Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1913-04-25
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNl1SC[lOOL
LESSON
BY z. o. SELLERS, Director Of Even
ing Department The Moody Bible In
stitute OF Chicago.)
LESSON FOR APRIL IT
JOSEPH SOLD INTO EGYPT.

u (OAs 4o.1s
This Is the first Of seven lessons
dealing with Joseph, a fact which sug-
gests to US 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 ~ His name means add
ing" see lisa. 9:6, z; Luke 1888 and
John $3.50. (2) His birth which TO
moved Rachel's reproach (30:34) even
SO the birth OF Christ has removed
the reproach Of sin, Col. 2:13-16, Rom.
81: (3) The love of his father. see
Matt. 3:17. (4) His sufferings at the
hands Of his brethren. Ps. 1914; John
1925. (5) His deliverance from pris-
on which was shadow OF Christ's res
direction, Acts 2:22-24. (6) His
marriage to one Of another race, Eph.
1894. (7) His revelation Of himself
to his brothers. see Zach. 1910. 13:1
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 SANDERS and he
reported the same to his father CD
His fathers partiality as evidenced by
the coat of many colors ". 31). Only
the opulent and noble, kings sons.
wore such a garment, and Joseph was
thereby differentiated from his la
boring brothers. ca His dreams, Wv.
81. God was revealing himself in
marked manner to this young man.
which fact aroused their envy (v. III.
and (4), his very virtues were re.
| buke to his evil-minded brothers.
Five words will serve to fix this les
SON in our minds: Deprivation. Dis
grace, Deliverance, Deceit and De-
portation.
I. Deprivation v. 23.-Joseph's coat
was symbolical Of regal power and au-
! thority. It was not mere patch
work, but a long woven garment OF
bright hues. His dreams. too, had
had to do with his exaltation aboys
his brethren. As matter of policy.
perhaps, he ought not to have worn
the garment, but who can question
Gods providential dealings, Rom. 8:
,2S. Joseph's reception was like thas
lSof Jesus, John I: IL: Matt. 27:2S.
II. Disgrace, w. 24-27.-Stripped Of
| the coat, Joseph Is 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. 10
seph had pursued a long journey and
was doubtless hungry and thirsty, yet
these men sat outside eating and
drinking while murder lurked in their
hearts wv. 20, %, 26). Joseph stary.
ing, was, however, in . better case
| than these brethren. One among
them, Reuben, had averted trag-
edy (v. 22), now God intervenes and
sends this way q company Of Ishmael
tie traders from the land Of INDIAN
| (see Judges S:22-74). Cupidity prompts
both the traders and the brothers an
they made merchandise Of Joseph.
thus avoiding murder (Gen. 4:10).
Valued cheapIy.
III. DelIverance. v. 28.-Lke a.
Christ was sold by one of his chosen
ones, SO 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 q little more than s12. His bitter
cries were Of no avail (42:21), but
this slavery was the road to q SOW
ereignty.
w. Deceit wv. 2e:35.-These broth
ers are an illustration OF that degen-
Grafton Of character which results
from evfl courses. It took place with
| in q very brief time, probably not to
exceed Is 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 q 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-
late lack Of all filial love.
v. Deportation, v. 3e.-Reuben. re-
turning, found an empty pit. whether
h, shared the profit Of Joseph's sale.
| we are left TO infer. His plan OF
deliverance could not, however. have
succeeded, as God had other ana great
| er purposes IN store for Joseph Al
for Jacob, he had deceived his father
Isaac, and As compelled to reap as
he had sown, Gal. 81. The hated
coat is used as means Of their de-
ception.
This is an easy lesson to tell but
care must be taken that 1t be not over
drawn. Too much description viii lose
the ethical and spiritual teaching.
Jealousy and its development win be
enough to emphasize the moral teach
Ing. Be sure to emphasize Joseph 81
p ~-A - ga -