More Plagues On Egypt

"There is none like me in all the earth." Exodus 9:14

God spoke to Moses from a burning bush and told him to lead the children of Israel away from the people in Egypt who were cruel to them. 

But the king of Egypt, called Pharaoh, wouldn't let them go. God sent plagues to them as a message and punishment, but Pharaoh wouldn't change his mind. God sent ten plagues, and you hear about three of them to this day.

First, the sheep and cows that the Egyptians worshiped got sick and died. Then the people got sick and had sores all over their body. Then God sent a terrible storm with thunder and lightning and hail so big it killed anyone in the fields and broke all the tree branches. Pharaoh was frightened at the storm and said the people could go. 

So Moses prayed to God and the storm stopped. When everything was still again, Pharaoh changed his mind and said the people couldn't leave. God continued to be angry at him for this. 

Sometimes we're a little bit like Pharaoh when we say, "No, I won't," when we're asked to do something. Even when we're punished, we stay stubborn and say, "No one will force me to do that!" And we make our hearts hard when we do this. It's sad because this hardness is wrong. It hurts us and it hurts God. 

Pray to God to help you when you feel stubborn and feel your heart harden. Ask him to teach you to obey. And don't forget and do the same thing again when the punishment is over, or it will have done you no good and you will have to be punished again. 

QUESTIONS

1. What did God want Pharaoh to do?

2. Who spoke God's words to Pharaoh ?

3. But what did Pharaoh say ?

4. Who was Pharaoh?

5. Who was Moses?

6. What was done to Pharaoh ?

7. Did he mind ?

8. Tell me the three plagues we hear of today.

9. How many plagues were there in all ?

10. What happened in the thunderstorm ?

11. What did Pharaoh say when he was frightened?

12. So what stopped?

13. But did he let the people go?

14. What fault in us is the same as Pharaoh's?

15. What should we do?

16. Who can help us to fight with their obstinate temper?

17. But how must we get God's help?

Plagues Over Egypt

"I will redeem you with a stretched out arm." Exodus 6:6

The Israelites were very unhappy because Pharaoh was cruel to them and they all thought it was Moses' fault. But Moses told them they would be saved and God was going to show them His power and they would remember what He had done for them. He was going to punish Pharaoh because he wouldn't obey him.

God made His power known so that Pharaoh and the children of Israel would know he was the great Lord of heaven and earth and must be obeyed. 

First, Moses stretched out his staff and all of the water in the river turned into blood. For seven days is was all one red stream of blood. Even the water stored in jars was turned to blood. Seven days later Moses stretched the staff out again and it turned back into pure water. But Pharaoh still didn't let them go. 

Then, God sent frogs into the land. There were so many frogs they came into the houses. They were in the bedrooms and the tables - everywhere. Pharaoh couldn't bear them and he said if the frogs would go away he would let the children of Israel go. 

Moses prayed to God and the frogs died. But Pharaoh changed his mind again and wouldn't let the people leave. 

So God sent lice to the people. Lice are a bug, a parasite, that lives on blood from the human scalp. The Egyptians couldn't bear anything dirty, but Pharaoh didn't care. 

Next, God sent swarms of flies into the cities. The flies were buzzing everywhere and even stinging people. Pharaoh said again he would let the people leave, but as soon as the flies died he changed his mind again. 

He was trying to fight against God, and that's why God allowed this miseries on him and the Egyptian people. If people will not do better after being punished, worse and worse is sure to come on them.

QUESTIONS

l. How did God punish Pharaoh ?

2. What four plagues have I told you of today ?

3. Why did these dreadful things happen?

4. Did Pharaoh care about them?

5. Why did he not mind them ?

6. What happens to those who do not mind being punished ?

Moses and Aaron Go to Egypt

"And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord?" Exodus 5:2

God promised Moses help, so he sent his brother Aaron to help him deliver God's message. They went to Pharaoh and told him that the people were to leave and go worship God. But Pharaoh asked, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I don't know the Lord and I won't let Israel go." 

Then he became more cruel to the children of Israel. He made them work harder and beat them if they didn't do all the work given to them. They were making bricks, and Pharaoh made them make bricks but didn't give them the straw they needed. He said they needed to find it themselves but they needed to make just as many bricks as before.

The children of Israel cried out and were angry with Moses. They said he'd brought more trouble on them. They were miserable and wished Moses and Aaron hadn't come. They said he made them worse off instead of better.

Aaron was a better speaker than Moses, and that's why God sent him to help Moses. Aaron spoke to the Israelites and asked them to wait just a bit longer. Soon it would be over and they wouldn't have to make bricks anymore and would then go to the beautiful country God had for them. Some of the Israelite's remembered their grandfathers and great-grandfathers had described that country they'd come from. They'd been told it was a country with steep hills and a river, green valleys and bright streams, thick woods, gardens and vineyards.

Cows were in the pastures and the wild rocks and hollow trees filled with bees nests, so it was called a land of milk and honey. The Israelites should have wanted to hear of this place, but they didn't care. They wanted to know what they were going to have for supper instead of thinking about a land far away. 

People are often like that when they care about the "right now" instead of the "by and by." If we want just what pleases us today, instead of caring what will be good for us as we grow older, we become stubborn like the Israelites who wouldn't listen to Moses or God.

QUESTIONS

1. Who was Pharaoh ?

2. Who were the children of Israel?

3. Who had been sent to call them ?

4. What did Pharaoh say to Moses?

5. How did he use the Israelites?

6. What would he not give them?

7. Who was Moses brother?

8. What was Aaron to do for Moses ?

9. Who spoke to Moses ?

10. Who told the people what God said to Moses?

11. What kind of place did God promise?

12. What did Moses say it flowed with?

13. Why?

14. Did the Israelites care?

15. Why not?

16. When are we like them ?

17. Which should we care for most, now or by-and-by?

The Call of Moses

"I have surely seen the affliction of my people." Exodus 3:7

Joseph brought his father and brothers and their families to live in Egypt. Their descendants lived there for many years, and God was faithful to expand the family and make them a great people. They were all called the Children of Israel. But the new king of Egypt was cruel to them. He made them work hard to build bricks and towns for him. When the people continued to grow, the king then ordered that if a boy was born to the Children of Israel he should be killed. 

One mother hid her baby son for three months. When she couldn't hide him anymore, she put him into a cradle of rushes and covered it with tar so it would be watertight. She let the cradle float on the river and the boy's sister watched him. The king's daughter soon came down to the river to bathe. She saw the cradle and had her servants bring it to her. She saw the baby in the cradle and it was crying. The king's daughter pitied him and decided to bring him home and raise him as her own child. She needed a nurse and the boy's sister appeared and offered to find a nurse. The princess agreed, and the girl brought their mother and she became his nurse.

He was named Moses and he grew up in the king's palace. When he was grown he'd learned that he was adopted by the king's daughter and was born a Hebrew. The king had grown angry with him because Moses cared for the Hebrew people, so Moses left the king's palace and went to live in the wilderness. He became a shepherd and raised sheep with his wife's family.

One day he was keeping the sheep and he saw something wonderful. He saw a flame in a bush but the bush wasn't burning. God's voice spoke to him out of the fire and told him about the troubles of His people, the children of Israel, were to end. God was going to save them from the cruel Egyptians and he wanted Moses to lead them. 

God told Moses that he would bring them to a good land that God had prepared for them and promised Abraham they would have one day. Moses was to go to the king and them that it was God's will for the people to go.

Moses was afraid at first, and had a lot of questions. But God promised to help him and to send him help. 

QUESTIONS

1. Who was Moses?

2. Where was he put when he was a baby?

3. Why was he put on the river?

4. Who had said the little boys were to be drowned?

5. Whose babies were they that were to be drowned?

6. What other cruel things did the King of Egypt do to the children of Israel ?

7. Who were called the children of Israel?

8. What became of Moses in his cradle?

9. Who brought him up?

10. Did he stay with the king's daughter?

11. Whom did he care for?

12. What wonder did Moses see?

13. Who spoke to him?

14. What was God going to do for his people?

15. What land would He give them?

16. Who had the first promise that his children should have the good land?

Joseph Identifies Himself to His Brothers

"God did send me before you to preserve life." Genesis 45:5

All the brothers were scared when they found that Benjamin had the silver cup in his sack. They didn't know how it got there, but they knew if Benjamin had to stay behind their father's heart would break.

They returned to Egypt and Judah stood before him. He told him about their father and how he would die if Benjamin didn't return. Judah then offered himself in Benjamin's place.

Joseph was moved at Judah's offer of sacrifice for Benjamin. He sent everyone away and told the brothers who he was - that he was their brother Joseph who had been sold into slavery long ago. He hugged them all and cried for joy. He asked about his father, then told them not to be upset at what had happened before. God had worked it all out for good and allowed Joseph to be the way their lives were saved because he was over the grain stores in Egypt. 

"Go home, brothers," he said," and tell our father that I am alive and a I am a great and powerful man. Then bring him to me, along with your families, and come live with me here and I will take care of you." 

Joseph forgave his brothers and forgot all of the hurt they had done to him. He loved them with all his heart. When the brothers returned home their father couldn't believe the news. Finally, he did, and he said, "Joseph, my son, is still alive! I will see him before I die."

The family returned to Egypt and Joseph ran to meet them. He hugged his father and kissed him, and there was joy for Jacob because it was like Joseph had returned from the dead.

Jacob lived the rest of his life in Egypt and was happy with his son Joseph. God changed his name to Israel and his sons and their sons after them were then always called the Children of Israel. 

QUESTIONS

1. Who was Benjamin?

2. What was found in Benjamin's sack?

3. Who put it there?

4. What was going to be done to Benjamin?

5. Who spoke for him?

6. What did Judah ask?

7. Who did the lord of the land turn out to be ?

8. How did Joseph come to Egypt?

9. Why didn't his brothers recognize him sooner?

10. How did he treat them?

11. Whom did he send for?

12. What did Jacob say?

13. Where did Jacob go to live?

14. Why was it very kind in Joseph to help his brothers?

15. Did he give back to them the harm they had done to him?

16. How could we do like Joseph?

Joseph's Brothers Return

"God Almighty give you mercy before the man." Genesis 43:14

Joseph's brothers had to return to Egypt to buy more corn. Joseph had told them to bring Benjamin, their youngest brother, with them. But their father, Jacob, was sad and upset now that he knew what they'd done to Joseph. He wouldn't let Benjamin go. But Judah promised to take care of him, and Jacob trusted Judah. 

When Joseph saw his younger brother, he was so full of emotion he couldn't stop his tears. He had to leave his duties and he cried for a long time in his room. But still he tested his brothers He wanted to see if they envied Benjamin, his father's favorite son, the way they'd envied him. He had his servant hide his cup in Benjamin's sack of corn. Then the servant went after them, pretending they'd stolen the valuable cup. 

The brothers told the servant to search the sacks. The cup wouldn't be found. But when they took the sacks down and opened them, the cup was in Benjamin's sack! 

The brothers were shocked and surprised. The servant said Benjamin must return with him to be punished. But their hearts had changed since they'd plotted to kill Joseph so many years ago. Instead they were sad and upset at the thought of losing their brother. 

QUESTIONS

1. What had Joseph's brothers done to him?

2. What trouble did you hear last Sunday he was in ?

3. But how did he behave?

4. And what had he come to be?

5. What had he stored up?

6. Who came to buy corn?

7. How many brothers came?

8. Which did not come?

9. Why didn't Benjamin come?

10. Did the brothers know Joseph?

11. What did he tell them to do?

12. When he saw Benjamin, where did he go?

13. What did Joseph tell his steward to do?

14. What did Joseph want to see?

15. How did the brothers behave this time?     

Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dream

"We are verily guilty concerning our brother." Genesis 42:21

Joseph was finally released from prison because he was able to interpret the king's dream. God gave Joseph the wisdom to tell the king of Egypt that his dreams meant there would be seven years of a fine harvest. After the first seven years, there would be seven years with no harvest. 

The king made Joseph a great lord and set him to work. Joseph was to buy and store all of the corn that was over and above what people wanted during the seven years of plenty. Then there would be corn during the years with no harvest. 

When the bad years began, Joseph sold the corn to all who wanted it. The famine wasn't just in Egypt. It reached all the countries around and soon Joseph saw ten of his own brothers, those who had sold him into slavery, coming to him to buy corn. He recognized them, but they didn't know him because he'd grown up and was dressed like an Egyptian. He wanted to know what had happened to his father and his younger brother, Benjamin. He started to ask his brothers questions. 

They told him who they were - they were all one man's sons, one brother had been lost, and the other was home with their father. Joseph wouldn't believe them and said one brother must stay in Egypt while the rest went back to fetch the youngest brother. They felt fear and thought about what they'd done to their brother Joseph. They said to each other, "We are verily guilty concerning our brother."

Joseph heard them and couldn't believe what he'd heard. But he kept his plan. He made Simeon stay in Egypt to make sure the others would return and sent them home for Benjamin. He didn't keep any of the money they'd paid for the corn and had servants put it back in their sacks. 

They found the money on the way home and were afraid. But when they reached home their father was more afraid. He thought Simeon was now dead and Benjamin was going to be next. He told them he couldn't send Benjamin with them because if something happened to his youngest son, "then shall ye bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave."     

QUESTIONS

1. Where was Joseph?

2. Why was he in prison?

3. What did God make him able to tell the king?

4. How many years was there to be much corn ?

5. What was to be done with the corn?

6. Who managed the buying of it?

7. When was the corn wanted?

8. Who came to buy corn?

9. Who did not come?

10. Why did not Joseph's brothers know him?

11. What did he make believe to think?

12. Whom did he tell them to fetch?

13. What did he give back to them?

14. What did their father say about Benjamin's going?

15. Why was he afraid to trust them with Benjamin?

16. What is the way to be believed?     

Joseph Interprets Dreams in Prison

"Do not interpretations belong to God?" Genesis 40:8

Joseph had been sold by his cruel brothers and had become a slave in Egypt. A lie was told about him and he was put into prison. But Joseph did his best and did what he was told and God blessed him. The prison's keeper found out Joseph was different from the others. He gave Joseph responsibilities within the prison, such as feeding the prisoners and bringing them water. Joseph was able to speak to the prisoners and shared kind words with them. 

One day two new prisoners came in. One was the chief of all of Pharaoh's bakers and the other was his cup bearer. He carried Pharaoh's wine. Something had happened and they were suspected of doing something wrong, so they'd been sent to prison. One morning Joseph saw them looking sadder than usual. He asked what was the matter and they said they'd each had a dream. No one knew what it had meant. The Egyptians thought that dreams would bring a message and there were men in Egypt who said they could understand them. These dreams did have a meaning and God allowed Joseph to understand them. 

The cup bearer had dreamt he saw a vine with three bunches of grapes. He was squeezing the juice into the king's cup as he used to do. Joseph said this meant in three days the cup bearer would be working for the king again. Joseph asked him to tell the king about him when he was free. 

The baker dreamed that he had three baskets full of pastries and breads, but birds flew down and ate all the food. Joseph told him this meant he was going to die and birds would eat his body. And this is what happened. 

Pharaoh looked into what had happened and found out the truth. The baker was then killed and the cup bearer returned to his duties. But he was ungrateful and forgot all about Joseph and his promise to tell Pharaoh about him. 

QUESTIONS

1. Who was Joseph?

2. Where was he?

3. How did he get to Egypt ?

4. Where had he been put ?

5. Had he done anything wrong ?

6. Who trusted him ?

7. What did he do in the prison ?

8. Who came into the prison ?

9. What was the cup-bearer's dream?

10. What was the baker's dream ?

11. What did Joseph say the cup-bearer's dream meant?

12. What did the baker's dream mean?

13. What happened ?

14. What had Joseph asked of the cup-bearer?

15. Did he remember ?    

The Best Bible Stories for Children on Video

All links are affiliate links to Amazon.com. A portion of your purchase goes to support this site at no additional charge to you.

We know you want your family to have wholesome and quality entertainment, something all of your children can watch together and enjoy. Here are five of the best Bible stories on DVD, as rated on Amazon.

	Joseph, the Bible Collection, starring Ben Kingsley. Martin Landau and Lesley Ann Warren.
	Veggie Tales, Pistachio - The Little Boy That Woodn't. A lonely toymaker carves a little boy out of wood. The little boy wants to do things his own way and it lands him in a lot of trouble. Pistachio learns to listen to the wisdom of his loving father.
	The Prince of Egypt has been a popular story since its release in 1998. This animated tale from Dreamworks Pictures follows the life of Moses as he realizes his destiny of leading the Isrealites away from Egypt.
	Joseph, King of Dreams, was released in 2000 from Dreamworks Animation. It's the story of Joseph and is a companion to Prince of Egypt. Joseph's dreams guide him through life and his adventures in Egypt.
	Jeremiah tells the story of the prophet who abandons his family and the woman he loves to share God's message in Jerusalem.

Joseph is Faithful in Egypt

"The Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand." Gen. 39:3

Joseph was a slave in Egypt. A slave is a person who belongs to a master, just like his cows and horses do. He isn't paid for his work and he can't leave. A slave also can be sold to someone else. 

Poor Joseph. He used to live as a the son of a rich man. He wore a coat of many colors, he had many servants, and didn't have to obey anyone but his father. He used to live in a beautiful land, all hills and valleys, where he would take care of his father's animals. But now he was a salve in a strange land. People spoke a language he didn't understand. No one cared for him or was nice to him and he lived in a house in the city, far away from the hills he loved. 

Joseph had one comfort, and that was he knew God was with him. He prayed to God and did the work assigned to him. He did his work well, and everything he did was successful. His master came to trust him, because he knew Joseph would take care of everything as if it were his own. He was sure everything would be safe. 

But his master's wife told a lie about Joseph. She said he behaved badly, and he was put in prison for something he hadn't done. This sounds bad, but it was God's way of bringing something good to the land and to Joseph. Soon Joseph was loved and honored even in prison, and God helped everything he did succeed as before.  

Try this. The next time you have to do homework or chores at home, ask God to help you to make it succeed. Then try your best. He will help you and it will turn out well. Then try to deserve to be trusted. This is a good thing. If you remember that God always sees you, then do what's right even with no one is with you. This is the way to be trusted in all you say and do. If you only do good when someone is watching, you're not truly serving others. Live in a way that your parents will know

"Out of sight

Know all is right, 

One law for darkness

and for light."    

  

QUESTIONS

1. Whose son was Joseph?

2. How many brothers did Joseph have?

3. What had they done to him?

4. Why had Joseph's brothers sold him?

5. What is a slave?

6. How did Joseph behave as a slave?

7. Who comforted him ?

8. How did he take care of his master's things ?

9. Who told a lie against him?

10. What was done to him?

11. But who was with him still?

12. Did he always stay in prison ?

13. And what did people think of him, wherever he was?

14. What is the way to be like Joseph?

15. If you are trusted to carry a message, how should you do it?

16. Who always sees you?

17. Then, even if no one is nearby, how should you behave?     

Joseph Goes to Egypt

"His brethren envied him." Genesis 37:11

You know how Jacob left home and God promised to take care of him. God led Jacob to his uncle and Jacob lived with him for a long time. He took care of his uncle's animals and one day had a large flock of his own. Jacob came back to his home in Canaan after many years. He had twelve sons, and his favorite son was Joseph. Jacob loved him very much, and gave him a special coat to wear. This coat was made with many colors, and was usually given to the son who was to be his father's heir. His brothers were jealous. They hated Joseph and envied him. 

When Joseph was seventeen years old, his father Jacob asked him to go to the fields where his brothers were watching the sheep. He wanted to know what they were doing. Joseph didn't tell his father that his brothers were mean to him, so he obeyed his father and went to the fields. His brothers saw him coming and they thought of a plan. They planned to kill Joseph when he reached them. 

But Reuben, the oldest brother, tried to stop them. The others wouldn't listen to Reuben, so he offered another plan. He suggested they put Joseph into a dry well nearby. The others agreed, and when Joseph reached them they put him in the well. They meant to let him die there. 

Reuben planned to come back later and take Joseph out of the well, but another brother named Judah, who didn't want Joseph to die, saw a group traveling nearby. They were merchants on a journey and were filled with all kinds of items and animals. They were going to Egypt to sell their items. Judah persuaded the brothers to let the travelers buy Joseph and they offered him as a slave. 

They took Joseph out of the well and offered him to the merchants. The merchants were impressed, so they paid the price the brothers asked and carried him to Egypt, away from his father and all he'd ever known. 

The brothers kept his colored coat and killed a young goat. They used the goat's blood to stain the coat, then carried it to their father. They told their father a wild animal had killed Joseph. Jacob cried over the loss of his son. The brothers pretended to comfort him and they all stayed quiet and didn't tell the truth about what happened. 

QUESTIONS

1. Whose son was Jacob?

2. How many sons had Jacob?

3. What did he set them to do ?

4. Which son did he love best?

5. What did he give Joseph ?

6. Where did he send Joseph?

7. What did the brothers want to do ?

8. Who wished to save him?

9. So what did Reuben persuade them to do?

10. What did Reuben mean to do?

11. But who came by?

12. What did the brothers do with Joseph?

13. Who persuaded them to sell him ?

14. What are people called who are bought and sold?

15. What was done with his coat?

16. What did Jacob think had happened ?         

Jacob Returns to Canaan

"As a prince hast them prevailed." Genesis 38:28

Jacob had a long journey, but God took care of him and brought him safely to his mother's old home. He lived there for a long time and took care of his uncle's sheep and cows. Soon he'd earned sheep and cows of his own. He got married and had many children. 

But one day God told him to go back to Canaan. Jacob was afraid because he thought his brother, Esau, might still be angry with him. In spite of his fear, Jacob did go home to Canaan. 

He was near the river Jordan on the east side of Canaan and he stopped to ask God to guard him. God let him see the angels surrounding him and protecting him. This helped him feel better, but he was still very careful. 

Jacob chose gifts from his animals - from his cows and goats, camels, sheep and donkeys, and send the gift ahead to Esau. Then he sent the rest of his animals and his family, including his youngest son, Joseph, to a safe place nearby. 

Jacob saw Esau coming out to meet him. His brother wasn't angry. They met, hugged each other tight and kissed each other on the cheek. God kept his promise to take care of Jacob. Jacob kept his promise to God. He made an altar at a place called Bethel, where he'd seen the angels before, and he praised and blessed God. 

QUESTIONS

1. Who was Jacob ?

2. Why had he left home ?

3. With whom did he go to live?

4. What did he earn there?

5. Why did he go back ?

6. Why was he afraid ?

7. But what comforted him ?

8. Whom did God's angels care for ?

9. What did he give Esau?

10. How did he put his family in order?

11. Who went last?

12. How did Esau meet him?

13. What was the quarrel between them?

14. Was Esau angry?

15. How did Jacob show he was thankful ?