Genesis 42:3-20 And Joseph's ten brothers went down to buy corn in Egypt.… Men troubled by memory of former sins, not because they doubt mercy of God, but because they doubt themselves. Jacob's sons better men than formerly, yet the retribution follows. I. The vengeance of TIME. The sin of twenty years ago. Time no friend to the sinner. Time gives the harvest opportunity and room to develop. Years of Joseph's imprisonment. Years of torture to brethren. II. The vengeance of CIRCUMSTANCES. Every link in chain, strong and connected with next link. "Remarkable series of coincidences," very. The plots and counterplots of fiction: of. with Scripture. III. The vengeance of MEMORY. Joseph's cries wrought into the mental texture of these men. Hetfy, in "Adam Bede." The baby's cry: " Son, remember." Memory, a cup of blessing, or devil's scourge. IV. The vengeance of CONSCIENCE. Memory may exaggerate, extenuate, add, subtract, &c. But conscience is a just judge. Hamlet, "The play's the thing," &c. Adonibezak, conscience-stricken wretch. V. The vengeance of PUBLICITY. Evildoers clever in blocking up ninety-nine avenues of discovery. The 100th. The shame. The collapse. Conclusion: Vengeance, not last word in relation to sin. "We know that He was manifested," &c. "Better to fall," &c. "Faithful and just." "Though your sins as mountains rise," &c. (A. P. Watson.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.WEB: Joseph's ten brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. |
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