Correspondence

From: Young Christian: Volume 9, 1919

• 3 min. read • grade level: 6

Question: Why did God refuse the tabernacle of Joseph (Psa. 78:67⁶⁷Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: (Psalm 78:67)) when in Genesis 49:24²⁴But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) (Genesis 49:24) we read, “From thence is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel?” —M. G.

Answer: God gave Joseph a double portion, because he received the birthright instead of Reuben, who sinned against his father.

Joseph is a type of Christ. The path of Jesus is shadowed out by his sorrow, rejection and separation from his brethren, and then of righteousness and testimony, and it ended with praise, and honor, and glory in the kingdom and inheritance.

Now notice Genesis 49:23, 24²³The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: ²⁴But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) (Genesis 49:23‑24), that the good and great and chief Shepherd and Stone of Israel was from the mighty God of Jacob—not from Joseph.

Then God in His sovereign electing grace chose the tribe of Judah and the House of David for His Royal family. He accepts no other line of Royalty for Israel. (Gen. 49:10¹⁰The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. (Genesis 49:10)).

God has the right to choose whom He will.

Question: Who are those called to “come out of her?” (Rev. 18:4⁴And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. (Revelation 18:4)). Could there be saints in her at the time of her judgment? —F. S.

Answer: “Come out of her, My people,” is a voice from heaven telling that her judgment is coming. The ears that hear the Lord speaking in these scriptures are to regard it as a voice to them now.

Do you apprehend the wickedness of this system, “Great Babylon,” that will combine all of men’s religious societies into one great system? Then come out of her! It is a spiritual call to saints now to leave the religious babel of men’s religions, and come out to Christ alone. All that are left behind of the churches of men when the Lord Jesus takes His own (1 Thess. 4:15-18¹⁵For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. ¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. ¹⁸Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:15‑18)) will have the church union at last with popery as its head.

“Come out of her, My people,” is God’s call. (See also 2 Cor. 6:14-18¹⁴Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? ¹⁵And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? ¹⁶And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ¹⁷Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, ¹⁸And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14‑18); 2 Tim. 2:19;3:5¹⁹Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19)
⁵Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 3:5); Heb. 13:13¹³Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:13)).

Not Ashamed.

“You ought to be ashamed of yourself, sir,” said a worldly church member to a young man, who stood outside the entrance gate to the racecourse holding a banner, with the words inscribed in bold letters:

“Flee from the wrath to come.”

“After death the judgment.”

The pointed words, culled from the Book of God, had pierced his conscience and, unable to find fault with them, he vented his spite on him who held them up to the gaze of thousands.

The young man looked into the angry man’s face, and softly said— “So I am ashamed of myself, sir, but I’m not ashamed of the Word of God. Are you?”

Aggressive efforts to reach the careless crowd will always meet the sneer of Christless men, and even of worldly believers. But shall it be given up because of this? Certainly not. It is a blessed service to carry the Word of God right into the enemy’s camp, but it needs courage. God blessed His Word on the banner that day to awaken a young lady to concern about her soul, and she is now saved and serving Christ.

Thus the Lord’s young servant was amply repaid for the sneers and scorn of the worldly man.

Be not ashamed, dear young Christian, of the Word of God. Speak it freely, scatter it abroad, hold it forth, always, and in all places, and God will give the blessing.

“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Romans 1:16¹⁶For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16).

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• Correspondence