BENJAMIN SENT TO EGYPT.

therefore is this distress come upon
us.” Sin, secret sin, will always at
last be discovered, and punished.

 

 

om
we

49

“Be sure your sin will find you
out.” Num. xxxii. 23.

 

XX.

PENJAMIN pENT TO PGyPT.

Joseph for the corn; and
he told his servants to fill
their sacks, and to give
them food to eat on the
road. Then he told the servant to
put the money they had paid, into
the sacks again secretly; and the
brothers laid the sacks upon their
asses, and went away. When they
came to the inn, one man opened
his sack, to give food to his ass, and
there he saw his money again ; and
when they came home, they all
found their money put again into
the sacks; and they wondered very
much how this could be. Jacob
was very sorry when he heard that
Simeon was a prisoner in Egypt,
and that Benjamin was to go with
his brothers; and he said, “ My son
shall not go with you. Me have ye
bereaved of my children; Joseph is
not, and Simeon is not; and ye will
take Benjamin away.” Reuben an-
swered, “Give him to me, I will
bring him to thee again.”
cob would not let him go.

When all the corn was eaten, and
Jacob and his sons had no more
food, Jacob said to his sons, “Go
again to Egypt; buy us a little
food.” But they answered, “We
must not, we dare not go without
Benjamin; for the man solemnly
commanded us to bring him.” Then
Judah said, “ Send the lad with me,

 

 

But Ja- |

 

and we will go. Iwill be surety for
him.” Then Jacob remembered,
that the same gracious God who had
kept him all his life, had power to
keep his dear child also; so at last
he said, “If it must be so, go; take
a present for the man; fruit, and
nuts, and honey, and spices; and
give him again the money you
found in your sacks, and take more
money for the new corn, and go,
and Benjamin may go with you;
and God give you mercy before the
man, that he may send away your
other brother, and Benjamin.” Then
they all arose, and took Benjamin,
and went to Egypt again.

Jacob was alone now: but still
God was with him, to keep and
comfort him. What a blessing it is
to those who love God, that He is
always near them; His eye upon
them; His hand around them! He
can comfort His people in all their
sorrows, as He comforted Jacob in
his sorrow. He says, “I will never
fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Josh.
i. 5.

When Joseph saw Benjamin com-
ing with his brothers, he said to his
servant, “Bring the men home;
they shall dine with me to-day.” So
the servant obeyed, and brought
them all to Joseph’s house, and
talked kindly to them, and gave
them water, and washed their feet,
and fed their asses; and Simeon