The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1913-04-23
Sunday School Notes
Side Lights on Next Sundays Lesson
for Teacher, and Pupils.
Edited by Charles K. Meyers
April 27-Joseph Sold Into Egypt

we DeSln tLiS Neeh Sclleo VI ll1Oo
interesting lessons on the life OF 10
seph. He was next to the younges
son of Jacob. his mother being Rach
ael. Teh family was living in the vi
cinity of the land we now call Pales
tine. There were twelve sons Of
Jacob, and these were in time to be
the heads of what in after history are
known as the twelve tribes of Is
rael." The sons names were: Reu
ben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, 1ssacher
Zebulan, Dan, Napthali, Cad, Asher
Joseph and Benjamin.
Those familiar with the life Of
Jacob will remember that he had spe
cial love TO rRachael and served hel
father many years to obtain her fol
his wife. 1t was but natural that he
should look with favor upon her first
born son, Joseph He was without
doubt fine lad, and his history
shows, possessed high Cody ideals
Aside from being forward to tell his
dreams which foretold, that his father
and brothers should in time be inferl'
or and bow down before him, Joseph
led life with a clean record. No
actual sin stold of him during a long
series of years. 1t is thus we'll to
take note of man like this.
The special love of Jacob and Jo'
seph was we'll known to the other
brothers and was made more plain
when the father made for his favorite
son a coat which the record says was
of many colors. Actual hatred was
fetl for Joseph when he told certain
dreams in which it was made to ap'
pear that the sheaves of grain set up
in the field by the other brothers
bowed down to the one placed In po-
sition by him, and that the sun, moon
and eleven stars also paid him hon
or. One not knowing the future his
tory of Joseph would hardly think
that the hatred and envy of the other
brothers would lead them to be ready
to murder him, but such is the case.
The chance to do this foul deed came
when Jacob sent Joseph to visit his
brothers at time when they were
herding the flocks at a place far re-
moved from home.
On seeing the boy coming they de-
cided to kill him. Reuben, the ilder,
however, having in mind to save him
from death, suggested that he first
be put in pit or dry we'll near at
hand. On coming near the lad was
stripped of his coat, caught and put in
the pit. Then before the murder, nine
of the brothers sat down calmly to eat
meal. While thus engaged a cara
van of merchants came in sight on
their way to Egypt with goods to sell.
Judah made use of this to urge that
after all Joseph was heir brother, and
it was not just the thing to kill him,
and so suggested that he be sold as
slave to the passing Ishmeelites. The
plan was agreed on, the lad pulled out
of the pit and sold. Later Reuben re-
turned and on finding what had been
done, made every appearance of deep
grief, but it was finally agreed that
the special coat worn by Joseph should
he stained in the blood of kid and
the story told the father, Jacob, that
his favorite boy had been devoured by
wild beasts. This lie they told the
father and when he was torn with
grief the deceiving sons made pre-
tense of comforting him. By decep-
ton Jacob had won the blessing from
his father Isaac and now in turn he
is cruelty deceived by his sons.
The trouble that has come to the
world through envy, jealousy and hat
red. The bible says it was through
envy the brothers sold Joseph on that
eventful day. St. Paul in many of
his letters warns us all of the evils
of envy, wrath, strife. In distinction
to these are the christian virtues of
love, forgiveness, thinking no evil.
In that great chapter on charity and
love it is declared, "Love envieth
not" 1t need not be told any grown
up reader there is no happiness in
envy and jealousy. From personal
experience l can say that the most I'M
happy period of my life was some
three months when let envy and de-
termination to get even rule in my
heart. Paul was right when he ad-
yised that We let God attend to the
ayenging of the wrongs done us and
that we live so that the shafts OF
hatred from others fall harmless be-
cause of our good character.