Week 8 · Old Testament · about 3 minutes · 180 words

🌾 Joseph Forgives His Brothers

Joseph rises to help Egypt through a famine and chooses tears and forgiveness when his brothers return.

In Egypt, God gave Joseph wisdom to explain a dream of the king. Seven good years of harvest were coming, and then seven years of hunger. Joseph stored grain in fat years so there would be bread in thin ones. The forgotten brother became the man who kept a nation fed.

The hunger reached Joseph’s old home. His brothers came to buy grain. They did not recognize the man in Egyptian clothes. Joseph recognized them. He could have paid them back. Instead he tested whether their hearts had changed, and then he could not hold the secret anymore.

Joseph wept so loudly the whole house heard it. “I am Joseph,” he said. “Come close.” He told them God had sent him ahead to save lives. He kissed his brothers. Forgiveness did not pretend the pit never happened. It refused to let the pit have the last word.

Forgiving someone who hurt you may take time and a parent’s help. Joseph shows that forgiveness is strong, not soft. It makes room for a family to eat at the same table again.

“And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32 · Genesis 41–45

Say it

Practice Ephesians 4:32

Tap the words in order. The blanks follow the verse from left to right.

Andbekindtooneanother,tenderhearted,forgivingeachjustasGodalsoinyou.

Talk about it

How did God use Joseph’s hard years?
What did Joseph do when he told his brothers who he was?
What is one hurt you can start to hand to God?

Prayer

Father, thank you for Joseph’s tears and his mercy. Help me forgive with your strength and trust you with the ending. Amen.

Parent tip

If a child is in an unsafe situation, distinguish forgiveness from having to be alone with someone who hurts them.

Week 8 · the whole night