patriarchs and prophets-第39章

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prime　minister　of　Egypt。

But　Joseph's　faith　and　integrity　were　to　be　tested　by　fiery　trials。　His
master's　wife　endeavored　to　entice　the　young　man　to　transgress　the　law　of
God。　Heretofore　he　had　remained　untainted　by　the　corruption　teeming　in　that
heathen　land；　but　this　temptation；　so　sudden；　so　strong；　so　seductivehow
should　it　be　met？　Joseph　knew　well　what　would　be　the　consequence　of
resistance。　On　the　one　hand　were　concealment；　favor；　and　rewards；　on　the
other；　disgrace；　imprisonment；　perhaps　death。　His　whole　future　life　depended
upon　the　decision　of　the　moment。　Would　principle　triumph？　Would　Joseph　still
be　true　to　God？　With　inexpressible　anxiety；　angels　looked　upon　the　scene。

Joseph's　answer　reveals　the　power　of　religious　principle。　He　would　not
betray　the　confidence　of　his　master　on　earth；　and；　whatever　the
consequences；　he　would　be　true　to　his　Master　in　heaven。　Under　the　inspecting
eye　of　God　and　holy　angels　many　take　liberties　of　which　they　would　not　be
guilty　in　the　presence　of　their　fellow　men；　but　Joseph's　first　thought　was
of　God。　〃How　can　I　do　this　great　wickedness；　and　sin　against　God？〃　he　said。

If　we　were　to　cherish　an　habitual　impression　that　God　sees　and　hears　all
that　we　do　and　say　and　keeps　a　faithful　record　of　our　words　and　actions；　and
that　we　must　meet　it　all；　we　would　fear　to　sin。　Let　the　young　ever　remember
that　wherever　they　are；　and　whatever　they　do；　they　are　in　the　presence　of
God。　No　part　of　our　conduct　escapes　observation。　We　cannot　hide　our　ways
from　the　Most　High。　Human　laws；　though　sometimes　severe；　are　often
transgressed　without　detection；　and　hence　with　impunity。　But　not　so　with　the
law　of　God。　The　deepest　midnight　is　no　cover　for　the　guilty　one。　He　may
think　himself　alone；　but　to

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every　deed　there　is　an　unseen　witness。　The　very　motives　of　his　heart　are
open　to　divine　inspection。　Every　act；　every　word；　every　thought；　is　as
distinctly　marked　as　though　there　were　only　one　person　in　the　whole　world；
and　the　attention　of　heaven　were　centered　upon　him。

Joseph　suffered　for　his　integrity；　for　his　tempter　revenged　herself　by
accusing　him　of　a　foul　crime；　and　causing　him　to　be　thrust　into　prison。　Had
Potiphar　believed　his　wife's　charge　against　Joseph；　the　young　Hebrew　would
have　lost　his　life；　but　the　modesty　and　uprightness　that　had　uniformly
characterized　his　conduct　were　proof　of　his　innocence；　and　yet；　to　save　the
reputation　of　his　master's　house；　he　was　abandoned　to　disgrace　and　bondage。

At　the　first　Joseph　was　treated　with　great　severity　by　his　jailers。　The
psalmist　says；　〃His　feet　they　hurt　with　fetters；　he　was　laid　in　chains　of
iron：　until　the　time　that　his　word　came　to　pass；　the　word　of　the　Lord　tried
him。〃　Psalm　105：18；　19；　R。V。　But　Joseph's　real　character　shines　out；　even　in
the　darkness　of　the　dungeon。　He　held　fast　his　faith　and　patience；　his　years
of　faithful　service　had　been　most　cruelly　repaid；　yet　this　did　not　render
him　morose　or　distrustful。　He　had　the　peace　that　comes　from　conscious
innocence；　and　he　trusted　his　case　with　God。　He　did　not　brood　upon　his　own
wrongs；　but　forgot　his　sorrow　in　trying　to　lighten　the　sorrows　of　others。　He
found　a　work　to　do；　even　in　the　prison。　God　was　preparing　him　in　the　school
of　affliction　for　greater　usefulness；　and　he　did　not　refuse　the　needful
discipline。　In　the　prison；　witnessing　the　results　of　oppression　and　tyranny
and　the　effects　of　crime；　he　learned　lessons　of　justice；　sympathy；　and
mercy；　that　prepared　him　to　exercise　power　with　wisdom　and　compassion。

Joseph　gradually　gained　the　confidence　of　the　keeper　of　the　prison；　and　was
finally　entrusted　with　the　charge　of　all　the　prisoners。　It　was　the　part　he
acted　in　the　prisonthe　integrity　of　his　daily　life　and　his　sympathy　for
those　who　were　in　trouble　and　distressthat　opened　the　way　for　his　future
prosperity　and　honor。　Every　ray　of　light　that　we　shed　upon　others　is
reflected　upon　ourselves。　Every　kind　and　sympathizing　word　spoken　to　the
sorrowful；　every　act　to　relieve　the　oppressed；　and　every　gift　to　the　needy；
if　prompted　by　a　right　motive；　will　result　in　blessings　to　the　giver。

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The　chief　baker　and　chief　butler　of　the　king　had　been　cast　into　prison　for
some　offense；　and　they　came　under　Joseph's　charge。　One　morning；　observing
that　they　appeared　very　sad；　he　kindly　inquired　the　cause　and　was　told　that
each　had　had　a　remarkable　dream；　of　which　they　were　anxious　to　learn　the
significance。　〃Do　not　interpretations　belong　to　God？〃　said　Joseph；　〃tell　me
them；　I　pray　you。〃　As　each　related　his　dream；　Joseph　made　known　its　import：
In　three　days　the　butler　was　to　be　reinstated　in　his　position；　and　give　the
cup　into　Pharaoh's　hand　as　before；　but　the　chief　baker　would　be　put　to　death
by　the　king's　command。　In　both　cases　the　event　occurred　as　foretold。

The　king's　cupbearer　had　professed　the　deepest　gratitude　to　Joseph；　both　for
the　cheering　interpretation　of　his　dream　and　for　many　acts　of　kind
attention；　and　in　return　the　latter；　referring　in　a　most　touching　manner　to
his　own　unjust　captivity；　entreated　that　his　case　be　brought　before　the
king。　〃Think　on　me；〃　he　said；　〃when　it　shall　be　well　with　thee；　and　show
kindness；　I　pray　thee；　unto　me；　and　make　mention　of　me　unto　Pharaoh；　and
bring　me　out　of　this　house：　for　indeed　I　was　stolen　away　out　of　the　land　of
the　Hebrews：　and　here　also　have　I　done　nothing　that　they　should　put　me　into
the　dungeon。〃　The　chief　butler　saw　the　dream　fulfilled　in　every　particular；
but　when　restored　to　royal　favor；　he　thought　no　more　of　his　benefactor。　For
two　years　longer　Joseph　remained　a　prisoner。　The　hope　that　had　been　kindled
in　his　heart　gradually　died　out；　and　to　all　other　trials　was　added　the
bitter　sting　of　ingratitude。

But　a　divine　hand　was　about　to　open　the　prison　gates。　The　king　of　Egypt　had
in　one　night　two　dreams；　apparently　pointing　to　the　same　event　and　seeming
to　foreshadow　some　great　calamity。　He　could　not　determine　their
significance；　yet　they　continued　to　trouble　his　mind。　The　magicians　and　wise
men　of　his　realm　could　give　no　interpretation。　The　king's　perplexity　and
distress　increased；　and　terror　spread　throughout　his　palace。　The　general
agitation　recalled　to　the　chief　butler's　mind　the　circumstances　of　his　own
dream；　with　it　came　the　memory　of　Joseph；　and　a　pang　of　remorse　for　his
forgetfulness　and　ingratitude。　He　at　once　informed　the　king　how　his　own
dream　and　that　of　the　chief　baker　had　been　interpreted　by　a　Hebrew　captive；
and　how　the　predictions　had　been　fulfilled。

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It　was　humiliating　to　Pharaoh　to　turn　away　from　the　magicians　and　wise　men
of　his　kingdom　to　consult　an　alien　and　a　slave；　but　he　was　ready　to　accept
the　lowliest　service　if　his　troubled　mind　might　find　relief。　Joseph　was
immediately　sent　for；　he　put　off　his　prison　attire；　and　shaved　himself；　for
his　hair　had　grown　long　during　the　period　of　his　disgrace　and　confinement。
He　was　then　conducted　to　the　presence　of　the　king。

〃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　thou　canst
understand　a　dream　to　interpret　it。　And　Joseph　answered　Pharaoh；　saying；　It
is　not　in　me：　God　shall　give　Pharaoh　an　answer　of　peace。〃　Joseph's　reply　to
the　king　reveals　his　humility　and　his　faith　in　God。　He　modestly　disclaims
the　honor　of　possessing　in　himself　superior　wisdom。　〃It　is　not　in　me。〃　God
alone　can　explain　these　mysteries。

Pharaoh　then　proceeded　to　relate　his　dreams：　〃Behold；　I　stood　upon　the　bank
of　the　river：　and；　behold；　there　came　up　out　of　the　river　seven　kine；
fat…fleshed　and　well…favored；　and　they　fed　in　a　meadow：　and；　behold；　seven
other　kine　came　up　after　them；　poor　and　very　ill…favored　and　lean…fleshed；
such　as　I　never　saw　in　all　the　land　of　Egypt　for　badness：　and　the　lean　and
the　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；　seven　ears　came　up　in　one　stalk；　full　and　good：　and；　behold；
seven　ears；　withered；　thin；　and　blasted　with　the　east　wind；　sprung　up　after
them：　and　the　thin　ears　devoured　the　seven　good　ears：　and　I　told　this　unto
the　magicians；　but　there　was　none　that　could　declare　it　to　me。〃

〃The　dream　of　Pharaoh　is　one；〃　said　Joseph。　〃God　hath　showed　Pharaoh　what　He
is　about　to　do。〃　There　were　to　be　seven　years　of　great　plenty。　Field　and
garden　would　yield　more　abundantly　than　ever　before。　And　this　period　was　to
be　followed　by　seven　years　of　famine。　〃And　the　plenty　shall　not　be　known　in
the　land　by　reason　of　that　famine　following；　for　it　shall　be　very　grievous。〃
The　repetition　of　the　dream　was　evidence　both　of　the　certainty　and　nearness
of　the　fulfillment。　〃Now　therefore；〃　he　continued；　〃let　Pharaoh　look　out　a
man　discreet　and　wise；　and　set　him　over　the　land　of　Egypt。　Let　Pharaoh　do
this；　and　let　him　appoint　officers　over　the　land；　and　take　up　the　fifth　part
of　the

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land　of　Egypt　in　the　seven　plenteous　years。　And　let　them　gather　all　the　food
of　those　good　years　that　come；　and　lay　up　corn　under　the　hand　of　Pharaoh；
and　let　them　keep　food　in　the　cities。　And　that　food　shall　be　for　store　to
the　land　against　the　seven　years　of　famine。〃

The　interpretation　was　so　reasonable　and　consistent；　and　the　policy　which　it
recommended　was　so　sound　and　shrewd；　that　its　correctness　could　not　be
doubted。　But　who　was　to　be　entrusted　with　the　execution　of　the　plan？　Upon
the　wisdom　of　this　choice　depended　the　nation's　preservation。　The　king　was
troubled。　For　some　time　the　matter　of　the　appointment　was　under
consideration。　Through　the　chief　butler　the　monarch　had　learned　of　the
wisdom　and　prudence　displayed　by　Joseph　in　the　management　of　the　prison；　it
was　evident　that　he　possessed　administrative　ability　in　a　pre…eminent
degree。　The　cupbearer；　now　filled　with　self…reproach；　endeavored　to　atone
for　his　former　ingratitude；　by　the　warmest　praise　of　his　benefactor；　and
further　inquiry　by　the　king　proved　the　correctness　of　his　report。　In　all　the
realm　Joseph　was　the　only　man　gifted　with　wisdom　to　point　out　the　danger
that　threatened　the　kingdom　and　the　preparation　necessary　to　meet　it；　and
the　king　was　convinced　that　he　was　the　one　best　qualified　to　execute　the
plans　which　he　had　proposed。　It　was　evident　that　a　divine　power　was　with
him；　and　that　there　were　none　among　the　king's　officers　of　state　so　well
qualified　to　conduct　the　affairs　of　the　nation　at　this　crisis。　The　fact　that
he　was　a　Hebrew　and　a　slave　was　of　little　moment　when　weighed　against　his
evident　wisdom　and　sound　judgment。　〃Can　we　find　such　a　one　as　this　is；　a　man
in　whom　the　Spirit　of　God　is？〃　said　the　king　to　his　counselors。

The　appointment　was　decided　upon；　and　to　Joseph　the　astonishing　announcement
was　made；　〃Forasmuch　as　God　hath　showed　thee　all　this；　there　is　none　so
discreet　and　wise　as　thou　art：　thou　shalt　be　over　my　house；　and　according
unto　thy　word　shall　all　my　people　be　ruled：　only　in　the　throne　will　I　be
greater　than　thou。〃　The　king　proceeded　to　invest　Josep