patriarchs and prophets-第42部分

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maddened　men。　Rudely　dragging　him　to　a　deep　pit；　they　thrust　him　in；　and
having　made　sure　that　there　was　no　possibility　of　his　escape；　they　left　him
there　to　perish　from　hunger；　while　they　〃sat　down　to　eat　bread。〃

But　some　of　them　were　ill　at　ease；　they　did　not　feel　the　satisfaction　they
had　anticipated　from　their　revenge。　Soon　a　company　of　travelers　was　seen
approaching。　It　was　a　caravan　of　Ishmaelites　from　beyond　Jordan；　on　their
way　to　Egypt　with　spices　and　other　merchandise。　Judah　now　proposed　to　sell
their　brother　to　these　heathen　traders　instead　of　leaving　him　to　die。　While
he　would　be　effectually　put　out　of　their　way；　they　would　remain　clear　of　his
blood；　〃for；〃　he　urged；　〃he　is　our　brother　and　our　flesh。〃　To　this
proposition　all　agreed；　and　Joseph　was　quickly　drawn　out　of　the　pit。

As　he　saw　the　merchants　the　dreadful　truth　flashed　upon　him。　To　become　a
slave　was　a　fate　more　to　be　feared　than　death。　In　an　agony　of　terror　he
appealed　to　one　and　another　of　his　brothers；　but　in　vain。　Some　were　moved
with　pity；　but　fear　of　derision　kept　them　silent；　all　felt　that　they　had　now
gone　too　far　to　retreat。　If　Joseph　were　spared；　he　would　doubtless　report
them　to　the　father；

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who　would　not　overlook　their　cruelty　toward　his　favorite　son。　Steeling　their
hearts　against　his　entreaties；　they　delivered　him　into　the　hands　of　the
heathen　traders。　The　caravan　moved　on；　and　was　soon　lost　to　view。

Reuben　returned　to　the　pit；　but　Joseph　was　not　there。　In　alarm　and
self…reproach　he　rent　his　garments；　and　sought　his　brothers；　exclaiming；
〃The　child　is　not；　and　I；　whither　shall　I　go？〃　Upon　learning　the　fate　of
Joseph；　and　that　it　would　now　be　impossible　to　recover　him；　Reuben　was
induced　to　unite　with　the　rest　in　the　attempt　to　conceal　their　guilt。　Having
killed　a　kid；　they　dipped　Joseph's　coat　in　its　blood；　and　took　it　to　their
father；　telling　him　that　they　had　found　it　in　the　fields；　and　that　they
feared　it　was　their　brother's。　〃Know　now；〃　they　said；　〃whether　it　be　thy
son's　coat　or　no。〃　They　had　looked　forward　to　this　scene　with　dread；　but
they　were　not　prepared　for　the　heart…rending　anguish；　the　utter　abandonment
of　grief；　which　they　were　compelled　to　witness。　〃It　is　my　son's　coat；〃　said
Jacob；　〃an　evil　beast　hath　devoured　him。　Joseph　is　without　doubt　rent　in
pieces。〃　Vainly　his　sons　and　daughters　attempted　to　comfort　him。　He　〃rent
his　clothes；　and　put　sackcloth　upon　his　loins；　and　mourned　for　his　son　many
days。〃　Time　seemed　to　bring　no　alleviation　of　his　grief。　〃I　will　go　down
into　the　grave　unto　my　son　mourning；〃　was　his　despairing　cry。　The　young　men；
terrified　at　what　they　had　done；　yet　dreading　their　father's　reproaches；
still　hid　in　their　own　hearts　the　knowledge　of　their　guilt；　which　even　to
themselves　seemed　very　great。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　20

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Joseph　in　Egypt


Meanwhile；　Joseph　with　his　captors　was　on　the　way　to　Egypt。　As　the　caravan
journeyed　southward　toward　the　borders　of　Canaan；　the　boy　could　discern　in
the　distance　the　hills　among　which　lay　his　father's　tents。　Bitterly　he　wept
at　thought　of　that　loving　father　in　his　loneliness　and　affliction。　Again　the
scene　at　Dothan　came　up　before　him。　He　saw　his　angry　brothers　and　felt　their
fierce　glances　bent　upon　him。　The　stinging；　insulting　words　that　had　met　his
agonized　entreaties　were　ringing　in　his　ears。　With　a　trembling　heart　he
looked　forward　to　the　future。　What　a　change　in　situationfrom　the　tenderly
cherished　son　to　the　despised　and　helpless　slave！　Alone　and　friendless；　what
would　be　his　lot　in　the　strange　land　to　which　he　was　going？　For　a　time
Joseph　gave　himself　up　to　uncontrolled　grief　and　terror。

But；　in　the　providence　of　God；　even　this　experience　was　to　be　a　blessing　to
him。　He　had　learned　in　a　few　hours　that　which　years　might　not　otherwise　have
taught　him。　His　father；　strong　and　tender　as　his　love　had　been；　had　done　him
wrong　by　his　partiality　and　indulgence。　This　unwise　preference　had　angered
his　brothers　and　provoked　them　to　the　cruel　deed　that　had　separated　him　from
his　home。　Its　effects　were　manifest　also　in　his　own　character。　Faults　had
been　encouraged　that　were　now　to　be　corrected。　He　was　becoming
self…sufficient　and　exacting。　Accustomed　to　the　tenderness　of　his　father's
care；　he　felt　that　he　was　unprepared　to　cope　with　the　difficulties　before
him；　in　the　bitter；　uncared…for　life　of　a　stranger　and　a　slave。

Then　his　thoughts　turned　to　his　father's　God。　In　his　childhood　he　had　been
taught　to　love　and　fear　Him。　Often　in　his　father's　tent　he　had　listened　to
the　story　of　the　vision　that　Jacob　saw　as　he　fled　from　his　home　an　exile　and
a　fugitive。　He　had　been　told　of　the　Lord's　promises　to　Jacob；　and　how　they
had　been　fulfilledhow；　in　the　hour　of　need；　the　angels　of　God　had　come

214

to　instruct；　comfort；　and　protect　him。　And　he　had　learned　of　the　love　of　God
in　providing　for　men　a　Redeemer。　Now　all　these　precious　lessons　came　vividly
before　him。　Joseph　believed　that　the　God　of　his　fathers　would　be　his　God。　He
then　and　there　gave　himself　fully　to　the　Lord；　and　he　prayed　that　the　Keeper
of　Israel　would　be　with　him　in　the　land　of　his　exile。

His　soul　thrilled　with　the　high　resolve　to　prove　himself　true　to　Godunder
all　circumstances　to　act　as　became　a　subject　of　the　King　of　heaven。　He　would
serve　the　Lord　with　undivided　heart；　he　would　meet　the　trials　of　his　lot
with　fortitude　and　perform　every　duty　with　fidelity。　One　day's　experience
had　been　the　turning　point　in　Joseph's　life。　Its　terrible　calamity　had
transformed　him　from　a　petted　child　to　a　man；　thoughtful；　courageous；　and
self…possessed。

Arriving　in　Egypt；　Joseph　was　sold　to　Potiphar；　captain　of　the　king's　guard；
in　whose　service　he　remained　for　ten　years。　He　was　here　exposed　to
temptations　of　no　ordinary　character。　He　was　in　the　midst　of　idolatry。　The
worship　of　false　gods　was　surrounded　by　all　the　pomp　of　royalty；　supported
by　the　wealth　and　culture　of　the　most　highly　civilized　nation　then　in
existence。　Yet　Joseph　preserved　his　simplicity　and　his　fidelity　to　God。　The
sights　and　sounds　of　vice　were　all　about　him；　but　he　was　as　one　who　saw　and
heard　not。　His　thoughts　were　not　permitted　to　linger　upon　forbidden
subjects。　The　desire　to　gain　the　favor　of　the　Egyptians　could　not　cause　him
to　conceal　his　principles。　Had　he　attempted　to　do　this；　he　would　have　been
overcome　by　temptation；　but　he　was　not　ashamed　of　the　religion　of　his
fathers；　and　he　made　no　effort　to　hide　the　fact　that　he　was　a　worshiper　of
Jehovah。

〃And　the　Lord　was　with　Joseph；　and　he　was　a　prosperous　man。　。　。　。　And　his
master　saw　that　the　Lord　was　with　him；　and　that　the　Lord　made　all　that　he
did　to　prosper　in　his　hand。〃　Potiphar's　confidence　in　Joseph　increased
daily；　and　he　finally　promoted　him　to　be　his　steward；　with　full　control　over
all　his　possessions。　〃And　he　left　all　that　he　had　in　Joseph's　hand；　and　he
knew　not　aught　he　had；　save　the　bread　which　he　did　eat。〃

The　marked　prosperity　which　attended　everything　placed　under　Joseph's　care
was　not　the　result　of　a　direct　miracle；　but　his　industry；　care；　and　energy
were　crowned　with　the　divine　blessing。　Joseph　attributed　his　success　to　the
favor　of　God；　and　even　his　idolatrous　master　accepted　this　as　the　secret　of
his　unparalleled

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prosperity。　Without　steadfast；　well…directed　effort；　however；　success　could
never　have　been　attained。　God　was　glorified　by　the　faithfulness　of　His
servant。　It　was　His　purpose　that　in　purity　and　uprightness　the　believer　in
God　should　appear　in　marked　contrast　to　the　worshipers　of　idolsthat　thus
the　light　of　heavenly　grace　might　shine　forth　amid　the　darkness　of
heathenism。

Joseph's　gentleness　and　fidelity　won　the　heart　of　the　chief　captain；　who
came　to　regard　him　as　a　son　rather　than　a　slave。　The　youth　was　brought　in
contact　with　men　of　rank　and　learning；　and　he　acquired　a　knowledge　of
science；　of　languages；　and　of　affairsan　education　needful　to　the　future
prime　minister　of　Egypt。

But　Joseph's　faith　and　integrity　were　to　be　tested　by　fiery　trials。　His
master's　wife　endeavored　to　entice　the　young　man　to　transgress　the　law　of
God。　Heretofore　he　had　remained　untainted　by　the　corruption　teeming　in　that
heathen　land；　but　this　temptation；　so　sudden；　so　strong；　so　seductivehow
should　it　be　met？　Joseph　knew　well　what　would　be　the　consequence　of
resistance。　On　the　one　hand　were　concealment；　favor；　and　rewards；　on　the
other；　disgrace；　imprisonment；　perhaps　death。　His　whole　future　life　depended
upon　the　decision　of　the　moment。　Would　principle　triumph？　Would　Joseph　still
be　true　to　God？　With　inexpressible　anxiety；　angels　looked　upon　the　scene。

Joseph's　answer　reveals　the　power　of　religious　principle。　He　would　not
betray　the　confidence　of　his　master　on　earth；　and；　whatever　the
consequences；　he　would　be　true　to　his　Master　in　heaven。　Under　the　inspecting
eye　of　God　and　holy　angels　many　take　liberties　of　which　they　would　not　be
guilty　in　the　presence　of　their　fellow　men；　but　Joseph's　first　thought　was
of　God。　〃How　can　I　do　this　great　wickedness；　and　sin　against　God？〃　he　said。

If　we　were　to　cherish　an　habitual　impression　that　God　sees　and　hears　all
that　we　do　and　say　and　keeps　a　faithful　record　of　our　words　and　actions；　and
that　we　must　meet　it　all；　we　would　fear　to　sin。　Let　the　young　ever　remember
that　wherever　they　are；　and　whatever　they　do；　they　are　in　the　presence　of
God。　No　part　of　our　conduct　escapes　observation。　We　cannot　hide　our　ways
from　the　Most　High。　Human　laws；　though　sometimes　severe；　are　often
transgressed　without　detection；　and　hence　with　impunity。　But　not　so　with　the
law　of　God。　The　deepest　midnight　is　no　cover　for　the　guilty　one。　He　may
think　himself　alone；　but　to

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every　deed　there　is　an　unseen　witness。　The　very　motives　of　his　heart　are
open　to　divine　inspection。　Every　act；　every　word；　every　thought；　is　as
distinctly　marked　as　though　there　were　only　one　person　in　the　whole　world；
and　the　attention　of　heaven　were　centered　upon　him。

Joseph　suffered　for　his　integrity；　for　his　tempter　revenged　herself　by
accu