This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in Genesis 41:40-57, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
Joseph was a very special man who loved God very much. One day, he found himself in a foreign land called Egypt. He was sold as a slave to a man named Potiphar, but Joseph did not lose hope. He worked very hard and became very important to Potiphar. But then something terrible happened. Potiphar’s wife lied about Joseph and he was thrown into prison.
Even though he was in prison, Joseph continued to trust in God. One day, the Pharaoh of Egypt had a dream that no one could understand. But Joseph, with the help of God, was able to explain the dream to the Pharaoh. The dream was a warning of seven years of abundance, followed by seven years of famine.
Pharaoh was so impressed with Joseph’s wisdom that he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt. He gave Joseph a special ring and robe, and put him in charge of the storehouses. Pharaoh told all the people of Egypt to listen to Joseph, and to obey him.
Joseph was married to a woman named Asenath, and they had two sons. Joseph named his first son Manasseh, which means “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” This is because Joseph had gone through a lot of difficult times, but God had helped him to forget all of that. Joseph’s second son was named Ephraim, which means “God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” This is because God had blessed Joseph even during the hard times.
During the seven years of plenty, Joseph collected lots of food and stored it in the cities. He made sure that there was enough food to last through the seven years of famine. When the famine came, people from all over the region came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph. Joseph sold grain to everyone who needed it, and he used the money to help the people of Egypt.
Biblical Lessons
- God can use anyone, no matter their circumstances, to do great things.
- It is important to trust in God, even when things are difficult.
- We should be prepared for hard times and help others when they are in need.