REUBEN had not sat down to eat with the others, and when Joseph was drawn out of the pit and sold to the Midianites, he was not there. When he came to the pit and did not find him, he was greatly distressed. It was the custom in the East to tear the outer garment from top to bottom when one was in great sorrow or anguish, and Reuben thus rent his clothes. He went to his brothers and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?
I don’t know what reply they made to Reuben, but they took a kid of the goats from their flock, and killed it, and dipped the coat of many colors in the blood. And they took it, thus covered with blood, to their father, telling him they had found it; and they asked him whether or not it was his son’s coat. Jacob knew the coat and said it was his son’s. He said that some evil beast had devoured him, and that Joseph was without doubt rent in pieces.
Jacob’s heart was sore troubled; he rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth and mourned long and deeply for the child he so much loved. His sons and his daughters rose up and tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. He said he would go down to the grave mourning for his son.
How solemn it is to think that Jacob’s tears of sorrow, and his sighs and his groans, were but the reaping from his own sowing. “As thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee.” Jacob had deceived his father and now his sons were deceiving him. He was breaking his heart, and mourning as dead, the son who was yet to be the joy and stay of his old age.
When the company of merchantmen got down to Egypt, they sold Joseph to Potiphar, one of the king’s officers. He thus became a servant, and the property of another man. It was a trying position in which to be placed, but Joseph was faithful to his master; and the Lord was with him, and prospered him. His master saw this and he was greatly pleased with Joseph. He gained so much confidence in him that he made him overseer over his house, and put all he had in Joseph’s hand. From this time the Lord blessed this Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake. God’s blessing was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. So entirely did he leave all in Joseph’s hand, that he knew not what he had, save the bread which he ate. This was great confidence to place in a servant, was it not? But where the Lord is working, who can stay His power?
Now however, comes another sad page in Joseph’s history. His master’s wife was a wicked woman, and she sought to lead Joseph into evil. When he refused to do what he knew to be wrong, she spoke falsely to her husband about him, and this made Potiphar very angry with his faithful servant and he threw him into prison.
Do you think the Lord had forgotten Joseph at this time? Oh! no. He loved him very much, and was continually watching over him. This time of sorrow for Joseph was only a stepping stone to a higher position and greater privileges than he had known even in Potiphar’s house. And in principle, this is true of all of God’s dear children; they are journeying on through difficulties to a higher place, and greater blessing; and although sorrows may come, “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son.” “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him.”
ML 02/09/1902