Single lesson
Joseph: Forgiveness after Hurt
Genesis 50:15–21
After their father died, Joseph’s brothers became afraid again. This lesson helps children notice their fear, Joseph’s tears, and the kind, reassuring words he used instead of paying them back.
Before you teach
In this passage, Joseph’s brothers remember the evil they had done to him and worry that he will now return it. They send a message asking for forgiveness, come before him, and hear Joseph answer with comfort, provision, and words that point to God’s good purpose.
Students will identify two ways Joseph reassured his brothers from this passage and explain that he chose comfort instead of revenge.
Welcome: Naming fear and reassurance
5 minBegin by explaining that this story shows brothers who are frightened and a man who answers gently. Ask children to listen for what the brothers fear and what Joseph says to calm them. Introduce the word reassure as helping someone feel less afraid by truthful, kind words.
Genesis 50:15, Genesis 50:21
Read and explain: The brothers are afraid
7 minRead the passage aloud. Point out that the brothers say they had done evil to Joseph and feared he would pay them back now that their father was dead. They ask for forgiveness, and Joseph weeps when they speak to him. His tears show this moment matters deeply in the story.
Genesis 50:15, Genesis 50:17
Discuss: Joseph’s answer
7 minShow Joseph’s response in three parts. First, he says, “Don’t be afraid.” Second, he says he is not in the place of God. Third, he says that although they meant evil, God meant it for good, and Joseph will provide for them and their little ones. He comforts them and speaks kindly.
Genesis 50:19, Genesis 50:20, Genesis 50:21
Make and respond: Reassuring words cards
7 minChildren make simple cards with short phrases from the passage such as “Don’t be afraid”, “I will provide for you”, and “He comforted them”. Practise saying these words in a calm voice. Explain that this activity is an application of the passage, not a Bible event, helping us remember how Joseph spoke kindly.
Genesis 50:19, Genesis 50:21
Closing: What changed the moment?
4 minReview the movement of the passage from fear to comfort. The brothers arrive afraid and low before Joseph, but Joseph answers with kindness and help. Finish by asking children to name one reassuring sentence Joseph said and one truth he recognised about God’s action for good.
Genesis 50:18, Genesis 50:20, Genesis 50:21
Questions to explore
Why were Joseph’s brothers afraid after their father died?
Use the brothers’ own words to answer: they feared Joseph would hate them and pay them back for the evil they had done.
Genesis 50:15
What did Joseph say instead of threatening his brothers?
Look for his repeated calming words and his promise of care for them and their children.
Genesis 50:19, Genesis 50:21
What does Joseph say God did with what his brothers meant for evil?
Answer from Joseph’s explanation that God meant it for good, to save many people alive.
Genesis 50:20
Make, think or respond
Feelings and Reassurance Cards
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or markers
- scissors
- two bowls or spaces labelled 'fear' and 'reassurance'
Try it together
- Write or draw feelings from the passage in one set, such as afraid, weeping, comforted.
- Write short reassuring phrases from the passage on another set, such as 'Don’t be afraid' and 'I will provide for you'.
- Let children sort the cards into 'fear' and 'reassurance'.
- Invite pairs to practise reading one reassuring phrase kindly to each other.
- Finish by connecting each phrase back to Joseph’s words in the passage.
This activity helps children notice how the passage moves from the brothers’ fear to Joseph’s kind, comforting words.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, read the verses in shorter parts and let them answer by pointing to a feeling face or repeating a short phrase such as 'Don’t be afraid'.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to explain the difference between the brothers’ evil intention and God’s good purpose using Joseph’s words from the passage.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: 'God, thank you for Joseph’s kind words. Please help us notice fear, speak truthfully, and comfort others with gentle words. Amen.'
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Genesis 50
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully pay us back for all the evil which we did to him.”
16 They sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father commanded before he died, saying,
17 ‘You shall tell Joseph, “Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please forgive the disobedience of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
18 His brothers also went and fell down before his face; and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”
19 Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to save many people alive, as is happening today.
21 Now therefore don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” He comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.