The Coolidge examiner., 1937-06-17

GOLDEN TEXT-And be ye kind one
to another. tenderhearted. forgiving one
another. even as God for Christ's sake
hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32.
PRIMARY TOPIC-When Joseph Saw
His Father Again.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Joseph Honoring His
Father.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP.
1C-Kindness in the Family.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Mutual Helpfulness in the Family.
A happy ending-yes! Modern
writer's may look with disfavor on
it (and perhaps rightly so, for most
of them write about life apart from
fellowship with God) but to those
who trust God and who seek his
will, the story Of life has bright
and joyful conclusion.
But someone may object that the
lesson for today closes with the last
words of the book of Genesis, which
are "a coffin in Egypt" Is that
happy ending? 1t is. because even
that forbidding emblem OF death
pointed in faith toward the day when
God was to keep his promise and
bring his people into the promised
land.
Our lesson centers around the last
Of our patriarchs, Joseph, and his
kindness to his father and his fami-
ly. The highest official in the land
Of Egypt (save for Pharaoh him
self proves his inherent greatness
by forgetting position and power,
except as they enable him to be
loving son and brother. We consider
his kindness as it is centered in his
devotion to God, shown forth in
thoughtful provision for others, ex-
pressed in affectionate deeds, and
as it impaired itself by faith to 9TH
ers.
1. Founded on Fellowship (Gen.
46: 1-N.
Jacob, having heard from his sons
that Joseph was in Egypt, and hav-
ing thus learned of their treachery
ard deceit, came at last to realize
that his beloved Joseph is alive. He
has been urged to go to Egypt but
he kesitates about leaving Canaan.
How shall he know whether to be-
lieve in and respond to Joseph's in
vitation. He asks God, the One who
is the joy and center of Joseph's
life, and of Jacobs as we'll, and he
has his answer.
Real family life and devotion CEN
ter around mutual fellowship with
God There may be little else to
share, but little is much when
God is in it," Has God been honored
in your home? Has He been made
the center of family life? These are
vital questions.
II. Evidenced by Thoughtfulness
(vv. SD.
Joseph had arranged for Pharaoh
to send wagons to bring his aged
father, the women, and the little
ones.
Many in our day glory in being
"hard-boiled." In their relentless
pursuit of fame and riches they ig-
more and even trample on the men,
bers of their own families. They
are ashamed of the broken bodies,
the humble apparel, the uneducated
speech of their parents, fearing lest
their neW-found friends in the circle
of wealth and position may ridicule
&c but
preston that describes such persons
as stuffed Shirts" people with
front" but with empty heads and
hearts. God pity the young man or
woman who is ashamed of SIM
pie and humble father or mother!
iii. Manifested N Love (vv.
$500.
Joseph kissed his father whom he
had gone out to meet, and held him
close and wept for joy. Again he
showed his true greatness by being
his natural self
We are not all demonstrative in
showing our affection. Furthermore,
we would not plead for more of that
sham public expression of affection
which is so distaSteful to right-think-
ing people. But may we not suggest
that there is room for improvement
in our loving consideration for our
kindred. Let us ask ourselves how
H. lg it is since we did something
to show that we really love our
mother, our father, or faithful
wife, son, or daughter? How long
is it since you wrote home to moth
er, or went home to visit?
Nv. Impaired by Faith $50: 24-26).
Jacob had been gathered to his
fathers; time had gone on it's re-
lentless way, and Joseph is about to
die. What shall be the heritage to
his family? Money, property. posi-
ton? No; he leaves them something
infinitely more valuable-a forward
looking faith that will keep alive in
their hearts the expectation that
God will in due season bring them
into their own land. Joseph had
spent most of his years in Egypt,
he had attained high position and
great honor, but he never lost his
vision of the promised land. He
imparts to them by faith that hope.
When you and I die, will we be
able to say to our people, Il die: