HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-10.-Jacob and his sons before Pliaraoh. I. JosEPn's BRETHRE~ BEFORE PHARAOH (vers. 1-6). 1. Their arrival announced (ver. 1). "My father and brethren are come out of the land of Canaan, and bahold they are in the land of Goshen." 2. Their persons presented (ver. 2). "He took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them to Pharaoh." The import of this selection of five is explained in the exposition. 3. Their occupations declared (ver. 3). In answer to the king's interrogation they replied that they were shepherds. They had no dosire to deceive, although they had learnt that persons of their trades were not commonly regarded with favour, Joseph indeed had convinced them that in this instance honesty would be the best policy ; but even had it been precisely the reverse there is no reason to suppose they would have attempted any sort of pre- varication. 4. Their purpose eXJ>lained (ver. 4). It was not their intention to settle permanently in Egypt, but only to find in it a temporary shelter during the years of famine. But while man proposes God disposes. 5. Their wi,sh. stated (ver. 4). "Now, therefore, let thy servants dwell in Goshen." Though Joseph might have had sufficient power to accord them this favour, it was only courteous to ask it from Pharaoh. "Honour to whom honour is due," is the dictate of right feeling as well as of true religion, and men seldom find themselves the losers by practising politeness. 6. Their request granted (ver. 6). Pharaoh at once responJe,1-" The land of Egypt is before thee ; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwall; in the land of Goshen let them dwell." Nay, Pharaoh even exceeded their desires or expectations. 7. Their promotion indicated (ver. 6). "If thou knowest any men of activity among them, make them rulers over my cattle." "Seest thou a man diligent in business? ho shall stand before kings I " II. JosEPH's FATrrEn BEFORE PHARAOH (vere. 7-11). 1. The old man's blessing. "And Jacob blessed Pharaoh." Thie was (1) a vnlnuble gift. Once before he had sent a present to one whom he regarded as of vice-regal dignity; but now, when standing in the royal presence, he does not think of material offerings, but presents what must ever be beyond rubies, the intercession of n snintly heart with God on a. fellow-creature's behalf. I£ the effectual fervent prayer uf a righteous man availeth much, the simple Lenediction of an aged saint cannot profit little. (2) Earnestly given. This was shown by the promptitude with ,which it was bestowed. Imme- diately the venerable patriarch is ushered into the royal presence he Lreake forth into the language of benediction, as if the inward emotion had just been trembling on the heart's lip and ready at the first agitution to overflow. And he for whom he prays w11s a benefactor indeed, but a. monarch and II heathen; and so 111'8 Christ's people taught to pray for nil men, £or kings and such as 11re in authority, for un- believing us well as believing, and not £or friends and benefactors solely, but likewise for enemies and persecutors. (3) Solemnly confirmed. Spoken on the first entrance to the regal mansion, it was tremblingly re-uttered on rleparture. Never before had such II prayer been heard within 11n Egyptian palace. Yet the halls of princes no more than the hovels of peasants are unsuitable for intercessions nnd supplications. J~verywhere and always should be the saint's motto in regard to prayer. 2. The old man's history. Gazing with tender interest on the venerable form of the patriarch as, leiming on the arm of hie son, he softly steps 11cross the threshold of the magnificent reception hall, the royal Pharaoh, probably struck with his aged and feeble appearance, kindly inquires, "How many are the days of the years of thy life?" to which Jacob with equal circumlocution, with perhaps a little of the garrulousness that is so natural and becoming in the old, but also with a true touch of pathos, replies, "The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years; few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the lives of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage," Uis cJ;istence on the earth be characterises as having been-(1) A filO THE BOOK OF GENESIS. [cH. XLVIJ. 1-10.
perpetual pilgrimage, a constant wandering, a continual sojourning, which in his case it had really been - from Beersheba to Padan-aram 1 from Pndan-nrarn to Canaan, from one location in the land of promise to ano ther, and finally from Canaan to Egypt-but which is no less true of all men's lives• "here we have no continuing city.". (2) A_ short pi_lgrimag·e. Adding them up o:1e by ono, the days of the years of his p1lgnmage might seem to be many; but in the retrospect they appeared what they really were, few and soon numbered; as life which to the ;young i? prospect l?oks long, to the old in _retrospect is ever short. ' How amazing 1s the difference winch a change of standpoint produces in the view which the mind takes of man's exi_ste_nce ~n the earth, as of_ other things I and how important that we should bear this m mind when numbering our days I (3) A sad pilgrimnge. Not only had the days of Jacob's years been few, but they had o.lso been evil, filled wit.h trouble, sorrow, and vexation, more even than that of any of his predecessors. It was one more testimony to the fact that not only is man born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward, but that it is only through much tribulation that a child of God con enter the kingdom. Learn-I. That prudence becomes a counsellor. This was strikingly exemplified in Joseph's conduct in presenting his brethren before Pharaoh. 2. That honesty advances a suppliant. In the long run Joseph's brethren were better served by their perfect integrity and straightforwardness in Pharaoh's presence than they would have been b) .rosorting to duplicity and equivocation. 3. That piety adorns the old. How beautiful does the character of Jacob, the aged wanderer, appear as it stands before us in Pharaoh's palace, in the westering sunlight of his earthly pilgrimage I "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness."