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May 1932
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
(^¡International LESSON Outline and Exposition Blackboard Outlines Golden Text Illustrations B y B. B. S utcliffe B y B essie B. B urch B y A lan S. P earce
COMMENTARY Children’s Division In Holy Places B y H elen G ailey B y H erbert H . T ay
try. Our own country, so wonderfully blessed with stores o f natural resources; would do well to heed the warnings of the wise men among us who are continually urging us to conservation. Because the land brings forth “by handfuls” now is no sure token that it will continue to produce this abundance. Proper care must be exer cised during the years o f fruitfulness. Joseph’s aptitude for his work is shown when, as general superintendent, he puts his ideas into action. Going through the country, he first made a complete survey o f the whole realm. Then he chose strategic points at which to erect his store houses. He would necessarily have a large staff o f agents, supervisors, and workers, doubtless well chosen and properly organ ized. With this force, he was JUNE 5, 1932 JOSEPH THE WORKER G enesis 39 to 41 by declaring that he knew the hand o f God was behind his brothers’ deed when they sold him into captivity. The saints o f all ages have found it true that: “ God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.” But while He moves mysteriously, He moves purposefully, and the end of His way is glorious.. “W e know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” Happy are we when we rest in this knowledge. .This was the principle which ruled Joseph’s life; hence he was ready, when the time ,came, to occupy the place for which God, through distressing circumstances and bitter experiences, was preparing him. No man ever filled an im portant position efficiently without pre vious training, whether the training was obtained by deliberate choice or whether it was forced upon him. The beginning o f the seven years of plenty had arrived, and Joseph was ap pointed to put into action the plan which he had suggested as the wisest way in which to prepare for the seven years of famine to follow. Pharaoh recognized his ability, and his faithfulness and gave him complete control o f the whole land. It speaki vol umes for Joseph’s ability that he should be, at thirty years o f age, made virtual governor o f all the land of Egypt. When one trusts the Lord as Joseph did, the Lord gives all the wisdom required for any po sition to which. He calls, and adequately t equips that one with the necessary ability to do the work. A picture o f the extreme fruitfulness o f the land is given in the use of the word “handfuls” in verse 47. For seven years, this fruitfulness continued. To the un thinking mind, the land would continue to be as fertile to the end of time. But these ancient people, to whom this experience came, were not a whit unlike the people of today. When abundance is at hand, there is no thought o f a possible famine. That nation is blessed which contains men who foresee the lean years ahead, and who make proper preparation for them by con serving the natural resources o f the coun- BLACKBOARD LESSON Lesson Text: Gen. 41:46-57. Golden Text: “ Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings” (Prov. 22:29). The Hyksos Kings little over a century before Joseph went into Egypt, the land was ruled by the dynasty of the Amenemhets. They were very good rulers, and the land enjoyed great prosperity under them. However, for some reason, the family line ran out, and the ruler- ship was siezed by a group of m i l i t a r y c hi e f t ai ns . Un d e r them, the c o u n t r y gradually d e g e n e r ated. When it reached a very weak stage, it became the prey o f a band o f e n e r g e t i c Asiatics. These peo ple subdued the Egyptians and settled in the delta region. They even extended their influence into upper Egypt. Josephus, the Jewish historian, calls these people the Hyksos. He_ suggests that the name means “ shepherd kings.” _I f they came from the plains o f Palestine and Syria, they might well have been shep herds, for those are countries of pasturing and grazing. The fact that the Hyksos were shepherds accounts in part for the cordiality with which they received Joseph, and later, his father, Jacob. When Jo seph is counselling his father as to his ap proach to Pharaoh, he tells him to be sure to tell Pharaoh that he and his family are shepherds, “ For,” said Joseph, “ every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyp tians.” Now if the Pharaoh were an Egyptian, it is strange that Joseph would have told his father to tell the ruler that he was a shepherd. But when we under stand that the ruler was not an Egyptian, but a Hyksos, the explanation is clear. Thus we see that God, in His providence, was preparing the way for His people, even though their sojourn in Egypt was in the form o f a “captivity.” God maketh the wrath o f man to praise Him. A fter being sold by his brethren, and having had ten years as a slave in Poti- phar’s house and three years in prison, we might suppose that this young man’s spirit would be so broken that little good could be expected from him. But Joseph was one who knew that the providences were all in the hands of God, even where he could see no value, or even justice, in the surrounding circumstances. Later, he re vealed the secret o f his trust and patience Outline and Exposition I. J oseph ' s W ork (46-49).
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