PLOTTING AGAINST THE JUST.
LESSON 18.—SABBATH, MAY 5.
1. WHERE did Jacob dwell?
"And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan." Gen. 37:1. 2. In what light did the patriarchs consider their residence in the land of Canaan?
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." Heb. 11:13. 3. To what did they look forward as a permanent residence?
"But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city." Heb. 11:16. 4. How many sons had Jacob?
"Now the sons of Jacob were twelve." Gen. 35: 22, last clause. 5. Which one did Jacob love the most?
"Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat of many colors." Gen. 37:3. 6. How did Joseph's brethren regard him?
"And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him." Verse 4. 7. What made them hate him still more?
Verses 5-11. 8. Upon what errand did Jacob send Joseph?
"And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I. And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem." Verses 13, 14. 9. When his brethren saw him coming, what did they propose to do?
"And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him." "Come now therefore, and let us slay him, 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." Verses 18, 20. 10. What did they do with him when he came?
"And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him; and they took him, and cast him into a pit; and the pit was empty, there was no water in it." Verses 23, 24. 11. How did they afterwards dispose of him?
Verses 25-27. 12. For how much did they sell him?
"Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver; and they brought Joseph into Egypt." Verse 28. 13. How do the wicked ever regard the just?
"The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth." Ps. 37:12. 14. What trait was it that moved Joseph's brethren to sell him into Egypt?
"And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt; but God was with him." Acts 7:9. 15. What scripture was verified in their case?
"For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." James 3:16. 16. In what class is envy placed?
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Gal. 5:19-21. 17. What is said of those who do such things? 18. What course did they take to deceive their father?
"And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; and they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found; know now whether it be thy son's coat or no." Gen. 37:31, 32. 19. When Jacob saw the coat, what did he at once conclude?
"And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces." Verse 33. 20. How did this affect Jacob?
"And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him." Verses 34, 35. 21. Can you recall any actions of Jacob that were of a similar character to this wicked deception? Relate them. 22. When had Jacob been forgiven for his wicked deeds? 23. What important lesson may we draw from this?—That although a sin may be forgiven, the results of it may remain, and the one who committed it will often have it brought before him, and will suffer in consequence. 24. What scripture is fulfilled even in this life?
"For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." Matt. 7:2.