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ant and ready, in self-forgetfulness, self-surrender, and self-denial, to make what amends they could for their past wrongdoing. When their repentance was seen to be genuine, Joseph was eager to identify himself to them. He was extremely careful that the recon ciliation should cause as little em barrassment as possible, So the Egyp tians were ordered to withdraw while he made himself known to his breth ren. Private restoration to fellowship precedes the public restoration to of fice (cf. Mk. 16:7; 1 Cor. 15:5; Jno. 21). The brethren were terrified when they were in the presence of their own brother,. Joseph, but he tried to put them at ease. Whatever their deeds, behind them was God’s providence working out His purpose, “ to preserve life.” Joseph had committed his cause to God and relied upon Him in spite of circumstances which appeared adverse (cf. 1 Pet. 2:23). This took real courage; it is easier to retaliate for wrongs than to believe that God has a purpose in them, and- to wait quietly until that purpose be revealed. II. S ending t h e M essage to H is F a th e r (45:9-13) Jacob was to be told to come to Egypt where God had made his own son Joseph “Lord of all Egypt,” and where Jacob should “ dwell in the land of Goshen.” Jacob was assured that he need have no fear of migrating to Egypt. There would be plenteous provision for him and his household, otherwise only poverty would be their portion. The proof that all would be as Joseph had said was in the fact that the brethren had seen with their own eyes Joseph’s greatness and power in Egypt, and they understood the strange situation. Jacob would be convinced that the message was in deed from Joseph, and that he had the ability to make the promise good. , i h . . ' . F orgiving H is B rethren (45:14, 15) The brethren were completely re stored to Josephs favor. He kissed them and wept upon them in the joy of reunion and reconciliation. Only one who knows something of God’s purpose to bring good out of evil, who knows that God’s providence controls all events, and who agrees with God’s plans ’ in these providences, can so freely forgive as did Joseph. In this he represents our Lord who forgives, and forgets every sin and every evil act, when true repentance is wrought in the heart of the evil doer, and who=takes the sinning saint back into full fellowship (cf. 1 Jno. 1:9). It should be emphasized that true repentance causes one to' forsake the evil that is Confessed (cf. Prov. 28:13).
pretended not to know them and said that they could return to their own land only if they left one of the brothers in Egypt and brought Ben jamin with them the next time that they came to buy food. LESSON STORY: At first Joseph’s father refused to allow Benjamin to leave him and go to Egypt with his brothers. When there, was no more food, he asked his sons to buy more in Egypt, but they told him that Ben jamin must go with them as the ruler had said. Finally, he allowed Benja min to go, but warned them to be very careful of him and to bring him safely back again. After they had bought their grain from Joseph, he had a silver cup placed in the sack with Benjamin’s com. As the broth ers were starting home, Joseph sent a servant to search their sacks. When the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack,
Points and Problems 1. "For thou art even as Pharaoh" (Gen. 44:18). According to Genesis 37:5-11, it had been made k n o w n through dreams to Joseph that one day his brethren would be subservient to him. They should bow in his pres ence. At the time of this revelation to Joseph, there was absolutely no indication that such a thing could or would come to pass. But here we see vividly how exactly the prophecy has all been fulfilled! An important les son in believing God should be learned from this account. 2. "Seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life" (44:30). The Revised Version marginal reading is a more nearly correct, translation: “His soul is knit with the lad’s soul.” The same thought is expressed in 1 Samuel 18:1: ‘The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” It is the picture of. "two hearts that beat as one.” How wonderful to know that such a condi tion may be a vital reality in the spir itual realm! In Christ all believers are knit together in one common fellow ship, bound together by the one tie of Christ’s redeeming grace. 3. "Let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord" (44:33). This was about the finest thing Judah ever said. His unselfish attitude indicates a transformation in his life. He had come a long way in character since the disgraceful deeds recorded in Genesis 37. In his willingness to become a bondservant in the place of his brother Benjamin, he not only manifests a sacrificial spirit, but he also provides a Splendid illustration of the Saviour who for all sinners took the place of a “bondman” that the guilty might go free. For the Children A B ig B rother G enesis 44:18, 19 ; 22-26, 32, 33 AIM: To teach that real love causes us to be willing to bear hardships for one another. MEMORY VERSE: “Let us love one another” (Jno. 4:7). APPROACH: Joseph, the niler of Egypt, had been sold as a slave by his own brothers. Joseph’s father had been told that Joseph was dead. When the famine came to all the lands near Egypt, the storehouses which Joseph had provided were the only places from which food might be bought. Joseph’s father and brothers had eaten the last of their food. The brothers, ten of them, journeyed to Egypt to buy food for their families. They did not know- their brother, Joseph, when they saw him, but he knew who they were. They told him about their youngest brother, Benjamin, who was at home, with their father. Joseph
“Talk about the questions of the time: there is but one ques tion— how to bring the truths of God’s Word into vital contact with the minds and hearts of all classes of the people.” — William E. Gladstone. the brothers quickly returned to Joseph and begged for mercy. One of the brothers, Judah, came to Joseph and said that he had promised to bring Benjamin back to his father. He offered to stay in Benjamin’s place. LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER 23 Joseph’s Testimony to God’s Providence LESSON MATERIAL: Genesis 45:1-5, 9-15. GOLDEN TEXT: "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men I” (Psa. 107:8). Outline and Exposition I. R ecognizing G od ' s P urpose ( G en . 45:1-5) Joseph’s brethren were truly repent*
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