The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-13

he wiped out the old scores. and gave
them a new chance.
After all, they were his brothers.
the sons Of his father. The reveal.
ton and reconciliation was touch
ing scene, that moves the reader to-
day. We love Joseph best as we see
him step down from his throne OF
state to weep on the necks OF his
astonished brethren.
The New Relationship.
All of this story is of acutest In
terest today; because we, too. have
the problem of how to deal with of
Tenders who come seeking succor. II
not forgiveness. There Is no more
difficult question before the Christian
world today than that of how the
Central Powers should be treated by
their conquerors. The case is not on
all fours with that of Joseph and his
brethren. but the same large consid-
while proving his brethren. fed them.
We shall not let the Central Powers
| starve. We feed even the condemned
| murderers in our jails. Then SINGER
| ity and contrition have to be estab-
! lished; and in the case Of Germany
while there is evidence ad nauseum
that she is sorry for herself. there
are few signs that she is sorry for
! her crimes against civilization Also
for If maudlin tears could wipe all
states clean, then pals would be
empty and justice would no longer
dwell upon earth.
Even the mushy-minded. who
piar p 1e sW sepxa away geeS to- be- re.
minded that altho Joseph forgave his
wicked brethren, when they brought
| forth fruits for repentance, yet even
SO the old relationships were never
| re-established. 1t could not be. Only
God can blot out sins from the book
| of His remembrance. The brothers
| of Joseph had created a new status
| for themselves, in which there was no
petty squabbling. and no recrimina-
tons Nevertheless, a gulf which
| wrong had created existed between
Joseph and the ten other sons of his
father.
Joseph showed forth his religion.
He displayed magnanimity. To his
contrite companions he pointed out
the providence of God. 1t was his
aim to instil the principles Of reli-
gion in them, and to lead them to
recognize the sovereignty and mercy
Jacob. The Lord had overruled evil
for good. AS ever. the plans Of the
wicked had been COMPOUNDED.
4 There we leave the subject. God
had been in the midst of the family
affairs of Jacob. Most of His good
gifts, as ever had to be in spite of.
and not because. AS we take the
long. long look. we from our distant
point of vantage. perceive that the
Eternal and Omnipotent One was
working out a high and holy purpose
for His Chosen People. Joseph had
been sent, by way that he knew
not, to throne in Egypt in order
to save his family in Canaan. The
plots of his bitter brothers had been
utilized to fulfill the divine design;
} just as the fell ambitions of kaisers
) and junkers have become the means.
at fearful cost, of freeing Israel. of
bringing safety to the Land of Prom
) Use. of delivering the Armenians. Syr-
ians Greeks and the dozens of little
peoples Of the Balkans and the eau
casus; of creating world sense of
responsibility for all mankina's well
fare; of insuring safety to all the
earth: and of bringing in a new era
wherein the spirit of Christ will be
; dominant. Joseph's words gather up
the whole lesson: 1T was not you
, bpt God