For Kids · 4 min with a grown-up
The hard years have come, and Joseph's brothers travel to Egypt for food — never dreaming who they'll be standing in front of.
Today's Story
The famine Joseph had warned about spread everywhere, even to Jacob's family far away. They were running out of food. So Jacob sent ten of Joseph's brothers to Egypt to buy grain. (He kept the youngest, Benjamin, safely at home.)
The brothers came and bowed down low before the powerful governor in charge of Egypt's food — not knowing it was Joseph! Joseph recognized THEM right away, all grown up. But they had no idea the brother they had sold so long ago was now standing right in front of them.
Joseph's heart must have pounded with so many feelings. But he didn't tell them who he was yet. Instead, he tested them, to see if their hearts had changed — if they were still the kind of men who would hurt their own brother.
On the way home, the brothers were scared and full of regret. “This is happening because of what we did to Joseph long ago,” they said to each other. After all these years, they were finally truly sorry.
And Joseph — when he heard them say it — had to turn away and cry. He still loved them. God was beginning to heal what had been broken so many years before.
A Big Word
Talk About It
- The brothers were finally sorry for what they'd done years ago. Why does saying sorry — and meaning it — matter so much?
- Joseph cried when he heard his brothers were sorry. What does that tell you about Joseph's heart toward them?
- God was quietly healing this broken family. Is there a relationship in your life you'd like God to help heal?