1066 was manifest in the action of the brothers. Reuben desired to deliver him, but had no strength of resolution. Judah dreaded to shed blood, and sought some other way. Swayed by different feelings they stripped him, cast him in the pit and calmly sat down to eat their meal. Such is the human heart even among those who are raised in the same environment and even in the same family. The life of Joseph was a reflection upon the lives of his brethren, as was the life of Christ upon the Pharisees. The purpose of his brethren was over ruled by God. The bloody coat which brought grief to his father was to give place to a royal robe in after years. PRACTICAL POINTS (1) Joseph’s brothers had a desperate disease of the heart— envy. (2) Envy is a root with many sprouts, — grief at another’s good, pain at another’s popularity and prosper ity. (3) They sold their brother for a silver song. (4) God preserved Joseph’s life for a great and wise purpose. (5) It is a pity that the evil heart so easily finds a pit. (6) “ Wrath is cruel and anger is out rageous, but who is able to stand before envy?” (7) High principled persons are always subject to petty persecutions. (8) Courage of conviction will always arouse antagonism. (9) Joseph’s obedience to his father’s order afforded an opportunity to do him evil, but God overruled it for good. One of the past preachers of England was severely persecuted. Stones and clubs were thrown at him. One night he brought a number of these weapons
THE KI NG' S BUS I NESS into the pulpit and piled LESSON them on the floor, and ILLUSTRA- addressing the audience TIONS said, “ These are hard arguments but they do not effect the truth.” The pit did not affect the character of Joseph. It might have soiled his garments, but it did not alter his purpose. Persecution Precedes blessing and Use fulness. Twenty-five years ago the founder of a college for negroes in America was hunted like a wild beast through the region where his name is now spoken of by men of all parties with reverence. Lloyd Garrison was nearly murdered by an infuriated mob for championing the emancipation of the slaves, and so years afterward in the same city he was made the recipient of its highest honors. To endure is to conquer. This was true of Joseph. A young Christian soldier in the Army was often assaulted by his tent- mates while at prayer. He sought advise of his chaplain, and by his counsel ommitted his usual habit. His ardent heart could not endure this and he chose rather to have prayer and perse cution than peace without it, and resumed his old way. The result was that after a time all his companions knelt in prayer with him. In reporting to his chaplain he said, “ Isn’t it better to keep the colors flying.” Joseph did. Affliction Produces the Sweetest Char acters. In his “Hunting for the Nightingale in England,” John Burroughs tells of listening one black night to the song of the ridgewarbler in the hedge.' It was a singular medley of notes, hurried chirps, trills, calls and warbles. When it stopped singing, a stone flung into the bush set it going again, its song now being so persistently animated as to fill the gloom and darkness with joy. The more he is persecuted the more joy fully he sings. Samuel Rutherford’s most gladsome letters are those from
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs