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THE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
“Jacob, Jacob!” was the call of God to the patriarch. God spake in visions in the Old Testament and also in the New. He spoke to Ananias in Damascus and sent him to open Paul’s eyes (Acts 9:10) and He spoke to Cornelius in Acts 10:3 and sent him to Joppa to call on Simon Peter. ‘ God spoke to Jacob and told him not to be afraid. God made him a threefold promise: That He would make of him a great nation in Egypt. The children of Israel were to be great numerically, but in a larger sense they were to be great in the plans of God for the future. God was gracious to Jacob and added another promise, “I will go with thee into Egypt, and in due season I will bring thee up again.” He is still Jacob, but he will be “Israel.” Time will bring to pass all that God has ordained for him and through him. (Isa. 43:1-3) “B u t n ow th u s sa ith th e L or d th a t c re a ted th e e , O Jacob , an d h e th a t fo rm ed th e e , O Isr a e l, F e a r n o t; fo r I h a v e re d eem ed th e e , I h a v e c a lled th e e b y th y n am e; th o u a r t m in e. W h en th o u p a s s e s t th r o u g h th e w a te r s, I w ill be w ith th e e ; and th r o u g h th e r iv e r s th e y sh a ll n o t ov erflow th e e ; w h en th o u w a lk e s t th r o u g h th e fire, th ou s h a lt n o t b e burn ed; n e ith e r sh a ll th e fla m e k in d le up on th e e .” There were naturally many questions in the mind of Jacob about the future, such as that of giving allegiance to an earthly king and being subject to him, but God always makes good His promises. Most people fail in the Christian life through fearing to answer God’s call to “go” or “come.” We all need to make good that which we sometimes sing: “Where He leads me I will follow.” (2) JOSEPH’S MEETING WITH JACOB, 46:29, 30, “Now let me die since I have seen thy face.” v. 30. Here is a repetition of the incident when Esau saw him. (Gen. 33:4) “An d E sa u ran to m e et h im , an d em b rac ed h im , an d f e ll on h is n e c k an d k iss e d h im ; and th e y w ep t.” There are some scenes in human life over which we feel that the curtain should be drawn. The boy who went away with the coat of many colors is now clothed in the raiment of a king, on his finger the ring of authority. Sometimes, a few moments of joyful blessing obliterates a long, long period of suffering. What memories were awakened as the old father kissed the son of his love! How the clouds of years were swept away, and how bright the sun shone! Its counterpart is found in the story of the Prodigal Son: “My son, which was lost, is found.” Joseph found vent for the love which had waited through the long years as he felt the pressure of the father’s hand. Is this something akin to the experience of the sinner, or the backslider, when he pillows his head on the bosom of Jesus and finds what He has promised,-— REST! (3) JACOB’S BLESSING OF PHARAOH, 47:10. “And Jacob blessed Pharaoh.” Jacob had been the slave of Laban for years, but now he is conferring a blessing upon a great king (Psa. 119:46) “I w ill sp e a k o f th y te stim o n ie s a lso b e fo re k in g s , an d w ill n o t he ash am ed .” The less is blessed of the greater. The king has given to Jacob a place in which to dwell, but the king can bestow no favor from God in the way of a blessing. God’s people can always be the channel of blessings in their every-day lives. When a church is true to its calling, it has the po tential power of conferring blessing upon all people within her reach; and when she does not do this, she ceases to be a real church of God, and is false to her profession. The closing chapters of Genesis give us the end days of Jacob, and the closing hours of Joseph’s life. One third of the book of Genesis is given to the account of Joseph’s life. His character was remarkable, viewed as a son, brother, servant, prisoner or ruler.
being overtaken by Joseph’s servant, accused as criminals, the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack, so Joseph was to keep Benjamin. They were much frightened, begging Jo seph to let them take Benjamin, or their father might die of grief. They spoke of the loss of Joseph, and Jacob’s sor row. They felt they dared not go home without Benjamin. Seeing their genuine sorrow, Joseph felt they had re pented of their crime against him, and really wanted to do the right thing now. His heart went out in pity and love to them; he told them, He was Joseph, saying how glad he was to see them and to know his father was alive and well. He forgave them, loved and kissed them. What a happy time it was! Joseph told them God had sent him down to Egypt to keep the loved ones from starv ing, and blessed them. They were all sent home with presents for Jacob, and with wagons enough to bring all Jacob’s people to Egypt to live till the famine was over. They were to have the best part of the land to live in. How like Jesus Joseph was; forgiving his enemies, bless ing them, and giving them the best he had. Jesus for gives His enemies, blesses them more than Joseph could bless his brothers and gives them heaven, by and by, to live in. Some day the Jews will come to Jesus as Joseph’s brothers came to him, repent of their meanness to Jesus and be forgiven, as Joseph forgave his brothers. They will find that Jesus is their best friend, as well as their only Savior. They will give their hearts to Him, loving Him forever, and living in Heaven with Him. Memory verse: “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18; or, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation (ex plain word) for our sins.” 1 John 4:10. JANUARY 20, 1924 JOSEPH THE RULER Genesis, Chapters 46-50 Golden Text: "And Joseph said unto them, Fear not; for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day to save much people alive.” Now, therefore, fear ye not; X will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted then and spake kindly unto them.” Gen. 50:19-21. Outline: (1) God’s Message to Jacob, 46:1-4.
(2) Joseph’s Meeting with Jacob, 46, 29-30. (3) Jacob’s Blessing of Pharaoh, 47:10. Introduction:
Our lesson closes the career of Joseph. The Bible is the great story book, and the story of Joseph is one of the most won derful in the whole Word of God. No novel ever written is more fascinating. A boy
LESSON
EXPOSITION T. C. Horton
with a coat of many colors; a father’s favorite son-; a hated brother; a perverted plot for his destruction; the heartless ness of the brothers; the pathetic picture of the bereft father; the sudden rise from prison to palace; the dramatic denouncement; the revelation of a loving, loyal heart of the princely son and brother; between the scenes, the mani fest hand of God working out a plan for His own people, around which plan the history of nations past, present and future is and will be woven until the end of time,— a true story, concise, consistent and convincing, devoid of un necessary detail, its pathos provoking pity. (1) GOD’S MESSAGE TO JACOB, 46:1-4 “I am God, the God of thy fathers” v. 3.
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