Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/159

 remained  in  Chanaan,  they  would  either  have  got  scattered  among  the heathen, or  they  would  have  died  out. They could  not  have  developed into an  independent  nation. In Egypt  it  was  different. The Israelites lived in  a district  of  their  own,  cut  off  from  and  despised  by  the Egyptians, on  account  of  their  being  shepherds:  thus  the  danger  of falling  away  from  the  true  God  was  less. Besides this, God  knew that His  chosen  people  would  be  purified  by  their  long  course  of servitude  and  suffering,  and  would  be,  as  it  were,  forced  by  want and persecution,  to  place  all  their  confidence  in  God  and  look  to  Him as their  only  Helper  and  Saviour. Lastly, Jacob’s  descendants  would learn much  that  was  valuable  from  the  Egyptians,  these  being  far ahead of  the  Chanaanites  in  agriculture,  the  arts,  and  all  social  laws and institutions. By this  means,  the  Israelites  would  be  educated  for their high  vocation.

Say the  first  words  of  the  Our  Father:  “Our Father who  art  in  heaven”,  with  great  devotion. Excite in  yourself a longing  for  heaven,  and  say:  “Thy  kingdom  come.”  To win  heaven  is  the  most  important  business  of  our  lives.

ACOB lived  seventeen  years  in  Gessen. When the  day  of his  end  approached,  Joseph,  with  his  two  sons,  Ephraim  and Manasses, went  to  visit  him. Jacob kissed  the  boys,  blessed them, and  prayed  that  the  angel,  who  had  delivered  him  from evil during  life,  might  protect  the  sons  of  Joseph. To Joseph  he said:  “Behold,  I die,  and  God  will  be  with  you,  and  bring  you back into  the  land  of  your  fathers.”

Then, his  children  and  grandchildren  having  assembled  round his couch,  he  blessed  them  all. To Juda  he  gave  a special