The Tupelo journal., 1907-05-10
JOSEPH FORGIVES
HIS BROTHERS
Sunday School Lesson for May II. 1907
Specially Prepared fer This Paper.
Specially Prepared Ter This Paper.

LESSON -TExT.-Genesis 45:1-15; SOILS
81. Memory verses. 4, 5.
glider TEXT.-"Be we kind one to
another. tender-hearted. forgiving one
another, even as God for Christs sake
hath forgiven you."-Eph. 4:32.
TIME.-B. C. 1907. according to USHER.
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, a 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 Gods
chosen people.
The Pressure of Famine.-Gen. AZ:
1-3. Some of those who greatly ad-
mired the character of Joseph have
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 we'll believe that he realized
how little good would be accomplish
ed by such a course while his broth
ers hearts remains 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.
Experimentation. 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.
42:25-38. 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 Sorrowful -Father.-Gen. 43:1-
IA. However reluctant the son 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 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 PeriI.-Gen. 44:1-13. 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 was
the fate which confronted the horri-
fed Benjamin when the cup was dis
covered in his sack.
Judah's Appeal.-Gen. 44:14-34. The
examination before Joseph is a fit
climax of the wonderful story. "Ju-
dab had thirsted for the blood of 10,
seph; it was Judah who now became
the spokesman for the rest."-Sayces
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
himself.
Joseph's Disclosure of Providence.
VS.. SIS. The surgeons task is not
complete if he 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
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 we
stand beside this Hebrew, who could
not only forget, but could strive to
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 some
noble task to perform; and if it
helps to undo some of the wrong he
has done, so much the better. Such
a 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
eou? Yes. Reuben? Yes. Those
who had tied his hands and Knocked
his cries? Yes. He kissed them all
And after that they talked with him"
F. B. Meyer.
Practical Points.
The chief characteristics of this re-
markable man Joseph were: %
filial devotion; (2) absolute purity and
honesty; 60 u~nselishness, and readi-
ness to help others; (4) humility; (5)
a cheerful faith in God and in his
destiny; CO. faithfulness in little
things: Cd resolution and enterprises;
80 patience and perseverance. These
qualities are within the reach of any