McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1918-11-29
LESSON FOR DECEMBER /
THE STORY OF JOSEPH.

LESSON TEXT-GeneSis 37.1S-B.
GOLDEN TEXT--Hatred stirreth UP
strifes, but love covereth up all trans
yressions. 10:12
DEVOTIONAL READING-Psalms 4.
ADDITIONAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 81.
LII
!. Joseph the WeIl-BeIoved Son
(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 SUI
perior position and more respectable
clothes. That Jacob should feel par
tial toward Joseph, perhaps, was I'M
avoidable, but that he should manifest
It was extremely unwise. Serious
trouble will always result from par
TALLY 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 type of Christ.
He was living in fellowship with
his father at Hebron (37 :l4)
Christ was with the Father be-
fore coming into the world John
1929; Joseph was the beloved son
Genesis 81 :3); Christ was the be-
loved Son of God (Matthew 3:17; Jo-
seph was hated by his brethren Gene
sis 81 AZ; Christ was hated by his
brethren John spa; Joseph was
envied by his brethren Genesis 81 :1D
Christ was delivered up through envy
mark 15:10).
II. Joseph's Dreams (37 DID.
l. 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 obeisance to him.
This dream is wider in its applica'
ton. The eleven stars are Identical
with the eleven sheayes. The sun and
moon, as rightly interpreted by his ia
Their, represented his father and moth
er as rendering obeisance to him
III. Joseph Sent by His Father on .
Mission of Mercy to His Brethren wv
12-17).
His brethren had gone to Shechem
about fifty miles distant from Hebron
where was abundance Of pasture fol
their flocks. 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
lrethrep, 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 obedi
ence. Christ was sent by the Father
on mission of mercy to his brethren
| Il John IA; John I'll; 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
theirs will.
w. Joseph's Reception BY His Breth
rem wv. 1929.
1. Their murderous plot (yv. 1922
They said Behold this dreamer
cometh, let us STAY him." This Il
what Christ's brethren said about hin
| Matt. 81: 3S). 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 pit, In
tending afterward to rescue him ane
restore him to his father.
2. They strip him Of his coat o.
many colors and cast him into the pil
| wv. %, 24). In spite Of his earnest
entreaty against this act they perpe
trated this heartless cruelty tGencsii
AZ :21).
3. Their feasting ". 25).
Their heartless cruelty Is manifes'
| In that they could enjoy the festiyitiei
Of meal, perhaps. within the sigh
| and hearing Of Joseph's cries.
4. Sold him to the Ishmsslttes 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. the,
sought to cover 1t up by deceit and ly
ing. They took his coat of man,
colors and dipped It In the blood Of ,
kid and sent 1t to his father, allowing
him to draw his own conclusions al
to the matter. Jacob Is now respini
what he had sown. Many years be
fore this he had deceived his fathel
by trickery and pious lying.