Joseph 2

^{Joseph 2}

    “My son Joseph is alive!” Jacob said. “Pack up your things, we’re moving to Egypt!” And so that’s just what they did. They hadn’t traveled very far when Jacob stopped. He stopped to ask for directions from God. They were leaving the land that God had promised them. Was this what God wanted them to do?  Jacob needed to ask God to lead him. That night God said to him, “Do not be afraid to leave your home and go to Egypt. I will go with you, and my people will become a great nation there. But one day I will bring my people back to the land I have promised them.” Now Jacob knew it was okay to move his family to Egypt. It was all part of God’s plan.

   The famine was just getting worse. All around people were getting hungrier and hungrier. "Help us!" they cried, "We are starving!" And so, Joseph sold them the food. Soon all their money was gone. Then their animals, and finally they said, "Take our land, make us your slaves, just give us food. So, every living person became Pharaoh's slave because every living person was alive because of Joseph. At last, the 7 long years of famine were over. The rains started to fall. The crops began to grow. And God blessed them. What Joseph's brothers meant for evil, God meant for good. God had a plan, and everything was under His control! God works all things together for good to those who love Him.

    Joseph could have remained angry at his brothers. He could have had them thrown in prison or worse, killed. But instead, he chose to forgive them because he knew that God had a bigger plan. Joseph remembered that God was in charge! Do you forgive others? Do you remember God is in charge? Just like Joseph's brothers we deserve to be punished for our sins, but God doesn't treat us the way we deserve. He sent His Son Jesus to take our punishment, so we can be forgiven! Now, we get to be with Him forever in Heaven! And I'm sure we'll get to see Joseph and his brothers there too!

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Joseph part 2