Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/157

 the night,  saying: “Fear  not,  go  down  into  Egypt,  for  I will  make a great nation  of  thee  there,  and  will  bring  thee  back  again  from thence.” Consoled  by  the  vision,  Jacob  continued  his  journey,  and arrived in  Egypt.

Juda went  on  in  advance  to  apprise  Joseph  of  his  father’s approach. Joseph immediately  made  ready  his  chariot,  and  went out to  meet  his  father. As soon  as  he  saw  him  coming,  he  descended from  his  chariot  and  embraced  him,  weeping.

And Jacob  said  to  Joseph:  “Now  I shall  die  with  joy,  because I have  seen  thy  face,  and  leave  thee  alive.”  Joseph  presented his  father  to  Pharao,  who  asked  him: “How  many  are  the years of  thy  life?”  Jacob  answered:  “The  days  of  my  pilgrimage are a hundred  and  thirty  years,  few and  evil,  and  they  are  not come up  to  the  days  of  the  pilgrimage  of  my  fathers.”  Then Jacob, having  blessed  the  king,  retired. And Joseph  gave  his father and  his  brothers  possessions  in  the  land  of  Gessen,  the most beautiful  and  fertile  part  of  Egypt.

The love  of  parents  for  their  children.  You  can  see  by  the  example of Jacob,  how  very  strong  is  the  love  which  parents  have  for  their children. He had  mourned  for  Joseph  for  twenty-three  long  years,  and the moment  he  heard  that  he  was  alive,  full  of  fatherly  love,  he  cried out that  he  asked  for  nothing  more  on  earth  than  to  see  his  son  Joseph once more. Then, too,  how  troubled  he  was  about  the  prisoner  Simeon, and how  anxious  about  Benjamin! He proved  his  love  for  Joseph by his  actions,  for  out  of  love  for  him  he  left  his  home,  notwithstanding his  infirmities,  and  undertook  a long  and  difficult  journey. Parents are  only  too  willing  to  do  all  they  can  for  their  children.