The Coolidge examiner., 1937-06-10

continue. Hebrews 1871.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Benjamins Big
Brother
JUNIOR TOPIC-Big Brothers.
INTERMEDIATE TOPIC-Loving as a
Brother.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP.
IC-Self-Sacrifice in the Family.
The fundamental unit of society
is the family. It is of more i'm
portance than the state, the church,
and the social order of which it is
part. The breakdown of the home
and the sacred relationships sus-
tanned between parents and chill
dren, or brothers and sisters, points
to the destruction of society itself
God established the family in the
Garden of Eden. His plan and pur-
pose have never been changed, nor
have his laws for the protection of
the home, for the sanctity of mar
riage, for brotherly love, been set
aside. Men and nations may de-
wise other plans and follow the die
tates of the flesh, but that road al
ways leads to ruin.
The continuation of our story of
the life of Joseph and his brethren
brings before us today the filial and
paternal love of Judah, and affords
us an opportunity to stress true
brotherly devotion. No one should
fail to review the connection be-
tween the chapter before us and
the lesson of last week. Joseph had
been dealing with his brethren who
had failed to recognize him as the
one they had sold into captivity. He
was bringing them kindly but def
nitely to that point of repentance
at which he could show himself gra-
cious to them. In doing so he had
brought disaster upon them. Being
happily on their way homeWard
with a new supply of food, they
were overtaken and Benjamin., the
beloved of Jacob, stands accused as
a thief, and by their own words
condemned to die.
In this crisis the mouths of the
ten others are closed, but Judah,
who had really saved the life of
Joseph (Gen. 1926; 2O, stands
forth to make an eloquent and pa
thetic appeal to Joseph. 1t presents
him as a brother who is
I. Courageous
Easy rests the yoke of family life
as long as all is joyful and pros
porous. But when adversely strikes,
when sorrow comes, or sickness, or
sin, then the true test of devotion
is at hand.
1t was a brave and manly thing
for Judah to stand before the one
whom he knew only as the man
who was ''even as Pharaoh" The
circumstances were all against him.
He expected the flaming anger of
the offended ruler. His brethren had
collapsed in despair. 1t was one
of those dark hours which come to
every family when someone must
demonstrate true love by being
strong-hearted and steady.
III. Intelligent.
Crises call for more than cheer
full smile or an encouraging word,
much as they do mean in such an
hour. But we must be prepared by
our close contact with our loved ones
to speak and act with vigor and as
surance.
The plea of Judah is master
piece of logic, augmentation, and
appeal, demonstrating that judah
was not only Well-informed about
his family and its problems, but
ready to use his knowledge skill
fully and effectively.
iii. Sacrificial.
One step deeper goes the devo-
ton of this man to his father and
his brother He has done no wrong
that merits punishment, but evil
IDENTIFY his brother has been guilty.
Had he been of the spirit of Cain he
would have said Am 1 my broth
er's keeper" and let him answer
for himself. Why should he suffer
for another? Why should he allow
himself to be imprisoned in a
strange land to save his father from
sorrow and his brother from what
seemed to be the just reward for
his deeds?
Thus reasons the man of the
world, but such is not the language
of love. Let thy servant abide in
stead of the lad as a bondsmaR"-
so speaks the true brother. And
this is but a faint prefguring of the
One "Who sticketh closer than
brother" VINO though he was rich,
yet for your sakes became poor that
ye through his poverty might be
rich" prov. 1924; II Cor. 8:9.
Let us improve the opportunity to
review our relations with our own
family, to determine whether there
is aught that we in intelligent and
courageous self-sacrifice should do
for our own.