HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 21.-Joseph in slavery. "But the Lord was with Joseph," &c. Men would have thought, as they looked on the Hebrew slave, that he was God-forsaken. Not so. God blessed him. This was evidenced in the character he developed. The Lord was with him. I. DISCRETION, THE RESULT OF A BENSE OF THE DIVINE PRESENCE, He did not betray trust, or presume on the confidence placed in him, or the kind treatment he received ; nor did he unwisely run into danger. II. DILIGENCE, THE OUTCOME OF A BENSE OF THE DIVINE PRESENCE. Toil kept off much temptation. If a slave by circumstances, he will yet do what he can to benefit his master. He worked rmder apparently hopeless conditions. III. DEVOUTNESS, THE CERTAIN CONSEQUENCE OF A BENSE OF THE DIVINE PRESENCE. Joseph lived as rmder the eye of God. Hence when special temptations came he repelled them in the Divine strength. "How can I do this great wickedness?" &c. Joseph was neither to be persecuted out of hie religion nor enticed from it. Thie is the brightest chapter in Joseph's life. He would not sin against himself, nor against God, 'l'l•ho was with him.-H. Ver. 21.-Gor!s presf:Me with his servants. Joseph in slavery, yet the Lord was with him ( cf. Rev. i. 9). Twice stated in this chapter. Outward prosperity is no test of God's presence (cf. Rom. v. 3; 2 Car. xii. 9), Often in times of trial God's presence is most clearly felt. When nil dark below, the eye is drawn upwards. The world's good seen to be unprofitable (James iv. 4). There is a sense in which God is always with all. He guides men's actions and course of life, whether they will or not. But while unbelief derives no comfort from this (Zeph. i. 12), the knowledge of his presence gives peace to his people (Isa. xxvi. 3-12). I. CHARACTER OF HIM WITH WHOM GOD WAS THUS PRESENT. A Godward mind- liabitually living as in the eight of God, though left alone (cf. Gal. iv. 28). ~'ul- filled what his hand found to do. God's will was his rule of life. He resisted temptation (James i. 12); was faithful in the charge committed to him, tho~gh ~ot of his own choice. Did not look upon the wrong he had suffered as excusmg hun from fidelity. This faithful spirit can spring only from thorough belief in God's love and care (1 John iv. 19). II. THE BLESSING OF GoD'B PRESENCE EXTENDED TO EVERY PAR1' OF HIS LIFE. Not merely in the fact of his being carried to Egypt ( cf. Acts xxiii. 11), but in ~very incident God's hand is seen. His management of Potiphar'e affairs was a traming for rule over Egypl His unjust accusation was a step towards his standing bef~re Pharaoh. His experience in prison prepared him to be the deliverer of o. nation (cf. Heb. ii.,18; iv. 15). Thus God's presence is something better and higher tha;.1 THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 458
merely a prosperous course. It is the certainty that everything that happens is ordered by infinite wisdom and love-is a step towards the fulness of joy (Deut. viii. 2). This holds good in spiritual experience not less than in temporal. .A Christian is often led through times of darkness. Communion with God seems to be inter- rupted (Ps. lxv. 3; Rom. vii. 24). Temptation, opposition, difficulty in prayer make the soul sad. Yet the Lord is not absent ; and these are all parts of the train- ing by which he is preparing his servant for the fulness of blessing. III. HE WITH WIIOM THE LORD ABIDES (John xiv. 23; Rev. iii. 20) IS A BLEssmo TO OTHERS. So it was with Joseph. Potiphar, the jailer, Pharaoh, the Egyptian nation, were blessed through him. There is no such thing as keeping a blessing to ourselves; the very attempt destroys it as a blessing. Temporal possessions and powers, used selfishly, become vanity. They pass away, and leave no good, no joy behind, And so with spiritual good, He who has experienced the grace of God must caTe for others, or his own state will suffer (Prov. xi. 24). The more we par- take of the mind of Christ, the more we learn that wherever ho leads us, it is that we may be channels of blessing to others.-M.
Ver. 22.-Joseph as prison warder. "And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hands all the prisoners that were in the prison," &c. Joseph is unjustly treated and thrown into prison. Here he makes the best of circumstances. He gains the confidence of the keeper. The keeper of the State prison is glad to find one like Joseph, to whom he can delegate much toil and responsibility. I. DUTY DISCHARGED IN A SYMPATHETIC SPIRIT. He admits many to prison, and feels for all. He sees that it is but a step from the presence-cham her of Pharaoh to a vile prison. To those who found higher places slippery, nnd those who found the temptations of poverty too strong, he shows his pity. His own bitter separation from friends makes him sympathetic. II. DUTY DISCHARGED IN A CHEERFUL SPIRIT. Generally ho had a smile for the prisoners. They looked for it, and responded to it. The heart can give to the sad that which is better than gold-n cheerful helpfulness. Our gloom can lay extra burdens on others. III. DUTY DISCHARGED IN A COURTEOUS SPIRIT. He would not trample on those alrendy fallen. He inquires even into the cause of the sadness of the prisoners, and interprets for them drenms which bud perplexed them. His own dreams had made him nt one time elate, but they Reem as yet far from being fulfilled. Still this only lends him to be more courteous to those who mny also be doomed to disappointment. The sympnthy, cheerfulness, and courtesy of Joseph mnde him eventually prime minister of Egypt.-H. •