Passaic City record., 1901-11-02
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER 3.

ouDJect: Deatn OF JOseph' GeHs L., ID-So-
Golden Text. Psa. xc., 12 - Memory
Days Lesson.
Let us study carefully the intervening
history. l. Joseph sending for his father.
45: 1928. Pharaoh and his servants were
well pleased when they knew that .Joseph's
Joseph in sending for Jacob and his fam
lily. Great provisions were made for their
journey. At first Jacobs heart tainted,
for the news seemed too good to be true,
but when he saw the wagons and the
good things of Egypt" that Joseph had
sent he believed and his spirit revived.
.r 2 The journey to Egypt; 46: l-27;
to move to Egypt with their flocks and
about 250 miles along the usual caravan
route. but it was long, hard journey for
an old man, with women and children,
and focl1s and herds When they reached
Beer-sheba God sent Jacob a vision for his
encouragement, confirming the ancient
promises and bidding him go on to Egypt.
Little could Jacob see the real Importance
of this journey. but it was one of the links
in the chain of divine providence through
which the promises were to be fulfilled"
The number of Jacobs children that went
down into Egypt, including his sons wives,
was seventy-fve. Acts 7: IA.
8. The meeting of Jacob and Joseph.
IS: 1884. When Jacob reached the land
of Goshen Joseph went forth in his char
fathers neck "and wept on his neck
good while" 1t had been nearly twenty
three years since Joseph had left his faith
er to 60 to Shechem.
4. The meeting of Jacob and Pharaoh.
q: Ito. First Joseph selected five of
his brethren and introduced them to
Pharaoh, who welcomed them, and babe
proved themselves men of activity, energy
and ability. Then Joseph introduced his
father to the king. Here Joseph shows
the nobleness of his character in not being
ashamed of his father" Jacobs account
Of his life to Pharaoh is very touching.
Sin and sorrow had weighed him down
and was bringing him to an early old age.
5. Jacob blessing his sons. Chapters
4S, 40. The time was approaching when
Jacob knew he must die; he is sick and
nearly blind. Joseph took his two sons,
Manasseh and Ephraim,, to his father.
who blessed them 'In this scene we need
but notice the prophetic adoption of
Ephraim and Manesseh as his own sons
and heads of tribes. and the giving of the
chief blessing to Ephraim, the younger"
Ephraim became the leading tribe next to
Judah. Just before his death Jacob pro-
phesied concerning his sons and pro-
nounced blessings upon them.
6. Jacobs death and burial. 40: 90 to
80: "A. Jacob was l47 Years of age when
he died. Before his death he secured
solemn pledge from Joseph that he would
bury him in Egypt az: 29-3l). and later
he charged them to bury him in the cave
These instructions were carefully carried
out AT this time Joseph revisits the
scenes Of his boyhood, after an absence OF
Is. "Saw their father was dead" This
at once argues both sense of guilt in
their own consciences and want of con-
fdence in their brother
though this is not recorded elsewhere it
was undoubtedly true. They had probably
asked their father to help them in their
trouble. Jacob must have advised them
to humble themselves before their brother
and obtain fresh assurance of his for
giveness.
II. forgive" etc. These words were
ken in way to appeal in the most forci-
BILE manner to Joseph's piety and filjal af-
lection. They cast themselves wholly on
his mercy. Joseph wept." How touch
ing! He wept out of sympathy with their
deep sorrow of many years which nothing
but forgiveness and reconciliation could
alleviate
49, "Fell down" Thus again and again
DO we see the fulfilment of Joseph's dreams
in remarkable manner. 81: So.
l9. "In the place of God" I have for
given you and the matter is now between
you and God. am not your judge to pun
ish you.
20. eye meant evil" R. W And what
they did was just as wicked as though the
results had been disastrous. They intend
ed e, it for evil, and God judges according to
meant it for good" (R. W God over
ruled their wickedness and made It worl,
out good. This fact would comfort them.
for it would be great relief to know that
the injury, to Joseph which they had in.
tended had been averted.
%; "Dwelt in Egypt" He continued
in Egypt until the time of his death,
which was ffty-fonr years after the death
Of his father. "His fathers house" All
the descendants of Jacob remained in
Egypt IA years after the death of Joseph.
They came to Egypt seventv-one years be-
lore his death. which makes the entire
lime IN Egypt 2l5 years. can hundred and
ten years" He was seventeen years old
when he came to Egvnt. thirteen years
were spent in slavery and prison and
eighty years on the throne: for it is proba-
BILE that he retained his high Office to the
close of his life.
%. Upon Joseph's knees" They were
educated by him. or under his direction:
his sons and their children continued to
acknowledge him as patriarch, or head Of
the family. as long as he lived.
"a. "Will surely visit you." Joseph had
unbounded. confidence in the promises
made to his ancestors. The Egyptian
throne had not weaned his affections from
the true God: He died in the "full assur-
ances of faith" Bring you out" Though
ye have everything that can make life
comfortable, yet this is not the land
given by covenant, the land which repre-.
sents the rest that remains for the people
Of God.
25. Garry up my bones" ''That NAV
finally rest with my ancestors in the land
which, God gave to Abraham. and which
is a pledge. as it is a type of the kingdom
of heaven" See Heb. II: %. Joseph's
request was granted. When Moses de-
parted from Egypt he took .Joseph's body
lex. l3: 19), and Joshua buried him in
Shechem. Josh. "a: 80.
26. "They embalmed him." The Egvp-
L. ~ u