The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-06-07

No story of the Old Testament ia
fraught with greater dramatic inter.
est than that which is presented IN
day. Let US get the setting Of the mir.
ture. An Opulent oriental court: that
man who next 10 Pharaoh exercised
more power than any congress or as.
sembly. and INTO whose hands had
been placed lhe destinies Of a king.
dom by earthly power and the ont.
working OF the plan of redemption
by a divine power. Servants. powe,
resources. all at Josrph's command
Before him his brothers who long ago
gave him up as being dead Ont.
side a great calamity resting upon the
people. and none prepared To meet il
except these of Egypt whose provi.
sion was the result of the work OF
this man of God. Il. Tim. 4:SD. Be.
fore this man. as humble Supplcants
we see those who "entreated him de.
spltefully.' Judah's speech was
revelation 20 Joseph, it satisfied him
and >hat need. therefore. for further
delay in revealing himself In his true
character?
Saving Love.
!. Revelation, w. I-3.-EYcndine
al, from his presence. saving his broth.
ers. Joseph gave full vent to his 10Y
apd rejoicing. Il am Joseph; doth
my father yet Hve?" Their astonish.
ment was SO great as to leave them
speeches., and again haunting memo
ries condemn them to fear and fore
bading for they were troubled in his
presence" We have here a beautiful
picture of forgiveness and saving love
and also a wonderful foreshadowing
OF Jesus dealing with his erring broth
ers. the Jews. When he was here
upon earth they rejected him and il
has been among the Gentiles that he
has been exalted even as was Joseph
In Egypt.
The exaltation of Jesus was to
give repentance TO Israel through the
forgiveness of sins. Acts 5:3l. Even
so did Joseph bring repentance to his
brothers and forgiveness of their
wrongs toward him % years before
Joseph's severe dealings with his
brothers aroused them to a full recog-.
milton Of their evil deeds and pre-
pared them to receive his pardon and
forgiveness.
But the cup is full, no longer can
he restrain himself, and with a loud
voice, SO loud that it could be heard
without, he cried Il am Joseph"
Small wonder that at such a procla-
nation by him whom they had SO
grievously wounded, they were trou-
bled." So shall it be when the breth-
rem of Jesus shall look upon him
whom they have pierced" Zech. u:
10.
u. Reconciliation, w. 4-8.-The
greatness of Joseph is here revealed
In a clear, true light. He interprets
to his brothers their own actions with
all that God has involved in it, which
must have been a great surprise to
his brothers. Joseph does not wait
for them to fall at his feet and sue
for mercy, but seeks to allay their
fears, Come near to me | pray you"
These who by their wicked works
were rightfully slienated from him
are invited to draw nigh. Col. l:M
and Matt. 11:2S. Josephs invitation
is made asSared to them by his
words Il am your brother" Thus we
see that Gods purpose is performed
and that what they intended for evil
God intended for good verify. the
wrath Of man is made to praise him"
Joseph's Grace. :
Joseph was as one who was dead
and out of that came life for those Of
his own family as well as those out
side. Even so God has brought life to
many out of the death of Jesus. work
ing salvation for all out of the most
colossal and Infamous crime ever per.
petrated-the crici6xion. Joseph was
sent" ". y, to save those very ones
John LID. II was great deliver
ence," see Heb. 2:3. Here. again. we
see JOsephs intimate relations with
God, 1T was not you that sent me hith-
er. but God" That is the right way
to look at life, Rom. S:2S. Joseph
might have shown these men an in
depreciation of his life and acted to-
wards them ''in strict justice" by ex-
ecuting upon them the just penalty OF
their acts, but his fellowship with
God, and the support to his faith
yai t,rip no
him grace in this, his hour of power.
to succor his father and his brothers,
and to bring them into a place OF
peace and prosperity. The lessons OF
strength and tenderness which God
had taught him gave him restraining
power and compassion towards his
brothers.
III. Proclamation, w. 9-15.-The
news of this meeting came to Pha-
raoh, w. =, 16. with the result that
he commanded Jacob and all OF his
to be brought into Egypt
Having received good things- them
selves. they are commanded to 90
with haste, and tell others, Matt. 2S:1
The first call is always come" ". ~,
and that is always followed by the
command of to go" " 81. Joseph
was not ashamed of his old father and
his brothers in the days of his pros
perity, and added that when they
should dwell in Egypt they we're to
be near unto me- see Phil l:29,
John 1873. When the brothers reached
Jacob and told him that Joseph was
alive and exalted in Egypt he could
not believe them, and his heart faint