Genesis 37:36

REFLECTIONS

Reader! there are many practical reflections for the suppression of anger in its first appearance; and many useful improvements for the discountenancing partiality to children, which may be gathered from this Chapter, and which under grace you will do well to regard. But I turn aside from every other consideration, as of less moment, in order to follow up the evident intention of the HOLY GHOST in this Chapter, to behold him, whom the Patriarch Joseph plainly shadowed out in several striking circumstances of his character.

And did not GOD the FATHER send his beloved Son from the realms of bliss into this our world, to see if it were well with us, and how we fared? But though he came full of love and mercy, yet when he came unto his own, his own received him not. Did they not conspire against him? nay, why do I say did they not, have we not all by sin and by rebellion conspired against him, sold him into the hands of the Gentiles, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain him? Was he not stripped of his raiment, cast into the pit, and his grave made with the wicked in his death, because he had done no violence, neither was there any deceit found in his mouth! Oh! thou Almighty Joseph of thy brethren! give me grace to see that though thou hast been despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and I have, (like those unnatural brethren), hid as it were my face from thee; yet by the sovereignty of thy grace help me to see, that thou wert sent by GOD the FATHER, to look after and provide for my everlasting welfare. Thou art sent indeed before thy people, and to save their lives by a great deliverance. Hail, thou dear Redeemer! henceforth may the language of my heart be, blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD.