CHAPTER XXXI.

THE PATRIARCH'S SURRENDERING BENJAMIN, AND HIS GOING DOWN
INTO EGYPT WITH HIS BRETHREN-JACOB BROUGHT TO LOOK
BEYOND SECOND CAUSES, AND RESIGNING HIMSELF TO THE DI-
VINE WILL SUCH POSITION A BLESSED ONE-THE BRETHREN
BRINGING BENJAMIN WITH THEM TYPICAL OF POOR SINNERS
BRINGING CHRIST WITH THEM IN THEIR APPEALS AT THE
MERCY-SEAT EVERY POOR SINNER WELCOME WHOSE HEART
AND WHOSE EYE IS UPON CHRIST-HOW BLESSED THUS ΤΟ
"STAND
JOSEPH'S ACTS MISINTERPRETED,
AND SO THE ACTS OF JESUS-JEHOVAH'S " FEAR NOTS -THEIR
PRECIOUSNESS AND SUITABILITY-JOSEPH REFRAINING HIMSELF

BEFORE JOSEPH

BEFORE HIS BRETHREN-JESUS DELAYING THE REVELATION OF HIMSELF, BUT ONLY THE MORE BLESSEDLY IN DUE TIME ΤΟ DISCOVER HIMSELF TO THE REDEEMED.

IN our last chapter we spoke of the great change wrought in the patriarch's mind. Not merely by the force of those circumstances of which God had the direction and control, was Jacob brought to surrender Benjamin, but with regard to that surrender, in contrast to what he had previously said, "Me have ye bereaved of my children"-thus looking at second causes and at second causes only-he now exclaims, "If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved ;" thus was he brought to commit all into the Lord's hand, and to resign himself to the divine will. As a

natural (or rather a certain spiritual) consequence, the issue, in all its blessedness and satisfaction, shall soon be seen. The one is sure speedily to follow the other in the grand economy of salvation, and in those peculiar but precious ways in which the Lord deals with His people.

We read, that "the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph."

Reader, cannot you imagine with what hope and satisfaction they thus resorted to Egypt? They came now in distinct and direct compliance with the suggestions of Joseph. They had "the younger brother" with them; and, although they knew not why he was so anxiously sought for, yet they were furnished thereby with this appeal, "We have obeyed; we are here as counselled to be."

Now how well is it for poor sinners-guilty, and perplexed, and perfectly at a loss as they may be to comprehend the result-to be resorting to the throne in quest of the good old corn of the kingdom with which to nourish the poor famine-smitten souls; to be coming thus with "the younger Brother with them." In other words, to have the heart and the eye simply directed to and set upon the person and work of a precious Christ, the Man whom the Father delighteth to honour; who said, in the days of His flesh, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye Him." Yea, the Man Christ Jesus, who Himself said, "I am the way, and

the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me;" and again, "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none else."

Reader, in this Gospel and most comprehensive sense, how sweet is it to be said respecting the brethren of Him of whom the patriarch was but a type, that "they stood before Joseph." Ah, blessed position-even though guilty, self-condemned, and for a time ignorant of the issue. "And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon. And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house. And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our

Ah, how often are the greater than Joseph's most gracious acts thus misinterpreted. The brethren were to be brought into Joseph's house, and they were to dine with him: thus there was to be a fellowship and a familiarity to which previously they had been entire strangers; but they altogether misconstrue such condescension and kindness. "He does it," say they, "that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses."

Reader, if long in the school of Christ, do you not know something personally and painfully of having thus misjudged and maligned your elder Brother? Ah, in regard to some of His most tender, merciful, and gracious dealings, have you not often thought He intended thereby to destroy rather than to deliver -to curse rather than to bless? With respect to the "standing before Joseph," and being invited into his house to dine, cannot you bear testimony that Manoah was not the only one who said, "We shall surely die, because we have seen God?" Oh, how did the brethren of Joseph wish themselves at home again, and far, far away from where they now were.

Mark their anxiety. "And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house, and said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food: and it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight and we have brought it again in our hand. And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them."

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our sacks.

See the pitifulness of our God. He loads, but never overloads. He distresses His children, but never destroys. Whilst He smites, He soothes. Jesus may seemingly say hard and harsh things, and

T

His movements may be most mysterious; but His steward-His servant-knowing Him, and loving Him, and having confidence in Him, shall be commissioned to comfort and to cheer: "Peace be to you! fear not." Oh, how timely must that "fear not" have been to the brethren. And when is it that Jehovah's "fear nots" are so precious? Is it not when His people are exposed to circumstances of fear, and the subjects of fear? Ah, then, then, as spoken home by His stewards, under His own direction and power, how sweet and how suitable do they become. What little weight would these self-same words have had with Joseph's brethren, at their first visit, compared with their significance and importance now. Does not this prove, dear reader, that we must be brought into circumstances of trial and perplexity, with flesh and heart failing, in order to know and blessedly to realize the preciousness and the power of Jehovah's "fear nots ?"

"I had your money," said Joseph's steward; "but," as if he would say, “that was of no consequence." It was not that which was wanted. Poor sinner, it is not your works, nor your words, that Jesus wants; but yourself—yes, your own very self. We know it may seem to you an impossibility, but it is, nevertheless, true. Yes, indeed, we may sing

"Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched,

Weak and wounded, sick and sore.

Jesus ready stands to save you,

Full of pity join'd with power.

He is able;

He is willing: doubt no more."