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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
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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