"JOSEPH SAID UNTO HIS BROTHERS, BE NOT GRIEVED NOR ANGRY WITH YOURSELVES •• IT WAS NOT YOU THAT SENT ME HITHER, BUT GOD". GENESIS 45:5, 8

"FAITH AND FORTUNE"

SCENE LAID · IN ORIENTAL COURT OF MANY YEARS AGO - PHARAOH 1 S COURT OF MANY SPLENDORS. FOCUS 0 F ATTENTION IS 'fHE PRIME MINISTER OF EGYPT - A MAN OF GREAT POWER IN THE LAND. JOSEPH BY NAME. BEFORE THIS POWERFUL MINISTER STANDS A GROUP OF MEN. THEY ARE HIS BROTHERS THOUGH THEY ARE UN­AWARE OF THE IDENTITY OF THE IMPORTANT MINISTER. · AND JOSEPH IS ABOUT TO REVEAL HIMSELF TO THEM -BUT BEFORE HE MAKES THAT DISCLOSURE, HIS MIND TAKIES HIM BACK OVER THE YEARS. WHAT A STORY IT WAS - A STORY, OF COURSE, VERY FAMILIAR TO US. /It-.&.~ a/1.-f"._jr;/ 6, /r-u~t'tr,_,.- 1 /k. y C. t L6~'-J ~

1'- C~e.v A'~,.ft•.!.V JOSEPH 1 S TESTIMONY THINKS OF BOYHOOD DAYS WITH

JACOB HIS FATHER. CALLS TO REMEMBRANCE HIS STRANGE AND

DISTURBING DREAMS. HOSTILITY OF BROTHERS WHEN HE FOOLISHLY HAD TOLD THEM OF THESE DREAMS. HE WELL REMEMBERED THE COAT OF MANY COLORS GIVEN HIM BY HI'S ' DOTING FATHER - THE COAT THAT HAD FILLED HIM WITlf PRIDE AND HIS BROTHERS WITH FURY AND THE ERMINATION TO TAKE HIS LIFE.

AS JOSEPH STANDS IN COURT OF PHARAOH FACING HIS BROTHERS, THAT AWFUL DAY STANDS OUT VIVIDLY. THEY HAD FALLEN UPON · HIM; THEN HAD THROWN HIM I A PIT: AND THEN SOLD HIM AS A SLAVE TO MERC'HANT'.S CARAVAN FROM MID IAN. AGAIN HE HEARS THE JINGLE 0 THE TWENTY PIECES OF SILVER.

HE RECALLS THE JOURNEY TO EGYPT AND THE NEW LIFE IN THAT STRANGE LAND. HE HAD RISEN TO PLACE 0 F PRESTIGE IN HOUSE OF POTIPHAR. THEN, UNJUSTLY ACCUSED OF UNFAITHFULNESS HE HAD BEEN THROWN IN.TO PRISON. THERE, BY REASON OF HIS ABILITY TO INTER DREAMS, HE HAD WON HIS FREEDOM. LATER, HE. SOLVED

_ THE PERPLEXITIES OF THE PHARAOH, AND SOON BECAUSE OF HIS INTEGRITY AND INSIGHT HAD BECOME THE PRIME MINISTER . - SECOND TO PHARAOH.

AND NOW HIS BROTHERS STAND BEFORE HIM - WHAT A MOMENT. REAL DRAMA HERE. WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REVENGE. BUT THERE IS NO HATRED IN HEART OF

2 JOSEPH. HE HAS STRANGE FEELING THAT GOD HAD BEEN IN . THE PROCESS OF THE YEARS. NOT THAT JOSEPH WAS MAKING GOD- RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE SUFFERING AND ANGUTSH: NOT THAT HE WAS MAKING GOD THE AUTHOR OF THE. SIN - FOR IT WAS SIN THAT HAD FLUNG HIM INTO THE' PIT AND SOU HIM INTO SLAVERY. THE THING HE WAS SURE OF WAS THIS, THAT GOD HAD TRANSFORMED THE EVIL INTO GOODNESS. HENCE HIS WORDS - "IT WAS NO YOU THA-T'- SENT ME HITHER, BUT GODt'. HE HAD FAITH TO BELIEVE THAT EVEN THROUGH OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE, THE. PURPOSE OF GOD COULD BE, AND HAD BEEN, WORKED OUT. "IT . WAS NOT YOU, BUT GOD. 11

A DIFFICULT SYNTHESIS THIS IS DIFFICULT SYNTHESI TO MAKE - DIFFICULT TO FAITH AND FORTUNE TO_ .... , .... ~ .....

HERE IS MAN'S GREATEST PROBLEM. AND IF A BEL IN -A FATHERLY GOD, THE PROBLEM IS ACCENTUATED,. IS OLD PROBLEM - HOW ACCOUNT FOR CATASTROPHE IN WORLD ·oF A GOOD GOD. RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CH REN: JOB C:URSING THE DAY HE WAS BORN: SOCRATES DRINKING THE HEMLOCK; JOAN OF ARC DYING AT STAKE: AND THE WOMAN WHO SAID TO ME THIS WEEK trWHY DOES THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN TO ME?"

AND WHEN "THIS THING" DOES HAPPEN TO YOU THE PROBLEM OF SUFFERING BECOMES A REAL AND PRACTICAL 0 NE: NOTHING THEORETICAL NOW. IT IS NOT HARD TO

· SING OF GOD'S LOVE WHEN THE HEARSE IS STANDING N.'EX1' '1JOOR-, WHEN BOMBS ARE FALLING IN MADRID·, WAR· SAW; ROTTERDAM OR LONDON. BUT WHEN THE HEARSE IS AT- OUR OWN DOOR, WHE-N THE AIR-RAID SIREN SHRIEKS IN' OUR OWN CITY, WHEN THE NAME OF OUR DEAREST ONE FIGURES IN THE LIST . OF CASUALTIES, THEN, MRE OPIN ION'S WILL NOT DO: ONLY GREAT CONVICTIONS WILL BE 0!1 ANY GOOD THEN. .

THERE ARE SITUATIONS IN \\'RICH IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE IN GOODNESS OF GOD. WE PRATTLE SOMETIMES ABOUT NATURE LEADING US TO GOD - WHEN SHE IS IN ~ VINDICTIVE MOOD -SHE. WOULD DRIVE US FROM GOD. I'M THINKING NOW OF COLD -THAT FREEZES, VOLCANOES THAT BURN, EARTHQUAKES THAT CRUSH, FLOODS THAT DROWN,. CANaER. GEO. STEWART REMINDS US THAT "NATURE SMILES FOR A SEASON BLESSING MAN WITH BOUNTIFUL HARVESTS~ YET SHE WILL WITHHOLD RAIN FOR SIX WEEKS IN CHINA OR INDIA AND MAN THEN BECOME'S A GROVELLING ANIMAL, EATING ROOTS, BARK AND EARTH".

OPPORTUNITY FOR INNER GROWTH. BY. THE. POWER OF GRACE OF GOD, THIS SUFFERING SHALL BE TRANSFORMED INTO GOOD. LIKE JOSEPH I WILL DECLARE TO EVENTS, 'IT. WAS NOT YOU THAT BROUGHT ME HITHER~ . BUT .. GOD" 11

THIS IS NOT JUST BEING STOICAL - NOT JUST CLENCHING OF ONE'S TEETH ANP FACING THINGS WITH A KIND. OF HARD AND PERHAPS SUPERB COURAGE. THINK 0 HENLEY' - TWO YEARS IN HOSPITAL IN EDINBURGH. ONE FOOT AMPUTATED. OTHER THREATENED. PAINFUL EXPER IENCE. SPENT . SOME TIME WRITING POETRY. REMEMBER HIS LINES ENTITL'ED "INVICTUS". HOW DO THEY GO?

"OUT OF THE NIGHT THAT COVERS ME, BLACK AS THE PIT FROM POLE TO POLE: I THANK WHATEVER GODS THERE BE FOR MY UNCONQUERABLE SOUL. "

HIS COURAGE FILLS US WITH ADMIRATION. HE DEFIES PAIN' TO BREAK His·- SPIRIT. SOMETHING NOBLE ABOUT THIS UNCONQUERABLE AND INVINCIBLE SPIRIT. HO IT. IS NOT THE TRULY CHRISTIAN SPIRIT. THERE IS. A SERENITY - r~ISSING IN HENLEY. HE IS REBELLIOUS. HAS NOT MADE PEACE WITH ·HIS UNIVERSE. HE IS FULL OF DEFIANCE. HE HASN'T GOT AS FAR-AS JOSEPH.

YES, EVIL CAN BE TRA-NSFORMED INTO GOOD. GOD CAN MAKE· THE WRATH. OF MEN TO PRAISE HIM. HE CAN TAKE THE MOST .. EVIL THING THAT HAPPENED ON THIS EARTH - WHEN MEN TOOK THE FAIREST FLOWER OF THE RACE AND HUNG HIM ON A CROSS - HE CAN TAKE THAT AND THROUGH THE· ALCHEMY OF HIS GRACE, CHANGE IT TO ·· oooD.

"NOT YOU" SAID JOSEPH, "BUT GOD". "NOT YOUn SAID JESUS, "BUT GOD". "TRUE, YOUR · HANDS HAVE MIXED THE CUP. YOU WHO HATED ME HAVE PUT "THE IN-GREDIENTS INTO THE CUP. SCORN, MALICE, HATRED, SUFFERING, GETHSEMANE, CALVARY, CRUCIFIXION. YOU HAVE MIXED THE <!UP. BUT I ACCEPT IT FROM THE GRA-CIOUS· HANDS OF GOD". ,

MY ' FRIENDS, THER IS NO OTHER WAY OF FINDING PEACE IN THE HEART OF OUR PAIN. GOD GRANT THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE THAT FAITH THAT WILL HELP US TO MEET ALL THE FORTUNES AND MISFORTUNES OF LIFE WI CONFIDENCE AND HOPE IN GOD.

(( U~ v::fp / 1'- Ct_. fJ,.,

{~.y' _),~~It, .r I c

3 FALSE VIEW OF PROVIDENCE JOSEPH 'TAT;KlNG OF THIS-­

THING· CALLED PROVIDENCE • AND HE WAS SURE HE ABLE

TO DISCERN HAND OF GOD IN ALL EVENTS OF HIS LIFE. TAKE'S A GREAT FAITH TO DO THIS. HE DID NOT ASK IMMGNITY FROM LIFE'S TRAGEDY AND PAIN. PEOPLE DO ASK IW.UNITY AND THEIR REQUEST IS BASED ON A VIEW OF 'PROVIDENCE THAT IS MISTAKEN AND FALSE~

A COMMON VIEW. PSALMIST WHO WROTE PSALM 91 WASNt'T ALTOGETHER STRAIGHT IN HIS THINKING. LIST EN To· HIS . WORD'S: GODLY MAN KEPT FROM SNARE OF FOWLER AND NO I SOME PESTILENCE. PRESERVED FROM STEALTHY NIGHT "ATTACK OF ENEMY AND FROM OPEN -AT-T'AOK IN DAYTIME. NOT AFRAID OF TERROR BY NIGHT Nd:er OF ARROW THAT FLIETH ' BY DAY. THOUSAND SHALL FALL AT HIS SIDE AND TEN THOUSAND AT RIGH~ HA~; BUT HE .. SHALL BE PRESERVED. NO EVIL SHALL HAPPEN.

TROUBLE IS THAT IT DOESN'T Fr.F THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM. WHAT CAN A MAN IN BATTLE DO WITH VERSES LIKE THESE? HERBERT GRAY SAYS "THERE WAS BOB - BEST MAN IN THE COMPANY. A MAN WHO SAID HI PRAYERS MORNING AND NIGHT AND A REAL CHRISTIAN . IF THERE EVER WAS ONE - THERE WAS BOB, CAUGHT IN THE BARBED WIRE AND RIDDLED WITH BULLETS". "THOUSAND SHALL FALL AT THY SIDE" - MOCKERY. AND MOCKERY BECAUSE BASRD ON FALSE IDEA OF PROVIDENCE.

IT IS THIS FALSE IDEA THAT CAUSES PEOPLE TO CRUMPLE IN DAY -OF TRAGEDY AND MISFORTUNE. IMMUN-ITY CANNOT. BE SECURED BY GOOD DEEDS. PROTECTION CANNOT BE BOUGHT. RELIGION IS NOT INSURANCE, FOR THIS WORLD. GOODNESS DOES NOT GUARANTEE PASTURES THAT ARE GREEN AND STILL WATERS. LIFE MAY PROVE

-A PLACE OF TORRENTS AND BROKEN PATHS AND GAPING C'HASMS. IT MAY BE THAT A THOUSAND AT OUR SIDE, AND TEN THOUSAND AT OUR RIGHT HAND, MAY HAVE EASY LIVES WHILE WE MEET THE SLINGS AND ARROWS OF o·uT­RAGEOUS FORTUNE.

EVIL INTO GOOD BUT AFTER ALL, WHAT A WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMNET IF ONE CAN LOOK BACK OVER THE YEARS AND SAY "GOD WAS

WITH JIE IN THE PROCESS" . . WHAT A WONDERFUL FAITH TO BE ABLE TO SAY "I CAN'T DISCERN THE WILL OF MY GOD IN THIS TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. BUT. I BELIEVE GOD IS IN IT SOMEWHERE, AND BELIEVING THAT I WILL AGCEPT THIS EXP!ERIENCE AS A CHALLENGE AND AS AN

PRELUDE

FREMONT METEODIST CHURCH Gloversville, New York Fred Clarke, Minister

May 24, 1942

ORDER OF MORNING WORSHIP

"Meditation" Sturgess CALL TO WORSHIP HYMN 14 "Through PRAYER IN ill>TISON

all tho chang~ng scones of life"

Almighty God, from whom every good prayer cometh, o.nd who pourest out on all who desire it, the spi­rit of grace rend supplication; deliver us, when we draw nigh to Thee, from coldness of heurt and vvan­derings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections, we may worship Thee in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen

LORD'S PRAYER

JUNIOR ANTHEM "Life Has Loveliness to Sell" Kucken

RESPONSIVE READING 47th Sunday - pago 615 GLORIA P.h.TRI APOSTLES 1 CREED

DUET "Behold, the Master Passeth By"

SCRIPTURE LESSON PASTORAL PP.AYER CHORAL RESPONSE OFFERTORY PRESENTATION OF CHORAL RESPONSE

Matthew 6:19-34

"Adagio" OFFERINGS

ANTHEM "Still, Still with Thee"

HYMN 80 "O my soul, bless God the Father"

SERMON "Faith and Fortune"

Harrunond

Rogers

Speaks

HYMN 73 "Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side BENEDICTION .h.lJD DOXOLOGY POSTLUDE "Allegro" Rogers

11 :55 CHURC~I S.:' ~ISJL 4:30 YOUNG F.C •j:f'L~'; . :::nsta lla tion Sorvic c at : ~ndtfords 1

Ext. E&sterly St. Ea~h one is asked to bring his own lunch.

7:30 UNION SERVICE at the First Baptist Church.

Flow<.:rs for today are given by Mr. Holbert Fear's Cla ss and Mr. W.Vf . Dann's Class. Teachers: Mr. Holbert Fear and lvir. W .W. Dann.

THROUGH THE WEEK AT FREMONT

i1lOND.b.Y- 4:00 Girl Scouts -7:30 Boy Scouts ~--- 7: 30 BOii.RD OF EDUC.h.T I ON :MEETING .

TUESDAY- 7:00 Play r ehearsa l for "I Wi ll, I Won't"~ 7:45 Wes l eyan Service Guild moots with Florence Spenc er, EAt. Easterly St. 7:45 Executive meeting of the W.S.C.S. at the homo of Mrs. Arch Rogers, 3 Pleasant St.

WEDNESDAY-7:30 Prayer Servic e at the church. 8:30 Senior Choir rehearsal. Please notice the change in time.

THURSD.h.Y- Young People's play "I Wi ll, I Won't" at Stone ----~~ Arabia.

FRIDJ.Y- 4:00 Junior Choir r ohca1·sal.

These are days when people need a ll the r esources that tho church o.nd r eligion have to offer. Therefore, we extend an invitation to you to attend our mid-week ser­vice on ·wednesday from 7: 30 to 8:30P.M. Your faith will be stimulated by this meoting and you vvill enjoy the fellowship of the hour.

We offer a hearty welcome to all visitors und strangers who a r e with u~ this morning.