Middletown transcript., 1918-12-28
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SUNl6YS0lO0L
LESSON
By REV. P. 3. FITZWATER, D. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute Of Chicago.)
Copyright, 1918, Western Newspaper
UniOn.)
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 20
JOSEPH CARES FOR HIS KIN.
DRED.

JOSEPH CARES FOR HIS KIN.
DRIED.
LESSON TEXT-Genesis 47:1-12.
GOLDEN TEXT-Honor thy father and
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 6:2
DEVOTIONAL READING-Psalms "a.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL - Genesis
6:16-50:26
Since we took the birth Of the Sa-
viOr for our Christmas lesson, today,
instead of a review, we will go back
and take up the alternative lesson for
December %. It will be more profit
able to complete the study of Joseph
in his attitude toward his kindred than
to undertake the review.
!. Joseph Sends to Canaan for His
Father as :17-28).
After Joseph had made himself
known to his brethren he sent them
back to his father in Canaan with the
good news not only that he was alive,
but that the Lord had exalted him to
be lord over all Egypt, and that his ia
ther and brethren with their families
should come down to Egypt where he
would give them the best of the land
and that they should eat Of the "fat
of the land" This illustrates how one
day Jesus Christ shall disclose his
identity to his brethren the Jews, and
that his exaltation at the right hand of
the Father was to make preparation
for them against the awful day of trial
which shall be visited upon them (Acts
! 3:19-21).
II. Joseph Meets His Father in the
Land of Goshen (46 :29-34).
Jacob experienced double delight
that of seeing his beloved son whom
he had long mourned as dead, and OF
being welcomed to the new and strange
land by its prime minister. Joseph in
structed his father and brethren how
to place their request before Pharaoh.
Since their occupation was that or
shepherds he knew that some tact
should be employed in their approach
to the king, for "eyery shepherd is an
abomination unto the Egyptians"
III. Jacob and Five Sons Presented
to Pharaoh -(47 10.
Though Joseph was high in author
ity he was not ashamed to bring his
| father and brethren into the presence
of the great Pharaoh, even though they
were humble farmers
/. Pharaoh's Question wv. 3, ~. He
answered that both they and their IA
Their were shepherds. They went lit
tie beyond what they were asked by
Pharaoh and instructed to do by 10
seph. They requested the land of
Goshen, for they knew it was good
place for pasture for their flocks.
2. Pharaoh's Instructions to Joseph
wv. 5, g.. He told him to make his
father and brethren to dwell in the
best of the land-even Goshen, and
among them to give them the charge
of his cattle. He assumed that since
Joseph was so capable and trustworthy
that some of his brethren would also
possess suitable qualifications of adj
ministratiOn.
~: Jacob Blessed Pharaoh (47:7.
10Y.
Though Jacob was pilgrim in
Egypt, dependent upon Pharaoh even
for food to eat, in the dignity Of his
faith Of what God would do with him,
and through him, he pronounced a
blessing upon the great Egyptian king.
The less is blessed by the greater (He-
brews I'D. Though conscious Of his
place of superiority through the divine
covenant he did not manifest officious-
ness, but rather the desire to convey a
vital blessing. He recognized that he
| was the channel through which great
blessings would come to Pharaoh in
accordance with the Abrahamic Gov.
enant Genesis - :1-3). Israel is one
day to be the channel through which
the blessings of salvation shall flow
to the Gentle nations ROmans II :12-
15).
v. Joseph Nourished His Father and
/ Brethren at IL, 12).
| According to the instructions Of
Pharaoh, Joseph placed his father and
brethren in the best Of the land and
made provision for them. Jesus Christ
will one day, when the famine Of the
great tribulation is exceeding sore, be
| recOnciled to his brethren, the Jews
and will give them possession in the
best Of the land and nOurish them.
Christ is now seated with the Father
on his throne, and one day will reveal
himself to his brethren the Jews and
will feed them on the ''fat Of the land"
Jacob lived in Egypt II years. When
the time Of his death approached he
exacted from Joseph a promise that
he would bury him in Canaan. He
blessed Joseph's sons and issued
prophecy concerning his own sons.