The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-10-24
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
International Lesson Comments For
October II.
Subject: Joseph aud His Brethren, Gen. xiv.
l.l5-Goiden Text. Rom. XII, 2I--Mem-
oy Verses, 4-o-Commentary
on the Days Lesson.

vh NV tey teoo~"
Tntroduction-This chapter, which con-
tains the unraveling Of the plot, and
wonderfully illustrates the mysteries OF
these particular providencea. Ia one Of the
most interesting in the whole account. He
saw that his brethren were confounded
at his presence. that they were struck
with his present power, and that they
keenly remembered and deeply deplored
| their own guilt. II was necessary TO COM
fort them, lest their hearts should have
been overwhelmed with overmuch sorrow.
| How delicate and finely wrought Is the
apology he makes for therl What he
says also concerning his father shows the
warmest feelings Of benevolent and
hlial heart
/. Joseph" Joseph is now thirty.
nine years old: he had been in Egypt
| twenty-five years. and had been governor
| Of Egvpt nine years. Gould not refrain"
| The Hebrew word is very emphatic and
signifes to force ones self to do some
thing against nature. Joseph could no
longer constrain himself. The severity of
the inhexible magistrate gives way to the
natural feelings of the man and the
brother. ''To go out" That is. all Of
the Egyptians. This was J. In order
| that he might give free ard full scope to
his feelings. 2. II was the part of pru-
dence. to prevent the sins of his brethren
9. "Went aloud" FROM the fitness OF
highly excited emotions. This is the usual
| wav in which Orientals express excited
feelings. Heard" This may mean the
servants who NAV have been within the
! sornd OF his voice. or "the words may
to Pharaoh's house" V. l6.
3. ''I am Joseph" The natural voice.
the native tongue. the long remembered
features. wou'd all at once strike the ap.
nrehension Of the brothers. "Troubled"
| They BETRAYED their terror bv shrinking
as far as they could from his presence.
The memory OF the sins they had com.
mitted against joseph came upon them
with great force. They were greatly sur
prised TO find their brother on an Egypt.
ian throne. They l,rew they were in his
power IF be should treat them as they
had treated him there would be no hope
for them.
4. Come near to me-" He invites
them to his free favor. So our Joseph in
the gospel bids us come to Him. The Cos.
pei message is, Come unto Me-" it is tho
entreaty of love. "Sold into Egypt" II
was impossible to evade nllusion to their
early wickedness. but this Joseph does in
o, spirit not OF angry upbraidng, hut OF
elevated pietv and tender charity. Christ
reminded Peter OF his sin in order to show
how full and complete was the forgiveness.
John 81; l5-l7.
5. "Be not crieved." He spoke Of
their having sold him-not to wound their
feelings, but to convince them of his ideu.
tity; and then to reassure their minds he
traced the agency of an overruling provi.
dence in his exile and present honor
"Did send me-" God used their evil To
accomplish His purpose. He did not need
their evil; He has a thousand ways Of ac.
complishing His ends. "To preserve life"
Not only your lives, but the Egyptians
t1, ze 4. 4 -.
tries. The principles laid down by Joseph
are. ]. That while sinners are encour
aged TO hope in Gods mercy. they are left
without excuse for their sin. .. That
God is able to make use of the wicked
actions Of wicked men for the advance.
ment of His work
6. ''Neither be caring" "Shall be
neither plowing nor harvest" Or. W
Ear is an old English word meaning to
plow.
Z. "Great deliverance." That is. that
YOU, who are now but handful, escaping
this danger, might grow intoa vast multi.
8. Father to Pharaoh" Ellis princi.
pal counselor of state, and to have the au.
thority. respect and power of a father
with him."
o. GO up to my father" 'He desires
that his father might speedily be made
glad with the tidings of his life and
10. "Land of Goshen" Probably this
district had been allotted to Joseph by
the king of Egypt, else we can scarcely
think he could have promised it so posi-
lively, without first obtaining Pharaoh's
consent. Goshen was a part OF Egyps
east, OF the Nile, well watered and fit for
CATTLE: and therefore most proper for the
lsraelites, not only for present use, but
also that in Gods time they might with
the least disadvantage return to Canaan
1t was very fertile, for it was stated ta
be the best Of the. land of Egypt.
Il; "Nourish thee" 1t is the duty OF
children, if the necessity of their parents
supply, them to the utmost of their abil.
ity. "And thy household" In verse ls
Joseph speaks of "their households"
showing that. each of the patriarchs had
now. his own family, besides the still larger
iamly ~ SIS 9SeIl0nging ga,1tt to B Jacob; Ti .;.
bad spoken to them through an interpre-
ter, but now he speaks in the Hebrew
Tongue.
49, "All nv glory" He enjoins this
not out of pride, but from love to his aged
iather,. knowing what, pleasure it would
to his father that the promises made could
be carried out, and it would make it
easier for the ten sons to confess the
crime and deceit Of the past eye shall
haste 1t had been twenty-five years
since Joseph had seen his father, and It
was only natural for him to ask them to
hasten their journey,
"A. "His brother" Benjamin was the
only one who was full brother to Joseph.
IS. Kissed all his bret tiren." As a
token. of love and forgiveness. ''Talked
with him." "They were now at rest, the
past forgiven, the present full of hope,
and they could now tell the thousand
things Joseph wished to know about them,
repeat the marvellous tale to their father"