The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1907-05-09
JOSEPH FORCIVES
HIS BROTHERS
Sunday School Lesson for May IL. 1907
Specially Prepared for This Paper
Specially Prepared for This Paper.


21. Memory verses. I. 5.
GILDEN TEXT.-"Be ye kind one to
another. tender-hearted. forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's sake
hath forgiven you. ."-Eph. i:32.
TIME.-B. C. 1907. according to Ussher.
Second year OF famine and % years after
Joseph was sold into Egypt.
PLACE.-Heliopolis in Egypt, on the
Nile, near the head of the Delta: or
Zoan, near the outlet of the tanitic mouth
Of the Nile. About $50 miles from Heb
ron, Jacobs home.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
We are now to trace the steps by
which Joseph's brothers were trans.
formed from haters into lovers. We
left them, set of bitter-hearted, cruel
men, with virtual murder on their
souls and their brothers bloody gar.
ment In their hands, telling their old
father a lie that meant, they knew,
his lifelong sorrow. Yet those same
men were to be the ancestors of God s
chosen people.
The Pressure Of Famine.-Gen. AZ:
1-3. Some of those who greatly ad.
mired the character of Joseph have
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 we'll 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:
4-6. 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. 10
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
42:25-38. 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 SorrowfuI Father.-Gen. 43: +
IA. However reluctant the sons were
to face again the terrible rule OF
Egypt, and however Jacob dreaded tC
part with his sole remaining consola
tion, Benjamin, the pressure of hun
ger was too great for them. With G
sinking heart, Jacob agreed that Ben
jamin should go, being little as
sured, perhaps, by Judah's manly
promise to be surety for him.
Benjamin Honored.-Gen. 1884
A new 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.
Benjamin's Perll.-Gen. 44:1-13. The
affair of the divining cup was the
most severe test of all. 1t was part o
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 wal
the fate which confronted the horri
fed Benjamin when the cup was dis
covered in his sack.
Judah's Appeal.-Gen. 44:14-34 Tn,
examination before Joseph Is a A
climax Of the wonderful story "Ju
dab had thirsted for the blood Of Jo
seph; 1t was judah who now becam
the spokesman for the st."-Sayce
Joseph's Disclosure Of HIMSELF
VS.. IA. Joseph's severe tests ha,
abundantly accomplished their pur
pose; they had shown his brothers
even the worst Of them, to be change,
men, whom he could trust. Therefor,
he no longer hesitated to disclos,
himself
Joseph's Disclosure Of Providence
VS.. b-S. The surgeons task is no
complete II he leaves an open wound
Wise dealing with sinners never end
when they repent. They must mex
be comforted, strengthened, liftet
into a new confidence. This is wha
JooepH HOW uOeS LOT MS numDlet
brothers. 81 can forgive, but neve
forget" Is as far as many Christian
of to-day go in regard to an injury
How small is such a position as W,
stand beside this Hebrew, who coult
I not only forget, but could strive I,
make the wrongdoers forget!
Joseph Sends for His Father.-Vs
9-13. The best way to help a re
pentant sinner is to give him som,
noble task to perform; and II 1
helps to undo some of the wrong h,
has done, so much the better, Sucl
task Joseph next gave his brothers
The Reunited Brothers.-Vs. Ia, Is
Gen. 50:15-21. A moment more saw
him and Benjamin locked in each 9th
er's arms, their tears freely flowing
And he kissed all his brethren. Sim
con? Yes. Reuben? Yes. Thos,
who had tied his hands and mocke,
his cries? Yes. He kissed them all
And after that they talked with him.