Big Brothers!

Martyn Payne

Bible links: Genesis 37; Genesis 42-46

On Your Marks:

General introduction to the theme:

When God made people, one way they were like God was the ability to offer and receive the gift of friendship. However, following the choice to betray that trust in their friendship with God, this gift became easily broken. People often chose to hate others, turning friends into enemies. God never stopped longing for friendship with and between all. Finally, when God stepped into this world as Jesus, everyone could see the forever friendship that God offered. It was a friendship that was greater than the power of revenge, hatred and death and this was made available to anyone when Jesus rose from the dead. Again and again God showed through the stories in the Bible how hatred can be turned into love and enemies can become friends. This is the good news that we as Christians can pass on to a broken world

Introduction to the story:

Joseph’s father Jacob should have known better. He experienced the negative result of favouritism in his family home but nevertheless he went and repeated the same mistake. Of course he had loved Joseph’s mum very much but, by publicly valuing her sons over the other ten, he was asking for a family disaster. Joseph was spoiled and became arrogant and proud. Understandably, his brothers became his enemies—the dreamer had to go. Yet, as Stephen comments in his sermon in Acts, ‘God was with Joseph’ (Acts 7:9). Once again God is at work in the lives of his people to bring about reconciliation, turning enemies into friends. After the long years in Egypt as a slave, a prisoner and then as Prime Minister, Joseph had a chance to test his brothers to see if they had changed and finally to become reunited with them. He saw God’s hand at work in all this. As he comments, ‘You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good’ (Genesis 50:20, RSV).

The following idea explores the story of this family feud that God uses in the end to save his people from famine and bring togetherness from what had been torn apart.

Get Set:

Use the retelling of the story from The Barnabas Children’s Bible, story 28, 'Friends and brothers', page 36; story 31, 'Sold to be a slave', pages 38 - 39; stories 37, 'Joseph's feast', 38, 'The silver cup' and 39 'Jacob's lost son', pages 44 - 46.

Go!

1. The Genesis story is very well known, if only because of the recently revised musical in London’s West End. Some of the tracks from this could be used to help the group into different aspects of the story. The children may even know some of the lyrics.

2. We know that Joseph was a favourite son in this large family. Genesis tells us of the special coat he was given, but I wonder what other privileges Joseph enjoyed? Ask the group to suggest some possibilities that would have contributed to the build-up of hatred towards Joseph from his big brothers.
Ask a group act out the two dreams that he has, in the cornfields and then in the night sky. Freeze the scene at the point when everyone bows down to Joseph, and interview the brothers about what they are thinking at that moment.

3. After the brothers had thrown Joseph into the pit, there must have been a heated debate among them as to what to do next. We know that Reuben hoped to save him. The others must have had other ideas. Starve him to death? Hope he died of a snakebite? Or from sunstroke? A landslide? Stone him? Sell him? Who knows? Gather the children around an imaginary campfire in a circle to debate what to do next with Joseph. Have a piece of coloured cloth, like Joseph’s coat, to pass around the group, as each is allowed their say.

4. In The complete Guide to Godly Play Volume 6 there is an extension lesson that covers the whole of Joseph’s life, using some simple objects to anchor the story.

5. Joseph’s life became a series of ups and downs, like a game of snakes and ladders. See the idea (Joseph) based on this on the Barnabas website for a game version to use with the children.

6. Once Joseph is Prime Minister it is then his turn to make decisions about the fate of his big brothers. He reacts with a mixture of revenge and remorse, often having to turn away to hide his tears. I wonder what things were going through his mind at the time? Print off a large thought bubble to pass around the group for the children to make suggestions of what sort of things Joseph was thinking about when he had the brothers in his power. When friends become enemies, then inevitably there will be thoughts of getting your own back. The story recognizes this.

7. But God mended and used what had been broken. Joseph says: ‘God is the one who sent me ahead of you to save many lives’ (Genesis 45:5, CEV).
There are two useful summary versions of the Joseph story in the Bible: Psalm 105:16-23 and Acts 7:9-16.
What does the group think that this long story says to us about friendship, falling out and forgiveness?

8. As a way to anchor the story, collect some toys or small household items that are broken (but repairable) in some way. Distribute these among the group and as each one is repaired (though perhaps not always easily and probably with help), use this as a way to pray for the broken situations between people that the children might like to name or think about quietly.
In prison Joseph had said to the prisoners ‘I can’t, but God can’ (Genesis 41:16). Use this as repeated five-word prayer (one word for each digit of the left hand) as the items are repaired
In Egypt Joseph named his second son Ephraim. This name means ‘fruitful despite everything’. In other words, Joseph is saying ‘God brings good from bad’. Use this as a second five-word prayer (one word for each digit on the right hand) as a way of anchoring this story with your groups.

9. There are some Barnabas craft ideas for this story:
Bible Make and Do Book 1—Joseph’s coat
Bible Make and Do Book 3—Joseph’s dreams
Bible Make and Do Book 4—Joseph interprets the dreams

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