15. The Exaltation of Joseph. Genesis xxxix. 21-23; xli.-xlii. 26: xliii. 1, 2, 11, 15; xlv; xlvii. 1-10. God was with Joseph in prison and blessed him. Joseph was released from prison to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh. The king's dreams were to show him that there would be seven years of great plenty in Egypt; and then seven years of grievous famine. Pharaoh made Joseph governor over all Egypt. During the years of plenty Joseph stored up much corn. Joseph had two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. The famine was sore in all lands, but there was corn in Egypt. Jacob sent his sons, except the youngest, from Canaans to Egypt to buy corn. Joseph knew his brothers, but they did not know him. He said they were spies, and put them in prison. He bound Simeon, and sent the others to Canaan with corn. They came the second time to Egypt, bringing with them their youngest brother; Joseph then made himself known to them. He forgave them, and sent wagons for his father and his brothers' families. Pharaoh received Joseph's father and brothers very kindly. He 'gave them the land of Goshen to dwell in. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTE. Goshen-this district was on the eastern side of the Nile; it had excellent pastures. EXPLANATIONS. with Joseph-God never forsakes those whoa tuprightly in all circumstances. blessed him-made him feel happy, and enabled him to be useful in prison. released-set free; Joseph was taken out for a great purpose. dreams-in those times they were considered very significant. made Joseph-because of his wisdom. governor he was next to Pharaoh himself in authority and dignity. brothers-they bowed down before him as their lord. (Les. 14.) bound Simeon-probably he had been the most forward of them in ridiculing Joseph's dreams of greatness. forgave-what an example of forgiveness for our imitation! gave, &c.—to keep them separate from the Egyptians. QUESTIONS. Did God forsake Joseph in prison? What was done with Joseph ? PRECEPTIVE LESSONS. "A conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men," can make us happy under false accusation and unjust punishment. God overrules and arranges all events for the good of His servants. Joseph's imprisonment contributed to his exaltation, and the severity of the famine caused the fulfilment of his dreams. "The LORD of hosts... is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working." Joseph's piety and fraternal love are conspicuous in this lesson. May we imitate him. 16. Death and Burial of Jacob. Death of Joseph. Genesis xlviii-1. When Jacob was about to die, he blessed the two sons of Joseph, and made them heads of tribes, like his own sons. He repeated the promises of God to his fathers-to Abraham, and to Isaac; and spoke of the return of his descendants to Canaan.5 He then assembled his own sons and blessed them. He predicted the coming of Christ in the tribe of Judah. He charged his sons to bury him with his fathers, in Canaan. Jacob's body was embalmed in Egypt5 before it was taken into Canaan. The Egyptians mourned for Jacob seventy days. Joseph and his brethren went from Egypt to Canaan to bury their father. They then returned into Egypt. After the burial of Jacob, Joseph repeated his forgiveness to his brethren, who had feared his anger; Joseph spoke kindly, and said God intended their evil for good, to save much people alive. He nourished his brethren and their families while he lived; and before he died he charged his brethren to carry up his bones with them into Canaan, when God should bring them out of Egypt. EXPLANATIONS. blessed-in those days the final blessing predicted-told beforehand. QUESTIONS. What favour dd Jacob confer on To what tribe was Christ to belong? PRECEPTIVE LESSONS. We are here taught to reverence the last injunctions of a dying parent, especially when that parent manifests his faith in the promises of God. We learn that even strangers treated Jacob with that respect which his steady principles and conduct called forth. We learn from the apprehensions of Joseph's brethren, that they felt the injustice of their conduct and feared its consequences. We see the loveliness of brotherly kindness exemplified by Joseph, in removing the fears of his brethren, and in nourishing them. PERIOD III. FROM THE DEATH OF JOSEPH TO THE DEATH OF MOSES. B.C. 1597-B.C. 1451. 146 years. Containing the History of the Bondage of the Israelites in Egypt :-Birth of Moses-His Flight into Midian-His Call at Horeb The Plagues sent-The Passover instituted -The Departure of Israel-The Passage of the Red SeaManna sent-The Commandments given-The Calf worshipped-The Spies sent forth their Return-Rebellions of the Israelities-their Wanderings-Moses beholds the Land of Canaan, and dies. 17. Bondage of Israel. Moses' early History. Exodus i. 8-ii. 15, 23-iii. 10; iv. 14-16. A new king ruled over Egypt.5 His name was Pharaoh, but he knew not Joseph. He oppressed the Israelites, and made them work like slaves. The children of Israel increased so much that the king ordered their male infants to be destroyed. Just before this decree Aaron was born. The parents of Aaron had another son born. His mother hid him for three months. After that, she placed him in an ark of 'bulrushes, on the brink of the river Nile. The king's daughter found the child, and called his name 'Moses. When Moses was grown up, he one day saw an Egyptian smiting an Israelite, and he slew the Egyptian. The next day he saw two Hebrews quarrelling, and he reproved him that did the wrong He knew that Moses had killed the Egyptian, and told him sc. Moses then fled into Midian. God remembered His promise (Les. 6.) to give the Israelites the land of Canaan. He appeared to Moses in a burning bush, and appointed him to go into Egypt, and demand the release of the Israelites. Aaron was to go with him to Pharoah. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES. Israelites-the name given to the twelve tribes of Israel to'the time of Jeroboam. Nile the river of Egypt; every year its waters rise and flood the country. Midian-a country of Arabia Petrea ; its people were descendants of Abraham. EXPLANATIONS. Pharaoh-all the kings of Egypt were called by this name. knew not-he did not live till long after Joseph's time; probably sixty years. oppressed-ruled with harshness, and laid burdens on them. decree-order, law; the command of an eastern king, however cruel, is obeyed, none daring to contradict it. ark-a small boat of wicker-work. bulrushes-those of the Nile grow about six feet high. Moses-means 'drawn out.' told him so-reproachfully & accusingly. fled-he feared Pharaoh's displeasure. burning bush-though it was in flames it was not consumed. to go with because he was the better speaker of the two brothers. QUESTIONS. Who ruled over Egypt? What conduct did he pursue towards Who was born just before this cruel de- This lesson teaches us the short-lived nature of human gratitude, and points us to that reward which is laid up in heaven, as our motive to do good in our day and generation. It teaches us, moreover, that God "taketh the wise in their own craftiness," for the means which Pharaoh adopted for the extermination of the Israelites was overruled for their deliverance and his confusion. Lastly, the duty of acknowledging our brethren in the faith, though they be in circumstances of poverty and degradation, is here illustrated in the patriotism of Moses. 18. The Release Demanded. The Plagues. Exodus v. 1-18; vii.-xi. 1, 4-10. Moses' and Aarón demanded the release of the Israelites,' but the king made their bondage the harder. They went again, at God's command to require Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, but Pharaoh would 'not hearken to them. God sent plagues to punish the king and his 'people :— 1. God turned the waters of Egypt5 into blood. 2. God sent frogs, and when they died the land stank. 3. God smote the dust of the land, and it became lice on man and beast. 4. God sent swarms of flies, and the land was corrupted. 5. God sent a grievous murrain on the cattle. 6. God sent boils and blains on man and beast. 7. God sent hail, rain, and fire on the land of Egypt. 8. God sent locusts, which ate up every herb. 9. God sent a thick darkness over Egypt for three days. The Israelites were free from all the plagues. During each plague Pharaoh promised to let the Israelites go; but after each plague was removed he refused. God then threatened to destroy all the firstborn of Egypt. EXPLANATIONS. demanded-as the special messengers of in Egypt. Egypt is one of the rainless districts of the earth. locusts-a large species of flying grasshoppers which devours and destroys vegetation. darkness-so thick that it could be "felt." first-born-the eldest of each family. QUESTIONS. What did Moses and Aaron demand of How did the king answer their demand? What success had they? people of Egypt? Enumerate the plagues which God sent upon Egypt. Why was the plague of hail and rain Who were free from the plagues? What is meant by the first-born? We here learn the value of combined efforts in important tasks; although Moses was "learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians," he was "slow of speech," while Aaron, without such learning, could "speak well." The deficiency of each is supplied by their union. We see in the plagues of Egypt how God can humble the pride of those who dare to defy His authority; the human heart cannot always be humbled by afflictive providences, but "will revolt more and more," as Pharaoh did. "He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." |