eams that he had,
which plainly foretold his exaltation, but which made them angry. Even
his father seems to have balked at the second dream (Gen. 37:10). Now
comes the cruel plot of the heartless brothers, planned at Dothan,
though, through the providence of God, not fully carried out. Their
definite purpose is to put him out of the way, "and we shall see what
will become of his dreams."

25. Here then we have a clear statement of God's plans and men's plans
with regard to this seventeen-year-old lad. God proposes to make him
mighty in deeds for the welfare of God's people. Men propose to put
him to death. These two plans cannot both be carried into effect.
Which is to prevail? The story is a fascinating unrolling of the
divine plan and the complete thwarting of the human plan.

#26. Joseph the Slave.#--The brothers change their plan, and sell
Joseph to traveling Midianites. These take him to Egypt, and sell him
to Potiphar, an officer in Pharaoh's court. Note here his fidelity in
all things, so that he becomes really the overseer in Potiphar's house
(Gen. 39:6). Instead of resenting his purchase by Potiphar, he takes
things most patiently, and does his duty bravely.

#27. Joseph in Prison.#--Once more, through no fault of his own,
Joseph suffers further degradation. To prison he goes. We said
"through no fault of his own." This is an understatement, for it was
on account of his fidelity to his master that he was shamefully
traduced, and so sent to jail. Yet even here his spirit of loyalty to
duty did not desert him. Again we find him trusted and put in charge
of all prison matters. (Gen. 39:22, 23.) But what has become all this
time of God's plans for Joseph? Are they to be thwarted? Nay, wait
until the fulness of time, and then note how God's plans ripen, and
are fully perfected. In the meantime note Joseph's wonderfully sweet
spirit. See how he notices the sad countenances of butler and baker in
prison. Note how he sympathizes with them, and tries to help them.
Here again, as in the case of Abraham, we see the exemplification of
the Golden Rule, long before it was uttered. Had Joseph been like some
modern men, he would have taken vengeance on the butler and baker,
they being Egyptians. He would have said, "These Egyptians have
enslaved and imprisoned me for no fault of mine. Now is my chance, and
I will pay them back." But no such bitter thoughts seem to have
entered his pure mind. In the meantime note his steadf