patriarchs and prophets-第48部分

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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

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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　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：　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　deliverance　would　surely　come。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　22

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Moses


The　people　of　Egypt；　in　order　to　supply　themselves　with　food　during　the
famine；　had　sold　to　the　crown　their　cattle　and　lands；　and　had　finally　bound
themselves　to　perpetual　serfdom。　Joseph　wisely　provided　for　their　release；
he　permitted　them　to　become　royal　tenants；　holding　their　lands　of　the　king；
and　paying　an　annual　tribute　of　one　fifth　of　the　products　of　their　labor。

But　the　children　of　Jacob　were　not　under　the　necessity　of　making　such
conditions。　On　account　of　the　service　that　Joseph　had　rendered　the　Egyptian
nation；　they　were　not　only　granted　a　part　of　the　country　as　a　home；　but　were
exempted　from　taxation；　and　liberally　supplied　with　food　during　the
continuance　of　the　famine。　The　king　publicly　acknowledged　that　it　was
through　the　merciful　interposition　of　the　God　of　Joseph　that　Egypt　enjoyed
plenty　while　other　nations　were　perishing　from　famine。　He　saw；　too；　that
Joseph's　management　had　greatly　enriched　the　kingdom；　and　his　gratitude
surrounded　the　family　of　Jacob　with　royal　favor。

But　as　time　rolled　on；　the　great　man　to　whom　Egypt　owed　so　much；　and　the
generation　blessed　by　his　labors；　passed　to　the　grave。　And　〃there　arose　up　a
new　king　over　Egypt；　which　knew　not　Joseph。〃　Not　that　he　was　ignorant　of
Joseph's　services　to　the　nation；　but　he　wished　to　make　no　recognition　of
them；　and；　so　far　as　possible；　to　bury　them　in　oblivion。　〃And　he　said　unto
his　people；　Behold；　the　people　of　the　children　of　Israel　are　more　and
mightier　than　we：　come　on；　let　us　deal　wisely　with　them；　lest　they　multiply；
and　it　come　to　pass；　that；　when　there　falleth　out　any　war；　they　join　also
unto　our　enemies；　and　fight　against　us；　and　so　get　them　up　out　of　the　land。〃

The　Israelites　had　already　become　very　numerous；　they　〃were　fruitful；　and
increased　abundantly；　and　multiplied；　and　waxed

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exceeding　mighty；　and　the　land　was　filled　with　them。〃　Under　Joseph's
fostering　care；　and　the　favor　of　the　king　who　was　then　ruling；　they　had
spread　rapidly　over　the　land。　But　they　had　kept　themselves　a　distinct　race；
having　nothing　in　common　with　the　Egyptians　in　customs　or　religion；　and
their　increasing　numbers　now　excited　the　fears　of　the　king　and　his　people；
lest　in　case　of　war　they　should　join　themselves　with　the　enemies　of　Egypt。
Yet　policy　forbade　their　banishment　from　the　country。　Many　of　them　were　able
and　understanding　workmen；　and　they　added　greatly　to　the　wealth　of　the
nation；　the　king　needed　such　laborers　for　the　erection　of　his　magnificent
palaces　and　temples。　Accordingly　he　ranked　them　with　the　Egyptians　who　had
sold　themselves　with　their　possessions　to　the　kingdom。　Soon　taskmasters　were
set　over　them；　and　their　slavery　became　complete。　〃And　the　Egyptians　made
the　children　of　Israel　to　serve　with　rigor：　and　they　made　their　lives　bitter
with　hard　bondage；　in　mortar；　and　in　brick；　and　in　all　manner　of　service　in
the　field：　all　their　service；　wherein　they　made　them　serve；　was　with　rigor。〃
〃But　the　more　they　afflicted　them；　the　more　they　multiplied　and　grew。〃

The　king　and　his　counselors　had　hoped　to　subdue　the　Israelites　with　hard
labor；　and　thus　decrease　their　numbers　and　crush　out　their　independent
spirit。　Failing　to　accomplish　their　purpose；　they　proceeded　to　more　cruel
measures。　Orders　were　issued　to　the　women　whose　employment　gave　them
opportunity　for　executing　the　command；　to　destroy　the　Hebrew　male　children
at　their　birth。　Satan　was　the　mover　in　this　matter。　He　knew　that　a　deliverer
was　to　be　raised　up　among　the　Israelites；　and　by　leading　the　king　to　destroy
their　children　he　hoped　to　defeat　the　divine　purpose。　But　the　women　feared
God；　and　dared　not　execute　the　cruel　mandate。　The　Lord　approved　their
course；　and　prospered　them。　The　king；　angry　at　the　failure　of　his　design；
made　the　command　more　urgent　and　extensive。　The　whole　nation　was　called　upon
to　hunt　out　and　slaughter　his　helpless　victims。　〃And　Pharaoh　charged　all　his
people；　saying；　Every　son　that　is　born　ye　shall　cast　into　the　river；　and
every　daughter　ye　shall　save　alive。〃

While　this　decree　was　in　full　force　a　son　was　born　to　Amram　and　Jochebed；
devout　Israelites　of　the　tribe　of　Levi。　The　babe　was　〃a　goodly　child；〃　and
the　parents；　believing　that　the　time　of　Israel's　release　was　drawing　near；
and　that　God　would　raise　up　a　deliverer　for　His　people；　determined　that
their　little　one　should

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not　be　sacrificed。　Faith　in　God　strengthened　their　hearts；　〃and　they　were
not　afraid　of　the　king's　commandment。〃　Hebrews　11：23。

The　mother　succeeded　in　concealing　the　child　for　three　months。　Then；　finding
that　she　could　no　longer　keep　him　safely；　she　prepared　a　little　ark　of
rushes；　making　it　watertight　by　means　of　slime　and　pitch；　and　laying　the
babe　therein；　she　placed　it　among　the　flags　at　the　river's　brink。　She　dared
not　remain　to　guard　it；　lest　the　child's　life　and　her　own　should　be
forfeited；　but　his　sister；　Miriam；　lingered　near；　apparently　indifferent；
but　anxiously　watching　to　see　what　would　become　of　her　little　brother。　And
there　were　other　watchers。　The　mother's　earnest　prayers　had　committed　her
child　to　the　care　of　God；　and　angels；　unseen；　hovered　above　his　lowly
resting　place。　Angels　directed　Pharaoh's　daughter　thither。　Her　curiosity　was
excited　by　the　little　basket；　and　as　she　looked　upon　the　beautiful　child
within；　she　read　the　story　at　a　glance。　The　tears　of　the　babe　awakened　her
compassion；　and　her　sympathies　went　out　to　the　unknown　mother　who　had
resorted　to　this　means　to　preserve　the　life　of　her　precious　little　one。　She
determined　that　he　should　be　saved；　she　would　adopt　him　as　her　own。

Miriam　had　been　secretly　noting　every　movement；　perceiving　that　the　child
was　tenderly　regarded；　she　ventured　nearer；　and　at　last　said；　〃Shall　I　go
and　call　thee　a　nurse　of　the　Hebrew　women；　that　she　may　nurse　the　child　for
thee？〃　And　permission　was　given。

The　sister　hastened　to　her　mother　with　the　happy　news；　and　without　delay
returned　with　her　to　the　presence　of　Pharaoh's　daughter。　〃Take　this　chid
away；　and　nurse　it　for　me；　and　I　will　give　thee　thy　wages；〃　said　the
princess。

God　had　heard　the　mother's　prayers；　her　faith　had　been　rewarded。　It　was　with
deep　gratitude　that　she　entered　upon　her　now　safe　and　happy　task。　She
faithfully　improved　her　opportunity　to　educate　her　child　for　God。　She　felt
confident　that　he　had　been　preserved　for　some　great　work；　and　she　knew　that
he　must　soon　be　given　up　to　his　royal　mother；　to　be　surrounded　with
influences　that　would　tend　to　lead　him　away　from　God。　All　this　rendered　her
more　diligent　and　careful　in　his　instruction　than　in　that　of　her　other
children。　She　endeavored　to　imbue　his　mind　with　the　fear　of　God　and　the　love
of　truth　and　justice；　and　earnestly　prayed

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that　he　might　be　preserved　from　every　corrupting　influence。　She　showed　him
the　folly　and　sin　of　idolatry；　and　early　taught　him　to　bow　down　and　pray　to
the　livin