°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > patriarchs and prophets >

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patriarchs and prophets-µÚ43ÕÂ

С˵£º patriarchs and prophets ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

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portion¡¡of¡¡Judah's¡¡lot£»¡¡and¡¡such¡¡families¡¡as¡¡afterward¡¡became¡¡powerful
formed¡¡different¡¡colonies¡¡and¡¡settled¡¡in¡¡territory¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡borders¡¡of
the¡¡Holy¡¡Land¡£¡¡Levi¡¡also¡¡received¡¡no¡¡inheritance¡¡except¡¡forty¡­eight¡¡cities
scattered¡¡in¡¡different¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡land¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡case¡¡of¡¡this¡¡tribe£»
however£»¡¡their¡¡fidelity¡¡of¡¡Jehovah¡¡when¡¡the¡¡other¡¡tribes¡¡apostatized£»
secured¡¡their¡¡appointment¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sacred¡¡service¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sanctuary£»¡¡and¡¡thus
the¡¡curse¡¡was¡¡changed¡¡into¡¡a¡¡blessing¡£

The¡¡crowning¡¡blessings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡birthright¡¡were¡¡transferred¡¡to¡¡Judah¡£¡¡The
significance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡namewhich¡¡denotes¡¡praise£»is¡¡unfolded¡¡in¡¡the
prophetic¡¡history¡¡of¡¡this¡¡tribe£º

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Judah£»¡¡thou¡¡art¡¡he¡¡whom¡¡thy¡¡brethren¡¡shall¡¡praise£º
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Thy¡¡hand¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡in¡¡the¡¡neck¡¡¡¡of¡¡thine¡¡enemies£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Thy¡¡father's¡¡children¡¡shall¡¡bow¡¡down¡¡before¡¡thee¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Judah¡¡is¡¡a¡¡lion's¡¡whelp£º
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡From¡¡the¡¡prey£»¡¡my¡¡son£»¡¡thou¡¡art¡¡gone¡¡up£º
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡stooped¡¡down£»¡¡he¡¡couched¡¡as¡¡a¡¡lion£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡as¡¡an¡¡old¡¡lion£º¡¡who¡¡shall¡¡rouse¡¡him¡¡up£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡scepter¡¡shall¡¡not¡¡depart¡¡from¡¡Judah£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Nor¡¡a¡¡lawgiver¡¡from¡¡between¡¡his¡¡feet£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Until¡¡Shiloh¡¡come£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡unto¡¡Him¡¡shall¡¡the¡¡gathering¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡¡be¡£¡¨


The¡¡lion£»¡¡king¡¡of¡¡the¡¡forest£»¡¡is¡¡a¡¡fitting¡¡symbol¡¡of¡¡this¡¡tribe£»¡¡from¡¡which
came¡¡David£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Son¡¡of¡¡David£»¡¡Shiloh£»¡¡the¡¡true¡¡¡¨Lion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tribe¡¡of
Judah£»¡¨¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡all¡¡powers¡¡shall¡¡finally¡¡bow¡¡and¡¡all¡¡nations¡¡render¡¡homage¡£

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name¡¡of¡¡Joseph¡¡was¡¡reached£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡father's¡¡heart¡¡overflowed¡¡as¡¡he¡¡invoked
blessings¡¡upon¡¡¡¨the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡him¡¡that¡¡was¡¡separate¡¡from¡¡his¡¡brethren¡¨£º

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Joseph¡¡is¡¡a¡¡fruitful¡¡bough£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Even¡¡a¡¡fruitful¡¡bough¡¡by¡¡a¡¡well£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Whose¡¡branches¡¡run¡¡over¡¡the¡¡wall£º
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡archers¡¡have¡¡sorely¡¡grieved¡¡him£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡shot¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡hated¡¡him£º
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡his¡¡bow¡¡abode¡¡in¡¡strength£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡the¡¡arms¡¡of¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡were¡¡made¡¡strong
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡By¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mighty¡¡God¡¡of¡¡Jacob£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£¨From¡¡thence¡¡is¡¡the¡¡shepherd£»¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡of¡¡Israel£»£©

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡237

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¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Almighty£»¡¡who¡¡shall¡¡bless¡¡thee
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¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Blessings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡deep¡¡that¡¡lieth¡¡under£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Blessings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡breasts£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡womb£º
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡blessings¡¡of¡¡thy¡¡father¡¡have¡¡prevailed
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Above¡¡the¡¡blessings¡¡of¡¡my¡¡progenitors
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Unto¡¡the¡¡utmost¡¡bound¡¡of¡¡the¡¡everlasting¡¡hills£º
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡on¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡Joseph£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡on¡¡the¡¡crown¡¡of¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡him¡¡that¡¡was¡¡separate¡¡from
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡brethren¡£¡¨


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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£º¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡to¡¡be¡¡gathered¡¡unto¡¡my¡¡people£º¡¡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
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Psalm¡¡37£º37¡£

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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£º11¡£

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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
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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
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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£º¡¡¡¨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£º¡¡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£º¡¡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£º¡¡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¡¡all¡¡the¡¡years¡¡his¡¡faith¡¡in¡¡God's
restoration¡¡of¡¡Israel¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Land¡¡of¡¡Promise¡¡was¡¡unshaken¡£

When¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡his¡¡end¡¡was¡¡near£»¡¡he¡¡summoned¡¡his¡¡kinsmen¡¡about¡¡him¡£
Honored¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡in¡¡the¡¡land¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Pharaohs£»¡¡Egypt¡¡was¡¡to¡¡him¡¡but¡¡the
place¡¡of¡¡his¡¡exile£»¡¡his¡¡last¡¡act¡¡was¡¡to¡¡signify¡¡that¡¡his¡¡lot¡¡was¡¡cast¡¡with
Israel¡£¡¡His¡¡last¡¡words¡¡were£»¡¡¡¨God¡¡will¡¡surely¡¡visit¡¡you£»¡¡and¡¡bring¡¡you¡¡out
of¡¡this¡¡land¡¡unto¡¡the¡¡land¡¡which¡¡He¡¡sware¡¡to¡¡Abraham£»¡¡to¡¡Isaac£»¡¡and¡¡to
Jacob¡£¡¨¡¡And¡¡he¡¡took¡¡a¡¡solemn¡¡oath¡¡of¡¡the¡¡children¡¡of¡¡Israel¡¡that¡¡they¡¡would
carry¡¡up¡¡his¡¡bones¡¡with¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡land¡¡of¡¡Canaan¡£¡¡¡¨So¡¡Joseph¡¡died£»¡¡being
an¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡ten¡¡years¡¡old£º¡¡and¡¡they¡¡embalmed¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡put¡¡in¡¡a
coffin¡¡in¡¡Egypt¡£¡¨¡¡And¡¡through¡¡the¡¡centuries¡¡of¡¡toil¡¡which¡¡followed£»¡¡the
coffin£»¡¡a¡¡reminder¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dying¡¡words¡¡of¡¡Joseph£»¡¡testified¡¡to¡¡Israel¡¡that
they¡¡were¡¡only¡¡sojourners¡¡in¡¡Egypt£»¡¡and¡¡bade¡¡them¡¡keep¡¡their¡¡hopes¡¡fixed
upon¡¡the¡¡Land¡¡of¡¡Promise£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡d

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