(A
Reader's Theater for Children)
Note: See Genesis 25-47
Characters
1st Narrator
2nd Narrator
Jacob
Esau
Joseph
Brother
Judah
1st Narrator: Joseph's
father, Jacob, taught his family to live in peace. He taught them through his
example.
2nd Narrator: When Joseph
was a young boy, God told Jacob to move his family and animals to the
promised
land.
1st Narrator: The
promised land was in Canaan.
2nd Narrator: On the way,
they approached the place where Esau lived. Esau was Jacob's twin brother.
1st Narrator: Jacob
had left home twenty years earlier, because Esau had hated Jacob
and wanted
to destroy
him.
2nd Narrator: Jacob knew
he must find a way to live in peace with Esau, so he sent messengers to him.
Jacob: Go
to Esau and say: I am coming with animals and servants, and I have sent to tell
my Lord
that
I may find grace in thy sight.
1st Narrator: When
the messengers returned, they told Jacob that Esau was coming with an army.
2nd Narrator: Jacob was
frightened. He prayed to Heavenly Father to help him and his family.
1st Narrator: Then
Jacob divided over 550 of his animals into several groups. He put his servants
in charge of
them.
Jacob:
Take these animals ahead of me to meet Esau, and put a space between each
group. Then,
when
Esau asks you who you are, where you are going, and whose animals these are,
tell him
they
are a gift to him from me.
2nd Narrator: The
servants presented the animals to Esau one group at a time.
1st Narrator: But
Esau and his army continued on toward Jacob.
2nd Narrator: When Jacob saw
him coming, he still wanted peace with his brother, so he respectfully
bowed
down
to him.
1st Narrator: Esau
ran to Jacob. He hugged and kissed him.
2nd Narrator: Jacob and
Esau wept. They had missed each other. They had forgiven one
another.
Esau: Who
are these women and children?
Jacob: They
are my family.
1st Narrator: Jacob's
family came forward. They respectfully bowed down to Esau, too.
Esau: Why
did you give me all those animals? I have enough, my brother. Keep your animals
unto
yourself.
Jacob:
No, please, if I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my gift at my
hand.
2nd Narrator: Esau accepted
Jacob's gifts. This was a sign that they were friends again. Now they would
live in
peace.
1st Narrator: Joseph
saw how hard his father had worked to live in peace with his brother. And when
Joseph
grew
up, he followed his father's example. But it was very hard.
2nd Narrator: Joseph was
seventeen years old when his ten older brothers sold him as a slave into
Egypt.
1st Narrator: Joseph
suffered many things because of his brothers' actions, but he remained
faithful to the
Lord.
2nd Narrator: The Lord
blessed Joseph to become a ruler over the people.
1st Narrator: One
day, Joseph's brothers came to Egypt to buy food because there was a terrible
famine in
the land.
2nd Narrator: Joseph was
in charge of selling food to the people.
1st Narrator: Joseph
recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.
Joseph: Where
have you come from?
Brother: From
the land of Canaan. We're here to buy food.
Joseph: You
are spies!
Brother: No.
We are twelve brothers. The youngest is with our father, and one is gone.
Joseph: If
ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in prison: go ye, carry corn
for the famine of
your
houses: But bring your youngest brother unto me.
2nd Narrator: The brothers were
frightened. They spoke among themselves.
Brother: We
are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when
he pled with
us,
and we wouldn't listen. It's our fault this has happened.
2nd Narrator: Joseph knew
his brothers were talking about him. He turned away from them so they
wouldn't
see
him weep.
1st Narrator: Joseph's
brother, Simeon, stayed behind. The other nine brothers returned home.
2nd Narrator: When Jacob
found out what had happened, he was sad and worried. He still believed
Joseph
was
dead, and now he had lost another son, Simeon. He did not want to lose any more
sons.
He
would not let Joseph's youngest brother, Benjamin, go to Egypt.
1st Narrator: But
after many days, Jacob's family again ran out of food.
Jacob: Go
again, buy us a little food.
Judah: We
can not go without Benjamin. I promise I will take care of him. If I bring him
not back unto
thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame forever.
Jacob: If
it must be so, then also take these gifts to the Egyptian ruler. And God give
you mercy before
the
man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin.
2nd Narrator: When the brothers
returned to Egypt, Joseph invited them to a feast.
1st Narrator: The
brothers gave Joseph the gifts.
Joseph: Are
you well? Is your father well?
Brother: Thy
servant our father is in good health.
Joseph: Is
this your younger brother?
Brother: Yes.
2nd Narrator: Joseph was
happy to see Benjamin again. He loved him very much.
1st Narrator: But Joseph
still did not know if his brothers had changed. Had they learned to love and be
kind
to his younger brother? Had they repented of what they'd done to him? Could they
live with
him, in
peace, again?
2nd Narrator: Joseph
tested his brothers a second time. He saw they did love his younger brother.
He
knew they
had repented, so he told them who he was.
Joseph: I
am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Do not be angry with
yourselves anymore.
God has brought me here that I might preserve your lives.
1st Narrator: Joseph
and his brothers hugged and kissed each other. Then Joseph asked them to
bring his
father
to Egypt, too.
2nd Narrator: Finally,
Jacob, Joseph, and their entire family were together again.
1st Narrator: They
had suffered many wrongs, but they had forgiven each other. Now they could live
together
happily.
Both Narrators: They had built peace.
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