Mexico Missouri message., 1913-05-01

| ness of the biblical narrative in that
the sinful failures as we'll as the sue
cesses of families and of chosen in.
| dividuals are presented.
Joseph began life in Egypt as a
serf. Potiphar. who bought him, was
the chief marshal of the empire. the
lord high executioner. What Joseph's
feelings must have been we are left
to infer, but we believe he accepted
his humiliating position with resig.
nation and resolved to adjust himself
to his new environment. Thus it was
that Potiphar found In Joseph an hon.
est servant. Joseph served ten years,
years of constant promotion, when he
encountered the ordeal related in
chapter 80.
Crime and Sin.
The breaking point had to come
when he exclaimed: How can I do
this wickedness and sin against God?"
Gen. 1873. A crime is committed
against a man or against society; the
same act against God Is a sin. Jo-
seph's only safety was in flight ".
12), to parley would have meant de-
feat. Between the ages of seventeen
and thirty, Joseph lived life of slav-
cry and imprisonment. But God was
with him and his faithfulness was re-
warded by being promoted to the po-
sition of warden. "Our religion should
recommend us. therefore itself. to
those who have to do with us" Mac.
laren). Joseph has been referred to
as "the optlmist," not as one who be-
lieves that all will come right. but
that all is right now.
So much by way of introduction.
The lesson proper divides itself nat
| urally into two divisions:
!. The Chief Buffers Dream. w.
e-15. AS we have seen Josephs pur-
ity of life and loyalty to God had
brought upon him the bitter hatred
Of an unprincipled woman (cf. 2 Tim.
3:t2), but as we shall see, the sequel
was his exaltation. (See Matt. sill,
12) BY inference we are led to be-
lieve that Potiphar had not alto
gether believed the story of his wife,
else he would have exercised his
right as an official, also as a slave
owner. and summarily executed Jo-
seph. But Joseph had one friend
from whom he could not be separat.
ed. (Jehovah, 39:21)
In the providence of God two men
who stood nearer the King in the
discharge of their duties than did
Potiphar are brought into close con-
tact with Joseph. It was through
one Of these men Jacob was after
wards given his opportunity which
led to the salvation of many, includ-
Ing those of his own families. esther
ell. Rom. 1928. Ps. 76:1O)
An Enlightened Age.
We cannot of course lay the same
emphasis upon dreams today as at
the time of Joseph. nor is there need
Of such revelations from God for we
live in the enlightened age Of the
Holy Spirit and ever have easy ac-
cess to the word But trivial as these
dreams may have seemed, God was
using them to change the course Of
history. Verse seven gives us an in
timation of this, also a hint OF Jo-
seph's heart of compassion and SYM
pathy. Had Joseph been a selfish
man. slow to notice the sorrows of
others and still slower to make any
endeavor to relieve their suffering, he
would have missed the very opportu.
nifty God intended to use in the ef-
fecting of his escape from prison.
u. The Chief Bakers Dream, w.
1923. This dream also was connect.
ed with the dreamer's avocation IN
life and hence along the most natural
lines. Again Josephs cherished con-
viction produced by his own dreams
induces him to offer an Interpretation
of the bakers dream. Had he lost
this conviction due to the circum-
stances of the hour or questioned the
validity of Gods revelation or that
he was a called man in Gods plan,
he would not have attempted any in
ter?rctation. Again we emphasize the
fact that dreams are of a negligible
value In this present age. They
usually come from poor digestion or
else a sinful tendency to worry. They
have nothing of the divine about them.
(See Eccl. 5:3, Jer. 23:28) We have
better revelation from God. his
word; are we familiar with It? 1t is
foolish for us to put any dependence
upon dreams today. Joseph's in.
terpretations which came from God
were fulfilled yet the butler forgets.
The Lessons of the Lesson.
For the younger pupils the story
tells itself and will hold enthralled
attention. For old and young there
Is the lesson of Joseph's serviceable-
ness, he was a helpful man" 10.
seph bought Up his opportunities and
later reaped his reward. Here is the
lesson of the forgetfu.ness of the
chief butler. Must we censure him
entirely for his ingratitude? Joseph's
gift of leadership, twas not the occa.
sion that made the man, but the man