stempublishing.com : J. N. Darby : Synopsis : Genesis : Chapters 42 to 47 | Next chapter |
Introduction Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapters 6 to 8 Chapter 9 Chapters 10 and 11 Chapter 12 Chapters 13 and 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapters 20 and 21 Chapters 22 to 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapters 29 to 35 Chapter 36 Chapters 37 to 41 Chapters 42 to 47 Chapters 48 to 50 |
Repentance and humiliation bring blessing through the once-rejected OneAt the same time another scene presents itself. His brethren, who had rejected him, forced by famine, are brought, by the path of repentance and humiliation, to own him at length in glory, whom they had once rejected when connected with themselves. Benjamin, type of the power of the Lord upon earth among the Jews, is united to him who, unknown, had the power of the throne among the Gentiles; that is, Christ unites these two characters. But this brings all the brethren into connection with Joseph. Finally, Jacob and his family are placed, as a people apart, in the most favoured country of all that was under the power of the throne of the great king. Nothing can be more touching than the conduct of Joseph towards his brethren; but I must leave these reflections to the hearts of my readers, placing them as far as my hearty desires can, under the precious influence of the Spirit of God. The rapid survey I have given, gives the type a clearer application than more detail would, and that is what is of the deepest interest here. Joseph revelaed to his brethren in glory and graceOnly remark that here the repentance is immediately in connection with the rejection of Joseph; this is brought on the conscience of Joseph's brethren. So in the end will it be with Israel. It is not here in reference to the law — that we shall have after Sinai — but in typical connection with the Messiah Their consciences are fully convinced, and they go back to all the circumstances of his rejection. It is only gradually that Joseph reveals himself, and with many exercises of heart, which his dealings work in his brethren. In the end Judah is brought into prominence in connection with Benjamin. It is when Judah takes the sorrow of Israel to heart, in connection with Benjamin, and the loss of Joseph, and puts himself into it, that Joseph, in his glory, is revealed to them as their brother it is a lovely scene. The perfect grace of Joseph at the end is a wonderful picture of Christ's revelation of Himself (Gen. 45:4-8, et seq.). God's children and the worldIt is touching to remark, when Jacob is presented to Pharaoh, though acknowledging that, compared with those of his fathers, his life had been a sad one, he can bless the monarch of all the country, himself a despised shepherd; and "without contradiction the less is blessed of the greater." The least and most faltering of God's children has the superiority, and is conscious of it, in presence of the most elevated men of the world. Israel blessed in grace in connection with a risen Saviour
The coming down to Egypt was according to God. so we have here
Israel viewed as abiding God's time, even when oppressed, not as
cast out and wandering as the effect of disobedience. Both are
true. God, remark, appears to him as the God of Isaac his father,
not of Abraham: his blessing comes under the risen Christ. What
hangs on promises Israel has lost by the rejection of Christ; but
God can appear for him in pure grace, in connection with a risen
Saviour, and fulfil them according to His own faithfulness*; and
so it is in figure here. Therefore is Israel blessed in spite of
all, though long oppressed and a stranger. When he is in connection
with Joseph, the scene changes; that is, in his connection, in the
world, with a glorified Christ revealed to him there, he has the
best of the land, which is brought into universal order and
subjection as belonging to Pharaoh, whom Joseph represented, and
whose authority he exercised over it. Beersheba, the border of
Israel — from henceforward he was a stranger — is the place of
this revelation of God. One cannot fail to see in the history of Joseph one of the most remarkable types of the Lord Jesus, and that, in many details of the ways of God in regard to the Jews and Gentiles. |
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