Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1937-06-18

JOSEPH'S KINDNESS TO HIS
KINDRED

LESSON TExr-Genesis &s:l.7. 3a-,o:
so;a+2s.
GOLDEN TExr--And be yc kind one
to another. tenderhesrted. forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's sake
hath forgiven you. EpheSians <:u-
PRIMARY TOPIC-when Joseph Saw
His Father Again.
JUNIOR ToPIc-JOseph Honoring His
Father
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
TC-Kindness In the Family.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
| Ic--Mutual Helpfulness In TIA Family.
A happy ending-yes! Modern
writers may look with disfavor on
it tand 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
win. 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 ending7 II Is, because even
that forhidding 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 farni-
ly. The highest Official in the land
| Of Egypt (save for Pharaoh him
seD 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 1t is conferred in his
| devotion to God. shown forth in
thoughtful provision for others, ex-
pressed In affectionate deeds, and
as IL impaired itself by faith to eth
ers.
I. Founded ON Fellowship tGen.
4s:1D.
Jacob. having heard from his sons
that Joseph was in Egypt. and hav-
ing thus learned Of their treachery
and deceit, came at last to realize
that his beloved Joseph is alive. He
has been urged to 60 to Egypt but
he hesitates 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 well. 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.
| III. Evidenced by Thoughtfulness
wv. 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 mem
bers Of their own families. They
are ashamed Of the broken bodies,
the humble apparel the uneducatsd
speech Of their parents. fearing lest
their new-found friends in the circle
Of wealth and position may ridicule
them. There Is a crude but apt ex-
preston that describes such persons
as "stufed shirts" people with a
front" but with empty heads and
hearts. God pity the young man or
woman who Is ashamed Of SIM
pie and humble father or motherl
III. Manifested n Love WV.
$3.50.
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
IL Il II Is since we did something
to show that we really love our
mother. our father. or a faithful
. wife, son, or daughter? How long
Is II since you wrote home to moth
err, or went home to visit?
w. Impaired by Faith $50: 24-20
4 jacob had been gathered 20 his
fathers: time had gone on Its re-
lentless way, and Joseph Is about to
} die. What shall be the heritage to
his family7 Money, property. posi-.
! ton! No; he leaves them something
. infinitely more valuable-a forward
looking faith that win 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 bis
vision of the promised lapd. He
imparts to them by faith that hope.
When you and I die. will we be
able to say TO our people, II die:
hut God will =" ". 2D7
Pleasure and Pain
The elements Of pleasure and pain