ŸHE KING’S BUSINESS
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blessing, “God Almighty (ch. 17:1) give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother and Ben jamin (for even “the king’s heart is in the hands of the Lord,” Prov. 21:1). “If I am bereaved, I am bereaved.” He seems to have meant, “The will of the Lord be done. Amen.” II. T he B rethren in E gypt . 1. 7 heir Arrival. The anxious journey was ended. They had brought the “pres ent” to appease him; the back-pay to re imburse him; their brother Benjamin, to convince him; and they “stood before Jo seph.” When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, “he bade, them to his palace and to a feast.” To frown on them had made him sad, but to feast them made him glad. They did not know the governor, or they would not have feared him. And he was a type of Jesus. 2. Their Fear. That the great man was in earnest was as incredible to them as the offer of salvation to sinners is to them. They imagined a secret understanding of Joseph with his steward, once he had them within his walls, to enslave or to slay them. Foolish fears! that mar our feast. 3. Their Apology. They hastened to tell the steward of their sincerity,—it was to •buy, not to spy that they came; the money, —it was in their sacks, how it came there they could not tell, here it was, and cash for the corn. 4. The Steward’s Comfort. “Be at peace; don’t be afraid; God gave it to you; I had your money.” How kindly; how re assuring. The steward seems to have been in the secret. At any rate Jesus’ Steward, the Spirit, is. He says to our fears, “Peace; God has graced you; be not afraid;
I had your money; Christ paid it; come and feast.” 5. They Meet Joseph. “Joseph came home.” What a palace he must have had. The archeologists have described the splen dors of 'Egyptian palaces. Let your imag ination have full play, it can hardly run wild. Immense; many mansions; massy walls; lofty ceilings; thick and tall pillars; brilliant colors; carvings and curious decor ations; luxurious furniture"; perfumes and garlands for guests; a menu that would make the mouth of a modern epicure to water; but what of all that to our Father’s house, and feast, and service! Again they bow, and again, to the earth, and do obeis ance to the “dreamer!” Joseph asks, so tenderly, after the dear ones, “Is your father well? Is he yet alive? Is this your younger brother of whom ye spake?” And they wonder at the Egyptian’s interest. He lays his hand on Benjamin, “God be gracious unto thee my son.” Spoken like a royal protector; and a Hebrew believer. Now the eyes that rested on “his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son,” were welling with tears; his voice beginning to tremble; and a choking rose in his throat. Joseph turned away to find where his tears would be unseen, and his sobs unheard, and to thank his God. 6. The Feast. “Set on!” he said. He ate apart, according to custom. But, to their amazement, sent special dishes and dainties to his brethren, and fivefold por tions to Benjamin. A test his brothers stood; for they showed no sign of envy at the favoritism. “And they drank, and were merry with him.” But “their eyes were holden, that they should not know him” (Luke 24:16), who was as one risen from the dead.
LESSON IX.—June 1st. —J oseph T ests H is B rethren .—Gen. 44. G olden T ex t : Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed .—Jas. 5 :16. I. T he P urpose of the T est .
ward him that they had held toward Joseph? 2. As to Jacob. To gratify their spite against Joseph they had ruthlessly broken
1. As to Benjamin. Benjamin now held the place of Joseph in Jacob’s affection: Did the brothers hold the same malice to
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