Jacob is now in his natural place, but a stranger there-for all trial and correction and discipline does but bring one to one's proper natural place, though it may be with more experience of one's self and God; but simple faith in what God is, has its dignity, above experience itself, though it be experience of God-always blessed. The history recommences to bring out the Person of the Lord in Joseph. Joseph was loved of his father, and envied of his brethren, and further had communication of the mind of God. He is presented here as taken from among his brethren-he has the consciousness (though little and simple) of his own exaltation in the mind of God, and this is important-it is in no way pride, but owning God's mind and purpose, and gives wonderful strength from God, and glorifies Him-we see it constantly in the Lord Himself-no service can be done, as of God, but through this, and therefore service must be given up, or else thus alone true humility preserved; "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business" is consistent with the most perfect humility, and spirit of obedience. It supposes, till experience is made of man, that all will acquiesce in it, as of God, as simply as he who walks in it does, because it is of God, in obedience, as owning Him; hence, when opposed man's state is known, and God becomes all to the soul, we may marvel at their unbelief. God in this feeling is everything—we see it in the Lord.
There is difference in the dreams of Joseph—one is, his brethren first—as the Lord would be amongst the Jews—but then He was under His father and mother—He would have been a Jew and taken His place in nature, but when the Sun and Moon, as well as the eleven Stars are subject, all authority and all power, Judaism and every constituted authority is put under Him. Jacob himself is startled—he generally stands as the remnant and heir of privilege.
Yet so it is with the Lord—no Jacob, nor descendible privileges reach the scope of the thoughts of God concerning Him—He is above all; " let thy mother's sons bow down to thee " could be a blessing from patriarchal and prophetic lips, but Joseph's were to be above the blessings of his progenitors to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills, and that as on the head of Him, as to circumstance, who was separated from His brethren; but in truth it was his in the mind of God, for even they were prophetic and so circumstantial, i.e., moving within the ordained sphere; the bowing of his father and mother evidently came direct from God, and Jacob understood it not, though he might learn it—not bless as the greater—not observe the saying that fell from the little one's mouth, the communication of God directly to him. His brethren envied him—God's supremacy was an ill thing in their eyes—their own as given very agreeable; righteousness in Joseph has already detected their evil—he visits his brethren according to the order of subjection, in which he stood, the messenger from their father to them; here he is rejected, with some remorse in Reuben, and on the suggestion of Judah, sold to the Gentiles.