Joseph's Coat of Many Colors: Story and Lesson Plans

As you read the story of Joseph and his Coat of Many Colors, allow the children to color the free printable coloring page. After the story, quiz them about what you just read. Ask them what they thought about the way Joseph treated his brothers after what they had done to him. Finish the lesson with the craft project.

Free Coloring Page
Joseph's Coat of Many Color's

Make a Coat of Many Colors
Cut a hole at the bottom of a brown paper grocery bag that is large enough to slip a child's head thrrough. Open the coat the front of the coat by cutting from the neck hole to the top side of the bag. Cut arm holes on both sides of the bag. Paint the grocery bag with poster paints. Encourage the children to spread the paint thinly, so that it is dry by the time the lesson is over.

Story
Joseph was young man of seventeen. His father's name was Jacob, and he had eleven brothers. Jacob loved Joseph, and made him a coat of many colors. When his brothers saw that their father loved Joseph more than any of his brothers they became angry. Joseph also dreamed dreams of how his brothers would bow down to him, and this angered them even more.

A few days later, Jacob told Joseph to check on his brothers who were working in the field. When his brothers saw him they made a plan to kill him. Joseph's oldest brother did not like this plan, and suggested that they throw him down a well. He said this so that he could go back later and rescue Jacob from the well. When Joseph came to them, they took off his coat of many colors and threw him down the well.

A little while later some merchants came by that were traveling to Egypt. One of Joseph's brothers said, "Why don't we sell him to these people, this way we never have to see him again, and we don't have to kill him." His brothers liked this idea, so they sold him to the people who were going to Egypt. Joseph's brothers then took his robe and dipped it in animal blood, and then returned to their father. When Jacob saw what had happened he was very sad.

Joseph had been sold as a slave to Potiphar, an assistant to the Pharaoh of Egypt. The Lord helped Joseph do right is the sight of Pharaoh. He was soon put in charge of everything he owned.

His master's wife saw that Joseph was a handsome man and wished to kiss him. Joseph being a man after God's own heart said to her, "Your husband has made me the greatest in his house, and I wish to do him no wrong. Neither do I wish to sin against God." She became angry, and told a lie about him to her husband. Pharaoh had him thrown in prison. While in prison Joseph grew in favor with its keeper.

After Joseph had spent some time is prison the butler and baker were thrown in prison as well, having offended the king. One night the butler and baker both had a dream. They did not understand the dream, so Joseph interpreted the dream for them. He told them that they would soon be let out of prison, and asked them to go to Pharaoh when they were released and request that he be released.

When the butler and baker got out of prison they forgot about Joseph. Joseph stayed in prison for two more years. One day Pharaoh dreamed a dream that no one was able to explain to him. The butler remembered what Joseph had done, and Joseph was brought to Pharaoh.

Pharaoh told Joseph his dream. With God's help Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream. He said, "God is sending a warning to you. There will be seven bad years when there won't be food for anyone. There will also be seven years before that time that will be very good. Save enough food from each of these years to see you through the bad years." Pharaoh believed him, and put him in charge of all of the land in Egypt.

During this time many people came to buy grain from Joseph. One day his brothers came to him, but did not recognize him, as it had been ten years since they had seen him. His brothers bowed to him, just as they had in their dream many years before.

After several meetings Joseph said to his brothers, "It is I, your brother Joseph. Is our father alive?" His brothers became afraid, and were not able to answer him. Joseph said, "Do not be afraid, and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me into slavery. God has placed me here to care for the land of Egypt, and provide food for its people.

Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Tell your brothers to return to Canaan and get your father, and return to me. I will give to them all that is good in the land of Egypt."

Genesis 37-45:20