Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1942-09-10

really concerned about the affairs
of men? Does He know the trials
and the heartaches of His children?
These are the crying questions Of
today, and they find their answer
in Gods dealings with men Of the
past. The story of Joseph has many
interesting and instructive phases,
but perhaps the most important just
now is the truth of our lesson. THE
Lord saith them that honor
me will honor"
We first find Joseph as he learns
that
1. Jealousy Bears Bitter Fruit
wv. $500.
Joseph was his fathers favorite
and was shown that favoritism in
many ways, but it was perhaps most
fully expressed in the coat of many
colors. This was a luxurious long
robe with sleeves, indicating that he
was gentleman and not to do or
binary work of one who wore the
sleeveless, knee-length tunic. His
brothers deeply resented this evil
dence of the fathers favor.
The dreams which Joseph rather
innocently yet perhaps unwisely
told to his brothers and his honest
report of their wicked behavior
famed the flame Of jealousy into
consuming fire which threatened his
life. But God, through Joseph's
brother Judah and through the OPP
portunity they had to make money
out Of selling him into slavery, kept
him for His own purposes.
May we not learn that the darkest
hour may be the time of Gods deep
interest and directing power. The
only way strong men can be devel-
oped is by suffering hardness and
trial. God wants iron saints. and
since there is no way of imparting
iron to the moral nature than by
letting His people suffer, He lets
them suffer (Heb. 12:1D" (Meyer).
Parents should also learn here the
dangers of favoritism among chill
dren. It is one of the most destruc- .
tive of evil influences that can enterl
a home. It hurts the child who is
favored, alienates the other chill
dren, and it destroys confidence in
parents and respect for their author
ity. Let's have none of I'll
II. Deceit Attempts to Conceal
Sin wv. 31-36.
One of the tragic things about sin
is that a wicked act does not stand
alone but leads into another sin to
cover the first. In the case Of
Joseph's brethren, their sin against
him was covered by deceit. They
lied to the father and maintained
that lie for years, even though they
saw that their aged father was
brokenhearted. How callous sin
makes the heart Of mani
Yet the very fact that they lied
to cover their sin indicates that they
were ashamed to admit that they
had fallen so low. James Strahan
well says: Evil never dares to be
sincere. 1t always borrows the col.
ors and wears the garb of inno-
cence. It has a whole lifetime Of
hard labor in keeping up appear
ances. Hypocrisy is the tribute
which all bad men have to pay to
the ideal of goodness"
III. God Overrules Evil for Good
". 36).
1t was Gods plan that Joseph
should come to his greatest useful
ness in his place of authority in
Egypt. so He directed the sale Of
the young slave into the home Of
Potiphar, a leading officer Of
Pharaoh.
The story of Joseph's life in
Potiphar's house is one of unusual
interest. Faithfulness to duty, 10y
atty to God and truth led to shifting
experiences of imprisonment and Of
favor, but ultimately he came out
into the place Of leadership in the
government Of Egypt. In this place
God marvelously blessed and used
him.
Since the matter of the relation
of men to government is so much
before us these days, it win be well
to note that Scripture holds a very
exalted view of the public servant.
Paul says we are to be subject unto
the higher powers. For there is no
power but of God: the powers that
be are ordained of Cod (Rom.
13:D. The Bible clearly teaches
that every governmental agency
and every public servant, from the
policeman on the beat to the Presi-
dent in the White House, is only per-
mitted to exercise authority over his
fellowmen because God has or
dained that there should be such
government. Clear it is that every
right-thinking official of state and
nation should be humble, teachable.
discreet, and wise in the exercise Of
his power, and God-fearing in the
discharge of his responsibility.
Our lesson provides unusual op-
portunity for the teaching of proper
family relationships, the right at.
titude toward government. as well
as the blessed assurance and CON
fidence which we may have who
have intrusted our lives into tie
hands of God.