Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/146

 he  shall  receive  the  crown  of  life”  (James  i,  12). “The sufferings  of this  time  are  not  worthy  to  be  compared  with  the  glory  to  come” (Rom. 8,  18).

Men often  take  that  to  be  a misfortune  which is really  the  contrary. Never complain  of  the  ways  of  God,  but always, and  in  all  things,  submit  to  His  holy  will. Have you  ever complained? Are you  not  cowardly  and  desponding  under  suffering? Say to  yourself:  “God  knows  what  is  best  for  me. Not my will,  but  Thine  be  done!”

HE seven  years  of  plenty  came,  as  Joseph  had  foretold.

There was  great  abundance  everywhere. And Joseph  gathered the surplus  of  the  grain  every  year,  and  stored  it  up  in  the granaries. But, after  the  years  of  plenty, the seven  years  of  scarcity  set  in,  and  a famine  prevailed  in  all  the  countries. The people of  Egypt  cried  to  the  king  for  bread, but he  answered  them:  “Go  to  Joseph,  and do all  that  he  shall  say  to  you.”



Joseph opened  all  the  granaries  and sold to  the  Egyptians. Likewise the  people from other  countries  came  to  Egypt  to  buy corn. At last  the  famine  reached  Chanaan, and Jacob,  having  heard  that  there  was wheat in  Egypt  for  sale,  sent  ten  of  his sons with  money  to  buy  food. But Benjamin,  the  youngest, he kept  at  home,  fearing  lest  some  evil  might  befall  him  on the  way.

The ten  sons  of  Jacob  arrived  safely  in  Egypt,  and  seeing Joseph, they  bowed  down  before  him,  not  knowing  that  he  was their brother. But he  at  once  recognized  them,  and  remembered