patriarchs and prophets-第54章
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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 Joseph with the insignia of
his high office。 〃And Pharaoh took off his 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； and he made him to ride in the second chariot
which he had； and they cried before him； Bow the knee。〃
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〃He made him lord of his house； and ruler of all his substance： to bind his
princes at his pleasure； and teach his senators wisdom。〃 Psalm 105：21； 22。
From the dungeon Joseph was exalted to be ruler over all the land of Egypt。
It was a position of high honor； yet it was beset with difficulty and peril。
One cannot stand upon a lofty height without danger。 As the tempest leaves
unharmed the lowly flower of the valley； while it uproots the stately tree
upon the mountaintop； so those who have maintained their integrity in humble
life may be dragged down to the pit by the temptations that assail worldly
success and honor。 But Joseph's character bore the test alike of adversity
and prosperity。 The same fidelity to God was manifest when he stood in the
palace of the Pharaohs as when in a prisoner's cell。 He was still a stranger
in a heathen land； separated from his kindred； the worshipers of God； but he
fully believed that the divine hand had directed his steps； and in constant
reliance upon God he faithfully discharged the duties of his position。
Through Joseph the attention of the king and great men of Egypt was directed
to the true God； and though they adhered to their idolatry； they learned to
respect the principles revealed in the life and character of the worshiper
of Jehovah。
How was Joseph enabled to make such a record of firmness of character；
uprightness； and wisdom？In his early years he had consulted duty rather
than inclination； and the integrity； the simple trust； the noble nature； of
the youth bore fruit in the deeds of the man。 A pure and simple life had
favored the vigorous development of both physical and intellectual powers。
Communion with God through His works and the contemplation of the grand
truths entrusted to the inheritors of faith had elevated and ennobled his
spiritual nature； broadening and strengthening the mind as no other study
could do。 Faithful attention to duty in every station； from the lowliest to
the most exalted； had been training every power for its highest service。 He
who lives in accordance with the Creator's will is securing to himself the
truest and noblest development of character。 〃The fear of the Lord； that is
wisdom； and to depart from evil is understanding。〃 Job 28：28。
There are few who realize the influence of the little things of life upon
the development of character。 Nothing with which we have to do is really
small。 The varied circumstances that we meet
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day by day are designed to test our faithfulness and to qualify us for
greater trusts。 By adherence to principle in the transactions of ordinary
life； the mind becomes accustomed to hold the claims of dut
