The Right Way.

GENESIS XXxvii.

Journey of a father and child-The right way home-How God leads his children-Story of Joseph-The lad's dreams— Four strange steps to greatness-The pit-His father's house left for ever-Slavery-A faithful servant—Imprisonment— Undeserved punishment-Thirteen long years-Disappointment-The forgetful butler-The turning-point reached at last-Pharaoh's dream-Sudden change-Joseph's greatness —Lessons-All things work together for good to those that love God-Let us do our duty patiently-Meekness and prayer.

A LITTLE child was once walking through a strange country, led by his father's hand. The loving parent had pointed out to him, far away in the distance, the home to which they were going; and now the child's mind was troubled, for the road seemed to lead quite another way. "Are you sure we are in the right path?" he would often ask; but his father's only answer was, "Trust to me."

Again the little questioner spoke, "I cannot see how we shall ever get there by climbing this steep mountain side." Still the reply was, "Keep fast hold of my hand, and fear nothing."

So the father and son went on their way, until, when the little feet were very weary, a sudden

turn in the road showed them that they were at home.

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Now, it is in such a way that God often leads his children. They are like the little one who was so puzzled about the road. "What will become of us?" they often ask. "What will be to-morrow? or next year? or twenty years come?" Now, such questions are like the child's. The proper answer is that which the father gave to him, "Trust." "Do what is right now-to-day: so when to-morrow comes, you will find that God is taking care of you and helping you still; and in the end all will be well."

We may learn this lesson, above all, from the dear, old, beautiful story of Joseph. We have read the tale in our Bibles many, many times; let it teach us now about the providence and care of your Father in heaven.

What wonderful dreams those were which were dreamed by this lad of seventeen! No wonder that he told them to everybody in the house. The sun, and the moon, and the eleven stars, all bowing down from the bright, blue sky to him! What could it mean? Surely, something very wonderful was to happen. He was to be great and famous, he the poor shepherd lad! Well, we know now that God meant him to be so. But how? Did Joseph ever ask this question? "Here am I, almost a child, among these fields and mountains; with ten brothers, all older and

stronger than myself. How can I ever expect all this greatness and glory to come to me?”

"Trust in God, my child," would be the right answer; "do his will at home; be patient, true, and dutiful there." And we may hope and believe Joseph was so, striving with all his might to be a good boy at home. So his father loved him more than all his brethren, and made him a coat of many colours.

But how came the first step in Joseph's way to greatness? If some one had whispered in his ear that morning when he was setting out cheerfully to seek his brothers, "It is the last time, Joseph, that you will ever see your pleasant home again," how all his joy would have been changed into sorrow! But he knew it not, and so went happily on, first to Shechem-no one there; then away to Dothan. In fancy we may see him briskly making his way towards the company of shepherds, singing, as he goes, the words just on his lips, "So, then, I have found you at last!" He does not see their black looks, nor hear their angry words. In a moment his cheerfulness is changed to surprise, to terror! He is in their angry grasp, his gay coat torn off, his hands clasped, his feet struggling to be free, as with crying and tears he begs his brothers to let him go. But they "would not hear,"* and in a few minutes he finds himself alone in a pit—most likely an old cistern, dug to

* Gen. xlii. 21.

hold water for cattle, but now empty-a filthy, horrible place! Suppose, again, some one had whispered in the ear of the poor, trembling lad, "This is the first step in your way to the greatness which God has foretold to you in your dream." Would Joseph have believed it?

But now let us look at the second step. Joseph has become a slave. It did not seem likely, when he was a shepherd, that he would ever become great; how much more unlikely was it now! Did he ever think of his dreams there, in Potiphar's house? If he did, he also knew that it was not his business to trouble himself about them, but to do his duty to his master. The sun, and moon, and stars bowing down to him;-well, whatever that might mean would be seen some day; now, he had to be a good servant. So a good servant he was, just as he had been a good son at home. His father had loved him there; and here his master trusted him. Joseph, although a slave, began to grow rich; he had power in Potiphar's house; perhaps he said to himself, "Now at length I see my way; my dreams are coming true at last."

Not yet, Joseph: you must take a third step now, sadder and more terrible than the other two. In one day all his happiness and honour are gone, and his angry master throws him into prison. We live in a country where prisoners are mercifully treated; but it was not so in the land of Egypt. We can hardly conceive what

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horrible places were the prisons there. Darkness, chains, toil, and stripes, and every form of wretchedness, seemed now the lot of Joseph. Yet he was still true to himself and to his God. Without murmuring, he does his duty even there. He knows he does not deserve the punishment, but he bears it. As he had been a dutiful son, and a faithful slave, so now he is a patient and obedient prisoner; and we read that "the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison." Still it was a sad thing for him to be shut up there, for-how long a time? We know that he was seventeen years old * when sold into Egypt, and that he was thirty when taken out of prison.† Seventeen from thirty, thirteen; thirteen years of slavery, and imprisonment, and sorrow! "O Father, can this be the right way?"

Wait, my son; still

do your duty, and trust in me."

The fourth step was one of disappointment. Think of the story of the baker's and the butler's dreams. Well, when he bade good-bye to the butler at the prison doors, and said, Remember me! Joseph must have thought to himself, “I shall soon now be set free; the butler will tell Pharaoh how ill I have been used; he will send for me out. Potiphar will be very sorry; and, perhaps, I may again be his servant; who can tell?" Ah! but that butler was like many * Gen. xxxvii. 2. + Gen. xli. 46.