M E KING’S BUSINESS
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sound of galloping hoofs fell on their ears; clouds of dust rolled behind in the dis tance, then the sun flashed on the chariots of the governor. They halted expecting some new favor. The steward alighted, and sternly charged them as his master commanded. In their conscious innocence, and astonishment they begged a reason for the charge; protested their abhorrence of such a dastard deed; and plead the restora tion of the corn money as proof of past honesty and guarantee of present square dealing; and fearlesslv - ’■ oposed the search, and the death of the thief with the en slavement of the whole company if the stolen cup were found among them. The steward with pretended sincerity declared that the thief alone should be found re sponsible, and the rest be blameless. It was found in Benjamin’s sack! The case was hopeless. To an innocent man, how dreadful. Yet many a one has been ruined by just such circumstantial evidence, yes, and just such “put up jobs.” Happy for us that our Lord can “certainly divine” and no innocent man shall suffer under His judgment; so much the more let the guilty fear, and the tempted stand fast. Dr. Eder- sheim says, at this point: “Now the first great trial of their feelings' ensued. They were all free to go home to their wives and children; Benjamin alone was to be a bondman: the cup had been found in his sack! Granting that, despite appearances, they knew him to be innocent, why should they stand by him? They had formerly got rid of one favorite, why hesitate now, when Providence itself seemed to rid them of another? What need, nay, what busi ness had they to identify themselves with him? Was it not enough that he had been put before them everywhere; must they now destroy their whole family, and suf fer their little ones to perish for the sake of one who, to say the best, was fated to involve them in misery arid ruin? So they might have reasoned. But so they did not reason, nor, indeed, did they reason at all; for in all matters of duty reasoning is ever dangerous, and only absolute, immediate obedience to what is right, is safe. ‘They
their father’s heart: Would they do it again? 3. As to the Past. They had committed great wickedness in meditating the mur der, and perpetrating the sale of their brother: Had they repented? II. P reparing the T est . 1. Through His Favors. (1) The al most royal honors the governor lavished on them tended to swell them with pride to contemn Benjamin when he fell under the lordly displeasure and deaden their rever ence for their more humble father. Vanity is an enemy to virtue. (2) These benefits would make the alleged crime more heinous for ingratitude, and Benjamin more likely to be abandoned by them. 2. Through His Steward. Him he com manded (1) to send them away with sacks full to the mouth, with their money re stored, but to put his own silver cup into Benjamin’s sack. (2) To pursue and over take them, and to say, “Why have ye re turned evil for good? Is not this (the cup you-have stolen) my lord’s drinking cup, and that by which he consults the gods” (according to Egyptian practice. But the whole story is against supposing Joseph so used it. If one had a totem in his house it would not follow that he worshiped it). How foolish! do you not know that such a man would soon miss it and divine who the thief was?” III. A pplying the T est . 1. The Departure. “As soon as the morning was light” they merrily loaded their train of camels and asses, and joy ously started for home. What wonders had come to pass. How eagerly they would talk it over, and congratulate themselves on the great man’s friendship. And what a story they would have to tell to the home folks; and how they would laugh with de light to see old Jacob embracing his sons restored safe and sound. 2. The Arrest. O how often a dismal day succeeds a glorious dawn. From the mountain of their exultation this merry company suddenly fell into the abyss of misery. What a day may bring forth! The
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