May, 1937
THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NES S
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against Him. He knew, too, their need of separation from unbelieving peoples. Ac cording to the plan of God, in Egypt Ja cob’s posterity would become a great nation (v. 3). Jacob need not fear to go, for God would go with him (v. 4 ). Without fur ther hesitancy, Jacob arose and went forth to Egypt (vs. 5-7). With confidence and courage he set forth accompanied by his whole family. II. J acob R eceived in E gypt (28-30) Approaching the borders of Egypt, Jacob sent his son Judah before him to announce his coming and to prepare the way (v. 28). When Joseph heard that his father and his father’s family had arrived, he at once came in his chariot to give his father welcome (v. 29). Perhaps nowhere else does the character of Joseph appear in better light than in this scene of his meeting with his father. There was no word of complaint from Joseph concerning what his brethren had done to him, no hint that there had ever been anything amiss between himself and his brethren. As far as the record goes, Jacob never discovered how Joseph found his way to Egypt in the first place, although it may be Jacob had always cher ished certain premonitions after the breth ren returned with Joseph’s bloody coat. In addition to Joseph’s spirit of forgiveness of his brethren, he manifested filial reverence for his father (v. 29). Even though Jo seph’s position was second only to that of the king, and though Jacob and his family were in Egypt by Joseph’s invitation and their future was in his hands, still Joseph did not forget that he was his father’s son and as such should show honor to his pa rent. We may well take a leaf from the story of Joseph’s life and consider it with thoughtful prayerfulness in the light of the New Testament teaching—teaching largely forgotten now (cf. Eph. 6:1-3; Col. 3:20). Jacob’s cup of joy was full to overflowing as he beheld his son whom he had thought was dead (v. 30). His relief and gratitude outweighed all the grief of the earlier years. Joseph not only forgave his brethren, but he also took them to his heart and gave them whatever the land of Egypt afforded. He was ready to put himself and all his power and influence at their disposal, thus to heal whatever wounds may have been left by the treatment which they had ac corded him. Joseph learned—as we also should learn—that kindness and forgiveness always pay large dividends. III. J oseph ’ s D eath R ecorded (50:24-26) Joseph knew that the promises of God were certain of fulfillment, and when the time came for him to depart from this life, he passed on this assurance to his brethren (v. 24). Joseph seems to have reminded his brethren that they were still the chosen people of God, and that God would neither forget nor fail to fulfill His word concerning their ultimate possession of “ the land.” So great was Joseph’s love for his native land and his belief in God’s faithfulness, that he strictly enjoined his people to carry his bones back to that land. Joseph “ died, being a hundred and ten years old” (v. 26).
Lesson Story: But God wanted Joseph to be in Egypt. And after a number of years we find Joseph a great man, second to Pharaoh, the ruler, himself. It was his work now to give out grain to the people during the years of famine, the years that the crops did not grow. There was a famine not only in Egypt, but there was one also in Jacob’s country. So the ten older brothers were sent by their father to Egypt to get food. They did not know that the great man in charge was their own brother Joseph, whom they had sold to the traders years ago. But he knew them, and he longed to see his young brother Benjamin and Jacob, his father. He told them that if they were to get food a second time, they must bring the youngest brother, too. Jacob was sorry to hear this. He remembered what had hap pened to Joseph. But they must have food. It was Judah, the brother who had allowed Joseph to be sold, who promised that he would care for Benjamin even if he must give up his own life. Don’t you suppose that all of these years he had re membered his sin, and he wished to make up for it now, by taking good care of Benjamin? Object Lesson C ucumber C ousins Objects: Tw o cucumber pickles, one sweet and one sour. Lesson: How many of you boys and girls have cousins? Here are two cousins—the Cucumber Cousins. The fat one is Clara, and the slim one Carrie. They are really quite different. You cannot always tell the nature of a person by looking at him— you often need to get acquainted with him Lesson Text: Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30; SO: 24-26. Golden Text: “ Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you’’ (Eph. 4:32). Oatline and Exposition I. J acob R emoves to E gypt (46:1-7) W HEN at last Joseph was satisfied that the repentance of his brethren was genuine, he sent them back to their father with an invitation for Jacob and his household to come to Egypt. The news that Joseph was alive was almost too much for Jacob to grasp, but he finally pre pared to go to see his son who had been long lost to him. On his way, he came to Beersheba. There he made camp and remembered the Lord God of his father Isaac (v. 1). He wor shiped, and the record seems to indicate that he sought counsel from God before leaving his own land. He knew it was dangerous to move without having obtained direction from God. Earlier sad experiences had emphasized that lesson. That night at Beersheba, God answered him,' calling his name Jacob (v. 2). It might have been a surprise to Jacob to be
before you know very much about him. The best way to get acquainted with a cucumber pickle is to taste it. ( Give to one pupil.) Is it sweet or sour? “ Sweet.” Clara is a sweet pickle. Let’s taste the other and see what kind of pickle it is. “ Sour!” Yes, Carrie is a sour pickle. These two pickles remind me of Christian people. Some are sweet and some are sour. Some thing made Clara sweet, and something made Carrie sour. Many times God lets Christians meet hard trials such as illness, loss of money, or unkindness from other people. When Christians let these things make them sour, they fail to please Christ, and they make those around them unhappy, too. But the Lord Jesus is ready to use these troubles to make our life sweeter, if we will let Him do it. Clara Cucumber reminds me of people whose lives manifest love to others. Judah, one of Joseph’s brothers, showc ’ brotherly love for his younger brother, • > When Judah was afraid that Ben,.. would be kept in Egypt as a slave, he of fered to take Benjamin’s place and to let him be free to go back home. The Lord Jesus wants our lives to show love to other people, too. called again by this name, but the use of it would remind him that as long as he was in flesh, the “ Jacob” (“supplanter” ) nature would persist and his only hope of being “ Israel” (“ prince with God” ) would be to continue in seeking God’s face. God gave Jacob the assurance he craved (v. 3). Perhaps the experience reminded Jacob of the day long in the past when he had come to Bethel, and God had promised to be with him and to return him to his own land. And now God gave to Jacob, as He had given to Abraham, a promise concerning His care of the nation (cf. Gen. 13:14-17). God knew that the descendants of Abraham would need to be protected from their natural inclination to rebel
JUNE 20, 1937 JOSEPH’ S KINDNESS TO HIS KINDRED G enesis 45:16 to 50:26
BLACKBOARD LESSON
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