Single lesson
Joseph's Final Promise and Death
Genesis 50:22–26
This lesson helps children follow the closing verses about Joseph in Egypt. They will trace what Joseph does and says, the outcome at the end of his life, and what these verses say about God.
Before you teach
Genesis 50:22–26 says Joseph lived in Egypt to 110 years old and saw later generations in Ephraim’s and Manasseh’s family lines. As he was dying, he spoke to his brothers about God bringing the people out of that land, took an oath from the children of Israel about his bones, then died and was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.
Students will be able to sequence Genesis 50:22–26, identify Joseph’s actions in the passage and their outcomes, and explain what Joseph says God will do.
Welcome: What happens in these verses?
5 minAsk children to listen for four things in the passage: what Joseph sees in his family, what Joseph says, what Joseph asks the children of Israel to promise, and what happens after he dies. Explain that today they will follow the order of Joseph speaking, taking an oath, dying, and being placed in a coffin in Egypt.
Genesis 50:23, Genesis 50:24, Genesis 50:25, Genesis 50:26
Read and explain: Put the passage in order
8 minRead the verses slowly. List the events in order: Joseph lived in Egypt and lived 110 years, Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation and the children of Machir, Joseph said he was dying and spoke about God, Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, then Joseph died, was embalmed, and was put in a coffin in Egypt. Explain that an oath is a serious promise.
Genesis 50:22, Genesis 50:23, Genesis 50:24, Genesis 50:25, Genesis 50:26
Discuss: Joseph’s words about God and his choice
6 minHelp children notice Joseph’s choice to speak about God and to take an oath from the children of Israel. Joseph says, ‘God will surely visit you’ and ‘bring you up out of this land’ to the land sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. His words in verses 24 and 25 shape what he asks the people to remember.
Genesis 50:24, Genesis 50:25
Make and respond: Sequence and outcomes cards
7 minChildren make five simple cards for the passage: lived in Egypt, saw later generations, spoke about God bringing the people up, took an oath about his bones, died and was put in a coffin in Egypt. After putting them in order, ask them to name Joseph’s action on one card and the outcome on another card.
Genesis 50:22, Genesis 50:23, Genesis 50:24, Genesis 50:25, Genesis 50:26
Closing: Review the choices and outcomes
4 minReview the passage aloud together. Ask children to state one action Joseph took, such as speaking to his brothers or taking an oath from the children of Israel, and one outcome named in the passage, such as his death, embalming, or coffin in Egypt. Finish by repeating Joseph’s words about what God would do.
Genesis 50:24, Genesis 50:25, Genesis 50:26
Questions to explore
What two things does Joseph say God will do for the people?
Look at Joseph’s words in verse 24 and find the two actions he names: God will visit them and bring them up out of the land.
Genesis 50:24
What oath did Joseph take from the children of Israel?
Verse 25 gives the exact request: when God visits them, they are to carry up Joseph’s bones from there.
Genesis 50:25
Which actions and outcomes can you match in this passage?
Find Joseph’s actions in verses 24 and 25, then find the stated outcomes in verse 26, including his death, embalming, and coffin in Egypt.
Genesis 50:24, Genesis 50:25, Genesis 50:26
Make, think or respond
Joseph’s Last Words Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- Plain paper or card
- Pencils or textas
- Scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Write or draw five moments from the passage: Joseph lived in Egypt, Joseph saw later generations, Joseph said God would bring the people out, Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel about his bones, Joseph died and was put in a coffin.
- Cut the paper into five cards.
- Mix the cards and have children place them in the correct order.
- Ask children to point to one card showing Joseph’s action and one card showing an outcome named in the passage.
This activity helps children follow the order of Genesis 50:22–26 and identify Joseph’s actions and the outcomes stated in the passage.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare the five event cards in advance with simple drawings and let them place the pictures in order before discussing the verses.
- For older or more confident readers, ask them to copy key phrases from verses 24 and 25 onto the cards and explain how the repeated words ‘God will surely visit you’ shape the passage.
An optional closing prayer
‘Dear God, thank you for these words about Joseph. Please help us remember what you have said and listen carefully to your word. Amen.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Genesis 50
22 Joseph lived in Egypt, he, and his father’s house. Joseph lived one hundred ten years.
23 Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees.
24 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am dying, but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”
25 Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.”
26 So Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.