Lesson 17: Joseph's Coat and Jealousy

Aims
*To be familiar with the story of Joseph’s coat
*To learn about jealousy

Materials
Genesis 37
The Beginner’s Bible
Visual aids: pictures from the story
Large picture of Joseph wearing his coat
Strips of coloured material
Glue, scissors
Key words: Joseph, jealous

Lesson Outline
1. Introduction
2. Tell the story
3. Questions
4. Activities – retell the story, decorate Joseph’s coat
5. Review the aims
6. Prayer

1) Introduction
*Remind the children about the stories they have heard so far, by saying the names of the main characters: Abraham & Sarah, Isaac and Rebecka, and Esau & Jacob. Show the pictures. Today’s story is about one of Jacob’s sons, Joseph

2) Tell the story
Genesis 37
Joseph’s Colourful Robe
Joseph was one of Jacob’s twelve sons. Jacob loved him more than all of his other sons.
Jacob made Joseph a colourful robe. His brothers were jealous. They wanted nice robes, too. And they wanted to be loved as much as Jacob was loved. 
Joseph had a dream. He told his family, “We were bundling grain from the field. Your bundles of grain bowed down to mine.”

Then Joseph had another dream. He said, “This time, the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” His father asked, “Does this mean our family will bow down to you someday?” 
The brothers were even more angry. They threw Joseph into a dry well. 
Along came some traders. The brothers sold Joseph to them as a slave.
They lied to their father and said Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. But God was with Joseph.

3) Questions
* How many sons did Jacob have?
*Who did Jacob love the most?
*What did Jacob make for Joseph?
*How did Joseph’s brothers feel about this?
*Would you feel jealous if your brother or sister was given a special coat and you weren’t?
*What was Joseph’s first dream?
*What was his second dream?
*What did the dreams mean?
*How would you feel if you had dream where your whole family bowed down to you?
*How would you feel if your brother or sister dreamt that you bowed down to him or her?
*His brothers became very angry. What did they do to Joseph?
*What did the brothers tell Jacob about Joseph?
*Joseph was chosen by God. That’s why his father loved him so much and why he had special dreams

5) Activities
* Put the pictures in the correct order and retell the story in your own words
*Decorate the picture of Joseph’s coat with strips of coloured cloth
*Make Joseph’s coat using card, cloth and crayon shavings

6) Review the lesson aims
*To be familiar with the story of Joseph’s coat
*To learn about jealousy and family relationships

7) Prayer
* Say a prayer to ask God to help us to be happy when siblings or friends receive nice things