The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-10-17

earth brought forth by handfuls.
Is. And he gathered up all the food of
the seven years, which were in the land OF
Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities
the food of the field, which was round
about every city, laid he up in the same.
~. And Joshua gathered corn as the sand
OF the sea, very much. until he left number
ing; for 1t was without number.
Golden TeNt.-Them that honor me I
will hOnOr.-i. Sam. 2:3O.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
For this lesson we have the story Of
Joseph come to position of author
ity in Egypt. 1t is related in Genesis
Al. The following points are briefly
noted:
Pharaoh's Two Dreams. is.
Pharaoh Hears Of Useph............vs. 9-l2.
ana Ieiis Him His Dreams........vs. N-S.
Joseph Interpretation ............vs. 1872.
His Wise Counsel. el...................ys 1896
Joseph Made Minister...............vs 7-49.
has Two Sons .......................Vs 50-52.
lhe ANIME Begins ................NS 5S-5I.
Pharaoh's Two Dreams.-About two
years after the remarkable dreams of
the butler and the baker, which Joseph
had so accurately interpreted, Pharaoh
had a dream no less remarkable. 1t
was of seven well-fed cows feeding in
a meadow. Upon the heels cf these
came seven cows that were very lean,
and which fell upon the fat ones and
hungrily devoured them. Then
Pharaoh awoke, but, falling asleep
again, dreamed much the same thing,
only instead of cows it was ears of
corn. There were seven full ears close
ly followed by seven very poor ears,
which quickly disposed of the ears that
were full. The thing stuck in Pharao aoh's
mind and he could get no rest until a
meaning had been given to his dreams.
All the magicians were called in, but
their replies were all unsatis factory.
Pharaoh Hears of Joseph.-At this
juncture Pharaoh's butler remembers
that when in prison he had a dream and
that young Jewish prisoner had truly
interpreted it for him, He remembers
not only his own dream, but also the
bakers dream and the bakers unhap-
py end, as foretold by Joseph. In
Pharaoh's dilemma the butler tells of
this wonderful prisoner.
Joseph Called to Court.-Pharao oh
sends for Joseph, who shaves off the
beard that has been growing while
there in prison and makes himself 9th,
erwise as presentable as possible.
Pharaoh greeted him as one that could
understand a dream to interpret it,"
Joseph showed his religion as we'll as
his modesty by replying: "It is not
in me; God shall give Pharaoh an an
swer of peace" There was world of
in that expression, IAN an
swer of peace" Joseph knew what
trouble was. He knew that ian an
swer of peace" was one of the great
est blessings Pharaoh could receive,
yet he assured him God would give it.
Joseph's 1nterpretation.-When Jo-
seph had heard Pharaoh's dreams he
perceived that it was one dream twice
repeated. The significance was the
coming of seven years Of plenty to be
quickly followed by seven of dire fam
inc.
His Wise Counsel.-Joseph was not
a mere interpreter of dreams. If
dreams to him were often messages
from God, then they meant action for
him, and he showed his practical wis
dom by advising Pharaoh to prepare
for the years of famine in the years
Of plenty.
Joseph in Prosperity.-Pharaoh dis
covered the wisdom of this advice. He
saw, too, that man through whom
God could interpret dreams could also
be trusted in position Of great re-
sponsibility. Thus it came that Joseph
,ame to second in power in Egypt. 1t
was during the seven years of plenty
that Manasseh and Ephraim were
born. No tribe of Israel was named
after Joseph, but his two sons were
remembered with all the other sons of
Jacob.
Peloubet well says that 1--WE should
Jake great care to show that the
wealth and power to which Joseph at
.ained were not his success, but only
,ertain outward signs of success, al
portion of success which would not
nave been success, if alone. He could
have attained the largest and best
,art of his success, even if he had re-
N niped n S1oyav -