The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1913-05-23

heart OF any father, but God Is work
ing out his plan unknown to Jacob.
The brothers must have been i'm
pressed by Joseph's words that they
should dare starvation, and their ia
theirs grief and anger, rather than re-
turn to Egypt without their brother
Benjamin
judah, who before had sought to de-
liver Joseph, now offers to become
surety for Benjamin. Thus it was
that Jacob was persuaded, but to
make as good an impression as pos
sible with this strange Egyptian ruler
Jacob directed that in addition to the
necessary funds a present also be pre-
pared (43:lD, and remembering the
strange return of the money before,
that this time double portion be
taken. Two words will serve to d.
vide the lesson. Fear and Feasting.
Sought His Brother.
!. Fear, w. 1925. Ordinarily
such an invitation to Joseph's house
would be considered a great honor,
but in this strange land and possessed
by guilty conscience we read, And
the men were afraid They who so
carelessly sold their brother into sla-
ing "bondmen." Joseph did seek an
occasion against them but it was that
he might secure his brother Benjamin
(the others were only half-brothers) /,
TO abide with him in Egypt. Notice
how eagerly they explain the matter
OF the money in their sacks to the
steward. The steward seeks to reas-
sure them by telling them that, your
God, the God Of your father hath Civ
en- you treasure in your sacks" In
deed God had, but he gave them their
blessing through another. Even so
we through grace are blessed by
means of another who~is our Joseph.
Christ is constantly seeking to reas-
sure our hearts.
u. Feasting, w. 1854. In last
weeks lesson we beheld these broth
ers bowling before Joseph even as his
dream had indicated (37: 5-S) and now
a second time they are on their faces
before him. They had Dragged that
it should never be so, I'VE shall see"
(37:20) and indeed they are now see
ing. That man who says to God II
will not" in the end is always COM
PEELED to do that very thing he in his
pride said he would not do. Those
who now mock our Joseph will in the
end be compelled to do him obeisance,
Rom. l4:11; Phil. 2:10. 1t was that
Joseph might gain his brother Benja-
min that he made all OF these delays
in revealing himself to his other
brothers. AS we have seen Benjamin
was Joseph's only full brother 3O:22
ETC., and had had no part in the con-
spiracy against Joseph, hence Joseph's
heart went out in great love for Ben
jamin, Wv. 29-31. Josephs tears were
no sign of weakness but rather of
strength, John 11:35; Tim. A. Such
a manifestation of emotion ought never
to be suppressed.
Bold Pretense.
Joseph knew full well how to con-
troll his emotions ". 80 till the prop
er time. Joseph ". 27) is fearful that
his father might have passed away yet
his question does not reveal his iden-
tity. We wonder if there must not
have been some suspicion in the
minds of these Hebrews when their
Egyptian host told the exact order of
their respective ages, v. 33 (see also
44:12), and that perhaps Joseph might
after all be alive. Doubtless their
guilty consciences were again aroused
when they beheld their youngest
brother singled out for such manifest
Partially ". 34). They, however
made a bold pretense and drank
largely" II. ", making merry to cover
their confusion. If their drink caused
intoxication we do not know. Any
how they are not held before us as
an example in this particular, nor
does the biblical account demand that
we defend them in this matter.
This was strange feast. The sight
Of BENJAMIN recalls 70 Joseph the
memories of home and mother and
caused him to retire from the pres
ence Of his brothers lest he reveal
himself through his tears. Return
ing he restraints his emotions while
at the same time his brothers are la
boring under the constraint OF their
fears. What differing emotions haunt
ing memories recall. Joseph's men,
cries I'LL him with love and tenderness
while the brothers are filled with sus-
picion Of the entertainment they are
receiving.
The golden text as applied to Jo-
seph reveals the secret Of the strength
OF his character. To abide in the
light is to be always true to God. 1t
means to reveal ultimately the mean
ing OF the darkness. All of this comes
out more clearly when Joseph at last
fully reveals himself to his brothers.
To walk In the light alone will enable
us to keep the golden ranle for Love
49,