HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-15.-Josep!i's ducovery of himself to !ti.s brethren. I. THE ANNOUNCEMENT, " I am Joseph, whom ye_ sold into Egy~t. 11 1. How _it was made. (1) Jn privacy. "There stood no man with Joseph, wlule he made hnnself known to his brethren." This w~s natural. :r'he emotions of the momel!t were too strong e.nd deep to be shared m or even witnessed by strangers. But it was also merciful. Joseph knew that he could not divulge his secret without a reference to the past, and he would not expose his brothers' guilt and shame in the presence of unsympathising lookers-on. (2) With tears. " Joseph could not refrain himself " even "before all them that stood before him," and scarcely had they withdrawn than" he wept aloud." From the first Joseph had a herculean task to perform in keeping his emotion within bounds. This was partly the explanation of the rough treatment he gave his brethren. Had he yielded to the tender feelings which the sight of Reuben and Judah and the others kindled in his breast, he would at once have been discovered. Yet it was all that he could do to avoid detection. Once and again he had to retire from their presence to relieve his bursting heart by" weeping 11 (cf. eh. xlii. 24; xliii. 30). But this time the rising flood of emotion was too strong to be repressed even long enough to admit of his escape. The pathetic eloquence of Judah, the earnest, tearful pleading combined with the sublime nnd a:ffecting heroism of the man who offered himself to be a bond- man for ever, that bis young brother might escape and that bis father's heart might not be broken, was too much for the Egyptian viceroy, and be sobbed aloud. (3) With forgivene,ss. Few things are more touching in this wholly melting story than the considerate tenderness of Joseph in spa.ring bis bretbren's feelings, and the exquisite delicacy with which he leads them to understand that he cherishes against them not the least resentment. Scarcely bas he made the startling disclosure that be was Joseph, than, as if to prevent them from thinking of their sin, he hurries on to ask about their father. Then, as he sees them shrinking in alarm from bis presence, expecting doubtless that the hour of recompense for Dotban bad arrived, he kindly asks them not to stand aloof from him, but to come near. Again, as be understands tJie impossibility of their ever shutting their eyes to their deplorable wickedness, he tries to lead them rather to contemplate the wonderful way in which the hand of God bad overruled his captivity for the salvation of their entire household. "So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God." Beautiful sophistry of love I I do not know that Josepb's brethren would believe it; but it is obvious that in the enthusiasm of bis forgiving love Joseph did. 2. How it was received. (1) With surprue. This was only to be expected. It must have fallen on Josepb's brethren like a thunderbolt. It manifestly struck them into silence. "They could not answer him." (2) With alarm. Apprehending vengeance, they were "troubled nt bis presence," and invo- luntarily shrank from before him. (3) With pain. They were grieved and angry with themselves, not that Joseph was alive, but that ever he had been sold. Many a time during the past years, and in particular since their first visit to Egypt, they had mourned over their sin against the child of Rachel. Now the anguish of their self- reproach was almost more than they could bear. And this was the best sign of its sincerity, that it was intensified rather than diminished by the sight of Joseph (cf. Zeeb. xii. 10). True penitence, as distinguished from remorse, is sorrow for sin, irrespective altogether of its consequences. II. THE COMMISSION. 1. To carry an invitation. "Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God bath me.de me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, and tarry not." 2. To deliver a promise. "And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen," and "there will I nourish thee." 3. To explain a reason. " For yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty." 4. To provide an authentication. "And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth tbe.t Ol:l, XLV. 1-11:i.] THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 497
epeaketh unto you." 5. To supply an encouragement. "And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt." 6. To return wilh an answer. " And ye shall haste and b1ing down my father hither." III. THE UECONCILIATION, 1. With tears of jo-y. "He fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck," Over the rest of his brothers also as they bowed before him " he wept." 2. With kisses of love. "More- over he kissed all his brethren "-not even forgetting Simeon, who probably had bound him, 3. With words of cheer. " After that his brethren talked with him." Lessons :-See in the character of Joseph, as portrayed in this touching scene, a. brilliant constellation of heavenly virtues and holy graces. 1. 0£ fraternal affection in his tender dealing with his brethren. 2. Of filial piety in his considerate regard for hie father, 3. Of eminent devotion in recognising the hand of God in all hie past fortunes, 4. Of exquisite sensibility in being so quickly moved to tears,