The Tupelo journal., 1907-05-03

JOSEPH THE WISE
RULER in Y

ly prepared for this paper.

TIME.-B. c.. 1716 (USSher), two years
after the release of Pharaoh's chief but
Ter, to b. C. 1901, when Joseph was made
known to his brethren; seven years of
plenty and two years of famine.
PLACE1The capital of Egypt at this
time was either Zoan 1.-THE modern SAM,
near one of the mouths of the Nile, az
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 a 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 a 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 a hundred years and never have
found such a 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-
vah."-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" ID 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 &C
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 sc
was all ready for the great ones when
they arrived.
A Lesson of Patience.-"The buffers
dream came true in three days, but
there was not much of it when it was
fulfilled. 1t took 13 years for Joseph's
dreams to be realized, because the
dreams meant so much. If a mans
work is of small Importance, he a
be prepared for it in a little while.
But when he has a great mission tc
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-. r
Miller.
The Great Opportunity NobIy Used:
Joseph Saves the Nation.-Vs. 1857;
Gen. 47:13-26. v. 46. Joseph, when
he entered upon his great task twas
80 years DID," so that he had been IL
years in servitude, since he was II
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.
V. Al. AS Joseph had ~prophesied, Sin
the seven plenteous years the earth
brought forth by h%andfuls," a 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 it at
starvation prices. To have given it
away would have pauperized the peo-
pie, and injured their character ire
%trievably. So the British government,
in dealing with the terrible famines
in India, enters upon large public
works upon which 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 land, 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-ifth
part of the crops. This account in the
Bible is the only explanation of how
the great change came about.
1t is never too early to begin to make
ready for great opportunities. Joseph
the boy was father of Joseph the man.
Be sure that God will do his part,
but will insist on your doing your part
also. That wonderful power of cleo.
tricity which gives us wireless tele-
graphy was in the world from the be-
ginning, waiting for some one to see
the opportunity it afforded:
Make use of little opportunities as if
they were great; you never can tell
but they may turn put to be great.
Most important of all, accept Gods
idea of what constitutes a really great
opportunity.
Princeton Hall in India College.