The Chanute times., 1913-05-30

Last week we beheld Joseph gazing
for the first time upon his brothers.
While we witnessed his joy. at the
came time we noted another strong
trait of character, viz, that of self
restraint. In that lesson we studied
briefly the fear and the suspicion of
the guilty brothers and at the close
we left them with feigned merriment
(for their hearts were at uDrest) seek
ing to put on bold front, if perchance
their fears were groundless. 1t was
doubtless Joseph's plan to retain pos
session of his brother Benjamin and
let the others go (v. q. In his present
joy and love for his brother Joseph
seems to have forgotten for a moment
the aged father.
Gladnees Shattered.
GAS soon as the morning was light"
the very earliest possible moment, the
brothers departed, and who can say
but that it was with a sense of relief
that they were once more well out of
the city and on the road homeward?
|. The Plotting, w. 4-13. However,
all of their gladness and exultation
was shattered swiftly and suddenly
when Josephs steward overlook them
and charged them not only with in
gratitude, but worse still Of purloining
the cup of Joseph, who was even as
Pharaoh" ". 1S). 1t is easy for us to
picture the CONSERVATION that filled
them when after their protested inno-
cence the cup was discovered in Ben
jamin's sack, and with what shame
and fear they must have retraced
their steps. We cannot read into this
story any idea that the brothers had
any knowledge of the cup being in
Benjamin's sack, and therefore they
must have considered him, upon cir
evidence, as being guilty,
and having made such strong pro-
testation ". 81 that they were in
volved in his guilt. They were, there
fore, in a place Of great danger and
difficulty.
Involved In Web.
Again, as last week, we do not
blink at Joseph's deception and we
need to remember that divination
wv. 5, 14) was later strictly forbidden
in the law, Deut. 1S:10-12. 1t is prob
able, however, that Joseph did not
practice that art The profuse self
defense of these brothers ". 81 in en-
phasizing their honesty may, in the
light of their history, be questioned.
avoid trouble than because of con-
scientious scruples. A proper regard
for the events of their former visit
ought to have cautioned them against
undue protestations or any thought
less promises in this instance. AS it |
was, they involved themselves in a
web from which they were unable to
extricate themselves.
OF course the steward knew of their |
innocence, but notice how he prolongs |
heir anxiety by beginning with the
eldest and going through each sack
ill he reaches that of Benjamin ".
I2). Now it was their turn to rend
heir clothes w. 49,; deception has
,een practiced upon them even as they
had practiced it upon Jacob.
II. Pleading, w. 14-17, and the bal
lnce of the chapter. Whether or not
Joseph foresaw the result of his plan,
remarkable thing happened. Though
n all probability these men judged
Benjamin guilty yet they at once de-
,ided to stand by him, both for his
'wn and for Jacobs sake. They there
~ revealed the fact that change had
aiken place or else was beginning to
york itself out in their lives. Joseph
vas waiting for them as though in the
lain he had all the details worked out
n his own mind. Yesterday feasting
nd making merry, today with abject,
ervile fear they are on their faces
efore Joseph protesting their inno-
ence and through the mouth of Judah
leading for Benjamin. We need to
emember that it was Judah who saw
d the life of Joseph by advising his
ale into slavery, and it was Judah
tho undertook TO be responsible for
enjamin when they began this pres
Mt journey. This is not the last time
hey were on their faces before Jo-
eph (50:1S), even so the day of con-
sssion before our Joseph is coming,
hill, 2:10, IL. They are called upon
, give an account of their deeds, even
} must we give an account of our
.ewardship and of our acts, Cor. {
10. Judah's plea is a fine bit of {
gic and an appeal to compassion. His |
ords indicate that he knew that all !
the difficulties we're the outcome of {
Ieir own sin, Wv. 16, 29 and 1921, %. [
God always finds out our iniquities, 6
1T blessed is that man whose sin is !
,vered by the robe of his righteous c
sss." This new attitude Of these d
en- as voiced by Judah is a remark
lie illustration of what the grace of
I'd can do in the character of a man.
Idah's sin, chapter SS, is a type of =
at danger ever present to Gods
lildren.
One ought to study this entire chap
r in order nrOnarlv IN fpacb fhfu los