tHÈ K ing ' s business LESSON IV —April 27.— J o s e p h S o ld I n t o E g y p t .— Gen. 37. G olden T ext : Love envieth not. —1 Cor. 13:4.
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beautiful dreams, “sheaves,” “stars,” “sun and moon,” were predictive; his brethren so interpreted them. Their envy helped to fulfill them (Acts 2:23; 3:15-18). His father “rebuked him,” to forestall pre sumption, but “kept in mind” his sayings (Luke 2:19). Jacob, like national Israel, did not know the tribulations to come to pass before the Beloved reached the throne (Luke 2 :35; Acts 14:22; Matt. 24: 29). 2. Should we heed dreams? No more than present day prophecies. IV . J oseph ■F inds H is B rethren . 1. Jacob Sends Joseph. (1) Their im mense flocks took the sons far for pas ture. Shechem was a dangerous place for them (Gen 34:25-29). (2) Jacob said, “I will send thee;” Joseph answered, “Here am I.” Unlike many boys, he was prompt to obey. Verses 15-17 show that he was as reliable as he was prompt. He had “A Message for Garcia,” and pushed through till delivered. Jesus, in like man ner sent, sought His brethren and found similar treatment. (3) “Afar off” they saw him, “conspired” to kill him (Matt. 21: 37-39; 26:3, 4), saying, “We shall see what will become of his dreams.” They did not reckon of what “stuff” such dreams were made. No wonder God laughs at the wicked (Ps. 2:4) whose ways to hinder are His ways to accomplish. All opposi tion to the Truth, even “higher criticism,” can, in the long run, do “nothing against the truth, but for the truth” (2 Cor. 13:8). 2. Reuben, the eldest, felt compunc tions and responsibility and they agreed with him to cast the boy into a pit (empty cistern, or reservoir, still found at Dothan) without shedding his blood (a lamb died for him). Reuben intended to rescue and return b XL Good for Reuben. Joseph pled piteous ;y with them in an guish of soul (42:21). Picture the scene. “The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel” (Prov. 12:10; Gen. 49:7). Little
I. T he S tory of J oseph . 1. Wonderful. “Unparalleled,” “unriv alled,” have been used by literary critics of this story. Job, Solomon’s Song, Ruth, Esther, Isaiah, Jonah, John, Romans, Philemon, and other biblical volumes have been also lauded in the superlative, from a purely literary point of view. How mar velous the Bible! that contains such an un excelled repertoire. II. J oseph the F avorite . 1. Jacob Loved Him Best. Why? (1) “Son of his old age;” (2) son of his fa vorite wife, whom he meant should be his first and only wife (Gen. 29:20, 25); (3) his motherless son; (4) his lovable son; (5) the contrast with his brothers; (6) because he loved him best,—love asks no reasons. 2. Jacob Showed It. (1) “Many col ors,”—the meaning uncertain, a robe of honor, of a first born. What a robe God’s best Beloved wears, • “ In which all holy heavenly dress. My soul shall ever shine” ; and my body, too (Phil. 3:21). Was Jacob wrong to love Joseph best? No; he could not help it. His error was showing his preference. “Therefore his brethren hated him,” “could not speak peaceably (say “Salaam,” our “Good-day to you”) unto him.’G They “cut him.” Would you be a favorite? be worthy of it. We love Jacob better for loving Joseph best. Jesus had His favorite (John 21:20). We should not show favoritism where likely to give offense, nor take offense where it is shown. We should not envy but emulate the more worthy. % “I love them that love Me” (Prov. 8:17). III. J oseph the D reamer . 1. His Spirit. Simplicity, not arro gance, impelled him to tell his dreams; and he was a prophet. God often made His purpose known in dreams (Num. 12:6; Gen. 40:9, 16; 41:17; Judges 7:13; Dan. 2:1-45; 7:1; Matt. 1:20; 2:22). Joseph’s
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