The Pulpit Commentary — Genesis — Section 546

God eende trial grace is provided (1 Cor. it. 13), answering every need; help for the falling or fallen !lB well as strength for the steadfast, 111. How TO STAND IN THE DAY OB' TRIAL. In each of the messages to the Churches (Rev. ii., iii,) trial is implied-now of persecution, now of false doctrine, now of indolent spiritual ease, And the blessing is "to him that overcometh." How? "By the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. xii. 11), i. e. by faith in it. Not merely belief in the doctrine, but realising what the work of Christ has won for us, and the love of the Father from which it proceeds, a:nd the claim which the mercies of God make upon us (Rom. xii. 1), The first step is receiving with an undoubting spirit the love of God ; not letting in unbelief in the garb of humility, The next is keeping that truth present in the mind in the midst of daily work, that the love of Christ may constrain the direction of our life.-M. Vera. 14-34.-The conve:rsion of Judalt. I. THE EVIDENCE OB' IT. I. The un- expected confession of guilt which he makes. "God bath found ont the iniquity of thy servants." 2. The sensitive apprefliation of the terrible blow which Benjamin's loss would be to Jacob. "When ho seeth the lad is not with us he will die." 3. Tho noble sacrifice he proposes to make for Benjamin. "Let thy servant abide inst~ad of the lad, a bond man to my lord." II. THE CAUSE OIi' IT. 1. The memory of hie old sin, which appears to have haunted his conscience. 2. The arrestment of Divine Providence, which in his Egyptian experience he suffered. 3. The inward operation of God's grace upon his heart. Learn-1. That no living sinner is beyond the reach of conversion. 2. That for the most part the work of conversion is gradually consummated ; and-3. That when once it is completed it appears in a change of character and life.-W. Ver. 32.-.A surety. " For thy servant became surety for the lad unto his father." The brethren of Joseph had been surprised on their second visit to Egypt at the cor• diality of their reception. They started homewards with well-laden sacks and trem- bling gladness. They had not gone far when they were overtaken, their sacks searched, and the cup found. With depressed epirits and dreary forebodings they were brought back to the city, and into the presence of Joseph. Joseph had several motives in his strange treatment of his brethren. He may have desired in some way to punish them for their sin against himself by letting them taste some of the bitterness he had experienced when, ruthlessly torn from his home, he was sent a shrinking slave into a distant land. Human nature was strong in Joseph ns in others. His brethren bad to learn the nature of their own sin by suffering. They have also to learn that their lives were forfeited by sin to justice. He wished also to bring them to ll state of humility, so that they should afterwards behave rightly to each other. He may have had doubts ns to the safety of his own brother Benjamin with them. He tests thus their interest in their half-brother, for they could have left with some sort of excuse Benjamin as a slave in Egypt. He tests also their regard for their fother, and finds out also how they would look upon himself when he should reveal himself to them. Judah is the spokesman for the rest in the painful circumstances in which they are all placed. Joseph proposes to keep only Benjamin us a slave, but Judah draws near, And with deepest humility llnd heartfelt earnestness pleads with Joseph. Consider- !. JuoAH's PLEADING, 1. Judah pleads as surety for Benjamin, and as ll brother. We find that it is Judah and not Reuben who pleads now for the life of ll brother. Age has mellowed the fierce Judah. We cannot always tell from what a man is in his early years what he will ho later on. (1) Judah admits the wrong, attempts no excuse or extenuation. All evidence was against Benjamin. Judah and the rest cannot tell what to think of the act. He admitted it. We must admit our sin. (2) Confessed that it was right that Benjamin and they should suffer. Some blame others for their circumstances and sins, 'fo all appearance here Benjamin was alone to blame. (3) He throws himself on the righteousi:iess ~nd_ c01_npassion of_ Joseph. This is all we can do before God. He pleads the pam which 1t will cause to his father. His appeal is most pathetic. Read it, and the fount of tears must be touched. In all the volumes of fiction ever written there is nothing to surpass the tenderness and  THE BOOK OF GENESIS. [on. XLV. 1-15.