Joseph H Smith

8/9/2019 Joseph H Smith

1/52

Joseph

Hamilton Smith

http://www.biblecentre.org

Contents

1. LOVED AND HATED Genesis 37: 111

!. "E#E$TED AND %OLD Genesis 37: 1!3&

3. %'((E")NG AND %'**O"TED Genesis 3+, -

-. EALTAT)ON AND GLO"0 Genesis -1

. THE 0EA"% O( (A2)NE Genesis -1: 37 -!

&. THE 4"ETH"EN TE%TED Genesis -3, --

7. "E$ON$)L)AT)ON Genesis -: 1

5. %E"V)$E Genesis -: +!-

+. GLO"0 AND 4LE%%)NG Genesis -: ! to -7: 31

1. THE V)%)ON O( (A)TH Genesis : 1!&

1 Loved and Hated - Genesis 37: 1-11

LOVED

To 6ll who loe o8r Lor9 #es8s $hrist there is 6n 6bi9ing ch6r in the histories o; the Ol9

Test6ent s6ints, ;or therein c6n be tr6ce9 bright 8n;ol9ings o; the glories 6n9

e ?in 6ll the

%cript8res the things concerning Hisel;.?

O; 6ll Ol9 Test6ent histories none presents 6 richer or ore 9istinct pict8re o; $hrist

th6n the to8ching stor= o; #oseph. Other lies 6= gie in gre6ter 9et6il person6leeeps in iew the 9ispl6= o; the glor= o;

$hrist, 6n9 6ll th6t pert6ins to the we6>ness 6n9 ;6il8re o; 6 6n o; li>e p6ssions witho8rseles h6s little or no pl6ce. An9 =et, howeer rich the pict8re, we soon recogni@e th6t

the li;e o; no single s6int co8l9 69e86tel= set ;orth the ;8llness o; $hrist. )n coon


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HIS S'ERIORI&(

);, howeer, the ch6r6cter o; #oseph set hi 6p6rt ;ro his brethren, the loe o; his ;6ther

g6e hi 6 9isting8ishe9 pl6ce 6boe his brethren, ;or we re69 ?)sr6el loe9 #oseph oreth6n 6ll his chil9ren.? 2oreoer )sr6el be6rs witness to this pl6ce o; 9istinction b=

clothing #oseph with 6 co6t o; 6n= colo8rs6 p8blic testion= to the 9elight o; the;6ther in his son. At once o8r tho8ghts tr6el ;ro #oseph to $hrist 6n9 the 8ni8e pl6ce

He h69 in the (6therFs 6;;ections, 6n9 the (6therFs ple6s8re in be6ring witness to His9elight in His %on. The er= ch6pter th6t tells 8s, ?Go9 so loe9 the worl9,? 6lso tells 8s

th6t ?the (6ther loeth the %on.? A e6s8re is gien to the loe o; Go9 ;or the worl9,

in;inite tho8gh it be, b8t no e6s8re is, or c6n be, gien ;or the (6therFs loe to the %on.The 6nno8nceent st6n9s in 6ll its 6estic 9ignit=. ?The (6ther loeth the %on,? 6n9

;6ith 9elights to 6ccept it. 48t i; the (6ther c6n ;8rnish no e6s8re ;or this loe, He c6n

be6r witness to His loe ;or the %on. #osephFs co6t o; 6n= colo8rs, the p8blic testion=o; his ;6therFs loe, h6s its bright co8nterp6rt in the opene9 he6ens o; the New

Test6ent. Neer 6re the he6ens opene9 6p6rt ;ro $hrist, 6n9 when opene9 the=

6lw6=s be6r soe ;resh witness to the (6therFs 9elight in the 6ll6rie9 gr6ces o; the %on. No sooner h6s $hrist t6>en His pl6ce on e6rth 6s the %er6nt o; #eho6h th6n 6t once ?the

he6ens were opene9 8nto Hi? th6t the host o; he6en ight loo> 9own on 6 26n on

e6rth o; who the (6ther c6n s6=: ?This is = beloe9 %on in who ) 6 well ple6se9?

26tt. 3: 1&, 17. A little l6ter 6n9 6g6in the he6ens 6re opene9, th6t 6 6n on e6rth 6=loo> 8p 6n9 be6r witness to ?the %on o; 26n? in he6en Acts 7: , &. Ag6in, the 96=

is not ;6r 9ist6nt when the he6ens will be opene9 to let the %on o; 26n coe ;orth in

glor= 6s the ictorio8s ?Iing o; >ings, 6n9 Lor9 o; lor9s? "e. 1+: 111&. H6ing coe;orth 6s Iing o; >ings the he6ens will 6g6in be opene9 th6t 6scen9ing 6n9 9escen9ing

6ngels 6= be6r witness to the %on o; 26n reigning in glor= on the e6rth #ohn 1: 1. On

these bright occ6sions we see o8r Lor9 #es8s ineste9 with the co6t o; 6n= colo8rs. )n

other wor9s, we see in the opene9 he6ens the (6therFs 9elight in $hrist 6s His beloe9%on in h8ili6tion 6s the %on o; 26n in he6enl= glor=, 6n9 6s the Iing o; >ings 6n9

Lor9 o; lor9s, coing ;orth to reign on the e6rth 6s %on o; 26n in s8pree power 6n9

glor=.

HIS S'RE)%C(

(8rtherore, the One who is loe9 b= the (6ther, 6n9 6r>e9 o8t 6s the speci6l obect o;

His 9elight, is the One who is 9estine9 to 8niers6l s8pre6c=. This gre6t tr8th is bro8ght

be;ore 8s in #osephFs 9re6s, both setting be;ore 8s the s8pre6c= o; #oseph. One 9re6ight h6e s8;;ice9 to ;oretell the glories o; #oseph, b8t wo8l9 be wholl= in69e86te to

sh69ow ;orth the glories o; $hrist. (or His s8pre6c= will h6e 6 two;ol9 ch6r6cter. He

will =et be s8pree on e6rth, 6n9 6n= p6ss6ges tell o; this e6rthl= glor=. The 9re6 o;the she6es 6>ing obeis6nce to #osephFs she6; 6= well spe6> o; this e


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this secon9 9re6 spe6>s o; this he6enl= s8pre6c= b= presenting he6enl= bo9iesthe

s8n, the oon, 6n9 the st6rs, 6>ing obeis6nce to #oseph. The two 9re6s th8s set ;orth

the s8pre6c= o; $hrist oer things on e6rth 6n9 things in he6en to the reotest bo8n9so; the cre6te9 8nierse.

HIS S'**ERI!GS

Th8s the %pirit o; Go9 9elights to ee Hi s6i9, ?Neer 6n sp6>e li>e this 6n?#ohn 7: -&.

H%&ED +EC%'SE &HE( ,ERE EVIL

An9 =et in spite o; His 6cts o; loe, 6n9 His wor9s o; gr6ce, the= rew6r9e9 Hi eil ;or

goo9, 6n9 h6tre9 ;or His loe *s. 1+: . Tr8l= He co8l9 s6=, ?The= h6te9 e witho8t 6

c68se.? Al6sJ plent= o; c68se o; h6tre9, b8t no c68se in Hi. No c68se in 6n to c6ll;orth $hristFs loe, 6n9 no c68se in $hrist to c6ll ;orth 6nFs h6tre9. 48t wh= sho8l9 the

eil he6rt o; 6n h6te the One whose whole li;e w6s spent in showing loe to 6n Let

#osephFs histor= s8ppl= the 6nswer. Ch= w6s #oseph h6te9 b= his brethren C6s he not in

their cop6n= 6s one th6t sere9 Tr8l=, b8t the= were eil 6n9 hence, howeer 9esir6blehis serice ight be, his presence ee c68se, 6n9 in ;6r 9eeper e6s8re, the worl9 h6te9 $hrist, 6s He co8l9 s6=, ?2e it

h6teth, bec68se ) testi;= o; it, th6t the wor>s thereo; 6re eil? #ohn 7: 7.

H%&ED +EC%'SE &HE( ,ERE E!VIO'S


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There were other c68ses ;or the h6tre9 o; #osephFs brethren. Chen the= ?s6w th6t their

;6ther loe9 hi ore th6n 6ll his brethren, the= h6te9 hi, 6n9 co8l9 not spe6>

pe6ce6bl= 8nto hi.? An9 so with $hrist con;essing His 8ni8e pl6ce with the (6ther, Hec6n s6=, ?2= (6ther wor>eth hitherto, 6n9 ) wor>? #ohn : 17. )e9i6tel= the h6tre9

o; the #ews is c6lle9 ;orth 6n9 ?the= so8ght the ore to >ill Hi,? 6n9 6t once the Lor9

9ecl6res th6t ?the (6ther loeth the on, 6n9 sheweth Hi 6ll things.? The 4eloe9 o; he(6ther is h6te9 b= 6n.

H%&ED +EC%'SE O* HIS DRE%)S

(8rther, the 9re6s th6t spe6> o; #osephFs ;8t8re s8pre6c= 6re 6 ;resh otie ;or the

en= 6n9 h6tre9 o; the brethren. He h69 been 6 witness 6g6inst the o; their eil, now heis 6 witness to the o; his ;8t8re glor=. The= will h6e neither one nor the other. Een so

when the Lor9 witnesse9 6g6inst the eil o; the worl9, 6n9 bore witness to His coing

glories, li>e #oseph, He 9rew 8pon Hisel; the h6tre9 o; the worl9. 4e;ore the 6sseble9

le69ers o; #er8s6le the Lor9 spe6>s o; His coing glories: ?Here6;ter,? He c6n s6=,

?sh6ll =e see the %on o; 26n sitting on the right h6n9 o; power,? 6 con;ession th6t is;ollowe9 b= 6 ;8rio8s o8tb8rst o; h6tre9, priests 6n9 el9ers 8niting to spit in the ;6ce o;

the %on o; Go9.

H%&ED +EC%'SE O* HIS ,ORDS

L6stl=, the brethren o; #oseph h6te9 hi ;or his wor9s. As we re69: ?The= h6te9 hi =et

the ore ;or his 9re6s 6n9 ;or his wor9s.? Nor w6s it otherwise with the Lor9. 2en

he6r9 the wor9s o; Hi th6t sp6>e 6s neer 6n sp6>e, 6n9 soe beliee9, b8t ?6n= o;the s6i9, He h6th 6 9eil, 6n9 is 69 wh= he6r =e Hi? The h6tre9 co8l9 not be hi9.

%o too $hrist is still the obect o; 6 h6tre9 th6t en c6nnot conce6l, tr= 6s the= will. A

const6nt stre6 o; 6b8se o; His N6e, 9eni6l o; His *erson, 6n9 re;8s6l o; His wor>,iss8es ;ro 6post6te p8lpits, 6n9 6n in;i9el press, o;ten 6s8er69ing 8n9er the clo6> o;religion. )t is still His pro;esse9 brethren th6t c6nnot spe6> pe6ce6bl= o; Hi. 48t let 8s

neer ;orget th6t behin9 6ll the ?h6r9 speeches which 8ngo9l= sinners h6e spo>en

6g6inst Hi? there 6re the ?8ngo9l= 9ee9s which the= h6e 8ngo9l= coitte9.? The eillies o; #osephFs brethren were behin9 the h6tre9 in their he6rts, 6n9 the eil wor9s o;

their lips. )t is so to96=, the 8ngo9l= 9ee9s in enFs lies le69 to the Fh6r9 speeches which

8ngo9l= sinners h6e spo>en 6g6inst Hi? #89e 1.

48t who Th= p6th o; serice,

Th= steps reoe9 ;ro ill,

Th= p6tient loe to sere 8s,

Cith h86n tong8e c6n tell

2i9st sin, 6n9 6ll corr8ption,


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Chere h6tre9 9i9 6bo8n9,

Th= p6th o; tr8e per;ection

C6s light on 6ll 6ro8n9.

)n scorn, neglect, reiling,

Th= p6tient gr6ce stoo9 ;6st

26nFs 6lice 8n66iling

To oe Th= he6rt to h6ste.

OFer 6ll Th= per;ect goo9ness

"ose blesse9l= 9iine

*oor he6rts oppresse9 with s69ness,

(o8n9 eer rest in Thine.

Loe, th6t 69e Thee 6 2o8rner

)n this s69 worl9 o; woe,

269e wretche9 6n 6 scorner

O; gr6ceth6t bro8ght Thee low.

%till, in Thee, loeFs sweet s6o8r

%hone ;orth in eer= 9ee9

An9 showe9 Go9Fs loing ;6o8r

To eer= so8l in nee9.

#. N. D.

. Re/e#ted and Sold - Genesis 37: 1-30

#6cob 6= h6e speci6l 6;;ection ;or his son #oseph, neertheless his other sons h6e 6

re6l pl6ce in his 6;;ections, 6n9 #oseph is to becoe the witness o; the (6therFs loe to the

brethren. Accor9ingl= #6cob 9esires th6t #oseph sh6ll le6e the hoe in the 6le o;Hebron 6n9 o8rne= to 9ist6nt %heche, there, 6s the sent one o; the ;6ther, to en8ire o;


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his brethrenFs wel;6re 6n9 bring #6cob wor9 6g6in. #oseph on his p6rt is re69= to obe=,

tho8gh he h6s een b= the %on

o; Go9 when, le6ing the (6therFs hoe o; light 6n9 loe, He c6e into this worl9 o;9e6th 6n9 96r>ness, well >nowing the eil into which He c6e. An9 =et He t8rne9 not

b6c>. Een 6s 6t the cross we re69, ?#es8s there;ore >nowing 6ll things th6t sho8l9 coe

8pon Hi went ;orth? #ohn 15: -. ); the loe o; the (6ther wo8l9 sen9 Hi, then theloe o; the %on is re69= to 9o the (6therFs bi99ing. ?Lo, ) coe to 9o Th= will, O Go9.?

He coes 6s the sent One o; the (6ther to 9ecl6re the (6therFs loe.

&HE SO! REJEC&ED

#osephFs to8ching stor= ;oresh69ows too wh6t 6nner o; reception the worl9 h6s gien to

the sent One o; the (6ther. H6ing no he6rt ;or their ;6ther, these en o; eil w6=s h6eno e=es to 9iscern the sent one o; his loe. (or the #oseph is onl= 6 9re6er whose

9re6s the= wo8l9 ;6in ;r8str6te b= conspiring to sl6= hi. Een so o; $hrist, His people

s6i9, ?This is the Heir, coe let 8s >ill Hi.? An9 how e6ger 6n is to e 6n9

>isse9 hi.?

&HE SO! RERO%CHED

The eil he6rt o; 6n is 6r>e9 b= corr8ption 6n9 iolence. Not onl= 6re the brethrenre69= to ri9 theseles o; #oseph b= iolent 6cts, b8t the= were prep6re9 to coer their

iolence b= corr8pt 6n9 l=ing wor9s. ?Let 8s sl6= hi,? the= s6=, ?6n9 we will s6=, %oe

eil be6st h6th 9eo8re9 hi.? Violence 6n9 corr8ption 6re the o8tst6n9ing 6r>s o;;6llen 6n who is sh6eless in his iolence 6n9 corr8ption. He is not sipl= oercoe

b= soe s899en tept6tion b8t, 6s with #osephFs brethren, the= c6n 9eliber6tel= pl6n

their iolent 6ct 6n9 corr8pt lies. 26n h69 not progresse9 ;6r on his 9ownw6r9 co8rse

be;ore ?the e6rth w6s ;ille9 with iolence? 6n9 ?6ll ;lesh h69 corr8pte9 his w6= 8pon thee6rth.? )n spite o; l6ws 6n9 tre6ties, or6l tr6ining 6n9 co9es o; hono8r, 6n9

notwithst6n9ing prisons 6n9 re;or6tories, iolence 6n9 corr8ption 6re r6p6nt in eer=

p6rt o; the e6rth.

&HE SO! RE+'**ED


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Nothing brings 6nFs eil into ei9ence li>e the presence o; goo9ness. )t w6s the

presence o; #oseph th6t c6lle9 ;orth the iolence 6n9 corr8ption o; his brethren een 6s

the presence o; per;ect goo9ness in the *erson o; the %on o; Go9 bec6e the occ6sion o;the ost ;8rio8s o8tb8rst o; 6nFs eil. At His birth the enit= o; 6n is re69= to >ill the

chil9 #es8s, 6n9 to coer its 8r9ero8s intent with l=ing wor9s 26lt. !: 5, 1&. 48t 6t the

cross goo9ness is 9ispl6=e9 6s nowhere else onl= to c6ll ;orth the gre6test es to 8n8tter6ble 9epths. The cross is the 9ispl6= o; ?h6tre9 6g6inst Go9 6n9

goo9 . . . the tr8est ;rien9 9enies, the ne6rest betr6=s, the we6>er ones who 6re honest ;leethe priests, set to h6e cop6ssion on ignor6nt ;6il8re, ple69 ;8rio8sl= 6g6inst innocence

the 89ge, w6shing his h6n9s o; con9ene9 innocence goo9ness 6lone 6n9 the worl9

e6n, 8niers6l enit= 6g6inst it. *er;ect light h6s bro8ght o8t the 96r>ness per;ect

loe, e6lo8s h6tre9.?

&HE SO! REVE%LED

26n 6inl= i6gines th6t corr8ption 6n9 iolence will prosper, een 6s the brethren o;#oseph, h6ing co8nselle9 to sl6= their brother, 6n9 9esigne9 to coer their 6ct with l=ing,

c6n with the 8tost con;i9ence s6=, ?Ce sh6ll see wh6t will becoe o; his 9re6s.? The=will in9ee9 see. An9 6l6s ;or the reecters o; $hrist, the= too will see, ;or is it not written,

?4ehol9, He coeth with clo89s 6n9 eer= e=e sh6ll see Hi, 6n9 the= 6lso which

pierce9 Hi 6n9 6ll >in9re9s o; the e6rth sh6ll w6il bec68se o; Hi?

&HE SO! REVILED

*er;ect goo9ness brings o8t the 8niers6l g8ilt o; en, b8t tho8gh 6ll 6re g8ilt=, there 6re

9i;;erent e6s8res o; g8ilt, 6n9 o; this the #89ge o; 6ll the e6rth will t6>e 6cco8nt in 98e

tie, ren9ering to one ;ew stripes, 6n9 to 6nother 6n= stripes. O; these 9i;;erent 9egreeso; g8ilt we h6e inti6tions in the stor= o; #oseph. All the brethren were g8ilt=, b8t not inthe s6e 9egree. "e8ben, tho8gh 8nst6ble, 6n9 or6ll= corr8pt 6s we >now ;ro his

histor= Gen. 3: !! Gen. -+: 3, -, w6s not necess6ril= cr8el. )n coon with his

brethren he h6s wronge9 his ;6ther, b8t 6ll h86n 6;;ection is not e

the Lor9 6n9 set Hi 6t no8ght, b8t he ;in9s nothing worth= o; 9e6th in Hi. *il6te will

go ;8rther th6n Hero9, 6n9 =iel9 8p $hrist to the 8r9ero8s h6tre9 o; the #ews b8t he h6s

no person6l enit=, 6n9 will 6t le6st 6>e soe ;eeble e;;ort to presere ;ro 9e6th Oneth6t he >nows to be innocent. 48t o; the #ews *eter h6s to s6=, ?0e 9eliere9 Hi 8p

6n9 9enie9 Hi in the presence o; *il6te, when he w6s 9eterine9 to let Hi go . . . 6n9

>ille9 the *rince o; li;e? Acts 3: 131.

&HE SO! RE*'SED


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An9 still there 6re the ple6s8reloers, str6ngers to 6ll religio8s conictions, who h6e no

goo9 wor9 ;or $hrist 6n9 =et will not oppose. 48t there 6re others =et ore g8ilt=

concerning $hrist. The= pro;ess to 69ire His or6l ee the= ;in9 no;68lt in Hi =et to ret6in their pop8l6rit= with the worl9, the= sti;le their conictions,

9eci9e 6g6inst $hrist, 6n9 r6nge theseles with th6t thriceg8ilt= cl6ss whose 6ctie

enit= neer ce6ses to 6tt6c> His glorio8s *erson 6n9 tr6ple 8n9er ;oot His precio8s bloo9. There 6re the c6reless 6n9 in9i;;erent, there 6re the ;e6r;8l 6n9 ;6inthe6rte9, 6n9

there 6re the ;8rio8s h6tersopen 6n9 6owe9 eneies o; $hrist. 48t 6ll 8nite in the

reection o; $hrist.

&HE SO! RE'DI%&ED

Th8s it w6s in #osephFs histor=. His brethren strippe9 hi o; his co6t o; 6n= colo8rs 6n9

c6st hi into the pit. The ;6ther h69 9isting8ishe9 hi b= 6 co6t o; 6n= colo8rs, the

brethren 9egr69e hi b= stripping hi. %o on 6n= ill8strio8s occ6sions when $hrist is

9isting8ishe9 6boe 6ll others b= soe speci6l 9ispl6= o; 9iine power, wis9o 6n9

gr6ce, 6n will 6t once strip Hi o; His co6t o; 6n= colo8rs 6n9 see> to 9egr69e Hi tothe leel o; 6 ere 6n b= 6s>ing, F)s not this the c6rpenterFs son? or ?)s not this the

c6rpenter? As in the c6se o; #oseph, the stripping w6s onl= the prel89e to the pit, so with$hrist, the reection o; eer= witness to His glor=, le9 6n 6t l6st with wic>e9 h6n9s to

9elier Hi to 9e6th.

&HE SO! RESC'ED

There is howeer 6 signi;ic6nt 9i;;erence between the t=pe 6n9 the 6ntit=pe. )s66c in his96= er= blesse9l= brings the 9e6th o; $hrist be;ore 8s. He 6= be bo8n9 8pon the 6lt6r,

Abr6h6 6= stretch ;orth his h6n9 6n9 t6>e the >ni;e to sl6= his son, b8t 6t once the

6ngel is present to st6= his h6n9. #oseph 6= 6g6in t6>e 8p the stor= o; the cross, 6s his brethren c6st hi into the pit, b8t ;or hi ?the pit w6s ept=, there w6s no w6ter in it.?How 9i;;erent the cross o; $hrist. The s6e Go9 6t whose bi99ing ?Abr6h6 stretche9

;orth his h6n9, 6n9 too> the >ni;e to sl6= his son,? c6n now s6=, ?Aw6>e, O swor9, 6g6inst

the 26n th6t is 2= ;ellow,? 6n9 tho8gh twele legions o; 6ngels 6w6it His co6n9s,=et not one is bi99en to hol9 b6c> the swor9 o; 89gent. )t is no ept= pit into which

He 8st go. He c6n s6=, ?Tho8 h6st l6i9 e in the lowest pit, in 96r>ness, in the 9eeps.

Th= wr6th lieth h6r9 8pon e, 6n9 Tho8 h6st 6;;licte9 e with 6ll Th= w6es? *s. 55: &,7.

&HE SO! RE,%RDED

Chile the s8;;erings o; )s66c 6n9 #oseph both point to the cross, =et e6ch portr6=s 6

9i;;erent 6spect o; th6t gre6t =ster=. )s66c goes 8p to the o8nt to be o;;ere9 8p. #oseph

goes 9own to the pit. An9 the o8nt spe6>s o; the glor= o; the *erson o;;ere9 8p. The pittells o; the iser= 6n9 9egr696tion o; those ;or who He is o;;ere9 8p. He is the son, 6n9

ore, the onl= son, 6n9 =et ore he is the proise9 heir, )s66c, 6n9 the beloe9 o; his

;6ther. 48t when #oseph goes 9own to the pit, while it is tr8e his or6l e


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o; those who s8rro8n9 #oseph. ); 6t l6st his brethren 6re to be bro8ght into blessing 6n9

sh6re in the glor= o; #oseph, then #oseph 8st t6>e their pl6ce o; 9ist6nce 6n9

9egr696tion 6s set ;orth in the pit. ?Citho8t the she99ing o; bloo9 there is no reission,?6n9 ?ee9ness.?

The cop6n= o; erch6nt en on their w6= to Eg=pt 6t once s8ggest to #896h the

opport8nit= o; 6>ing pro;it o8t o; their brother. Ch= not sell #oseph 6n9 6>e 6 littleone= ); the= 6re not going to gr6ti;= their h6tre9 b= >illing #oseph, wh= not gr6ti;=

their coeto8sness b= selling #oseph Hence the= g6e their brother 8p to the Gentiles,

6n9 g6e theseles 8p to one= 6>ing. An9 wh6t #896h 9i9 6 tho8s6n9 =e6rs be;ore

$hrist c6e, His 9escen96nts h6e 9one ;or ne6rl= two tho8s6n9 =e6rs since Hisreection. At the cross the #ews 6b6n9one9 their 2essi6h to the Gentiles 6n9 eer since

the= h6e 6b6n9one9 theseles to the worship o; 6on. ?*ro;it? is the wor9 th6t

goerne9 the 6ctions o; #osephFs brethren. #896h 6s>s the 8estion ;or the coeto8s he6rtnot ?)s it right? or ?)s it wrong? b8t ?Ch6t pro;it is it? An9 ?pro;it? h6s goerne9 the

polic= o; the #ew thro8gho8t the long cent8ries since th6t s69 96= when their 2essi6h

w6s sol9 ;or thirt= pieces o; siler.

&HE SO! RE)OVED

Th8s #oseph p6sses into the l6n9 o; the Gentiles 6n9 is ?bro8ght? into Eg=pt. Eg=pt w6s 6

sn6re to Abr6h6, 6n9 his soo8rn in Eg=pt bro8ght hi onl= sorrow 6n9 sh6e. Cith

#oseph, howeer, it bro8ght blessing 6n9 glor=. Ch= this 9i;;erence )s it not th6t in

Abr6h6Fs c6se he ?went 9own into Eg=pt to soo8rn there? Gen. 1!: 1 b8t #osephw6s ?bro8ght? into Eg=pt. One went there in 8nbelie; 6n9 sel;will. The other w6s

bro8ght there 6ccor9ing to the 9eterin6te co8nsel 6n9 ;ore>nowle9ge o; Go9.

H6ing pr6ctice9 6 he6rtless piece o; 9eceit 8pon their ;6ther, which pl8nges the ol9 6n

into the 9eepest sorrow, these h=pocrites g6ther ro8n9 to co;ort hi. Chile none c6nee9ness o; his sons, =et we c6nnot b8t see in this scene th6t #6cob is onl=

re6ping wh6t he h69 6lre69= sown. Thirt= =e6rs be;ore #6cob h69 9eceie9 his ;6ther with

?the s>ins o; the >i9s o; the go6ts,? 6n9 now 6;ter long =e6rs, he hisel; is 9eceie9 b=his sons with ?6 >i9 o; the go6ts.? There 6= be long =e6rs between the sowing 6n9 the

re6ping, b8t 6t l6st the re6ping tie coes. The ills o; Go9 grin9 slowl=, b8t the= grin9

e


11/52

&HE SO! RES'RREC&ED

Ce nee9 h6r9l= won9er th6t #6cob ?re;8se9 to be co;orte9? b= s8ch co;orters, b8t in

the presence o; wh6t to hi w6s the 6ct86l 9e6th o; his son, his ;6ith sees to h6e grownee9 no ;8rther th6n 9e6th 6n9 the gr6e, the other loo>e9 be=on9

9e6th to res8rrection, into 6 scene where there is ?no ore 9e6th, neither sorrow, norcr=ing nor p6in.?

O bright 6n9 blesse9 scenes, where sin c6n neer coe,

Chose sight o8r longing spirit we6ns, ;ro e6rth where =et we ro6J

An9 c6n we c6ll o8r hoe o8r (6therFs ho8se on high,

&he rest o; Go9 o8r rest to coe, o8r pl6ce o; libert=

0esJ in th6t light 8nst6ine9, o8r st6inless so8ls sh6ll lie,

O8r he6rtFs 9eep longings ore th6n g6ine9, where Go9 His rest sh6ll gie.

His presence there, = so8l, its rest, its o= 8ntol9,

%h6ll ;in9 when en9less 6ges roll, 6n9 tie sh6ll neFer grow ol9.

#.N.D.

3. S""e2in and Sppo2ted - Genesis 34 5 6

The histor= o; #oseph 6lre69= consi9ere9 presents in t=pe the reection o; $hrist b= the

#ew. The histor= th6t ;ollows gies the eing to 8s o; the reection o; $hrist b= the Gentiles. At the h6n9s o; his

brethren #oseph is consigne9 to the pit. )n the h6n9s o; the Gentiles he is bo8n9 in the

prison. Ce nee9 both pict8res to 69e86tel= set ;orth the tr8th, ;or the coing o; the %on

o; Go9 into the worl9 c6nnot be con;ine9 to the #ew. Tr8l= He w6s sent b= the (6ther toHis own, b8t e86ll= tr8e He c6e th6t the worl9 thro8gh Hi ight be s6e9. Al6sJ He

w6s reecte9 b= both #ew 6n9 Gentile, ?He w6s in the worl9 . . . 6n9 the worl9 >new Hinot. He c6e 8nto His own 6n9 His own receie9 Hi not? #ohn 1: 1, 11.

&,O*OLD S'**ERI!G


12/52

Chile, howeer, both #ew 6n9 Gentile oine9 in reecting $hrist, there w6s 6 9i;;erence in

the w6= the= tre6te9 Hi 6 9i;;erence th6t w6s ;oresh69owe9 in he histor= o; #oseph.

Cith the brethren the le69ing otie ;or their reection o; #oseph w6s en= 6n9 h6tre9.Howeer, in the ho8se o; the Gentile, tho8gh we see corr8ption 6n9 in8stice 6t wor>, 6n9

in the prison o; the Gentile sel;ish in9i;;erence, =et in neither c6se w6s there 6ct86l

enit= to #oseph. An9 these 9i;;erences between #ew 6n9 Gentile 6re stri>ingl= seen 6tthe $ross. $ross in8stice 6n9 c6llo8s in9i;;erence 6= 6r> Hero9 6n9 *onti8s *il6te,

the represent6ties o; the Gentiles, b8t en= 6n9 9e69l= h6tre9 6r> the #ewss8ch en=

th6t it is een 9iscerne9 b= the Gentile, 6n9 s8ch h6tre9 th6t it blin9e9 the to eer=6ppe6l o; re6son, eer= 9e6n9 o; 8stice, 6n9 to 6ll sense o; sh6e.

ROLO!GED S'**ERI!G

"et8rning to the stor= o; #oseph in Eg=pt we h6e other lessons to le6rn. $8t o;; ;ro his

own people in 6 str6nge l6n9 he becoes 6 sl6e in the ho8se o; the Eg=pti6n ;6lsel=

6cc8se9 b= 6 wic>e9 wo6n, 6n9 8n9er the stig6 o; 6 gre6t sin, he is c6st into prison.

There tre6te9 with b6se ingr6tit89e, he is le;t to l6ng8ish, 6 ;orgotten 6n. %8;;ering9ishono8r 8pon 9ishono8r, his p6th is eer 9ownw6r9. The clo89s g6ther ro8n9 hi 6n9

his w6= grows 96r>er, 8ntil 6pp6rentl= his s8n h6s set in hopeless gloo.

CR'EL S'**ERI!G

48t behin9 6ll th6t is 6pp6rent to n6t8re, ;6ith c6n 9iscern the p8rpose o; Go9 to ee9ness o; the brethren to b6nish #oseph ;ro ho8se 6n9 hoe he 8ses *otiph6rFs

wic>e9 wi;e to bring #oseph into prison 6n9 he 8ses *h6r6ohFs 8ngr6te;8l b8tler to >eep

hi there. Eer= step in the 9ownw6r9 p6th is 6n 6pp6rent tri8ph ;or %6t6n, 6n9 wo8l9see to 6>e the ;8l;ilent o; Go9Fs p8rpose ore reote. To the n6t8r6l iew %6t6nFs pl6ns 6ppe6r to prosper, 6n9 Go9Fs p8rposes s8;;ere9 6pp6rent 9e;e6t.

!ECESS%R( S'**ERI!G

(6ith, howeer, c6n 9iscern the h6n9 o; Go9 behin9 the wiles o; %6t6n. ); %6t6n is 8sing

6n to hin9er Go9Fs p8rposes, Go9 is 8sing %6t6n to c6rr= the o8t. Eer= >in9 o; 6gentis 6t Go9Fs 9ispos6l. Angels 6n9 6rch6ngels, s6ints 6n9 sinners, the 9eil 6n9 his 9eons,

6ll sere to c6rr= o8t Go9Fs pl6ns. The er= eleents;ire 6n9 h6il, snow 6n9 6po8rs, 6n9

stor= win96re ?;8l;illing His wor9? *s. 1-5: 5. Nor is it otherwise with the

circ8st6nces o; li;e, 6s we see in the stor= o; #oseph. The tri6ls he p6sses thro8gh, thetre6tent 6t the h6n9s o; his brethren, the bon96ge in the ho8se o; the Eg=pti6n, the ;6lse

6cc8s6tions o; *otiph6rFs wi;e, the prison o; *h6r6oh, 6n9 the neglect o; *h6r6ohFs b8tler,

6re onl= so 6n= st6ges in the p6th th6t le69s to glor=. His l6bo8rs 6s 6 shepher9, hisission to his brethren, his serices in *otiph6rFs ho8se 6n9 in *h6r6ohFs prison 6re

prep6ring ;or the e


13/52

&(IC%L S'**ERI!G

)n 6ll this #oseph is b8t 6 t=pe o; One whose s8;;erings were ;6r 9eeper een 6s His glor=

is ;6r gre6ter. He, too, in the 96=s o; His ;lesh w6s 6ongst 8s 6s One th6t seres, ;or Heco8l9 s6=, ?26n 6c8ire9 2e 6s bon96n ;ro 2= =o8th? Bech. 13: , N . Tr. . He,

too, s8;;ere9 8n9er the ;6lse 6cc8s6tions o; the wic>e9, ;or 6g6in He c6n s6=, ?The= l6i9to 2= ch6rge things th6t ) >new not? *s. 3: 11. He, too, w6s le9 to prison 6n9 to 9e6th

6n9 in 6 ;8ll e6s8re He h69 to eet the b6se ingr6tit89e o; those who h69 receie9 onl=goo9 6t His h6n9s, so th6t, with 6 he6rt bro>en b= 8nre8ite9 loe, He cries, ?) 6

;orgotten 6s 6 9e69 6n o8t o; in9? *s. 31: 1!.

RE%R%&OR( S'**ERI!G

48t 6s with #oseph in t=pe, so with $hrist the glorio8s 6ntit=pe, eer= 9ownw6r9 step inthe p6th o; s8;;ering w6s b8t 6 ;8rther st6ge on the w6= to glor=. His serice in the 96=s

o; His ;lesh prep6res ;or His r8le 6s Iing o; >ings 6n9 Lor9 o; lor9s. The ;6lse witnesses

th6t rose 8p 6g6inst Hi will bow 9own be;ore Hi when eer= >nee sh6ll bow 6n9eer= tong8e con;ess th6t He is Lor9 to the glor= o; Go9 the (6ther. The 96= is not ;6r

9ist6nt when the ?poor wise 26n? th6t no 6n reebere9 sh6ll be ?in eerl6sting

reebr6nce? Ecc. +: 1 *s. 11!: &.

S'+)ISSIVE S'**ERI!G

48t not onl= 9oes this portion o; the histor= o; #oseph s8ppl= 6 be68ti;8l t=pe o; $hrist, b8t it is rich with pr6ctic6l instr8ction ;or the s6int in his in9ii986l p6th. (irst, we c6nnot

re69 the stor= witho8t being ipresse9 with the ;6ct th6t he w6s 6 s8bissie 6n. His

circ8st6nces were h6r9 6n9 his position tr=ing. $8t o;; ;ro his >in9re9, 6 str6nger in 6

;oreign l6n9, he h69 p6sse9 ;ro the loe o; his ;6therFs hoe to the bon96ge o; theEg=pti6nFs ho8se, =et there is no repining. He h6rbo8rs no bitter tho8ghts 6g6inst his

brethren, 8tters no copl6ints 6s to his h6r9 lot, nor 6 single rebellio8s wor9 6g6inst thew6=s o; Go9. His spirit w6s >ept in be68ti;8l s8bission. H69 not Go9 ree6le9 to hi

his high 9estin= 6n9 ;6ith, resting in 8iet con;i9ence in Go9Fs wor9 loo>s on with cle6r

ision to the glorio8s en9 see ! $or. -: 17, 15. (6ith >ept Go9 6n9 His wor9 between

hisel; 6n9 his circ8st6nces. )n the p6th o; Go9Fs p8rpose he s8bits to Go9Fs w6=s. %o*68l, 6nother prisoner o; the Lor9 in 6nother 96=, in li>e spirit o; s8bission, writes ;ro

his prison, ?the circ8st6nces in which ) 6 h6e ;6llen o8t r6ther to the ;8rther6nce o;

the gospel.?

RO*I&%+LE S'**ERI!G

As 6 res8lt, ?the Lor9 w6s with #oseph 6n9 he w6s 6 prospero8s 6n? erse !. The

s8bissie 6n will eer be 6 prospero8s 6n. N6t8re wo8l9 s6= th6t sl6er= 6n9

prosperit= 8st be 6n ipossible cobin6tion, b8t i; we s8bit to His w6=s, the presenceo; the Lor9 c6n t8rn 96=s o; 69ersit= into 96=s o; prosperit=. All the worl9 wo8l9 69it

th6t #oseph w6s 6 prospero8s 6n in the 96= o; his e


14/52

ri9e prospero8sl= 6s the r8ler o; Eg=pt, b8t ;irst he 8st lie prospero8sl= 6s the sl6e o;

6n Eg=pti6n. The prosperit= o; the prison 8st prece9e The prosperit= o; the p6l6ce. The

tri6ls 6n9 the sorrows, the losses 6n9 the crosses, the ro8gh w6=s 6n9 the 96r> 6lle=s,will 6ll becoe occ6sions o; the gre6test so8l prosperit= i; we reeber th6t Go9 h6s 6

settle9 p8rpose ;or 8s in glor=, 6n9 in the e6ntie 6ll His w6=s with 8s 6re in iew o;

His p8rpose ;or 8s. )n the light o; His p8rpose we sh6ll be 6ble to s8bit to His w6=s, 6n9s8bitting we sh6ll ;in9 the Lor9 with 8s, 6n9 i; the Lor9 is with 8s we sh6ll prosper with

th6t prosperit= th6t is 6boe 6llthe prosperit= o; the so8l. ?4eloe9,? s6=s the 6ge9

6postle, ?) wish 6boe 6ll things th6t tho8 6=est prosper, 6n9 be in he6lth, een 6s th=so8l prospereth? 3 #ohn !.

%&IE!& S'**ERI!G

2oreoer, being 6 prospero8s 6n #oseph bec6e l witness ;or the Lor9 in the ho8se o;

bon96ge. Ce re69, ?His 6ster s6w th6t the Lor9 w6s with hi? . 3. His testion=,

too, w6s the testion= o; his li;e r6ther th6n his lips. *otiph6r w6s ipresse9 b= wh6t he

?s6w? r6ther th6n b= wh6t he he6r9. ?His 6ster s6w th6t the Lor9 w6s with hi, 6n9 th6tthe Lor9 69e 6ll th6t he 9i9 to prosper in his h6n9.? H69 #oseph been ;or eer

copl6ining o; his h6r9 lot, or enl6rging 8pon his high 9estin=, he wo8l9 h6e been nowitness ;or the Lor9 in the ho8se o; *otiph6r. The Eg=pti6n c6re9 nothing 6bo8t his p6st,

6n9, een i; set be;ore hi, wo8l9 coprehen9 nothing o; his ;8t8re, b8t his 96il= li;e o;

wholehe6rte9 6ttention to his 98ties *otiph6r co8l9 see 6n9 6ppreci6te. Nor is it otherwiseto96=. (or 6 $hristi6n ser6nt to be o;ten gr8bling 6t his lot be;ore his 8nconerte9

6ster, 6n9 s6=ing th6t the 96= is coing when he will 89ge the worl9 6n9 een 6ngels,

wo8l9 be wholl= o8t o; pl6ce. To 6n 8nconerte9 6ster it wo8l9 not onl= be the wil9est

;oll= b8t 6lso the grossest ipertinence. To spe6> to the worl9 o; the glorio8s p8rposes o; Go9 is onl= to c6st pe6rls be;ore swine. These 6re things tot6ll= be=on9 the

coprehension o; the n6t8r6l 6n. 48t to see 6 $hristi6n ser6nt liing 6 8iet,consistent, 8ncopl6ining li;e, in the ;6ith;8l 9isch6rge o; 96il= 98ties, is in9ee9 6 tr8ewitness ;or the Lor9, 6n9 is soething th6t the 8nconerte9 6ster c6n 6ppreci6te.

RE,%RDED S'**ERI!G

Th8s it w6s )n the histor= o; #oseph, with the res8lt th6t the one who w6s 6 witness ;or the

Lor9 w6s respecte9 6n9 tr8ste9 b= 6n. %o we re69, ?#oseph ;o8n9 gr6ce in his sight . . .6n9 he 69e hi oerseer oer his ho8se, 6n9 6ll th6t he h69 he p8t into his h6n9? . -.

The Lor9 w6s not onl= with #oseph, b8t He w6s ;or #oseph, 9isposing the he6rt o; the

6ster in ;6o8r o; his ser6nt.

)t ;ollows th6t #oseph bec6e 6 so8rce o; blessing in the ho8se o; the Gentile: ?)t c6e to p6ss ;ro the tie th6t he 69e hi oerseer in his ho8se, 6n9 oer 6ll th6t he h69, th6t

the Lor9 blesse9 the Eg=pti6nFs ho8se ;or #osephFs s6>e, 6n9 the blessing o; the Lor9 w6s

8pon 6ll th6t he h69 in the ho8se, 6n9 in the ;iel9? . . The $hristi6n is not onl= c6lle9to blessing b8t, 6s he p6sses 6long his w6=, to be 6 blessing.

)EE8 S'**ERI!G


15/52

Viewing #oseph 6s 6 t=pe o; $hrist, it is iport6nt to reeber th6t it w6s Go9Fs p8rpose

to set #oseph in the pl6ce o; s8pre6c=, 6n9 hence eer= one who s8bits to his

s8pre6c= is blesse9. Th8s *otiph6r gies #oseph 6 pl6ce o; s8pre6c= in his ho8sehol9,6n9 ie9i6tel= *otiph6r is blesse9. A little l6ter the 6iler 6>es #oseph s8pree in the

prison 6n9 blessing ;ollows. #8st 6s in the 96= o; his 8niers6l s8pre6c= 6ll s8bit to

hi, 6n9 6ll 6re blesse9. The worl9 will be copelle9 to s8bit to the s8pre6c= o;$hrist in the 96= o; His 6ni;este9 power, b8t ;6ith 9elights to 6nticip6te th6t 96= 6n9

own His s8pre6c= in the 96= o; His reection. An9 in the e6s8re in which we =iel9

o8rseles, o8r lies, o8r 6ll, to the s8pre6c= o; $hrist, we too sh6ll be blesse9, een 6sthe worl9 will be blesse9 when it s8bits to His 8niers6l sw6=. The s8pre6c= o; $hrist

9e6n9s the s8bission o; 6n, 6n9 the s8bission o; 6n le69s to the blessing o; 6n,

tho8gh in the 96= o; His reection th6t blessing is spirit86l r6ther th6n 6teri6l.

Th8s we h6e seen th6t in the ho8se o; the Gentile #oseph w6s 6 s8bissie 6n, 6 prospero8s 6n, 6 witness ;or the Lor9, 6 respecte9 6n9 tr8ste9 6n, 6n9 6 centre o;

blessing. %8ch ch6r6cteristics constit8te 6 er= coplete li;e, 6n9 hence we 6re not

s8rprise9 to re69 th6t ?#oseph w6s o; 6 be68ti;8l ;or 6n9 o; 6 be68ti;8l co8nten6nce? .&, N. Tr.. The li;e th6t is be68ti;8l be;ore Go9 6n9 6n is eing in the ;e6r o;Go9 he w6s >ept in the ho8r o; tept6tion. Cell ;or e6ch one o; 8s, i; the oent o;

;ierce tept6tion ;in9s 8s w6l>ing so ne6r to Go9, th6t 6t once we 6s>, ?$6n ) 9o this

gre6t wic>e9ness 6n9 sin 6g6inst Go9? To 6s> th6t 8estion is to esc6pe the sn6re. Theonl= thing we h6e re6ll= to be 6;r6i9 o; is ;e6ring 6n=thing, or 6n=one, ore th6n Go9.

ROLO!GED S'**ERI!G

The 9eil, howeer, is not content with isol6te9 6tt6c>s 8pon the chil9ren o; Go9. He will

w6ge 6 contin86l w6r;6re. )t w6s so with #oseph. The tept6tion c6e ?96= b= 96=? .1, 6n9 the 6tt6c>s ore persistent 8ntil #oseph ?;lees? ;ro the tept6tion 6n9 the 9eil

is ;oile9. 48t h6ing ;6ile9 6s the tepter, he now becoes the persec8tor . 1315.

The wo6n who ;orerl= h69 c6st her eil e=es 8pon #oseph now witnesses with l=ing


16/52

tong8e 6g6inst hi, 6s 6n ol9 9iine h6s s6i9, ?Those who h6e bro>en the bon9s o;

o9est= will neer be hel9 b= the bon9s o; tr8th. )t is no new thing ;or the best o; en to

be ;6lsel= 6cc8se9 o; the worst cries b= those who 6re theseles the worst o;criin6ls.? )n res8lt #oseph esc6pes ;ro 6 b69 wo6n 6n9 ret6ins 6 goo9 conscience.

48t to ret6in 6 goo9 conscience 6= cost 8ch. #oseph h6s to enow, is one o; the h6r9est lessons ;or the s6int to le6rn. )t is one thing to witness;or Go9 in the b8s= worl9, it is 6 er= 9i;;erent thing to w6it ;or Go9 in the lonel= prison

in ;6ct it is ipossible to n6t8re. %68l the n6t8r6l 6n, lost his >ing9o bec68se he co8l9

not w6it ;or Go9 1 %6. 1: 5 1 %6. 13: 51-. 48t while it is ipossible to n6t8re it is6 sore tri6l ;or the 6n o; ;6ith. Abr6h6 in his 96= 8st e6rn to w6it ;or Go9. 'n9er the

stress o; w6iting he =iel9s to the s8ggestion o; n6t8re 6n9 8nbelie; 6n9 6ttepts to obt6in

the proise9 see9 b= ;leshl= e6ns, onl= to ;in9 th6t he is sh8t 8p to Go9, 6n9 8st w6itthirteen long =e6rs to re6ch Go9Fs 98e tie. %o, too, 6t 6 l6ter 96te no one co8l9 h6e

gien 6 bol9er witless th6n #ohn the 46ptist in the 96= o; 4eth6b6r6 in the presence o;

the 6sseble9 crow9, he eingFs b8tler, he n6t8r6ll=

concl89es the b8tler will interene with *h6r6oh to obt6in his rele6se. ?Thin> on e,?s6=s #oseph, ?when it sh6ll be well with thee, 6n9 show >in9ness, ) pr6= thee, 8nto e,

6n9 6>e ention o; e 8nto *h6r6oh, 6n9 bring e o8t o; his ho8se.? #oseph 8st not

onl= le6rn th6t the help o; 6n is 6in, b8t th6t Go9 is his onl= reso8rce. FGo9 is o8r

re;8ge 6n9 strength, 6 er= present help in tro8ble.? 48t to receie this ?help? we 8stle6rn to ?be still? 6n9 >now th6t Go9 is Go9 *s. -&: 1, 1. Go9 h6s His tie 6s well 6s

His w6= to bring His p8rposes to p6ss.

RELIE* I! S'**ERI!G

)n the e6ntie, i; 6n ;orgets to show #oseph Iin9ness, Go9 will not ;orget to showhi erc=. As we re69, ?The Lor9 w6s with #oseph 6n9 showe9 hi erc=.? #oseph 6=

;6il, 8st 6s we 6= 6n9 9o, b8t the Lor9Fs ?cop6ssions ;6il not, the= 6re new eer=

ornings gre6t is th= ;6ith;8lness. The Lor9 is = portion s6ith = so8l there;ore ) hopein Hi? L6. 3: !!!-. The 9eil 6= tept 8s 96= b= 96=, 6n9 Go9 6= test b=

>eeping 8s w6iting ;ro 96= to l6=, neertheless His erc= will be renewe9 eer= l6=.

Th8s tho8gh we o;tties h6e to w6it ;or the Lor9Fs 9elier6nce, =et ?The Lor9 is goo9


17/52

8nto the th6t w6it ;or Hi,? 6n9 on o8r si9e we le6rn th6t ?)t is goo9 th6t 6 6n sho8l9

both hope 6n9 8ietl= w6it (or the s6l6tion o; the Lor9? L6. 3: !, !&. (orgotten b=

6n #oseph is reebere9 b= the Lor9, 8ntil in Go9Fs 98e tie he le6rns th6t ?those th6tw6it 8pon the Lor9 . . . sh6ll inherit the e6rth? *s. 37: + .

$oit th= w6= to Go9,

The weight th6t 6>es thee ;6int

Corl9s 6re to Hi no lo69,

To Hi bre6the th= copl6int.

He, who ;or win9s 6n9 clo89s

26>eth 6 p6thw6= ;ree,

Thro8gh w6stes 6n9 hostile crow9s,

$6n 6>e 6 w6= ;or thee.

Hope, then, tho8gh woes 9o8ble9

Hope 6n9 be 8n9is6=e9

Let not th= he6rt he tro8ble9,

Nor let it be 6;r6i9.

This prison where tho8 6rt

Th= Go9 will bre6> it soon,

An9 ;loo9 with light th= he6rt

)n His own blesse9 noon.

Paul Gerhardt

6. E9altation and Glo2 - Genesis 61

)n this portion o; #osephFs histor= we re6ch the perio9 in which Go9 8n;ol9s His pl6n ;orthe glor= 6n9 e


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GOD;S I!S&R')E!&S

Go9Fs pl6ns, howeer, 8st be c6rrie9 o8t in Go9Fs tie, b= Go9Fs instr8ents, 6n9 in

Go9Fs w6=. #oseph h69 prob6bl= loo>e9 ;orw6r9 to 6n ie9i6te rele6se when the b8tlerw6s restore9 to his position in *h6r6ohFs ho8sehol9. 48t two ;8ll =e6rs 8st p6ss be;ore

Go9Fs tie is re6che9. The 98e tie h6ing coe, the l6st instr8ent in the h6n9 o; Go9is re69= to coplete the wor> th6t le69s to the eingFs c6pt6in, the >ingFs 6iler, 6n9 the >ingFs b8tler, now He will 8se the >inghisel;. 2oreoer, it 8st be in Go9Fs w6=. )t will be ?6 9re6, 6 ision o; the night,? b=

which He will tro8ble the spirit o; *h6r6oh 6n9 6w6>en the sl8bering eor= o;

*h6r6ohFs b8tler . 5, +.

)%!;S I!&ELLEC&

(irst Go9 ree6ls wh6t He is 6bo8t to 9o b8t een so 6n c6nnot pro;it b= the reel6tion.

Go9 will spe6> in 6 ision to *h6r6oh b= writing on the w6ll in 4elsh6@@6rFs 96=, b=

?gre6t pl6inness o; speech? )n o8r 96=, b8t, 6s in the 96=s th6t 6re p6st, so now, the wiseen o; this worl9 6re 8tterl= 6t ;68lt in their e;;orts to interpret the Cor9 o; Go9. Th8s

*h6r6oh 6ppe6ls to the ?6gici6ns o; Eg=pt 6n9 6ll the wise en thereo;,? onl= to ;in9

?there w6s none to interpret? his 9re6s . 5. 26nFs n6t8r6l pri9e o; intellect blin9s hi

to the siple ;6ct th6t co8nic6tions ;ro Go9 c6n onl= be interprete9 b= Go9.

*%I&H*'L I!&ERRE&%&IO!

H6ing th8s 9estro=e9 ?the wis9o o; the wise? 6n9 bro8ght ?to nothing the

8n9erst6n9ing o; the pr89ent,? Go9 ;6lls b6c> on the 6n o; His resere, ?6 6n in who

the spirit o; Go9 is.? 48t Go9Fs 6n is 6lw6=s o; little 6cco8nt in the e=es o; the worl9.

The 6n who is 9estine9 to wiel9 6 power th6t no ort6l, be;ore or since, h6s eereone9 6ong ?the b6se things

o; the worl9 6n9 things which 6re 9espise9.? Neertheless, he is the chosen o; Go9 to?con;o8n9 the ight=? 6n9 ?bring to n68ght the things th6t 6re.? %o it coes to p6ss th6t

#oseph is bro8ght ;ro the 98ngeon into the presence o; e6rthFs ost power;8l on6rch.

*h6r6oh, spe6>ing 6s 6 n6t8r6l 6n, 6t once s6=s, ?) h6e he6r9 s6= o; thee, th6t tho8

c6nst 8n9erst6n9 6 9re6 to interpret it.? #oseph str6ightw6= con;esses, ?)t is not in e.?)t w6s no ore in #oseph th6n in the wise en o; Eg=pt. The= 6= in9ee9 be le6rne9 in

6ll the wis9o o; the Eg=pti6ns, the= 6= hol9 the er= highest positions in the co8rt o;

the >ing #oseph, on the other h6n9, is ?6 =o8ng 6n, 6n Hebrew, 6 bon96n,? in 698ngeon, b8t Go9 being with hi he c6n s8rp6ss the wis9o o; the wise, st6n9 witho8t

;e6r in the presence o; the >ing, 6n9 with the 8tost con;i9ence s6=, ?Go9 will gie

*h6r6oh 6n 6nswer o; pe6ce.? He 9oes not s6=, ?Go9 c6n gie *h6r6oh 6n 6nswer,?howeer tr8e th6t wo8l9 h6e been, b8t ;6ith p6ssing be=on9 wh6t Go9 can do, 9e;initel=

st6tes wh6t Go9 will do.

CLE%R I!SIGH&


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)t is still the possession o; the %pirit o; Go9 th6t 6>es the ie6s8r6ble 9i;;erence

between the chil9ren o; Go9 6n9 the wise en o; the worl9. 26n= in9ee9 6= possess

gi6nt intellects, well store9 with s8ch le6rning 6s this worl9 c6n 6;;or9, hol9ing, too, highr6n> in the religio8s worl9, b8t 8nless born 6g6in the= 6re ere n6t8r6l en, witho8t the

%pirit, 6n9 c6nnot een see the things th6t belong to the >ing9o o; Go9, 8ch less enter

th6t ;6ir >ing9o.

DIVI!E I!&ELLIGE!CE

H6ing he6r9 *h6r6ohFs 6cco8nt o; his 9re6, #oseph procee9s to gie the >ing 6

three;ol9 ess6ge ;ro Go9. (irst he twice repe6ts th6t ?Go9 h6th showe9 *h6r6oh wh6t

He is 6bo8t to 9o? . !, !5. The wise en o; Eg=pt 9o8btless h69 their theories 6s tothe ;8t8re o; Eg=pt, 6n9 sh6pe9 their policies 6n9 69e their pl6ns in 6ccor96nce with

their own i9e6seen 6s to96= the le69ers o; this worl9, whether politic6l, religio8s,

intellect86l, c6pit6list, or l6bo8r, h6e their 6rio8s theories o; ;8t8re goernent o; the

worl9. 48t ;ro the ost e


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Then 6 thir9 tr8th is procl6ie9 to *h6r6oh. Not onl= ?the thing is est6blishe9 bo= Go9,?

b8t ?Go9 will shortl= bring it to p6ss? . 3!. Go9 h6s 6 ree6le9 pl6n. Go9 h6s

est6blishe9 His pl6n, 6n9 wh6t Go9 h6s pl6nne9 6n9 est6blishe9, Go9 will bring to p6ss.2en 9re6 o; bringing 6bo8t 6 illenni8 6;ter their own tho8ghts 6n9 b= their own

e;;orts, thro8gh e98c6tion, ciili@6tion, 9is6r6ent, le6g8es 6n9 con;e9er6cies, b8t 6ll

will be in 6in. Go9 h6s 69e it per;ectl= cle6r th6t His illenni8 will onl= be Dro8ght6bo8t b= the 9irect interention o; Go9 Hisel;. As in #osephFs 96=, so in o8r 96=, ?Go9

will bring it to p6ss.? H6s He not s6i9 b= the o8th o; the prophet, ?) h6e spo>en it 6n9 )

will bring it to p6ss ) h6e p8rpose9 it, ) will 6lso 9o it? )s6. -&: 11 2oreoer, ?Go9will shortly bring it to p6ss.? The tie 6= see long, ;or Go9 h6s lingere9 in

longs8;;ering gr6ce, not willing th6t 6n= sho8l9 perish, b8t 6s in *h6r6ohFs 96= so in o8rs,

it h6s been gien to the One who is going to be s8pree, ?to show 8nto His ser6nts

things which 8st shortly coe to p6ss? "e. 1: 1.

E


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;oresh69owing o; the =et 9eeper s8;;erings 6n9 reection o; $hrist, so too the s8pre6c=

o; #oseph ;oresh69ows the still gre6ter glories o; $hrist 6s the eeness o; en, 6n9 being ;o8n9 in ;6shion 6s 6 6n, He h8ble9 Hisel; 6n9 bec6e

obe9ient 8nto 9e6th, een the 9e6th o; the cross, where;ore Go9 6lso h6th highl= e


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9eeper 6n9 ore spirit86l w6= is this tr8e o; $hrist in His e


23/52

ER*EC& S%&IS*%C&IO!

The two sons th6t 6re born to #oseph will 6lso be6r their witness to $hrist. 26n6sseh, 6s

we >now, signi;ies ?;orgetting,? 6n9 Ephr6i ?;r8it;8l.? "eecte9 b= his brethren, his p6thh69 been one o; s8;;ering 6n9 toil, b8t #oseph h6s his gre6t rew6r9 6n9 becoes ;r8it;8l

in the l6n9 o; his 6;;liction. Nor is it other wise with $hrist. His 6ncient people 6=9espise 6n9 reect Hi, the= 6= n8ber Hi with the tr6nsgressors, b8t in the 96= o;

His reection, when His so8l is 69e 6n o;;ering ;or sin, then ?He sh6ll see His see9,?=e6, ?He sh6ll see o; the ;r8it o; the tr66il o; His so8l, 6n9 sh6ll be s6tis;ie9.? )sr6el

co8l9 s6=, ?His bloo9 be on 8s 6n9 on o8r chil9ren,? 6n9 the= will 9rin> to the 9regs their

c8p o; g8ilt, b8t $hrist h6s not lost b= their reection. His ?toil? h6s its glorio8s 6nswer in6 gre6t h6rest o; so8ls g6there9 o8t o; the worl9 98ring the tie o; His reection b=

)sr6el. The tie when He is ?;orgotten? b= )sr6el is the tie when He g6thers ;r8it 6ong

the Gentiles.

Lor9, we o=, Th= toils 6re en9e9,

Gl69 Th= s8;;Fring tie is oFer.

To Th= (6therFs throne 6scen9e9,

There Tho8 liFst to 9ie no ore.

Lor9, we worship 6n9 69ore Thee

(or Th= rich, Th= 6tchless gr6ce

*er;ect soon in o= be;ore Thee,

we sh6ll see Thee ;6ce to ;6ce.

=. &he (ea2s o" *amine - Genesis 61: =3-=7> 6

Ce h6e tr6ce9 #osephFs p6th to 6 position o; ee occ6sion b= the

worl9Fs eing enge6nce N6t8reight 6ct th8s, b8t gr6ce will t6>e 6nother w6=. #oseph will 8se his pl6ce o; s8pre6c=6n9 power ;or 8niers6l blessing. 48t while showing gr6ce he will 6int6in

righteo8sness, hence 6 cr= o; nee9 will be wr8ng ;ro the Gentiles 6n9 the= 8st s8bit

theseles to #oseph be;ore the blessing is receie9. %o too repent6nce 8st prece9e blessing in the c6se o; the brethren.

!EED %,%8E!ED


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D8ring the 96=s o; plent= the worl9 p6i9 little hee9 to #oseph. O; his brethren we he6r

nothing, the= were wholl= in9i;;erent to hi. Chen, howeer, the 9e6rth set in, nee9 is

6w6>ene9 ?the l6n9 o; Eg=pt w6s ;6ishe9? . 6n9 #6cob 6n9 his sons 6re ;6ce9with st6r6tion 6n9 9e6th Gen. -!: 1, !. The nee9 c6lls ;orth 6 cr= ;or bre69, 6n9 the

Gentiles h6e to le6rn, 6n9 the brethren 9iscoer, th6t none c6n eet the nee9 s6e the

one th6t once the= scorne9 6n9 reecte9. The Gentiles 8st ?go to #oseph,? 6n9 the brethren 8st bow theseles be;ore hi with their ;6ces to the e6rth Gen. -1: Gen.

-!: &. The once reecte9 b8t now ee ;or Gentile

n6tions 6s ;or #6cob 6n9 his sons.

&HE O!E RESO'RCE

All this, howeer, spe6>s pl6inl= o; things to coe. There ;6st 6ppro6ches ?the ho8r o;

tept6tion i.e. tri6l which sh6ll coe 8pon 6ll the worl9, to tr= the th6t 9well 8pon the

e6rth? "e. 3: 1, 6n9 ;or the #ew the tie o; ?gre6t trib8l6tion, s8ch 6s w6s not since

the beginning o; the worl9? 26tt. !-: !1. ?Al6sJ? s6=s the prophet #erei6h, ?;or th6t

96= is gre6t, so th6t none is li>e it: it is een the tie o; #6cobFs tro8ble? #er. 3: 7. An9in th6t 96= o; 8nprece9ente9 tri6l the one reso8rce will be the e


25/52

one o8tsi9e theseles. Hence the ten brethren coe to Eg=pt 6n9 present theseles

be;ore #oseph.

CH%!GED CIRC')S&%!CES

Tie w6s when #oseph w6s 6 we6> 6n9 helpless =o8th in the h6n9s o; his el9er brethren.Ch6t co8l9 6 =o8th 9o in the power o; ten en An9 in those ;6ro;; 96=s the= were not

slow to 8se their power to gr6ti;= the h6tre9 6n9 en= th6t ;ille9 their he6rts. Twent=

=e6rs h6e rolle9 b= circ8st6nces h6e ch6nge9 #oseph is e the sin o; his brethren, een 6s Es68. the 6n o; n6t8re, oerloo>e9 his brotherFs

wrong in 6n e6rlier 96= N6t8re c6n o;ten t6l> in 6n 6ir= w6= o; letting b=gones be b=gones 6n9 see> to ee

6nother w6=. The con98ct th6t sees so highl= coen96ble in the e=es o; the n6t8r6l6n h6s no 6ttr6ction ;or the 6n th6t ;e6rs Go9.

LOVE DIREC&I!G

This w6s the secret o; #osephFs li;e. Thro8gh 6ll the icissit89es o; his p6th ;ro =o8th to

ol9 6ge he w6s goerne9, not b= the 9ict6tes o; n6t8re, b8t b= the hol= ;e6r o; Go9. Th8sit is in the presence o; his brethren he c6n s6=, ?) ;e6r Go9? . 15. This is the secret

spring o; 6ll his 6ctions. His tho8ghts, his wor9s, his w6=s, were goerne9 b= the ;e6r o;

Go9. N6t8re le6es Go9 o8t 6n9 thin>s onl= o; sel;in9ic6tion, sel;gr6ti;ic6tion, or sel;es o; Go9 6n9 wh6t is ple6sing 6n9 98e to Go9. #oseph see>s to?sere Go9 6ccept6bl= with reerence 6n9 go9l= ;e6r? Heb. 1!: !5. )n the 96= o; his

tept6tion he w6s >ept ;ro the p6th o; eil b= the ;e6r o; Go9, ;or he co8l9 s6=, ?How

c6n ) 9o this gre6t wic>e9ness, 6n9 sin 6g6inst Go9? )n the 96= o; his eept ;ro t6>ing enge6nce on his brethren b= the ;e6r o; Go9. No sorrows in the 96= o;

his h8ili6tion, no glories in the 96= o; his enew how to be 6b6se9, 6n9 he >new how to 6bo8n9. 4e thecirc8st6nces s69 or bright, he eer >ept Go9 between hisel; 6n9 his circ8st6nces.

Th8s w6l>ing in Go9Fs ;e6r he t6>es Go9Fs w6= with his brethren, 6n9 Go9Fs w6= w6s 6

w6= o; loe, 6n9 =et not the w6= o; ere h86n loe, which is o;ten 6 ;eeble 6n9 ;6iling

thing, een 6s en s6=, ?Loe is blin9.? Diine loe with its cle6r ision is not blin9 tothe ;68lts in the obects o; loe, b8t r6ther, in ;8ll recognition o; 6ll th6t is contr6r= to

itsel;, it sets to wor> to reoe eer= bleish, so th6t 6t length it c6n rest with

s6tis;6ction in its obect.

LOVE DISCER!I!G


26/52

2oreoer, loe is 8ic> to 9iscern. 28ltit89es ;ro s8rro8n9ing n6tions were 9rien b=

nee9 to the ;eet o; #oseph, b8t 9irectl= these ten en 6ppe6r be;ore hi loe 9iscerns th6t

the= 6re his brethren, 6s we re69, ?#oseph saw his brethren.? (or twent= =e6rs he h69 notseen the, b8t with loeFs 8ic> perception he sees in those ten nee9= en the brethren

;ro who he h69 so long been p6rte9. An9 loe "knew the.? ?#oseph >new his

brethren, b8t the= >new hi not? . 5. Loe >new their p6st histor= 6n9 the present nee9th6t bro8ght the to his ;eet.

LOVE RE)E)+ERI!G

An9 loe >new, bec68se loe "remembered." ?#oseph reebere9 the 9re6s which he

h69 9re6e9 o; the? erse +. The 9re6s o; the p6st, the 6nger 6n9 scorn with whichthe= h69 been receie9 b= the brethren, the tre6tent the= h69 ete9 o8t to hi, 6ll is

reebere9, b8t reebere9 b= one th6t loes the, ;or, 6s #oseph spe6>s with the

?He t8rne9 hisel; 6bo8t.? Tie will coe when 6il the pent8p 6;;ections o; #oseph will

;low o8t witho8t restr6int 6s he weeps be;ore the, b8t ere th6t oent coes he h6s

other wor> to 9o. Loe will set itsel; to wor> to win their he6rts 6n9 set the in per;ecte6se in the presence o; the one 6g6inst who the= h69 so gre6tl= sinne9. To re6ch this

en9 loe will ;in9 6 w6= whereb=, in righteo8sness, eer= st6in on the p6st c6n be wipe96w6=, so th6t with eer= 8estion entirel= settle9 nothing will re6in to hin9er its

o8t;low between #oseph 6n9 his brethren. There is, howeer, onl= one w6= whereb= the

he6rt c6n be set 6t per;ect e6se in the presence o; one th6t h6s been o;;en9e9. All 8st be bro8ght to light 6n9 ;8ll= con;esse9. The sl8bering conscience 8st be 6ro8se9, the sins

rec6lle9, 6n9 the sins con;esse9. )t is onl= thro8gh the conscience th6t the he6rt c6n be

re6che9 6n9 set 6t e6se. 2oe9 b= loe, #oseph will et hisel; to re6ch their consciences.

He ?69e hisel; str6nge 8nto the, 6n9 sp6>e ro8ghl= 8nto the? . 7.

LOVE %LL'RI!G

$hrist 6;ter the s6e ;6shion 69e Hisel; str6nge in the 96= when 6 Gentile wo6n

w6s 9rien b= her nee9 into His presence 6n9 w6s et b= silence, ;or we re69, ?He

6nswere9 her not 6 wor9.? An9 when He 9oes spe6>, is it not, ;or the oent, ?h6r9things? th6t she h6s to he6r 48t we >now it w6s the w6= o; per;ect loe th6t le9 to

blessing. %o too in His ;8t8re 9e6lings with the #ew, $hrist will 6>e Hisel; str6nge

when 6ccor9ing to the prophet He will s6=, ?) will he9ge 8p th= w6= with thorns, 6n96>e 6 w6ll th6t she sh6ll not ;in9 her p6ths? 6n9 s6=s the Lor9, ?) will t6>e 6w6= =

corn in the tie thereo;.? The Lor9 will bring ;6ine 8pon the #ew, in or9er to bring the

#ew into the wil9erness, where the= h6e no reso8rces b8t Go9. )n th6t wil9erness pl6ce

the Lor9 c6n s6=, ?) will spe6> to her he6rt? Hose6 !: &, +, 1-.

LOVE &ES&I!G

The brethren protest th6t it is their nee9 th6t brings the into Eg=pt. ?Ce h6e coe to

b8= ;oo9? . 1. The= h6e in9ee9 coe to the right person, b8t the= h6e coe with 6

wrong pl6n 6n9 with 6 wrong ple6. Their pl6n is to b8=, 6n9 their ple6, ?Ce 6re tr8e en?. 11. As =et the= >now neither the loe o; #osephFs he6rt, nor the eil o; their own


27/52

he6rts. The= 8st le6rn th6t #oseph is too rich to sell to his own, 6n9 th6t the= h6e

nothing in theseles to ple69. Their one= sh6ll not b8= corn, 6n9 o; erit the= h6e

none whereb= to cl6i it. The= 8st le6rn th6t while #oseph is re69= to bestow eer= blessing, he is one 8pon who the= h6e ;or;eite9 eer= cl6i. Loe is 6 gier when

worthlessness h6s nothing to ple69. The loe o; #osephFs he6rt will sh8t o8t 6ll ere

b6rter, 6n9 the eil o; their he6rts e the= 6re tr8e enthen #oseph will p8t the to the test.

LOVE &E%CHI!G

2oreoer #osephFs brethren 8st le6rn th6t 6ll their blessing 9epen9s 8pon the 6n o;

who the= s6= ?one is not? erse 13. The= s6=, 6s it were, ?Ce h6e not seen hi ;ortwent= =e6rs he h6s entirel= p6sse9 o8t o; o8r lies, 6s ;6r 6s we 6re concerne9 FHe is

not.F? %o, too, in 6 96= to coe the #ew will h6e to le6rn th6t 6ll their blessing 9epen9s

8pon One th6t the= h6e set 6t n68ght. ?This is the stone which w6s set 6t n68ght o; =o8

b8il9ers, which is becoe the he69 o; the corner. Neither is there s6l6tion in 6n= other

;or there is none other n6e 8n9er he6en gien 6ong en, whereb= we 8st be s6e9?Acts -: 11, 1!.

LOVE CO!VIC&I!G

The brethren h6e con9ene9 theseles o8t o; their own lips. The= h6e proteste9 th6tthe= 6re tr8e en, 6n9 in the s6e bre6th the= s6=, ?one is not,? >nowing ;8ll well th6t i;

#oseph h6s p6sse9 o8t o; their ee9ness.

The= st6n9 in the presence o; the one th6t the= h69 reecte9 with 8nrepent6nt he6rts, 6n9=et protest the= 6re honest en. #oseph now t6>es the ;irst step to conict the o; their

sin, b= p8tting the into prison. The ;e6r o; losing their lies h69 bro8ght the in Eg=pt,

with the res8lt th6t the= lose their libert=. (or three 96=s the= 6re le;t in prison th6t the=6= le6rn in soe e6s8re wh6t their sins erit. #oseph h69 been thrown into prison8n8stl=, b8t the= 6re 8stl= bro8ght into the s6e con9en6tion. The res8lt is conscience

begins to wor>, ;or the= s6=. ?Ce 6re g8ilt= concerning o8r brothererse !1.

$onscience connects their present tro8ble with their p6st sin. The prison h6s so ;6r 9oneits wor>. The= not onl= s6=, ?Ce 6re eril= g8ilt=,? b8t ?Ce 6re eril= g8ilt= concerning

our brother." Ce s6w the 6ng8ish o; his so8l, b8t we h6r9ene9 o8r he6rts. He beso8ght 8s

b8t we stoppe9 o8r e6rs to 6ll his entre6ties, ?There;ore is this 9istress coe 8pon 8s.?The= rightl= connect their present 9istress with the p6st sin o; twent= =e6rs 6go.

LOVE ,EEI!G

48t 6ll this 6w6>ening o; conscience, while so ;6r goo9, is onl= 6ongst theseles. )t

8st 6ll coe o8t be;ore #oseph i; the= 6re eer to be h6pp= in the presence o; #oseph.

Hence #oseph will >eep his h6n9 8pon the. %ieon is bo8n9 be;ore their e=es, b8t it isloe th6t bin9s the cor9s ro8n9 %ieon, ;or een 6s he 9oes so he t8rns 6si9e to weep.

The cor9s th6t bo8n9 hi were cor9s o; loe. 2oreoer, he co6n9e9 th6t their s6c>s

be ;ille9 with corn. He is not 8nin9;8l o; their nee9s 6n9 th8s gr6nts 6 e6s8re o; relie;none the less %ieon is hel9 in bon96ge. An9 in the w6= #oseph eets their nee9s he is


28/52

still le69ing his brethren 6 ;8rther st6ge in their restor6tion, ;or while s8ppl=ing the with

corn he ret8rns eer= 6n his one=. H69 the= e=es to see the= wo8l9 le6rn in this th6t

#oseph w6s 6 gier. 48t in their con9ition gi;ts bestowe9 onl= 6ro8se 9eeper ;e6r. Theirhe6rts ;6il the 6t the 9iscoer= o; their one=. ?Ch6t is this th6t Go9 h6th 9one 8nto

8s? erse !5. The= h6e rec6lle9 their sin, now the= see th6t God is dealing with them.

The ;e6r o; Go9 is 6rising in their so8ls. Not in9ee9 th6t hol= ;e6r th6t 6r>e9 #oseph.?The= ;e6re9 bec68se the= were o;;en9ers he ;e6re9 lest he sho8l9 o;;en9.? %o 6g6in

when the= h69 ret8rne9 to #6cob, 6n9 e6ch ;in9s his one= in his s6c>, ?the= were

6;r6i9.? The goo9ness o; #oseph sho8l9 h6e gl699ene9 their he6rts, b8t the= 6reiser6ble 6n9 6;r6i9 in the presence o; 6 goo9ness th6t their g8ilt= consciences tell the

the= 9o not 9esere.

LOVE )IS'!DERS&OOD

#6cob is not g8ilt=, li>e his sons, b8t his ;eeble ;6ith c6n see no tr6ce o; the h6n9 o; Go9

in 6ll these circ8st6nces. As he he6rs the stor= o; his sonsF e together ;or goo9 to the th6t loe Go9.? The er= things th6t to sight 6n9

n6t8re were 6g6inst hi were the er= e6ns th6t Go9 w6s t6>ing ;or his blessing.?#oseph is not, 6n9 %ieon is not, 6n9 =e will t6>e 4en6in 6w6=.? These 6re the things

th6t were ;or hi. #oseph lost to his ;6ther, reecte9 6n9 sol9, iprisone9 6n9 een ;ro his ;6ther, were 6ll st6ges in the p6thw6=to blessing, 6n9 e6ns 8se9 b= Go9 to restore #oseph to his ;6ther 6n9 to bring #6cob 6n9

his sons into richer blessing. 0et #6cob is s6=ing to his sons, ?Then sh6ll =e bring 9own

= gre= h6irs with sorrow to the gr6e.? At the er= oent when #6cob co8l9 see

nothing in the ;8t8re b8t sorrow 6n9 the gr6e, Go9 w6s 6bo8t to bring hi into o= 6n9 blessing. H69 #6cob been 6ble to persist in his tho8ghts he wo8l9 h6e thw6rte9 Go9 in

His w6=s o; blessing, ;or s6=s #6cob, ?2= son sh6ll not go 9own.?

There is 6 nee9be ;or e6ch p6in,

An9 He will one 96= 6>e it pl6in

Th6t e6rthl= loss is he6enl= g6in.

Li>e 6s 6 piece o; t6pestr=,

Viewe9 ;ro the b6c> 6ppe6rs to be

N68ght b8t thre69s t6ngle9 hopelessl=.

48t in the ;ront 6 pict8re ;6ir

"ew6r9s the wor>er ;or his c6re,

*roing his s>ill 6n9 p6tience r6re.


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% GE!ER%L ROOSI&IO!

Then )sr6el 8n;ol9s his pl6n. An9, 6n o; ;6ith tho8gh he w6s, he spe6>s now 6ccor9ing

to the 6n o; n6t8re. ?); it 8st be so, 9o this.? #6cobFs pl6n 9epen9s 8pon 6nFs 9oings.He nee9s corn, he wo8l9 ;6in obt6in the rele6se o; %ieon 6n9 sec8re the s6;et= o;

4en6in, 6n9 he proposes 6 w6= whereb= 6ll sh6ll be bro8ght 6bo8t b= their owndoings. An9 this is still the w6= 6n t6>es, 6n9 h6s eer t6>en, to obt6in blessing ;ro

Go9. $6in too> this w6= when he bro8ght the ;irst;r8its o; his own l6bo8rs 6s 6n o;;ering8nto the Lor9. )sr6el too> this w6= when the= s6i9, ?All th6t the Lor9 h6th spo>en we will

do.? The l6w=er o; New Test6ent ties wo8l9 t6>e this s6e w6= when, in the presence

o; the Lor9, he s6i9, ?26ster, wh6t sh6ll ) 9o to inherit etern6l li;e? An9 6;ter nineteenh8n9re9 =e6rs o; gr6ce 6n still clings to this ;6t6l w6=, ;or, in the closing 96=s o;

$hristen9o, there 6re still those o; who we re69, ?The= h6e gone in the w6= o;

$6in.?

% GE!ERO'S RESE!&

Occ8pie9 th8s with their own 9oings, #6cob 8n;ol9s his pl6n. "Take," s6=s he, ?6 present?

to 6ppe6se the 6n. "Take 9o8ble one=? to b8= the corn. "Take 6lso =o8r brother, 6n9

6rise, go 6g6in 8nto the 6n.? N6t8re c6nnot thin> o; Go9 6s 6 gier, or 6n 6s 6 receier.

N6t8re h6s no tr8e >nowle9ge o; Go9 or 6n. )t c6nnot conceie o; Go9 so rich insoereign gr6ce th6t He c6n onl= gie, or 6n so helplessl= r8ine9 th6t he c6n onl=

receie. 48t this #6cob 6n9 his sons 8st le6rn, ;or 6ll their pl6ns entirel= ;6il to sec8re

the blessing 6t the h6n9s o; #oseph.

% GR%VE )IS&%8E

(8rtherore, we le6rn in the stor= th6t not onl= 6re 6nFs pl6ns 8tterl= ;8tile b8t th6tocc8p6tion with o8r pl6ns blin9s the so8l to the gr6ce o; Go9. #6cob, 6s he thin>s o; the

goo9ness o; #oseph th6t h69 ret8rne9 their one=, c6n onl= i6gine ?it w6s 6noersight.? There is, howeer, no oersight with Go9. The oersight is 6ll on 6nFs si9e.

4lin9e9 b= his own 9oings he oerloo>s wh6t Go9 is 9oing 11!3

% GLOO)( '!CER&%I!&(

H6ing 69e 6ll his pl6ns, #6cob ;in6ll= coen9s is sons to the erc= o; Go9

Alight=. He p8ts his pl6ns ;irst 6n9 Go9 Alight= secon9. ); there is 6n=thing l6c>ingin his pl6ns he ee 8p the

9e;icienc=. An9 th8s it is th6t en tre6t Go9 6n9 $hrist to96=. Go9 in erc= sent His %on,$hrist 6ccoplishe9 the ight= wor> o; re9eption, b8t still 6n clings to his own9oings 6n9 loo>s 8pon the erc= o; Go9 6n9 the wor> o; $hrist 6s ere 6>eweights to

;ill 8p 6n= little shortcoings in 6nFs en9e6o8rs. 48t 6s with #6cob, so with en. Their

own pl6ns le6e the in hopeless 8ncert6int=. #6cob h69 to con;ess th6t 6;ter 6ll he is8ite 8ncert6in o; the res8lts. ?); ) be bere6e9, ) 6 bere6e9? 1-. Ch6t 6 pict8re o;

6nFs w6= o; see>ing to obt6in blessing ;ro Go9. Do =o8r best, loo> to the erc= o;

Go9 to 6>e 8p (or 6n= ;6il8re in =o8r e;;orts, 6n9 then hope ;or the best in the ;8t8re,


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6n9 i; =o8 6re s6e9 =o8 will be s6e9, 6n9 i; =o8 6re con9ene9 =o8 will be

con9ene9.

% GR%!D RECE&IO!

The brethren o; #oseph procee9 to 6ct 8pon their ;6therFs pl6n onl= to re6li@e its 8tter;8tilit=. The= too> the present, the= too> 9o8ble one=, 6n9 4en6in, rose 8p 6n9 went

9own to Eg=pt 6n9 stoo9 be;ore #oseph 1. #oseph p6=s not the slightest hee9 to their

gi;ts, he 9oes not to8ch their one=, he will not 6ccept 4en6in 6s 6 r6nso. He entirel=ignores their pl6n 6n9 coences to 6ct 6ccor9ing to his own he6rt. (irst, he s6=s, ?4ring

those en hoe, 6n9 sl6= 6n9 6>e re69= ;or these en sh6ll 9ine with e.? )s this not

6n 6nticip6tion o; th6t ;6r gre6ter ess6ge th6t Go9 sen9s to 6 worl9 o; sinners, ?$oe,;or 6ll things 6re now re69=? The p8rposes o; #oseph ;6r tr6nscen9 the pl6ns o; his

brethren. Their pl6n w6s sipl= to obt6in 6 blessing ;ro #oseph his p8rpose w6s to

bestow 6 blessing, b8t 6 blessing th6t the= sho8l9 eno= in his cop6n= 6n9 in his hoe.

Their pl6n w6s to b8= corn to 6>e 6 ;e6st 6ong theseles, his pl6n to spre69 6 ;e6st

to be eno=e9 with hi. ?These en,? he s6=s, "shall dine with me" !. 1&. Li>e the brethren o; #oseph we 6re e86ll= slow to t6>e in Go9Fs tho8ghts o; blessing. Ce wo8l9

be content to obt6in the ;orgieness o; sins, 6n9 s6l6tion ;ro hell. 48t how ;6r short o;Go9Fs tho8ghtsJ His tho8ght is to h6e 8s with Hisel; to ;e6st with Hi in His hoe.

The pro9ig6l w6s 9rien b= his nee9, 6n9 soe s6ll sense o; gr6ce, to ret8rn to the

;6ther, hoping to get his nee9 et 6n9 possibl= the pl6ce o; 6 ser6nt in the ;6therFs ho8se.48t no ser6ntFs pl6ce will s8it the ;6therFs he6rt. The pro9ig6l 8st be bro8ght into the

;6therFs hoe 6s the ;6therFs son, there to ;e6st 6n9 6>e err= with the ;6ther. ); Go9

sen9s o8t the Gospel it is to sec8re 6 6st host o; re9eee9 sinners to be in His presence

hol= 6n9 witho8t bl6e be;ore Hi in loe.

% G'IL&( S'SICIO!

48t we 6re slow to t6>e in the gre6tness o; Go9Fs gr6ce. Een 6s #osephFs brethren, who

?were 6;r6i9? when the= were bro8ght into #osephFs ho8se. The= co8l9 onl= thin> the=

were bro8ght in to be con9ene9, the= co8l9 not i6gine the= were bro8ght in to be;e6ste9. Th8s the= s6i9, ?)t is bec68se o; the one= th6t w6s ret8rne9 in o8r s6c>s . . . 6re

we bro8ght in,? The= loo>e9 8pon #oseph 6s 6g6inst the, 6s one th6t 8st be 6ppe6se9.

The= h69 =et to le6rn th6t he is 6>ing 6ll things wor> together ;or goo9. )nste69 o; 89ging theseles the= 6re 89ging #oseph. )n 6ll these 6r>s o; ;6o8r the= c6n onl=

i6gine th6t #oseph is see>ing occ6sion 6g6inst theis going to ;6ll 8pon the 6n9 6>e

the bon9en . 17, 15.

% GRO'!DLESS Ee re69= their present ?6g6inst #oseph c6e 6t noon,? onl= to

;in9 th6t #oseph in his t8rn sets it 6ll 6si9e. The one= 6n9 the present entirel= ;6il toe;;ect 6n=thing . !, !&.


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% GRIEVO'S Es >in9l= to the, =e6rns in loe oer is =o8nger brother, weeps in loe in

secret, b8t restr6ins hisel; in loe, ;or loeFs tie to ree6l itsel; h6s not =et coe. Eenso, in per;ect wis9o 9oes the Lor9 9e6l with the wo6n b= the well. He 9oes not ree6l

Hisel; 8ntil her conscience is re6che9 6n9 is o8t, 6n9 she 9iscoers th6t she is in the presence o; One who, >nowing her whole histor=, =et loes her with s8ch 6 loe th6t He

c6n s6= to her, ?$oe hither.FF Then she c6n s6=, ?)s not this the $hrist? #oseph will6nticip6te these per;ect w6=s o; 2a#e with 6 poor sinner. He too spe6>s wor9s o; gr6ce,

b8t restr6ins hisel; in the presence o; his brethren. He will ;e6st the, b8t in s8ch 6 w6=

th6t the= c6nnot b8t see their histor= is >nown. The= 6re set be;ore hi, ?the ;irstborn6ccor9ing to his birthright 6n9 the =o8ngest 6ccor9ing to his =o8th.? )n the eno=ent o;

6ll this ;6o8r, ?the= 9r6n> 6n9 were err= with hi,? b8t the= 8st le6rn other lessons

be;ore he c6n be err= with the. The= 6re reoicing in his gi;ts, b8t the= h6e =et toreoice in hisel; . !7, 3-. Howeer, be;ore #oseph c6n be ree6le9 to the the= 8st

be e. The

brethren h6ing 9ep6rte9 6re p8rs8e9 b= #osephFs stew6r9, 6n9 ch6rge9 with h6ing t6>enthe c8p. The= protest their innocence. ?Go9 ;orbi9 th6t th= ser6nts sho8l9 9o 6ccor9ing

to this thing.? Then the= pro;ess their honest=. ?4ehol9, the one= which we ;o8n9 in

o8r s6c>sF o8ths we bro8ght 6g6in . . . how then sho8l9 we ste6l? )s it li>el= th6t en

who 9e6l so honestl= in one= 6tters wo8l9 be g8ilt= o; 6 p6ltr= the;t )t 8st bereebere9 th6t these 6re the en who once sol9 their brother into sl6er= ;or twent=

p6ltr= pieces o; siler. %8rel= en who h69 6cte9 th8s wo8l9 be 8ite c6p6ble o; ste6ling

6 siler c8p, in spite o; 6ll protest6tions to the contr6r=. The ch6rge is not there;ore so8nre6son6ble, unless indeed full repentance for the past has been wrought in their souls.

Th6t the= 6re innocent o; the 6tter o; the c8p, #oseph >nows ;8ll well, b8t h6e the=

repente9 o; the p6st This #oseph will ;in9 o8t. )n the p6st the= h69 been neither tr8e sons

nor tr8e brothers. H6s repent6nce 9one its wor> H6s the he6rt o; stone been ch6nge9 to 6he6rt o; ;lesh

GR'ELLI!G &ES&

4en6in st6n9s in the pl6ce th6t once h69 been #osephFsthe =o8ngest 6n9 bestloe9 son

o; his ;6ther. 4en6in sh6ll p6ss into bon96ge, 6s once #oseph h69 ;ille9 the pl6ce o; 6sl6e. The ten brothers 6re per;ectl= ;ree, 6s once be;ore, to ret8rn to their ;6ther in pe6ce.

Ch6t will the= 9o in these circ8st6nces Cill the= 6g6in 6ct 6s in the 96=s o; ol9 in the

;iel9s o; Doth6n Cill the= 6b6n9on their brother to sl6er= >nowing hi to be innocentThe= h69 6cte9 th8s with #oseph will the= 9o so with 4en6in Cill the= ret8rn to

#6cob to ;6ce his grie; with soe ;6lse stor= to 6cco8nt ;or the 6bsence o; 4en6in 6s

once the= h69 6cco8nte9 ;or the loss o; #oseph Ah, noJ gr6ce h6s wro8ght in these en,repent6nce h6s 9one its wor>. 'n9er the se6rching 8estions o; #oseph the whole tr8th is

con;esse9. #oseph c6n s6=, ?Ch6t 9ee9 is this th6t =e h6e 9one? ?Cot =e not th6t s8ch 6

6n 6s ) c6n cert6inl= 6>e tri6l? &1, 6rg. An9 this is eer the w6= gr6ce t6>es.

Th8s it w6s the Lor9 9e6lt with 6 sin;8l wo6n ?ne6r to the p6rcel o; gro8n9 th6t #6cobg6e to his son #oseph.? ?Go c6ll th= h8sb6n9? w6s onl= 6nother w6= o; s6=ing, ?Ch6t

9ee9 is this th6t =e h6e 9one? 6n9 how tr8l= He 69e Hisel; >nown to th6t g8ilt=


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sinner 6s the One th6t c6n ?cert6inl= 9iine,? ;or she s6i9, ?He tol9 e 6ll things th6t eer

) 9i9.? An9 none c6n be h6pp= 6n9 6t hoe in the presence o; the Lor9 o; glor= 8ntil s8ch

ties 6s the= h6e le6rnt th6t the Lor9 >nows the er= worst thing bo8t the, 6n9 =etloes the.

% GE!'I!E CO!*ESSIO!

This too, is the w6= #oseph t6>es, 6n9 with wh6t blesse9 res8ltsJ No longer 9o the= 8sti;=

theseles. The= e orhow sh6ll we cle6r o8rseles Go9 h6th ;o8n9 o8t the ini8it= o; th= ser6nts: behol9, we

6re = lor9Fs ser6ntsJ? The= no longer 6ttept to 8sti;= theseles 6s to the present,

the= 9o not 6ttept to cle6r theseles 6s to the p6st. The= 6re conicte9 sinners ?;o8n9o8t? b= Go9 6n9 the= entirel= s8bit to #oseph, ?we 6re = lor9Fs ser6nts,? the= s6=

1&.

% GRII!G %E%L

This in9ee9 is e o; gr6ce.

Listen, oh, listen, = (6ther, 6ll hol=,

H8ble 6n9 sorrow;8l, owning = sin,

He6r e con;ess in = penitence lowl=

How in = we6>ness tept6tion c6e in.

*it= e now, ;or, = (6ther, no sorrow

Ceighs on = so8l li>e the p6in th6t ) >now,

Trebling 6n9 ;e6ring th6t 6ll throF the orrow

2issing the light o; Th= loe ) 6= go.


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(6ther, ) >now ;or the gr6ce ) 6 see>ing,

Nothing or ine c6n ) o;;er to Thee

Tho8 to = sin;8l 6n9 s69 spirit spe6>ing,

Giing ;orgienessgiFst 6ll things to e.

Tho8ghts o; = sin;8lness contrite sh6ll 6>e e,

Tho8ghts o; Th= ;6o8r sh6ll h8ble e ore

%o >eep e lowl= 8ntil Tho8 sh6lt t6>e e

Chere sin 6n9 sorrow ;oreer 6re oFer.

non.

7. Re#on#iliation - Genesis 6=: 1

Hitherto #oseph h6s 69e hisel; str6nge, spo>en ro8ghl=, 6n9 9e6lt grieo8sl= with his

brethren, ;or here w6s conscience wor> to be 9one 6n9 repent6nce to be wro8ght. 48tloeFs str6nge wor> being 6ccoplishe9, #oseph c6n no longer re;r6in ;ro 6>ing

hisel; >nown. H6ing ee >nown the loe o;

his he6rt. H6e the= 9iscoere9 the eil o; their he6rts, then he sill 9isclose the =et gre6ter gr6ce o; his he6rt, th6t, >nowing 6ll their eil, c6n rise 6boe it in ;8ll, ;ree ;orgieness.

&HE REVEL%&IO! O* JOSEH

#oseph 8st 6>e ?hisel; >nown? . 1. Nothing less will s6tis;= his he6rt nothing less

will gie rest to their he6rts. An9 this is still the w6= o; the loing %6io8r with the6nnown, 6n9 ;8ll= ;orgien, b= the One 6g6inst who we h6e sinne9. The

>nowle9ge o; o8r he6rts, howeer necess6r=, will bring no rest to the so8l. Ce 6=

o8rn oer the p6st, 6n9 we6r= o8rseles with o8r sins, b8t no 9iscoer= o; eil in o8rhe6rts, no repent6nce, howeer re6l, no sorrow ;or sin, howeer sincere, will bring

co;ort to the so8l. (or rest 6n9 pe6ce #es8s 8st 6>e Hisel; >nown. Then we

9iscoer with gre6t 9elight th6t His he6rt is ;8ll o; gr6ce ;or 6n th6t is ;8ll o; sin. Th6t

with the ;8ll >nowle9ge o; 6ll o8r sins there is nothing b8t loe in His he6rt tow6r9s 8s.Then we c6n rest b8t we rest in wh6t He is 6n9 not in 6n=thing we ;in9 in o8rseles. (or

s8ch 9iscoeries o; His he6rt we 8st be alone with Hi. Een so #oseph, be;ore heco8l9 6>e hisel; >nown, h6s to s6=, ?$68se eer= 6n to go o8t ;ro e? erse 1.

Con9er;8l oent in the histor= o; o8r so8ls when 6ll en ;69e ;ro iew 6n9 we see

?no 6n 6n= ore s6e #es8s onl=? when 6lone with Hi in the conscio8sness o; o8rsin;8lness, we 9iscoer th6t He >nows 8s thro8gh 6n9 thro8gh, 6n9 =et >nowing 8s, He

loes 8s. The wo6n o; %=ch6r ;inel= ill8str6tes s8ch 6 oent. Alone in His presence


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plent= o; eil in the lies o; #osephFs brethren, b8t i; the= 6re to le6rn the 9epth o; eil in

their he6rts, the= 8st go b6c> oer twent= =e6rs o; histor= to rec6ll their tre6tent o;

#oseph, when in the ;6ce o; his loe 6s 6 brother, the= h6te9 hi, c6st hi into 6 pit, 6n9sol9 hi into Eg=pt. %o with o8rseles. Tr8l=, we h6e to le6rn th6t in the ;lesh is no

good thing%th6t it is irree9i6bl= b69we 8st go to the cross. At the cross there w6s the

9ispl6= o; per;ect goo9ness in Go9 6n9 per;ect goo9ness in 6 26nthe 26n $hrist #es8s.At the cross gr6ce 6n9 loe, 6n9 goo9ness shone o8t in 6ll their splen9o8r. How 9i9 the

;lesh 6ct in the presence o; per;ect goo9ness )t 8tterl= re;8se9 the One in who

goo9ness w6s 9ispl6=e9. )t reecte9 Hi, sp6t in His ;6ce, oc>e9 Hi with 6 crown o;thorns, n6ile9 Hi to 6 cross, 6n9 c6st Hi o8t o; the worl9. Eer= one o; 8s w6s

represente9 6t the cross, ;or eer= cl6ss o; 6n w6s there, religio8s 6n9 go9less, e98c6te9

6n9 ignor6nt, re;ine9 6n9 ro8gh, 6ll were there, 6n9 6ll reecte9 the $hrist o; Go9. E6ch

c6n s6=, ?There ) see = ;lesh=sel;bro8ght ;6ce to ;6ce with per;ect goo9ness, 6n9witho8t hesit6tion = ;leshwh6teer ;or it t6>es9ecl6res its 8tter h6tre9 o; goo9ness.?

As one h6s s6i9, ?The sight o; 6 reecte9 $hrist h6s 9iscoere9 =sel; to =sel;, the

9eepest recesses o; = he6rt 6re l6i9 b6re, 6n9 sel;, horrible sel; is there.? Le6rning the

;lesh ee #ob in his 96=, 6n9 the brethren o; #oseph in their 96=, we h6e le6rne9 the

eil o; o8r own he6rtsthe 8tter corr8ption o; the ;leshwith wh6t relie; we t8rn ;ro sel;

to $hrist, 6n9 how He 9elights to set 8s ;ree b= 6>ing Hisel; >nown in 6ll the gr6ce o;His he6rt. Ce 6= well be 6pp6lle9 6s we 9iscoer the eil o; o8r he6rts. 48t 6s $hrist


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ree6ls to 8s His he6rt 6n9 tells 8s th6t He loes 8s, tho8gh >nowing 6ll the eil o; o8r

he6rts6s He 9r6ws 8s to Hisel; 6n9 9iscloses to 8s the 9esire o; His he6rt to h6e 8s in

His cop6n= 6s He gies 8s to behol9 His glor= 6n9 to he6r His oicethen the torentso; ;e6r 6re en9e9 b= per;ect loethe loe th6t c6steth o8t ;e6r6n9 no ore the so8l t8rns

in 8pon itsel; to griee oer the eil within, the ;8t8re is no longer 96r> with 9is6l

;orebo9ings, b8t in the conscio8sness o; His loe we c6n hol9 sweet co8nion withHi, 6;ter the 6nner o; #osephFs brethren who ?t6l>e9 with hi,?

B. Se2vi#e - Genesis 6=: 4-6

#oseph h6s 69e hisel; >nown to his brethren. He h6s 9ispelle9 their ;e6rs, 9e6lt with

their p6st, 6n9 sec8re9 their ;8t8re. The loe o; #oseph h6s bro8ght his brethren into sweetco8nion with hisel;, 6s we re69, ?He >isse9 6ll his brethren . . . 6n9 6;ter th6t his

brethren t6l>e9 with hi? . 1. Now we 6re to le6rn th6t the inti6cies o; loe prep6re

;or the serice o; loe. Those who #oseph h6s won ;or hisel; he will enlist in his

serice. His brethren sh6ll becoe his witnesses.

&HE RE%R%&IO! *OR SERVICE

)n li>e 6nner the Lor9 9e6ls with the 9eoni6c o; the Gospel stor=. $lothe9, in his right

in9, 6n9 bro8ght to sit 6t the ;eet o; #es8sset ;ree b= the Cor9 o; the Lor9he is

prep6re9 ;or the serice o; the Lor9 b= the 9irections ;ro the Lor9, ;or the Lor9 c6n s6=,?"et8rn to thine own ho8se 6n9 shew how gre6t things Go9 h6th 9one 8nto thee? L8>e

5: !+, 3, 3+. %o too, the Lor9 9e6ls with His 9isciples on the eening o; the res8rrection

96=. As the tr8e #oseph in the presence o; His brethren He 6>es Hisel; >nown to theterri;ie9 6n9 6;;righte9 9isciples. He spe6>s to their tro8ble9 he6rts the wor9 o; pe6ce.

Then it is He gies the the gre6t coission 6n9 spe6>s o; the high priilege o; being

His witnesses L8>e !-: -5 Acts 1: 5.

&HE %&&ER! O* SERVICE

As with the brethren o; #oseph, the 9eoni6c o; 6 l6ter 96=, 6n9 the 9isciples o; theres8rrection 96=, so with o8rseles, prep6r6tion ;or serice 8st prece9e serice. Ce 6re

o;tenties ore 6n


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the= sh6ll s6=. The coission to sere, 6n9 eer= 9et6il o; the serice, the= receie ;ro

the lips o; #oseph.

&HE RO)&!ESS I! SERVICE

(irst, #oseph presses 8pon the the 8rgenc= o; their ission. ?H6ste =e? is the wor9 withwhich he sen9s the ;orth, 6n9 in li>e 6nner the ee !-: -7. The witness w6s to begin in the bl6c>est spot on e6rth, 6n9 6ongst the worst o; sinners, in the pl6ce where the Lor9 h69

been sol9 ;or thirt= pieces o; siler, strippe9 o; His robe, oc>e9 with 6 crown o; thorns,

6n9 n6ile9 to 6 cross between two thiees. As 6n ol9 ser6nt o; the Lor9 h69 s6i9, it is?As i; the Lor9 h69 s6i9, FTell the tho8gh the= h6e g6ins6i9 2= 9octrine, bl6sphee9

2= 9iinit=, t6>en 6w6= 2= li;e, . . . en9e6o8re9 to 8r9er 2= rep8t6tion, too, b=

6>ing 2e 6n ipostor, go to #er8s6le, 6n9 b= beginning there, show the s8ch 6ir6cle o; goo9ness 6n9 gr6ce th6t the= theseles 8st con;ess th6t nothing c6n be

gre6ter th6n their sin enowle9ge o; #oseph, is the er= one be;ore who the=

6re to b6re witness o; #oseph. Nor is it otherwise with $hrist 6n9 His 9isciples. The

wo6n o; %=ch6r goes b6c> to the en o; the cit= to be6r 6 bright witness ;or $hrist

be;ore those who well >new the 6nner o; her li;e. )n the er= pl6ce o; her sin she is to be6r witness to the One who h6s set her ;ree ;ro sin #ohn -: !5, !+. *eter, too, be6rs

witness to $hrist be;ore those in whose presence he h69 once so sh6e;8ll= 9enie9

$hrist. 2oreoer, it is not onl= to the ;6ther th6t #osephFs brethren 6re sent, b8t to the;6therFs chil9ren 6n9 the chil9renFs chil9ren, in9ee9, s6=s #oseph, tell hi the goo9 news

is ;or "ll that thou hast" . 1. An9 the ess6ge is still, ?4eliee on the Lor9 #es8s

$hrist, 6n9 tho8 sh6lt be s6e9 6n9 th= ho8se.?


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&HE ERS'%SIO! I! SERVICE

(o8rth, the brethren o; #oseph 6re sent b6c> with 6 er= 9e;inite ess6ge to be 9eliere9

with 6ll the 68thorit= o; #osephFs wor9. )t w6s to be intro98ce9 with 6 "Thus saith thy son &oseph" . +. Ce 9o well to reeber th6t the power behin9 the Gospel ess6ge is the

68thorit= with which it is procl6ie9. )t roes ;orth with 6 ?Th8s s6ith the Lor9.?

&HE OSI&IVE!ESS I! SERVICE

(i;th, the gre6t thee o; the ess6ge w6s #oseph 6n9 his glor=. Tell = ;6ther, #oseph c6n

s6=, th6t ?Go9 h6th 69e e lor9 o; 6ll Eg=pt? . +. An9 he 699s, ?0e sh6ll tell =;6ther o; all my glory, 6n9 o; 6ll th6t =e h6e seen? . 13. This is still the ess6ge th6t

6lone will eet the worl9Fs ;6ine. *eter pre6che9 it with no 8ncert6in so8n9 in the e6rs

o; the #ews when, on the 96= o; *entecost, he s6i9, ?Let 6ll the ho8se o; )sr6el >now6ss8re9l= th6t Go9 h6th 69e th6t s6e #es8s, who =e h6e cr8ci;ie9, both Lor9 6n9

$hrist.? An9 6g6in be;ore the Gentiles he c6n s6= th6t $hrist ?is Lor9 o; 6ll? Acts !: 3&

Acts 1: 3&. 2oreoer it is still o8r priilege to 9ecl6re the glories o; the One who isLor9 o; 6ll, whether it be His person6l glories 6s the etern6l %on, His or6l glories 6s the

One who is 6ltogether loel=, or His o;;ici6l glories 6s Iing o; >ings 6n9 Lor9 o; lor9s.

&HE ROCL%)%&IO! I! SERVICE

%i


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Lor9 in glor=J Cell 6= the 6postle 6s>, ?How sh6ll we esc6pe i; we neglect so gre6t

s6l6tion? An9 6g6in, ?); the= esc6pe9 not who re;8se9 Hi who sp6>e on e6rth, 8ch

ore sh6ll not we esc6pe, i; we t8rn 6w6= ;ro Hi th6t spe6>eth ;ro he6en? Heb. !:3 Heb. 1!: !. ); the ess6ge o; gr6ce opens 8p 6 ist6 o; glor= with its rest, 6n9

s6tis;6ction, 6n9 plent=, it 6lso w6rns those who reect the ess6ge th6t there is nothing

be;ore the b8t the poert= o; hell where there is no Go9, no $hrist, 6n9 no hope.

&HE L%&*OR) I! SERVICE

%8ch is the ess6ge th6t #oseph sen9s to his ;6ther ;oresh69owing the Gospel ess6ge

which the belieer c6rries to the worl9 ;ro $hrist the Lor9 o; 6ll.

)t is 6n 8rgent ess6ge, ?H6ste =e.?

)t is 6 ess6ge th6t procl6is the ee !-: -+ Acts 1: 5. The power in whichthe= 6re to sere coes ;ro the *erson who lies the their coission, 6n9 ;ro the

pl6ce o; Ee =o8 w6gons o8t o; the l6n9 o; Eg=pt ;or =o8r little ones6n9 ;or =o8r wies, 6n9 bring =o8r ;6ther 6n9 coe? . 1+. The= were proi9e9 with 6

newpower to o8rne= on their w6=. An9 the power th6t too> the b6c> to $6n66n w6s the

power in which the= were to bring their ;6ther to #oseph. Th8s we re69, ?#oseph g6e

the w6gons? . !1.

&HE ROVISIO! I! SERVICE

(8rther, #oseph c6n s6=, ?"eg6r9 not =o8r st8;;,? or 6ccor9ing to 6 better tr6nsl6tion, ?Let

not =o8r e=e regret =o8r st8;;? . !. There 6re things th6t belong to 8s n6t8r6ll=the

elo8ence o; 6n, 6n9 the wis9o o; 6n, 6n9 there 6re c6rn6l e6ns 6n9 etho9s th6t6ppe6l to the n6t8r6l 6n. 48t, s6=s the 6postle, ?= speech 6n9 = pre6ching w6s not

with enticing wor9s o; 6nFs wis9o, b8t in 9eonstr6tion o; the %pirit 6n9 o; power,?

6n9 6g6in he c6n s6=, ?we 9o not w6r 6;ter the ;lesh ;or the we6pons o; o8r w6r;6re 6re


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not c6rn6l? 1 $or. !: - ! $or. 1: 3, -. )n the serice o; the Lor9 th6t which is erel=

n6t8r6l is neither to be reg6r9e9 nor regrette9. The Gospel th6t we c6rr= is too gre6t 6n9

serio8s ;or the ;eebleness o; c6rn6l etho9s 6n9 the leit= o; n6t8r6l elo8ence.

&HE ROVISIO! *OR SERVICE

2oreoer, h69 the brethren ;6llen b6c> on their own ?st8;;? to s8pport the in their

serice the= wo8l9 h6e slighte9 the proision o; #oseph. Their 6ction wo8l9 h6e s6i9,

?#osephFs proision is not s8;;icient ;or #osephFs coission.? #oseph, howeer, c6n s6=,?The goo9 o; the l6n9 o; Eg=pt is =o8rs,? 6n9, in 6ccor9 with this, he ?g6e the

proision ;or the w6=? . !, !1. )n c6rr=ing o8t their serice ;or #oseph the= were

s8st6ine9 b= the goo9 o; the l6n9 ;ro which the= c6e, receie9 ;ro the h6n9 o; theone th6t sent the. Nor is it otherwise in the serice o; the Lor9 in this 96= o; His gr6ce.

Ce h6e receie9 ;8ll proision to c6rr= o8t His serice, 6n9 hence to iport h86n

etho9s into this serice is to c6st 6 slight 8pon His proision. 4= so 9oing we s6= the

Hol= %pirit, 6n9 spirit86l e6ns, is not s8;;icient ;or the serice o; the Lor9. Let 8s then

bew6re o; reg6r9ing o8r ?st8;;F 6n9 neglecting His proision. 26= we eer reeber thewor9s o; one who, tho8gh in the worl9Fs sight 6n ?8nle6rne9 6n9 ignor6nt? 6n, co8l9

s6=, ?His Diine power h6th gien 8nto 8s 6ll things th6t pert6in 8nto li;e 6n9 go9liness?! *eter 1: 3.

&HE ROHI+I&IO! I! SERVICE

Another lesson we 6= le6rn is th6t, in the serice o; the Lor9, the ser6nt is not onl=

spirit86ll= e8ippe9, b8t he is 9epen9ent 8pon the Lor9 ;or his tepor6l nee9s. (ro theoent #osephFs brethren set ;orth in their p6th o; serice 8ntil the 96= o; their ret8rn,

the= were s8st6ine9 b= the proision o; #oseph. The= were not proi9e9 ;or b= the people

to who the= were going, b8t b= the person ;ro who the= h69 coe. App6rentl= the=were not to t6>e o; #6cobFs things to c6rr= o8t #osephFs wor>. %o in the New Test6ent were69 o; those who ?;or His n6eFs s6>e . . . went ;orth t6>ing nothing o; the Gentiles? 3

#ohn 7.

&HE RIVILEGE O* SERVICE

48t blesse9 6s 6ll this is, it is not eno8gh ;or the serice o; the Lor9. ); the serice is to bee;;ect86l the li;e o; the ser6nt 8st be in h6ron= with the ess6ge th6t he 9eliers.

This iport6nt tr8th is stri>ingl= set ;orth in the 9e6ling o; #oseph with his brethren. Not

onl= 9i9 he gie the proision ;or the w6=, b8t we re69, ?To 6ll o; the he g6e e6ch

6n ch6nges o; r6ient? . !!. The= were not onl= to 9elier 6 ess6ge concerning theglor= o; #oseph, b8t the= theseles were to be witnesses o; the ch6nge th6t the glor=

e;;ecte9. An9, 6s we h6e seen, not onl= were the 6postles sent ;orth to pre6ch $hrist b8t

the= theseles were to be witnesses to $hrist?=e sh6ll be witnesses 8nto 2e.? ?H6ing p8t o;; the ol9 6n with his 9ee9s, 6n9 h6ing p8t on the new, renewe9 into ;8ll

>nowle9ge 6ccor9ing to the i6ge o; Hi th6t h6s cre6te9 hi,? it is o8r priilege 6n9

responsibilit= to 9ispl6= the ch6nge o; r6ient b= e


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His loel= tr6itscop6ssion, >in9ness, lowliness, ee>ness, longs8;;ering, ;orbe6r6nce,

;orgieness 6n9 loe.

&HE ERIL I! SERVICE

(in6ll=, #oseph sen9s ;orth his brethren with the w6rning wor9, ?%ee th6t =e ;6ll not o8t b= the w6=? . !-. An9 in those l6st wor9s o; the 8pper roo, when the Lor9 is

e8ipping His 9isciples to be His witnesses, He thrice enow,

An9 o8r loe to 6ll sh6ll ;low,

)n His bloo9 bo8ght ch8rch below,

(or the loe o; $hrist.

'm. (. )eed

4. Glo2 and +lessin - Genesis 6=: = to 67: 31

The brethren o; #oseph ;8l;il their ission 6ccor9ing to the 9irections o; #oseph. The=

?c6e into the l6n9 o; $6n66n 8nto #6cob their ;6ther, 6n9 tol9 hi, s6=ing, #oseph is =et

6lie, 6n9 he is goernor o; 6ll the l6n9 o; Eg=pt? . !, !&. The= witness to 6 liing6n9 e


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;or he beliee9 the not.? Eer since A96 g6e his e6r to the 9eilFs lie it h6s been

n6t8r6l ;or ;6llen 6n to beliee 6 lie. Onl= 6 wor> o; gr6ce en6bles en to beliee the

tr8th. Hence we re69 th6t those who beliee on the N6e o; $hrist 6re born ?not o; bloo9, nor o; the will o; the ;lesh, nor o; the will o; 6n, b8t of God."

&HE CO!*ESSIO! O* *%I&H

Th8s with #6cob, gr6ce oercoes his 8nbelie;. His sons repe6t ?6ll the wor9s o; #oseph,

which he s6i9 8nto the.? 2oreoer, the= show #6cob ?the w6gons which #oseph sent toc6rr= hi.? The gr6ce 6n9 goo9ness o; #oseph bre6>s 9own the 8nbelie; o; #6cob. Chen

he s6w the w6gons which #oseph h69 sent to c6rr= hi, the spirit o; #6cob their ;6ther

reie9: 6n9 )sr6el s6i9, ?)t is eno8gh #oseph = son is =et 6lie.? This is the con;essiono; ;6ith. He beliee9 with his he6rt 6n9 con;esse9 the tr8th with his lips. Nor is there 6n=

other w6= o; blessing ;or 6 sinner to96=. Ce 6= in9ee9 6t ;irst listen to the goo9 news

with 8nbelie;, b8t 6s we he6r the gr6ce o; the wor9s o; $hrist, 6n9 see th6t 6ll h6s been

9one th6t we ight be blesse9, o8r he6rts 6re wonthe goo9ness o; Go9 le69eth to

repent6ncewe beliee in o8r he6rts. #8st 6s #6cob sees th6t #oseph h6s 69e eer= proision th6t he ight person6ll= be blesse9, so we see th6t $hrist h6s 9one 6 gre6t wor>

th6t we in9ii986ll= ight be s6e9, 6n9 th6t Go9 is s6tis;ie9 with th6t wor>, ;or He h6sr6ise9 $hrist ;ro the 9e69. Ce beliee in o8r he6rts 6n9 con;ess #es8s 6s Lor9 with o8r

lips, 6n9 we 6re s6e9 "o. 1: 1.

&HE L%!G'%GE O* LOVE

)t w6s #6cobthe 6n so o;ten 6r>e9 b= 8nbelie; 6n9 croo>e9 w6=sth6t co8l9 not beliee the goo9 news b8t 9irectl= he 8ses the l6ng86ge o; ;6ith, Go9 gies hi his new

n6e ?)sr6el.? #6cob ein9le9 in the he6rt o; #6cob, b8t loe goes o8t in longing to#oseph?) will go 6n9 see hi be;ore ) 9ie.? This is the l6ng86ge o; loe th6t is s6tis;ie9with nothing less th6n the one th6t is loe9. The he6rt th6t h6s been won b= the gr6ce o;

$hrist will not be s6tis;ie9 6t 6 9ist6nce. The test o; loe is9oes it 9esire the cop6n= o;

the one th6t is loe9 Are we content to s6=, ?we sh6ll see Hi when He coes, or whenwe 9ie,? or 9o we s6= "* will go and see Him before * die." Do you >now wh6t it is to see>

His cop6n=, 6n9 t6ste the o= o; His presence be;ore we 9ie

)n or9er to re6ch #oseph, )sr6el h69 to t6>e his o8rne= Gen. -&: 1. He h69 to le6e the

scene o; 6ll his n6t8r6l 6;;ections. An9 so with o8rseles, i; we 6re to re6ch $hrist whereHe is, we 8st ;orget the things th6t 6re behin9. Th8s )sr6el coes into the new l6n9the

l6n9 o; Goshen, 6n9 there eets with his son #oseph, 6n9 #oseph ?presente9 hisel; 8nto

hi? . !+. ); on the one h6n9 )sr6el longs ;or the cop6n= o; his son, #oseph on hissi9e is 9elighte9 to present hisel; to )sr6el. Are we set ;or the cop6n= o; $hrist, we

sh6ll ;in9 th6t $hrist is 9elighte9 to ree6l Hisel; to 8s. Do we see> li>e the two

9isciples o; #ohn 1 to >now $hrist in His own 9welling, we sh6ll be welcoe9 b= thegr6cio8s wor9s o; the Lor9, ?$oe 6n9 see? #ohn 1: 35, 3+.

&HE RE)OV%L O* *E%R


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Then )sr6el c6n s6=, ?Now let e 9ie, since ) h6e seen th= ;6ce, bec68se tho8 6rt =et

6lie? . 3. The 6n who h69 6lw6=s been spe6>ing o; 9e6th 6n9 9re69ing the gr6e

h6s now no ore ;e6r o; 9e6th bec68se #oseph is 6lie. )t is 6s we see th6t $hrist is risen,6n9 6s we g6@e 8pon His ;6ce 6n9 le6rn His loe, o8r so8ls will be 9eliere9 ;ro the ;e6r

o; 9e6th.

&HE 'ROSES O* GOD

Th8s )sr6el 6n9 6ll th6t he h69 c6e to #oseph in e

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Joseph H Smith