Stories

Joseph and His Brothers

Genesis 37:1–36

For children

Jacob gave his son Joseph a special coat. His brothers were jealous and sold him to be a slave in Egypt. Joseph went to prison even though he did nothing wrong, but God was with him. Later Joseph became a ruler in Egypt and saved his family from hunger. He forgave his brothers and said, "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good."

For grown-ups

Joseph's story (Gen 37–50) is the Bible's great lesson in providence: every betrayal and delay turns out to be the way God keeps His promise alive. The rejected brother becomes the saviour of those who rejected him — a pattern fulfilled in Christ.

Talk about it

How did God use something bad for good in Joseph's life?