patriarchs and prophets-第41部分

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granted　to　Jacob　worldly　wealth；　in　addition　to　the　higher　good　that　he　had
sought。　The　possessions　of　the　two　brothers　〃were　more　than　that　they　might
dwell　together；　and　the　land　wherein　they　were　strangers　could　not　bear　them
because　of　their　cattle。〃　This　separation　was　in　accordance　with　the　divine
purpose　concerning　Jacob。　Since　the　brothers　differed　so　greatly　in　regard
to　religious　faith；　it　was　better　for　them　to　dwell　apart。

Esau　and　Jacob　had　alike　been　instructed　in　the　knowledge　of　God；　and　both
were　free　to　walk　in　His　commandments　and　to　receive　His　favor；　but　they　had
not　both　chosen　to　do　this。　The　two　brothers　had　walked　in　different　ways；
and　their　paths　would　continue　to　diverge　more　and　more　widely。

There　was　no　arbitrary　choice　on　the　part　of　God　by　which　Esau　was　shut　out
from　the　blessings　of　salvation。　The　gifts　of　His　grace　through　Christ　are
free　to　all。　There　is　no　election　but　one's　own　by　which　any　may　perish。　God
has　set　forth　in　His　word　the　conditions　upon　which　every　soul　will　be
elected　to　eternal　lifeobedience　to　His　commandments；　through　faith　in
Christ。　God　has　elected　a　character　in　harmony　with　His　law；　and　anyone　who
shall　reach　the　standard　of　His　requirement　will　have　an　entrance　into　the
kingdom　of　glory。　Christ　Himself　said；　〃He　that　believeth　on　the　Son　hath
everlasting　life：　and　he　that　believeth　not　the　Son　shall　not　see　life。〃
John　3：36。　〃Not　everyone　that　saith　unto　Me；　Lord；　Lord；　shall　enter　into
the　kingdom　of　heaven；　but　he　that　doeth　the　will　of　My　Father　which　is　in
heaven。〃　Matthew　7：21。　And　in　the　Revelation　He　declares；

208

〃Blessed　are　they　that　do　His　commandments；　that　they　may　have　right　to　the
tree　of　life；　and　may　enter　in　through　the　gates　into　the　city。〃　Revelation
22：14。　As　regards　man's　final　salvation；　this　is　the　only　election　brought
to　view　in　the　word　of　God。

Every　soul　is　elected　who　will　work　out　his　own　salvation　with　fear　and
trembling。　He　is　elected　who　will　put　on　the　armor　and　fight　the　good　fight
of　faith。　He　is　elected　who　will　watch　unto　prayer；　who　will　search　the
Scriptures；　and　flee　from　temptation　He　is　elected　who　will　have　faith
continually；　and　who　will　be　obedient　to　every　word　that　proceedeth　out　of
the　mouth　of　God。　The　provisions　of　redemption　are　free　to　all；　the　results
of　redemption　will　be　enjoyed　by　those　who　have　complied　with　the
conditions。

Esau　had　despised　the　blessings　of　the　covenant。　He　had　valued　temporal
above　spiritual　good；　and　he　had　received　that　which　he　desired。　It　was　by
his　own　deliberate　choice　that　he　was　separated　from　the　people　of　God。
Jacob　had　chosen　the　inheritance　of　faith。　He　had　endeavored　to　obtain　it　by
craft；　treachery；　and　falsehood；　but　God　had　permitted　his　sin　to　work　out
its　correction。　Yet　through　all　the　bitter　experience　of　his　later　years；
Jacob　had　never　swerved　from　his　purpose　or　renounced　his　choice。　He　had
learned　that　in　resorting　to　human　skill　and　craft　to　secure　the　blessing；
he　had　been　warring　against　God。　From　that　night　of　wrestling　beside　the
Jabbok；　Jacob　had　come　forth　a　different　man。　Self…confidence　had　been
uprooted。　Henceforth　the　early　cunning　was　no　longer　seen。　In　place　of　craft
and　deception；　his　life　was　marked　by　simplicity　and　truth。　He　had　learned
the　lesson　of　simple　reliance　upon　the　Almighty　Arm；　and　amid　trial　and
affliction　he　bowed　in　humble　submission　to　the　will　of　God。　The　baser
elements　of　character　were　consumed　in　the　furnace　fire；　the　true　gold　was
refined；　until　the　faith　of　Abraham　and　Isaac　appeared　undimmed　in　Jacob。

The　sin　of　Jacob；　and　the　train　of　events　to　which　it　led；　had　not　failed　to
exert　an　influence　for　evilan　influence　that　revealed　its　bitter　fruit　in
the　character　and　life　of　his　sons。　As　these　sons　arrived　at　manhood　they
developed　serious　faults。　The　results　of　polygamy　were　manifest　in　the
household。　This　terrible　evil　tends　to　dry　up　the　very　springs　of　love；　and
its　influence　weakens　the　most　sacred　ties。　The　jealousy　of　the　several
mothers　had

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embittered　the　family　relation；　the　children　had　grown　up　contentious　and
impatient　of　control；　and　the　father's　life　was　darkened　with　anxiety　and
grief。

There　was　one；　however；　of　a　widely　different　characterthe　elder　son　of
Rachel；　Joseph；　whose　rare　personal　beauty　seemed　but　to　reflect　an　inward
beauty　of　mind　and　heart。　Pure；　active；　and　joyous；　the　lad　gave　evidence
also　of　moral　earnestness　and　firmness。　He　listened　to　his　father's
instructions；　and　loved　to　obey　God。　The　qualities　that　afterward
distinguished　him　in　Egyptgentleness；　fidelity；　and　truthfulnesswere
already　manifest　in　his　daily　life。　His　mother　being　dead；　his　affections
clung　the　more　closely　to　the　father；　and　Jacob's　heart　was　bound　up　in　this
child　of　his　old　age。　He　〃loved　Joseph　more　than　all　his　children。〃

But　even　this　affection　was　to　become　a　cause　of　trouble　and　sorrow。　Jacob
unwisely　manifested　his　preference　for　Joseph；　and　this　excited　the　jealousy
of　his　other　sons。　As　Joseph　witnessed　the　evil　conduct　of　his　brothers；　he
was　greatly　troubled；　he　ventured　gently　to　remonstrate　with　them；　but　only
aroused　still　further　their　hatred　and　resentment。　He　could　not　endure　to
see　them　sinning　against　God；　and　he　laid　the　matter　before　his　father；
hoping　that　his　authority　might　lead　them　to　reform。

Jacob　carefully　avoided　exciting　their　anger　by　harshness　or　severity。　With
deep　emotion　he　expressed　his　solicitude　for　his　children；　and　implored　them
to　have　respect　for　his　gray　hairs；　and　not　to　bring　reproach　upon　his　name；
and　above　all　not　to　dishonor　God　by　such　disregard　of　His　precepts。　Ashamed
that　their　wickedness　was　known；　the　young　men　seemed　to　be　repentant；　but
they　only　concealed　their　real　feelings；　which　were　rendered　more　bitter　by
this　exposure。

The　father's　injudicious　gift　to　Joseph　of　a　costly　coat；　or　tunic；　such　as
was　usually　worn　by　persons　of　distinction；　seemed　to　them　another　evidence
of　his　partiality；　and　excited　a　suspicion　that　he　intended　to　pass　by　his
elder　children；　to　bestow　the　birthright　upon　the　son　of　Rachel。　Their
malice　was　still　further　increased　as　the　boy　one　day　told　them　of　a　dream
that　he　had　had。　〃Behold；〃　he　said；　〃we　were　binding　sheaves　in　the　field；
and；　lo；　my　sheaf　arose；　and　also　stood　upright；　and；　behold；　your　sheaves
stood　round　about；　and　made　obeisance　to　my　sheaf。〃

210


〃Shalt　thou　indeed　reign　over　us？　or　shalt　thou　indeed　have　dominion　over
us？〃　exclaimed　his　brothers　in　envious　anger。

Soon　he　had　another　dream；　of　similar　import；　which　he　also　related：
〃Behold；　the　sun　and　the　moon　and　the　eleven　stars　made　obeisance　to　me。〃
This　dream　was　interpreted　as　readily　as　the　first。　The　father；　who　was
present；　spoke　reprovingly〃What　is　this　dream　that　thou　hast　dreamed？
Shall　I　and　thy　mother　and　thy　brethren　indeed　come　to　bow　down　ourselves　to
thee　to　the　earth？〃　Notwithstanding　the　apparent　severity　of　his　words；
Jacob　believed　that　the　Lord　was　revealing　the　future　to　Joseph。

As　the　lad　stood　before　his　brothers；　his　beautiful　countenance　lighted　up
with　the　Spirit　of　inspiration；　they　could　not　withhold　their　admiration；
but　they　did　not　choose　to　renounce　their　evil　ways；　and　they　hated　the
purity　that　reproved　their　sins。　The　same　spirit　that　actuated　Cain　was
kindling　in　their　hearts。

The　brothers　were　obliged　to　move　from　place　to　place　to　secure　pasturage
for　their　flocks；　and　frequently　they　were　absent　from　home　for　months
together。　After　the　circumstances　just　related；　they　went　to　the　place　which
their　father　had　bought　at　Shechem。　Some　time　passed；　bringing　no　tidings
from　them；　and　the　father　began　to　fear　for　their　safety；　on　account　of
their　former　cruelty　toward　the　Shechemites。　He　therefore　sent　Joseph　to
find　them；　and　bring　him　words　as　to　their　welfare。　Had　Jacob　known　the　real
feeling　of　his　sons　toward　Joseph；　he　would　not　have　trusted　him　alone　with
them；　but　this　they　had　carefully　concealed。

With　a　joyful　heart；　Joseph　parted　from　his　father；　neither　the　aged　man　nor
the　youth　dreaming　of　what　would　happen　before　they　should　meet　again。　When；
after　his　long　and　solitary　journey；　Joseph　arrived　at　Shechem；　his　brothers
and　their　flocks　were　not　to　be　found。　Upon　inquiring　for　them；　he　was
directed　to　Dothan。　He　had　already　traveled　more　than　fifty　miles；　and　now
an　additional　distance　of　fifteen　lay　before　him；　but　he　hastened　on；
forgetting　his　weariness　in　the　thought　of　relieving　the　anxiety　of　his
father；　and　meeting　the　brothers；　whom；　despite　their　unkindness；　he　still
loved。

His　brothers　saw　him　approaching；　but　no　thought　of　the　long　journey　he　had
made　to　meet　them；　of　his　weariness　and　hunger；　of　his　claims　upon　their
hospitality　and　brotherly　love；

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softened　the　bitterness　of　their　hatred。　The　sight　of　the　coat；　the　token　of
their　father's　love；　filled　them　with　frenzy。　〃Behold；　this　dreamer　cometh；〃
they　cried　in　mockery。　Envy　and　revenge；　long　secretly　cherished；　now
controlled　them。　〃Let　us　slay　him；〃　they　said；　〃and　cast　him　into　some　pit；
and　we　will　say；　Some　evil　beast　hath　devoured　him；　and　we　shall　see　what
will　become　of　his　dreams。〃

They　would　have　executed　their　purpose　but　for　Reuben。　He　shrank　from
participating　in　the　murder　of　his　brother；　and　proposed　that　Joseph　be　cast
alive　into　a　pit；　and　left　there　to　perish；　secretly　intending；　however；　to
rescue　him　and　return　him　to　his　father。　Having　persuaded　all　to　consent　to
this　plan；　Reuben　left　the　company；　fearing　that　he　might　fail　to　control
his　feelings；　and　that　his　real　intentions　would　be　discovered。

Joseph　came　on；　unsuspicious　of　danger；　and　glad　that　the　object　of　his　long
search　was　accomplished；　but　instead　of　the　expected　greeting；　he　was
terrified　by　the　angry　and　revengeful　glances　which　he　met。　He　was　seized
and　his　coat　stripped　from　him。　Taunts　and　threats　revealed　a　deadly
purpose。　His　entreaties　were　unheeded。　He　was　wholly　in　the　power　of　those
maddened　men。　Rudely　dragging　him　to　a　deep　pit；　they　thru