patriarchs and prophets-第59章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Even by the God of thy father； who shall help thee；
And by the Almighty； who shall bless thee
With blessings of heaven above；
Blessings of the deep that lieth under；
Blessings of the breasts； and of the womb：
The blessings of thy father have prevailed
Above the blessings of my progenitors
Unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills：
They shall be on the head of Joseph；
And on the crown of the head of him that was separate from
his brethren。〃
Jacob had even been a man of deep and ardent affection； his love for his
sons was strong and tender； and his dying testimony to them was not the
utterance of partiality or resentment。 He had forgiven them all； and he
loved them to the last。 His paternal tenderness would have found expression
only in words of encouragement and hope； but the power of God rested upon
him； and under the influence of Inspiration he was constrained to declare
the truth； however painful。
The last blessings pronounced； Jacob repeated the charge concerning his
burial place： 〃I am to be gathered unto my people： bury me with my fathers 。
。 。 in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah。〃 〃There they buried
Abraham and Sarah his wife； there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife；
and there I buried Leah。〃 Thus the last act of his life was to manifest his
faith in God's promise。
Jacob's last years brought an evening of tranquillity and repose after a
troubled and weary day。 Clouds had gathered dark above his path； yet his sun
set clear； and the radiance of heaven illumined his parting hours。 Says the
Scripture； 〃At evening time it shall be light。〃 Zechariah 14：7。 〃Mark the
perfect man； and behold the upright： for the end of that man is peace。〃
Psalm 37：37。
Jacob had sinned； and had deeply suffered。 Many years of toil； care； and
sorrow had been his since the day when his great sin caused him to flee from
his father's tents。 A homeless fugitive； separated from his mother； whom he
never saw again； laboring seven years for her whom he loved； only to be
basely cheated； toiling twenty years in the service of a covetous and
grasping kinsman； seeing his wealth increasing； and sons rising around him；
but finding little joy in the contentious and divided household； distressed
by his daughter's shame； by her brothers' revenge；
238
by the death of Rachel； by the unnatural crime of Reuben； by Judah's sin； by
the cruel deception and malice practiced toward Josephhow long and dark is
the catalogue of evils spread out to view！ Again and again he had reaped the
fruit of that first wrong deed。 Over and over he saw repeated among his sons
the sins of which he himself had been guilty。 But bitter as had been the
discipline； it had accomplished its work。 The chastening； though grievous；
had yielded 〃the peaceable fruit of righteousness。〃 Hebrews 12：11。
Inspiration faithfully records the faults of good men； those who were
distinguished by the favor of God； indeed； their faults are more fully
presented than their virtues。 This has been a subject of wonder to many； and
has given the infidel occasion to scoff at the Bible。 But it is one of the
strongest evidences of the truth of Scripture； that facts are not glossed
over； nor the sins of its chief characters suppressed。 The minds of men are
so subject to prejudice that it is not possible for human histories to be
absolutely impartial。 Had the Bible been written by uninspired persons； it
would no doubt have presented the character of its honored men in a more
flattering light。 But as it is； we have a correct record of their
experiences。
Men whom God favored； and to whom He entrusted great responsibilities； were
sometimes overcome by temptation and committed sin； even as we at the
present day strive； waver； and frequently fall into error。 Their lives； with
all their faults and follies； are open before us； both for our encouragement
and warning。 If they had been represented as without fault； we； with our
sinful nature； might despair at our own mistakes and failures。 But seeing
where others struggled through discouragements like our own； where they fell
under temptations as we have done； and yet took heart again and conquered
through the grace of God； we are encouraged in our striving after
righteousness。 As they； though sometimes beaten back； recovered their
ground； and were blessed of God； so we too may be overcomers in the strength
of Jesus。 On the other hand； the record of their lives may serve as a
warning to us。 It shows that God will by no means clear the guilty。 He sees
sin in His most favored ones； and He deals with it in them even more
strictly than in those who have less light and responsibility。
239
After the burial of Jacob fear again filled the hearts of Joseph's brothers。
Notwithstanding his kindness toward them； conscious guilt made them
distrustful and suspicious。 It might be that he had but delayed his revenge；
out of regard to their father； and that he would now visit upon them the
long…deferred punishment for their crime。 They dared not appear before him
in person； but sent a message： 〃Thy father did command before he died；
saying； So shall ye say unto Joseph； Forgive； I pray thee now； the trespass
of thy brethren； and their sin； for they did unto thee evil： and now； we
pray thee； forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father。〃
This message affected Joseph to tears； and； encouraged by this； his brothers
came and fell down before him； with the words； 〃Behold； we be thy servants。〃
Joseph's love for his brothers was deep and unselfish； and he was pained at
the thought that they could regard him as cherishing a spirit of revenge
toward them。 〃Fear not；〃 he said； 〃for am I in the place of God？ But as for
you； ye thought evil against me； but God meant it unto good； to bring to
pass； as it is this day； to save much people alive。 Now therefore fear ye
not： I will nourish you； and your little ones。〃
The life of Joseph illustrates the life of Christ。 It was envy that moved
the brothers of Joseph to sell him as a slave； they hoped to prevent him
from becoming greater than themselves。 And when he was carried to Egypt；
they flattered themselves that they were to be no more troubled with his
dreams； that they had removed all possibility of their fulfillment。 But
their own course was overruled by God to bring about the very event that
they designed to hinder。 So the Jewish priests and elders were jealous of
Christ； fearing that He would attract the attention of the people from them。
They put Him to death； to prevent Him from becoming king； but they were thus
bringing about this very result。
Joseph； through his bondage in Egypt； became a savior to his father's
family； yet this fact did not lessen the guilt of his brothers。 So the
crucifixion of Christ by His enemies made Him the Redeemer of mankind； the
Saviour of the fallen race； and Ruler over the whole world； but the crime of
His murderers was just as heinous as though God's providential hand had not
controlled events for His own glory and the good of man。
As Joseph was sold to the heathen by his own brothers； so
240
Christ was sold to His bitterest enemies by one of His disciples。 Joseph was
falsely accused and thrust into prison because of his virtue； so Christ was
despised and rejected because His righteous； self…denying life was a rebuke
to sin； and though guilty of no wrong； He was condemned upon the testimony
of false witnesses。 And Joseph's patience and meekness under injustice and
oppression； his ready forgiveness and noble benevolence toward his unnatural
brothers； represent the Saviour's uncomplaining endurance of the malice and
abuse of wicked men； and His forgiveness； not only of His murderers； but of
all who have come to Him confessing their sins and seeking pardon。
Joseph outlived his father fifty…four years。 He lived to see 〃Ephraim's
children of the third generation： the children also of Machir the son of
Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees。〃 He witnessed the increase and
prosperity of his people； and through al
