T HE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S (6) W as he a type of Christ in his sympathy for his b rethren? (Gen. 42:7; Luke 19 :41 ). (7) Was he a type of Christ in his com forting of his b reth ren ? (Gen. 45:5-8; John 16 :20 ). (8) Was he a type of Christ as a man of God? (Gen. 41:38; Acts 10:38). , (9) Was he a type of Christ in his invitation to his b reth ren ? (Gen. 45:4; Matt. 11 :28 ). The story of Joseph is the trium p h ' of suffering innocence over wrong. Every detail rem inds us of Christ. Jo seph was beloved of his fath er. Gen. 37:3. Jesus was the DEVOTIONAL tru e Beloved of His COMMENT F ather. 2 Pet. 1:17. F . W. F a rr Joseph was sent by his fath er to inquire after the welfare of his brethren. They de spised and rejected him. Cf. John 1:11. The reason for Joseph’s rejection was his dream of sovereignty. One reason for Christ’s rejection was his claim to Deity and kingship. When Joseph was cast into the pit, his b reth ren saw the anguish of his soul w ith unpitying eye. Gen. 42:21. This rem inds us of him who said, “Now is my soul troubled” and who “w ith strong crying and te a rs” prayed unto him who was able to save him from death. Heb. 5:7. Jew and Egyptian alike- hated Joseph and shot th e ir arrow s a t him. Jew and Gentile crucified Christ. Matt. 27:23, 26. It was as one who had been raised from, the dead th a t Joseph showed himself unto his breth ren . It was a day of grace for them in spite of th eir sin. We may come to Christ risen from the dead, to be saved and fed even as they came to Joseph. Iti th a t first interview w ith h is brethren, th e h ea rt of Joseph is re vealed. He would fain have gathered them as a hen gath ereth her brood under her w ing s.’ Matt. 23:37. The
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Egypt. He commissions his b reth ren to bear th e joyful message to the old*patri arch who sit's in suspense in his te n t in Canaan, th a t Joseph is still alive. Were ever sinful men delegated to a more delightful duty th a n this? Yes, every saved sinner is th e hearer of a message of infinitely g reater grace,— an invitation to share, not Goshen, but Heaven; not to be nourished by an earth ly ruler, bu t by the King of kings, not to bask in the sunshine of Egypt, but in th e sunshine of God’s eternal glory. (5) JOSEPH RECONCILED TO HIS BRETHREN, vs. 14, 15. “He kissed all his b reth ren .” W hat .grâce! The offended, abused Joseph pu tting a kiss upon th e pol luted, lying lips of those hard-hearted sinners! But they were his brethren. Tears of joy filled his eyes and he took them into fullest fellowship w ith him self. “They talked w ith him .” Let us hope th a t, w ith broken hearts, they confessed th e ir sins and acknowledged his favor, and th a t w ith new purposes they went on th e ir errand of mercy. Follow them as they re tu rn to their home; see th e scene as th e old man is made to understand th a t Joseph is alive and,— looking upon the wagons which have been sent to convey him and his, and the provision which Joseph has made for th e ir journey,— his bruised and broken h ea rt is revived and he says, “ It is enough.” QUESTIONS (1) Was th e revelation of Jesus to Saul a coun terpart of th is incident? (Gen. 45:3 ; Acts 9 :5 ). (2) Was Joseph a type of Christ in being sold? (Gen. 37:28; Matt. 26 :15 ). (3) Was he a type, of Christ in the 'a ttitu d e taken by his b reth ren toward him? (Gen. 37:4, 5; John 15:25). (4) Was he a type of Christ as a servant? (Luke 22 :27 ). (5) Was he a type of Christ in his au tho rity as a ru ler? (Gen. 41 :44 ).
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