Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1926-06-10
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SlnnldaySchool
' Lesson '
(By REV. P. B. FITZwATER. ID, Dean
Of Day and Evening Schools, Moody Bible
Institute of Cnicago)
tG 1926 Western Newspaper Union.)
Lesson for June Is
JosEPH's FIDELITY

JosEPH's FIDELITY
LESSON TExT-Genesis 39:1-23.
GOLDEN TsXT-Seest thou a man
dilgent in his business: he shall stand
before kings-Prov. 1928.
PRIMARY TOPIC-A Noble Slave
Boy.
haved as a Slave.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Passing Severe Tests.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Triumphing ever Trials
|. Joseph, the Well Beloved Son
1873.
He was Jacobs favorite son, partly
due to the fact that he was the son
of the wife of his first love and the
son of his old age, but mainly because
of the superior qualities he possessed.
H. Joseph's Fidelity as a Son
(37:12-1T.
Josephs brethren had gone to She
chem, some fifty miles from Hebron,
where there was plenty of pasture for
their focks. After time Jacob be-
came anxious as to their welfare and
dispatched Joseph, now about seven
teen years old, for the purpose of ind
ing out their condition. He did not
allow the envious hatred of his breth-
rem to deter him from his duty, but
willingly responded Here am /. - He
no doubt realized that his mission
was fraught with great perils-ex-
posture to wild beasts robbers, and the
murderous hatred of mis- brethren. His
fidelity is shown in two ways.
/. The fact that his father sent him
on such a long and dangerous journey
to bring back word concerning his
brethren shows that he had proved
himself to be a trustworthy character
2. His brave and glad response to
his fathers request. He responded
to his fathers confidence
III. Josephs Fidelity as Slave
$50 :1-19).
/. Sold to the Ishmaelltes (37 :2S).
At the sight of Joseph, the murder
Gus envy of his brethren was stirred
up They first proposed to kill him in
order to prevent his dreams coming
true Finally, the prudent suggestion
of Judah to sell him to the Midianites
prevailed and he was carried to Egypt
and sold to Potiphar as slave.
2 His prosperity while slave in
Potiphar's house go .2-16).
The secret of Joseph's prosperity
was that the Lord was with him ".
p. This prosperity consisted:
(1) OF being accorded the privilege
of Potiphar's house, t. e., his private
residence instead of his fields or pub
lie buildings.
(2) He became Potiphar's personal
attendant ". ~. Observing Joseph's
fidelity Potiphar chose him to give at
tention to his personal affairs.
CO He was made oyerseer over
Potiphar's house (v. ~. AS per-
sonal attendant he proved himself to
be so capable that he was made adj
ministrator over his estate including
his household. He no doubt pur-
chased all supplies and had charge of
the servants.
(4) He brought prosperity to Poti-
phar ". 81.
The Lord blessed Potiphar for Jo-
seph's sake.
/ (5) He possessed an attractive per-
sonality ". 81. His fine physique
and commanding personality were
gifts from God. All our gifts should
ne consecrated to the Lord who gave
them.
g. His temptation wv. I'D.
! His very attractive person became
I his peril Potiphar's wife became in
1 fatuated with this handsome slave,
{ and attempted to induce him to com
nit adultery with her. He resisted
! this temptation because yielding would
have been to sin against his master
and his God The man who is faith
full to God will be faithful to his fell
\ lowmen.
w. Joseph's Fidelity as a Prisoner
4 wv. 1929.
/ Being defeated in her wicked pur-
/ pose, Potiphar's wife accused Joseph
| falsely. Because of her charge he
was thrust into prison. Potiphar must
not have really believed his wife or
i else lie Woulu naive put JOSepu 70
/ death. lie did to him the least that
was possible under the circumstances.
Because of his purity and untlinching
loyalty to God and man. God was with
1 him even in the prison.
l. The Lord gave him favor in the
sight of the keeper of the prison (v.
/ 21). This keeper was none other than
Potiphar himself (40:3, cf. 39:D.
,. He was given charge of the pris-
4 oners (v. ~.
Potiphar knew Joseph's ability and
faithfulness, therefore gave him en-
| ployment in this new place.
3. The Lord made him prosperous
". 80.
Joseph's success was due to the
hand Of his God upon him.
0rd;parv Duf:as. 0f 7 ;fa