Genesis 45:1

JOSEPH MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN. -- Genesis 45:1-15.

GOLDEN TEXT. -- Overcome evil with good. -- Romans 12:21. TIME. --About B. C. 1803. PLACES. --Egypt. HELPFUL READINGS. -- Genesis 37:1-28; Genesis 42:1-24; Genesis 43:1-34; Genesis 44:1-34. LESSON ANALYSIS. --1. The Weeping Ruler; 2. The Brother Revealed; 3. The Message to the Father.

INTRODUCTION.

The seven years of unexampled plenty passed away exactly as the interpreter of the royal dreams had foretold. During all this time Joseph had regularly exacted. fifth of the produce, which was stored up in granaries established by the government. The seven years' famine soon began to press heavily, not merely on Egypt, but on all the adjacent countries. Among the first who came to purchase corn were the ten sons of Jacob. It is no easy matter to treat, after the Jewish historian, the transactions that took place between Joseph and his family. The relation in the book of Genesis is perhaps the most exquisite model of the manner in which history, without elevating its tone, or departing from its plain and unadorned veracity, assumes the language and spirit of the most touching poetry. The brothers are at first received with sternness and asperity, charged with being spies come to observe the undefended state of the country. This accusation, though not seriously intended, in some degree confirms the notion that the Egyptians had recently suffered, and therefore constantly apprehended, foreign invasion, and foreign invasion by. nomad people. They are thrown into prison for three days, and released on condition of proving the truth of their story by bringing their younger brother, Benjamin, with them. Their own danger brings up before their minds the recollection of their crime. They express to one another their deep remorse for the supposed murder of their brother, little thinking that Joseph, who had conversed with them through an interpreter, understood every word they said. And Joseph turned from them and wept. Simeon being left as. hostage, the brothers were dismissed, but on the way were surprised and alarmed to find that their money was returned. The suspicious Jacob will not at first entrust his youngest and best beloved son to their care; but their present supply of corn being consumed, they have no alternative between starvation and their return to Egypt. Jacob reluctantly, and with many fond admonitions, commits the surviving child of Rachel to their protection. On their arrival in Egypt they are better received; the unknown Ruler inquires anxiously about the health of their father. "Is your father alive, the old man of whom ye spake, is he yet alive?" The sight of his own full brother, Benjamin, overpowers him with emotion. He said, "God be gracious to thee, my son. And Joseph made haste, for his bowels did yearn upon his brother; and he sought where to weep, and he entered his chamber and wept there." They are feasted; Benjamin is particularly distinguished by. larger portion of meat. The brothers are once more dismissed, but are now pursued and apprehended on the charge of secreting. silver cup, which had been concealed in the sack of Benjamin, and at length the great minister of Egypt makes himself known as the brother whom they had sold as slave.-- Milman.

I. THE WEEPING RULER.

1. Then Joseph could not refrain himself.

The student should get before his mind the circumstances. Twenty-two years have passed since Joseph had been sold from his home in Canaan, and nine years since he had been made prime minister of Egypt. He had at once recognized his ten brethren, the same ones who had sold him, clad as they were in Hebrew garb, and speaking the well known tongue of his father's house. It is not strange that they failed to recognize the boy whom they had sold twenty-two years before in the stately Egyptian, clothed in fine linen, surrounded by splendor and speaking the Egyptian tongue, and only speaking to them through an interpreter. It had been with great difficulty that Joseph had restrained himself and kept his secret from the Egyptians and his own brethren, maintaining an outward sternness while his heart was filled with tenderness. When Judah made his noble speech, asking that he be permitted to remain. slave instead of Benjamin, and that he be allowed to go back to cheer up the lonely father, it was impossible for him to continue to act his part longer, and the time had come to reveal himself.

Cause every man to go out from me.

His Egyptian attendants were sent forth. He would be the governor before them, but now he proposes to be the long-lost brother, and he wishes no Egyptian spectators. Besides, in this interview the wickedness of his brethren twenty-two years before must come out, and he did not wish it made known to all Egypt. The conversation of the brethren, their regard for their father, and the speech of Judah showed that they had repented of their former misdeeds and were better men; hence all was forgiven by Joseph, and his great desire was to make his brethren forget the past.