Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc09/v09350

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 6KB | 103 lines

09372
 #28-34 It was justice to Pharaoh to let him know that such a
 family was come to settle in his dominions. If others put
 confidence in us, we must not be so base as to abuse it by
 imposing upon them. But how shall Joseph dispose of his
 brethren? Time was, when they were contriving to be rid of him;
 now he is contriving to settle them to their advantage; this is
 rendering good for evil. He would have them live by themselves,
 in the land of Goshen, which lay nearest to Canaan. Shepherds
 were an abomination to the Egyptians. Yet Joseph would have them
 not ashamed to own this as their occupation before Pharaoh. He
 might have procured places for them at court or in the army. But
 such preferments would have exposed them to the envy of the
 Egyptians, and might have tempted them to forget Canaan and the
 promise made unto their fathers. An honest calling is no
 disgrace, nor ought we to account it so, but rather reckon it a
 shame to be idle, or to have nothing to do. It is generally best
 for people to abide in the callings they have been bred to and
 used to. Whatever employment and condition God in his providence
 has allotted for us, let us suit ourselves to it, satisfy
 ourselves with it, and not mind high things. It is better to be
 the credit of a mean post, than the shame of a high one. If we
 wish to destroy our souls, or the souls of our children, then
 let us seek for ourselves, and for them, great things; but if
 not, it becomes us, having food and raiment, therewith to be
 content.
09379
 * Joseph presents his brethren to Pharaoh. (1-6) Jacob blesses
 Pharaoh. (7-12) Joseph's dealings with the Egyptians during the
 famine. (13-26) Jacob's age. His desire to be buried in Canaan.
 (27--31)

 #1-6 Though Joseph was a great man, especially in Egypt, yet he
 owned his brethren. Let the rich and great in the world not
 overlook or despise poor relations. Our Lord Jesus is not
 ashamed to call us brethren. In answer to Pharaoh's inquiry,
 What is your calling? they told him that they were shepherds,
 adding that they were come to sojourn in the land for a time,
 while the famine prevailed in Canaan. Pharaoh offered to employ
 them as shepherds, provided they were active men. Whatever our
 business or employment is, we should aim to excel in it, and to
 prove ourselves clever and industrious.

09385
 #7-12 With the gravity of old age, the piety of a true believer,
 and the authority of a patriarch and a prophet, Jacob besought
 the Lord to bestow a blessing upon Pharaoh. He acted as a man
 not ashamed of his religion; and who would express gratitude to
 the benefactor of himself and his family. We have here a very
 uncommon answer given to a very common question. Jacob calls his
 life a pilgrimage; the sojourning of a stranger in a foreign
 country, or his journey home to his own country. He was not at
 home upon earth; his habitation, his inheritance, his treasures
 were in heaven. He reckons his life by days; even by days life
 is soon reckoned, and we are not sure of the continuance of it
 for a day. Let us therefore number our days. His days were few.
 Though he had now lived one hundred and thirty years, they
 seemed but a few days, in comparison with the days of eternity,
 and the eternal state. They were evil; this is true concerning
 man. He is of few days and full of trouble; since his days are
 evil, it is well they are few. Jacob's life had been made up of
 evil days. Old age came sooner upon him than it had done upon
 some of his fathers. As the young man should not be proud of his
 strength or beauty, so the old man should not be proud of his
 age, and his hoary hairs, though others justly reverence them;
 for those who are accounted very old, attain not to the years of
 the patriarchs. The hoary head is only a crown of glory, when
 found in the way of righteousness. Such an answer could not fail
 to impress the heart of Pharaoh, by reminding him that worldly
 prosperity and happiness could not last long, and was not enough
 to satisfy. After a life of vanity and vexation, man goes down
 into the grave, equally from the throne as the cottage. Nothing
 can make us happy, but the prospect of an everlasting home in
 heaven, after our short and weary pilgrimage on earth.

09391
 #13-26 Care being taken of Jacob and his family, which mercy was
 especially designed by Providence in Joseph's advancement, an
 account is given of the saving the kingdom of Egypt from ruin.
 There was no bread, and the people were ready to die. See how we
 depend upon God's providence. All our wealth would not keep us
 from starving, if rain were withheld for two or three years. See
 how much we are at God's mercy, and let us keep ourselves always
 in his love. Also see how much we smart by our own want of care.
 If all the Egyptians had laid up corn for themselves in the
 seven years of plenty, they had not been in these straits; but
 they regarded not the warning. Silver and gold would not feed
 them: they must have corn. All that a man hath will he give for
 his life. We cannot judge this matter by modern rules. It is
 plain that the Egyptians regarded Joseph as a public benefactor.
 The whole is consistent with Joseph's character, acting between
 Pharaoh and his subjects, in the fear of God. The Egyptians
 confessed concerning Joseph, Thou hast saved our lives. What
 multitudes will gratefully say to Jesus, at the last day, Thou
 hast saved our souls from the most tremendous destruction, and
 in the season of uttermost distress! The Egyptians parted with
 all their property, and even their liberty, for the saving of
 their lives: can it then be too much for us to count all but
 loss, and part with all, at His command, and for His sake, who
 will both save our souls, and give us an hundredfold, even here,
 in this present world? Surely if saved by Christ, we shall be
 willing to become his servants.