The Brinkley argus., 1913-05-16


 Joseph was thirty years of age whel he reached his position of supreme ar thority, but we ought not to allow ouI selves to forget those thirteen year of humiliation, during which he wa betrayed, sold into slavery and neg lected by those whom he befriended Yet those were days of fidelity in hi service, of victory over fierce tempta tion. of enduring unjust Imprisonment
 "a long period of patient waiting bu valuable period in that now at thirt. years of age he comes to this position of power fully equipped with tha knowledge of men, control of himsel and faith in God as to be properly fit ted for the burden of responsibility thrust upon him.
 Did Not Forget.
 1. The Brothers Need, w 3-6. The famine was not confined to Egypt, but reached over to Canaan, where Jacob and his sons lived. The desperate ness of the famine is indicated by Ja- cob's command to buy, that we may live, and not die" But Jacob is too old to travel, hence the brothers un- dertake the journey. Twenty-two years have passed since that experi- ence when Josephs brethren cast him into the pit They have been years filled with wonderful experiences for Joseph. Now their attitude is changed; {; instead of being his tormentors they are suppliants at his feet. During these seven years of garnering Joseph had set up his own family and two sons were born, the names of whom were significant
 The possession of child of his own would naturally quicken his inquiries as to his fathers household, for he assumed that in the order of events his father must be dead.
 II. A Brothers Memory, w. 7-17. Jo- seph at once recognized his brothers, but treated them brusquely, demand ing from whence they came and the purpose that brought them hither fv. ?. Again (vv. 8. 9 the text re- minds us that Joseph remembered. Only God can forgive and forget. But Joseph is an inspiration to us that though we may not be able to forget we can forgive. The question might be raised, Why then did Joseph dis simulate?" The answer is threefold: CD Joseph desired to ascertain the characters of his brothers. Did they remember, Yes. for they replied that they were twelve brethren" Ten were before him, one at home and "one is not" That their characters were not entirely changed Is evi- denced by their words, We are true zen" lv 11,. which of coarse was not the truth. f2) Joseph desired to know of his father and of their home life. The accusation that the brothers are spies called forth the statement that the father, Jacob, is still alive. The third reason for this treatment Gevel- oped out of these first two. viz, Jo- seph desired to reach Iris father and Benjamin. whom he had never seen. We do not commend Joseph's method as being of the highest ethical value, for his standard was not the standard of the man who knows Christ. Joseph Is type; there Is only one perfect man, Jesus Christ. and Joseph points toward that promised Saviour.
 Guilty Corscienees.
 Joseph kneY his brothers told the truth about their not being spies, but he also knew that they lied when they asserted themselves to be true men and that one brother Ifs not" Here is the lesson of mistaken estimates of ones self and that q mans true value Is known and appreciated. Little did they realize. however. that their false hood was being read as 1t was uttered and that the man before whom they were standing was this same brother. Joseph affected not to believe any of their story and demanded proof (vy. 15, 16) of their assertions. After three days in jail he appeared to relent and ordered that only one of their number should remain as hostage. The result Of all Is shown in V 2i After invol. untarily leaving Simeon shut up in the Egyptian prison their minds travelled back to that time twenty years before and they remembered Joseph's an guish and distress when they would not hear. therefore is this distress come upon us." Their guilty con sciences are aroused
 Jacobs cry, All things are against me" V. 36. was mistake. Joseph was alive and exalted that he might save the life of Jacob and his chii- dren. Simeon was alive and drawing his brothers back to Egypt Benjamin would come back safely.
 Emphasize the fact that we cannot forget our wrong acts and that Joseph was not troubled by any such mem ories. Also emphasize the return of good for evil. Rom. f2. 20. 2t. Joseph's brethren were sowing the fruit of the seeds of envy and malice they had sown twenty years previously. So also was Jacob reaping the seeds of his deceit. for fin spite of his great ma terisl prosperity he has great anguish Of heart. We try to SOW and not to reap. See that the seed thoughts in the heart are right The grace of God forgIves sin. but IL remains a