Animal Parable Bible Lesson - Giving God Your Best

No doubt you've heard the story of Joseph and the seven years of famine. But did you hear the story about Echo the homeless cat that befriended him while he was in prison? When she gave God her best, He gave Echo His best.

"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

This Bible devotion is intended to be used with the children's story, Echo In Egypt. Jesus often taught people using parables. In the same way, these stories and devotions are written to teach Bible truths to kids, teens, and people of all ages. Read the concepts below and look up the Bible verses associated with each one. Use the faith building exercise to build your faith.

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.

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. You can read the real story of Joseph in your Bible at Genesis 37-50.

Echo In Egypt – Key Concepts

1. Echo means to imitate or repeat. This is exactly what God desires for you. Study God's Word. Act like Him and speak like Him. When you start walking by faith and with God's love in your heart, nothing can stop you from living a long and victorious life full of joy!

2. God had given Joseph a vision of his future as ruler over his brothers. Instead of quietly praising God, he boasted to his family about what God had revealed to him. His youthful pride was fuel to the fire of the jealousy and envy that was already simmering among his brothers. Certainly God was able to elevate Joseph to rule over Egypt without him having to be sold as a slave, or thrown into prison on a false charge. But strife within Joseph's family opened the door for Satan to come in and try to mess it all up. In the end, Joseph's faithfulness allowed God to put him charge in spite of all Satan's traps and tricks. As God reveals His plan for you, it may be a smart thing not to start telling the world. That may open the door to strife and allow Satan to delay all that is planned for you. Be humble and at peace with everyone, especially your family. Be quick to forgive and love everyone. This will make it all the more easier for God to put you in the place He has planned for you.

3. Echo prayed for a home and believed she had it! In fact, she did have it in the spiritual world, it just hadn't manifested in the natural world yet. Instead of waiting patiently for the home, the cares of the world distracted her. There was so much abundance she forgot all about her prayer. The minute Echo prayed in faith, the angels were working on bringing her and Joseph together. And then preparing Joseph to be promoted. If Echo hadn't forgot about God, she could have been living with Joseph many years earlier. When you pray, you must believe that you have whatever you asked for in prayer. That is faith! But you also must exercise patience. It may take a little time for it to manifest in your life. But it absolutely will, if you refuse to give up!

4. Joseph's patient faith paid off in a big way. Whatever situation he was thrown into, God's favor surrounded him and he was promoted. When he had the opportunity to go before Pharaoh, he gave all the credit to God. Pharaoh saw and heard God's wisdom through Joseph and immediately knew that he was the only man capable of saving Egypt from the coming famine. Pharaoh promoted Joseph and fulfilled God's promise that he would be a great ruler. God's favor and wisdom belongs to you, if you have made Jesus the Lord of your life. Start studying God's Word and confess it night and day. God's wisdom will open doors and lead to promotion and success at everything you do. Remember, the greatest human wisdom is foolishness in God's eyes and the weakness of God is still many times stronger than men.

5. During the years of plenty, Echo had all she needed. But when the famine started things weren't so easy. She should have been talking to God all along, but she didn't. When she finally remembered God, He was ready and waiting with a plan to take care of all her needs. God is a jealous God. He wants to be your total source and supply because He loves you and understands exactly what will bring joy, peace and success to your life. Start today thanking God and telling Him how much you love Him. Seek His wisdom and build your faith. You will be overwhelmed by God's loving care. People will be amazed at all the peace, prosperity and joy that will be yours and beg you to tell them about God.

6. God asked Echo to give the fish she had just caught to someone else. This was her only food and she was hungry. But God had an even greater purpose for the request. He was going to use Echo's gift to feed others and then turn around and give Echo a family and a home. That fish would have fed Echo for a day or two. God was going to provide her food that would last a lifetime. God wasn't after Echo's last, but her best, so He could release His best for her. In the world, it seems better to get things than to give things. But in the Kingdom of God, it is just the opposite. It is much more profitable to give, because when you give as God directs, it opens the door for God to give to you. And when God gives, it is many, many times greater than anything you could ever imagine.

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Say these out loud every day until you believe them in your spirit. They will build your faith. Look up these verses and read them as they appear in your Bible. You can always trust God’s Word because He cannot lie.

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