The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-05-06

L
"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. 40:S; 41:16) 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.
I. Pharaoh's Dreams, w. 1882.
Pharaoh Is perplexed and his perplex.
fly 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 q desire to secure the adj
vantage he felt sure would accrue If
he could succeed in securing for
Pharaoh the Interpretation of his
dreams. He ought to have remem-
bered Joseph before this but even his
ingratitude Is used Of God as means
Of bringing Joseph to the fore at the
/ most oppoftune moment.
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
60 confess God. Furthermore his pre-
dictions based upon his intelligent
!, knowledge of God came true to the
letter. The whole matter, Pharaoh's
. 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 it to pass"
, II. Pharaeh's DeIiverer, Wv. 334o.
! 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 1t 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
Pharaoh's confidence and his suggest
ed policy is one of wisdom and good
Judgment. viz: Q) 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
to this matter, and 60 abundant stor
age OF provisions during the sever
years of plenty.
Pharaoh's Wisdom.
This man of piety knew how =
properly improve his opportunity and
Pharaoh saw the secret of Joseph's
wisdom ". 38), "a man in whom the
spirit of God Isl g Tim. I'D. Phar
aoh had the wisdom to set in author
ity the spirit-ilied man, broad sug
gestion for voters, business men, anG
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 (Jno. 1926
and that Joseph was worthy OF the
honor and power conferred upon hin
wv. 40, Al, A; CT. Matt. 1919. The
source Of Joseph's wisdom is open t.
all Gas. 1:5), and his worthines:
came because of his obedience Elsa
7:19). His training and testing ha(
prepared him to occupy his exalted Pc
sition with proper humility and zeal
Faithfulness is of great value and al
| in he 1nTac nm IN
seph's exaltation to power is a gooC
type OF Christ, (a) in the power be
slowed upon him, Jno. 1885; (b) IL
that the power was unlimited-aH tn,
princes were under his feet, Ps. los
20-22; Eph 1902; 1 Peter 1922; &c,
by the certainty of Pharaoh's promise
II am Pharaoh see Elk. 3:13, II.
Joseph did not use his great powe,
for his own selfish ends as do so many
modern rulers among men. He did
not at once send fer the members o
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
4 interpreters of Pharaoh's dream mus
have ridiculed Joseph but he certain
u ly was sustained by the conviction
that Gods word was true and tina
II the years of famine were certain t.
q come. This ought to admonish us tt
i improve our present. priceless, oppor
+ tunities (Eph. 5:16). Joseph's oper
= confession was his leaning back upol
- God.
b This story gives US q remarkable
l. revelation of the value Of faith as tn.
chief element of strength of man
0 1t is also valuable lesson in its rev
d elation of the methods of God In rul
7. ing and overriding the affairs of men
+ When we remember Joseph in pi
because of the hatred of his brother,
d and see him now occupying the SD
preme place of power In Egypt i
seems Impossible to reconcile the tw'
events, and yet we see how per
4 fectly natural the order of events ar,