The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-04-26
LESSON FOR APRIL q
JOSEPH SOLD INTO EGYPT.
LESSON TEXT-Gcr. 1895

n dealing with Joseph. q fact which snv.
l. gests 10 US his importance IN the b,o
tory and the working out Of Gods plan
d This particular lesson occurs abor,
II ten years after Jacobs return TO m.
Q land OF Canaan. There are MANY
points Of similarity between .Josenh
and Christ % His name means add.
ings,'.see lisa. sc, :: Luke l:3l-22 and
John $3.50. 90 His birth which "a
moved Rachels rcproach .so:%H even
so the birth of Christ has removed
the reprOach of sin. Col 2.l2.1J Rom
81; 90 The love of his father. sea
Matt. 3:17 a. His suf.rinss at tina
hands of his brethren. ps. cd; John
1925. 60 His doliycranco from pris.
on which was q shadow of Christ's res.
direction, Acts 2:22-24. C6D His
marriage 10 one of another race, Eph
1:3, 4. 90 His revelation of himself
to his brothers. see Zach. 1910. 1871
Their Envy Aroused.
The cause Of the enmity Of Joseph's
brethren was four-fold ~ His tale
bearing, 37:2; his pure mind could not
brook their infamous ISLANDERS and hs
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 garment, and Joseph was
thereby differentiated from his Ia.
boring brothers. 60 His dreams. w.
5-7. God was revealing himself in a
marked manner TO this young man,
which fact aroused their envy ". III,
and ca his very virtues were a re-
buke TO his evilminded brothers.
Joseph's readiness to obey his ia,
Their ". 49, and his mission TO his
brothers ". Ia are a proper intro
duction to the lesson. Meeting with
opposition wv. IA, 49,. Joseph re-
veals his persistent purpose by fol.
lowing his brothers to Dothan where
he found them" like spirit actu.
ated that teacher in Boston, Edward
Kimball. who led D. l.. Moody to &C.
cept Christ as his Saviour.
Five words will serve to fix this les.
son in our minds: Deprivation. Dis
grace, Deliverance, Deceit and De-
portation
l. Deprivation v. 23-Joseph's coat
was symbolical of regal power and au-
thority. 1t was not a 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. s:
2S. 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 Dit.
One wonders If 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 ami
drinking while murder lurked in their
hearts w. 20, 25, 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 company OF Ishmael.
lite traders from the land OF INDIAN
(see Judges S:22-24. Cupidity prompts
both the traders and the brothers as
they made merchandise OF Joseph,
thus avoiding murder (Gen. 4:1O).
Conscience may sleep. but 1t never
dies. Long years after like n spec
ter, this days doings arose to accuse
these men. see 1921. This pit into
which Joseph was cast is a type in
shadow OF the death and burial Of
Jesus.
Valued cheapIy.
III. DeIiverarce, v. 28.-Like as
Christ was sold by one of his chosen
ones, so Joseph Is sold by the very
,nes to whom OF right he should
nave looked for love and protection,
md how cheaplv he was valued. prob
lily a little more than s12. His bitter
'ries were OF no avail (42:2D. but
his slavery was the road to a SOW
'reisnty. He went before according
o Gods plan. that he might deliver
'thers (60:20). God brought it to
'ass" that these traders should pass
lothian at the right moment. Matt.
'7:46. and out of this experience
here came to Joseph great gain and
,lory, see Phil 2:s-11.
Nv. Deceit w. 2e:35.-These broth
RS are an Illustration Of that degen-
ration OF character which results
rom evil courses. II took place with
very brief time. probably not 10
xceed 10 years. Their Jealousy was,
ne outcome OF their own evil courses.
hs-lntervention of Judah and Reuben
'as not entirely above suspicion. and
OF one OF them had any esteem OF
ne truth. They hated Joseph the
reamer because Of his superior sa.
acity. The commission OF one sin
ways calls forth others IN a vain
nNavor to cover the first. Their
eady Willingness TO deceive their
sed father, and their scornful words
-hy sons coat" reveal the blackness
their characters and their abso-
tie lack OF all filial love. Particular
ention is made OF Jacobs grief.
Tough no suggestion is made OF any
airs OF others. What hypocrites
icy were who rose up 10 comfort"
lcob.
V. Deportation, v. 3s.-Reuben. re-
rning, found an enptv nit whether