The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-26
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON.
Oct. %: Joseph and His Brethren
Genesis xiv, 1-15.

Genesis xiv, 1-15.
An ancient inscription describes a certain
prime minister as 1.-The eyes of Pharaoh in the
north and his ears in the SOUTH 1t is not an
unlikely description of Joseph himself. Twice
he is said to have gone through all the land of
Egypt He was devoted to the interests OF
his sovereign as Daniel in Babylon, or
Gladstone in London. Immersed as he was, in
the affairs OF administration in the crisis hour
of a vast empire, he lacked not the honors of
state or the amenities of home He lived in
the superb City of the Sun, near the apex of the
Nile Delta. He wore linen vesture worth It's
weight in gold, and Pharaoh's own signet flashed
from his finger. The fetter of his slave-days.
transmitted to a golden ornament, hung about
his neck famed Egyptian chariot OF en-
embossed brass stood at the portal of his palace
A virtuous and noble wernan. probably
an heiress to a vast landed estate, swayed her
queenly scepter Josephs palatial home.
Two sons, with significant names, graced his
table. Manasseh served to remind him that the
poignancy of his servitude and the grief OF
separation from his fathers house was gone.
And Ephraim suggested constantly the abundant
blessing of Providence. We can scarcely
believe that in such a high civilization as that
of Egypt the principle of bureaucracy did not
maintain; and that, as in a Bedouin tribe, all
suppliants were brought to the chief,
brought Immediately to the presence of the
prime minister of the realm. The was
probably exceptional May not the suspicion
that they were disguised emissaries OF some
hostile nation have led to the innovation?
Joseph's quick wit relied upon TO detect
them, if they spies. Twenty-Five
years, and the brothers paths. which diverged
at the pit in Dothan, converge again in the
palace of On-years, for Joseph. crowded with
startling transitions to make the artless mar
rative fascinating beyond comparison; years for
his brothers. let us hope. OF moral improve
ment though their great crime remained un-
confessed and unatoned for The guilty
brothers may have furtively scanned the faces
of such domestic slaves as they might chance to
meet, with small expectation Of recognizing in
some mental their rejected brother. But they
looked squarely at this mighty prince, with his
Egyptian name and retinue, without the slight
est suspicion that he their kinsman. He
was completely metamorphosed But they
the same rude Bedouins, still in shepherd garb,
speaking their mother tongue, and only slightly
erizzled by lapse of years Joseph knew
his brothers at sight but i'm vain had he
passed through his Long series of trying situa-
tions His composurs admirable. He was
every inch a diplomatist. He would know their
disposition toward himself He would put them
in such situations to stir up their compunc-
tons He would have them at his feet before he
disclosed himself. So he continued to
interpreter and made sign of understanding
the conversation they had ,mong themselves.
Joseph's bearing toward his brothers,
and the various expedients he used. well
calculated to reveal their hearts and excite their
contrition He made himself strange toward
them, and spoke roughly. He taxed them with
being spies At they knew themselves to
be as utterly the power of this ruthless prince
as their pleading brother had been in theirs a
score of years before. What right had they to
expect this stranger to be more propitious than
they had been? Down in arched Egyptian
dungeon three days. they tasted the bitter sor-
row of their brother in the pit when they We're
so deaf to his wailing. One of their number
held as hostage bound them to return to the
prince from whose presence they would gladly
have fed forever. Finding the money i'm the
sack was a forceful reminder of the two shekels
each had got so lily by the sale of brother.
At length the confession is extorted. we are
verify guilty concerning our brother :
There are sweet touches OF nature through this
story illustrating well that all nations really
of one blood-Joseph's secret tears at the
morse of his brothers; Jacobs agonized exclama-
ton. IF 1 am bereaved of my children, / am
bereaved;" Josephs lordly banquet to his broth
ers; his inquiry for his father his hasty retire
ment to weep at sight OF his own brother:
Judah's masterful plea for Benjamin: and
finally Joseph's disclosure OF himself after all
foreign witnesses had first been expelled: his
tact in saving his brothers from being swaI-
lowed up OF overmuch sorrow by directing their
attention to the providential of their evil
deed In the range of literature. the narrative
is not surpassed in navete.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
The reconciliation between Joseph and his
fe maj fN-in
reconciliation between Jesus and sinners w
are His brothers. His knsmen according to the
flesh But have rejected Him. crucified Him
afresh put Him TO an open shame. our moral
poverty. soul-famine drives to Him whom
God has highly exalted and made a prince ami
Savior; one whose storehouse of grace is inex
haustble. Coming TO Him penitently. He receives
us graciousy. and seats US at His banquet Of
redeeming love. The darkest hour is
Just before dawn The ptiful emergencies of
the patriarchs reached climax when the divin-
ing cup Of the merciless Egyptian prince was
found in Benjamin's sack. Then at length il
was that they heard the voice OF the stranger
in the familiar accents of their mother tongue
saying. 4 am Joseph" Wher the sinners last
refuge fails him. and he feels that there is 10
eye to pity. arm to deliver. the reassuriny
voice Of his brother is heard saying Il am
Jesus. who shall save you from you. sins
Tables will turn, Those who have re-
jected Jesus. scornfully saying. we viii not
have this TO rule rs" viii as Ger
tsinly call upon Him for mercy the ten
pleaded with their disguised brother The
crucial question is. viii they in time or will
they postpone il until the response Will be-
Late late too late" Obdurate sinners
viii ultimately be completely in the hands OF
the Prince Eternal the guilty brothers found
themselves In the absolute power OF one who
ffafr in,