Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-05-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson W.-Second Quarter, For
May IL, 1907.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text of the Lesson, Gen. xiv, lis;
!, 15-21-Memory Verses, 4, 5-GoIden
Text, Eph. iv, 32-commentary Pre-
pared by Rev. D. M. Stearns.

!, 15-21-Memory Verses, 4, 5-GoIden
Text, Eph. iv, a2-commentary Pre-
pared by Rev. D. M. stearns.
Copyright, 1907, by American Press Association
We have before us the task of sum-
marizing and getting the heart Of the
last nine chapters of this wonderful
book of beginnings, the topic Of the
portions assigned as the lesson being
"Joseph's Forgiveness of His Brethren"
which will have an analogy in Jesus
forgiveness of Israel when they shall
receive Him at His coming in glory
and, turning to Him with the whole
heart, shall say, "Lo, this our God; we
have waited for Him, and He will
save u.s. Qsa. XIV, 81. The gospel
which does not proclaim forgiveness of
sins as the first thing freely given is
not the gospel of God, but another
gospel of mans device (Gal. |, 6-12;
Acts xiii, 38, 80; Luke xiv, 46-49).
If Jesus has been truly revealed to
US, then we have heard Him say,
Come near" and life and conscious
forgiveness are ours In Him (xlv, 4,
10, II, with which compare Eph. ii,
10; i, 6, y. To question the reality
and sincerity of this forgiveness, as
Joseph's brethren did Il, 10, is only to
display the contemplate meanness of
our sinful nature and to accuse the
Lord of forgiving as we do. No won
der Joseph Wept when after all his
I,
so misjudging him. Our similar treat
ment of our blessed Lord is enough to
make Him weep too.
What an abundant revelation of the
heart of Christ is to be found in His
three weepings-at the grave of Laz-
arus, over Jerusalem and in Geth-
semane! We would do we'll to consid-
er in this lesson study the seven weep
ings Of Joseph (xlii, "a; xiii, 30; xiv,
2, IA, 10; XVI, 20; l, l, ID, five times
over his brethren and Benjamin and
twice over his father.
Last weeks lesson left Joseph ruler
over all the land of Egypt at the be-
ginning of the seven years of dearth
and in full and absolute control Of all
the corn to be had If life was to be
prolonged, it could only be by applica-
ton to Joseph, and the corn had to be
paid for. In our case there is no life
but in Christ, yet it cannot be bought,
but must be accepted, as Joseph's breth-
rem obtained theirs, freely Il John V,
II; Rom. vi, 23). The testing of Jo-
sephs brethren in chapter xiii and the
remembrance of their guilt suggest
the true penitence of the nation in days
to come Czech. xii, 10), when they shall
look upon Him whom they pierced.
In chapter xiii Judah consenting to
become surety for Benjamin and his
plea in chapter xiv, 1884, are among
the most eloquent parts of the whole
story, and particularly so as we re-
member that our Lord came from Ju-
dab and is spoken of as the surety for
Israel in Jer. xxx, 81, revised version,
margin. The words peace" ''wel-
fare" "well," "good health" Of Kill,
%, 27, %, are all the same word and
remind us of Mordecai in Est. x, 3,
but especially of Him who is our peace,
our health, our salvation.
In xiv, 1, Joseph made himself known
to his brethren. Jesus must make Him.
self known to us, and this He longs to
do by His spirit through His word. We
should beware Of reading the Scrip
lures without seeing Jesus, for other
wise it may be time lost. 1t is beau
tiful to see Joseph recognizing the hand
Of God in all the events of the past
(xlv, 5, Z, 8, 8; l, 20) and sending the
messages Of love and good cheer to his
father from the long lost son.
Two of Josephs words to his breth-
rem as he sent them to bring his father
should become watchwords with be-
Hevers-"Regard not your stuff, for the
good of all the land Of Egypt is yours"
and 'See that We fall not out by the
way" oversees 20 and pa. God would
have us as strangers here regarding
not this worlds goods except in so far
as we can use them for Him, but, rich
toward God in Christ Jesus, have our
affections set upon things above and
avoid all strife as we journey on.
In proportion as things unseen be-
come real all things seen and temporal
become unreal. Jacob in his old age
is careful to walk with God, and as he
is about to pass out of the land of
promise to go down to Egypt he seems
to have some misgivings and to desire
a message from God. He is therefore
granted a comforting and assuring mes
sage from his faithful God (xlvi, Ia |
and so goes on his way to greet his
long lost" son. He could not believe |
that Joseph was still alive till he saw
the wagons which Joseph had sent for |
him. 1t is well when there is visible |
evidence in our lives that Jesus lives |
and has sent US to bring people to Him |
Hfnh Il IN. TIT III o.