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1. Providence can make eyes to see, and such objects to be presented, which may occasion diversion of evil plots against the saints.

2. God orders travellers, and trades, and journies, to serve His own ends to His servants.

3. Accidental events to men are settled providences unto the servants of God.

4. Trade from land to land, about proper fruits of the respective countries, hath been, of old, ordered by Providence, for common advantage God allows and commends it (Genesis 49:13).

5. The same place may be aimed at by God and men, but upon several accounts (ver. 25).

6. Providence toucheth hearts as well as eyes of sinners to defeat cruel designs against His.

7. One spoiler may be wrought upon by God to cause others to desist from cruelty.

8. Thoughts of the unprofitableness of sin is a forcing means to avoid it.

9. Murder and concealment of blood bring no advantage to sinners (ver. 26.)

10. Hypocrites may judge there is no profit in one sin, but some in another.

11. Hypocrites may dissuade men from one sin, but incite them to others, Come, &c.

12. Malice of formalists to sincere Christians sticks not to sell them to bitter enemies of the Church.

13. God makes natural relation and motions to flesh sometimes to keep persons from cruelty.

14. God causeth the counsel of one conspirator to defeat the rest, and makes them concur to His ends (ver. 27).

15. Providence offers opportunity to sinners for doing their will, that His may be done.

16. Murderers are made deliverers by God at His pleasure and in His measure.

17. The most innocent souls may be sold for slaves when aimed by God to be lords.

18. A small price do wicked men put upon the best of God's servants, nay on His Son.

19. Gracious souls, surprised by the wicked in their honest ways, may be carried whither they would not.

20. Ishmaelites may carry innocents to Egypt for their ends, but God orders them thither for His own. So God maketh use of sinners. They bring him to make gain of him, God sends him to save and gain others.

(G. Hughes, B. D.)

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KJV: And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.

WEB: They sat down to eat bread, and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing spices and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.