Have you ever been jealous of someone else's gift? Joseph's brothers were very jealous of his special coat. This story teaches us that even when bad things happen, God can turn them into something good!
The Story of Joseph
Joseph was one of twelve brothers, but he was his father Jacob's favorite. Jacob gave Joseph a beautiful, colorful coat. Joseph also had special dreams where his brothers bowed down to him. This made his big brothers very angry and jealous!
One day, the brothers sold Joseph to some travelers going to Egypt. They told their father that a wild animal had eaten him. In Egypt, Joseph had a hard time. He was put in prison even though he didn't do anything wrong. But God was always with Joseph.
Later, Joseph became a very powerful ruler in Egypt because he could explain the King's dreams with God's help. When a famine came (a time with no food), his brothers came to Egypt looking for food. They didn't recognize Joseph, but he recognized them! Instead of being angry or mean, Joseph forgave them. He said, "You meant to hurt me, but God used it for good to save many lives!"
What Kids Learn From This Story
- Jealousy is Dangerous: Jealousy can make us do bad things, so we should be happy for others.
- Forgiveness: Joseph showed huge love by forgiving his brothers.
- God's Plan: God can take bad situations and use them for His good plan.
Age Guidance
This story is recommended for children ages 4–12.
How to Explain This Story to Kids
Talk about feelings of jealousy. Ask: "Have you ever wanted a toy that your friend had?" Explain that Joseph's brothers let that feeling grow too big.
Remind them that even when things are sad or hard (like Joseph in prison), God is still there with us working things out.
Read the Full Story
You can read the full interactive version of this story, with read-aloud audio and quizzes, in the BibleBuddy Kids app.