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v09000
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1994-03-02
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09042
* Joseph is loved of Jacob, but hated by his brethren. (1-4)
Joseph's dreams. (5-11) Jacob sends Joseph to visit his
brethren, They conspire his death. (12-22) Joseph's brethren
sell him. (23-10) Jacob deceived, Joseph sold to Potiphar.
(31-36)
#1-4 In Joseph's history we see something of Christ, who was
first humbled and then exalted. It also shows the lot of
Christians, who must through many tribulations enter into the
kingdom. It is a history that has none like it, for displaying
the various workings of the human mind, both good and bad, and
the singular providence of God in making use of them for
fulfilling his purposes. Though Joseph was his father's darling,
yet he was not bred up in idleness. Those do not truly love
their children, who do not use them to business, and labour, and
hardships. The fondling of children is with good reason called
the spoiling of them. Those who are trained up to do nothing,
are likely to be good for nothing. But Jacob made known his
love, by dressing Joseph finer than the rest of his children. It
is wrong for parents to make a difference between one child and
another, unless there is great cause for it, by the children's
dutifulness, or undutifulness. When parents make a difference,
children soon notice it, and it leads to quarrels in families.
Jacob's sons did that, when they were from under his eye, which
they durst not have done at home with him; but Joseph gave his
father an account of their ill conduct, that he might restrain
them. Not as a tale-bearer, to sow discord, but as a faithful
brother.
09046
#5-11 God gave Joseph betimes the prospect of his advancement,
to support and comfort him under his long and grievous troubles.
Observe, Joseph dreamed of his preferment, but he did not dream
of his imprisonment. Thus many young people, when setting out in
the world, think of nothing but prosperity and pleasure, and
never dream of trouble. His brethren rightly interpreted the
dream, though they abhorred the interpretation of it. While they
committed crimes in order to defeat it, they were themselves the
instruments of accomplishing it. Thus the Jews understood what
Christ said of his kingdom. Determined that he should not reign
over them, they consulted to put him to death; and by his
crucifixion, made way for the exaltation they designed to
prevent.