Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-06-04
JOSEPH THE WORKER.
Genesis, xxx, l-4l, 81.
Golden Text: "Seest thou q
man diligent in his business? He
shall stand before kings. Prov
cribs xxii.29.

We saw in our study last week that
Joseph had stirred up bitter family
feud by reporting his dreams to the
other members of his family. HIS IA
theirs Partially added to the feeling, SO
that when they saw him approaching
them one day. while they were feeding
the flocks in Dothan. they proposed to
Stay him. He would have been muir
dered then, II Reuben had not inter-
fered, planning to save his life. This
he would have done, II the other broth
ers had not decided during his absence
to sell him as slave to some Mlolan-
ties, who were en- route to Egypt. Ihey
sold him to Potiphar, an ofhcer OF
Pharaoh. Due to the fact that Jehovah
was with Joseph, the young slave BE-
came a prosperous man IN the mouse OF
the captain Of Pharaoh's guard fotl-
phar observed his fidelity and the results
of his work, so that he was moved 70
favorable results.
His promotion resulted in Joseph be-
ing called upon to face moral test
that would have caused most young
mems downfall. Potiphar's wife was
attracted by the appearance OF the
young overseer to that extent That she
made improper proposals to him. Al
though few would have mastered the
Establishments of his masters wife, yet
through the grace Of God he made
quick decision and fed. Men are usu-
ally supplied with conscience by women
but to be called upon to supply both 1oI
himself and the tempting woman called
for high sense Of honor. Joseph, In
his refusal revealed the realization OF
his responsibility to his master, the be-
sieglng woman. and God, when he told
Potiphsr's wife, no. He hath put all
things in my hand. How then can
do this great wickednesS and SIN against
God?" We see in his linking together
this double incentive to loyalty and
fidelity the key to his character and
success through the grace OF GOD.
Joseph Imprisoned.
If he had consented to the woman's
request. he would have enjoyed her In
fuence pushing him upward. When he
refused, she feared exposure, so made a
false report of his actions. which re-
suited in his being imprisoned for doing
right. He would have been crushed by
these experiences except for the pres
ence Of the Lord. who sustained him
enabled him to be faithful to his tasks
so that he won the confidence Of his
jailer. Gods sustaining grace kept him
He helped Joseph to meet the tests OF
injustice, encouragement and humilia-
ton. AS a result Of his troubles, he
grew in sympathy and became the con-
fidant Of the other prisoners. They saw
that he possessed something that they
lacked. for God was with him"
Among the prisoners were two men
who told Joseph about their strange
dreams. He interpreted them to the
baker and Pharoahs butler. He did not
hesitate to inform the baker that he
would suffer death in three days and
the butler that he was to be freed. re-
stored to his former place OF power
and requested that he remember him
Some months passed before the butler
recalled his promise to Joseph. The
ruler of Egypt was disturbed by dream
that he could not understand. He found
none among his wise men that could
give him any possible light. The butler
Joseph and his ability to interpret
dreams, so he told Pharaoh about
Joseph and his marvellous power II
resulted in his being summoned to the
palace.
Before leaving the prison Joseph
made the best possible preparation with
the clothing at his disposal to see to il
that his personal appearance should
help him when he was called to appear
before Pharaoh Joseph shaved and
changed his clothing before going before
the ruler. Standing before Pharaoh. he
humbly acknowledged his Indebtedness
to God for any skill he had in inter-
preting dreams Joseph knew from his
experience in Egypt that the people de-
pended upon the Nile overlooking its
banks for the fertility of their land
Early in Spring, after the snow begins
to melt in the Abyssinian mountains,
the waters of the Nile start to overflow
and carry a rich mud over the fields.
This deposit is left behind when the
river returns to its old channel. In
this alluvial deposit corn grows like
magic, but it will not grow in the desert
beyond the demarcation of the flood.
This may have aided him in the solu-
ton Of Pharaoh's dream for he told
the ruler that it meant that they were
TO enjoy seven prosperous years and
then would come seven years of famine.
Joseph Made Vfceroy.
He advised that Pharaoh should seek
out some capable man who would see to
1t that during the days of prosperity
they should collect as tax or by pur-
chase secure at least one-fifth of the
corn crop during each of the seven pros
porous years. store it SO that there would
be food for the people during the seven
following years, when they would have
famine. We can understand the sudden
promotion of Joseph to be the prime
minister when We learn that in all prob
ability he was named to that Office by
the Pharoah who was one of the Hyksos
conquerors who ruled Egypt for long
period. The fact that he was not an
Egyptian would appeal to them more
than if he were a native, for they would
expect him to work in harmony with
them. Immediately upon his appoint