For Kids · 4 min with a grown-up
Joseph has eleven brothers, a special coat, and some big dreams. But his brothers are jealous — and today their jealousy goes too far.
Today's Story
Jacob had twelve sons, but Joseph was his favorite. To show it, Jacob gave Joseph a beautiful coat of many colors. The other brothers noticed — and it made them jealous.
Joseph also had dreams. In one, the brothers' bundles of wheat all bowed down to Joseph's bundle. In another, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowed to him. When Joseph told his brothers, they were furious. “Do you think you'll rule over US?”
One day the brothers were far from home with the sheep, and Jacob sent Joseph to check on them. When they saw him coming in that colorful coat, their jealousy boiled over. They grabbed him and put him down in an empty pit.
Then some traders came by on their way to Egypt. The brothers made a cold choice: they sold Joseph to the traders, and off he went to a faraway land. To hide what they'd done, they dipped his coat in animal blood and told their father a wild animal had taken him. Poor Jacob was heartbroken.
Joseph was carried far away to Egypt, all alone. It looked like the end of his story. But it wasn't. Because even in Egypt, even now, God was with Joseph. And God was not done.
A Big Word
Talk About It
- The brothers let their jealousy grow until it led them to do something wrong. What can you do when you start to feel jealous of someone?
- Joseph was taken far from home and felt all alone — but God was with him the whole time. When have you felt alone? How does it help to know God is with you?
- It looked like Joseph's story was over, but God wasn't finished. Have you ever had something turn out better than it looked at first?