step of the way had i~s purpose. (? ohn xvi. 20), In the prison he waa learning lessons of th.~ soul,-unlearmng ~he spmt _of censoriousness and of self-complacency ( eh, xxxvn. 2),-and, by obeymg, learnmg how to rule. And the course of events bore him on to what was prepared for him. Had he remained at home or retw·ncrl thither, or ha1 Potiphar not cast him into prison, he would not have be~n the head ot a great work m Egypt, the helper of his family, the instrument of fulfilling God's promise. Not one step of his course was in vain ; his sufferings were blessings. I. IN SUFFER,~NG WRO~~ WE ARE F_O~LOWING CHRIST, He suffered for us, "leaving us an example ( 1 Pet. 11. 21) of w11lmgness to suffer for the good of others. This is the principle of self-sacrifice; not a self-willed sacrifice (Col. ii. 23), but the sub- mission of the will to God (Luke xxii. 42 ; Heh. x. 7). " This is acceptable with God "-to accept as from him what he sends, though we may not see its use (Heh. xii. 5-7). • II. FoR EVERY CHRISTIAN THE DISCIPLINE OF SUFFERING IS NEEDFUL. If it was BO in our Lord's sinless human nature (Heh. ii. 10), how much more in us, who must be taught to subdue the flesh to the spirit I ·without trial Christian courage and fruit- bearing graces would fail (John xv. 2), n.s without the winter's cold the forest tree would not form sound wood. And trial calls them into exercise (Rom. v. 3), and through a sense of our weakness draws us nearer to God (2 Cor. xii. 7-9). III. NoT ONLY TRIAL IN GENERAL, BUT EVERY PART OF IT WORKS GOOD. To every part the promise applies (John xvi. 20). So it was with Joseph. God lays no stroke without cause (Heb. xii. 10). The conviction of this works practical patience. This particular suffering bas its own loving message, IV. WE OFTEN CANNOT FORESEE THE PURPOSE OF TRIALS. How different was the end to which God was leading Joseph from anything he could have expected or hoped for I Yet far better. We can see but a very little way along the path by which God is leading us. We walk by faith that his guidance is unerring, and that which be has provided is best (Ephes. iii. 20).-M. Ver. 40.-Joseph as prime minister. "Thou shalt be over my house, and accord- ing unto thy word shall aJl my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou." Sudden elevations are often the precursors of sudden falls. It was not so with Joseph. He filled satisfactorily his position, retaining it to the end of life. He made himself indispensable to Pharaoh and to the country. He was a man of decision. Seeing what harl to be done, hi- hesitated not in commencing it. Going from the presence of Pharaoh, he passed throughout the ]and, arranging for granaries and appointing officers to grapple with the seven years of famine which were immi- nent. Doubtless he felt the weight of responsibility resting upon him, and would have many restless nights in calculating bow by means of the money then in the treasury and by forced loans to meet the expenditure for granaries, grain, and official salaries. He superintended everything. By method he mastered detail. I. CONSIDER THE roucr OF THie EGYPTIAN PRIME MINISTER. Many things we admire in Joseph but we must not b:i blind to the fact that he thought more of binding the people to' the throne than of benefiting the people themselves. He was the first statesman of that day. His policy determined in great measure whut sho_uld be tho standard of internal prosperity, and what position the country should hold m the eyes of other nations. He sought to make Pharaoh's rule absolute. He gave no benefit without payment, no supplies without sacrifice. He took all the money first (eh, xlvii.14), then the cattle(ibid. ver.16), then the lands and their persons (ibid. ver. 23) He thus reduced the people of Egypt to the position of slaves. He made all the land crown lands. Thus the monarch was pleased, and the priests, being exempt, were flattered. It is possible that in this Joseph laid the foundation of that system of mismanagement which has made the most flourishing spot in the world the basest of kingdoms. He seems also to have striven to give some sort of ~re- eminence to bis brethren, and to advance them, Exempt from the burdens pre~smg on othere, they gained power, and would have become eventually the ~ommant race in Egypt, but that another Pharaoh arose who knew not Josep~1, i. e. wh?, alt~ough he knew of his having lived and served the n~tion, yet recognise~ not Ins policy. The state to which Joseph reduced the Egyptians w11s that to which (lfter• olt xf.1. 4&-57,J 'l"I:IE BOOK OF GENESIS. 469
warde hie own deecenclante were reclucecl. 'l'hus our plans are overthrown. Time tries success, and by removing dimness from our vision enables us to test it better. II. CONSIDER THE PRIVATE LIFE OF THIS EGYPTIAN PRIME MINISTER. He was soon led to conform to the spirit and practice of an ungodly nation. lle used a divining cup (eh. xliv. 15, 16), took his meals apart (eh. xliii. 32), reco"'nisin" and sustaining class distinctions. He learned the mode of speech common ~mo:io-"the Egyptians, swore by the life of Pharaoh (eh. xlii. 15), and was affianced to a~ idolatress, pro- bably a priestess ( eh. xii. 45). He made no effort to return to his own land, or to the pastoral life of his fathers. It wns in his power also for nine years to have sent to make search for his father, who was sorrowing for him as dead, but he sent not. Not until trouble, by an apparent chance, drove his brethren to him did he appear to think of them, or of home and Jacob. When they came he was very slow to make known himself, as though he feared it might compromise him in the eyes of the Egyptians to be known to have relatives who were shepherds, an occupation which wns abominable to the Egyptians (eh. xlvi. 34). When he revealed himself to them, it was without the knowledge or presence of the Egyptians. He removed his brethren also to a distant part of Egypt, that they might not constantly, l>y their presence, remind him and others of his origin. We fancy that Joseph had weaknesses and imperfections such as other men had. He had dwelt in Egypt and caught its spirit. In the names he gave to his children there seems some indication of regret at his for- getfulness and wonder at his fruitfulness. Amid views that might depress there is some brightness. His forgiveness of his brethren was noble. His affection for his father returned. Eis faith in God was pure at last. Dying, he "g·ave command- ment concerning his bones." He showed that though outwardly an Egyptian, he was inwardly an Israelite.-H.