The Brinkley argus., 1913-05-09
INTERNATIONAL SUNDNSCH(p0L
 LESSON
LESSON FOR MAY II.
JOSEPH MADE RULER OF EGYPT.
(By E. O. SELLERS. Director of Even ing Department The Moody Bible In- stitute of Chicago)

LESSON TEXT-Gen H:25-40
 GOLDEN TExT-"God givesh grace tS the humble" I Peter 5:5.
 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick" Surely Joseph has had enough of deferred hope during his thirteen years of humiliation. yet he did not lose faith in God during those days oi the seeming failure of Gods Word (Ch. 4O:S; 41:16) and now there is dawning the day of his exaltation Two years have elapsed since the events of last weeks lesson and again his powers of interpretation are called into use.
 |. Pharaol,'s Dreams, w. 25-32 Pharaoh is perplexed and his perplex- ity recalls to the butler his forgotten promise to his fellow prisoner. 70: 14 and 41:9-13. It does not seem to us that the butler was much possessed by honest sorrow, but rather he is i'm pelled by . desire to secure the ad- vantage he felt sure would accrue if he could succeed in securing for Pharaoh the interpretation of his dreams He ought to have remem- bered Joseph before this but even his tngratitude is used of God as Q means of bringing Joseph to the fore at the most opportune moment
 Did Not Forget God.
 Joseph 10 . good example for pres ent day church members to follow in that being exalted among men or be- ing away from home he did not forget to confess God Furthermore his pre- dictions based upon his intelligent knowledge of God came true to the letter. The whole matter. Pharaoh 8 dream and Joseph's ability as an in- terpreter were inspired established" by God. There is no such thing as chance in the spiritual realm any more than in the realm of physics or chemistry Back of every effort Is an adequate cause. Joseph realized this hence his words that. the thing is stablished (prepared) by God. and God will shortly bring 1t to pass"
 il. pharaoh's Detiverer, w. 33-40. Joseph told Pharaoh the meaning of his dream which had been repeated and which seemed like two different dreams whereas 1t was but one in the lesson to be taught. It is not enough. however, to tell a man what Is the matter with him. most men know without being told. but it Is quite an other thing to present . rational cure JoseDh's Interpretation commanded Pharaoh's confidence and his suggest ed policy is one of wisdom and good judgment, viz: CD . man who shall be the executive supervisor of the plans for meeting the impending catas- trophy: (3) . governmental depart ment which shall devote itself solely to this matter. and (3) abundant stor- age of provisions during the seven yeArs of plenty.
 Pharaeh's Wisdom.
 This man of piety knew how to properly improve his opportunity and Pharaoh saw the secret of Joseph's wisdom v. 3s). "a man in whom the spirit of God Is" @ Tim. 1:D. Phar- Aoh had the wisdom to set in author ity the spirit-filled man. broad sug- sestion for voters. business men. and even church members. True discre- ton is God taught tv. 39) and we now begin to see that Joseph's testimony for God h being honored Ono. 12:26) and that Joseph was worthy of the bonor and power conferred upon him (yv. 70. 41. 4<; cf. Matt. 28;1S). The source of Joseph's wisdom Is open to all tIas. 1:5). and his worthinesa came because of his obedience (Isa 1:19). His training and testing had prepared him to occupy his exalted DO sttion with proper humility and zeal FAtthfulness is of great value and al ways pays we'll In the long run. Jo seph's exaltAtion to power is . good type of Christ. ta) In the power be slowed upon him. Jno. S:35; tb) in that the power was unlimited-all the princes were under his feet, Ps. 105 2023: Eph. 1:20-22: I Peter 3:22: (c) hy the certainty of Pharaoh's promise T am Pharaoh" see Ex. 3:13. II.
 Joseph did not use his great power for his own selnsh ends as do % many modern rulers among men. He did not at once send for the members o1 his family and place them in lucrative positions. but At once set about mak ing provision for the future. It hal been suggested that the unsuccessful interpreters of Pharaohs dream mus have rtdiculed Joseph but he certain ly was sustained by the conviction that Gods word was true and thai tho years of famine were certain te come. This ought to admonish us ts improve our present, priceless. oppor tunities iEph. s:1s). Joseph's oper confession was his leaning hack upor God
 This story gives us a remarkable revelation of the value of faith as tho chief element of strength of . man It h also . valuable lesson in It's rev slation of the methods of God in rul tng and over-ruiing the affairs of men When we remember Joseph in . pi because of the hatred of his brother and see him now occupying the gu preme place of power in Egypt | seems impossible to reconcile the twt events. and yet we see how per f-ctiy natural the order of events art and remember how God is constantly performing these seemingly lmpcosi