Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days. Sermons
I. WE MUST EXPECT TO FIND PITFALLS IN LIFE. To Joseph the snare came suddenly. He was forced in. He had acted as he believed rightly in revealing the wicked deeds of his brethren, and he suffers for it. His brothers seize the first opportunity of bringing reprisals upon him for what they considered his officiousness. When alone they seized him. They were ten men to one stripling. Coward brothers! "In with him," they say. In the pit's depth is security, in its dryness speedy death. The pitfalls into which many stumble or into which they are drawn are such as these: circumstances being altogether unfavorable in life; or severe and overpowering temptations to some special sin, as intemperance, passion, or lust; or greed, or ambition, or spiritual pride. Debt, loss of character, and despondency are also deep pitfalls. If we come to love evil for itself, that is a very deep pit, and it adjoins that state which is hopeless. Many are drawn into these pits by carelessness, indifference, and neglect, while others are so entangled by circumstances and conditions of birth that the wonder is that they ever escape. II. THERE IS OFTEN DELIVERANCE FROM THE DEEPEST PITFALLS. To Joseph it came at the right moment. It came in response to earnest desire. The brothers thought to make a profit by his deliverance, but God was saving him through their avarice and timidity. Joseph was helpless. His brothers had to lift him out. We must feel our helplessness, and then Christ is sure to deliver us from the pit of sin and despair. The brothers of Joseph had low and mercenary aims in lifting up their brother; Jesus is all love and self-sacrifice in the effort to save us. Nothing but the long line of his finished work and fervent love could reach souls. When brought up from the pit we shall not be inclined to praise ourselves. We shall ascribe all the glory to him who "brought us up out of the deep pit and fairy clay, and placed our feet upon a rock, and established our goings." - H.
Without doubt. While in relation to some things men doubt where they ought to trust, with other matters they will feel quite certain, though they have good cause for questioning. Consider the habit of taking certain notions "without doubt," as it is illustrated in the case of Jacob.I. THE HABIT IS DEPENDENT ON PREDISPOSITION. The sanguine are "without doubt" of success, where the cautious are "without doubt" of disaster. The despondent regard the world through darkened spectacles. It is no wonder that their prospects seem gloomy. II. THE HABIT IS ENCOURAGED BY APPEARANCES. To Jacob appearances were sadly significant. What more evidence could be wanted? We should remember that all appearances may be against the true facts. III. THE HABIT LEADS TO GREVIOUS MISTAKES. Jacob's verdict was "without doubt." Nevertheless, it was a wrong verdict. We talk of the evil of doubt. There are evils of positiveness. IV. THE HABIT IS POSITIVELY MISCHIEVOUS. It causes distress when we are needlessly positive of a painful surmise. It does more harm. It paralyses our efforts to better a gloomy state of affairs. V. THE HABIT MAY BE A PUNISHMENT OF FORMER UNTRUTHFULNESS. In his youth Jacob deceived his father; in his old age Jacob was deceived by his sons. He was cunning and wily. Yet he was over-reached, and suffered from the trickery of others. Worldly acuteness is no security against deception in matters that lie nearest to our heart. The fox may be out witted, while the lamb is spared in its simplicity. Application: See how the coprinciples work in various directions. 1. Domestic anxiety. Parents are often inclined to dread the worst of absent children lost to sight, and perhaps unheard of for years. Yet they may be as safe and prosperous as Joseph became. 2. Prospects for life. 3. Our spiritual condition. (W. F. Adeney, M. A.) People Bilhah, Ishmaelites, Jacob, Joseph, Medanites, Midianites, Pharaoh, Potiphar, Reuben, ZilpahPlaces Canaan, Chezib, Dothan, Egypt, Gilead, Shechem, Valley of HebronTopics Becometh, Clothes, Garments, Giving, Grief, Haircloth, Jacob, Loins, Mourned, Mourner, Putteth, Raiment, Rendeth, Rent, Sackcloth, Signs, Tore, Waist, WeepingOutline 1. Joseph is loved by Jacob, but hated by his brothers.5. His dreams and the interpretation. 12. Jacob sends him to his brothers, who counsel to slay him. 21. At Reuben's desire they cast him into a pit; 25. and afterwards sell him to the Ishmaelites; 29. while Ruben grieves at not finding him. 31. His coat, covered with blood, is sent to Jacob, who mourns him inordinately. 36. Joseph is brought to Egypt and sold to Potiphar. Dictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 37:34 1670 symbols 5419 mourning Library Joseph, the Prime Minister'And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Trials and visions of Devout Youth Man's Passions and God's Purpose Talmage -- a Bloody Monster The Crucifixion. The Sixth Commandment Appendix 2 Extracts from the Babylon Talmud Genesis Links Genesis 37:34 NIVGenesis 37:34 NLT Genesis 37:34 ESV Genesis 37:34 NASB Genesis 37:34 KJV Genesis 37:34 Bible Apps Genesis 37:34 Parallel Genesis 37:34 Biblia Paralela Genesis 37:34 Chinese Bible Genesis 37:34 French Bible Genesis 37:34 German Bible Genesis 37:34 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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