The Progress., 1894-04-21
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON V-APRIL 29-JOSEPH
FORGlVlNG HIS BRETHREN.

Golden Text: If Thy Brother TrespasS
Against Thee, Rebuke Him; and if He
Repent, Forgive !Iim-Genesis XIV:
I-1J.
Introductory. After the seven years
Of plenty came seven years Of famine.
1t is said that the Egyptians cast their
chatf upon the Nile. and this, flowing
on the tide. went to every land and
told them Of the plenty in Egypt. The
famine extended to Palestine and
Jacob and his eleven sons were on the
verge of starvation. Ten of the broth
erS started for Egypt to get grain.
Servants went with them, each driving
several asses. as now in Egypt. Ar
irving in Egypt the brothers were
denounced as spies and thrown into
prison, This was to enable Joseph to
learn about his father and benjamin
without betraying himself. In their
trouble they remembered what they
had done tOJOseph. Reuben recOuntS
how he had tried to save Joseph. Joseph
Ovcrhcars and understands them. al
though they think they are speaking
a language unknown to him.
Rcubcns character is therefore
revealed to him and he knows
how to treat him. Simeon was
kept in prison, as the one who
most needed discip line. as doubtless
the tiercest toward Joseph. The
others were released and returned to
Palestine with provisions.
They returned to Egypt bringing
Benjamin. Joseph now sees his own
brother once more, and gives to him
five times as much as to the others.
Joseph must express his feelings in
some way. Joseph tested his brothers
to see how worthy they were of the
benefits he was able to confer. He
learned how they treated their tathe +
and benjamin, and how kindly their
feelings were to one another. Their
trials had greatly improved their
characters. Judah was willing to be-
come slave in the place of his
brother.
|. Joseph Reveals Himself-vers. l.
4. l. "Then Joseph could not refrain
himself Keep himself from giving
away to the impulses of love, Be
fore all them that stood by him The
Egyptian officials of his household.
And he cried" Made proclamation.
cause every man to go out from me. y
That he might be alone with his
brothers.
.. "And he wept aloud" Tears OF
emotion; JOY more than sorrow. The
Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh
heard" The sound of Joseph
weeping.
3. II am Joseph" The natural
voice, the native tongue, the long,
remembered features would all at
once strike the apprehension of the
brothers. Doth my father yet live?'
This question shows where Joseph
thoughts were. ''They were troubled
at his presence" They would as soon
expect to see lightning flash from d
clear sky as to see their brother on a
throne in Egypt. If he should treat
them as they once had treated him
there would be no hope for them.
"a. and Joseph said am JOSEPH
your brother whom We sold into
Egypt" 1t was impossible to evade
allusion to their early wickedness, ant
this Joseph does in a spirit not O
angry upbraiding, but Of piety ant
tender charity.
II. God Brings Good Out of Man
Evil.--vers. 5-S. 5. Now therefor,
be not grieved." Joseph here shows
the nobleness of his character Wounds
once healed leave scar for warning
and help. Not angry with your.
selves" 1t is harder to forgive our
selves than to forgive others. God
did send me before you to preserv>
life" God used their evil to ac
complish his purpose. He did no
need their evil. But he compelled
bad men to carry out his purpose.
6. Neither be caring" An ole
English word for blowing.
7. God sent me before you" Show
ing how God was bringing good on
of their evil.
s. $50 now it was not you that sent
me hither, but God" They were
none the less to blame, but they need
not bear the additional burden of evi
consequences to others.
III. Joseph sends for His Father
vers. 9-15. 9. Haste ye, and go up t.
my father" For every moments de
lay heightened out the sorrow anc
anxiety of the aged patriarch.
10. "Thou shalt dwell in the lane
of Goshen" 1t probably was an un
settled district, but rich in pastures
and belonged in very loose way tt
Egypt.
II. And thy household" Each o
the patriarchs had now his own body
! of dependents besides the larger clal
that belonged to Jacob.
II. And, behold, your eyes see.