p. 14 | INTERNATIONAL SERIES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 16, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 42.

INTERNATIONAL SERIES

The Sunday School

INTERNATIONAL SERIES

LESSON 3.—OCTOBER 20.—JOSEPH EXALTED.

Lesson Scripture, Gen. 41: 38–49, R.V.

38 “And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a 39 one as this, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee 40 all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou: thou shalt 41 be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled; only in the throne will I be greater than 42 thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about 43 his neck; and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he set 44 him over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up 45 his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-phera priest of On. And 46 Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went 47 throughout all the land of Egypt. And in the seven plenteous 48 years the earth brought forth by handfuls. And he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. 49 And Joseph laid up corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.”

Golden Text.—“Them that honor Me I will honor.” 1 Sam. 2: 30.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) When the king of Egypt would find a man to oversee the work of storing food for seven years, what kind of person did he seek? Verse 38. Note 1. (2) What was his estimate of Joseph’s fitness for the place? Verse 39. (3) Then to what position was Joseph assigned? Verses 40, 41. Note 2. (4) How was the appointment certified? Verses 42, 43. Note 3. (5) How was Joseph’s authority further emphasized by Pharaoh? Verse 44. Note 4. (6) What name did the king give to Joseph? Who was given to him for a wife? Verse 45. Note 5. (7) How old was Joseph at this time? What is said of his entry upon the duties of his office? Verse 46. (8) What is said of the product of the earth for seven years? Verse 47. Note 6. (9) What plan did Joseph adopt in storing the abundant crops? Verse 48. (10) What is said of the quantity that was gathered into the storehouses? Verse 49.

NOTES.

1. “Such a One.”—Pharaoh had dreamed two dreams, and none of the wise men of Egypt could interpret them. Then the chief butler, whose dream Joseph had interpreted so faithfully two years before, remembered the young Hebrew, who was still in prison. He also remembered his promise to speak to the king in behalf of Joseph. So he told Pharaoh of his own dream while in prison, and of the young Hebrew prisoner who had correctly interpreted it. The king sent for Joseph immediately, and the young man told him that his dreams were to show that there would be seven years of plentiful crops, followed by seven years of famine. He also advised the king to select a man “discreet and wise” who would oversee the laying up of food during the years of plenty, to provide against the time of famine. It was “such a one” that Pharaoh desired to find.

2. Joseph had given the credit to God for wisdom to interpret the dreams both of the chief butler and of the king. And now he receives the return honor. It was because God was with him that the king decided to choose him for the place. Pharaoh wisely judged that the man so endowed would be wiser and more discreet than one who was dependent solely upon his own wisdom. Thus Joseph profited by giving God the honor due to His name.

3. The ring was the seal by which the king’s indorsement was given to all State documents. Joseph could now use the king’s authority in giving any orders he chose. In the East, it is said, men in authority do not sign their names. They have seals in which their names and titles are engraven, and impressions from these serve the purpose of seal and signature in our country. These seals are usually on rings or bracelets.

4. The absolute authority given to Joseph was, no doubt, essential to his work, as his interpretation of the dream would be received with hesitancy by many of the people. And the great emphasis laid upon his elevation would be necessary even to impress Joseph himself with the fact. He had learned humbleness of mind, or God would not yet have permitted him to be so exalted, and it would be difficult for him to assume the authority necessary to the position.

5. Joseph’s new name, Zaphenath-paneah, is defined by Canon Cook as “bread of life.” It is also defined, “governor of the place of life,” by other authorities.

6. “By handfuls” means in great abundance, some commentators say that one grain produced a handful. Egypt was ordinarily very productive of grain, and during these seven years the product was exceptionally abundant.

(See article, “Joseph Exalted,” on page 6 of this paper.)