Day 1
We ended Genesis 43, and now we are starting Genesis 44! In preparation for the lessons to come, let’s read all of Genesis 44 to your Tiny Arrows!
Day 2
Joseph told his steward to fill his brothers sacks with grain and their silver! Just like he did the first time! Today let’s read Genesis 44:1 and Genesis 42:25. Joseph gave them their money back the first time and he did it again!
Now Joseph gave these instructions to the steward of his house: “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each man’s silver in the mouth of his sack.” – Genesis 44:1 NIV
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. – Genesis 42:25 NIV
Day 3
Joseph told his steward to put food and his brothers money back in their sacks. Then he told him to put his cup in Benjamin’s sack! Today let’s read Genesis 44:2 and have you and your Tiny Arrow make a pile of toys, or snacks, etc and place a cup on top of them! Just like Joseph’s steward placed a cup on top of Benjamin’s grain and money!
“Then put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.” And he did as Joseph said. – Genesis 44:2 NIV
Day 4
Jospeh’s brothers left to go back home to Canaan! They got their donkeys and their grain and now they were ready to go back home! Today let’s read Genesis 44:3 and color the coloring page.
As morning dawned, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys. – Genesis 44:3 NIV
Day 5
After his brothers had left, Joseph told his steward to go and catch up with his brothers! Today let’s read Genesis 44:4 and have your Tiny Arrow walk some distance from you, then run up to them (or vice versa). Just like Joseph’s steward was suppose to catch up to the brothers!
They had not gone far from the city when Joseph said to his steward, “Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?’” – Genesis 44:4 NIV
Day 6
Joseph sent his brothers back home and then was going to send his steward after them! Jospeh told his steward to blame them for taking his cup! Today let’s read Genesis 44:5 then Genesis 44:2. Ask you Tiny Arrows who put the cup in their sacks. Joseph! Then ask them whose sack was it in. Benjamin’s!
“‘Isn’t this the cup my master drinks from and also used for divination? This is a wicked thing you have done.’” – Genesis 44:5 NIV
“Then put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.” And he did as Joseph said. – Genesis 44:2 NIV
Day 7
Joseph’s steward repeated what Joseph said to his brothers! And the brothers couldn’t believe it! They said they would never steal! Today let’s read Genesis 44:6-7 ask your Tiny Arrow if they took something, like a snack or a toy. When they say no, explain that Joseph’s brothers never took anything too, but they were asked if they took something!
When he caught up with them, he repeated these words to them. But they said to him, “Why does my lord say such things? Far be it from your servants to do anything like that!” – Genesis 44:6-7 NIV
Day 8
Joseph’s brothers were being accused of stealing! They didn’t steal! They even brought silver with them to pay back what they thought they had taken! Today let’s read Genesis 44:8 and Exodus 20:15 color the do not steal coloring page!
“We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found inside the mouths of our sacks. So why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house?” – Genesis 44:8 NIV
You shall not steal – Exodus 20:15 NIV
Day 9
Joseph’s brothers told the steward that if anyone stole from Joseph then they would die and the other brothers would be slaves! Oh my! Today let’s read Genesis 44:9 and color the coloring page! Save this paper for the next lesson too!
“If any of your servants is found to have it, he will die; and the rest if us will become my lord’s slaves.” – Genesis 44:9 NIV
Day 10
Jospeh’s steward told the brothers that whoever stole from Joseph would be a slave, but the rest would be free. Today let’s read Genesis 44:10, take the coloring page from the previous lesson and have your Tiny Arrow circle the person who has the cup inside their bag! Benjamin!
“Very well, then,” he said, “let it be as you say. Whoever is found to have it will become my slave; the rest of you will be free from blame.” – Genesis 44:10 NIV
Day 11
Joseph’s steward came to see if Jacob’s sons had stolen anything from Joseph! Each son lowered his sack to the ground and opened it! They were going to check what was inside! Today let’s read Genesis 44:11 and have your Tiny Arrow pack a small bag, then have them lower it to the ground and open it to see what is inside!
Each of them quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. – Genesis 44:11 NIV
Day 12
Joseph’s steward opened all the brother’s sacks and the found the cup in the last one! The cup was in Benjamin’s sack! Today let’s read Genesis 44:12 and grab a bowl of rice or something similar and a small item. Hide the item in the rice and have your Tiny Arrow search for it! Just like the steward searched for the cup!
Then the steward proceeded to search, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. – Genesis 44:12 NIV
Day 13
When Jospeh’s steward found the cup in Benjamin’s sack the brothers were all upset! They even tore their clothes to show how upset and sad they were! Then they all returned back to the city to go to Joseph’s house. Today let’s read Genesis 44:13 and talk with your Tiny Arrow about what they do when they are upset or sad and how it compares to what the brothers did!
At this, they tore their clothes. Then they all loaded their donkeys and returned to the city. – Genesis 44:13 NIV
Day 14
When Jospeh’s brothers came back to Joseph’s house, Joseph was still there! They first thing they did was throw themselves on the ground before Joseph! Today let’s read Genesis 44:14 and have your Tiny Arrow pretend to be the brothers and you Joseph. Have them leave the room they are in, and when they come back to it, have them bow to the ground before you like the brothers did!
Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his brothers came in, and they threw themselves to the ground before him. – Genesis 44:14 NIV
Day 15
Joseph was mad at his brothers! He was telling them that he can find things out! If he used that cup everyday, he would know it was missing! Today let’s read Genesis 44:15 and ask your Tiny Arrow something they used everyday and if it would effect them if they could not find it! Like their toothbrush, or shoes!
Joseph said to them, “What is this you have done? Don’t you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?” – Genesis 44:15 NIV
Day 15
Joseph was talking to his brothers about the cup that was stolen! Joseph was blaming them for taking it, and Judah decided to speak up for everyone! Instead of Benjamin or any other brother speaking to Joseph, Judah decided to speak up. He was taking responsibility! Today let’s read Genesis 44:16 and grab some toys (or siblings) to represent the brothers while your Tiny Arrow represents Judah! Have your Tiny Arrow say “I will speak!” while everyone else is silent. Focus on how only Judah spoke up just like they are speaking up!
“What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants’ guilt. We are now my lord’s slaves—we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup.” – Genesis 44:16 NIV
Day 16
Joseph would not let Judah take the blame for something he had not done! Joseph only wanted to blame Benjamin! Today let’s read Genesis 44:17 and grab the same toys (or siblings) from the previous activity. You represent Joseph and tell Judah (your Tiny Arrow) they will not be blamed, then point to one of the toys that represent Benjamin and say “It was their fault!”
But Joseph said, “Far be it from me to do such a thing! Only the man who was found to have the cup will become my slave. The rest of you, go back to your father in peace.” – Genesis 44:17 NIV
Day 17
Judah was being bold! He was talking to Joseph even though Joseph was a very important person! He had as much power as Pharaoh! Today let’s read Genesis 44:18 and color the coloring page! Then explain to your Tiny Arrow who Pharaoh would be equal to for them, like the president! It was like Judah was talking to the president!
Then Judah went up to him and said: “Pardon your servant my lord, let me speak a word to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, though you are equal to Pharaoh himself.” – Genesis 44:18 NIV
Day 18
Judah was explaining to Joseph why Benjamin was so important! His father loved him so much! Today let’s read Genesis 44:19-20 and tell your Tiny Arrow how important they are to you and how much you love them! Just like Jacob loved Benjamin!
“My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’ And we answered, ‘We have an aged father, and there is a young son born to him in his old age. His brother is dead, and he is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’” – Genesis 44:19-20 NIV
Day 19
Judah was explaining to Joseph that he had wanted to see Benjamin. Joseph had wanted Benjamin brought to him! Today let’s read Genesis 44:21 and grab a toy to represent Benjamin. Place it in another room for your Tiny Arrow to find, then have them go and find it and bring it to you! Just like Joseph wanted Benjamin brought to him!
“Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me so I can see him for myself.’” – Genesis 44:21 NIV
Day 20
Judah told Joseph that he has asked to see Benjamin, but Judah did not want his brother to leave his father! He thought his father might die if Benjamin left! Today let’s read Genesis 44:22 and grab the same toy representing Benjamin from the previous activity. You pretend to be Jacob, Benjamin’s father, and have your Tiny Arrow take the toy to the next room. When they do, pretend to faint and fall over and when your Tiny Arrow brings the toy back in the room pretend to be all better!
“And we said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father; if he leaves him, his father will die.’” – Genesis 44:22 NIV
Day 21
Judah was explaining to Joseph the conversation he had had with his father! What he had told Jacob about Benjamin! Today let’s read Genesis 44:23-24 and have your Tiny Arrow have a conversation with someone else in the house, then have them come and tell you what was said! Just like Judah told Joseph what was said!
“But you told your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’ When we went back to your servant my father, we told him what my lord had said.” – Genesis 44:23-24 NIV
Day 22
Judah was explaining to Joseph about the conversation he and his father had had! It was like a tug-o-war! Judah wanted something and Jacob wanted something! They could not get the same thing unless Jacob let go of Benjamin! Today let’s read Genesis 44:25-26 and play tug-o-war with your Tiny Arrow! After you go back and forth for a little while, give up and let your Tiny Arrow win!
“Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy a little more food.’ But we said, ‘We cannot go down. Only if our youngest brother is with us will we go. We cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’” – Genesis 44:25-26 NIV
Day 23
Jacob was explaining to Judah that his wife bore him two sons! Today let’s read Genesis 44:27 and ask your Tiny Arrow that if one son is Benjamin, who is his brother? Joseph!
“Your servant my father said to us, ‘You know what my wife bore me two sons.’” – Genesis 44:27 NIV
Day 24
Jacob was telling Judah that one of his sons was dead, and that he had not seen him for a long time! He was so worried about his other son that if harm came to him he would be very sad! Today let’s read Genesis 44:28-29 and ask your Tiny Arrow if they can remember what happened to Joseph. Joseph was sold as a slave and ended up in Egypt! Then ask your Tiny Arrow who Judah is telling this story too! Joseph! The same one that his dad thought was dead! It was like he was hearing his own story!
“‘One of them went away from me, and I said, “He has surely been torn to pieces.” And I have not seen him since. If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in misery.’” – Genesis 44:28-29 NIV
Day 25
Judah was explaining to Joseph why Benjamin was so important. He was telling him that if anything happened to Benjamin it would hurt his father Jacob! Today let’s read Genesis 44:30-31 and play repeat! Have you or your Tiny Arrow do an action and the other person repeat it! What one does the other does too!
“So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant my father, and if my father, whose life is closely bound up with the boy’s life, sees that the boy isn’t there, he will die. Your servants will bring the gray head of our father down to the grave in sorrow.” – Genesis 44:30-31 NIV
Day 26
Judah was telling Joseph that he was responsible for Benjamin! He told his father he would make sure Benjamin was safe and would come back home! Today let’s read Genesis 44:32 and ask your Tiny Arrow when they are away from home who helps to make sure they are safe? Their parents, grandparents or friends? Then ask them who do they take care of to make sure they’re safe? Their younger siblings or toys? When Benjamin was away from home, Judah promised to keep him safe!
“Your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father. I said, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!” – Genesis 44:32 NIV
Day 27
Judah was telling Joseph that he wanted to take Benjamin’s place! Even though Benjamin was suppose to be in trouble and become Jospeh’s slave, Judah was willing to do it instead! He wanted Benjamin to go back home! Today let’s read Genesis 44:33 and grab a sibling or toy to represent Benjamin. Tell your Tiny Arrow that Benjamin was going to be punished and become a slave and if they are willing to be a slave in place of them. Encourage your Tiny Arrow to say yes, then explain that Judah did that for Benjamin!
“Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers.” – Genesis 44:33 NIV
Day 28
Judah told Joseph that he would take Benjamin’s place! He would be a slave instead of him! He knew he could not go back home without Benjamin, so he wanted to make sure Benjamin got back home, even if he wasn’t there! Today let’s read Genesis 44:34 and grab the same toy or sibling that represented Benjamin in the last activity. Then designate one room to be Egypt and one to be Canaan. Have everyone in “Egypt” and tell your Tiny Arrow that it was about time for Judah and Benjamin to go home, but only one could go. Then take the toy or sibling to Canaan and have your Tiny Arrow stay in Egypt. Explain that Judah was willing to stay in Egypt so Benjamin could go back home to his dad.
“How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come on my father.” – Genesis 44:33 NIV
Day 29
Today let’s reread Genesis 44 and remember the activities and verses we learned!