1 “And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that 2 Pharaoh dreamed; and, behold, he stood by the river. And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, well 3 favored and fat fleshed; and they fed in the reed grass. And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favored and lean fleshed; and stood by the other kine upon 4 the brink of the river. And the ill-favored and lean-fleshed 5 kine did eat up the seven well-favored and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. And he slept and dreamed a second time; and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank 6 and good. And, behold, seven ears, thin and blasted with the 7 east wind, sprung up after them. And the thin ears swallowed up the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, 8 and, behold, it was a dream. And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof; and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that 9 could interpret them unto Pharaoh. Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this 10 day; Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, me and the 11 chief baker; and we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his 12 dream. And there was with us there a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according 13 to his dream he did interpret. And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, 14 and him he hanged. Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon; and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto 15 Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it; and I have heard say of thee, that when thou hearest a dream thou canst 16 interpret it. And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me; God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. And 17 Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood 18 upon the brink of the river; and, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fat fleshed and well favored; and they fed in the reed grass; and, behold, seven other kine came up after 19 them, poor and very ill favored and lean fleshed, such as I 20 never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness; and the lean 21 and ill-favored kine did eat up the first seven fat kine; and when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favored, as at the beginning. So I awoke. And I saw in my dream, and, behold, 22 seven ears came up upon one stalk, full and good; and, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east 23 wind, sprung up after them; and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears; and I told it unto the magicians; but 24 there was none that could declare it to me. And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: what God is 25 about to do He hath declared unto Pharaoh. The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: 26 the dream is one. And the seven lean and ill-favored kine 27 that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind: they shall be seven 28 years of famine. That is the thing which I spake unto Pharaoh: what God is about to do He hath showed unto 29 Pharaoh. Behold, there come seven years of great plenty 30 throughout all the land of Egypt; and there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the 31 land; and the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine which followeth; for it shall be very grievous. 32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice, it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly 33 bring it to pass. Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let 34 Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint overseers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven 35 plenteous years. And let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of 36 Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. And the food shall be for a store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land 37 perish not through the famine. And the thing was good in 38 the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as 39 this, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, 40 there is none so discreet and wise as thou; thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people 41 be ruled; only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the 42 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 his neck; 43 and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee; and he set him over 44 all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or his 45 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 Joseph went out 46 over the land of Egypt. And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph 47 went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. And in the seven plenteous years the 48 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 49 round about every city, laid he up in the same. And Joseph laid up corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left 50 numbering; for it was without number. And unto Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came, which Asenath 51 the daughter of Poti-phera priest of On bare unto him. And Joseph called the name of the first-born Manasseh; For, said he, God hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house. 52 And the name of the second called he Ephraim; For God hath 53 made me fruitful in the land of my affliction. And the seven years of plenty, that was in the land of Egypt, came to an end. 54 And the seven years of famine began to come, according as Joseph had said; and there was famine in all lands; but in all 55 the land of Egypt there was bread. And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; 56 what he saith to you, do. And the famine was over all the face of the earth; and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine was sore in the 57 land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because the famine was sore in all the earth.”
Suggestive Outline.
I. Pharaoh’s Dreams:
The sevens of kine. Verses 1–4.
The sevens of ears of corn. Verses 5–7.
II. The Interpretation Sought:
Failure of magicians and wise men of Egypt. Verses 8, 24. See Luke 10:21.
The lean kine and the empty ears. Verses 27, 30, 31.
Meaning of double dream. Verse 32.
IV. Joseph’s Advice. Verses 33–36.
V. Pharaoh’s Judgment:
As to Joseph’s wisdom and character. Verses 37–39.
As to Joseph’s executive ability. Verses 40, 41.
VI. Joseph Made Ruler at the Age of Thirty. Verses 42–46.
VII. The Years of Plenty:
Gathering food. Verses 46–49.
Names, with their meaning, of Joseph’s wife and children. Verses 50–52.
VIII. Famine Extensive and Grievous. Verses 53–57.
Suggestive Readings.— “Patriarchs and Prophets,” pages 219–223; “Spirit of Prophecy,” vol. 1, pages 135–139.
Note.
Joseph had learned the lesson of submission to the will of God, so that he did not seek to lay plans, or to concoct schemes, for extricating himself from difficulty; but he left his case to be decided in the higher court. He seemed to be going down the ladder, yet when, to outward observation, he had taken the last step in that direction, he had reached the topmost round even of earthly fame. He followed the law of true greatness—that of service, which is the law of true goodness. Slavery in the dungeon was followed by service on the throne. See Matt. 20:26, 27; 1 Peter 5:6–10; 2 Cor. 12:9; 1 Sam. 2:30; Luke 18:14.
Additional Study.
(1) See how Joseph hid self in God (verse 16), and honored Pharaoh (verse 25). (2) Notice that Potiphar, the keeper of the prison, the butler, and Pharaoh, all alike, recognized the hand of God with Joseph. This illustrates the fact that ability is recognized, and we are generally estimated for all that we are worth. (3) Trace the different steps by which Joseph rose to the premiership. (4) When the Lord gives a man a vision or a dream, it causes him to feel that it is full of meaning. (5) How long was Joseph in Egypt before he was made governor? Note the meaning of the name which Pharaoh gave to Joseph. Gen. 41:45. (6) Who was this Pharaoh?
Holiday Gift Books in The Signs
The next number of THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES will have a beautiful cover with a long list of useful and entertaining books for holiday gifts.
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A DAY’S SOUL-KEEPING.
By FRANCES E. BOLTON
(Concluded.)
From his study Mr. Bradly heard a song from the kitchen:—
“Dear Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole.
I want Thee forever to live in my soul.
Break down every idol, cast out every foe,
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
He knew that the washing had begun. But what rubbing and tossing, wringing and rinsing, it took to get out every stain! Was it so with the soul? “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
Ten, eleven, half past eleven. The washing was nearly done; but how tired Mrs. Bradly felt! Her thoughts had been as busy as her hands, and now Bonny boy came in from his play.
“I’se ti’ed, muzzer.” Well, she must let the washing go to get Bonny napping. What patience it required to care for home and children! What? More than Jesus could give? She stopped; for the promise was there, “My grace is sufficient.”
Backward and forward she rocked Bonny boy, singing of the ships that sailed into the West, to rest—rest—rest. Bonny and Mrs. Bradly were both asleep.
“There, that will do her good,” smiled Mr. Bradly, slowly drawing Bonny from her arms, and placing a pillow under her head. “Come ye apart, and rest awhile.” Was that in the soul-keeping too? What? Right in the midst of the washing? That’s what Jesus called His disciples to do. “Come ye apart and rest awhile.” So she rested till lunchtime.
Mr. Bradly helped to rinse and hang out the clothes.
“How clear the water is!” said Mrs. Bradly. “How it bubbles out? Do you know of what I am thinking?”
“Yes. ‘The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.’ There’s another lesson in hanging out the clothes, too. We must spread out our cleansed souls to the sunshine and air them, if we keep them white and sweet. Keep in the sunshine.”
Mrs. Bradly was setting lunch, and singing:
“Clear the darkened windows,
Open wide the door,
Let a little sunshine in.”
Puss and Pet came in, and Bonny boy wakened, and Mrs. Bradly said, “Come and dine.” Jesus said it also to her soul, as He had to the fishermen on the shore of Galilee. While she had toiled, He had made her a feast. In the midst of the ironing, when she was thinking of the church without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, and wondering if the great Soul-keeper and Cleanser would have to use as severe measures for smoothing out the wrinkles, as she had to use to smooth and polish her clothes, Mr. Bradly came to the door, and with a white face beckoned her to come.
“Mr. Bradly helped to rinse and hang out the clothes.”
“Grandma is very sick,” he said quietly.
Mrs. Bradly hastened to her mother’s side. That was the beginning of another phase of soul-keeping,—ministry, night watching, toil, burden, and revelation. Christ stood by her side. She realized as never before how she was only His colaborer. When the last struggle was over, Mrs. Bradly closed the weary eyes, and whispered: “‘He giveth His beloved sleep.’ The waking will be glad.”
But soul-keeping had to go on. This time it was for festivity. Her younger sister was to be married from her home; and her soul was growing. In spite of lines of toil and care, and the silver in her black hair, the light was bursting forth.
“‘My Beloved is mine, and I am His; He feedeth among the lilies,’” she whispered in her heart; for through these days of love-making, she kept her soul in Solomon’s gardens, and was waiting for the Bridegroom.
The night of the wedding she robed the bride in white, and decked her with roses. But her soul was afar, with her heavenly Lover.
“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”
She caught a glimpse of her face in the glass, rapt in the joy of her hidden thoughts, and started. It shocked her to see its pallor and plainness; but the Spirit comforted her, saying, “The King’s daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is of wrought gold.”
Then all was ready for the bridegroom, and yet he had not appeared. She whispered to the waiting bride, “Never mind, we are ready to open immediately unto him.”
Through the beautiful marriage service, she felt herself drawn more closely to the Bridegroom of the soul.
Was she slipping away from them? Mr. Bradly watched her anxiously. The household began to wait on her. A little cradle stood, decked in silk and wool. Dainty garments lay in perfumed drawers, and one night little Lily was born.
Mrs. Bradly said she was as one on the borders of Beulah. The days were going so softly by, and there was nothing to disturb her soul’s secret communion. Husband, friends, and children learned to go softly, and no loud tone was heard in the dwelling.
A look of ineffable brightness and peace flooded her face. “We’re sailing,” she said. “It’s love’s infinite sea. The land ahead is only a filmy cloud; but it’s taking outlines now. I inhale its fragrance. I hear its songs. The Pilot’s on board. We’re casting anchor. O, see, it’s bright, bright, bright! Jesus! My hand is on the hem of His garment.
“Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.”
She was asleep in Jesus. The day of soul-keeping was done. They laid her and Lily in one casket amid the lilies, and as snow falls softly over the beaten rough ways, so softly fell the influence of the life of her who had known one day’s soul-keeping.
FRANCES E. BOLTON.
A TEMPERANCE PICTURE.
“It was in the beautiful bar-room of the Tabor Grand in Denver,” said Eli Perkins. “A group of handsome young men were laughing and drinking, when a poor, tottering tramp pushed open the swinging door, and, with sad eyes, looked at them appealingly.
“ ‘Come in, senator, and drown your cares in the flowing bowl,’ they said jeeringly.
“ ‘I will come in, thank you,’ he said, ‘for I am cold and hungry.’
“ ‘Take this brandy, senator,’ they said mockingly, ‘and drink our health.’
“ ‘After swallowing the liquor, the tramp gazed at them for an instant, and then, with a dignity and eloquence that showed how far he had fallen in the social scale, he began to speak:—
“ ‘Gentlemen,’ he said sadly, ‘I wish you well. You stand where I stood a few years ago. You and I complete the picture of my life. I was, alas, a senator! My bloated face was once as young and handsome as yours. This shambling figure once walked as proudly as yours. I, too, once had a home, and friends, and position. I had a wife as beautiful as an artist’s dream, and I dropped the priceless pearl of her honor and respect in the wine cup, and, Cleopatra-like, saw it dissolve, and quaffed it down. I had children as sweet13and lovely as the flowers of spring, and I saw them fade and die under the curse of a drunken father. I had a home where love lit the flame upon the altar and ministered before it, and I put out the holy fire, and darkness and desolation reigned in its stead. I had aspirations and ambitions that soared as high as the morning star, and I broke and bruised their beautiful wings, and at last strangled them, that I might be tortured with their cries no more. To-day I am a husband without a wife, a father without a child, a tramp without a home to call his own, a man in whom every good impulse is dead. All, all swallowed up in the maelstrom of drink.
“ ‘Young gentlemen,’ he said, as he passed out into the darkness, ‘whichever way you go, whether you follow your mothers’, wives’, and children’s prayers, and enjoy their love on earth and dwell with them in heaven, or whether you become a saddened soul, forever lost, like me, I—I wish you well.’
“ ‘I shall never forget that sad picture,’ continued the humorist. “It was wit and humor ending in pathos. Tears dimmed the eyes of youth as they watched a despairing soul disappearing in the darkness.”
A GENTLEMAN.
By Margaret E. Sangster
I knew him for a gentleman
By signs that never fail;
His coat was rough and rather worn,
His cheeks were thin and pale—
A lad who had his way to make,
With little time for play;
I knew him for a gentleman
By certain signs to-day.
He met his mother on the street;
Off came his little cap;
My door was shut; he waited there
Until I heard his rap;
He took the bundle from my hand,
And when I dropped my pen,
He sprang to pick it up for me—
This gentleman of ten.
He does not push and crowd along;
His voice is gently pitched;
He does not fling his books about
As if he were bewitched.
He stands aside to let you pass;
He always shuts the door;
He runs on errands willingly
To forge and mill and store.
He thinks of you before himself;
He serves you if he can;
For, in whatever company,
The manners make the man.
At ten or forty, ’tis the same,
The manner tells the tale,
And I discern the gentleman
By signs that never fail.
—Margaret E. Sangster.
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SOLD HIS BOY.
A FARMER drove up to the scales with a load of corn and asked to have it weighed. He had on the load of corn with him his ten-year-old boy. The load was weighed and the weight recorded and the farmer drove away and sold and unloaded the corn; then he sent his boy off on an errand while he went back and weighed his wagon. The public weigher did not observe that the boy was not on the wagon when it was weighed the second time, and so the farmer got the pay for the weight of his boy.
He drove away home in the evening chuckling to himself over the smart game he had played; he had sold his boy for corn. The public weigher had not observed it; the man who bought the corn knew nothing about it; his neighbors were all ignorant of what had happened; he had played his little trick successfully, and no one knew a thing about it but himself and his boy. He had sold his boy. He only got about fifty cents for him, to be sure, but then it was such a sharp trick, and the farmer laughed aloud, ha! ha! ha! He would a little rather the boy had not known about it, “but then,” he said, “he is young and will soon forget it.”
Twelve years passed, and one day a criminal stood up in court and received sentence of a long term in the penitentiary. He had committed a burglary, and in attempting to avoid arrest, had wounded a man almost to death. Just behind the criminal sat his aged father, his head bowed in shame, and his heart almost breaking with grief. After the sentence was pronounced, the criminal turned to his father and said:—
“Father, twelve years ago, when I was but a mere boy, you put me on a load of corn and deliberately sold me. You thought you were selling me to the corn merchant, but really you sold me to the devil; I, of course, consented to the wickedness you taught me that day, and I have felt ever since that I belonged to the devil, and have been his faithful servant. Father, you sold your boy to the devil for the paltry sum of fifty cents; you are responsible for my ruin.”
Ah, how many parents have sold their boys, sometimes for a mug of beer or a glass of whisky; sometimes for the fiendish pleasure of showing how infant lips can be taught to profane the name of God! Alas, they have sold their boys to the devil, and after a few years, the devil has come to claim his purchase, and they have gone to destruction!—Anon.
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(Specimen of Text)
Christ’s lesson on humility.ST. MATTHEW, 18.Christ’s lesson on forgiveness.
A. D. 32. 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, ᵇ Except ye be converted (turn), and become as little children, ye shall not (in no wise) enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 ᶜ Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And ᵈ whoso shall receive one such little child in my name
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