The Green Forest tribune., 1913-06-27
LESSON FOR JUNE 29
TIE VICTORIES OF FAITH.

READING LEssON-Acts 7:9- 1s, Heb 11:20-22.
 GOLDEN TEXT-"This is the victory that hath overcome the world. even our faith" 1 John 5:4.
 The reading lessons for today are a New Testament commentary upon the l past quarters work The first lesson is taken from that marvellous defense of stephen the first martyr. As he | traces the history of the people of Israel, he shows Gods continued ac- tiyities and purposes from the hour he called Abraham until the holy one of Israel came to fill to their fitness all of these same activities and purposes stephen also shows us that alongside Gods activities was the equally per sistent disobedience of the people which eliminated in the betrayal and murder of that holy one. In the DOT ton selected he sets before us how Joseph is sold into Egypt, yet God was with him and delivered him: how the famine came and Jacob is thereby brought into Egypt only later to be carried back into the land of promise.
 Teach Faith.
 The second lesson is taken from that great catalogue of heroes as re- corded in the Epistle to the Hebrews. Here we have set before us the fact that Gods eternal purpose with man is ever that of faith. Isaac, Jacob and Joseph are here mentioned and the faith of each set before us.
 Thus we see that the main value of the past quarters work is to teach faith, its divine revelation and per sistence, and alongside of that we see mans continued failure and perver- sity.
 Leaving out the Easter lesson we have covered a period of about 50 years, eight lessons dealing with Jo- seph, and four with Jacob
 Attention has been called to Jo- seph as one of the most remarkable types of Christ to be found in the Old Testament (see comments on lesson of April 27). As we have also sug- gested Jacob is not so grand a char acter as Abraham yet is much more like the average man.
 It is interesting to go over these lessons and follow Gods purposes and to observe how like Christ Joseph was.
 In LESSON I. we behold Jacob at the instigation of his mother deceiving his poor old father and being compelled to fly that he might save his life. Re bekah thought she could execute Gods purposes; but it is never right to do evil that good may result Gods word standeth sure and in his own way and time he would have given Jacob the blessing without the aid of his deceit
 In LESSON II. Jehovah appeared be- fore this conscience smitten refugee and again promised that the blessing, yes, his own divine purpose, would be worked out in Jacobs life This is a lesson on the grace of God.
 LESSON III. sets Jacob before us after twenty-one years service aid separation from his brother Esau. This is great lesson on Gods desire and transforming power. He trans forms Jacob to Israel prince" and softened the heart of Esau. Faith overcame and is strengthened and confirmed.
 In LESSON ". we first behold Jo- seph particularly loved and favored and as bitterly hated; he was thrown into a pit to die but is taken up (typical of the resurrectIon) and sold into slavery. The development of en. " and the persistent, delivering pur- pose of God are here presented in strong contrast
 LESSON V. shows Joseph's enter ing that dark maze beyond which God was to highly exalt him. By faith he overcame that fierce temptation and his treatment of his fellow prisoner was Gods useful agency though it seemed accidental and insignificant.
 Gods Continued Purpose.
 LESSON VI. is the completion of Lesson V. and in it we see Joseph seated in the place of power, able to save the country and also his breth- ren.
 LESSON VII shows us Gods con. tinued purpose and the beginning of the fulfllment of his word that the descendants of Abraham were to dwell in captivity (Gen. 15:13).
 LESSON VIII. is a continuation of Joseph's dealings with his brothers in which their guilty consciences are still further pricked and God reveals to us his immutable purpose LESSON K is a tender one of the meeting of Joseph and Benjamin while at the same time it suggests to us the certainty of the fact that we may be sure your sin will find you out" Un- less covered by his forgiving blood our sin is mercilessly upon our track.
 In LESSON X. we behold Joseph made known to his brethren and those in fear are urged to draw near. Jo- seph's faith in God saved him from ar. rogance and retaliation and inclined his heart to tenderness and love in his dealings with his brothers. Even as Joseph revealed himself to his broth CTS 80 will Christ reveal himself to his brethren of Israel and they shall behold him whom they pierced" Jeseph's provision for his fathers and his brethren, LESSON XI, Is a I rich suggestion of our fathers bounty and care for all who are fin Christ Jesus" By faith Joseph who had be- come great in strange land, identi- fled with all of its power and splendor makes provision that when Gods pur- | pose shall be executed and the sons | of Israel shall be delivered from