The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1945-08-30
JOsEPH's PLACE IN GODS PLAN

LESSON TEXT-Genesis 39:2O-23; AHA,
1G, 25, 4143.
GOLDEN TEXT-seest thou a man dill.
gent in his business? he shall stand be-
fore kings.-Proverbs q: 29.
Does it pay to trust God? Does
He know about the sorrows and the
troubles Of His people? Does He
have anything to do with the affairs
Of the world? Men are asking such
questions in our day, and we have
the answer in Gods dealings with
men in the past
The story Of Joseph is fascinating
from almost any angle, but it holds
no more important truth than that
the man who honors God in his life
will be honored by God Il Sam.
2;30), even in the hardest place, yes,
and in the highest position.
Joseph appears before us in our
lesson as
/. A Prisoner Pr0spered by God
(39:20-23).
1t is surprising how often one finds
Gods men in the Scriptures in pris-
on. Their determination to live up
right and honorable lives ran so
counter to the plans of the world
that in the inevitable clash there
came persecution.
The story of how Joseph became
the object of his brothers jealousy
and was sold as a slave into Egypt;
how bn +Ioro - H..
dlsgraced and imprisoned because
OF the lying accusation of an angry
Woman-all these are in the back
ground Of our lesson.
Now that he was in prison, pre-
sumably his influence was gone and
his usefulness at an end. Not so, for
God can be with a man in the pris-
on as well as in the palace.
He soon became the head man of
the jail. Imagine a prisoner taking
over the keepers work! Then, too,
he there met the kings chief butler
who, though forgetting for a time,
did eventually say the word which
brought Joseph back into power (see
Gen. 40:14-23; 41:9-13).
The obvious lesson and blessed
truth here is that when one of Gods
people finds himself in a difficult
place, he can rest assured that God
is there working out His own blessed
purpose. Why not trust Him and
look for His deliverance?
Joseph the God-prospered prison.
er now becomes
ii. A Prophet Prepared by God
(41:14-16, 25).
The hour had come when a man
was needed who had a word from
God. In preparation for the awful
years Of famine the Lord wanted to
use the land of Egypt as His great
granary. He wanted thus to pre-
serve the chosen nation of Israel.
as well as to meet the needs of
others.
The vision Of the king, plain as it
seemed when interpreted. was I'M
Ineligible without the key from
God, and He had his man prepared.
Joseph was ready to be called from
prison to speak the right word at
the right time.
How important it is that the
Lords messengers be prepared and
ready to respond in the hour of
His blessing and opportunity. Many
eager Christians look forward to the
months and years just ahead of us
as the greatest opportunity the
Church has had to spread the Cos
pei.
Notice that Joseph gave God the
glory wv. 1920. The one who really
knows what is going on in the world
IS quick to recognize that only the
wisdom and the grace of God are
sufficient for mans need. Let the
voice of Boosting mankind be
silenced and let the voice of God
speak!
Joseph's prophetic word marked
him as Gods man to carry out
Gods plan, SO we see him now as
III. A Premier Promoted by God
(41:41-43).
81 have set thee over all the
land" said Pharaoh, and so he had,
but in reality it was God who had
planned the whole matter. He
wanted Joseph there at this time,
and there he was.
1t may be well to stress the fact
that God is interested in govern
ment and in the men who hold pub
lie office. In fact, the only true
foundation for government is found
in God. We are told to "be subject
unto the higher powers. For there
is no power but of God: the powers
that be are ordained of God" (Rom.
13:D.
The Bible clearly teaches that ev-
cry governmental agency and every
public servant, from the police
man on the corner to the PresideRt
in the White House, is permitted to
exercise authority over his fellow
men only because God has ordained
that there should be such govern
ment.
Clear it is that every right
thinking official Of state and nation
should be humble, teachable, dis
Greet, and wise in the exercise Of his
power, and God-fearing in the dis
charge of his responsibility.
He who reads may apply the truth
of Gods Word to himself and find
personal blessing. 1t is a rich and
powerful and stimulating Word. Let
US use it for Gods glory!
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