McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1913-05-02

GOLDEN teal Inc Dreatn OF tnt
| Almighty giveth them understanding
| Job. 1918. r. v.
In teaching this lesson we must moi
overlook the intervening events which
are other illustrations of the truthful
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 q
serf. Potiphar, who bought him. was
the chief marshal of the empire, the
lord high executioner. What Josephs
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 1t 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 comt
when he exclaimed: How can ! do
this wickedness and sin against God?"
Gen. 1919. A crime is committed
against a man or against society: this
same act against God is a sin. Jo-
seph's only safety was in fight ".
12), Ito 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 u.s." (Mac-
iaren). Joseph has been referred to
as "the optimist," not as one who be.
heves 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:
I. The Chief Butler's Dream. w.
s-fs. AS we have seen Joseph's pur-
ity Of life and loyalty to God had
brought upon him the bitter hatred
OF an unprincipled woman (cf. 2 Tim.
3:12), but as we shall see, the sequel
was his exaltation. (See Matt. 5:11,
49, 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. 1t 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
8:1, Rom. 1928, Ps. 78:10) How lit
tie do we suppose Joseph realized
that his kindly acts to his fellow suf-
ferers would be the stepping stones
of his release from bondage. In this
Joseph is another type of Jesus Of
whom 1t is recorded that he came to
minister, not to be ministered unto
Matt 20:2s)
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 10
seph's heart Of compassion and sym
patty. 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 eff
facting OF his escape from prison 1t
is well to notice, however, that 10
seph was equally quick to acknowl-
edge God as the source of wisdom
and blessing (v. 2, Jas. 1859 1t
was perfectly natural for the chief
butler to dream of his daily duty be-
fore the king; SO 1t was that God
used this natural thing as the means
of bringing supernatural revela
ton. With God is no beginning nor
ending Of time, and miracle to US
is simply God precipitating or hast
ening those natural processes which
to US are measured by a human meas
urement OF duration called time 10.
seph also saw in this dream the hand
OF God In its possible relation to him.
self ". 14). have me In thy reinem-
brance /. and bring me out Of
this house." r. v. Nor did he doubt
the outcome of Gods revelation to
the butler. Joseph rested in his In.
tegrity ". 15) through all Of these
trying experiences.
n. The Chief Bakers Dream, w
1925. This dream also was connect
ed with the dreamer's avocation IN
life and hence along the most natural
lines. Again Joseph's 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 called man in Gods plan,
he would not have attempted any in.
depreciation. Again we emphasize the
fact that dreams are Of negligible
value in this present age. They
usually come from poor digestion or