, share three different things God has provided for you. Tell them why you are thankful.

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