International S. S. Lessons

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 2, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 22.

International S. S. Lessons.

"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading."—Neh. 8:8

LESSON III.—SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 1894.

[NOTE.—The questions which follow are merely suggestive for the student on the leading points of the lesson; it is presumed that the thorough student will think of many more as he studies the subject. References, where verses alone are given, always refer to the lesson scripture printed above. All other references are given in book, chapter, and verse. The text printed is that of the Revised Version, not because it is especially preferred, but because it is not found in every family, as is the common version.]

JOSEPH SOLD INTO EGYPT.

Lesson Scripture, Gen. 37: 23-36.

AND it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colors that was on him;
And they took him, and cast him into the pit; and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.
And they sat down to eat bread; and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a traveling company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.
And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood?
Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother, our flesh. And his brethren hearkened unto him.
And 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.
And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.
And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?
And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a he goat, 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 not.
And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.
And Jacob rent his garments, 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 to the grave to my son mourning. And his father wept for him.
And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard.

Golden Text: "Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good." Gen. 50: 20.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

Give an account of the intervening events between this lesson and our last. See note 1.
What did they do to Joseph when he reached them? Verse 23.
Where did they cast him? Verse 24.
After placing him in the pit, what did they do? Verse 25, first clause.
While sitting there, whom did they see coming?
What idea did this suggest to Judah? and what did he say? Verse 26.
What proposal did he make to his brothers? Verse 27. Note 2.
How did Judah's brethren accept of his proposal? Verse 27.
To whom did they sell him? and for how much? Verse 28. Note 3.
What did the Ishmaelites do with Joseph? Verse 28, last clause.
When Reuben returned, expecting to find Joseph in the pit, how did he show his disappointment? Note 4.
What did they do to conceal their crime? Verse 31.
What did they say as they carried the bloody coat to their father?
To what false conclusion did Jacob naturally come?
How did Jacob manifest his sore grief?
What did he say as his sons and daughters endeavored to comfort him?
To whom was Joseph sold?
In all this evil intended against Joseph, what was God's intention? Golden text.

NOTES.

1. Our last lesson closed with Genesis 37:11, giving an account of how Joseph's brethren envied him because of his dreams; the love which his father bore him; how his father cherished all these dreams of Joseph, believing that the Lord had some purpose

in them. After this we read of Joseph visiting his brethren as they fed their flocks in Dothan; how when they saw him coming, they said, "Behold, this dreamer cometh. Let us slay him and cast him into one of these pits;" how Reuben delivered him out of their hands, and said, "Let us not take his life, but let us cast him into this pit," using this subterfuge that he might afterwards deliver him to his father. Here is where Reuben's weakness of character is shown. If he had stood up boldly for Joseph, it would have been at least much better for him. He was an unconscious part, however, in working out one of God's providences for his people.

2. "Let not our hand be upon him."-Judah was evidently moved by one of Satan's ever ready excuses. After determining to kill an innocent boy, he thought that he was fully justified in selling him as a slave, because selling him was not nearly as bad as killing him. The selfishness and envy cherished by the brothers were just as much at the bottom of this, as was their determination to put him to death. He had dreamed that he would be over them, that they would bow down to him, and they could not bear the thought of having him with them. Their determination was to put him so far away that there would never be any prospect of his reigning over them. However, they were taking the very steps that would bring this about, although unconsciously to themselves. "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh," the Lord said, when the rulers would plot against the Lord Jesus Christ; and so it is when Satan's agents plot against God's people. God will overrule their foulest designs to bring good to his own.

3. Ishmaelites.—Called also in this chapter Midianites or Medanites. Midian and Medan were sons of Keturah, one of Abraham's later wives, and therefore cousins of Ishmael. They were therefore related to Joseph. Probably the chief of the tribes was Ishmael, and they may all have been called Ishmaelites. Ishmael may have had descendants among them. It is impossible to realize the wickedness of this whole transaction. Here were Joseph's own brothers, because of their own innate wickedness and jealousy, selling him to be a slave, first throwing him into a pit, while they enjoyed their merry meal, and, as they afterwards said, "would not hear the anguish of his spirit." The boy, no doubt, wept there, and cried for mercy. The prophet Amos, in looking to the recklessness and heartless indifference of a certain generation, can find no other way of expressing it than to say that they "drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments; but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph." The very worst punishment which sin can possibly bring is to harden the heart against all mercy, kindness, and sympathy; that condition in which the heart knows not its condition; that blindness where the soul does not realize that it is blind. Those who purchased Joseph were sons of the faithful Abraham and relatives of the boy whom they were buying; but they evidently thought that if the brothers were justified in selling, they were in buying. Joseph was sold for two-thirds of what Christ was sold for.

4. REUBEN evidently was not at the dinner and had nothing to do with the bargain of selling Joseph. He seems to have been the only one whose impulses of heart were not hardened, and yet there was that weakness and instability of character which yielded to the stress of circumstances. He should have told his father the truth, but he yielded to the suggestions of his brothers.