YEA Lesson Library
What Does It Mean?
About This Lesson
Using the story of Joseph interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, this lesson teaches the student to go to God for wisdom in making choices.
Scriptures
Genesis 40:1-23
Genesis 41:1-36
1 Kings 10:24
Psalm 51:6
Psalm 111:10
Proverbs 1:5
Proverbs 3:5-6
Jeremiah 33:3
James 1:5
Words to Know
RELEASED- set free
SERVANT - someone who works for another doing household jobs
WISDOM - knowing how to make good choices and decisions
The Lesson
Joseph's brothers sold him as a slave. Now he was in prison because of a lie. Joseph met two of the king's servants in prison. Both men had dreams that worried them. Joseph told the men what their dreams meant. After a while, one of the servants was released from prison. He went back to work for the king.
One night the king had a strange dream. He dreamed that seven fat cows came up out of the river. Then seven more cows came out of the river. These cows were very skinny. Al of a sudden they ate up the fat cows! The king awakened and was worried.
Later the king had another dream. He saw seven fat, juicy heads of grain and seven dried up heads of grain. The dried up grain swallowed up the fat, juicy grain.
These strange dreams upset the king. He called his smartest men together and asked, "What Does It Mean?" But, none of the men could tell him. They didn't know what the dreams meant.
Then the king's servant remembered Joseph. He said that Joseph could help the king. So the king asked for Joseph to come see him. He asked, "What Does It Mean?" Joseph said God was showing the king what was about to happen.
The fat cows and fat grain meant there would be seven good years. There would be plenty to eat. Then there would be seven years when there wouldn’t be enough. The skinny cows and grain showed that people would be hungry. God made Joseph very wise.
Daily Devotions
Sunday: Proverbs 3:5-6
Monday: Jeremiah 33:3
Tuesday: lames 1:5
Wednesday: Proverbs 1:5
Thursday: 1 Kings 10:24
Friday: Psalm 51:6
Saturday: Psalm 111:10
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, the children will be able to:
1. Describe the king's two dreams.
2. Tell how Joseph was able to understand the dreams.
3. State that God will help them make wise choices if they will ask Him.
Topics & Themes
Dream
Famine
Joseph
Pharaoh
Prayer
Prison
Wisdom
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA students' and teacher's books, attendance and memory verse chart, stickers, music player, cassette tape or CD, soda bottle, long tube sock, small objects
Preparation
Big decisions and little ones - children are faced with them all day long. Some things a parent or teacher must decide for the child. But, there are some things that are appropriate for children to decide on their own: peanut butter and jelly or cheese on their sandwich; red socks or blue socks; etc. Allowing a child to make simple choices is training them to make wise choices later in life.
There will be times when children will not know how to make wise decisions. By praying for difficult decisions, you are teaching them that God hears our prayers and will guide us. Joseph acknowledged the fact that God was the One who could give him wisdom to interpret the dreams of the butler, the baker, and the king.
Before you come to class, cut the top off of a clean 2-liter plastic soda bottle, leaving an opening large enough for a child's hand to fit through it. Place the bottle into a long tube sock. Place several small objects (nickel, piece of wrapped candy, ring, marble, key, large paper clip, Lego block, etc.) into the bottle.
Review Questions
1. How did Joseph help the king's servants when they were in prison?
2. When the king had a dream about the cows, what happened?
3. What did the dried up heads of grain do in the king's dream?
4. Were the king's smartest men able to tell what the dreams meant?
5. How was Joseph able to tell what the king's dreams meant?
6. What did the skinny cows and dried up grain mean?
7. How can you get God to help you?
REACH Activity
Letter: S (Note: Don’t use the SH sound in words like show and sugar.)
Words: sold, slave, servant, strange, seven, skinny, sudden, swallowed, said, see
Sentence:
SEVEN SKINNY COWS SUDDENLY SWALLOWED SEVEN FAT COWS.
Song
“Whisper A Prayer” is on page 57 of the Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Lead the children in prayer, thanking God for taking care of them and for helping them make good choices.
Printable Pages
