The midland journal., 1945-09-14

LESSON TEXT-Genesis 44:18-3.
GOLDEN TEXT-How shall go UP to
my father, and the lad be not with me?-
Genesis M:34.
The family is the fundamental
unit Of stciety, and is therefore Of
more Importance than the church,
the state, or the social order Of
which it is vital part. Every force
which encourages the breakdown Of
the sacred relationships Of the home
and family Is set for the destruction
Of society itself.
Men have too often chosen to 60
the way Of the flesh, and therefore
they have disregarded Gods plan
and purpose. But the home Is just
as sacred as ever In His sight, and
brotherly love still finds q high
place among the virtues of real
men.
The family comes before us as we
continue the study Of Joseph's life.
AS we study il we bear in mind Jo-
seph's dealings with his brethren,
who as yet did not recognize him as
the one they had sold into captivity.
He was bringing them kindly but
definitely to the point of real repent
ance, so that he could show himself
gracious to them.
To do so he had brought disaster
upon them. Being happily on their
way homeward with a new supply
Of food, they were overtaken and
proved to be thieves, and Benjamin,
the beloved of their father Jacob,
stood condemned to death by their
own words.
In that crisis the mouths Of the
others seemed closed, but Judah,
who had really saved Joseph's life
(Gen. 1925, 27), and who had appar-
emily finally come to himself as a
man of essential goodness, pleaded
for Benjamin's life.
That plea presented a truly sac
rifcial brotherly love, as he mani
tested
/. Courage ". 18).
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.
It 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 cir
cumstancss were all against him.
He expected the flaming anger of
the offended ruler. His brethren had
collapsed in despair. It was one of
those dark hours which come to
every family when someone must
demonstrate true love by being
strong-hearted and fearless.
III. Intelligence wv. 1929. F.,
We have become so accustomed
to accomplishing things by the use
OF words that we are in danger Of
substituting speech for action. Even
In times of sorrow or need we send
well-wOrded card or telegram, and
regard our mission as accom-
plished.
Words have their place, but there
comes a time when they must be
coupled with intelligent action.
Crises call for more than a cheerful
smile or an encouraging word, much
as they may mean in such an
hour. We must be prepared by our
close contact with our loved ones to
speak and act with vigor and as
surance.
III. SeH-denial wv. 30-33).
One step deeper goes the devotion
| OF this man to his father and his
brother. He had done no wrong that
merited punishment, but evidently
his brother Benjamin had been
guilty. Had he been of the spirit of
Cain he would have said, "Am my
brothers keeper" and let him an
swer for himself. Why should Judah
suffer for another? Why should he
allow himself to be imprisoned In
q 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 the true brother. He says, 'Let
thy servant abide instead Of the
lad as bondman." Well and cour-.
ageously spoken!
~. Love ". 34).
Love for father and brother UNDER
lies all of the courage, conviction
and self-sacrifice of a man like
Judah. In his younger years, and
possibly under the influence of his
brothers, he had failed in that re-
spect, but now his real devotion to
his brother was evident.
That affection was a real, power
full and beautiful thing, and yet it Is
but faint prefiguring of the affec-
tion of the One who "sticketh closer
than a brother" who Though he
was rich, yet for your sakes he be-
came poor, that ye through his pow
erty 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
. Il A