Evening star., 1926-06-19

sold into slavery his dream OF su-
premacy over his brethern was full
| filled. Jacob would never have per-
mitted his son to have undergone the
experience that were required to give
him the position of viceroy over
Egypt The transitions of his thrilling
| life are told us in a dramatic un-
| folding OF the events. which the
| brilliant ruler recognized to be the
| providential leading of God. 1t is inn
| portant that we learn how we are
being fitted by the daily trials. tempta
tions and triumphs for the mission
that is given us individually from
above to fulfill. 1t was due to the
| fact that Joseph had walked with
God and been sustained by Him dur
| ing the dark days when he travelled as
slave boy away from his fathers
home, and when he was imprisoned
| because of the iniquity of Potiphars
wife that the officials of Pharaoh s
court recognized that he was "a man
in whom the Spirit of God is" that he
was given his position of power.
During the next seven years Jo-
seph. who had been exalted by Pha.
raoh and called Zaphnath paaneah.
which scholars tell us means saviour
of the world" was busy at his task
of conservation of the food resources
of Egypt. 1t was not easy to secure
the cooperation of the natives of the
land whose fertility had been in
creased year after year by the waters
of the Nile. They considered that
there was no need for such economy.
They naturally objected to his policy
of building the great granaries and
fill them year after year. II called
for patient persistence and constant
industry. Waste had to be checked
o,-,1 L. ~ 80
tracts had to be made. Transporta
ton had to be developed. The un.
limited authority conferred upon 10
seph was required to compel the
farmers TO cultivate all their land
and to sell the wheat at the estab-
lished governmental price.
Hoover followed the plans of Joseph
in seeking to conserve the food supply
of America for the allies during the
World War. Joseph's plans resulted
during the period of famine of binding
the people hand and foot" TO an
absolute monarchy. TO that extent
that all the lands. except that of the
priests. became the possession of Pha
raoh. The nation became serfs who
contributed 90 per cent of their earn
ings to their ruler as q land tax
Hoover followed the plans of Joseph
in conservation. but he did II 90 that
the world would be free and democ
racy be perpetuated. The results of
the efforts OF both men reachd beyond
the lands in which they worked.
Testing His Brethren.
Famine had reached into Canaan
until there was want and woe on
every side This resulted in Jacob
sending 10 of his sons into Egypt to
H,,.v int
his presence and bowed before him,
the dreams of his boyhood days were
fulfilled. He recognized the men, who
had treacherously sold him into for
eign slavery, but they did not know
that the ruler was their brother, Jo-
seph. They had long since given him
u as dead, because the average life
Of the slave was short. They did not
recognize in the distinguished Egypt
ian executive, the lad from whom
they had taken the coat Of many
original design OF the Kettle tribal
colors.,
1t required great strength OF char
acter for Joseph to conceal his ident
ity and to forgive the wrongs that he
had suffered during those days of
homesickness and sorrow. His
brethern had despised him. butt the
proudest priesthood of the world had
opened its family to him. for he had
married Asaenath. the daughter OF
Poti-pherah, the priestof On. This
hight priest of the Sun wprshipers
was one of the leading msh in the
country. Admid the royal and other
high honors that had been bestowed
upon him. Joseph preserved his humil.
ity. He saw that all the events of his
career were used of God to develop
his character and were ordered OF
Him. This kept him from cherishing
any resentment against his brethern
FOR the wrongs that they had inflicted
In the years gone by. Before bestow
ing upon them the forgiveness and
love that he cherished for them he
tested them to ascertain whether they
were the same men as when filled
with envy and hatred they sold him
into slavery at Dothan.
Back Of each test. even to, the re.
quirement that they must bring his
brother. Benjamin, when they came
again. was the desire to learn what
the 20 years had done for them. He
was filed with JOY at the news that
his father and brother were still alive.
which in that day without the modern
postal service. he could not have as
certained until God brought them as
was when he caused Benjamin to be
returned to him, when Judah's plea
proved that they were changed men.
Judah's Plea.
When the II men stood in the pres
ence of Joseph, the 10 rough and
selfish brothers gave evidence that
they had been softened by the sorrow
which they had brought upon their
father in selling Joseph. They were
desire to protect Jacob from further
Benjamin. whom, they saw, faced the
peril of slavery, because the cup was
found In his bag when the bags were
searched by the officers of the court,
Judah delivered one Of the noblest
speeches that has come down to US In
the literature of the world.
No one who reads the words of the
eloquent pleader for his brothers
life. knowing the circumstances Of the
1t breathes of the spirit of the soul
plea, can be unmoved by its appeal.
who has been moved to its very
depths. 1t shows his courage and yet
his humility. He pictures the need
for sustenance that compelled them
to seek his aid and his requirement
that they should bring Benjamin.
There is no effort TO refute the evil
dence of the presence of the cup, al.
though they can't explain it's pres
ence. But he presses home that Ben
jamin's presence was due to his
orders.
In turning to paint the fathers sor-