The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-04-30
The SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson V.-Second Quarter, For
May 5, 1907.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

tcNt of Knc Lesson, GeH' NHp So-T1'
Memory Verses, ss.4o--Go!den Text
Jas. 1-5-commentary Prepared BY
Rev. D. M. Stearns.
copyright. 1907. by American Press Association
One of the greatest lessons for the
redeemed of the Lord TO learn Is that
God has a set time for everything and
does everything ut the appointed time,
That which seems 10 us like delay or
even denial is simply His waiting time
for us while He Is surely working ont
His purpose. He always waits to be
gracious and merciful beyond our ask.
ing and Is too wise and kind to be ell
ther too soon or too late In His deal.
ings with His own. Blessed are all
they that wait for Him lisa. xxx, 49,.
Happy are all who leave all their af'
fairs with Him. with the utmost conf.
dence In Him. and say gladly. MY
| times are in Thy hand" Cps. XXI 15l.
The full time had now come for 10.
seph's deliverance. and 1t delights the
trnstful child to watch his Father at
work. That the butler may remember
his faults and think upon his prison
friend Of two years before. Pharaoh is
given two dreams In one night, which
trouble him. but which none of the
wise men of Egypt can interpret Verse
s.. II was Just so with the king OF
Babylon and his wise men long after
ward fDan. II and iyl, for all the wis
dom OF this world cannot interpret the
things of God. The natural man re-
ceiveththem not.
In Pharaoh's trouble because of his
uninterrupted dreams the chief butler
recalls his prison experience and tells
the king how he and the chief baker,
having dreams which troubled them
while In prison. had them interpreted
by fellow prisoner, young Hebrew.
aud each Interpretation was literally
fulfilled. On hearing this Pharaoh
brought Joseph hastily out OF. the dun
geon Cthe margin says ''made him
rum. Joseph. being summoned to
meet the king. shaved himself. changed
| his raiment and was soon In the pres
ence Of the king. On hearing why the
king sent for him he replied: st is not
In me. God shall give Pharaoh an an
swer Of peace" oversees IA, 1GD. Having
heard the dreams. he readily interprets
them, prefacing his Interpretation by
the remark, What God is about 20 do
He sheweth unto Pharaoh" and add.
Ing that the doubling Of the dream In.
dicated that the thing was established
by God. and lie would shortly bring II
| TO pass oversees %, go. Then he sug.
gests that Pharaoh appoint a proper
person to lay up corn during the years
OF plenty.
The time OF Joseph's deliverance has
come. From this on II Is rise and
progress. and the dreams OF his youth
have a literal fulfillment. II from be
Ing the overseer OF Potiphar's house "a
a dungeon was a great fall and seem
Ing calamity. what shall we say OF this
change from the dungeon to the throne
or next to Il? For Pharaoh's word was
"Only IN the throne win be greater
than thou" verse 40l. When Gods
appointed time comes. how suddenly
lie works. The same day that Lot
went out Of sodom the cities Of the
plain ceased TO exist on earth Luke
xvii. 90.
II Is fascinating 10 read OF Joseph's
promotion and Pharaoh's words "a
him: See. I have set thee over all tbs
land OF Egypt. According unto thy
word shall all my people he ruled
without thee shall no man lift up hl'
hand or foot In all the land OF Egypt
Then see the royal ralment. the ring
the gold chain. the chariot and all tbs
people bowling before him and saying
Tender father" Then note his mar
riage TO Asenath. daughter % tbs
: prince Of On tverses 3S4Jl.
Let me remind every true believer II
. Christ. however poor or afflicted oi
discouraged. that n Jesus should com,
ian event always posslblel we would n
a moment change our mortal for i'm
mortal bodies. our present weakness
for eternal youth and perfect health
and instead Of our present circum
stances reign with Christ on Hi
throne q Cor. ~. 81; Phil. III. 20. II
I Thess ~. 1918: Rev. III. 21)
2 Think also Of the new name and nj
its Significance! Verse -: Rev. II. IL.
( Joseph, by the blessing and guidanc,
l Of God, wrought wisely and diligently
-. during all the seven pIenteous year
and laid up an abundance for the com
Ing years. Our blessed Lord at IN,
same age. thirty (verse 30: Luke III
80. entered upon Ills public minIstr,
. and the special phase OF preparing
1 bread and life for the perlshing mil
lions Of earth. Think OF those In tn
famine days In Egypt and other land
who knew that corn could be had iron
Joseph and never telling ~ IL Is un
thinkable. But what about those VIII
know that life Il In Christ and not any
where else tActs Nv, ~; I John v, II
md nre not stirred 10 make II known
. In Joseph's day the corn had 10 b
!, bought by giving money and lands &
Q exchange for II, but our story II tina
q eternal life Is the free gift Of Co
without money or good works Caom
III, "a; Eph. II, 81.