The Jasper news., 1918-11-28
LESSON FOR DECEMBER i
THE STORY OF JOSEPH.

gressions.-Proverbs 1919.
DEVOTIONAL READ1NG-Psalms 4.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALr-Genesi 81:
LII
I. Joseph the WeIl-HeIoved 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 su-
perlor position and more respectable
clothes. That Jacob should feel par
dial toward Joseph, perhaps, was un-
avoidable, but that he should manifest
1t 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
tensited 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 (37:14);
Christ. was with the Father be-
fore coming into the world (John
16 :2s); Joseph was the beloved son
Genesis 81 :S); Christ was the be-
loved Son of God (Matthew 3:17) Jo-
seph was hated by his brethren Gene
sis 37:4); Christ was hated by his
brethren John Is pa; Joseph was
envied by his brethren Genesis 81 lily
Christ was delivered up through envy
(Mark Is 10Y.
II. Joseph's Dreams (37 BID.
/. 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-
ton. 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 as rendering obeisance to him.
III. Joseph Sent by His Father on a
Mission Of Mercy to His Brethren wv.
12-1O.
His brethren had gone to Shechem.
about fifty miles distant from Hebron,
where was abundance Of pasture for
their focks. Jacob became anxious
as to their welfare, and sent Joseph,
a young man now seventeen years old,
to find out their condition. Unde-
tered by the envious hatred of his
brethren, he willingly responded, Here
I am" No doubt he realized that his
mission was fraught with great dam
gers-the exposure to highway rob-
bers, wild beasts, and the murderous
hatred Of his brethren. Notwlthstand-
Ing this, he rendered willing obedl-
ence. Christ was sent by the Father
on a mission of mercy to his brethren
Il John 4:14; John l 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-
theirs will.
~. Joseph's Reception by His Breth-
rem wv. 1929.
I. Their murderous plot wv. 1922.
They said Behold this dreamer
cometh, let us STAY him." This is
what Christ's brethren said about him
(Matt. 81: 38). 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 a pit, in
tending afterward to rescue him and
restore him to his father.
2. They strip him of his coat Of
many colors and cast him into the pit
wv. %, 24). In spite of his earnest
entreaty against this act they perpe-
trated this heartless cruelty Genesis
42:21).
3. Their feasting ". 25).
Their heartless cruelty is manifest
In that they could enjoy the festivities
Of 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 ly-
ing. They took his coat of many
colors and dipped 1t In the blood of a
kid and sent,it 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.