Evening star., 1924-01-12

Every day we are lediAiHS SoihC
thing new of the discoveries made
by the American archeologist Carter
| in connection with the tomb of
| Tut -ankh- Amen. Its magnificent and
| elaborate contents, which have
amazed the world by its splendor
and value, are visible remains and
abundant testimony that establishes
by incontestable proofs the advanced
civilization possessed by Egypt dur
ing the long sojourn of Israel in that
Gncient, picturesque and prosperous
| land.
There is no finer piece of narration
| in all literature than the dramatic
story of Joseph. who was the heroic
| hgure in the early days of the So
journ of his father and brethren In
Egypt. The fayorite child OF his
father, who revealed his attitude to-
ward him by his generosity and
favuritism, became through mlsfor-
tune the victim or his brother
wrath. The providential passing of
the merchantmen en- route to Egypt
resulted in his being sold as a slave
rather than being murdered. There
is no evidence that the young boy
was filled with despair when he was
cast into the pit or when they pulled
His remarkab poise did not desert
him when he became the slave in the
home of Potiphar. His faith and
prayer life sustained him in the
darkest hours. even when he appeared
to have been forsaken. His fellow
ship with Jehovah gave him personal
power and character that made
Linn superior to his circumstances.
4 shameful and false charge, made
gainst him because he would not
l.. ae-$a s,l
resulted in his being cast into prison.
His faith filed him with courage and
sustained him during these dark days.
when he proved himself to be d man
of worth and helpfulness.
Joscph's case appeared to be hope
less. but he did not allow it to keep
him from seeking out means and meth
DDS of helping others. The surest
cure for grief is to attempt TO aid
others Joseph found his opportunity
one day, when two of the prisoners,
who were formerly prominent officers
of Pharaoh, were disturbed about
their dreams. He gave them correct
interpretations of their dreams, which
came true. The officer who was re-
stored to favor forgot for over two
years the Hebrew slaves service
He recalled the power of Joseph to
interpret dreams when Pharaoh was
disturbed over his dreams and spoke
of the obscure Hebrew prisoner s
prison to the palace. where his per
sonality and powers impressed the
Egyptian ruler so much that he
made him prime minister and en-
dowed him with unlimited powers TO
prepare, by the conservation of the
nations food, for the predicted days
of famine.
The consciousness of the guiding
hand of Jehovah. who had sustained
Joseph in all of his former trials,
=. nf ~
bis constructive statesmanlike efforts
to prevent the portentous calamity
from destroying the great empire,
whose prosperity. position and power
were derived from the waters of the
Nile His vision and preparation to
avert the consequences of the coming
famine revealed the genius of mas
ter mind When the days of trial
filled the land, Joseph was prepared
to carry the great empire of the Nile
and even feed other surrounding ma
tions. Among those who came to
Egypt seeking food. which the econ
omy, industry and patient persist.
ence of the grand vizier had stored
up in great abundance. were the
brethren of >Joseph, whose hatred of
him over twenty years before had re-
suited in his being promoted from
the prison to the palace.
Nothing could be more touching
diateiy preceding his forgiveness of
his brethren, who literally were
called upon to fulfill the dream of
Josephs youth. 1t was wonderful
contrast between the scene at the
pit and the one in the palace where
revealed to them how he saw the
leadership of Jehovah in the provi-
Dental manner that transferred him
from being slave to being the
savior of his own family and ma
tion, as we'll as the great Egyptian
empire.
We may be able to trace how the
natural bitterness toward them when
they first applied to him for aid
gradually disappeared as he saw the
taken place in their hearts. especi-
aIiy in reference to their aged father
and Benjamin, his youngest broth
er. If any animosity had remained
it disappeared as he listened to the
for Benjamin and his father, Jacob
The evidence which he gave of their
true repentance made Joseph deSir-
GUS of saving his people and so he
arranged for them to return home
the family with their possessions to
Egypt.
which they brought to him from
Joseph made the aged man desirous
of seeing Joseph, whom he had loved
ALI these years, while he thought he
was dead. Before undertaking the
journey to Egypt. Jacob communed
with Jehovah at Beer-sheba. God
told him that He was sending them
down into Egypt for a divine pur-
pose and that He would develop ia
cob's family into a great nation while
there and would then restore them
to the Holy Land. Encouraged by