Bible Stories for Children | Adam and Eve | Joseph Meeting His Brothers | The 10 Plagues & Passover

In the beginning, creation and every beautiful thing in [music] the world tell us about God. Since he is the creator, we might think [music] of him as the author of a book and the world as that book called the book of nature. Now after he created the world, God wanted to make a creature in his own image out of the dust of the earth. So he breathed the breath of life into him and he called him Adam. Then he placed Adam in a beautiful garden called Eden with two trees, the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Not wishing for man to be alone, he caused Adam to fall asleep and took out one of his ribs, which he made into a woman called Eve. Adam and Eve were delighted in Eden. Everything was beautiful, and there was plenty of food of every kind. They loved walking through the garden, talking to each other and God. God told them they would always be happy and never die. they would live with him forever. He then tested them to see if they would love and obey him. He told them they could eat from any tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. While all this was happening, the powerful demon Satan was watching. He envied [music] Adam and Eve for their relationship with God and tried to lead them away from him. Satan appeared to Eve in the form of a serpent, a nasty, slimy snake. He asked her whether God had commanded her not to eat from any trees in the garden. Eve explained that they could eat the fruit from many trees in the [music] garden, but they were to stay away from just one tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If they didn't, they would die. You will not die, >> replied the serpent. >> For God knows that when you eat of this fruit, your eyes will be opened. You will be like God, and you will know good and evil." The serpent was trying to trick Eve into disobeying God. When she heard these words from the serpent, she forgot how happy she had been and how good God had been to her. She then considered how the fruit from the forbidden tree was so beautiful to the eye. Eve wondered how wise she could become if she ate the fruit. So she [music] took some, ate it, and brought some to Adam. She told him about the serpent and then he too ate the fruit. They both soon realized what they had done. They were ashamed and afraid. So they tried to hide from God. The Lord found them and asked Adam, "Have you eaten the fruit of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" Adam answered by trying to blame Eve for what he had done since she had brought him the fruit. Then Eve tried to pass the blame onto the serpent, insisting that it had tricked her. But they couldn't run away from what they had done. God knew exactly what had happened. God said to the serpent, [music] "For this deception, you are cursed above all wild animals. All the days of your life you shall crawl upon your belly and dust shall you eat. Finally, God delivered a warning to the serpent. [music] The first promise of the redeemer who would one [music] day come. After turning from the serpent, God told Eve that he would multiply her pain in giving birth to [music] children and her husband would rule over her. Since Adam had gone against what God commanded, God told him that from then on his labors [music] would be difficult as he tried to provide food for his family. Ultimately, they would both die and their bodies would return to the [music] soil from which they were made. Then God clothed Adam and Eve with clothing made from animal skins [music] and cast them out of the Garden of Eden. Next, he stationed angels called cherubim with a flaming sword [music] to guard the way to the tree of life. He made it so they could never return to the garden they once called home. >> [music] >> Joseph meets his brothers again. [music] About 2 years later, Pharaoh had a dream in which he [music] stood by the Nile River. Seven cows came out of the river, beautiful and fat. But seven other cows, [music] thin and sickly, followed. The lean cows then ate the fat cows, but still remained thin. Pharaoh then had a similar dream with thick and thin ears of grain. Pharaoh could not find [music] anyone in his kingdom to interpret these strange dreams until the butler finally remembered Joseph and [music] told Pharaoh about him. Pharaoh sent for Joseph who interpreted the dreams by saying, "Egypt will have seven good years of crops followed by seven years of famine." He then advised Pharaoh, "Appoint supervisors to collect 1/5if of Egypt's harvest during the seven good years under Pharaoh's control. Have them store the extra grain as future food for the cities." Pharaoh found Joseph very wise and instead of sending him back to prison, appointed him governor. Famine did eventually [music] come and Jacob and his family were among those who suffered. He sent [music] 10 of his sons to buy grain in Egypt, but he kept Benjamin, the youngest, at home. [music] When they came to Egypt, they were sent to see the governor, their brother Joseph. Joseph had changed a great deal since he had [music] been sold to the merchants of Egypt by his brothers. So they didn't recognize him. But Joseph recognized his brothers. To test them, Joseph accused them. "You are spies. You've come here to spy on our undefended territories." "No, your honor," they replied. "Your servants have come here to buy food. We are all sons of a common father. We are honest men, Governor. We're not spies. >> But Joseph insisted. >> It's just as I've said. You've come here to spy on our unguarded territories. [music] But your majesty, they pleaded. Your servants include 12 brothers, the sons of a common father from the land of Canaan. Please, our youngest brother remains with our father, and the 12th [music] died long ago. Joseph pretended not to believe them and cast them all into prison. After three days, he [music] released all but one, Simeon. Simeon would have to remain in prison until his brothers brought back their youngest brother, Benjamin, to prove their good intentions. Joseph's brothers spoke among themselves in their own language right [music] in front of Joseph because they didn't know he could understand them. He had been speaking to them in the language of the Egyptians through an interpreter. We're all guilty for what we did to Joseph. They told each other. We stood by and watched his suffering while he pleaded with us. We wouldn't be in this mess if we had just listened. Didn't I tell [music] you not to harm Joseph? Reuben replied. But would you listen? No. Now we [music] face our just punishment. Upon hearing this, Joseph turned away from them and began to weep. After composing himself, Joseph still insisted that Simeon remain in prison. He commanded his servants to fill his [music] brother's sacks with the grain they had purchased and provisions for their journey. Secretly, however, [music] Joseph also told his servants to place the money his brothers had paid for the grain in their sacks. [music] But they only discovered what Joseph had done when they stopped for the night along their [music] journey. When the brothers finally arrived in Canaan, they told their father, Jacob, all that had happened. Then Jacob said to his sons, "Take [music] back the money you found. Be ready to give the governor gifts and double the money you need to buy more grain. We must make certain Benjamin and Simeon return home." When Joseph saw his brothers returning with Benjamin, he ordered his servants to prepare a feast. Then Simeon [music] was released from prison. Joseph spoke with his brothers, asking if their father was in good health. At one point, as he laid eyes on his youngest brother, Benjamin, he was so overcome with joy that he stepped away and wept. Still, Joseph's brothers did not [music] recognize him. After the feast, Joseph again told his servants to fill his [music] brother's sacks with grain and the money they had paid. But he also had [music] another plan. "Place my silver cup," he told his servant. "In the youngest brother's sack, along with his [music] money for the grain." The following morning, the brothers departed for Canaan with their [music] sacks, not knowing all Joseph had done. After his [music] brothers had gone some distance, Joseph sent his chief servant after them. When the servant caught up [music] to them, he said, "You have stolen my master's cup." "We did not," one brother exclaimed, the others nodding in agreement. "We're certain of it." The servants still appeared angry, and the brothers knew they needed to prove to him they were not thieves. They suggested, "Search our belongings. If you find the cup in any of our sacks, put to death the boy to whom the sack belonged, and the rest of us will become your master's slaves. All of the brothers agreed [music] to this because they were completely confident that there was no cup to be found within their belongings. The servant agreed to this proposal and searched [music] their belongings. Yet, they all recoiled in shock when [music] the silver cup fell out of Benjamin's sack. The servant ordered them to return to Joseph. When they entered the house, Joseph asked, "Why did [music] you steal from me?" But they didn't know how to answer. They all fell to their knees and offered themselves as his slaves. This act was in fact a fulfillment of the dreams Joseph once had as a boy. Joseph decided to test his brothers one final time and said to them, "I do not want you as my slaves. Only the one who stole my cup. The rest of you may go." But one of the brothers, Judah, pleaded. Please, no. Don't take Benjamin. Many years ago, we lost our brother Joseph, and it grieved our father terribly. Surely, if he now lost his youngest son, the grief would kill him. Please take me instead. >> At [music] this point, Joseph could no longer hide his identity. So he finally spoke to them in their own language amidst tears of joy. Brothers, it is me, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And do not be distressed or angry, for God sent me here before you to preserve life. Joseph went on to explain how [music] it was God's will that he had been sent to Egypt to save his father and brothers from the famine. Then he sent his brothers back to their father to tell him of his success in [music] Egypt and to invite his father to come with all his family to live in Egypt. Pharaoh was pleased with Joseph's invitation to his father and his brothers. So he sent wagons to move their possessions to Egypt. He gave presents to all the brothers, but he was exceptionally generous to Benjamin. To Jacob, he sent clothing made of the finest material along with 300 pieces of silver. [music] The 10 plagues and Passover. During his stay in Midian, one day God spoke to Moses through a burning bush. >> Moses, Moses, >> God called to him. [music] Here I am, replied Moses to the Lord. Do not come any closer. >> God said, >> "Take off your sandals. The place where you are standing is holy ground." >> Moses immediately [music] obeyed and took off his sandals. Then the Lord said, >> "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. He felt unworthy. Moses listened intently for what God was to say to [music] him next. I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt, and their suffering saddens me. So now go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt. Frightened, Moses asked, "What if Pharaoh does not believe me when I tell him you sent me?" Then the Lord told Moses of the many things he was to do if the Pharaoh challenged him [music] to prove that God truly sent him. Moses obeyed God and began to travel back to Egypt to set the Israelites free. His brother Aaron went with him to see Pharaoh and to carry out God's [music] instructions. Pharaoh, this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says, "Let my people go." But Pharaoh would not listen to them [music] and later told his slave driver, "The people are crying out because they are lazy. Make them gather their own straw before making bricks. MAKE THE WORK SO MUCH HARDER for the Hebrews that they pay better attention to their work than to Moses's lies." God told Moses to raise his staff over the water so it would turn the river into blood. Immediately the water turned to blood. The river was polluted. The fish died and the Egyptians couldn't drink the water. This was the first of the 10 plagues. But Pharaoh's magicians also turned the water into blood. So, Pharaoh refused to believe the sign and hardened his heart. After [music] this plague had lasted 7 days, Pharaoh still wouldn't allow the Hebrews to leave. So, God warned that he would cover the entire land with frogs. [music] But Pharaoh wouldn't listen, and frogs covered the land with the next plague. [laughter] When Pharaoh saw that the plague had ended, he refused to let the people of Israel leave Egypt, so Aaron struck the dust of the earth with his staff, and God sent a plague of gnats that caused horrible discomfort. A Pharaoh was stubborn and still wouldn't [music] budge. So a fourth plague, one of flies, was sent over all the land of Egypt except for the Hebrew lands of Gan. Finally, Pharaoh agreed to let them leave. So Moses prayed for the Lord to take away the plague of flies, and it was so. But once the flies were gone, Pharaoh changed his mind again and did not let the Hebrews go. So Moses came to Pharaoh once more and said, "If you do not let the Hebrews leave Egypt, then all the camels, oxmen, horses, and sheep in the whole land except those of the Hebrews in Gan will grow ill and die." Pharaoh was filled with bitterness and refused yet again. Then all the animals of the Egyptians died, but those of the Hebrews were unharmed. Despite this, Pharaoh still [music] wouldn't let the people of Israel leave. For this reason, God brought even worse [music] troubles upon the Egyptians. This time, all of the Egyptian people were stricken with [music] boils. The plague spread over all the land, and the Egyptians suffered very much, but Pharaoh still refused to obey. Moses went to Pharaoh and threatened another plague if he didn't yield to God's will. This time, [music] it would be damaging hail. Once more, Pharaoh refused, and a great hail storm swept over the land. It beat down the crops and destroyed the houses. Only Gan was spared. When Pharaoh saw all the destruction, he promised [music] to let the Israelites go if the storm would stop. So Moses went outside [music] the city and stretched out his hands. The storm stopped. But Pharaoh was unfaithful to his promise, just as he had been before. Next, Moses and Aaron threatened Pharaoh with a plague of locusts that would destroy whatever crops were left. The servants of Pharaoh came and begged him to let the Hebrews go so that no more harm would come to Egypt. Pharaoh argued, "I will let the men leave, but the women and children must stay." Moses couldn't agree to Pharaoh's terms. So the eighth plague followed and great [music] swarms of locusts destroyed every crop, eating up every blade of grass. Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron once more. He promised to grant them their wish if they would remove the plague. But after the [music] plague was gone, Pharaoh's heart hardened again, and he refused to let them leave. Yet a new plague came with darkness covering the land even in the middle of the day. Pharaoh's servants and all the people were terrified. Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, "I will let them go. Not only the men, but the women and children may go too. Please make these plagues stop." So again, Moses prayed to God to stop the plague which God granted. [music] And again, Pharaoh changed his mind. You may have noticed a pattern here. Pharaoh was obviously a man who did not keep his word. It would take one final and horrible plague to finally convince him [music] to let the Israelites truly leave. God told Moses that he would bring one last plague on the Egyptians. A scourge so terrible it would force Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go. To prepare for their departure, the Lord commanded the Hebrews to ask their Egyptian neighbors for gifts of gold and silver. These gifts were meant to [music] be payment for the hard labor the people of Israel had performed for so many years. The Egyptians had come to respect the Hebrews because of the astonishing things Moses [music] had done. They were afraid to refuse their request. So they gave them all that they asked. In this way, before the people of Israel departed Egypt, they were no longer poor slaves. They possessed gold, silver, and valuable clothing. Even though the Hebrews received [music] such wonderful gifts from the Egyptians, the Pharaoh still wouldn't allow them to leave. And so, the 10th and most [music] terrible plague came upon them. The Lord said to Moses, "I will bring yet one more [music] plague upon Pharaoh and Egypt. Then at last he will let the Israelites [music] go. And when he does, he will drive you away completely. Moses received God's instructions and approached Pharaoh, saying, "God has sent me with this warning for you. At midnight, all of the firstborn children of the Egyptians, including yours, will die. The firstborn of all cattle will die as well, but the children and cattle of the Hebrews will remain safe and untouched." Such a drastic threat angered Pharaoh, but he still refused [music] to let the people of Israel leave. Finally, seeing that Pharaoh still refused to listen, Moses returned to the Israelites. He told them what God had instructed [music] them to do during this 10th and final plague. Finally, Moses [music] said, "Every family, choose a lamb from among yourselves to sacrifice [music] for the Passover. After the sacrifice, gather a bundle of hissup and [music] dip it into the sacrificial basin. Then use the hissup to mark the doorposts and lentil of your home with the lamb's blood. Finally, remain in your home until the morning. No one is to leave through the door they have marked for the Passover. This night was the night the Hebrews were eating the Passover meal of bitter herbs, flatbread, and lamb. So, they used the lamb's blood to carry out [music] God's instructions. For the Lord will pass through the land to slay the Egyptians. But when he sees the sacrificial blood over your doorway, the Lord will pass over your home and will not allow the destroyer to enter and slay you. About midnight, the destroying angel of the Lord entered every Egyptian home, from that of Pharaoh to that of the lowliest man. The firstborn of every Egyptian family lay dead. But seeing the blood of the sacrificial lamb sprinkled on the doorposts of the Hebrews, the angel passed over their homes, and not a single Hebrew child was harmed. This great sorrow finally softened Pharaoh's heart. He summoned Moses and Aaron and told them to lead the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt without [music] delay. Finally, after 430 years of slavery [music] in Egypt, the Hebrews would be released under Moses's [music] Air.