An Animal Parable Bible Story – Joseph In Egypt

Ask the animals and they will teach you — Job 12:7 NLT

The Lord helps all who fall; He raises up all who are oppressed. All eyes look to You, and You give them their food in due time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. — Psalm 145:14-16 HCSB

Introduction

God had told Joseph that he would be a great ruler. Unfortunately, he shared this with his brothers and father opening the door to Satan to try and thwart God’s plan. Out of jealousy and hatred, Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. Joseph’s first master in Egypt appointed him over all his household, but Satan used his master’s wife to get him thrown into prison on a false accusation. Throughout this whole ordeal, Joseph never lost sight of the vision and the promise God had given him. In due time, God did in fact exalt him to become the #2 man in all of Egypt – one of the greatest countries of that time. You can read the real story of Joseph in your Bible at Genesis 37-50.

This Animal Parable is the story of a cat named Echo who befriended Joseph in prison. She learns that when you give God your best, it opens the door for Him to give His best to you. After you read Echo In Egypt, visit the Animal Parable Bible Lesson for a kids devotion on giving and receiving from God that is based on this children’s story.

Echo In Egypt 

By Harrison Woodard

Once there was a cat named Echo who lived in Egypt. The Egyptians thought cats were one of their gods. Echo thought that was silly, since there was only one God. Even she knew that.

Echo was homeless and really wanted to live with a family. She asked God for a home and thanked Him for giving it to her.

She visited the prison located near the city center. There, she met an inmate named Joseph. He had been falsely accused of a crime and thrown into prison. Echo and Joseph became good friends. She visited him every day.

“Echo, God promised to make me a great ruler and give me wonderful home filled with all good things,” said Joseph. “And when that happens, you can come live with me!”

Echo liked the thought of living with Joseph, and she was very happy to have him as a friend.

And then one day, God gave Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, two very strange dreams. All the magicians and ministers were summoned, but none could give him the meaning of his dreams.

“Is there nobody in my kingdom who can tell me what these dreams mean?” demanded Pharaoh.

“Oh Pharaoh, when you were angry with me and your baker, you had us both thrown into prison. Both of us had dreams that were quite unusual. We told the dreams to a man named Joseph and everything happened just as he said,” said his wine taster.

Pharaoh immediately summoned Joseph to the palace.

“I have heard that you know the meaning of dreams,” said Pharaoh.

“I can’t do it on my own,” said Joseph. “But tell me the dreams and God will give you the meaning.”

“Last night I dreamed I was standing on the bank of the Nile. There were seven large, healthy cows grazing nearby. Out of the river came seven very thin cows that swallowed the seven large cows,” said Pharaoh.

“And the other dream?” asked Joseph.

“There were seven heads of grain on one stalk. Each one was full and plump,” said Pharaoh. “Out of the same stalk came seven withered, thin heads that swallowed the full ones.”

“Both dreams mean the same. God has shown you what will happen. The seven healthy cows and seven plump heads are seven years of abundant harvests. The seven thin cows and seven withered heads are seven years of drought and famine.”

Everyone in the throne room quietly considered Joseph’s words. Famines and droughts were just about the worst thing that could happen to a country.

“What shall we do?” asked Pharaoh.

“May I suggest that you appoint someone to gather a portion of all the produce during the next seven years and store it for use during the famine,” said Joseph.

Pharaoh liked Joseph’s suggestion. He discussed it with his ministers.

“Who would be better to manage such an operation than someone who is blessed with God’s wisdom?” asked Pharaoh. “Since God showed you what will happen, I will appoint you to manage the operation.”

Pharaoh put a ring on Joseph’s finger and promoted him to be the second most powerful man in all of Egypt. Only Pharaoh was ranked higher. Joseph was given the responsibility to gather a portion of food to save for the coming famine.

The next day, Echo visited the prison, but couldn’t find Joseph. She looked everywhere, but he was gone.

She asked some of the other animals, “Have you seen my friend Joseph?”

One of the dogs that lived near the prison told her, “Pharaoh’s guards came and took him away. When guards take prisoners away, they rarely come back.”

Echo was very sad. She loved Joseph, but based on what the dog said, she thought he was gone forever.

Joseph was so busy with his new job he completely forgot his promise to Echo. After several days, he remembered her and rode to the prison to search for Echo. He looked everywhere and asked everyone. Nobody knew where she had gone. Joseph was very sad, but he knew that God would take care of her.

“God I know that you will look after her. Make sure she finds a good home.”

As God predicted, during the next seven years all the farms produced some of the largest harvests Egypt had ever seen. Joseph organized the country and collected a portion of the produce and stored it throughout Egypt. God blessed his work and he was successful at everything he did.

There was so much food that everyone ate like kings. And there was even plenty of food to share with the homeless animals.

With all the abundance, Echo never missed a meal. And she completely forgot about Joseph and asking God for a home.

After the seven years of abundance came the famine. Times were tough, but because of Joseph’s careful planning, everyone had food.

The famine was really hard on the homeless animals. Each day, Echo had an even harder time finding something to eat.

Finally Echo had had enough, “God, I need some help.”

“I’ve been waiting to hear from you,” said God. “You asked me for a home and I had everything in the works and then you forgot about me. I need your faith and your patience to make things happen for you.”

“I’m sorry,” said Echo. “Can you help me find something to eat?”

“Do you believe that I want the very best for you?” asked God.

“I sure do,” said Echo.

“Well, let’s get to work,” said God. “Go down to the river. There is a small creek that flows into the river. The drought has dried up that creek and there is a fish trapped in one of the small pools. Go get it!”

Echo scampered off towards the river. Just as God said, there was a fish trapped in a pool. She easily caught it and carried it back towards the city.

“Echo do you trust me?” asked God.

“You know I do,” said Echo.

“That fish belongs to someone else,” said God. “Will you give it to them?”

“But I thought this was for me?” asked Echo.

“If you give me your best, I can give you my best,” said God. “Do you understand?”

“I think so,” said Echo.

“When you help me meet the needs of others, I’ll make sure you will never lack any good thing!”

That sounded like a pretty good deal to Echo.

“What should I do?” asked Echo.

“Take that fish to the alley behind the market. There you will find two kittens searching for food. They have asked me for some food and I must respond to their faith,” said God.

Echo headed toward the market. In the alley she found two kittens searching through the trash.

“Are you guys hungry?” asked Echo.

“Yes!” shouted the two.

“God said to give this to you,” said Echo as she lay the fish down in front of them.

The two kittens looked at each other and then both started laughing and praising God for answering their prayer. Echo joined in the celebration. She was thrilled that God used her to help others.

“Enjoy your meal,” said Echo as she headed back to the market.

“Echo,” said God.

“Yes Lord,” said Echo.

“Thanks for helping me,” said God.

“Anytime,” said Echo.

“Do you believe I’ll give you my best?” asked God.

“Of course!” said Echo.

“Do you expect it?” asked God.

“Yes!” exclaimed Echo.

Just then, there was a large commotion coming from the market square. People were shouting as some chariots entered the area.

Echo couldn’t see anything from the ground, so she found a tree and climbed up to find out what was happening. The largest chariot stopped in the middle of the crowd. All the people were bowing down to the man standing in it.

“I wonder who he is?” said Echo.

The man turned around and saw Echo in the tree. He immediately leaped out of his chariot and ran over to her.

“Echo! Echo!” shouted Joseph. “It is you!”

Joseph reached up and carefully lifted Echo off the limb where she was sitting. He cradled her in his arms.

“Praise God, I knew I would find you!” exclaimed Joseph hugging her.

Echo was so surprised she couldn’t do anything but praise God.

Joseph took Echo home and had his servants prepare the very best food for her. After a wonderful feast, she curled up in her fluffy new bed.

Just before she fell asleep God asked, “Pretty awesome, don’t you think?”

“Yes, thank you! Just like you promised, you gave me your very best!” said Echo.

Echo remained with Joseph for the rest of her life. As God promises, they never lacked any good thing!

THE END

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