The Brinkley argus., 1913-05-30


 your sins one 10 another, and pray on for another. that ye may be healed James s:l6, R. V.
 Last week we beheld Joseph gazin, for the first time upon his brothers While we witnessed his joy, at thu same time we noted another strong trait of character, viz, that of self restraint In that lesson we studied briefly the fear and the suspicion O the guilty brothers and at the close we left them with feigned merrimen (for their hearts were at unrest) seek ing to put on a bold front. If perchancs their fears were groundless. It wa, doubtless Joseph's plan to retain pos session of his brother Benjamin anc let the others go tv. D. In his present joy and love for his brother Joseph seems to have forgotten for a moment the aged father.
 Giadness Shattered.
 As soon as the morning was light, the very earliest possible moment. the brothers departed. and who can say but that 1t was with a sense of relief that they were once more we'll out Of the city and on the road homeward?
 |. The Plotting, w. 4-t3. However. all of their glsdness and e1ultation was shattered swiftly and suddenly when Joseph's 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" tv 1S). It is easy for us to picture the consternation that filled them when after their protested inno- cence the cup was discovered in Ben jamins 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 iL Benjamin's sack. and therefore they must have considered him, upon cir cumstantial evidence. as being guilty, and having made such strong pro- testation tv. 9) 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 fvy. s. 14) was later strictly forbidden in the law. Deut. 1s:10-12. It is prob able. however, that Joseph did not practice that art The profuse self defense of these brothers tv. 8 in em- phssixing their honesty may. in the light of their history. be questioned. The return of the money was more to avoid trouble than because of con scientious scruples. A proper regard ought to have cautioned them against undue protestations or any thought less promises in this instance. As 1t 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 their anxiety by beginning with the eldest and going through each sack till he reaches that of Benjamin tv. 12). Now 1t was their turn to rend their clothes tv. 13); deception has been practiced upon them even as they had practiced it upon Jacob.
 II. Pleading. w. f4-f7, and the bal ance of the chapter. Whether or not Joseph foresaw the result of his plan a remarkable thing happened. Though in all probability these men judged Benjamin guilty yet they at once de cided to stand by him, both for his by revealed the fact that change had taken place or else was beginning tc work itself out fin their lives. Joseph was waiting for them as though in the main he had all the details worked out in his own mind Yesterday feastins and making merry. today with abject servile fear they are on their faces before Joseph protesting their inno cence and through the mouth of Judat pleading for Benjamin. We need tc remember that it was Judah who say ed the life of Joseph by adyising hii sale into slavery. and 1t was Judaf who undertook to be responsible fol Benjamin when they began this pres ent journey. This is not the last time they were on their faces before Jo geph t50:1 1s). even so the day of con fession before our Joseph Is coming Phi. 2i0, II. They are called upor to give an account of their deeds, ever 70 must we give an account of oul stewardship and of our acts. Cor 5:l0. Judah's plea is fine bit O logic and an appeal to compassion. Hi words indicate that he knew that al of the difhculties were the outcome O their own sin. w. is. 29 and 42:21. 2s
 God always finds out our iniquities but blessed is that man whose sin il covered by the robe of his righteous ness" This new attitude of these men as voiced by Judah Is remark able illustration of what the grace O God can do in the character of man Judahs sin. chapter ss. is a type O that danger ever present to God'i children.
 One ought to study this entire chap ter in order properly to teach this les son The story Is one that is full o dramatic power, but do not let thu telling of 1t be so vivid as to exclude the fundamental lesson.
 r r hlnnDcInu1