The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-11-29
uRaovIp uKWoua mfEsNArDoNAl
SOlDNXSOOOL
LESSON
(By REV. P. b. FTTZWATER. d. D..
Teacher Of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute Of Chicago.)
Copyright, 1913 Western Newspapes
Union.)
LESSON FOR DECEMBER I
THE STORY OF JOSEPH.

LESSON TEXT-Genesis 37:lS-2
GOLDEN TEXT-Hatred stirreth up
strifes. but love covereth up all trans
gressions.-Proverbs 1912.
DEVOTIONAL READING-Psalms 4
ADDITIONAL Acknowledgements 81:
LII
!. Joseph the Well-eeIevsd sne
(37 :1-4).
Joseph was Jacobs favorite son.
This was due partly to the fact that
he was the son Of the wife of his first
love and the son Of his old age. but
mainly because Of the superior quail
tiles which Joseph possessed. This
favoritism expressed itself in a su-
perior position and more respectable
clothes. That Jacob should feel par
tial toward Joseph. perhaps. was un-
avoidable. but that he should manifest
1t was extremely unwise. Serious
trouble will always result from par
tiality being shown toward children.
His brethren's intense hatred burst
forth upon him. This feeling was in
tensified by his pure life and by his
testimony among them because Of their
evil deeds. Josiah Is a type OF Christ.
he was living In fellowship with
his father at Hebron (37:1D !;
Christ was with the Father be-
fore coming into the world (John
:2s); Joseph was the beloved son
Genesis 81 :3); Christ was the be-
loved Son Of God Matthew 3:1O JO-
seph was hated by his brethren (Gene-
sis 37:4l; Christ was hated by his
brethren (John Is :24); Joseph was
envied by his brethren Genesis 81 I'D |:
Christ was delivered up through envy
(Mark Is 10Y.
u. Joseph's Dreams (37 :5-1D.
!. His brothers sheaves bowling in
obeisance to his.
This was rightly interpreted by them
to mean their humble obedience to
him. This intensified their hatred.
2. The sun, moon and eleven stars
rendering obelsance to him.
This dream is wider In its applica-
tlon. The eleven stars are identical
with the eleven sheaves. The sun and
moon, as rightly interpreted by his IA
ther. represented his father and moth
er ~ rendering obeisance to him.
~. Joseph Sent by His Father on q
Mission Of Mercy to HIa Brethren (vv.
12-17).
His brethren had gone to Shechem.
about fifty miles distant from Hebron.
where was abundance Of pasture for
their docks. Jacob became anxious
as to their welfare, and sent Joseph,
young man now seventeen years old.
to find out their condition. Unde-
TERED by the envious hatred Of his
brethren, he willingly responded, Here
am" No doubt he realized that his
mission was fraught with great dan
gers-the exposure to highway rob-
bers, wild beasts. and the murderous
hatred of his brethren. Notwithstand-
ing this, he rendered willing obedl-
ence. Christ was sent by the Father
on a mission of mercy to his brethren
Il John 4 IA; John / IL; Phil. 2:7, 81.
Though he knew that the envious
hatred of his brethren would result In
his suffering and death on the cross.
he went forth delighting to do his Fa-
TIERS will.
~. Joseph's Reception by His ereth-
ren wv. 1929.
1. Their murderous plot wv. 1929.
They said Behold this dreamer
cometh, let US slay him." This Is
what Chfist's brethren said about him
Matt. 21: 88). They thought they
would prevent these dreams coming
true by destroying the dreamer. Reu
ben dissuaded them from this act by
proposing to cast him into q pit hi-
tending afterward to rescue him and
restore him to hts father.
2. They strip him of his coat Of
many colors ano cast him into the pit
wv. %. PAY. In spite Of his earnest
entreaty against this act they perpe-
trated this heartless cruelty Genesis
42 :21).
8. Their feasting ". 25).
Their heartless cruelty Is manifest
in that they could enjoy the festivities
Of a meal. perhaps, within the sight
and hearing Of Joseph's cries.
4. Sold him to the Ishmaelites wv.
1929.
Judah proposed that they sell
him. as no gain could accrue from let
ting him die In the pit. One Judas,
later, sold the Lord for money. Hav-
Ing done this Infamous deed, they
sought to cover 1t up by deceit and ~
Ing. They took his coat Of many
colors and dipped 1t in the blood Of
kid and sent 1t to his father, allowing
him to draw his own conclusions as
to the matter. Jacob Is now reaping
what he had sown. Many years be-
fore this he had deceived his father
BY trickery and pious lying.
Others.