The National tribune., 1894-04-05
alarmed as to his fate, and panied at the
nh ly {raa

alarmed as to his fate, and panied at the
unbrotherly treatment.
While lunching they Glanced to see in
the distance an approaching caravan on the
| way from Damascus to Egypt. Those were
days when slavery was common, and those
were places where persons were bought and
sold as chattels. The thought occurred TO
the brothers that they might sell Joseph TO
these traders. Consciousness asserted itself.
Judah thought it would be less criminal to
dispose of Joseph thus, than to be the direct
cause Of his death. The bargain was struck,
the money received The brother handed over
to the merchants. and the caravan passed on
| toward Egypt. Try to imagine the feelings
| of Joseph Think of the heartlessness of
| the brothers. Vain man to imagine thus to
| Illustrate Gods purposes! What cared they
for the feelings of their venerable father!
| Heartless children! Cruel brothersl Shame
! less sinnersi
1t seems Reuben was not party to the
sale. 1t was his plan to give escape to Joseph.
Going to the pit for that purpose, he was
greatly distressed to find Joseph not in it.
After-Sale Happenings.
Sin leads to sin. Effort and ingenuity are
| demanded to cover up eyil-doing. Some ex-
PLANTATION must be made TO their father.
|
| make the matter UNREASONABLE, they slew
| kid and stained their brothers beautiful
| coat in the blood, and then took it to their
| father in an attempt TO convince him that
| his Joseph was dead. They suggested that
/ probably he head been attacked by wild
| beast and devoured. Jacob easily believed
| the report.
| The traders bought Joseph merely as
| dealers On reaching Egypt they sold him.
] The buyer was Potiphar, an officer of Pha-
raob, and Captain of the Guard" ". So;
| 39:1.) Pharaoh was general name for
| every Egyptian King, as President is a title
| for every Executive of the United States.
| The events of the lesson are supposed to
have taken place in the Fifteenth Dynasty
| of the Egyptian Government-yiz., the Dy-
nasty of the Shepherd Kings.
When Jacob fully realized las he believed)
| that Joseph was dead he gave himself up to
most intense grief The account stated in
| Verse 80 is tender, beautiful. Every word
| is tear; every punctuation a groan. ORR
| entail grief is very demonstratiye.
The lesson develops many sins-murder,
practically, in the form of fratricide heart
lessness, cruelty, lying, slavery, hatred,
| covetousness, want of love of brothers for
brother, lack of flial feeling, envy, jealousy,
conspiracy in crime. These are partially
offset by Renben's sympathy, Judah's tender
suggestion, Jacobs tears and the efforts of
the family to comfort the bereaved father.
The incidents are full of domestic hints.
Parents and children may learn much of
profit from our study.
Suggestions.
1. Do not tolerate the buying and selling
of human beings. v. 81.
2. Brothers should love each other. See
st. Mt, 1926. Remember how Moses and
Aaron worked together.
3. Notice the doctrine of Providence shown
wonderfully in the interlacing of events.
4. Parents must not be partial In the
treatment of their children. 1913.
5. Be kind to aged parents. V. 35.
6. Away with hypocrisy. V. 80.
7. Maintain commerce. Y. 49,
g. Be truthful. V. 30.
8. Away with envy. Sill
10. Christ is our Brother. We must not
betray him. Never sell out His interests.
Never compromise his cause.