Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-31
Unexpected Trial.

We fail more often at the point of our
strength than our weakness because We
look always for the attack at our weak
point and are prepared to overcome the
tempter by our trust in the helpfulness
of the Holy Spirit. When the enemy
takes us unawares it is in the moment of
self-confidence and he hits at our strong
point: he is apt to find us as the servant
found the sons of Jacob returning the
morning after their conference and din
ner at the palace. rejoicing in the evident
success that had come to them in the
restoration Of Simeon. the loaded caravan
with its precious grain and. above all.
Benjamin preserved safe from the dan
gers of the Egyptian court, where they
had established the truthfulness of their
word and their integrity. as they thought,
SO that they felt assured after their expe-
rience at the palace that they now were
held In high esteem by the viceroy and
henceforth would not be compelled to
fear returning for food during the days OF
the famine.
In a moment they were surprised and
startled by the messenger of the palace.
who charged them with abusing the
privilege of the viceroy's home by steal
ing the divining cup, which every
Egyptian seer possessed. They were con-
fident Of their Innocence. never thinking
for one moment that they were the vic
Tins of plot framed up by the one who
had treated them with such kindness
yesterday. While their record in times
past had proven that they We're not
above doing the very thing charged. yet
in the confidence of their integrity they
boldly challenged investigation, making
a proposition, that their former expert
ence ought to have warned them against
at least becoming entanSled again in the
of o. honda
AS the steward examined sack after
sack there returned a spirit of con-
fidence that suddenly gave way when. as
the contents OF Benjamin's sack were
examined, the purchase money and cup
were found. In moment they were
filled with anguish, agony aud alarm as
they beheId the evidence that pointed to
their young brothers guilt Not once do
they question the finding Of the goods, al
though they had found in their sacks
upon their return home the purchase
price of the corn and also they were
alarmed because OF what 1t might mean.
Now facing the peril that confronted
BENJAMIN and their father, We behold the
unity Of the family revealing itself as
they return to face the ruler and try to
save their brother in the hour of danger.
When the truth of the apparent evil
dence dawned upon them, that Benjamin
had by their own word been delivered to
death. and they into slavery. they rent
their clothes reloaded every man his
ass and returned to the city" Not a
word of criticism escapes them con-
demning their young brother, which is
an idex of the change already wrought
in their character and their confidence
in the integrity of their favorite brother.
The harvest Of earlier evil sowing had
come to them. proving again the truth
of the Scriptures that whatsoever q
man soweth that will he also reap"
They had deceived their father about
Joseph, causing him to rend his clothes,
and now they are compelled to rend
their clothes, because of the deception OF
the brother whom they had wronged
their evil deed followed them everywhere
and in their present peril, they t1w the
1otfibution coming to them IL their