Genesis 45:15

Moreover, he kissed all his brethren.

While he saluted Benjamin first, he did not pass by the ton brethren who had sold him into slavery. They were all kissed in the Oriental style of salutation, with. weeping embrace. Thus, in the spirit of. fond brother, he assures them of his forgiveness in. manner more effective than words. Up to this time they seem to have been appalled into silence, had not even been able to answer his questions, but the embrace, in connection with his kind words, so far creates confidence in them that they are now able to talk with him.

Pharaoh, when he had heard the news, confirmed Joseph's invitation to his father's household to settle in Egypt, and wagons were sent to Palestine for their removal.

PRACTICAL AND SUGGESTIVE.

Private conversations of friends and relatives are most free. When Joseph would put on love he puts off state, and this it was not fitting that his attendants should be witnesses of.

It was the wicked brothers who should have filled the house with outcries and bitter groans of sorrow over their past misdeeds. But it was Joseph who did the weeping. So Christ weeps over Jerusalem and weeps over sinners.

When. Christian has been exalted to high worldly state by the providence of God he must not be ashamed of his poor parents, brothers, sisters and other relatives, and despise them.

GOD DID SEND ME.--God works through. variety of means to effect his benevolent ends. Even the lightning, the storm cloud, and the tempest purify the atmosphere and refresh the earth. So, too, he makes the wrath of man to praise him by so overruling the counsels of the wicked as to bring good out of evil. "How admirable are the projects of providence! How remote its tendencies! What wheels there are within wheels, and yet all directed by the eyes within the wheels, and the spirit of the living creature. Let us, therefore, judge nothing before its time. God often works by contraries."-- Henry.

J OSEPH THE TYPE.--This history, in which Joseph acts as the type of our New Testament Joseph, only shows how God pleases often by. series of delays and disappointments to prepare us for. revelation and appreciation of his grace. It was so with the sisters at Bethany. It is so with us all. "Be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom, not having seen, we love. Our Elder Brother aims, in the midst of all our trials, to reveal himself,--walking on the wave at the fourth watch, standing on the shore when we have caught nothing."-- Jacobus.

GOSHEN.--The high credit of Joseph insures the Hebrews. friendly reception in Egypt, and the fertile district of Goshen, the best pasture land in Egypt, is assigned by the munificent sovereign for their residence. But if the deadly hostility of the native Egyptians to foreign shepherds really originated in the cause indicated above (the invasion and conquest of the Hyksos, or Shepherd Kings), the magnanimity of Joseph in not disclaiming his connection with. race in such low esteem, and his influence in securing them such. hospitable reception, must not escape our notice. Their establishment in Goshen coincides in. remarkable manner with this theory. The last stronghold of the Shepherd Kings was the city of Abaris. Abaris must have been situated either within or closely bordering upon the district of Goshen. The expulsion of the shepherds would leave the tract unoccupied and open to the settlement of. pastoral people.-- Milman.

POINTS FOR TEACHERS.

1. Consider the famine, its cause, its duration, and the provision made against it. 2. Note the influx from all surrounding countries to Egypt to buy corn. Among these the sons of Jacob. 3. Trace their route from Hebron to Memphis on the Nile. 4. Consider the reception they received from the Governor and the train of events leading to the revelation of Joseph. 5. Bring out the climax of the tragedy, the offer of Judah, the removal of the Egyptians, the burst of weeping, the startling revelation, I am Joseph. 6. Picture the speechless amazement of the guilty brethren. 7. Show the loving tenderness of Joseph, his anxiety to show that he loved them still and to remove their fears. 8. Show his filial regard for his father, how different from some who have risen to greatness. We have the same in President Garfield's regard for his backwoods mother. 9. Point out the overruling providence of God, and how it brought good out of evil. So the Jews, when they crucified our Lord, worked out the plan of redemption. 10. Point out the correspondence between Joseph and Christ. 11. Draw lessons from Joseph as. model brother. 12. Show how virtue led to the exaltation of Joseph, and draw the lesson that it will bring its reward.