The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-04-22

JosupH SOLD INTO EGYPT.

JOSEPH SOLD INTO EGYPT.
LESSON TExT-Gen T:2a@
GOLDEN TEXT-"Love envteth not"
I Cor. l3A
This IL the firm Of seven Iessons
dealing with Joseph, a fact which sus-
gests TO ne his importance In the his
tory and the working out Of Gods plan.
This particular lesson occurs about
ten years after Jacobs return to the
land Of Canaan. There are many
points of similarity between Joseph
and Christ az His name means add
ings." see Isa- e:6, 2: Luke 1888 and
John 3:3G ~ His birth which ~,
moved Rachers reproach (so:s4) even
20 the birth OF Christ has removed
the reproach Of sin, Col 2:13-1s. Rom
ST.; (3) The love Of his father, see
Matt. 3:17. az His sufferings at the
hands of his brethren, Ps. 69:4; John
1926. 60 His deliverance from pris
on which WAS shadow Of Christ's res
direction, Acts 2:22-24. co. His
marriage to one Of another race. Eph
1874 90 His revelation OF himself
70 MS prOtners. see ZACH lZ.lV, Lii
Their Envy Aroused.
The cause Of the enmity of Joseph's
brethren was four-fold. (1) His tale
bearing. 37:2; his pure mind could not
brook their infamous ISLANDERS and he
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 a garment, and Joseph was
thereby differentiated from his la
boring brothessa,ts His dreams. W.
81. God was revealing himself In a
marked manner to this young man.
which fact aroused their envy ". III,
and az his very virtues we're re-
buke to his evil minded brothers.
Five words will serve to tx this les
SON IN our minds: Deprivation, Dis
grace, Deliverance, Deceit and De
portation.
!. Deprivation v. 23.-Joseph's coat
was symbolical Of regal power and AL
thority. II was not o mere patch
work, but q long woven garment or
bright hues. His dreams, too, had
had to do with his exaltation above
his brethren. AS q matter OF policy
perhaps, he ought not to have worn
the garment, but who can question
Gods providential dealings. Rom. 8;
rs. Joseph's reception was like that
of Jesus, John I'LL; Matt. 27:28.
III basvrzss; s.fs ii--stTicSsS g. g.
the coat, Joseph 10 cast into pit
One wonders II the fact that there was
NO water there is evidence Of the
malignity of his nine brothers or Of
their somewhat tempered wrath. Jc--
seph had pursued long journey and
was doubtless hungry and thirsty. yet
these men sat outside eating and
drinking while murder lurked in their
hearts Wv. 20. rs. 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 a company Of Ishmael-
tie 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. 4:10).
Valued chesply.
III. ,Deliveranee. v. 26.-Like a.
Christ was sold BY one of his chosen
ones. 80 Joseph is sold by the very
ones to whom OF right he should
have looked for love and protection
and how cheaply he was valued, prob
ably little more than SIP. His bitter
cries were Of no avail (42:21), blu;
this slavery was the road to SOW,
ereignty.
Nv. Deceit wv. 2e:ss.-These broth.
ers are an illustration Of that degen-
Grafton of character which results
from evil courses. II took place with
in a very brief time. probably not to
exceed 10 years. Their jealousy was,
the outcome of their own evil courses
The intervention of Judah and Reuben
was not entirely above suspicion, and
not one Of them had any esteem Of
the truth. They hated Joseph the
dreamer because OF his superior sa-
gacity. The commission Of one sin
always calls forth others In a vain
endeavor to cover the FIRST. Their
ready willingness TO deceive their
aged father. and their scornful words
thy sons coat" reveal the blackness
OF their characters and their abso-
Lutte lack OF all fillal love.
v. Deportation. v. se.-Reuben, re-
turning, found an empty pit. whether
h, shared the profit OF Joseph's sale.
We are left 20 tafer. His plan OF
delfverance could not. however. have
succeeded. as God had other and great
er purposes in store for Joseph. AS
for Jacob. he had deceived his father
Isaac, and is compelled to reap as
he had sown. Gal. so. The hated
coat is used as a means OF their de-
ception.
This is an easy lesson to tell, but
care must be taken that II be not over
drawn. Too much description will lose
the ethical and spiritual teaching.
Jealousy and its development will be
enough 10 emphasize the moral teach
Ing BE sure 20 emphasize Joseph as
a type OF the Christ DO not antisi.
pate his other and later experiences
ten your class that the story Is 10 ba
rOntinue0