Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-11
NEW PASTOR SPEAKS
ON STORY OF JOSEPH
REV. ]. w. SH0AFF BEGINS
SERIES OF LECTURES
Biblical Narrative Recommended as
Giving True Picture of Life Re-
pIete with Lessons for Con-
duct Today

Sunday evening Rev J. w. Shoaff,
d. D., the newly appointed pastor of
Trinity Methodist church. began a
series Of lectures on the life and times
of Joseph. He said in part:
I'VE hear much in this day Of moving
pictures, but the greatest moving pic
lures that greet the eyes and thrill the
souls Of men are those that pass before
US In the arena of divine revelation.
The heroes Of the olden times are not
dead. They still live. Joseph, clad in
his coat of many colors, stands before
us in all the vividness of life.
AS we enter on the study of the life
of this illustrious character we assume
that you accept the genuineness and
authenticity of the book of Genesis,
and, indeed, of the entire Pentateuch.
Remember that the portrayal of
character made by the pen of inspira-
ton is impartial.
The divine artist is true to life. We
need not be surprised, therefore, if we
rect anything in the history of this
wonderful life indicative Of the weak
ness of human nature. At the same
time l am sure you most cordially
agree with me when L say that the hero
OF our theme has justly commanded the
admiration of the ages. AS he stands
tore us i'll his coat of many colors we
are almost tempted to forgive old Jacob
for loving him more than the rest Of
the other boys
The other boys hated Joseph and
could not speak peaceably to him. for
three reasons: First, because Joseph in
formed Jacob of the bad conduct of his
brethren; second, because of the great
love Jacob bestowed upon Joseph. He
was his fathers favorite; third, when
Joseph related his dreams to his breth-
rem they hated him all the more for his
words and dreams
AS we see from the story, the oppor-
tu9lty soon presented itself for these
eV1l-m1nded young men to vent their
wrath on Joseph They conspired
against him to kill him. Reuben sug-
gested that they cast him into a pit.
In his absence they sold him to a cara
van of Midianites going down into
Egypt. The brothers expected to cover
up their wrongdoing by dipping
Joseph's coat in the blood of a kid and
telling Jacob that an evil beast had
devoured their brother.
Lessons from Story
Among the many lessons we might
leave with you is this: Learn the
danger as well as the evil, that is
likely to come from setting one child
over another. That brought no little
trouble into Jacobs family. AS a rule
it always will.
Again, young friends, a thing worthy
Of remembrance in practical life is to
keep your tongue as with bit and
bride when the evil are before you 1t
would not be unwise to follow this coun-
sci sometimes now, when the righteous
are before us.
Then do not be too communicative
about your dreams and visions in life.
Do not make your success too self-evi-
dent before the members Of your own
household. Family envy is apt to re-
suit in the most inVeterate hatred on
earth. That is a sad commentary on
human nature, but 1t is in many in
stances true. In this respect Jacobs
family is not alone in the world
Furthermore, my young friends, if
you would live a godly life, you need
not expect always to have smooth sail
ing or unruff1ed seas. Practical purity,
a positive avowal of goodness, will
arouse the wrath and antagonism of
the wicked. In these days as we'll as
in the days Of Joseph they that would
live a cody life will have persecution.
From the study of the evening we
may learn something of the sudden sur
prises and reversals in life.
Sunshine and Storm
Joseph starts the morning in the in
nocent delight Of youth, the evening
shadows find him a slave on his way
to Egypt. Sunshine is quickly followed
by the descending storm-the laughter
of gladness by the wall of sorrow.
''In closing the review of the evening
let me remind you thaat your sins,
unless forgiven, will surely find YOU
out. The story Joseph's brethren told
about the coat dipped in the blood of
a kid did not work. AS we shall see
further on in the series, they were at
last confronted by the victim they had
victimized. Be assured that your in
EQUITIES and transgressions, If forgiven,
will rise up against you. They will con-
front you with tongues of thunder
amid the tremendous revelations Of
the Judgment Do you ask me: is
there no escape| I point you to the
refuge set before us in the gospel. Do
you ask what can wash away the
stains of guilty deed and unhoIy
memory? Mercy answers: The blood
of Christ Justice answers: The blood
of Christ The God Of heaven against
whom we have sinned answers That
the blood of Jesus Christ, his son,
cleanseth us from all sim