Evening star., 1923-04-14

Joseph's personality is the most
popular of all ancient history. No
finer biography can be found in any
literature. In literary finish and dra-
matte interest it is unexcelled. 1t
narrates in simple. picturesque style
the story OF his remarkable career, so
that it appeals with powerful interest
to universal humanity. The secret Of
its attractiveness has been assigned
by Matheson to the fact it has good
end and that the brightness is found
to have been produced by the actual
clouds of the narrative"
Joseph. in his interview with his
breathren, when he revealed himself
to them. in the premier's palace, gives
US the key that we ought to use in
Interpreting his marvellous career.
Looking back over the period of
trials, he saw the hand of God mold
ing his life and fitting him through
the mysteries of providence to be the
preserver of his people. He recog-
nized that the most trivial and the
most important, and the most un-
likely circumstances were made to
minister to the development of Gods
purpose. Joseph's unfaitering loyalty
to the lessons he learned from his
father, Jacob. and grandfather. Abra
ham. enabled him to make a clean
record so that he became the pre-
server of his nation. He reaped as a
reward of his fidelity to Jehovah and
devotion to Him the honor of being
selected In accordance with Gods de-
sire. and plan as His instrument in
saving the children of Israel and pre-
pairing them for their mission in the
world. God has program for every
individuals life and He will make
all things work together for their
good and His glory. as He did in the
case of Joseph. il they will commit
the control Of their lives in faith to
His care and do His will
Some see in the Wartless life of
Joseph an excellent type OF the Lord
Jesus. Our first vision of a youth
in the Bible is the portrait of the
beloved son of Jacob. who had failed
to learn the lesson from his own ex-
perience that Partially among chill
dren in family will develop di :
visions and discords. This is seen
| his old age of a coat of many
colors." which indicated to the chill
lren of his three other wives that
their father had picked out Joseph to
be his heir The coat was not a
patchwork of colors, but long white
and wrists. and was embroidered
about the edge of the skirt and
sleeves with narrow strip Of color.
1t was worn only by the leisure class
This, together with his reports OF
their evil deeds. that he related to his
father. not as tattler. but in an
endeavor to preserve the family
standards and ideals, had served to
increase the hatred that they held
against the young man, who evidently
was his fathers faVorite son.
While there is an evidence of possi-
ble egotism in the life of the youth
Yet there is enough evidence of his
ability and character to have war
! ranted the fathers partiality. Nc
matter upon what grounds Jacob may
I have held il. nevertheless ii is un-
| justified In any parent to be partia
to their children. Joseph was not
ambitious or desirous for power. II
I he were he would not have told hi:
brothers concerning his dreams thai
! foretold of his coming supremacy
over his father and brothers. The
meaning of the dreams of the limo
cent youth was not then known Il
Joseph. although his father anC
brethren evidently understood Their
Significance. His brothers tried Il
make light of 1t by nicknaming hin
The Dreamer" In his gift of visior
and foresight the germ of his com
, ing greatness was made known. II
| is the dreamer whose initiative anC
vision has in every field made hin
lIe plO1SeT III lnS WOTlO progress.
Family hatred resulted in JOSEPH
being sold into slavery. 1t was only
/ the Intervention of Reuben that KEEP
the brothers from Staying him wheT
he came on mission from the father
to inquire concerning their welfare
| Nearly a quarter of a century later
they recalled how they had seen the
| anguish of his soul when they re.
fused to heed his cries for mercy
| while they were eating. During theil
absence caring for the fiocks Ram
say points out, the lads crying ir
the pit attracted the attention Of
Midianite merchants. who rescued
him, carried him to Egypt and solo
| him as a slave to Potiphar.
Joseph met the change in condi
| tions with the right spirit. He die
not find fault, claiming that he hat
done nothing to merit such punish
ment. He tried under every circum
| stance to practice the principles o1
{ religion that his father and grand
| father had taught him. This resulted
! in his rapid rise to power in the
home of Potpihar and brought hin
| face to face with a temptation tha
revealed his chastity. He was tempt
| ed in most subtle and intense wa.
| that would have caused others t.
| have fallen. but Joseph remembered
| his duty to God and his master a.
| well as his mistress. He exhibited al
| unusual type of chivalry when h,
| protected the woman against herself
| He was imprisoned, not for yielding
1 to temptation, but for refusing th'
| peculiar temptation that promised
pleasure, prestige and power sucl
| as he dreamed would be his as lad
| He endured the sufferings in thu
| "hole" in silence. refusing to in
| criminate the guilty person or ever
| to protect himself from the falls
| charge.
! The passage from power to prison