The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1913-05-07
Sunday School Notes
Side Lights on Next Sundays Lesson
for Teachers and Pupils.
Edited by Charles K. Meyers

Icy pl.-Ien. "A. l-40.
Our lesson this week tells us of the
sudden change in the condition of 10.
seph from an inmate of the royal
prison to be the second man in all
Egypt. The chances for this were
very poor, looked at from the human
standpoint, for he was not an Egyptian
and to be made ruler, and this with
out an army or military activity, was
wonderful indeed.
1t will be remembered that his old
er brothers spoke with contempt OF
Joseph as dreamer" But it seems
that he could not only dream dreams,
but likewise tell the meaning of the
dreams of others. We saw in the les
son of last Sunday how he interpreted
the dreams of Pharaohs butler and
baker, and we now find that through
this gift he is able to come into the
preesnce of that great ruler of Egypt.
Although Joseph had entreated the
butler to remember him and try to
rescue him from prison, the butler
forgot about Joseph, and he remained
in prison for two years longer These
were trying days for Joseph, waiting
for the deliverance which he must
have had faith would some day be
his. Joseph was boy of seventeen
when sold into slavery, and now he
was thirty.
Bible history, as well as profane
tells us the people of the ancient days
were very superstitious, and believed
in dreams and omens. No important
step was in the government of the
nation, or undertaking of war took
place except after consulting the gods
who ruled the destiny of the nation
Thus when Pharaoh, the ruler of
Egypt, had two distinct dreams he
was moved to enquire what they might
mean to him. He called his wise men
into counsel, but none of them could
make an intelligent Interpretation of
what the ruler had seen in his dream.
Then it was the butler called to mind
how the Jewish prisoner had told him
the true signs of his dream, some two
years before. His conscience troubled
him at his failure to reward his
friend, and he now fastened to make
amend by advising Pharaoh to call
the prisoner and see what he might
say to him.
Upon being summoned before the
ruler Joseph showed his wisdom in
taking great care to make a proper
personal appearance. He shaved him
self and changed his garments. On
appearing before Pharaoh that ruler
addressed Joseph as if he possessed
the power of interpreting dreams. Note
JOseph's reply: 1T is not me; God
shall give Pharaoh an answer" Wise,
true hearted Joseph, he knew where
he obtained his power to look into the
future, and was not ashamed or afraid
to own the God of his father before
the mighty ruler of Egypt.
Pharaoh related as to his dreams,
that he had seen seven slick fat kline,
or cattle, feeding on the river bank,
and later seven lean, poor kline came
and ate up the first seven. Further,
he had seen seven inferior ears of
corn eat up seven we'll nurtured ears.
Joseph promptly said, God hath
showed Pharaoh what he is about to
do" And then interpreted the dream
by saying the seven fat kline and good
ears of corn represented seven years
of plenty, which should come upon
Egypt, these to be followed by seven
years of famine. Then he became bold
enough to advise the ruler to choose
wise, discreet man to gather up the
surplus grain in the good years, stor-
ing it for the famine to follow.
Pharaoh must have been pleased
that he had thus been given a glimpse
into the future and very much i'm
pressed by the manner of the Jewish
captive, who made known the will of
God to him. There now came Won
derful offer. He asked Joseph to be
the man to undertake the storing up
of food in the years of plenty and then
gave him high honors before the peo-
pie, declaring him to be the second
man in all the kingdom.
Before closing let us think briefly
of what we can learn from this part
of the history of Joseph. First in the
years of his captivity Joseph was be-
coming acquainted with the people of
Egypt, and grew to know their GUS
tom, religious belief and history. The
years in prison were long, but most
needed as preparation for the great
office which he was to fill Second,
Joseph was humble, took no credit to
himself for knowing the meaning of
his dreams, gave all honor to God, and
great was his reward.
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