Cleveland County herald., 1918-12-26

GOLDEN TEXT-Honor thy father and 1 mother.-Ephesians 6:2.
 DEVOTIONAL READING-Psalms 34.
 ADDITIONAL MATERIAL Genesis 45:16-5O:26.
 Since we took the birth of the Sa- vior for our Christmas lesson, today, instead of q review we will go back and take up the alternative lesson for December %. It will be more profit 1 able to complete the study of Joseph in his attitude toward his kindred than to undertake the review
 l. Joseph Sends to Canaan for His Father (45 :17-2S).
 After Joseph had made himself i 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 1 be lord over all Egypt, and that his fa- 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 fiat 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 8 :19-2D.
 II. Joseph Meets His Father in the Land of Goshen GAG :29-34). | Ioooh o Jo,,hJo Jai;frb+ that of seeing his beloved son whom he had long mourned as dead, and of l being welcomed to the new and strange land by it's prime minister. Joseph in- Structed his father and brethren how to place their request before Pharaoh. Since their occupation was that of shepherds he knew that some tact should be employed in their approach to the king for 'severy shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians"
 III. Jacob and Five Sons Presented to Pharaoh (47:1-D.
 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 i were nulnDle 1aflnefS
 l. Pharaohs Question (vv. 3, A. He inquired as 10 their occupation. They answered that both they and their fa- ther were shepherds. They went lit tie beyond what they were asked by Pharaoh and instructed to do by Jo- seph. They requested the land of Goshen, for they knew it was a good place for pasture for their f1ocks.
 2 Pharaoh's Instructions to Joseph (vv. ,, 0. He told him to make his father and brethren to dwell in the best of the land--even Goshen, and that if he knew of any men of ability 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 ad- ministration.
 W. Jacob Blessed Pharaoh (47:7- 10).
 Though Jacob was a 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 Gle 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 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 12 :1-3). Israel is one day to be the channel through which the blessings of salvation shall flow i to the Gentle nations Romans Il :12- 15).
 V Joseph Nourished His Father and Brethren CAT Il. 12).
 According to the instructions of 1 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 1 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 ca the fiat of the land"
 Jacob lived in Egypt F 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 a prophecy concerning his own sons.