Day 1
We ended Genesis 41, and now we are starting Genesis 42! In preparation for the lessons to come, let’s read all of Genesis 42 to your Tiny Arrows!
Day 2
There had been 7 years of plenty, and now there are 7 years of famine! 7 years of not enough! During the famine all the countries but Egypt had no grain! Only Egypt did! Even Jacob in Canaan needed grain! One day Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt! Just what he needed! Just like when you need food, you go to the grocery store, and if one grocery store does not have what you need, you try another one! Today let’s read Genesis 42:1 and talk to your Tiny Arrow about where you get your food! You might get some food from one grocery store and some from another, or everything from one! During the famine, they could not find grain anywhere around them, but Jacob found out that somewhere else had grain! Then ask your Tiny Arrows who had grain! Egypt!
When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” – Genesis 42:1 NIV
Day 3
Jacob couldn’t find grain in Canaan, but he learned there was some in Egypt! So he told his sons to go to Egypt to get grain! Just like if you needed to go to the grocery store to get something, you would get in your car and go to the nearest one, but Egypt was over 250 miles away! That’s at least a 4 day journey! Today let’s read Genesis 42:2 and find a grocery store on a map that is about 250 miles away from you and discuss where it is and how long it would take to get there!
He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.” – Genesis 42:2 NIV
Day 4
Jacob told his sons to go to Egypt to buy grain, so ten of them did! Jospeh was already in Egypt and one more son stayed behind! Today let’s read Genesis 42:3 and color and cross out Joseph from the coloring page! Keep this for the next lesson too!
Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. – Genesis 42:3 NIV
Day 5
Jacob sent 10 of his sons to go to Egypt! Joseph could not go, because he was already there, and there was one more son who didn’t go! Benjamin! Jacob didn’t want any harm to come to Benjamin, so he didn’t go with his brothers to Egypt! Today let’s read Genesis 42:4 and cross out Benjamin from yesterdays coloring page, then read the names of all the brothers that went to Egypt!
But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him. – Genesis 42:4 NIV
Day 6
Jacob’s sons were not the only ones who went to buy grain! More people in Canaan went too! Today let’s read Genesis 42:5 and find Jacob’s sons in the coloring page!
So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan also. – Genesis 42:5 NIV
Day 7
Jacob’s sons made it to Egypt and they went to Joseph to buy grain! They even bowed down to him with their faces to the ground! Today let’s read Genesis 42:6 and see how low your Tiny Arrow can bow! Can their noses touch the ground?
Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. – Genesis 42:6 NIV
Day 8
When Jospeh’s brothers came to buy food, he remembered who they were! Even though it has been about 20 years Joseph recognized them! But he pretended not to know them! Today let’s read Genesis 42:7 and try to find a picture of someone your Tiny Arrow knows from 20 years ago and see if they recognize them, like Joseph recognized his brothers!
As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.” – Genesis 42:7 NIV
Day 9
Joseph recognized his brothers but they did not recognize him! Today let’s read Genesis 42:8 and help your Tiny Arrow draw a picture of themselves of what they would look like in 20 years and see if you would recognize them!
Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. – Genesis 42:8 NIV
Day 10
Jospeh saw his brothers when they came to buy grain, but Joseph pretended to be a stranger and was mean to them! He even called them spies! And when his brothers bowed low to the ground to him, Joseph remembered his dreams! Today let’s read Genesis 42:9 and 37:5-7 and 37:9 to remember what Joseph’s dream were and how they were coming true!
Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.” – Genesis 42:9 NIV
He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” – Genesis 37:6-7 NIV
Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” – Genesis 37:9 NIV
Day 11
Jospeh accused his brothers of spying, but they told him that they just came to buy food! They came to Egypt to buy food because they had no food where they lived! Today let’s read Genesis 42:10 and pretend play! Pretend to be Joseph and your Tiny Arrow his brothers (or vice versa) and grab a handful of cereal and put it in one bowl and give it to Joseph and grab an empty bowl for his brothers. Then have your Tiny Arrow come over with their empty bowl and ask to buy some of your cereal, since you have some and they have none!
“No, my lord,” they answered. “Your servants have come to buy food.” – Genesis 42:10 NIV
Day 12
Joseph accused his brothers of spying, but they said they just needed food! Then they told Joseph they were all brothers and honest men! Today let’s read Genesis 42:12 and ask your Tiny Arrow if they can remember any of Jospeh’s brothers names, then ask them what their father’s name was!
12 sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Joesph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher
Father: Jacob/Israel
We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.” – Genesis 42:11 NIV
Day 13
Even though Jospeh’s brothers told him they were not spies, but just came to buy food, Jospeh still said they were spies! He said that they came to see where the land was unprotected! Today let’s read Genesis 42:12 and set up a fort, then have your Tiny Arrow look for ways to enter the fort besides the main entrance. Then explain that Jospeh was accusing his brothers of trying to find a place that was not protected, just like they were with the fort!
“No!” he said to them. “You have come to see where our land is unprotected.” – Genesis 42:12 NIV
Day 14
Jospeh’s brothers kept telling him about their family, to prove to him that they were not spies! They were giving him personal information to prove they were being honest! Today let’s read Genesis 42:13 and have your Tiny Arrow tell you something personal to show you their honesty. They could tell you their favorite toy, snack, hobby, etc.
But they replied, “Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.” – Genesis 42:13 NIV
Day 15
Jospeh’s brothers were telling Joseph the truth, but Jospeh kept telling them they were spies!! Today let’s reread Genesis 42:9-14 and count how many times Jospehs calls his brothers spies! 2 times!
Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.” “No, my lord,” they answered. “Your servants have come to buy food. We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.” “No!” he said to them. “You have come to see where our land is unprotected.” But they replied, “Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.” Joseph said to them, “It is just as I told you: You are spies! – Genesis 42:9-14 NIV
Day 15
Joseph wanted to test his brothers to make sure they were speaking the truth! He wanted them to bring him their youngest brother! Today let’s read Genesis 42:15 then ask your Tiny Arrow who the youngest brother was! Then read Genesis 35:16-18! Benjamin was the only brother born in Canaan! In the promised land!
And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. – Genesis 42:15 NIV
Then they moved on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty. And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, “Don’t despair, for you have another son.” As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin. – Genesis 35:16-18 NIV
Day 16
Joseph told his brothers that he wanted to see their youngest brother Benjamin! He wanted one brother to go and the rest to stay in prison until they came back! He wanted to test them to make sure they were not spies! Today let’s read Genesis 42:16 and ask your Tiny Arrows, would they rather have to travel home and back to get Benjamin or stay in prison?
Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!” – Genesis 42:16 NIV
Day 17
Joseph wanted one brother to go back and get Benjamin while the others stayed in jail! But then he put them all in jail for three days! Wow! Today let’s read Genesis 42:17 and make a pretend jail, you can make a fort, block off an area with pillows or even make a jail outside making a square using chalk. Then have your Tiny Arrow sit in the “prison” and slowly count to the number 3 to represent how many days the brothers were in prison!
And he put them all in custody for three days. – Genesis 42:17 NIV
Day 18
The ten brothers were in jail for 3 days and on the third day Joseph came to talk to them! He told them that one brother could stay in jail while the others went home to take grain back to feed their families! Today let’s read Genesis 42:18-19 then 42:2. Then ask your Tiny Arrows why the brothers went to Egypt in the first place. To get grain! Then ask them if their families were hungry! Yes! They even needed it to live!
On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households.” – Genesis 42:18-19 NIV
Day 19
Pharaoh told Jospeh his first dream about the cows, then he told him his second dream about the heads of grain! Today let’s ask your Tiny Arrow to recall Pharaoh’s second dream, then read Genesis 41:22-24.
“In my dream I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.” – Genesis 41:22-24 NIV
He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.” – Genesis 42:2 NIV
Day 20
Joseph told his ten brothers that 9 of them could go back with grain for their families, while one stayed in prison. But they had to bring Benjamin back to Egypt the next time they came! His brothers agreed with his plan! Today let’s read Genesis 42:20 and count! Grab 11 small items to represent Jospeh’s brothers. Place 10 in a row and have your Tiny Arrow count them, then move one away from the others to represent the brother in prison. Have your Tiny Arrow recount the line! 9! Then add the last, 11th piece, that represents Benjamin joining them, next to the 9 and recount the pieces! Now there are 10 again!
But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do. – Genesis 42:20 NIV
Day 21
Jospeh’s brothers think that they are having trouble getting grain because of what they did to Joseph! Today let’s read Genesis 42:21 and Genesis 37:23-28 and read what his brothers did!
They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.” – Genesis 42:21 NIV
So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing—and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it. As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt. Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?” Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed. So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. – Genesis 37:23-28 NIV
Day 22
Even though Joseph’s brothers sold him to the Ishmaelites, his oldest brother Reuben had wanted to rescue him! Reuben was not even there when his brothers sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites! Today let’s read Genesis 42:22 then Genesis 37:21-22 and 37:29-30. Then ask your Tiny Arrows if Reuben had tried to help Joseph like he said. Yes! He was even upset when his brother had been taken!
Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.” – Genesis 42:22 NIV
When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father. – Genesis 37:21-22 NIV
When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now?” – Genesis 37:29-30 NIV
Day 23
Jospeh’s brothers were talking in front of Joseph, and they did not realize that Joseph understood everything that they were saying! Joseph had pretended to not understand them, by having someone else tell them what they were saying, and that same person told the brothers what Joseph was saying! Someone who spoke two different languages! Today let’s ready Genesis 42:23 and play pretend! For this activity you may want three people. One person to interpret and two to speak different languages. Have the people speaking different languages use real words, or make them up, and have the interpreter tell the other person what they are saying in the other persons real or made up language!
They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter. – Genesis 42:23 NIV
Day 24
Joseph knew what his brothers were saying and how Reuben had wanted to save him! Joseph even turned away from his brothers and began to weep! But when he came back he had Simeon taken from them and bound! He was going to keep Simeon in prison until they came back again with Benjamin! Today let’s read Genesis 42:24 and color the coloring page!
He turned away from them and began to weep, but then came back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes. – Genesis 42:24 NIV
Day 25
Jacob’s sons came for grain, and they got grain! Joseph even put the money they were going to pay for the grain back in the bag the grain was in! Today let’s read Genesis 42:25-26 and and grab a grocery bag with some groceries (real or pretend) and some (real or pretend) money. Give your Tiny Arrow the bag and fill it with the groceries. Afterwards have them give you the money, then hide the money on top of the groceries and close the bag up. Save this bag for the next lesson!
Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man’s silver back in his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. After this was done for them, they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left. – Genesis 42:25-26 NIV
Day 26
Jospeh’s brothers stopped on their way back home and when one brother checked his bag, the money was in there! Oh my! They were not expecting that! Today let’s read Genesis 42:27 and take the same bag from yesterday and let your Tiny Arrow open the bag and see the money on top of the groceries!
At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack. – Genesis 42:27 NIV
Day 27
When the brothers learned that the silver was in one of the sacks they were not happy! They had paid for the grain and now the money they had used was back with them! Not where it should be! Today let’s read Genesis 42:28 and color the coloring page of the money in the sack of grain!
“My silver has been returned,” he said to his brothers. “Here it is in my sack.” Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, “What is this that God has done to us?” – Genesis 42:28 NIV
Day 28
When the brothers got back home they told their father everything that happened while they were away! Today let’s read Genesis 42:29-30 and when one of your Tiny Arrow’s family members or friends come over, have them tell them what happened that day!
When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them. They said, “The man who is lord over the land spoke harshly to us and treated us as though we were spying on the land.” – Genesis 42:29-30 NIV
Day 29
Jospeh’s brothers were talking to their dad Jacob about what happened in Egypt! They told Jacob about the person who was in charge on the land! About the person that told them they were spies! Today let’s read Genesis 42:31 and ask your Tiny Arrows who Jospeh’s brothers were talking about. Joseph! Jacob’s sons were telling on Joseph, just like Joseph told on his brothers in Genesis 37:2, then read the verse!
“But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies.” – Genesis 42:31 NIV
Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them. – Genesis 37:2 NIV
Day 30
Jospeh’s brothers continued to tell their dad Jacob what happened in Egypt! They told him what had happened and what they had said! Today let’s read Genesis 42:32 and ask your Tiny Arrow if they can remember what they said earlier that day, just like Jospeh’s brothers remembered what they said!
“We were twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in Canaan.’” – Genesis 42:32 NIV
Day 31
Jospeh’s brothers explained why they came back without Simeon their brother. They said the man in charge made one person stay behind while the rest could go back home with grain! Today let’s read Genesis 42:33 and ask your Tiny Arrow what they had to leave behind, and what they got to take with them! The left Simeon behind and got to take grain back!
“Then the man who is lord over the land said to us, ‘This is how I will know whether you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for your starving households and go.” – Genesis 42:33 NIV
Day 32
Jospeh’s brothers told Jacob they had to leave Simeon behind, but they got to take grain back! The only way they could get Simeon back was to bring their youngest brother Benjamin back with them! To prove their story was true! Today let’s read Genesis 42:34 and grab three objects. Give two to your Tiny Arrow while you take the third. Have your Tiny Arrow trade you one object for yours. Then tell them if they want their first object back, they have to show you their other object! Just like Joseph needed to see Benjamin in order to get Simeon back!
“But bring your youngest brother to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land.’” – Genesis 42:34 NIV
Day 33
Joseph’s brothers told their father Jacob everything that had happened in Egypt. Then they opened their sacks to see the grain they brought back, and in each sack was their silver on top! The money they paid for the grain was not with Joseph, it was back with them! This made them afraid! Today let’s read Genesis 42:35 and color the coloring page and count the sacks with silver in them!
As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his pouch of silver! When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened. – Genesis 42:35 NIV
Day 34
Jacob did not like what he heard! He had lost Joseph and now Simeon and he did not want to loose Benjamin too! Today let’s read Genesis 42:36 and grab 12 small objects. Help your Tiny Arrow count out the 12, then take one away, saying that one represents Joseph. Then take away a second one, saying that represents Simeon. Have your Tiny Arrow count how many are left! 10! Then take one more and say it represents Benjamin! If you took that one away too, how many would be left? 9!
Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!” – Genesis 42:36 NIV
Day 35
Reuben wanted to make his father feel better, so he told him that he would make sure Benjamin stayed safe. He would be responsible for him! The oldest brother in charge of the youngest! Today let’s read Genesis 42:37 and talk to your Tiny Arrow about older and younger siblings! How the oldest helps to look out for the youngest! If they do not have any siblings, give them an example of people they know that do!
Then Reuben said to his father, “You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back.” – Genesis 42:37 NIV
Day 36
Reuben told Jacob that he would take care of Benjamin if they went back to Egypt, but Jacob said no! He would not allow Benjamin to go! Todays let’s read Genesis 42:38 and remind your Tiny Arrows of the previous lesson where you talked about older and younger siblings. Then talk about how the older siblings might be able to do different things than the younger! Then explain that even though Benjamin might have been old enough to go, his dad Jacob did not want him to go. He wanted him to stay safe with him!
But Jacob said, “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.” – Genesis 42:38 NIV
Day 37
Today let’s reread Genesis 42 and remember the activities and verses we learned!