And yet, the more cruel the king of E'gypt became in his effort to destroy the He'brews, the stronger became their faith and courage. All through history members of the Jewish race have been hated and persecuted by people who were jealous of their success, but no tyrant has ever been able to destroy them. Through all the inhuman persecution which they received from Pha'raoh, the He'brews knew that the LORD was with them, He would surely find some way of delivering them from all their troubles.
Even the wicked order of the king to drown all the boys born to the He'brews could not prevent the LORD from raising up a savior for His chosen people when the proper time had come. Among the hundreds of devout families in Is'ra-el at the time there was one most noted for faith in the LORD. The head of this family was named Am'ram, the son of Ko'hath, who was one of the descendants of Ja'cob's son Le'vi. His wife's name was Joch'e-bed, and she was also of noble lineage through her descent from Le'vi. Two children had been born to them before the king had ordered the death of all male children born to the He'brews; one of them was a boy named Aa'ron, and the other was a very lovely girl called Mir'i-am. We shall learn much of the life and work of these two children in future stories.
In the midst of Pha'raoh's bitter persecution of the He'brews Joch'e-bed gave birth to her second son. The nurse who cared for her was gracious and God-fearing, and therefore failed to report this birth to the officers who were charged with drowning all boy babies. Joch'e-bed and her good husband managed to hide the child in their home for three months, but as time went on they feared that he would be discovered by the cruel E'gyp-tians. The mother was not only moved by natural love for a child, but by a divinely given feeling that her new-born son was intended for an important mission among her people.
After keeping the child safely hidden in her home for three months, Joch'e-bed began to search for some way of making sure that he would never be taken from her by the E'gyp-tian officers. As long as the child was kept at home there was always the danger that some unfriendly neighbor or E'gyp-tian spy would discover him, and then the innocent child would be drowned in the river Nile. One day the thought came to her that the daughter of the king came down to the river every day to bathe, and at once there flashed into her mind a way of giving the baby a home in which he would never be in danger. At once she decided to trust in the beauty of the child to win the favor of the king's daughter. The time had come when she had done everything in her power to save the child; from now on his welfare must lie in the hands of the LORD.
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Friday, June 17, 2016
Story 33: Is'ra-el's Slavery In E'gypt And The Birth Of Mo'ses ll
So different were the He'brews from the native E'gyp-tians, and so rapid had been the growth and progress of these chosen people of God, that the new line of kings became fearful that they would revolt against E'gypt. They looked upon the Is'ra-el-ites as a group of strangers who stubbornly clung to their own customs, and who were too proud to become members of the E'gyp-tian empire. "What would happen," they began to ask, "if E'gypt should become involved in a foreign war?" They also said among themselves, "Suppose these rich and powerful Jews were to unite with our enemies, then our country might be overcome by a revolution."
The Pha'raoh who was then on the throne made up his mind that he would crush the spirit of the Jews so thoroughly that there would be no danger of their taking part in a revolt. He decided to make slaves of the He'brews, forcing them to work without wages upon various government projects. Taskmasters were appointed to see that the slaves were driven as hard as possible at their work. The purpose of this cruel treatment was to weaken the He'brews, and in this way to reduce their numbers.
The kings of E'gypt had always been noted for their interest in erecting great public buildings and monuments. The gigantic pyramids, which are among the wonders of the world today, had been built by the hard labor of countless slaves. The huge stones for the pyramid were quarried and shaped by the slaves, carried on floats down the river Nile, and hoisted into position by some wonderful engineering which is unknown today. Magnificent temples, exceeding in size and beauty to many of the finest buildings of this age, had been erected in The'bes, Kar'nak, and Mem'phis.
The Pha'raoh who decided to make slaves of the Is'ra-el-ites also erected many new temples, built great treasure houses and palaces, and ordered the construction of vast tombs for the dead. In addition to these great works, the king must be credited with the building of many roads, a system of canals, and vast embankments in the valley of the Nile.
In carrying out this extensive program of public works, Pha'raoh drafted the He'brews as laborers. He placed over them hard taskmasters, who not only forced them to spend long hours in backbreaking work, but abused and insulted them. The lives of the He'brews were filled with sorrow and suffering; through no fault of their own they had become slaves of the lowest class.
The E'gyp-tians imposed taxes which they knew the He'brews would be unable to pay, and then seized their property as a penalty for not paying the taxes. The unhappy children of Is'ra-el were treated harshly in every possible way, and they were no longer permitted to live according to their own customs. Special efforts were made to destroy their family life, which had been the chief reason for their remarkable growth and strength. To prevent further increase in their numbers the midwives, or nurses who cared for mothers and young children, were ordered to see that all male He'brew children did not live after birth. When the midwives, who worshiped the true God, failed to carry out this cruel demand, it was ordered that all male children born to the He'brews should be thrown into the river Nile at once.
The Pha'raoh who was then on the throne made up his mind that he would crush the spirit of the Jews so thoroughly that there would be no danger of their taking part in a revolt. He decided to make slaves of the He'brews, forcing them to work without wages upon various government projects. Taskmasters were appointed to see that the slaves were driven as hard as possible at their work. The purpose of this cruel treatment was to weaken the He'brews, and in this way to reduce their numbers.
The kings of E'gypt had always been noted for their interest in erecting great public buildings and monuments. The gigantic pyramids, which are among the wonders of the world today, had been built by the hard labor of countless slaves. The huge stones for the pyramid were quarried and shaped by the slaves, carried on floats down the river Nile, and hoisted into position by some wonderful engineering which is unknown today. Magnificent temples, exceeding in size and beauty to many of the finest buildings of this age, had been erected in The'bes, Kar'nak, and Mem'phis.
The Pha'raoh who decided to make slaves of the Is'ra-el-ites also erected many new temples, built great treasure houses and palaces, and ordered the construction of vast tombs for the dead. In addition to these great works, the king must be credited with the building of many roads, a system of canals, and vast embankments in the valley of the Nile.
In carrying out this extensive program of public works, Pha'raoh drafted the He'brews as laborers. He placed over them hard taskmasters, who not only forced them to spend long hours in backbreaking work, but abused and insulted them. The lives of the He'brews were filled with sorrow and suffering; through no fault of their own they had become slaves of the lowest class.
The E'gyp-tians imposed taxes which they knew the He'brews would be unable to pay, and then seized their property as a penalty for not paying the taxes. The unhappy children of Is'ra-el were treated harshly in every possible way, and they were no longer permitted to live according to their own customs. Special efforts were made to destroy their family life, which had been the chief reason for their remarkable growth and strength. To prevent further increase in their numbers the midwives, or nurses who cared for mothers and young children, were ordered to see that all male He'brew children did not live after birth. When the midwives, who worshiped the true God, failed to carry out this cruel demand, it was ordered that all male children born to the He'brews should be thrown into the river Nile at once.
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Story 33: Is'ra-el's Slavery In E'gypt And The Birth Of Mo'ses l
Following the brief story of the death of Jo'seph, the history of Is'ra-el is passed over in silence for a period of one hundred and forty-five years. During this century and a half important changes took place among the royal families which ruled E'gypt, and control of the government passed from the hands of the shepherd kings, who were not members of the original E'gyp-tian royalty, back to native E'gyp-tian rulers. The shepherd kings had treated the He'brews with great kindness, but the E'gyp-tian rulers who followed looked upon them with suspicion and jealousy.
In the Covenant promise made to A'bra-ham, the founder of the He'brew people, God had told him that for four hundred and thirty years his descendants should be under the rule of foreign people, and that in the closing years of this period they would be treated very harshly. Two hundred and fifteen years of this time passed before Ja'cob and his family went down into E'gypt. During this time A'bra-ham, his son I'saac, and then Ja'cob and his family, had lived much of the time in Ca'naan, not as owners of the land, but as wandering strangers.
The land of Ca'naan was largely occupied by various tribes which were all known under the general name of Ca'naan-ites. God had promised A'bra-ham that his descendants should be like the stars of the heavens and the sands of the sea in numbers. Up to the time of the removal of Ja'cob to the land of E'gypt the immediate family of the chosen race had increased to only seventy, including Jo'seph and his family. As a result of God's will in keeping them separate from the E'gyp-tians, and in giving them a land of great fertility, the passing of two hundred years had left the family greatly increased in both numbers and prosperity.
Jo'seph had been ruler in E'gypt for ten years before the removal of Ja'cob and his family to that land, being forty years old at the time, and he ruled for seventy years after the settling of his father and brothers in the land of Go'shen. These were years of good fortune for the children of Is'ra-el, and their numbers increased very rapidly. They remained in the land of E'gypt for one hundred and forty-five years after the death of Jo'seph, and for at least half a century of that period continued to enjoy the kindest of treatment from the E'gyp-tian rulers. The hardships and oppression which followed began shortly before the opening of our next story.
During the years of kind treatment by the rulers of E'gypt, and while they were increased in numbers and wealth, the children of Is'ra-el had been faithful in serving the one true God, and had kept themselves almost entirely free from the idol worship practiced in E'gypt. They lived far away from most of the E'gyp-tians, and were careful not to mingle with them in either marriage or religion. Thus the customs and worship of the Is'ra-el-ites was kept pure, and they soon became a large and powerful band of united people. The tribal life of each of Ja'cob's eleven sons, and of the two sons of Jo'seph, was carefully preserved, and each group was determined to do its part in making Is'ra-el a great nation. They all looked forward to the time when they might return to the land of Ca'naan, where they would be free to prosper as the LORD had promised. In these worthy hopes and ambitions the children of Is'ra-el were misunderstood by the E'gyp-tians, who were greatly alarmed by their growth and power, but who were still unwilling to let them leave the country.
In the Covenant promise made to A'bra-ham, the founder of the He'brew people, God had told him that for four hundred and thirty years his descendants should be under the rule of foreign people, and that in the closing years of this period they would be treated very harshly. Two hundred and fifteen years of this time passed before Ja'cob and his family went down into E'gypt. During this time A'bra-ham, his son I'saac, and then Ja'cob and his family, had lived much of the time in Ca'naan, not as owners of the land, but as wandering strangers.
The land of Ca'naan was largely occupied by various tribes which were all known under the general name of Ca'naan-ites. God had promised A'bra-ham that his descendants should be like the stars of the heavens and the sands of the sea in numbers. Up to the time of the removal of Ja'cob to the land of E'gypt the immediate family of the chosen race had increased to only seventy, including Jo'seph and his family. As a result of God's will in keeping them separate from the E'gyp-tians, and in giving them a land of great fertility, the passing of two hundred years had left the family greatly increased in both numbers and prosperity.
Jo'seph had been ruler in E'gypt for ten years before the removal of Ja'cob and his family to that land, being forty years old at the time, and he ruled for seventy years after the settling of his father and brothers in the land of Go'shen. These were years of good fortune for the children of Is'ra-el, and their numbers increased very rapidly. They remained in the land of E'gypt for one hundred and forty-five years after the death of Jo'seph, and for at least half a century of that period continued to enjoy the kindest of treatment from the E'gyp-tian rulers. The hardships and oppression which followed began shortly before the opening of our next story.
During the years of kind treatment by the rulers of E'gypt, and while they were increased in numbers and wealth, the children of Is'ra-el had been faithful in serving the one true God, and had kept themselves almost entirely free from the idol worship practiced in E'gypt. They lived far away from most of the E'gyp-tians, and were careful not to mingle with them in either marriage or religion. Thus the customs and worship of the Is'ra-el-ites was kept pure, and they soon became a large and powerful band of united people. The tribal life of each of Ja'cob's eleven sons, and of the two sons of Jo'seph, was carefully preserved, and each group was determined to do its part in making Is'ra-el a great nation. They all looked forward to the time when they might return to the land of Ca'naan, where they would be free to prosper as the LORD had promised. In these worthy hopes and ambitions the children of Is'ra-el were misunderstood by the E'gyp-tians, who were greatly alarmed by their growth and power, but who were still unwilling to let them leave the country.
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Story 32: The Closing Years And Death Of Ja'cob ll
In his weakened condition, Ja'cob did not fail to carry out a very solemn duty. Jo'seph's two sons must be made members of the family which God had promised A'bra-ham to bless. The sons of Jo'seph had an E'gyp-tian mother, and had not been born in the Promised Land. It was therefore very important that a blessing should be given them by one whom the LORD had chosen to carry on the promise made to A'bra-ham, and surely no one was more worthy to give it than the man whose name had been changed from "Ja'cob" to "Is'ra-el."
Jo'seph brought his sons before Ja'cob to receive the blessing, and to be adopted into his father's family. Ma-nas"seh, as the older of the two, was placed at the right, while E'phra-im was placed at the left. When Ja'cob stretched forth his arms to bless them, however, he crossed his arms, placing his right hand on the head of E'phra-im, and his left on that of Ma-nas'seh. This meant that the blessing of the firstborn was being given to the younger son.
Thinking that his father's dimness of sight had led him to make what seemed to be a mistake, Jo'seph told his father that he had chosen the wrong son for the chief blessing. But Ja'cob insisted that he was doing what he intended. He said, "The greater blessing shall rest upon E'phra-im; his descendants shall be stronger and more numerous. A double portion is to be bestowed upon Jo'seph, and two shares of the Promised Land are to be given him. Both E'phra-im and Ma-nas'seh are to be the heads of tribes."
Thus the two sons of Jo'seph who belonged to E'gypt by birth, and who might have advanced to the highest ranks in that nation, were now numbered among the children of Is'ra-el. The prophecies which Ja'cob uttered in his dying words all came true, and the descendants of E'phra-im and Ma-nas'seh were among the strongest tribes of Is'ra-el in the land of Ca'naan two hundred years later.
Ja'cob then called his sons to his bedside, and gave his blessing to each one of them in turn. His bodily powers were fast failing, but the strength of his faith in God grew brighter as his eyes dimmed. He believed that God would be with his descendants, bringing them at last up from E'gypt to the Promised Land.
As the things of this world faded from his sight, the glories of the world beyond became more clear, and he was filled with the spirit of true prophecy. He told each son what the history of his descendants would be, and very clearly described the characteristics of each tribe of Is'ra-el. The choice of the tribe of Ju'dah for the honor of carrying on the line through which the Mes-si'ah was to be born was positively announced from the death bed of Ja'cob.
With his life work finished, his last blessing and prophetic message spoken, and his last prayer ended, Ja'cob quietly fell asleep in the LORD.
Jo'seph brought his sons before Ja'cob to receive the blessing, and to be adopted into his father's family. Ma-nas"seh, as the older of the two, was placed at the right, while E'phra-im was placed at the left. When Ja'cob stretched forth his arms to bless them, however, he crossed his arms, placing his right hand on the head of E'phra-im, and his left on that of Ma-nas'seh. This meant that the blessing of the firstborn was being given to the younger son.
Thinking that his father's dimness of sight had led him to make what seemed to be a mistake, Jo'seph told his father that he had chosen the wrong son for the chief blessing. But Ja'cob insisted that he was doing what he intended. He said, "The greater blessing shall rest upon E'phra-im; his descendants shall be stronger and more numerous. A double portion is to be bestowed upon Jo'seph, and two shares of the Promised Land are to be given him. Both E'phra-im and Ma-nas'seh are to be the heads of tribes."
Thus the two sons of Jo'seph who belonged to E'gypt by birth, and who might have advanced to the highest ranks in that nation, were now numbered among the children of Is'ra-el. The prophecies which Ja'cob uttered in his dying words all came true, and the descendants of E'phra-im and Ma-nas'seh were among the strongest tribes of Is'ra-el in the land of Ca'naan two hundred years later.
Ja'cob then called his sons to his bedside, and gave his blessing to each one of them in turn. His bodily powers were fast failing, but the strength of his faith in God grew brighter as his eyes dimmed. He believed that God would be with his descendants, bringing them at last up from E'gypt to the Promised Land.
As the things of this world faded from his sight, the glories of the world beyond became more clear, and he was filled with the spirit of true prophecy. He told each son what the history of his descendants would be, and very clearly described the characteristics of each tribe of Is'ra-el. The choice of the tribe of Ju'dah for the honor of carrying on the line through which the Mes-si'ah was to be born was positively announced from the death bed of Ja'cob.
With his life work finished, his last blessing and prophetic message spoken, and his last prayer ended, Ja'cob quietly fell asleep in the LORD.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Story 32: The Closing Years And Death Of Ja'cob l
After the settlement of his father's family in the land of Go'shen Jo'seph had little time for visiting them. In spite of all the duties which he must perform to help the nation through the distress caused by the famine, he took pains to see that every possible aid was given to his own people.
In managing the affairs of E'gypt during the years of famine, Jo'seph acted with great wisdom. His policy was to supply the needs of the people by selling them grain, not by giving it to them without charge, and thus encouraging idleness until the public peace was endangered. Sometimes he found it necessary to purchase the lands of the people for the king, and to let the people cultivate them on shares. In this way the people received the food they needed without going into debt or becoming beggars.
Jo'seph overlooked nothing that would make the famine easier to bear. Special care was taken to protect the religious leaders of the nation, the supply of food was so wisely handled that no one went hungry, and E'gypt remained strong and wealthy even in the midst of famine. Hard work and loyalty among the people brought generous rewards, and Jo'seph was not only trusted and honored by the king, but was greatly loved by the people.
After the famine of seven years had passed, the people began to prosper again. Their lands were now held by the government, but the people were far from being slaves. One fifth of what they produced was paid to the government as rental for the lands, but there was no other charge.
Ja'cob lived seventeen years after the removal of his family to E'gypt, surviving the famine by twelve years. Seventeen years he had provided for Jo'seph in his youth, and for the same number of years he was provided for by Jo'seph in his old age. Among his greatest joys was that of watching his household grow and prosper.
The family of Ja'cob lived apart from the E'gyp-tians, who regarded them as people of little account, and who therefore shut them out of society and politics. Such treatment by the E'gyp-tians was really a great blessing, for it kept the children of Is'ra-el from mingling with people who worshiped idols, and who did many things that were not to their credit.
Saved from hardship and starvation during the years of famine, settled in a fertile land most suitable for raising sheep and cattle, and free to live in their own way, the Is'ra-el-ites were prepared by the LORD for the wonderful prosperity that was soon to be granted them. The foundations for the future greatness of Is'ra-el as a nation were truly laid out during the years of sojourn in E'gypt.
When Ja'cob felt that the hour of his death was near at hand, he set his house in order for his departure to the land of the saints. He sent for Jo'seph, and made him promise not to bury his body in E'gypt, but in the grave of his father in Canaan. Thus, in his last words, he proved his faith concerning the Promised Land, warned his people against planning to stay in E'gypt forever, and reminded them that they would finally go back to the land of Ca'naan.
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In managing the affairs of E'gypt during the years of famine, Jo'seph acted with great wisdom. His policy was to supply the needs of the people by selling them grain, not by giving it to them without charge, and thus encouraging idleness until the public peace was endangered. Sometimes he found it necessary to purchase the lands of the people for the king, and to let the people cultivate them on shares. In this way the people received the food they needed without going into debt or becoming beggars.
Jo'seph overlooked nothing that would make the famine easier to bear. Special care was taken to protect the religious leaders of the nation, the supply of food was so wisely handled that no one went hungry, and E'gypt remained strong and wealthy even in the midst of famine. Hard work and loyalty among the people brought generous rewards, and Jo'seph was not only trusted and honored by the king, but was greatly loved by the people.
After the famine of seven years had passed, the people began to prosper again. Their lands were now held by the government, but the people were far from being slaves. One fifth of what they produced was paid to the government as rental for the lands, but there was no other charge.
Ja'cob lived seventeen years after the removal of his family to E'gypt, surviving the famine by twelve years. Seventeen years he had provided for Jo'seph in his youth, and for the same number of years he was provided for by Jo'seph in his old age. Among his greatest joys was that of watching his household grow and prosper.
The family of Ja'cob lived apart from the E'gyp-tians, who regarded them as people of little account, and who therefore shut them out of society and politics. Such treatment by the E'gyp-tians was really a great blessing, for it kept the children of Is'ra-el from mingling with people who worshiped idols, and who did many things that were not to their credit.
Saved from hardship and starvation during the years of famine, settled in a fertile land most suitable for raising sheep and cattle, and free to live in their own way, the Is'ra-el-ites were prepared by the LORD for the wonderful prosperity that was soon to be granted them. The foundations for the future greatness of Is'ra-el as a nation were truly laid out during the years of sojourn in E'gypt.
When Ja'cob felt that the hour of his death was near at hand, he set his house in order for his departure to the land of the saints. He sent for Jo'seph, and made him promise not to bury his body in E'gypt, but in the grave of his father in Canaan. Thus, in his last words, he proved his faith concerning the Promised Land, warned his people against planning to stay in E'gypt forever, and reminded them that they would finally go back to the land of Ca'naan.
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Monday, June 13, 2016
Story 31: The Removal Of Ja'cob And His Family To E'gypt IV
Then Jo'seph knew that he must make plans for introducing his family to Pha'roah. This was done by choosing five of his brothers to represent the family before the king. The number five was a favorite of the E'gyp-tians, so in choosing this number of his brothers as representatives, Jo'seph did much to win the favor of the E'gyp-tian court toward his family.
The wisdom and foresight of Jo'seph in keeping his people from mingling with the E'gyp-tians either through marriage or religious customs was then shown in a remarkable way. He told Pha'roah that his father and all his household were shepherds, and that the family had followed this calling for many generations; he also told the brothers who were to appear before the king to make it clear that this was their chosen occupation. For this reason also he selected for their home the land of Go'shen, which was well adapted to the raising of sheep and cattle, and in this way made sure that his family would be kept separate from the E'gyp-tians no matter how long they might stay in the foreign land.
The plans of Jo'seph were carried out perfectly in every way. The five brothers who represented his family appeared before Pha'roah, and were treated with great honor. They asked no favors because of the high position which their brother held in the land, nor did they show any feelings of envy because of his grandeur. They told the king that they had come as pilgrims and sojourners in the land, and that they asked no other favor than that of carrying on their life as shepherds and cattle-raisers. Pha'roah granted their wishes, and gave them permission to make their home in the land of Go'shen. To Jo'seph he said, "as to promoting your brethren, it does not appear to suit their calling or wishes. I leave it to you to make them happy in their own way. Appoint those who are best qualified to be chief of my herdsmen."
As a special honor, Jo'seph then arranged to have his father presented to the E'gyp-tian king. When the time for this meeting arrived, Pha'roah was deeply impressed by the great age and strong religious character of Ja'cob. He politely inquired about the age of his visitor, not from mere curiosity or in a trifling manner, but because he was genuinely interested in the fine old man who stood before him.
Ja'cob was greatly moved by the sight of a king who had been so kind to him, and who had come to the rescue of his family during the terrible famine. With proper respect to the king, and in a spirit of deep gratitude, Ja'cob spoke as a prophet of the LORD in giving a special blessing upon Pha'roah. He prayed to the God of Heaven for the blessings to be given to the king. Speaking most humbly of the years of sorrow and trial which he had known, Ja'cob gave thanks to the LORD for all the blessings which had come to him during the closing years of his life.
The wisdom and foresight of Jo'seph in keeping his people from mingling with the E'gyp-tians either through marriage or religious customs was then shown in a remarkable way. He told Pha'roah that his father and all his household were shepherds, and that the family had followed this calling for many generations; he also told the brothers who were to appear before the king to make it clear that this was their chosen occupation. For this reason also he selected for their home the land of Go'shen, which was well adapted to the raising of sheep and cattle, and in this way made sure that his family would be kept separate from the E'gyp-tians no matter how long they might stay in the foreign land.
The plans of Jo'seph were carried out perfectly in every way. The five brothers who represented his family appeared before Pha'roah, and were treated with great honor. They asked no favors because of the high position which their brother held in the land, nor did they show any feelings of envy because of his grandeur. They told the king that they had come as pilgrims and sojourners in the land, and that they asked no other favor than that of carrying on their life as shepherds and cattle-raisers. Pha'roah granted their wishes, and gave them permission to make their home in the land of Go'shen. To Jo'seph he said, "as to promoting your brethren, it does not appear to suit their calling or wishes. I leave it to you to make them happy in their own way. Appoint those who are best qualified to be chief of my herdsmen."
As a special honor, Jo'seph then arranged to have his father presented to the E'gyp-tian king. When the time for this meeting arrived, Pha'roah was deeply impressed by the great age and strong religious character of Ja'cob. He politely inquired about the age of his visitor, not from mere curiosity or in a trifling manner, but because he was genuinely interested in the fine old man who stood before him.
Ja'cob was greatly moved by the sight of a king who had been so kind to him, and who had come to the rescue of his family during the terrible famine. With proper respect to the king, and in a spirit of deep gratitude, Ja'cob spoke as a prophet of the LORD in giving a special blessing upon Pha'roah. He prayed to the God of Heaven for the blessings to be given to the king. Speaking most humbly of the years of sorrow and trial which he had known, Ja'cob gave thanks to the LORD for all the blessings which had come to him during the closing years of his life.
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Story 31: The Removal Of Ja'cob And His Family To E'gypt lll
The sixty-six members of Ja'cob's household, together with the large numbers of servants in his employ, started toward the land in which Ja'cob's descendants were destined to live for the next two hundred and fifteen years, and where they were to grow into a great people numbering nearly three million souls. Here they were to learn the arts and trades of the greatest nation of their time, and to be prepared both in mind and spirit for a glorious return to the land which they were now leaving.
When they reached Be'er-she'ba, a town on the southern border of the country just before crossing into the wilderness and deserts lying between Ca'naan and E'gypt, there was a pause for sacrifices unto the God of I'saac. Here both A'bra-ham and I'saac had lived at different times in their lives, and the place was filled with memories of these noble ancestors of Ja'cob. Before leaving the land which had been promised to his descendants, Ja'cob sought to know the will of God. He felt sure that the right course was being followed, and that Jo'seph would do all that he had promised, but before making so dangerous a journey into a foreign land he thought it wise to seek guidance from the LORD.
While Ja'cob and his sons were engaged in this act of worship, the LORD appeared to Ja'cob in a wonderful vision. He revealed Himself to Ja'cob as the Almighty, who was able to keep all His promises, and to bring Ja'cob in perfect safety through all the trials and hardships of the journey. The LORD said to Ja'cob, "Fear not to go down into E'gypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation. I will go down with thee into E'gypt, and I will also surely bring thee up again." In these words the LORD renewed His promise to make a great nation of the descendants of Ja'cob, and in due time to bring them back to the land of Ca'naan.
Upon reaching the borders of E'gypt, Ja'cob and his large company halted their march for a short time. Ja'cob then sent his son Ju'dah, who had shown his ability as a leader on other occasions, to inform Jo'seph of their arrival, and to ask him what course they should follow in entering the new land. E'gypt was a strong, well organized kingdom, and a group of wandering shepherds could not safely pass through the land without proper ceremony and official protection. Authority and directions were given for them to pass directly to the land of Go'shen, which was the finest pasture land in all E'gypt.
Jo'seph at once ordered his official chariot made ready, and quickly drove out to meet his father. Ja'cob and his beloved son fell into the arms of one another, embraced most tenderly, and for a long time shed tears of happiness. For the first time since he had sent the lad of seventeen upon a long and dangerous journey to Do'than with a message for his brothers, Ja'cob now looked upon the face of his favorite son. So happy was he that he expressed a desire to pass on at once to the Happy Land beyond this life, but it was God's will that he should live for another seventeen years.
When they reached Be'er-she'ba, a town on the southern border of the country just before crossing into the wilderness and deserts lying between Ca'naan and E'gypt, there was a pause for sacrifices unto the God of I'saac. Here both A'bra-ham and I'saac had lived at different times in their lives, and the place was filled with memories of these noble ancestors of Ja'cob. Before leaving the land which had been promised to his descendants, Ja'cob sought to know the will of God. He felt sure that the right course was being followed, and that Jo'seph would do all that he had promised, but before making so dangerous a journey into a foreign land he thought it wise to seek guidance from the LORD.
While Ja'cob and his sons were engaged in this act of worship, the LORD appeared to Ja'cob in a wonderful vision. He revealed Himself to Ja'cob as the Almighty, who was able to keep all His promises, and to bring Ja'cob in perfect safety through all the trials and hardships of the journey. The LORD said to Ja'cob, "Fear not to go down into E'gypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation. I will go down with thee into E'gypt, and I will also surely bring thee up again." In these words the LORD renewed His promise to make a great nation of the descendants of Ja'cob, and in due time to bring them back to the land of Ca'naan.
Upon reaching the borders of E'gypt, Ja'cob and his large company halted their march for a short time. Ja'cob then sent his son Ju'dah, who had shown his ability as a leader on other occasions, to inform Jo'seph of their arrival, and to ask him what course they should follow in entering the new land. E'gypt was a strong, well organized kingdom, and a group of wandering shepherds could not safely pass through the land without proper ceremony and official protection. Authority and directions were given for them to pass directly to the land of Go'shen, which was the finest pasture land in all E'gypt.
Jo'seph at once ordered his official chariot made ready, and quickly drove out to meet his father. Ja'cob and his beloved son fell into the arms of one another, embraced most tenderly, and for a long time shed tears of happiness. For the first time since he had sent the lad of seventeen upon a long and dangerous journey to Do'than with a message for his brothers, Ja'cob now looked upon the face of his favorite son. So happy was he that he expressed a desire to pass on at once to the Happy Land beyond this life, but it was God's will that he should live for another seventeen years.
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