The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-06-12
Sunday, June Is, 1887
Read Genesis az: l to as: Is
ct,Jv Cene.is id. 1924

The famine which followed the
seven plenteous years In Egypt
was most disastrous. And 1T al
fected not only the valley Of the
Nile but adjacent countries as
well. 1t was, therefore, keenly
felt in the land of Canaan. Jacob
and his sons were compelled to
look elsewhere for food. So dur
ing the second year of the FAM
inc ten of Jacobs sons went down
to Egypt to buy grain.
Their appearance before Joseph
and the events Intervening before
he revealed himself to them are of
thrilling interest. At first he
treated them roughly, evoklng
Reuben's surmise that the hour of
retribution had come. The reten-
ton of Simeon in Egypt as a
guarantee that Benjamin should
be brought on the next trip APP
peared very harsh measure, but
to us Joseph's reason is perfectly
clear.
The grief of Jacob at the turn
of events was indeed affecting.
Joseph and Simeon were gone and
now seemingly the snare was set
for Benjamin. For weeks and
perhaps months he held out
against the demand Of the I'M
known Egyptian ruler. Finally,
however, goaded by the famine to
desperation and persuaded by the
guarantee of Judah, he again sent
his sons including even Benjamin,
the youngest, to the land OF
Egypt.
Upon their arrival they were
entertained by Joseph. After
ward they started on their return
home, each mans money, as on
the first trip, having been placed
in his sack, and the costly cup Of
Joseph being placed in Benjamin's
sack. Not far from the city they
they were overtaken and charged
with robbery of the princely cup.
At once the innocent pilgrims de-
clared that if the charge were
true the thief should die and the
others would become bondmen.
When the sacks were opened, the
cup was found in Benjamin's
sack!
With rent clothes and heavy
hearts they returned to the city
for what fate they knew not.
When they appeared again before
Joseph he was able at first to as
sumo his customary severity in
dealing with them. The plea Of
Judah in response was masterful.
1t breathed the utmost humility,
sincerity, and loyalty. He laid
bare his responsibility to the aged
father for away and offered him.
self as Joseph's slave if only Ben
jamin could be permitted to re-
turn to Hebron.
The sublimity of self-sacrifice
is strikingly seen in Judah as
suppliant at Joseph's feet in
Egypt; it is supremely exemplified
in Judah's greater Son on the hill
called Calvary; and it is practical
~ possible to every believer, how
ever high or humble he may be.
Happy are they who struggle to-
ward it and attain unto it.
A sublime demand arose. The
one thing in this whole scene that
shines forth as a very diadem up
on the bosom Of scripture is the
self-abnegation of Judah. We
lose sight of the biting hunger of
the clan in Canaan. Even the
patriarch Jacob stands aside for
the moment. The long journey of
the caravan holds not our interest.
The staging of the scene in Egypt
the spacious granaries, the pur-
chasers from afar, the sights of
the city, the entertainment in the
palace, the charm of the Prime
Minister himself-all drop to Sec
ond place. We see alone the for
vent suppliant Judah pouring out
his heart at the feet of his unrec-
ognized brother and offering his
own wrists and angles for chains
and prison and slavery in place
of his brother Benjamin. There
is nothing which so irradiates the
light or cheapens gold as self-giv-
ing to worthy ends.
A sublime test was made. It
seemed harsh. Simeon had been
detained on the former visit. The