The Yale expositor., 1907-05-03
JOSEPH THE WISE
RULER in EGYPT
Sunday School Lesson for May S. 1907
Specially prepared for this paper.

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LESSON TEXT.-Gen. H:SS-I9; memory
verses, $40.
GOLDEN TEXT. IF any of you lack
wisdom, let him ask of God."-Jas. 1:5
TIME.-B. G. 17l6 CUssher), two years
after the release of Pharaoh's chief but
Ter. to d. c. 1907, when Joseph was made
known TO his brethren; seven years OF
plenty and two years of famine.
PLACE.-The capital of Egypt at this
time was either Zoan (the modern SAM,
near one OF the mouths of the Nile, or
Heliopolis (On), six or seven miles north
east of modern Cairo.
PLACE IN HISTORY.-The Pharaoh OF
Egypt was probably one Of the third and
last Hyksos dynasty, and possibly the
last Hyksos king, Apepi.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
Joseph's Opportunity Comes at Last.
Gen. 41:1-14, first clause. After
Joseph had been in prison for three
years, for third time dreams entered
his life as a controlling factor. This
time it was the dreams of Pharaoh,
who saw in his sleep seven fat COWS
the COW was sacred animal to the
Egyptians-coming up out of the one
river of the country, the great Nile.
Opportunities.-Life chances come
in ways We never expect. Joseph
might have ranged the plains of his
native Mesopotamia in wild freedom
for hundred years and never have
found such chance of promotion as
came to him within the precincts OF
that gloomy and sitting dungeon"
Matheson.
Joseph's Wise Interpretation and
Sound Advice.-Gen. 41:14-36. An in
dication of coming success is Joseph's
humility. 1T is not in me-" he said
modestly, when told of the task before
him; God shall give Pharaoh an an
swer." "On the one hand humility, ON
the other faith. These two should al.
ways go together, and the union OF the
two secures the cooperation of Jeho-
yah. w. NJ. Taylor.
The steps of Joseph's advancement
are very clear, and may be followed
by any young man DESTROYS of getting
along in the world" Cd He was not
discouraged and downcast by adverse
circumstances. (2) He did his best
wherever he was. CD He made friends
by his readiness to help. (4) He trust
ed God, and was always ready to ac-
knowledge him. 60 He was modest,
and waited for others to suggest his
advancement. CO. He was patient and
waited Gods good time. CD He made
use of the little opportunities, and SO
was all ready for the great ones when
they arrived.
A Lesson of Patence.-"The buffers
! dream came true in three days, but
there was not much Of it when it was
fulfilled. 1t took Is years for Josephs
dreams to be realized, because the
dreams meant so much. If a mans
work is of small importance, he can
be prepared for it in a little while.
But when he has a great mission to
fulfill, it requires a long time to fit
him for it. Let no one grow impa-
tient in Gods school, however slow
the advancement may be."-F X.
! Miller.
The Great Opportunity Nobly Used:
Joseph Saves the Nation.-Vs. 1857;
Gen. 47:13-26. V. 46. Joseph, when-
he entered upon his great task was
so years old so that he had been 13
years in servitude, since he was IT
years old when sold into Egypt. I'M
mediately on receiving his commission
| he went out from the presence OF
| Pharaoh" not remaining among the
novel delights and pleasures of the
court, but going vigorously to work.
His first step was to go throughout
all the land of Egypt" deciding where
to place the vast storehouses that
would be required, and issuing orders
for their construction.
VA. AS Joseph had prophesied, "in
the seven plenteous years the earth
brought forth by handfuls," kernel,
or perhaps a stalk, yielding a handful.
Egypt was at that time the worlds
granary, and it still exports a consid-
cradle amount of wheat.
Was Joseph's Policy Just?-He sold
the grain to the starving people, and
there is no indication that he sold IL at
starvation prices. To have given it
away would have pauperized the peo-
rle, and injured their character ire.
trievably SO the British government
! IN dealing with the terrible famines
in India, enters upon large public
works upon wi,'ra the needy natives
are employed, that they may earn
money to buy bread. But then, when
the money gave out, Joseph took the
peoples domestic animals In return
for wheat; then took their Iand, and
at last themselves. emphasizing the
final purchase by gathering the rural
population in the cities, probably for
convenience in feeding them. Thus
Joseph brought about a complete revo-
luton in the social condition of the
nation; everything now belonged to
Pharaoh. The monuments show that
at the close of the Hyksos dynasty
there was no private ownership OF
land, all Egyptians being mere tenants.
paying to the king as taxes one-fifth
part of the crops. This account in the
Bible is the only explanation of how
1 H. oraat obonUa oouna about