The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1945-09-07

Conservation of natural resources
that phrase has a modern touch to
it, and yet we would do well to turn
back to the story of Joseph in Egypt
| and learn anew the Importance of
not wasting what we have if we are
to be fed in the days of shortage.
Certain it is that we should face
at once the shameful record Of
waste in the manufacture and sale
OF intoxican This is temperance
Sunday. yet us not fail to stress this
truth.
Joseph recognized the provision of
God and rnade use of it for His glory
| and the good of the people.
1. FOod-God's Provision. wv. 49,
49).
AS men work with God in the cul-
tNation Of the land they are apt
| to begin TO think of themselves as
producers, when they are actually
only the servants of the Lord in the
orderly cure of that which He pro-
vides.
We need to renew our sense of
| complete dependence upon God lest
we become proud of our own sup
| posed attninments and forget Him.
Then He will have to withhold His
bountiful hand and we shall stand
with empty measures.
Remember, too, that what God
has given to feed the nations cannot
with impunity be used for the manu-
facture of intoxicating beverages
| which are designed and used for no
good purpose-only for destruction.
Let's not forget that God could send
us famine, too!
The manner in which Joseph cared
for the gathering of the grain is
worth noting. He did not sit in his
royal office and send out an edict.
| He went throughout the land build
ing storehouses, seeing that the
grain was properly conserved.
We need more Of that personal
| touch in government. Too much Of
life is controlled by 'directives' and
"ruley' with too little of the touch
OF human kindness and a personal
knowledge of the needs of the peo-
| pie.
Observe also the wisdom Of stor-
ing the food in the place where it
| was raised and where it would
eventually be needed. No shipping
and re-shipping, no undue centraliza-
ton, and no temptation to form a
/ special grain bureaucracy"
III. Family-GOd's Gift wv. 50-52).
From among the Gentiles, Joseph
took himself bride. While it is
not indicated, we have reason to as
sumo that she was a believer in the
true God. One cannot imagine a
man Of Joseph's character and spir-
itual integrity marrying an unbe-
lever.
The sons which came into the
home were recognized as Gods gift.
Note how God was counted into the
life of these boys and of the home.
We spoke above about the need
of conserving grain. Think now of
the infinitely more important con-
servation of boys and girls.
The liquor interests have used this
war to create taste for beer on
the part of millions of young men
and women, both in the armed serv-
ices and in our war plants. They
have broken down the objections and
the religious principles of many and
we are almost at the point where
one who objects is regarded as a
foolish fanatic.
If America cannot with impunity
use her grain to make booze, do
you think God will hold us guiltless
if we stand idly by and let the
rapacious breweries and distilleries
take our boys and girls? It is high
time that we awakened to our re-
sponsibility and stood up for our con-
victions, come what may!
iii. Famine 49, Gods Opportunity
wv. $3.50.
Now the time had come when
Gods word to Joseph was proved to
be true. When His loyal servant
stood before the world as the one
who was in touch with the infinite
One, he had the food to give out
because he had obeyed Gods COM
mand.
It is in the crises of life that the
things of God prove themselves.
When mans hand drops n weak
ness and despair, God steps in and
does the abundant thing; that is, If
we are willing to recognize Him.
There is another sense in which
the coming Of famine was Gods OBJ
portunity, for it gave Him the
chance He wanted to speak to men.
In the days of plenty and prosperity
mankind is self-sufficient and too
busy to listen to God, but when there
is no food to eat, he has time to
hear God.
One wonders, with wonder that
Is almost agonizing at times, wheth-
er America is going to force God to
bring hunger of body to her children
in order to make their hearts hum
ger for Him. viii we wait to crv
out to God until we have felt the
sharp pangs of hunger, or will we