The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-05-10

tHe huHbIe. refer %.
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 OF
the seeming failure of Gods Word
(Ch 4O:S: 4l: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.
Pharaoh is perplexed and his perplex-
ity recalls to the butler his forgotten
promise TO his fellow prisoner. 40:14
and 41:9-13. 1t does not seem TO us
that the butler was much possessed
by honest sorrow. but rather he is i'm
PEELED by a desire to secure the ad-
vantage he felt sure would accrue il
he could succeed in securing for
Pharaoh the Interpretation of his
dreams. He ought TO have remem-
bered Joseph before this hut even his
lngratitude is used of God as means
most opportune moment. So we see
that the buffers forgetfulness worked
! for JOseph's good rom. S:2S) and he
Is projected into a sphere of useful
ness far beyond the flight Of his wild
est fancy. But Joseph is not swept
"a 10 h,- no nj q tn
haste and his very first words evil
dence his humility and his loyalty to
God as the source of all wisdom 41:14
| (Jas. l:15).
Did Not Forget God.
Joseph is a 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
20 confess God. Furthermore his pre-
1ictions based upon his intelligent
knowledge of God came true to the
| letter. The whole matter. Pharaohs
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
established (prepared) by God and
God will shortly bring 1t to pass" God
| gives to present day believers this
same expectant faith in his word. The
| times in which we live. the problems
We face, are prepared by him who
shall shortly bring It (the solution)
to pass" Let us be sure we know
him and his will.
u. Pharaoh's Deliverer, w. 33-40.
| Joseph told Pharaoh the meaning Of
his dream which had been repeated
and which seemed like two different
dreams whereas it was but one in the
lesson to be taught. II 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.
Joseph's Interpretation commanded
ed policy is one Of wisdom and good
| judgment viz: % a man who shall
be the executive supervisor of the
plans for meeting the impending catas-
trophy; (2) a governmental depart
ment which shall devote itself solely
age of provisions during the seven
years of plenty. We doubt not that
Joseph may have anticipated the out
come of his suggested plan and of his
possible preferment for the Office he
suggested to Pharaoh. In other words
the Christian need not lose his COM
mon sense because he becomes a
Christian. The coming of the holy
spirit upon a man does not set aside
his common sense, 1t ought to quicken
It.
Pharaoh's Wisdom.
This man of piety knew how to
properly improve his opportunity and
Pharaoh saw the secret Of Joseph's
wisdom ". 3S), "a man in whom the
spirit of God is e Tim. I'D. Phar-
aoh had the wisdom to set in author
ity the spirit-filled man. broad sug.
|
even church members. True discre-
ton is God taught ". 39) and we now
begin to see that Joseph's testimony
for God is being honored Ono. 1920
and that Joseph was worthy Of the
honor and power conferred upon him
wv. 40, Al, A; CT. Matt. 2s:1s). The
source of Joseph's wisdom is open to
all (Jas. 1:5). and his worthiness
came because Of his obedience lisa
1:19. His training and testing had
prepared him to occupy his exalted DO
sition with proper humility and zeal
Faithfulness is of great value and al
ways pays well in the long run. Jo
seph's exaltation to power is a good
type Of Christ, (a) in the power be-
slowed upon him, Jno. 3:35; (b) in
that the power was unlimited-all the
princes were under his feet. Ps. los:
2O-22; Eph. 1:20-22; Peter 1922; (c)
by the certainty of Pharaoh's promise
Il am Pharaoh" see Ell 3:13, IA.
Joseph did not use his great power
for his own selfish ends as do so many
modern rulers among men. He die
not at once send for the members OF
his family and place them in lucrative
positions. but at once set about max
ing provision for the future. It hal
been suggested that the unsuccessful
interpreters Of Pharaoh's dream must
have ridiculed Joseph but he certain
ly was sustained by the conviction
that Gods word was true and thai