235
T h e K i n g ’ s B u s i n e s s
May 1932
what way is he an example of the true Christian ? Golden Text Illustration A son who had an invalid father had to carry on the burden o f the homestead. One day he asked his father to do some little chores, but he -was weary and his memory was failing, so he forgot. When the son came home and asked about the chores, the father said, “ Son, I am sorry to own it, but I really forgot.” The son said, “ Never mind, Father, I’ll attend to them,” and was turning to go to the barn when the father called to him and said, “ Oh, my boy, God bless you. You will never know what a com fort you are to me. You are so faithful to duty.” When the son returned and spoke to his father, there was no response, for he had gone to the land where “there shall be no more pain.” The son’s sweetest memory was that of the words, “God bless you, my boy!”— E. J. S tobo . Joseph Honors His Father G enesis 46 :5-7, 28-30; 47:7 Memory Verse: “Honor thy father and thy mother” (Ex. 20:12). Approach: So Joseph sent_ for his fa ther and his brothers and their wives and their children and their herds o f sheep and cattle, that they might come to Egypt and enjoy the good things which God had given into his hands. L e s s o n S t o r y : er o f the true God! Jacob remembered the promise which God had given to his father Isaac and to Isaac’s father Abra ham, and he saw that God had not for gotten His promise, but that He was pro tecting Abraham’s family and caring for them through every sort of hardship. When they were down in Canaan feeling so poor and forgotten and wondering where they would get enough to eat, this wonderful thing happened—Joseph, whom they had thought was, long since dead, was discovered as the very one who could res cue them. So Jacob stopped at Beersheba, the place where, years before, his grand father Abraham had stopped to worship God after God had protected him, and brought him to his land o f promise, and here he worshiped again the God o f his fathers. When Jacob and his family reached Egypt, Pharaoh himself welcomed him, and a part o f the country was set aside for him to use. It was land where there was plenty o f room for his sons and their fam ilies and for their sheep and cattle. And so they dwelt there and multiplied. Three Essential Qualities of an Ambassador 2 C orinthians 5 :20 1. Identity with Christ. BLACKBOARD LESSON God, Egypt was to be the place where the family, promised to Abraham, would grow until it became the promised nation. It is hard to discuss what the reasons for this were. Perhaps it was to preserve the chosen people from being contaminated by their close neighbors in Canaan; or per haps it was to teach them, a pastoral peo ple, something of national life. The prom ise was then enlarged by the words, “ I will go down with thee into Egypt.” Doubtless Jacob had misgivings concern ing the power o f Egypt; but.whatever its power, the Mighty One would be sufficient to meet it, and He would attend Jacob in his going. This surely would remind the Lord’s servant of that other night at Bethel when God first appeared to him and prom ised to be with him. God had proven His promise true in that instance, and Jacob knew that the same faithfulness was be hind this new word. W e miss much o f the com fort and strength found in this lesson, if we forget that the same faithful God who was mind ful o f Jacob has promised also to be with us to the end of all our days. Further more, the Lord told Jacob, “ I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hands upon thine eyes.” This evidently referred to the fact that Jacob was to die in Egypt, but his body would be returned to the promised land; and at his death, Joseph, the beloved son, would be present to perform the last tender o f fices for his father. Fortified with God’s promises, and con scious that he was in the way o f the Lord, Jacob promptly moved forward, taking all his possessions, and finally arrived in the land of Egypt. II. T he M eeting w ith J oseph (46:28-30). Jacob sent Judah before him to announce his arrival to Joseph, and to learn direc tions for finding the allotted place in Go shen. Evidently Judah was now fully trusted, and Jacob leaned upon him as upon a first-born son. Jacob knew that Joseph was a man under authority; hence he did not go directly to him. Very wisely, he avoided making any show before the Egyptians, especially since he and his were of an occupation hateful to the Egyptians. There can be little doubt that God was giv ing Jacob the needed wisdom as to how to act (cf. Jas. 1 :5). Likewise, we need only rely upon God, who has promised to be with us, to be guided aright through every difficult experience. Joseph made ready his chariot and came to meet his father. The meeting was sweet to them both, and tender with the long- repressed desire to look into each other’s faces. Joseph presented himself in true oriental fashion, taking the place o f sub servience as became a son with his father, even though he was the ruler o f all Egypt. Well would it be if the young people of today could gather from this lesson some thing o f the honor due to parents and would act accordingly. Joseph fell upon his father’s neck and, for very joy, wept there “a great while.” Filial affection was revealing itself, and parental love was be ing poured out. Thus God yearns to greet the returning backslider, or to welcome the sinner coming to Him for the first time. III. T he I ntroduction to P haraoh (47:7). When Pharaoh was informed o f the ar rival o f Jacob and his family, he generous ly declared that they might settle in what ever portion o f Egypt they m'ght choose. Then Joseph brought his father to be pre sented to the king.- kcLtd loOecL you, ________ ib The introduction presents several strik ing contrasts. Here was wealth greeting poverty; whatever Jacob had, it was as poverty compared with the riches o f Phar aoh. Here was youth meeting age; Jacob was now an aged man, weighted with years and having but a few days left to him upon earth, while Pharaoh was filled with the vigor and ambition o f youth. Here was a man accustomed to the Open spaces o f the cattle country brought face to face with one accustomed to the sights and luxuries of city life. And here was sim plicity meetiiig elegance; Jacob had dwelt all his life in tents, while Pharaoh was at home in palaces. As far as the eye could see, Pharaoh had all the advantages. But here was divine dignity meeting human pomp; as soon as Jacob came into this august presence o f earth, he remem bered that he represented the more august presence in heaven. He remembered that he was God’s man, that God was to him the Mighty One who was with him even then, and that he was there to represent God. This filled his heart with dignity and poise, and it enabled him, in all humility, to regally and graciously bestow his bless ing upon Pharaoh. Surely the less is bless ed o f the greater, and there is none greater upon earth than the man who truly repre sents G od ; and this is every Christian’s po sition and business. It would be well for us as Christians to move and act with that dignity which pertains to our calling, and with that humility which becomes those who rest wholly in the grace and the sov ereign choice o f God, the Mighty One. Lesson Questions 46:1, 2. What gracious invitation did Joseph send to his father (cf. 45: 9, 10) ? What was Jacob’s first stopping place on his way to Egypt? Who else had stopped there (cf. Gen. 21:33; 26 : 25) ? Why did Jacob do likewise? What does this reveal regarding Jacob’s habits o f prayer? In speaking to Jacob, what significance is there in the use of the old name, Jacob, rather than Israel? Vs. 3, 4. By what name did God reveal Himself to His servant? What far-reach ing promise did God make to him? What hint is there regarding his death and burial ? Vs. 5-7. How large a company came with Jacob into Egypt (cf. Gen. 4 6 :26, 27 )? Vs. 28-30. In what part of the land did Joseph propose to settle his father’s fam ily ? What miracles were later enacted there (c f. Ex. 8 :20-22) ? What prominent part did Judah play? What lessons regard ing filial piety are contained in these verses? 47:7. Point out some o f the contrasts in the meeting o f Jacob and Pharaoh. O f what unseen and regal authority did Jacob feel himself the possessor ? What did this enable him to do for Pharaoh? In 2. Loyalty to Christ: 3. Service for Christ. — I saac P. W ard .
Made with FlippingBook Online document