HOME READINGS. M. The last days of Jacob.. Gen. 48. 8-22. READY TIME.-B. C. 1689. Jacob in Egypt, at the age of one hundred and forty-seven years, now about to die." CONNECTING LINKS.-1. The years of famine. Gen. 47. 13-27. 2. The close of Jacob's life. Gen. 47. 28-48. 7. EXPLANATIONS.-Israel, Joseph, Manasseh, Ephraim, Abraham, Isaac, Amorite. See Descriptive Index. Not thought to see thy face-As he had supposed Joseph to be dead. Thy seed-Thy children. Toward Israel's left hand-He placed Ephraim on the left, as the younger. Guiding his hands wittingly-Of his own accord. Manasseh was the first-born-And, therefore, expected to receive the greater blessing. The Angel-The Angel Jehovah, or the Covenant-angel. My name be named upon them-Let them be Israelites, and not Egyptians in their nationality. His younger brother - The tribe of Ephraim, next to Judah, was the most important and powerful in Israel. One portion above thy brethren-Joseph was represented by the two tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. Took out of the handEither a reference to the conquest of Shechem, (Gen. 34. 26-29,) or a prophecy of the conquest of Canaan. QUESTIONS ON THE LESSON. 1. An old man's joy, v. 8-12; Psa. 127. 3. When did this meeting take place? Who were present? What did Joseph say concerning his children? Who was their mother? Gen. 41. 50. Why did Joseph prefer them to be brought up as Israelites rather than Egyptians? How did Jacob express his joy at meeting them? What purposes of God were accomplished in the trials of Jacob and Joseph? How did Joseph show honor to his father? What commandment did he,observe? Exod. 20. 12. 2. A prophet's blessing, v. 13–22; Isa. 63. 9. What was Joseph's purpose in presenting his sons to Jacob? Why did he desire Manasseh to stand at Jacob's right hand? How did Jacob show a prophetic instinct? What prophetic promises did he bestow upon them? How were the prophecies fulfilled respecting Ephraim? Num. 1. 33; Deut. 33. 17. Where was the inheritance of Manasseh in Canaan? Num. 32. 33, 39; Josh. 17. 7-11. What was Jacob's prediction concerning a return to Canaan? How and when was it fulfilled? What privilege did Joseph receive above his brethren? 1 Chron. 5. 2; Josh. 17. 14-18. What well was in the inheritance of his family? John 4. 5. What better inheritance did Joseph himself receive? Heb. 11. 16. PRACTICAL TEACHINGS. What does this lesson teach 1. Concerning prophetic inspiration? 2. Concerning the divine choice? 3. Concerning the privileges of God's people? SUBJECTS FOR STUDY.-The choice of Egyptian honors or Israelite promises....God's choice not always man's choice....The double inheritance. THE LESSON CATECHISM.-(For the entire school.) 1. Whom did Joseph bring to his father for a blessing? His sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2. On whom did Jacob bestow the greater blessing? On Ephraim, the younger son. 3. What did he promise to the descendants of Joseph? One portion above their brethren. 4. What did he promise to all his family? A return to the land of Canaan. DOCTRINAL. SUGGESTION-The divine election. B. C. 1635.] LESSON XI. [Dec. 12. THE LAST DAYS OF JOSEPH; or, A Prince's Faith. Gen. 50. 14-26. Commit to memory verses 18-21. 14 And Jo'seph returned into E'gypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father. 15 And when Jo'seph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they I said, Jo'seph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. 1 Job 15. 21. 16 And they a sent a messenger unto Jo'seph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, a Charged. 17 So shall ye say unto Jo'seph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for 2 they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Jo'seph wept when they spake unto him. 2 Prov. 28. 13.3 Chap. 49. 25. 18 And his brethren also went and 4 fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. 4 Chap. 37. 7, 10. 19 And Jo'seph said unto them, Fear not; 5 for am I in the place of God? 5 Deut. 32. 35; Rom. 12. 19; Heb. 10. 30. 7 20 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. 6 Psa. 56, 5; Isa. 10. 7.7 Chap. 45. 5, 7; Acts 3. 13-15. 21 Now therefore fear ye not: 8I will nourish you and your little And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them. ones. 8 Chap. 47. 12; Matt. 5. 44. To their hearts. 22 And Jo'seph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father's house: and, Jo'seph lived an hundred and ten years. 23 And Jo'seph saw E'phra-im's children of the third generation: the children also of Ma'chir the son of Ma-nas'seh 10 were brought up upon Jo'seph's knees. 9 Job 42. 16.-10 Chap. 30. 3.- Borne. 24 And Jo'seph said unto his brethren, I die: and 11 God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this 12 land unto the land which he sware to A'bra-ham, to I'saac, and to Ja'cob. 11 Exod. 8. 16, 17; Heb. 11. 22.-12 Chap. 26. 3. 25 And 18Jo'seph took an oath of the children of Is'ra-el, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. 13 Chap. 47. 29; Exod. 13. 19: Josh. 24. 32. 26 So Jo'seph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. HOME READINGS. M. The last days of Joseph.... .. Gen. 50. 14-26. Tu. The departure from Egypt....Exod. 13. 17-22. W. The burial of Joseph.. Th. Joseph's dying faith.. F. Forgiveness of injuries. S. Overcoming evil.. S. .Josh. 24. 25-33. Heb. 11. 13-22. Matt. 5. 38-48. .Rom. 12. 14-21. The example of forgiveness...1 Pet. 3. 8-18. TIME. From verse 14 to verse 21, B. C. 1690, soon after the events of the last lesson. Verse 26, the death of Joseph, B. C. 1635. The children of Israel were at this time in Egypt. CONNECTING LINKS.-1. The last words of Jacob. Gen. 49. 1-32. 2. The death and burial of Jacob. Gen. 49. 33-50. 13. EXPLANATIONS.-(For names of persons and places see Descriptive Index.)-Peradventure-Perhaps. Requite us all the evil-Revenge, or punishment for their wrong done in selling Joseph as a slave. Fell down before his face-As had been foretold in Joseph's dream. Gen. 37.6-9. Am I in the place of God?-Punishment of sin is the right of God only. God meant it unto good-And so overruled the evil act. Upon Joseph's knees -Thus being adopted as his own. God will surely visit you-A prophecy fulfilled one hundred and fifty-six years after. Carry up my bones-He commanded them to keep his body unburied until they should return to their own land; thus showing his own faith, and encouraging their faith also. Embalmed-By a process whereby the body was kept without decay. In a coffin-Probably of stone. GOLDEN TEXT. LESSON HYMN. L. M. How sweet the hour of closing day, When all is peaceful and serene, The memory of the just is And when the sun, with cloudless ray, blessed. Prov. 10. 7. Sheds mellow luster o'er the scene! Such is the Christian's parting hour; So peacefully he sinks to rest; When faith, endued from heaven with QUESTIONS ON THE LESSON. 1. Fear, v. 14-18; Prov. 28. 1. For what purpose had Joseph gone up from Egypt? ver. 13. What events occurred at the funeral services for Jacob? Why did Joseph's brothers fear his wrath after their father's How do their fears show a guilty conscience? How did such fears do injustice to Joseph's character? How did they address him? What was thus fulfilled? Gen. 37. 6-9. How did their conduct illustrate Prov. 28. 13? What duty did they exemplify? 2. Forgiveness, v. 19-21; Rom. 12. 19. What might we expect from Joseph's character? [death? How did God overrule their conduct? What illustration of Eph. 4. 32 did Joseph present? How should we treat those who have done us evil? 3. Faith, v. 22-26; Heb. 11. 22. What was the difference between the earlier and How were Joseph's bones in Egypt an encourage ment to the faith of the Israelites? What was the history of his embalmed body? Exod. 13. 19. Josh. 24. 32. PRACTICAL TEACHINGS. What does this lesson show 1. Concerning a guilty conscience? 2. Concerning the providence of God? 3. Concerning faith in the promises of God? SUBJECTS FOR STUDY.-The terrors of the wicked....Heedless fears....God reconciling man's wickedness.... Faith on a dying bed. THE LESSON CATECHISM.--(For the entire school.)-1. What did Joseph's brethren fear after their father's death? The revenge of their brother. 2. What did they beseech from him? Forgiveness for their crime. 3. What did Joseph tell them? He spoke kindly, and comforted them. 4. How old was Joseph when he died? One hundred and ten years. 5. What did he command to the Israelites? To carry his bones into Canaan. DOCTRINAL SUGGESTION-God's overruling providence. |