“GO UNTO JOSEPH.”

Hoa Maori, Issue 13, 1 July 1889, Page 7

“ GO UNTO JOSEPH.”

(to the children.)

(Genesis xli. 65.) When Joseph had been made such a great man of, every one that wanted food had to go to him. He had all the com in Egypt in his keeping, and he laid it up in great places called storehouses and it was not till he opened these storehouses that the people could get the wheat, and barley, and rye that were in them. 'When the poor men and women were “ famished.” and cried to Pharaoh the king for bread, he told them they must go to Joseph for he hud it all, to seller to give. So they went to him from out of all countries and with Joseph’s brothers in Canaan God sent a “ mighty famine” into that land, and they “ began to be in want.” Then, when they heard that in Egypt there was com enough and to spare, there was nothing else they could do but go there and get some. So they took their money, and went to Joseph, and they got the com they wanted, and, strange to say, they got all their money back, too ! They came to Egypt “ among those that came ” from other places, and they meant to buy the same as the rest, but Joseph knew his brothers, although they did not yet know him again, and he was not going to sell to his own brothers, whom he loved. They had hated and sold him for money, but he loved them, and would not have their money, even when he had let them have com for it. He told his man to take the money every one of them had brought, and put it back into their sacks along with the com, and he did so. They little thought who it was that was being so kind to them; but it was that same Joseph who had once come to them to do them good. They had put him into the empty pit, and then sold him into Egypt; but now they have come to him there, pinched with hunger, and he will not send them empty away, but fill their bags with corn, and take no money for it either. And is not he like the blessed Lord Jesus? . "When He was here He said, “ Come unto me, and I will give you rest;” For he never sells anything except it be “ without money and without price” (Isaiah Iv. 1.) Pharaoh exalted Joseph, and told every one to come to him ; and Jesus said, “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me ” (John xii. 32.) And again in the sixth chapter of John, He speaks to the people about the bread that gives life for ever which, He says, “ the Son of Man shall give unto you, for Him hath God the Father sealed.” But all must come to Jesus who would be saved from their sins and live with Him in His “Father’s house,” for there is no other name given under heaven among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts iv. 12.) Pharaoh said “ Go unto Joseph; ” Jacob said* “Go again unto the man ;” and the brothers said, We will arise and go, that we may live and not die.” And they went, and came to Joseph, and the second time they

came he made himself known unto them. They were obliged to come, not only because God meant they should go, and bow down at his feet, and not only because Joseph himself still loved them and desired to do them good, but because, if they had not gone, thep must have been starved to death, with their wives and their little ones, In all this he is still a picture of Jesus, to whom all must come by faith if they are to be saved from what is called the second death,” the judgment of God for their sins after they leave this world. Those who truly believe in the Lord Jesus have eternal life, and will never come into judgment (John v. 24.) but there are some who will not come, and they are not saved; as Jesus said, “ Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life.” (John v. 40.) He did not say, “ You may not,” or “ You cannot” but “ You will not. I hope, my dear little readers, you are not among those who “ search the Scriptures,” and learn about Jesus, but do not come to him for themselves. What would have become of Joseph’s brothers if they would not have come to Joseph ? What will become of you if you “will not come ” to Jesus ? (See Matt. xxii. 3 ; Luke xix. 57.) W. Ty.