238 THE KING’S BUSINESS Paul’s word, “If God be for us who can that love God” (Rom. 8:31, 28). There is be against us;” “for we know that all less excuse for our complaints than for things work together for good to them Jacob’s. LESS'ON VIII.—May 25th.—J oseph and B enjam in .—Gen. 43. G olden T ex t : He that loveth his brother abideth in the light. __ 1 John 2:10. I. T h e R etuen to E gypt .
was, he thinks only of himself; they had risked everything for him) “as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?” All this had been explained to him before. But this sort of petulant fault finding is as na tural and common as it is selfish and un reasonable. Yet the fact that the brethren overlooked it (the part of all dutiful chil dren) brings into clearer light their change of heart and new born loyalty to the aged parent once so cruelly wronged. 5. Judah’s Response. (1) “The man asked us straitly . . . could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your broth er down?” And this was a most natural and reasonable reply, and to Jacob’s credit be it noted that Jacob admitted it. Which was more than many would be fair enough to do. (2) “Send the lad with me,” said Judah, who had once proposed the sale Of his brother (ch. 37:26, 27), “I will be sure- ety for him.” The envious spirit seems to be slain in him. He would have mur dered his brother then, he would die for him now. There is none so trustworthy as the truly penitent. 6. Jacob’s Consent and Diplomacy. “If it must be so . . . carry down the man a present, a little balm,” etc. We have seen some of Jacob’s policy not so commendable. -This was wisely conceived. Such products of the land were not cut off by the drouth; were much prized by the Egyptians; and sure to move “the man.” To move him!— were they not from the homeland? Not the fruits he had gathered in the groves, and woods, and crevices of the rocks in many a boyish ramble? And we—exiles in Egypt—how pleasant to us—the fruits, the balm, the spicery and the honey our Father sends from the pleasant land, not where we did roam, but where we shall. Jacob dismissed them with a patriarchal
1. The Exhausted Supply. Months had passed. There was still no crop in Canaan. “Man shall not live by bread alone” (Deut. 8:3), neither can live without bread. God only “Hath life in Himself” (John 5:26), but man must have ‘‘the portion of a day in its day” (Exod. 16:5, marg.), therefore we pray “Give us day by day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3) ; and as there Hebrews would stand well with the great man of Egypt, we must be on good terms with the Great Source of our supply; nor can we see His face “except our Brothe’r ,oe with us.” 2. Jacob Bids His Sons to Go. Again the father seeks food for his family and says, “Go again, buv us a little food.” If in our plenty we would practice famine- economv the famine of many could be per manently relieved. A “little food” is all we need at any time, at least much less than most extravagantly consume and waste. The brethren were excusable for hesitating to return to Egypt at this time, having good reason to dread the capricious and gruff lord of that country. But hunger is pressing and men will dare rather than starve. But did not Jacob think when he said “Go!” that Benjamin must go too? Would he be so infatuated with his one son that he would risk the lives of all the rest ? His God so loved the rest that He gave His Favorite, His Only Begotten to spare them. 3. Judah's Condition. Judah condition ed their going on that of Benjamin’s go ing. The Egyptian solemnly swore that they should not see his face without him. They might better die at home than perish as spies in Egypt. 4. Jacob’s Petulance. “Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me” (how selfish the old man
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