The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1913-04-25
INTERNATIONAL,
SUNl6YSCHOOL
LESSON
by e. o. SELLERS. Director OF Even.
ing Department The Moody Bible In
stitute OF Chicago.)
LESSON FOR APRIL II
JOSEPH SOLD INTO EGYPT.

JOSEPH SOLD INTO EGYPT.
LESSON TExT-Gen. 3T:2s-3S.
GOLDEN TExT-"Love envieth not. I"
[ Cor. u:L
This 10 the first of seven lessons
dealing with Joseph, q fact which sug.
gests to us his Importance In the his
tory and the working out OF Gods plan.
This particular lesson occurs about
ten years after Jacobs return to the
land of Canaan. There are many
points Of similarity between Joseph
and Christ ~ His name means add
ings," see lisa. 90, z; Luke 1878 and
John $3.50. (2) His birth which re-
moved Rachel's reproach (S0:34) even
so the birth Of Christ has removed
the reproach of sin. Col. 2:13-15, Rom.
ST.; (3) The love OF his father, see
Matt. 3:17. (4) His sufferings at the
hands Of his brethren. Ps. 69:4; John
1925. 60 His deliverance from pris-
on which was a shadow of Christ's res
direction, Acts 2:22-24. (6) His
marriage to one of another race, Eph.
1:3, 4. (O His revelation of himself
to his brothers, see Zach. 1910, 13: L.
Their Envy Aroused.
The cause Of the enmity of Joseph's
brethren was four-fold. CD His tale
bearing, 37:2; his pure mind could not
brook their Infamous ISLANDERS and he
reported the same to his father. (2)
His fathers Partially as evidenced by
the coat of many colors ". 81. Only
the opulent and noble. kings sons,
wore such a garment, and Joseph was
thereby differentiated from his la
boring brothers (3) His dreams. Wv.
81. God was revealing himself In a
marked manner to this young man,
which fact aroused their envy ". IL,
and Cd his very virtues were a re-
buke to his evilminded brothers.
Five words will serve to fix this les
son in our minds: Deprivation. Dis
grace, Deliverance, Deceit and De-
portation.
/. Deprivation v. 23.-Joseph's coat
was symbolical of regal power and au-
thority. 1t was not mere patch
work, but a long woven garment OF
bright hues. His dreams, too, had
had to do with his exaltation above
his brethren. AS a matter Of policy.
perhaps. he ought not to have worn
the garment, but who can question
Gods providential dealings. Rom. 8:
%. Joseph's reception was like that
of Jesus, John I'LL; Matt. 27:2S.
ii. Disgrace, w. 24-27.-Stripped of
the coat, Joseph is cast into a pit.
One wonders IL the fact that there was
no water there is evidence of the
malignity of his nine brothers or Of
their somewhat tempered wrath. Jo-
seph had pursued long journey and
was doubtless hungry and thirsty, yet
these men sat outside eating and
drinking while murder lurked In their
hearts Wv. 20. rs, 26). Joseph starv.
ing, was. however, in a better case
than these brethren. One among
them, Reuben, had averted a trag.
edy ". 22), now God intervenes and
sends this way a company of Ishmael-
lite traders from the land OF indian
(see Judges 8:22-24). Cupidity prompts
both the traders and the brothers as
they mado merchandise of Joseph,
thus avoiding murder (Gen. 4:10).
Valued cheapIy.
IL Deiiveranee, v. 28.-Lke as
Christ was sold by one Of his chosen
ones, so Joseph is sold by the very
ones to whom of a right he should
have looked for love and protection.
and how cheaply he was valued, prob
ably little more than $12. His bitter
cries we're Of no avail (42:2D, but
this slavery was the road to SOW
ereignty.
Nv. Deceit wv. 29:35.-These broth
ers are an illustration of that degen-
Grafton of character which results
from evil courses. 1t took place with
in a very brief time, probably not to
exceed Is years. Their jealousy was
the outcome Of their own evil courses.
The intervention Of judah and Reuben
was not entirely above suspicion, and
not one OF them had any esteem Of
the truth. They hated Joseph the
dreamer because Of his superior sa-
gacity. The commission of one sin
always calls forth others in a vain
endeavor to cover the first. Their
ready willingness to deceive their
aged father, and their scornful words
thy sons coat" reveal the blackness
of their characters and their abso-
Lutte lack of all filial love.
v. Deportation, v. 36.-Reuben. re-
turning, found an empty pit, whether
h, shared the profit of Josephs' sale,
we are left to infer. His plan of
deliverance could not. however, have
as God had other and great
er purposes in store for Joseph. AS
for Jacob, he had deceived his father
Isaac, and is compelled to reap as
he mad sown, Gal. 6:7. The hated
coat is used as a means of their de-
ception.
This is an easy lesson to tell, but
care must be taken that 1t be not over
drawn. Too much description will lose
the ethical and spiritual teaching.
Jealousy and it's development will be
enough to emphasize the moral teach
ng. Be sure to emphasize Joseph as
I, type of the Christ. Do not antici'
ate his other and later experiences;
Ell your class that the story is to be
continued.
-.