The Governor Who Remembered Everything

Game · Upper elementary · 10 min

Bear Valley Community Church

POWERED BY KIDOLOGY

GAME · Ages 9–11 · 9-15 MIN · Genesis 45:1-15; Genesis 50:15-21

The Governor Who Remembered Everything

BIG IDEA

Joseph forgave his brothers while remembering exactly what they did — forgiveness isn't pretending the hurt never happened, it's refusing to make someone pay for it.

SUPPLIES · 1 ITEM

A Bible

HOW TO PLAY

YOUR NOTES

2-3 min

Meet Bartholomew Sniggsworth, Worst Roommate Ever

DO	Tell the kids they're about to hear a list of terrible things a made-up roommate did. Their only job is to listen hard — no writing, no talking yet. Read the list at a decent clip, like you're complaining to a friend.

SAY

Let me tell you about the worst roommate in history. His name is Bartholomew Sniggsworth. Here's what he did to me. One: he ate my last waffle and left the syrup bottle empty in the fridge. Two: he taught my dog to answer to the name 'Gerald.' Three: he wore my socks to a job interview and got the job. Four: he microwaved fish at midnight. Five: he borrowed my toothbrush and admitted it a week later. Six: he set every clock in the house eleven minutes fast. Seven: he used my shampoo and refilled the bottle with water. Eight: he told the mailman I moved to Antarctica. Nine: he alphabetized my cereal by mascot instead of by name. Ten: he still owes me four dollars from three years ago and brings it up like I owe HIM.

DO	Stop there. Don't repeat the list. Move straight into the next step.

2-3 min

Say It Back

Explain the rule once, clearly, then let it run without you managing it. Sitting where they are, going around the circle, each kid names one thing Bartholomew did — no repeats. If someone gets stuck or repeats one by accident, they fold their arms and stay quiet for the rest of the round, but the game keeps moving past them.

SAY	Now we're going around the circle. Each person names one thing Bartholomew did — just one, and you can't repeat one someone already said. If you get stuck, fold your arms like this and you're out for this round, but keep listening. Ready? Go.

DO	Let it run. If the group blanks entirely before all ten are named, that's fine — jump in and finish the list yourself rather than stalling the room. The goal isn't a perfect recall, it's noticing how much they actually remembered.

1-2 min

Predict the Sentence

DO	Ask the question and actually wait for two or three different answers before moving on. Don't correct the answers yet — you want their honest instinct on the table.

SAY	So between all of us, we just proved we remembered basically everything Bartholomew did wrong. Here's my question: if his roommate really did remember all ten of those things, perfectly, what do you think he'd do with a list like that?

DO	Take a few answers. Most kids will say some version of 'get him back' or 'make him pay for it' — that's expected, and it's exactly the instinct the Bible story is about to push against. Don't argue with it, just note it and move on.

3-5 min

Joseph Had the Whole List

DO	Bridge from the game into the passage. Have your Bible open and ready.

SAY	There's a guy in the Bible who had a list a lot worse than a stolen waffle. His name was Joseph, and his own brothers grabbed him, threw him in a pit, and sold him to strangers as a slave. He didn't see his family again for over twenty years.

DO	Explain that years later, Joseph ends up running the whole country of Egypt, second in command only to Pharaoh. A famine hits, and his brothers — who have no idea it's him — travel to Egypt to buy food, and end up standing right in front of him.

SAY

Listen to what Joseph says to them once he tells them who he is. This is from Genesis 45, verses 4 and 5, in the World English Bible: 'Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." They came near. "He said, I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. Now don't be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life."'

SAY	Joseph had all the power now. He could have thrown every one of his brothers in prison right then. Why do you think he didn't?

DO	Take one or two answers. There's no single right one — some kids will say he forgave them, some will say he wanted his family back, some will say he felt bad for them. Let more than one stand.

SAY	Notice something else — he says it straight out: 'whom you sold into Egypt.' He's not pretending it didn't happen. He names it, out loud, in front of everyone.

DO	Jump to the second passage, after their father Jacob has died and the brothers are terrified Joseph was just waiting for this moment.

SAY

Years later, after their father dies, the brothers are still scared Joseph secretly hates them and is finally going to get revenge. Here's what he tells them, from Genesis 50, verse 20: 'As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive.'

SAY	Even after everything, even after Joseph had already forgiven them once, the brothers were still afraid to believe it. Why do you think it's hard to believe someone has actually forgiven you, even after they've said so?

DO	Take a couple of answers, then move straight into the closing line — don't let this turn into a long side conversation.

SAY

He still calls it evil. He doesn't take that word back. But he also doesn't make them pay for it — he feeds them, he takes care of them, and he keeps forgiving them. That's what real forgiveness looks like. It's not forgetting. It's remembering exactly what happened, and choosing not to make someone pay for it.

1-2 min

One Name, By Wednesday

DO	This part is silent and private — nobody says a name out loud, and don't ask anyone to share afterward.

SAY	I want you to think of one person — just in your head, don't say it out loud. Maybe it's someone who was mean to you, or left you out, or hurt your feelings. You don't have to tell anyone who it is.

SAY	This week, before that person even says sorry, do one ordinary kind thing for them. Sit next to them at lunch. Pass them the ball. Say good morning like nothing happened. You don't need an apology first.

SAY	God forgave us the same way Joseph forgave his brothers — he knows our whole list, every single thing on it, and he chose to love us anyway.

THE PASSAGE · Genesis 45:1-15; Genesis 50:15-21

Joseph, now the second most powerful man in Egypt, reveals his identity to the brothers who once sold him into slavery. They're terrified, expecting revenge. Instead Joseph weeps, tells them not to be afraid, and says God used their evil act to save many lives. Years later, after their father dies, the brothers are still scared Joseph is just waiting to pay them back. He isn't. He tells them plainly what they did was wrong, tells them God worked through it anyway, and promises to keep taking care of them.

BEFORE YOU TEACH IT

Please review and adapt all generated content before use.

Bear Valley Community Church · GAME · The Governor Who Remembered Everything KIDOLOGY.ORG

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