Evening star., 1918-11-30
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
BY REV. HUGH 4. STEVENSON.

BY REV. HUGH 7. sTEvEN00N.
Today's lesson Is the flrst In >
series which have for their central
theme the\ life Of Joseph. This story
book Of Genesis and Is one Of the
most dramatic in all the Scriptures.
AS well as it is known to Bible stu
dents, it cannot be studied without
again arousing our sympathtes ana
souls. For primarily it is q good
story, told with consummate skill.
holding our attention to the very
end. And, like all good stories, 1t
has good ending, involving through
lined blot, exhibiting T the eternal CON
f1ict between character and circum-
stances and the final triumph of
moral and personal forces over the
conditions raised by human efforts.
Two weeks ago we studied the dis
cord that ruled in the home Of Isaac.
largely due to the deceit, inordinate
ambition and uncontrolled greed Of
Jacob and the plots and schemes OF
his mother. Rebekah. Again We see
home and a family circle torn by
it is in Jacobs own family and
among his children. The seeds were
first planted by the father and they
reappear in the sons. Just as he had
wrongfully taken that which be-
longed ito his older brother; SO now
they seek to wrong one another.
Just as he had deceived his parent.
so they are deceitful in dealing with
him. Just as he had brought sorrow
to Isaac. his sons made dark ana
sorrowful the last miles OF his LIES
journey.
The plot to slay Joseph, discussed
in the opening verses Of the lesson
text, was the eliminating point OF
petty jealousy which had been nursed.
until it became actual hatred. The
ers except Reuben was not the re-
suit of sudden passion, but the out
growth of a long-standing quarrel.
There were in the main three reasons
/ for this feeling between Joseph and
his brethren. In the first place Jacob
was partial to him and favored him
above the others. 1t was to Joseph
that the coat Of many colors had
been given. This coat was not OF the
patchwork quilt character. but
long white robe, extending 70 tne
ankles and wrists. embroidered about
the edge Of the skirt and sleeves with
a narrow strip of color, and was worn
only by the rich and leisure classes.
The workingman wore short blacR-
and-white garment, which would no.
the arms or legs while at his daily
task.
Another contributing cause to the
hatred was Joseph's condemnation or
the wrongdoings Of his older broth
ers. We do not know just what their
misconduct was. but while away from
the watchful eye of the father they
had fallen into evil ways. which Jo-
seph had reported to Jacob. rms WaS
not necessarily simply tale-pearrE.
1t is more consistent with Josepns
character 10 interpret his action as an
honest attempt to help his brothers.
At any rate, it was an action requfr-
ing heroism and sincere love. 1t
would have been much easier Tor MIN
to have remained silent and to have
allowed them to continue In their sln'
but in so doing Joseph would not nave
been true to his. father. The third
cause which increased the discord was
the two dreams or visions that came
to Joseph But they also served tne
loftier purpose Of buoylng up MS
courage during the long days or siaN-
cry in Egypt. AS they do not come
directly within the lesson, we cannot
enlarge upon them here, but reading
of the portion of the story contained
in the first seventeen verses OF Cen
esis 81 will aid materially the UNDER
standing of the whole subject, as wen
as this sidelight.
Joseph had been sent to Shechem to
visit the other ten sons of Jacob and
to report back to the father concern
ing their welfare and tho condition OF
the focks. 1t was dangerous trip
for one to make alone, but Joseph
seems to have known no fear. He had
undoubtedly taken with him supplies
of foodstuffs for his brothers. and he
was probably eager to see them again
after their long absence from home.
But the reception they gave MIN was
not anticipated. If the calm advice OF
Reuben had not prevailed he would
probably have been slain and his IA
| ther left to mourn the loss or his
Youngest son. 1t was his suggestion
that Joseph should be thrown into
one of the many pits or c1sterns tnaI
| had been dug throughout that part OF
| the country. Credit must be given to
Reuhen for his good intentions, but
his part would have been still more
creditable if he had firmly and reso-
lutely protested against any harm be-
| ing done and if he had not appar-
emily been a party to the plot.
It was Judah who suggested the
selling of their brother. What a con-
temptible and perverted sense Of mo-
rality! OF course, their selling OF Jo-
seph into slavery would be less cruel
and less wicked than outright muir
der but it remained sin none the
less. Conscience has become well
! Sea1eQ
to be virtuous. Gods standards arc
more clean-cut than that 1t is either
right or wrong. We cannot mix tho
two at our own convenience.
Upon reaching the brothers at Dothan
Joseph was Immediately seized. stripped
| of the coat OF many colors and thrown
into a cistern, from which 1t was the in
| tention of Reuben to save him. One OF
the difficulties presented in the lesson
I! now arises in the translation OF the
1 twenty-eighth verse. which implies that
the brothers sold Joseph into slavery.
Dr.. Ramsay's translation. But there
passed by some Midianite merchants and
pulled Joseph up and sold him
to the Ishmaelites." not only translates
the Hebrew correctly, but removes some
| of the problems. According to this view,
the brothers did not carry out their
plans to sell Joseph, but went away for
the cattle, leaving him in the pit, where
| his cries attracted the attention OF the
Midianites, who pulled him out and sold
| him to the passing caravan at the reg
ular market price for a slave. rms ex-
plains Reuben's grief at not finding Jo-
seph when he returned: explains why
the Midianites are mentioned: corrobo-
| rates Joseph's later statement that he
was stolen out of the land. and Judsh's
speech in a subsequent chapter. when
! he declared that Joseph was dead.
The sons now must explain. to the
father, and deceit and lies are resorted
to. The coat is dipped in goats blood
and sent by servant back home. ia
cob's grief was overwhelming ana his
sorrow remained a constant reminder to
the sons Of the sins that had been COM
mitted.
Yet the experience Of Joseph during
the days spent in Egypt in bondage and
| later in power were preparing Tor MS
lkreat work among his own people. Coo
| had a mission for Joseph to perform and
| it was not to be put at naught by the