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May, 1937
THE K I N 6 1S BUS I NES S
IN T E R N A T IO N A L L E S S O N Commentary Outline and Exposition Blackboard Lesson Children’s Division Golden Text Illustration Object Lesson B t B. B. S utcliffe B y G retchen S ibley B y H elen G ailey B y A lan S. P earce B y E lmer L. W ilder Points and Problems B y A lva J. M c C lain , Dean, Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, Ohio
were bitterly distressing and humanly in explicable. His unfaltering trust in the Lord and his whole-hearted devotion to Him made Joseph a channel through whom God could meet the people’s need. Even a heathen monarch recognized his divinely given qualifications. III. J oseph ’ s P osition under P haraoh (40-44) Joseph was appointed ruler over all Phar aoh’s house. Only “ in the throne” was his position lower than that of the monarch himself (v. 40). Pharaoh trusted Joseph, and thus the ruler of Egypt reaped the benefit which comes from receiving God’s wisdom. Many another man of the world has found profit because he was in touch with some humble child of God who was wise enough to trust God. Joseph had received Pharaoh’s word ap pointing him the virtual ruler o f the land (v. 41). But in order that the position of Joseph should not be questioned by the people, signs of authority were given to him (vs. 42; 43). Pharaoh “took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand.” That ring, bearing Phar aoh’s signet, betokened the ruler’s authority. The “ vestures of fine linen” and the “ gold chain” with which Joseph was attired be spoke regality. Joseph was made to ride in “the second chariot,” that is, second only to Pharaoh’s. Furthermore, it was com manded that whenever Joseph appeared, the people should show him the same respect that they showed to Pharaoh (v. 43). Joseph’s responsibility extended to all the inhabitants of the land. The statement of Pharaoh that not one of the people could “ lift up his hand or foot” (v. 44), without permission from the king’s appointed repre sentative, implies that all the work per formed in Egypt was under Joseph’s per sonal direction. Joseph might have been lifted up with pride and with zeal to further his own interests. But he recognized he was in his place of high honor, by the grace of God. His power and greatness had their roots in character—character built by God by means of all the experiences which befell His servant. And likeness to God’s own character came to Joseph through his simple childlike trust in the heavenly Father. “Let them gather all the food of those good years . . . And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine” (Gen. 41:35,36). It would be diffi cult to imagine any more sensible advice than this offered by Joseph to the ruler of Egypt. Joseph doubtless had never Points and Problems 1.
JUNE 6, 1937 JOSEPH’ S READINESS FOR SERVICE G enesis , C hapters 37, 39 to 41
, Lesson T ext: Genesis 41:33-44. Golden Text: “ Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings” (Prov. 22:29). Outline and Exposition I. J oseph ’ s A dvice to P haraoh (33-36) W hile Joseph was in prison, he in terpreted the dreams of two of Pharaoh’s officers who were pris oners at that time (cf. 40:1-23). Later, when Pharaoh had a dream which no one could interpret, one of these men recalled Joseph’s ability and spoke to Pharaoh about him (cf. 41:9-13). Joseph was brought at once be fore Pharaoh, was told the dream, and was asked to tell its meaning. The dream was twofold. First, Pharaoh saw seven fat- fleshed kine, or cattle, come out of a river, and after them there came seven lean- fleshed kine which ate up the first seven. Again, he saw seven ears of good corn, and seven thin and blasted ears. The thin ears devoured the seven good ears. “ The dream of Pharaoh is one,” Joseph said. “ God hath showed Pharaoh what he is about to do” (v. 25). Joseph then stated that the dream indicated there would be seven years of plentiful crops followed by seven years of crop failure. And in the light of this interpretation, Joseph offered his advice to Pharaoh. First, he told Pharaoh that a certain man was needed for leadership (v. 33). That man, Joseph pointed out, should be “ dis creet and wise,” and should be set in a position of authority over the whole land. Second, he told Pharaoh that a certain work needed to be performed (vs. 34-36). The chosen man should set overseers throughout the land, and should arrange for the gathering and storing of a portion of each good year’s crop, holding this sur plus in store for use in the years of famine to come. This reasoning sounds very simple. But in view of what other countries (in cluding our own) have done in years of plenty, it will be seen that the outworking of the plan calls for reliance upon the One from whom all good gifts come. [ These lessons are developed from out lines prepared by the Committee on Im proved Uniform Lessons of the Interna tional Council. The outlines are copy righted by the International Council of Religious Education and used by permis sion .— -E ditor .]
II. J oseph ’ s R ecognition by P haraoh (.37-39) As soon as Joseph’s plan was made known, Pharaoh and all his servants recog nized its wisdom (vs. 37, ,38). Pharaoh spoke truer words than he knew when In his question to his servants he referred to Joseph as a man “ in whom the Spirit of God is.” The plan for meeting the people’s needs was given to Joseph by God, and given instead of the various expedients which men might have suggested. There is utter folly in man’s thinking that he is wise enough to care for himself without consulting the Lord. Pharaoh must have surmised that God would not reveal such a plan as the one described by Joseph, except to a man who was both “ discreet and wise” (v. 39). Joseph had proved himself honorable in his dealings with Potiphar and Potiphar’s wife, with the jailer into whose prison he had been thrust, and with the prisoners among whom his lot was cast. Moreover, Joseph had shown himself wise, in that he had committed tp the Lord the outcome of all his experiences, though some of thenj Be wanting the day Thou countest up The jewels in Thy diadem of saints. I ask not for the glories of the world, I ask not freedom from its weariness O f daily toil; but, oh, Lord Jesus Christ, Let Thy omnipotent prayer prevail for them And keep them from the evil. In the hour Of trial, when the subtle tempter's voice Sounds like a seraph's and no human friend Is nigh, let my words live before Thee then And hide my lambs beneath Thy shad owing wings, And keep them as the apple of Thine eye. My prayers are ended if Thy will be done In them and by them, till at last we meet Within the mansions of our Father's home, A circle never to be sundered more, No broken link, a family in heaven. —BICKERSTETH. A PARENT'S PRAYER FOR H IS CH ILDREN Let not one of these
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