The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-28
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOLL LESSON.
Fourth Quarter: Lesson XIII: Dec.
20, 19O1-Review.

For sustained interest scenic effects. trying
situations unooked-for delverances the les
sons OF this quarter form a narrative unsur-
passed by the most thrilling fiction ever writ
ten "Romola" or Tale of Two Cities" or
Heart of Midlothian not to be COM
pared to it. The scene shifts from the
rustic hills and dales OF Canaan to the Nile
valley, with its superb civilization and its arch-
lecture characterized by reserved grandeur"
thence to Goshen the land of verdure' the
pleasant and goodly pasturage; thence to the
great triangle between the arms of the sea,
the Sinaitic peninsula with its granite cliffs and
silent canyon. But the persons of the
quarter surpass in interest the places. Illus
trious trio.-Jacob, Joseph, Moses. The patri-
arch in natures oratory at Jabbok, initiating the
wrestling brook it casts itself upon its finty
barriers takes the kingdom Of heaven by storm,
and becomes a prince, having prevailed in
prayer Next him heart-broken, as he
holds the pretty tunic in his hands. stained with
what he believed to be the lifes blood of his
fayorite son. and heir OF all the promises Later.
behold him unabashed in Pharaoh's blazing
presence giving the plaintive narrative of his
checkered career and spreading his hands in
benediction over the monarch of the Nile Last,
there moves before the minds eye the pic
turesque funeral cortege which conveys his re-
mains to the ancestral tomb in the cave Of
Machpelah. The character and career Of Jacob
strikingIy illustrate the sovereign power of
grace II metamor rhosed the trickster into the
prince If the startling transitions OF
Joseph's career could be craven by some master
hand and accompanied by the succinct Bible
narrative without other note comment, and
the whole reduced to the size of a vest-pocket
album, 1T would form invaluable wade mecum
for every young We should first see him
wearing with modest grace his long prestly and
princely robe. significant OF the fact that his
father had already invested him with the right
OF extraordinarily TO which he had
ligiously aspired But the very next picture
would represent him stripped Of his robe cruel
lash on his back, and on the way serfdom Of
Ezvpt Cast down? Yes. but not forsaken.
Poor? Yes but destined to make many rich.
Turn the page. and you find this hapless youth
the trusted overseer OF a princely Egyptian home,
preserving his purity at price of his liberty. You
get your next view of him through prison bars.
The extremity is reached; but he does not de-
spair He makes the most Of his uncanny en-
yronment. but keeps himself unsulied. Swan
like he sails the reeking corridors. proves help
full to his feIlow-captives. and indispensable to
the TAILOR. From prison cell to throne room is
the next startling transition. 1t is sudden in
appearance only. Joseph had paved every step
OF the way. taking thirteen toilsome years TO do
IT. For eighty years he holds the premiership
OF the mightiest realm OF antiquity and that.
too through its most trying emergency. He for
gives his brothers. cherishes his father. and by
his very ante-mortem directions 10 the dis
position OF his remains eviRced his faith, and
kept hope of a return To Cataan alive In the
hearts OF his kindred for fol hundred years.
Rare model that. for the yor)l OF successive
generations! -0ses is easily chief Of the
eminent trio: In fact. the most ''.cwering per-
sonality'' Of the Old Testament We find him