The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1907-05-10
JOSEPH FORGIVES
HIS BROTHERS
Sunday School Lesson lor May IL. 1901
Specially Prepared Tor This Paper.

LESSON TEXT.-Genesis 45:i-f5; Sole
81. Memory verses, 4. 3.
GILDEN TEXT.-"Be we kind one TO
another. tender-hearted. forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's sake
hath forgiven you."-Eph. Az.
TIME.-B. C.. 1707, according to usher.
Second year of famine and % years after
Joseph was sold into Egypt.
PLACE.-Heliopolis N Egypt, on the ?
Nile, near the head of the Delta: or
Zoan, near the outlet OF the tanitic mouth
Of the Nile. About go miles from Heb
ron, Jacobs home.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
We are now to trace the steps by
which Josepb's brothers were trans
formed from haters into lovers. We
| left them, a set of bitter-hearted, cruel
men, with virtual murder on their
souls and their brother's bloody gar
! ment in their hands, telling their old
| father a lie that meant, they knew,
his lifelong sorrow. Yet those SHINE
men were to be the ancestors of Gods
chosen people. 4
Tha Pressure Of Famine.-Gen. AZ:
1-3. Some OF those who greatly adj
mired the character Of Joseph AVE
been compelled to think he did wrong
in not notifying his old father of his
safety during those nine years when
as prime minister he certainly had
power to communicate with him. In
view, however, of the yearning affec-
ton which joseph afterward showed.
we may well believe that he realized
how little good would be accomplish
ed by such a course while his broth
ers hearts remained hard.
Joseph's Rough DeaIing.-Gen. AZ:
as. Even in his old age, Jacobs en-
ergy shows itself, and it is he that
proposes an expedition to get food
from Egypt. The youngest, Benja-
min, was alone retained at home.
Imprisonment.-Gen. 42:17-24. Jo-
seph's dramatic reminders of what had
passed continued. AS they had
thrust him into the pit, he thrust
them into the horrors of an Egyptian
prison.
The Mystery Of the Money.-Gen.
42:2538. Sometimes consciences that
are not aroused by adversely are
awakened by strangeness and mys.
terry. This also was added for the bet
tering of his brothers.
The ScrrowfuI Father.-Gen. 43:1-
IA. However reluctant the SONS were
to face again the terrible rule Of
Egypt, and however Jacob dreaded to
part with his sole remaining consola-
ton, Benjamin. the pressure of hun
ger was too great for them. With a
sinking heart, Jacob agreed that Ben
jamin should go, being a little as
sured, perhaps, by Judah's manly
promise to be surety for him.
Benjamin Honored.-Gen. 43:15-34.
A e surprise awaited the brothers
in Egypt. Instead of being received
roughly by the prime minister, they
were invited to dine at the great mans
house.
Beniamin's PeriI.-Gen. Alb. The
affair of the divining cup was the
most severe test of all. 1t was part Of
the plot to make out that Benjamin
had stolen something very valuable
and precious. The penalty applied
to common thieves by Egyptian law
was perpetual slavery, and that vas
the fate which confronted the horri-
fed Benjamin when the cup was dis
covered in his sack.
Judah's AppeaI.-Gen. 44:14-34. The
examination before Joseph is a fit
climax Of the wonderful story. "Ju.
DAN had thirsted for the blood of Jo-
seph; it was Judah who now became
the spokesman for the rest."-Sayce.
Joseph's Disclosure Of Himself
. VS.. IA. Joseph's severe tests had
abundantly accomplished their pur-
/ pose; they had shown his brothers,
even the worst of them, to be changed
men, whom he could trust. Therefore
he no longer hesitated to disclose
t himself.
) Joseph's Disclosure Of Providence.
VS.. 5-S. The surgeons task is not
complete II ne leaves an open wound.
: Wise dealing with sinners never ends
when they repent. They must next
be comforted, strengthened. lifted
into-a new confidence. This Is what
Joseph now does for his humbled
3 brothers. Il can forgive, but never
forget" is as far as many Christians
> Of to-day go in regard to an injury
: How small is such a position as VI
stand beside this Hebrew, who could
not only forget, but could strive to
make the wrongdoers forget!
: Joseph Sends for His Fsther-vs
9-13. The best way to help q re
pentant sinner is to give him som
7, noble task to perform; and II 4
. helps to undo some Of the wrong h,
has done. so much the better. Sucl
! a task Joseph next gave his brothers
The Reunited Brothers.--vs. IA. Is
q Gen. 50:15-21. A I'M more saw
: him and BENJAMIN locked in each 9th
, er's arms, their tears freely flowing
2 And he kissed all his brethren. Sim
q con? Yes. Reuben? Yes. Thos'
If who had tied his hands and mocke,
his cries? Yes. He kissed them all
And after that they talked with him,
IF. B. Meyer.