Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc09/v09200

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 7KB | 119 lines

09211
 * Jacob sends ten sons to buy corn. (1-6) Joseph's treatment of
 his brethren. (7-20) Their remorse, Simeon detained. (21-24) The
 rest return with corn. (25-28) Jacob refuses to send Benjamin to
 Egypt. (29-38)

 #1-6 Jacob saw the corn his neighbours had bought in Egypt, and
 brought home. It is a spur to exertion to see others supplied.
 Shall others get food for their souls, and shall we starve while
 it is to be had? Having discovered where help is to be had, we
 should apply for it without delay, without shrinking from
 labour, or grudging expense, especially as regards our
 never-dying souls. There is provision in Christ; but we must
 come to him, and seek it from him.

09217
 #7-20 Joseph was hard upon his brethren, not from a spirit of
 revenge, but to bring them to repentance. Not seeing his brother
 Benjamin, he suspected that they had made away with him, and he
 gave them occasion to speak of their father and brother. God, in
 his providence, sometimes seems harsh with those he loves, and
 speaks roughly to those for whom yet he has great mercy in
 store. Joseph settled at last, that one of them should be left,
 and the rest go home and fetch Benjamin. It was a very
 encouraging word he said to them, "I fear God;" as if he had
 said, You may be assured I will do you no wrong; I dare not, for
 I know there is one higher than I. With those that fear God, we
 may expect fair dealing.

09231
 #21-24 The office of conscience is to bring to mind things long
 since said and done. When the guilt of this sin of Joseph's
 brethren was fresh, they made light of it, and sat down to eat
 bread; but now, long afterward, their consciences accused them
 of it. See the good of afflictions; they often prove the happy
 means of awakening conscience, and bringing sin to our
 remembrance. Also, the evil of guilt as to our brethren.
 Conscience now reproached them for it. Whenever we think we have
 wrong done us, we ought to remember the wrong we have done to
 others. Reuben alone remembered with comfort, that he had done
 what he could to prevent the mischief. When we share with others
 in their sufferings, it will be a comfort if we have the
 testimony of our consciences for us, that we did not share in
 their evil deeds, but in our places witnessed against them.
 Joseph retired to weep. Though his reason directed that he
 should still carry himself as a stranger, because they were not
 as yet humbled enough, yet natural affection could not but work.

09235
 #25-28 The brethren came for corn, and corn they had: not only
 so, but every man had his money given back. Thus Christ, like
 Joseph, gives out supplies without money and without price. The
 poorest are invited to buy. But guilty consciences are apt to
 take good providences in a bad sense; to put wrong meanings even
 upon things that make for them.

09239
 #29-38 Here is the report Jacob's sons made to their father. It
 troubled the good man. Even the bundles of money Joseph
 returned, in kindness, to his father, frightened him. He laid
 the fault upon his sons; knowing them, he feared they had
 provoked the Egyptians, and wrongfully brought home their money.
 Jacob plainly distrusted his sons, remembering that he never saw
 Joseph since he had been with them. It is bad with a family,
 when children behave so ill that their parents know not how to
 trust them. Jacob gives up Joseph for gone, and Simeon and
 Benjamin as in danger; and concludes, All these things are
 against me. It proved otherwise, that all these things were for
 him, were working together for his good, and the good of his
 family. We often think that to be against us, which is really
 for us. We are afflicted in body, estate, name, and in our
 relations; and think all these things are against us, whereas
 they are really working for us a weight of glory. Thus does the
 Lord Jesus conceal himself and his favour, thus he rebukes and
 chastens those for whom he has purposes of love. By sharp
 corrections and humbling convictions he will break the stoutness
 and mar the pride of the heart, and bring to true repentance.
 Yet before sinners fully know him, or taste that he is gracious,
 he consults their good, and sustains their souls, to wait for
 him. May we do thus, never yielding to discouragement,
 determining to seek no other refuge, and humbling ourselves more
 and more under his mighty hand. In due time he will answer our
 petitions, and do for us more than we can expect.
09249
 * Jacob is persuaded to send Benjamin into Egypt. (1-14)
 Joseph's reception of his brethren, their fears. (15-25) Joseph
 makes a feast for his brethren. (26-34)

 #1-14 Jacob urges his sons to go and buy a little food; now, in
 time of dearth, a little must suffice. Judah urges that Benjamin
 should go with them. It is not against the honour and duty
 children owe their parents, humbly to advise them, and when
 needful, to reason with them. Jacob saw the necessity of the
 case, and yielded. His prudence and justice appeared in three
 things. 1. He sent back the money they had found in the sack.
 Honesty obliges us to restore not only that which comes to us by
 our own fault, but that which comes to us by the mistakes of
 others. Though we get it by oversight, if we keep it when the
 oversight is discovered, it is kept by deceit. 2. He sent as
 much again as they took the time before; the price of corn might
 be risen, or they might have to pay a ransom for Simeon. 3. He
 sent a present of such things as the land afforded, and as were
 scarce in Egypt, balm, and honey, &c. Providence dispenses not
 its gifts to all alike. But honey and spice will never make up
 the want of bread-corn. The famine was sore in Canaan, yet they
 had balm and myrrh, &c. We may live well enough upon plain food,
 without dainties; but we cannot live upon dainties without plain
 food. Let us thank God that what is most needful and useful,
 generally is most cheap and common. Though men value very highly
 their gold and silver, and the luxuries which are counted the
 best fruits of every land, yet in a time of famine they
 willingly barter them for bread. And how little will earthly
 good things stand us in stead in the day of wrath! How ready
 should we be to renounce them all, as loss, for the excellency
 of the knowledge of Jesus Christ! Our way to prevail with man is
 by first prevailing with the Lord in fervent prayer. But, Thy
 will be done, should close every petition for the mercies of
 this life, or against the afflictions of this life.