YEA Lesson Library
Potiphar and Prison
About This Lesson
Just as Joseph got away from temptation because he loved God, this lesson teaches the student to follow that example: get away from evil. Living to please God is a much better choice.
Scriptures
Genesis 39:1-23
Psalm 34:13-14
Psalm 35:11-12
Psalm 119:11
Proverbs 10:18
Proverbs 12:22
Luke 6:45
Romans 12:21
2 Timothy 2:20-22
Words to Know
REJECT - to refuse to take
The Lesson
Jennifer sat in the hallway outside the principal's office. She was being punished. Another girl had lied to the teacher. She said that Jennifer tore one of the library books. Jennifer was playing and had thrown a book across the table. But, she had not torn the book.
Jennifer thought, "I wish I had obeyed the rules." She knew she shouldn't be playing in the library. She knew it wasn’t right to throw books. Now she was feeling sorry for herself.
Joseph had every right to feel sorry for himself. He had been thrown into a pit and stripped of his coat of many colors. He was sold by his own brothers. Finally he was sold as a slave.
Joseph worked in the home of an important man named Potiphar. Potiphar was an officer in the king's army. He was a rich man. Potiphar saw Joseph was a good worker. He knew the Lord was blessing him because of Joseph. So, Potiphar gave Joseph a better job to do. Before long, Joseph was put in charge of everything that Potiphar had.
But, there was a problem. Joseph was a good-looking young man. Potiphar's wife liked Joseph more than she should have. She flirted with him. But Joseph knew that was wrong. He tried to ignore her. He didn't want to get into trouble. After all, she was Potiphar's wife.
One day Joseph was inside the house. He was hard at work. He thought no one else was around. All of a sudden, Mrs. Potiphar grabbed Joseph's sleeve. She tried to pull him into her bedroom. But, Joseph knew what was on her mind. He slipped out of his coat and ran out of the house.
Mrs. Potiphar was very angry. She was used to getting everything she wanted. She made up a lie about Joseph and told it to her husband. She said Joseph attacked her. She said she screamed for help and scared him off.
Potiphar believed the lie. He had trusted Joseph. He was so angry that he had Joseph thrown in prison! Poor Joseph was in another mess!
Even though Joseph was a young man, he was wise. He loved the Lord and wanted to do what was right. He ran for his life from evil Mrs. Potiphar!
Satan loves to tempt people. He loves to try to get them to do bad things. He will make bad things look good. He will cover up a bad video game with bright colors. He will make you think no one will know if you watch an "R" rated movie. You may even think your mother will not miss the dollar you took from her purse.
What did Joseph do when he was tempted? He ran for his life! He wanted to get as far from evil as possible. He wanted to do good and please God.
Stay away from bad video games and "R" rated movies. And, if you need money, ask your mother. "Don't let evil get the upper hand, but conquer evil by doing good.
Even though Joseph was in trouble with Potiphar, he did what was right. God was pleased. And, God knew where Joseph was. He was watching over him. God would turn this evil to good.
Student Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I'm glad that you were with Joseph, even when he was in trouble. Help me learn from Joseph. When I am tempted to do bad things, I should get far away from things that tempt me. I want to do things that please you.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Psalm 35:11-12
Monday - 2 Timothy 2:22
Tuesday - Psalm 119:11
Wednesday - Psalm 34:13-14
Thursday - Luke 6:45
Friday - Proverbs 10:18
Saturday - Proverbs 12:22
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, the children will be able to:
I . Make wise choices when confronted with temptations.
2. State that God wants us to trust Him, even when things are going bad.
3. State that Satan wants us to make bad choices.
Topics & Themes
Choices
God’s Omniscience
Joseph
Lying
Obedience
Potiphar
Potiphar’s wife
Prison
Satan
Slave
Temptation
Trusting God
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA students' and teacher's books, attendance and memory verse charts, stars, songbook, music player, cassette tapes or CD, grocery bag, nuts, leaves, string, crackers, ball, mitten, coins, dog bone, feather, pencil, paper, small book, book, table, video game, TV remote control, construction paper, crayons or marker pens, scissors
Preparation
“Dramatics can play an important role in the spiritual development of this age group. Role plays involving people in both biblical and contemporary settings can provide opportunities to practice applying Bible truth to social interaction. When a concept such as forgiveness has been practiced in a controlled situation monitored by a teacher, the learner will have a basis to apply the concept in daily life" (Teaching on Target, by Dr. Robert and Jane Willson Choun).
Before you come to class, enlarge and color the pictures on the pattern page. Cut them out and hide them around your classroom. Make them easy to find but not in plain view.
How to Teach This Lesson
Begin today's lesson by having the children act out the scenarios in the student book activity. Choose two students at a time to come to the front of the class. Provide appropriate props (book and table, video game, TV remote). As you read each scenario and the choices, ask the children to act out the right choice .
Joseph's choices - Our memory verse says, "Don't let evil get the upper hand, but conquer evil by doing good." This means there is a choice to be made. Will you repay evil with evil, or will you choose to be good to someone who treats you badly? Joseph had to make this choice many times in his lifetime.
Give the following situations in which Joseph found himself. Allow the children to choose how they would react if they were in Joseph's shoes.
1) Joseph's brothers hated him. They wanted to kill him. Instead, they threw him into a pit. Would you:
a) Get mad and call them bad names.
b) Trust God to take care of you.
c) Threaten to get even with them.
2) Joseph was a slave in the home of a rich soldier, who was his master. Would you:
a) Plan a way to escape.
b) Steal things from your rich master.
c) Work hard to try to please your master.
3) Mrs. Potiphar liked Joseph and flirted with him. Would you:
a) Get away from her as fast as you can.
b) Flirt back, because your master will never know.
c) Make fun of her and tell everyone.
4) Mrs. Potiphar lied to her husband. She told him Joseph attacked her. Would you:
a) Call her a liar and try to get her into trouble.
b) Get mad at Potiphar and at God for being in prison.
c) Be the best prisoner you can be, knowing God is with you.
God's goal - God wants you to trust Him - even when things are going bad for you. Not everything that happens in your life will be good. But, God sees the big picture. He knows how the story will end. And, He will be with you through it all.
Satan's goal - Satan wants you to get mad, to hate people who are mean to you, to call them bad names, to threaten revenge. He wants you to repay evil with evil. He wants you to disobey your parents, your teachers and God. You have choices to make. Will you make the right choices?
Review Questions
1. Why was Joseph living in Potiphar's house?
2. What did Potiphar do for a living?
3. How did Mrs. Potiphar get Joseph into trouble?
4.What did Joseph do when Mrs. Potiphar grabbed his sleeve?
5. How did Joseph end up in prison?
6. Where was God while all these bad things were happening to Joseph?
Teacher-Directed Activity
Tell the children that there are pictures that relate to today's lesson hidden in your classroom. Have the children search for the
pictures - crown, Joseph running, queen, prison bars, bag of money, Joseph's coat, "R" rated video. (The patterns for the activity are on the pattern page.) When all the pictures have been found, have the children arrange themselves in the order that these items appear in the story. Ask the children holding the pictures to retell the part of the story that their picture represents. For larger classes, the children not holding a picture can retell the story.
Pattern Page
NEED!!!
REACH Activity
1. Rules Are In! Ask: What are the rules of your favorite game? How would you feel if someone did not follow the rules of the game? What would you say or do? With family, children should discuss their rules at home, then write a prayer asking God to help them follow the rules. Tell them to remember the Fifth Commandment.
2. You’re In Charge: Joseph was in charge of everything Potiphar owned. Ask: What do you think his duties were? Have kids try to find out what Potiphar probably owned and write a list of what Joseph’s duties were. Ask: Which job would you like? Why? (Hint: Use a Bible commentary.)
3. God has given us so many promises. If we love Him, trust and obey Him, things will work out to our good. Tell kids to draw a rainbow and write on it Joseph’s response to Potiphar’s wife.
4. Run Joseph Run! Let children write a song about the trouble Joseph had with Potiphar’s wife using the tune to “Three Blind Mice.” Tell them to teach it to a friend.
5. The Lord’s Prayer: Have children read Matthew 4:1-11. Ask: What happened when Jesus was in the desert? When Jesus later gave us the outline for prayer in Matthew 6:9-15, He wanted to be sure that we knew we would need His Father’s help in not sinning. God will help you to stand, and not fall. Have kids memorize I Corinthians 10:13.
6. Good and Right: Tell children to find examples of things from the lesson that “look” good but are really bad. Today, they should choose what is right and good—find a good story, the right movie or television program, sing a song of praise to God! ( See 2 Chronicles 31: 20.)
7. Sing: “O Be Careful Little Eyes” is on page 39 of Kids Classics Collection.
8. Have kids use the verses of the song (“O Be Careful Little Eyes”) to make a list of the choices we make in choosing God’s way or the world’s way.
9. Let kids trace their hand and then write the memory verse on it and cut it out.
10. Hands Up! Tell kids to do the following: Trace your hand. On each finger and your thumb, write a scripture you read this week that shows what is good, right, and/or pleasing in God’s sight. In your palm glue or draw a picture of yourself living God’s way.
11. Have kids trace both hands. On each finger and thumb, they should write how they can serve others each day. In the palm they can draw a picture of themselves serving others. Cut out the hands and punch a hole in each. Thread with yarn or string and hang as a mobile to remind children they are on their way to being a good servant for the Lord.
12. If children wrote a journal pretending they were Joseph for the last lesson, they should add to it by writing what happened to Joseph in this lesson.
13. Ask: How could Joseph have avoided the problem with Potiphar’s wife? Can you think of a time when you could have avoided a problem if you’d done something a little differently?
14. Have students make strips of the events of Joseph’s life through this lesson. There should be one event on each strip. Have the students put the strips in the correct order.
Other Ideas:
The biography cards can be used in so many ways. They can eventually be kept in a file of Who’s Who in the Bible. Store in a plastic card file box. The cards can be separated by men and women of the Bible; people of the Old and New Testament; prophets; kings, etc. Cards can be used to record information on Bible foods, animals, and places. Cards come in different sizes and colors!
The biography cards can also be used as “note cards” for a future book about that person. Books come in all shapes and sizes, and are a very creative way for a young person to express themselves. Be sure to make an author’s page.
Cartography (making and drawing maps) is very interesting and fun for young children. Paper towel rolls will help keep the storage issue under control for small paper maps. For the study of one specific area, a floor map would be fun. Use a shower curtain instead of paper. Fold and store in a plastic zipper bag.
Dramatic play is an area children usually love. Save old shirts and belts, hats and scarves, and let them play dress up. Acting out a story makes it easier to remember as well as making a lesson more relevant to them.
Song
“Thy Word Have I Hid In My Heart” is on page 75 of Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Ask if one of the children would like to lead in prayer, thanking God for being with Joseph, and asking Him to help them to make the right choice when they are tempted to do bad things, and to run away from the bad things.
Printable Pages
