The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-04-27

International Lesson for April go. 1904
Joseph forgivsng His llrrt hren-(ses.


Especially Arranged from Peoubcts SOtes-l
GOLDEN TkxT- thy brother trespaas
against thee, tbukc him: and II be repent for
give him Luke Il a
TINE-D G 1907. The second year OF the
famine Nine years after the last lesson. and
twenty-five after the sale Of Joseph by his
brothers
PLACE -Heliopoiis in Egypt: situated on
the Nile, near the head OF the Delta or Zoan
| ,Tanis). near the outlet Of the Tanitic mouth
OF the Nile II was about two hundred and
nfty miles from Hebron. Jacobs home.
| JAcon About one hundred and thirty years
old st!ll living ~ Hebron. with eleven Of his
sons
JOSEPH -Thiriy-nine years old. Of which no
has spent twenty-five In Egypt. thirteen OF
them as slave and nine as governor He has
wife ami two children. benjamin must be
iwcn:yfour or twenty-five years old.
LESSON NOTES
The Famine --After the seven years
Of rare plenty there followed seven
years of bitter famine. There is an
ancient legend that once Joseph scat
tered few kernels OF grain from his
full garncrs in Goshen upon the Nile,
flowing steadily on into the Mediter-
ranean. These were waited along by
winds and currents till they lodged
upon the shore Of distant Palestine.
So they say that the words are to bo
taken literally: Jacob saw that there
was corn in Egypt"-C. 5. Robinson.
have read somewhere that the Egyp-
tians cast their chaff upon the Nile.
and this. flowing on the tide, went to
every land and told them Of the plenty
there was in Egypt
A Panorama. story that fol-
lows is touching series of pictures
from life. each with its own pathos
and instruction.
The Famine in Hebron. - Jacobs
family of eleven sons and many serv-
ants. on the borders OF starvation.
Consultation.
The Caravan to Egypt-Ten BROTH
ers go. benjamin at home. There
were probably many beasts of burden
besides those the brothers rode. There
would be servants and each one could
drive several asses. as now in the east.
Joseph's Rough Treatment of His
Brothers.-Denounccd as spies, im-
prisoncd. Partly in order that Joseph
might have occasion to learn about his
father and benjamin without betray-
ing himself.
The Ghost of the Past.-In their
trouble they remember what they had
done to Joseph. The past confronts
them. 1t is not dead. Reuben re-
counts how he had tried to save Jo-
scph Joseph himself ovcrhears and
understands all this. although they
think they are talking in a tongue I'M
known TO him. Reuben's character
and action are thus revealed to him.
and he knows how TO treat him.
Simeon. whom his father calls self
willed. cruel, fierce in anger (49:5-7),
was kept in prison. as the one who
most needed discipline as doubtless
the fiercest toward Joseph. The others
arc released after three days, and re-
turn home with provisions
The Second Caravan.-They cannot
go back to Egypt without benjamin.
The father refuses, starvation is at
hand. Jacob consents with sad rcluc-
lance Benjamin goes.
The Second Reception.-Th touch
ing scene at u feast. Joseph sees his
own brother once more. Bcnjamin's
fivefold portion. Joseph must express
his feelings in some way.
The silver cup, put in Benjamin's
sack, SO as to be sure and bring him
back, and SD as to make no distinction
between the brothers who had sold
him. The return TO the capitol.
Why did not Joseph's brethren rec
ognizc him. while he recognized them?
a. The change in appearance was
much less in them than in him. They
were grown up when he left them; but
Joseph left them rs bcardlcss boy Of
seventeen, and he wns now a man OF
forty. t2.) They were in the shepherd
dress in which he knew them, while he
was robcd in the magnifccnce Of roy
atty. 60 They spoke in his native
tongue, while he spoke in Egyptian,
and to them only through an inter
prefer. (i.) They had no expectation
Of seeing him in such position. while
he knew the country from which they
came. t5.) Joseph's name had been
changed.
Joscphs treatment of his brothers
seems at first TO be strange, but the
reasons appear to be in order o. To
learn all about them and their circum-
stances, 50 as to know what course to
take. ten To awaken their memories
Of the past, and stimulate their con-
science toward repentance. if they had
not repcnted before. CD To render
his forgiveness of the past more com
plctc. since they would know that II was
in full view of all they had done. 49,
To test his brothers, TO see how worthy
they were Of the benefits he could
now confer. and confer in proportion
to their fitness to receive. lie learned
how they now treated their father,
how they loved benjamin. how kindly
their feelings were toward one another.
Their trials had greatly improved their
character. (5.) To show them that
God had fulfilled his early dreams
ago; and, therefore, his interpreta-
ton o! Pharnoh's dreams was correct,
and God had been in all his life.
Joseph Reveals Himself. - When
Joseph had sufficiently tested his broth
ers, and found them tender of heart,
rcpcntant. full Of kindness to Benjamin
and his father, Judah being willing to
become a slave TO save his brother, TINT
they had got rid Of the evil passion