Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-04-18
THE SUNDAY SCHe OIL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR APRIL Fl, BY
THE REV.. w. HENDERSON.

Subject: Joseph Sold by His Brothers,
Gen. 37:5-28 - Golden Text:
James 3:16 - Memory Verses,
1928.
One of the most fascinating char
acters of Old Testament history is
Joseph. the beloved son of the old
age of Israel. localized, to be sure,
in some measure, the character of
Joseph is yet one to be made pat
tern in many respects. The story of
his virtues must have had remark
able influence upon the hearts and
minds of the youth of Israel through
out the centuries. And we may de-
clare him a model in many respects
for the children of this age.
This lesson shows us the incident
in the life of Joseph when his jealous
brethren rid themselves of his pres
ence. 1t shows what are the newt
able consequences of favoritism upon
the part of parents, what was the
youthful unwisdom of Joseph, what
was the progress and the elimination
of the hatred that the brothers held
toward Joseph, what was the further
ance they gave, unwittingly, to the
plans and purposes of God in their
very sin. The lesson shows us many
other minor lessons also, but we shall
be content to consider those outlined
above.
Joseph was the beloved of Israel.
This was his joy; it was also his mis-
fortune, so far as immediate conse.
Quences were concerned. 1t was the
highest happiness of the life of Israel
to pour out on Joseph without stint
the fulness of his hearts affection.
But his very pleasure in his beloved
son became the cause of some of the
bitterest hours In the life of Israel.
The love that Israel bore Joseph was
natural; its demonstration was I'm.
wise. However his heart may have
delighted in the winsomeness Of the
STRIPPING he should have had the wis
dom, commensurate with his years,
not to publish the fact too largely in
the family circle. Joseph had no
more claim on the affection of Jacob
than any of the rest Of his fathers
children. Israel was primarily re-
sponsible for the rising of the unholy
passions that swept Joseph into
Egypt. And the household of Israel
was not the only one in which this
particular unwisdom has been dis
played This is a lesson for parents.
Then, too, Joseph was not wise
with his brethren, however natural to
youth his action may have been. He
must have been conscious, in some
measure at least, of the enmity that
was aroused in their hearts. They
had eyes to see and ears to hear and
spirits that could resent unfairnesS.
We are led to believe that bad feeling
had been manifest in the family life
before this overt sin was committed
of which the lesson speaks. And SC
Joseph could not have done a more
foolish thing than to tell his brethren
of the dream of his own preferment
that had come to him of God. 1t was
natural. 1t was boyish. We cannot
say that it was told with the desire to
evoke resentment. But that it was
provocation none may question. 1t
was maladroit, to say the least.
There are many youths to whom
Joseph's example might be salutary
lesson. Nothing is to be gained by
informing people of the fact that we
mean to outstrip them in the human
race for preferment and success. The
man who has vision Of his future
greatness will be a wiser man If he
keeps the vision secret with his God.
Jealousy is desperate sin. No
man is quite so cursed as the man
with the jealous disposition. OF all
the sins against humanity there is
none so vicious and distressing as that
Of jealousy. For jealousy is akin to
covetousness, and covetouSneSS Is at
the very base of all human misery.
At bottom Joseph's brethren were
covetous. For they desired the af-
lection of their father in the measure
that Israel loved Joseph. If they had
been satisfied with the sort of treat
ment Israel dispensed there would
have been no trouble. But they
weren't. And jealousy, surging and
rushing through their hearts, led
them to increasing manifestations of
their resentment. Anger leads to
conspiracy. Conspiracy has its fruit
age in premeditated fratricide. Only
the good sense of Rueben saved
Joseph's life. AS for his other breth-
rem, they were no doubt congratulate
ing themselves upon the effectiveness
and the awfulness of the death to
which they had finally consigned
Joseph. A death in a dry well In a
desert country. 1t was CHASTITY to
contemplate. In the providence of
God the Midianite merchantmen
came their way. And so their hands
were saved from bloodguiltiness. We
cannot say the same for their hearts.
They saved their house from the
stain of murder by despicably selling
their brother to a foreign people for
less than the price of slave And
they thought doubtless they had done
away with him none the less effectu-
ally.
But this very action was further
ance of the divine plans. The very
wickedness of his brethren was the
means God used to eXalt Joseph. 1t
was a hard way to use to get Joseph
to Egypt. But 1t was efficient. And
what were the hours of ignominy to
the years of power with which God
requited Joseph. The dream came
true. The jealous brothers lived to
see Joseph ruling with viceregal
splendor in the land of the Pharaohs.
They lived to discern, what many an
other evil man has seen, that the
wickedness of humanity ID the OPP
portunity of God.
T.