The Minneapolis journal., 1901-10-05

tion and respect AS Laban saw concerning
Jacob xxx. 2ll. so Potiphar saw concerning
him which made all that he did to prosper
IN his hand (xxxix., 81. So, with wise
judgment, The made him overseer over his
mouse, and all that he had he put into his
hand, and he knew not aught he had save
the bread which he did eat (xxxix., 4-6).
Thus Joseph took the place Of Potiphar.
Now It was necessary for him to know the
see Ghat they were alls obeyed This was q
! very important experience in view of the
nigh destiny which awaited him. It was a
| link in the chain which could not possibly
nave been left out.
But whilst it was thus his duty to see that
| the law was understood and obeyed by others,
ms very position made it the more incum-
bent upon him to obey it implicitly himself
ana thus to fulfill all righteousness Matt
ILL.,, 1o). This not only demanded the most
earnest and constant watchfulness, but it pe-
cuharIy eS2osed him to temptation. His very
presenc& Or he was a goodly person and
Well favored (xxxix., 81, with his high Of
nee nee and matchless integrity, made him Pc,
cullarly attractive to 1.-THE Wiles oeathe devil" "
But though tempted day by day. (xxxix.,
IA, he was without sin For he said:
How can !! do this great wickedness and sin
! against God?" (XXXiX., 3d. The relation in
which he stood to God was higher and closer
than that in which he stood to his master.
| therefore, sin against God was more to be
| dreaded than sin against man. This was
his safeguard-fellowship with the Maker
Yet when accused although Potiphar could
find no fault in him. John xix, g., he put
MIN into the prison" (xxxix.. 20), land he
was numbered with the transgressors (Isa
| liii., IL, Mark XIV, 2S),
But as in the house of Potiphar, so in the
prison house, by his conduct, Joseph soon
| prison. There was nothing to be gained
| Dy treating him harshly, but much by trans
Ierrlng to his shoulders some Of his care. So
he committed to Josephs hand all the pris-
This brought him into very close contact with
every one. 1t also brought him under the
operation of the law himself, and taught him
how it bore upon all those charged with guilt.
IN view or the high position Gods plan was
preparing for him. this also was a very i'm
portant experience.
For II he was to be the ruler of the peonle
to be a wise and just ruler, he must not only
know the law, but he must know how it was
atll1 admlnlstered: Like his great anti-type he
must himself be made under the law'f (Gal
iy., ~. He was but a youth. and he was a
stranger In the land, knowing nothing or
but little Of its history, conditions or politics
NO no better way, therefore, could have been
devised to teach him how to deal with the
people, than for him to come directly, and
even painfully, under the law which rested
upon them.
prison house-hoW long after we are not
told-two OF the prominent officers of Phar-
aohs court were placed under his charge
They were "the chief of the buffers" and 1.-The
chief of the bakers In some way not men
toned they had offended their lord, the king
OF Egypt, "and they continued a season in
ward (xl, I'D. Such men were Of high
rank in eastern courts, and were often men of
considerable wealth.
Having such prominent men under his
charge, Joseph was brought-under the most
favorable clrcumstanceS-into familiar con-
tact with those who were perfectly well 40
quainted, not only with the general require
ments and characteristics of the kings court,
but with the most important men in the king
10 otnd 4 he
throne he would greatly need the very knowl-
edge which could thus be easily acquired
For the familiarity and equality Of the prison
mouse gave him the best of opportunities to
learn. Nowhere else would he a stranger,
have been permitted to enter into friendly
intercourse with such high officers. But in
the prison they were all on one common level
There, communications could be made to him
without reserve, and there kindnesses could
be shown to them which they could nowhere
else nave received Thus mutual sympathy
and confidence was established between them.
So when these high officers dreamed each
one his dream, and were sad because they
could not understand them Joseph at once
entered into their feelings, and they con
fded to him their secrets. Resting upon
God for light and understanding, he unfoded
to them the meaning of their dreams. Three
days after Pharaoh's birthday the chief but
Ter was restored to his Office, and the chief
baker was hanged, fas Joseph had interpreted
to them. Yet did not the chief butler re
member Joseph, but forgat him" (xl., 22-23).
What marked foreshadowing was all this of
David's prophetic lamentation concerning
Him who was greater than Joseph 81 am |
forgotten as a dead man out Of mind; l am
like broken vessel" psalm XXI. 49, |
And of that warning of Amos: "Woe to |
them that are at ease in Zion, that drink
wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with |
the chief ointments; but they are not grieved |
for the aff1iction Of Joseph" (Amos vi, 1-6).
With this history before us, it is not diff |
cult to see the relation between the type and |
the anutype, between Joseph and Jesus. |
But must remember that the work of /
Jesus was far higher than that of Joseph. |
The experiences of Joseph fitted him simply |
for an exalted earthly position; that of Jesus,
to be a Heavenly Redeemer. The one met |
only earthly and temporal conditions; the |
other spiritual and eternal conditions More
over, in all this, Jesus was not like Joseph
one of many-but like Adam, one for many.
Bryn Mawr, Pa.