Tag Archive for: Youth Bible Lessons – Level 2

 Featured Passage: Genesis 39-40

Joseph was in trouble. His brothers had sold him to Midianite traders who took him into Egypt. There he was sold as a slave to Potiphar, a captain of the guard for Pharaoh. Joseph, despite his troubles, decided to do his best to please his master, and God blessed all that he did. However, Potiphar’s wife wanted Joseph to betray his master with her. He refused, so she lied to her husband about Joseph. Joseph was soon stuck in prison for a crime he did not commit, but he did not lose hope. Joseph continued trying to make the best of a horrible situation.

Discuss:

• How do you think it would feel to be punished for something you didn’t do? How did Joseph deal with his situation? It can help to remember what God has promised in Hebrews 13:5 and Deuteronomy 31:6.
• Joseph showed courage and bravery when he refused to sin against God. Can you think of any examples in your family when someone had to show courage and stand for what is right?
• Joseph maintained a positive attitude through each trial he faced. He continued to obey God and to practice godly principles. Can you name some of Joseph’s good character traits?
• Joseph was only a teenager when these things began to happen to him. As a young person he had already made a commitment to obey God. You are never too young to develop a relationship with God.

Memory Challenge: 

Genesis 39:2-3

The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.

Featured Passage: Genesis 42-50

The seven years of plenty that God promised quickly passed, and soon famine struck Egypt and the land surrounding it. In Canaan, Israel and his family were running out of food, so when he heard that Egypt had grain, he sent his sons to purchase food there. Benjamin did not go because he was Israel’s youngest son and the only surviving son of Rachel. At least, that’s what everyone thought! When the brothers arrived in Egypt, they were brought before Joseph. Even though they were face to face with their own brother, they didn’t recognize him. On the other hand, Joseph immediately recognized who they were. Should he tell them that he was their long-lost brother? Could he overlook their cruelty on that day that they sold him into slavery? As Joseph agonized over what to do, the tables had been turned. Now, their lives were in his hands. Joseph faced a tremendous challenge, and his brothers were in for a big surprise. 

Discuss:

• Why do you think Joseph’s brothers did not recognize him when they came to Egypt? (Possible reasons are he was older, he was dressed as an Egyptian, etc.)
• The brothers attributed their problems to what they had done to Joseph many years before. They felt guilty. Repentance is the remedy for guilt. When we repent, God is quick to forgive!
• What was Joseph’s attitude toward his brothers? Was he bitter? Did he want revenge? 
• Imagine the great joy Jacob and Joseph felt when they saw each other again. 
• What did it mean for Joseph to receive the birthright? 

Memory Challenge: 

Genesis 45:4-7

And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”

---

---

Featured Passage: Exodus 5-6

When God told Moses to go to Egypt, Moses was very reluctant. He complained that he was not able to speak well. God didn’t accept his excuse. Instead, God informed him that Aaron, his brother, would speak on his behalf. They had a very difficult assignment – to tell Pharaoh that the great God of heaven demanded the release of the Israelites! Imagine the courage that it took to approach the Pharaoh of Egypt and give him this message! Yet Moses obeyed God and went to Egypt, preparing himself to face one of the most powerful rulers on earth, with faith in the most powerful ruler in the universe!

Discuss:

• How did Pharaoh react when Moses told him to let the people go? 
• Straw was an important ingredient for making bricks. The Egyptians provided the Israelite slaves this straw to mix with mud. When Moses demanded the release of the Israelites, Pharaoh angrily responded by making a decree that the Israelites would have to gather their own straw from then on. How do you think the people felt about Pharaoh’s order? How do you think they felt toward Moses? Why do you think God allowed this to happen?
• What lessons did Moses and the Israelites learn from the way that God dealt with Pharoah? What lessons can we learn from reading this part of the Bible? 

Memory Challenge:

Exodus 6:7

I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

---

---

Featured Passage: Exodus 11-14

---

Even though Egypt was nearly destroyed, Pharaoh would not let Israel go. It would take one final dramatic blow to bring Egypt to its knees. This plague would strike so deeply into the heart of every Egyptian that they would demand that the Israelites leave. Every person, from servant to king, would suffer loss. Only the Israelites would be spared – if they followed God’s special instructions. If they followed these instructions to the letter, they would remain unharmed. The Egyptians, on the other hand, would suffer greatly.  

Discuss:

• What was the last plague that God sent on Egypt? 
• God gave Moses instructions for the Israelites to follow in order to escape the plague. What were the Israelites commanded to do? 
• The night that God sent the plague is called the Passover because He passed over every household that followed His special instructions. Why do we still keep Passover today? How is it similar or different to the way the Israelites kept it in Egypt?
• What other miracles besides the plagues did God use to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?

Memory Challenge:

Exodus 14:13-14

And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

---

---

Featured Passage: Exodus 15:22-27

---

God saved Israel by bringing them through the Red Sea, protected from Pharaoh and His army. After a great victory celebration, the Israelites continued their journey. They traveled for three days, but they started running out of water. After seeing so many miracles, you would think that the people would look to God to help them, right? 

What did they actually do? 

Discuss:

• Israel had witnessed many miracles that God had done, but they started forgetting them. Do you ever forget things? What helps you remember?
• The people complained to Moses because the water was at Marah was bitter. What should the people have done – instead of complaining? 
• In this difficult situation, Moses didn’t complain. Instead, what did He do?
• Making the bitter water sweet was another example of God’s miracles that preserved and protected Israel. This is a good time to think back on God’s other miracles. What were some of those miracles? 

Memory Challenge: 

Exodus 15:26

If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.

---