Joseph and his Brethren
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children tried to comfort him, but he refused to refrain from his grief.
He declared to his children that he would go down into his grave
mourning.
Joseph’s brethren flattered themselves that they were taking a sure
course to prevent the fulfillment of Joseph’s strange dreams. But
the Lord controlled events, and caused the cruel course of Joseph’s
brethren to bring about the fulfillment of the dreams which they were
laboring to frustrate.
Joseph was greatly afflicted to be separated from his father, and
his bitterest sorrow was in reflecting upon his father’s grief. But God
did not leave Joseph to go into Egypt alone. Angels prepared the way
for his reception. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard,
bought him of the Ishmaelites. And the Lord was with Joseph, and he
prospered him, and gave him favor with his master, so that all that he
possessed he intrusted to Joseph’s care. “And he left all that he had in
Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which
he did eat.” It was considered an abomination for a Hebrew to prepare
food for an Egyptian.
When Joseph was tempted to deviate from the path of right, to
transgress the law of God, and prove untrue to his master, he firmly
resisted, and gave evidence of the elevating power of the fear of God in
his answer to his master’s wife. After speaking of the great confidence
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of his master in him, by intrusting all that he had to him, he exclaims,
“How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God.” He
would not be persuaded to deviate from the path of righteousness, and
trample upon God’s law, by any inducements, or threats. And when he
was accused, and a base crime was falsely laid to his charge, he did
not sink in despair. In the consciousness of innocence and right, he
still trusted in God. And God, who had hitherto supported him, did not
forsake him. He was bound with fetters, and kept in a gloomy prison.
Yet God turned even this misfortune into a blessing. He gave him favor
with the keepers of the prison, and to Joseph was soon committed
the charge of all the prisoners. Here is an example to all generations
who should live upon the earth. 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. God will
be a present help, and his Spirit a shield. Although surrounded with
the severest temptations, there is a source of strength to which they