Article August 20, 1910 Issue

JOSEPH'S SUCCESS

REV. W. G. SCHOPPE.

We are told in the 39th chapter of Genesis that "the Lord was with Joseph, ... and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison." When considered in its setting this statement is of striking significance. It indicates the secret of man's dominion over the earth, which depends upon the mental attitude which never quite fails to discern, at some point of experience, the hand of God, and never loses itself in what seems to contradict the divine presence.

Partiality in the home, the coat of many colors, the evil report, the dreams of their sheaves bowing to his sheaf, of the sun, moon, and eleven stars doing obeisance to him,—all these things had awakened a savage envy in Joseph's brethren. The father sent him to see if it was well with his brothers and with the flock. On his approach they said, "Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, ... and we shall see what will become of his dreams." It is the mortal blunder of the ages,—kill the dreamer and stop the dream; but the sacrifice only fulfils it. "Blood of martyrs is the seed of religion."

The schemers cast Joseph into a pit, and sit down to eat bread. A caravan is passing. Judah says, "What profit is it if we slay our brother, ... let us sell him to the Ishmaelites." And Judah claims credit for the sale. The word "slay" is repulsive; "sell," in comparison, sounds pleasing. According to the comparative standard of mortals, who are prone to reject the absolute, and evil deed, displacing a more evil deed contemplated, seems a virtue. So the brethren sold Joseph into Egypt. Then they dipped his coat in the blood of a kid and sent it to their father, saying, "This we have found." And Jacob said, "An evil beast hath devoured him." (This seems unfair to the beast.)

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