The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-10-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON l, FOURTH QUARTER, INTER
NATIONAL SERIES, OCT.6
Text of the Lesson, Gen. xxxvif, H.
30-MemOry Verses, 20-2s-Golden
Text, Acts vii. 0-COmme ntary Pre-
pared by the Rev. ID. M. stearns.

copyright. 1901 by American Press Association
Our last Genesis lesson showed Us Ja-
cob preparing to meet Esau, filed with
fear. Chapter xxxiii tells how God
wrought in making peace between the
brothers and of Jacobs altar to God, the
God OF Israel, at Snechem. In chapter
xxxiv the devil is seen in his work of sin
and death; chapter xXXy tells of God APP
pearing TO Jacob at Bethel, where He
had many years before opened heaven TO
him in the vision of the ladder, and it
tells also Of the Death of Isaac at the age
Of $50 years; of Deborah, Rebekah's
curse. and of Rachel, the wife of Jacob,
as she gave birth to Benjamin; it gives
the names of Jacobs II sons and leaves
him at Hebron, where Isaac died and
was buried.
1214. Go, | pray thee, and see the
peace of thy brethren" (margin reading).
Israel unwisely made 1t very evident that
he loved Joseph more than his other sons,
and this, with Joseph's two prophetic
dreams. stirred them so that they envied
him and hated him and could not speak
peaceably TO him verses 4, D, IL. All
unsuspecting, his father sends him from
the home AT Hebron to see if it is well
with his brethren and with the focks.
1t is well for us that we do not know
what is before us. but it is also well that
we can be sure that however things may
seem God is working out His eternal
/ purposes of love and mercy in the very
best way.
1920. From Hebron 20 Shechem, and
/ from Shechcm 10 DOthan. he patiently
and obediently AMI lovingly sought them,
only 10 experience at their hands their
hatred and murderous intentions When
! they saw him afar off, even before he
/ came near unto them, they conspired
! against him 70 slay him. In Joseph, as
| in Isaac. we have wondrous type of the
| Lord Jesus. When He came unto His
own, seeking their peace. not only did
they not receive Him. but they persist
entity took counsel TO kill Him John i, IL;
ri. 3d. Math. xii, IA.
p, %. Let us not kill him." Thus
said Reuben, his Oldest brother, desiring
TO rid him out Of their hands and deliver
/ him 10 his father again, for they were
not all so hard of heart. these cruel broth
rem. We may hope that Reuben, whose
name signifies see a SON. (chaptcr xxx,
30, marginl, saw more in Joseph than the
others did bit it would only be cternally
well with him if he saw by faith Him
whom Abel and Enoch and Noah and the
patriarchs saw.
%. "a "Thov took him and cast him
into pit. and the pit was empty; there
was no water in it." BY the grace of
God and according to His purpose, Jo-
seph did not die in the pit, but was deliv
cred from ii that he might in due time
perform the pleasure Of the Lord. Con
slider Zech. iX, II. "As for thee also by
the blood Of thy covenant | have sent
II. IL
is no water" However great or many
may be the trials OF the righteous, by
virtue of the blood which redeemed them
they shall be delivered from every evil
thing and presented perfect in the day Of
the kingdom III Tim w. II, 49,.
25-2S 4 company Of Ishmaclites pass
ing by, Judah manifests his interest in
his brother by suggesting that they sell
him 10 them. His brethren were con-
tent 20 have it so. and therefore Joseph
was sold for 90 pieces Of silver and taken
TO Egypt. How many things in this sad
story are suggestive of the Sufferings Of
Christ. They stripped Him Of his raj
ment; when they had crucifed Him, they
sat down and watched Him. He was sold
for some pieces Of silver (Math. xvii, g.,
2S. 81. 36). The archers sorely grieved
him and shot at him and hated him. but
his bow abode in strength, and the arms
OF his hands were made strong by the
hands Of the mighty God Of Jacob (Gen.
xix. %. pa.
%. 80. THE child is not. and l. with
er shall | goY" Thus said Reuben when
he returned to the pit and found not his
brother. for they had taken him up and
sold him in Reuben's absence His breth-
rem would not be apt 20 enlighten him, so
probably he. as well as his father. contin-
ued in ignorance as TO Josephs fate.
Twenty years after this Reuben remind
ed his brethren Of their guilt and Of his
desire TO save his brother (chapter xiii,
Do. He did not say, like Cain, Am / my
brothers keeper? but he felt a response
biity for his brothers welfare.
81. 81. "They took Joseph's coat and
killed n kid of the goats and dipped the
coat in the blood" The phrase "a kid
of the goats" makes one think how often
it is used in connection with Sacrifices;
tone kid Of the goats for a sin Offering"
See it II times in Mum. vii alone.
One cannot but think Of Gods beloved
Son. who for us became n sin Offering,
but He did il willingly and in love 10 us,
and in love the Father gave Him up 10
be our sin offering. As they brought the
blood stained coat to their father and
SdlQ, Inns nave we lOunus KNOW HOW
whether it be thy sons coat or no." they
both told and acted a terrible lie, show
ing themselves for the time being in the
service of the father of lies.
SO, 81. Joseph Is without doubt rent
in pieces" So he believed. and his cruel
sons let him believe, and he mourned for
his son many days, and for 20 years
counted him dead. 1t is trying enough TO
see n loved one die. but there Is n sad
consolation in being privileged to care for
and lay carefully away the precious
body. To have loved ones go out from
your presence in health and never see
them again in the mortal body. but only
hear that they in some way suffered a
violent death, is inexpressibly sad, and
cruel indeed must have been the hearts
Of sons that could let their, father thus
believe.
81. and all his sons and all his daugh-
tiers rose up to comfort him, but he re-
fused TO be comforted." We do not know
how they tried to comfort him. but he
might have said, as job did Miserable
comforters are we ALL" How vain oft
tip,oc m bo xrorJc Of 4bnco xrbo roolIv