English | EGW Writings The shield which covered Joseph's heart, was the fear of God, which caused him to be faithful and just to his master, and true to God. He also directed his sons to take double money, and return the money found in their sacks; for it might have been, As his sons were about to leave him to go on their doubtful journey, their aged father arose, and, while standing in their midst, raised his hands to heaven, and entreated the Lord to go with them, and pronounced upon them a gracious benediction. Joseph listened to his father's instructions, and feared the Lord. And they built for Pharaoh treasure-cities, Pithom, and Raamses. He advised them to put him in the pit, and designed to return and take him to his father. He said to them, Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; for God did send me before you to preserve life. He commenced with the eldest. But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. They agree to accept this proposition of Joseph's, but express to one another little hope that their father will let Benjamin return with them. The princes in charge of the different portions of his realm were directed to arrange for the faithful ministry of teaching priests. He had placed his reputation and interest in the hands of God. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? For they have consulted together with one consent: They are confederate against Thee: The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; Of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek. Do unto them as unto the Midianites; As to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: Let them be confounded and troubled forever; Yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: That men may know that Thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, Art the Most High over all the earth. Psalm 83. But the last years of Jacob's life were more peaceful. He gave gifts unto men. With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen. Virtue will in time bring its own reward. Chapter 18The Healing of the Waters. God designed that he should obtain an experience by temptations, adversity, and hardships, to prepare him to fill an exalted position. They talked despondingly to one another in regard to being able to supply their families with food. And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the Lord, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass. or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. They have taken crafty counsel against Thy people, And consulted against Thy hidden ones. Ellen Gould Harmon White | American Religious Leader & Prophetess And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high., Early in the morning they rose and went into the wilderness of Tekoa. It is not in me. God alone can explain these mysteries. And the Lord was with Joseph, and he prospered him, and gave him favor with his master, so that all he possessed he intrusted to Joseph's care. And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them; and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived. Ellen G. White Estate: SOP Day 2014: Sermon The Review and Herald Ellen G. White Writings Joseph listened to his father's instructions, and feared the Lord. , that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been informed" (verses 3, 4, R.S.V.). Judah was the first to express his feelings. They identify with those who believe that God inspires thoughts through visions, dreams, or direct address, but, except in rare instances, not the forms of expression by which those thoughts are to be conveyed to others. Joseph was sold to his enemies, by his own brethren, for a small sum of money. He despised that ingratitude which would lead him to abuse his master's confidence, although his master might never learn the fact. Ahab hoped that by joining his forces with those of Judah he might regain Ramoth, one of the old cities of refuge, which, he contended, rightfully belonged to the Israelites. Jesus came to his own, but his own received him not. If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? Everything would grow in great abundance. They thought that Joseph had concealed his resentment, out of respect for their father; and now that he was dead, he would be revenged for the ill treatment he had suffered at their hands. Jacob appeared to regard the dreams of his son with indifference. Behold, the money which we found in our sacks mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan; how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold? And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the Lord, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass. Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me Lord of all Egypt. (From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel. or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? The three days of confinement were days of bitter sorrow with Jacob's sons. 1SP 155.1, In regard to Judah, Jacob's words of inspiration were more joyful. And would not this strengthen the hands of the valiant soldiers who today are standing in defense of truth? He went out again through the people from Beersheba to Mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the Lord God of their fathers. Verse 4. He died for the guilty race; and, while suffering the most cruel torture, meekly forgave his murderers. And he said, Not also let it be according unto your words; he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless. He laid the matter before his father, hoping that his authority might reform them. "There cometh a great multitude against thee," was the message, "the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside." Whenever we recognize similarities we must also see the dissimilarities. Jacob was distressed, and said unto. Is he yet alive? This only imbittered them against him. And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. It was a singular way of going to battle against the enemy's armypraising the Lord with singing, and exalting the God of Israel. In obedience to God's law there is great gain. He told them his errand, but they answered him not. They then took hold of him violently. He thought that if he could move the king to destroy the male children, the purpose of God would be defeated. The Work Expands ? He had seen the interpretation of the dream exactly fulfilled, yet in his prosperity he forgot Joseph in his affliction and confinement. His self-control, and patience in adversity, and his unwavering fidelity, are left on record for the benefit of all who should afterward live on the earth. He gave gifts unto men. But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him. Luke's final product was an extended, more complete life of Jesus, which included material not found in Matthew, Mark, or John. They decided to all remain, and suffer together, rather than to bring greater sorrow upon their father by the loss of his much-loved Benjamin. 1SP 130.3, Joseph was greatly afflicted to be separated from his father, and his bitterest sorrow was in reflecting upon his father's grief. And he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities, the food of the field which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. Knowing this, Jehoshaphat took steps to ensure to his people thorough instruction in the Holy Scriptures. EGW Writings: The Complete Published Books of Ellen G. White He mourned deeply at the loss of Joseph, and when Simeon was retained in Egypt, he manifested grief, and expressed his anxious wish that his children should return safely from Egypt with their brother Simeon. They possessed the beauty of holiness. Jacob was distressed, and said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children; Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away. Yet he was despised and insulted, mocked and derided, for no other reason than because of his righteous life, which was a constant rebuke to sin. This selective skill is another instance of the guiding, guarding role of the Holy Spirit. 1SP 156.2, Joseph could not bear the thought that his brethren should think that he harbored a spirit of revenge toward them whom he cordially loved. Joseph, by being sold by his brethren into Egypt, became a saviour to his father's family. And they thought that it might have been intentionally placed there for the purpose of finding occasion against them to make them slaves, and that they were brought into the ruler's house to better accomplish this object. "It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jeshoshaphat" (2 Chron. The articles by Arthur L. White in the Adventist Review (January, February, 1978; July and August, 1979, now avail able in reprint) were especially helpful. And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. But God, by the spirit of prophecy, elevated the mind of Jacob above his natural feelings. 1SP 153.2, Jacob told the king that his years had been few and evil; that is, he had seen much trouble, and suffered much perplexity, which had cut short his years. 1SP 138.1, Although Joseph was exalted as a ruler over all the land, yet he did not forget God. He advised them to put him in the pit, and designed to return and take him to his father. He saw that he possessed an excellent spirit. O Lord God of our fathers he petitioned, art not Thou God in heaven? To this wise provision for the spiritual needs of his subjects, Jehoshaphat owed much of his prosperity as a ruler. crucify him! His father and Benjamin are the very ones Joseph wishes to learn in regard to. And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again., Joseph, unsuspicious of what was to befall him, approached his brethren with gladness of heart to greet them after his long, wearisome journey. From Philistia he received tribute money and presents; from Arabia, large flocks of sheep and goats. They then took hold of him violently. God was the strength of Judah in this crisis, and He is the strength of His people today. He then directed that his brethren should be liberally supplied with provision, and that every man's money should be placed in his sack. 1SP 147.1, Kings and rulers had a cup from which they drank, which was considered a sure detective if any poisonous substance was placed in their drink. PK 199.2, And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom Thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of Thy possession, which Thou hast given us to inherit. Luke's insight as a physician is reflected in the way he describes some events (Luke 4:38; 5:12; 8:43, etc.). Ellen White's comment that the Holy Spirit "guided the mind [of the Bible writer] in the selection of what to speak and what to write" (The Great Controversy, p. vi) explains also how she was assisted in selecting or rejecting information from existing materials. Here Joseph suffered because he would not yield his integrity. 1SP 158.1, The chief priests and elders were jealous of Christ, that he would draw the attention of the people away from themselves, to him. He had proved his brethren, and had seen in them the fruits of true repentance for their sins; and he was so deeply affected that he could no longer conceal his feelings, and requested to be left alone with his brethren. His exemplary conduct, humble deportment, and faithfulness, obtained for him the confidence of all in the prison, and those who were connected with it. Judah says to his father that he cannot go down unless Benjamin is with them; for the man did solemnly protest unto us saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. Judah assures his father that he will be surety for his brother, that if he would send him with them they would go, and if he did not bring Benjamin back, he would bear the blame of it forever. Several viewpoints have been expressed, but all seem to be contributing to our storehouse of under standing. While he was confined in prison, Pharaoh became offended with two of his officers, the chief baker and the chief butler, and they were put in the prison where Joseph was bound. Jesus was meek and holy. Joseph selected Goshen as a suitable place provided with good pastures, well watered. And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil; and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged. He rose from the dead, ascended up to his father, and received all power and authority, and returned to the earth again to impart it to his disciples. 1SP 135.2, It was humiliating to Pharaoh to turn away from the magicians and wise men of his kingdom to a Hebrew servant. And Reuben returned unto the pit, and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren, and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? 1SP 148.2, Joseph refused to accept them all, according to the word of Judah, as bondmen. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you. He said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Art not Thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before Thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham Thy friend forever? Joseph counseled his brethren, when Pharaoh should ask them of their occupation, to tell him frankly that they were shepherds, although such an occupation was regarded by the Egyptians as degrading. 487-498. His self-control, and patience in adversity, and his unwavering fidelity, are left on record for the benefit of all who should afterward live on the earth. Benjamin was more amazed and confounded than his brethren. He knew that a deliverer was to be raised up among the Hebrews to rescue them from oppression. And they dwelt therein, and have built Thee a sanctuary therein for Thy name, saying, If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in Thy presence, (for Thy name is in this house,) and cry unto Thee in our affliction, then Thou wilt hear and help. He had placed his reputation and interest in the hands of God. How fierce was the assault upon Joseph's morals. . Prophets and Kings Ellen G. White Writings 2 Chronicles 18:1. The Whites travelled extensively, and Ellen wrote constantly to tell people what God was supposedly telling her. Although Jehoshaphat in a moment of weakness had rashly promised to join the king of Israel in his war against the Syrians, yet his better judgment led him to seek to learn the will of God concerning the undertaking. Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram had married Athaliah, the daughter of King Ahab ( 2 Kings 8:18 ). Ellen White was very clear on the meaning of the seal of God and the mark of the beast: "The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty, for it is the point of truth especially controverted. Although Reuben had no hand in selling Joseph, yet previous to that transaction he had grievously sinned. He felt that they had suffered enough for their cruelty to him, and he endeavored to comfort them. PK 196.1, During the battle that followed, Ahab was shot by an arrow, and at eventide he died. But under the influence of inspiration he uttered truth, although painful. They did not feel that satisfaction they thought they should have to see Joseph perish. A few months after this, Ellen White enriched Bates' study when she saw that the Sabbath was to be proclaimed more fully by God's people at the end of time (EW 33). EGW Writings: The Complete Published Books of Ellen G. White PK 198.2, Toward the close of Jehoshaphat's reign the kingdom of Judah was invaded by an army before whose approach the inhabitants of the land had reason to tremble. Copyright 2023 by Ellen G. White. Joseph gave his brother Benjamin more valuable presents than to his other brethren. As they advanced to the battle, Jehoshaphat said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established: believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper. And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness.. His course was corrupt, for he had transgressed the law of God. Although they may be exposed to temptations, yet they should ever realize that there is a defense at hand, and it will be their own fault if they are not preserved. And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one. They thought that the hand of God was against them for their past wickedness. I will go down with thee into Egypt, and I will also surely bring thee up again; and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes. As Jacob was about to die, his children gathered about him to receive his blessing, and to listen to his last words of advice to them. Yet their numbers did not decrease. The principle also applies to Biblical writers. The princes in charge of the different portions of his realm were directed to arrange for the faithful ministry of teaching priests. Jehoshaphat himself was loyal to God. But God did not leave Joseph to go into Egypt alone. They sold Joseph as a slave, and they were fearful that God designed to punish them by suffering them to become slaves. His prophetic words in regard to his other sons were not as gloomy. The commit tee met in the conference room of the Glendale Adventist Hospital in California to review not only the quantity but the quality of the work done by Elder Rea. And he said, I am God, the God of thy father. And they dwelt therein, and have built Thee a sanctuary therein for Thy name, saying, If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in Thy presence, (for Thy name is in this house,) and cry unto Thee in our affliction, then Thou wilt hear and help. By royal appointment these instructors, working under the direct supervision of the princes, went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.. As he approached the city, the prophet Jehu met him with the reproof: Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? Jesus came to his own, but his own received him not. Joseph gladly forgave his brethren, and sent them away abundantly provided with provisions, and carriages, and everything necessary for the removal of their father's family, and their own, to Egypt. The vision of Peter on the housetop (Acts 10) was given to save the apostle from a prevalent misconception about the Gentiles' standing with God. That will follow, in due time, along with certain positive recommendations. His was a life of unexampled self-denial, goodness, and holiness. All Rights Reserved. Laden with spoil, the armies of Judah returned with joy; for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies. And these seven years of abundance were to be followed by seven years of famine. Joseph's integrity and virtue were fiercely assailed; and she who would lead him astray could not prevail, therefore her hatred was strong against the virtue and integrity which she could not corrupt, and she testified falsely against him. If more praising of God were engaged in now, hope and courage and faith would steadily increase. But after they had begun to accomplish their wicked purposes to the helpless, innocent Joseph, some of them were ill at ease. And Reuben returned unto the pit, and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. In his anxiety for them, he sent Joseph to see if they were all well. The grace of God he called to his aid, and then fought with the tempter. In spite of what some would have you believe, there is no internal upheaval or major crisis in the Seventh-day Advent ist Church. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. He nobly sought to make this occasion as easy for his brethren as possible. He thought that if he could move the king to destroy the male children, the purpose of God would be defeated.

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