Such beautiful, beautiful hands!
They’re neither white nor small;
And you, I know, would scarcely think
That they are fair at all.
I've looked on hands whose form and hue
A sculptor's dream might be;
Yet are those aged, wrinkled hands
More beautiful to me.
Such beautiful, beautiful hands!
Tho heart were weary and sad,
Those patient hands kept toiling on,
That the children might be glad.
I always weep, as, looking back
To childhood's distant day,
I think how these hands rested not
When mine were at their play.
Such beautiful, beautiful hands!
They're growing feeble now;
For time and pain have left their mark
On hands and heart and brow:
Alas! Alas! the nearing time,
And the sad, sad day to me,
When 'neath the daisies, out of sight,
These hands will folded be.
But, O! beyond this shadow land,
Where all is bright and fair,
I know full well these dear old hands
Will palms of victory bear;
Where crystal streams through endless years
Flow over golden sands,
And where the old grow young again,
I'll clasp my mother's hands.
—Anon
GREATNESS NOT A MATTER OF DRESS.
GEN. W. W. H. DAVIS, in his article “Jackson at New Orleans,” in the August Literary Era, quotes Alexander Walker’s description of Jackson’s appearance when he arrived at New Orleans: “His complexion was sallow and unhealthy; his hair iron-gray, his body emaciated, like one just recovering from a lingering and painful sickness. But the fierce glare of his bright and hawk-like eye betrayed a soul and spirit that triumphed over the infirmities of the body. His dress was simple and nearly threadbare. A small leather cap protected his head, and a short, Spanish blue cloak his body, while his feet and legs were encased in high dragoon boots, long ignorant of polish or blacking, and which reached to his knees.”
Chicago in LESS than 3 Days
From San Francisco at 10 a. m.
CHICAGO, UNION PACIFIC & NORTHWESTERN LINE
DOUBLE Drawing-room Sleeping Cars, Buffet, Smoking, and Library Cars, with barber. Dining Cars—meals a la carte. Daily Tourist Car Service and Personally Conducted Excursions every week from San Francisco at 6 p. m. The best of everything.
R. R. RITCHIE
617 MARKET ST. PALACE HOTEL. GEN. AGENT PACIFIC COAST SAN FRANCISCO
OR S. P. COMPANY'S AGENT
A New Song Book
Just the thing for tent meetings, special meetings, and for use in mission work. The music is bright, stirring, and in the main new. The selections which have been included in the book are standard, and such as are generally regarded necessary to make any song book complete. Price 15¢
Address
Elder Louis C. Sheafe, Aiken, S. Carolina
Individual Communion Outfits.
Send for free catalogue and list of users.
SANITARY COMMUNION OUTFIT CO. Dept. 95, Rochester, N. Y.
The Work in Fiji.
By J. E. Fulton
[An address by J. E. Fulton before the Union Conference held at Cooranbong, N. S. W., July 11–28, 1901, and printed in the Union Conference Record.]
ALL will readily agree that present truth must be presented to the people of Fiji. Said our Lord, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel.” So we must obey Him, and go to the islands of the sea. The field is the world, and the islands are part of it. Isaiah says, “The isles shall wait for His law.”
The Islands.
The area of Fiji is 8,000 square miles. There are two hundred islands in the group, only eighty of which are inhabited. Of the rest some are small, fertile islands, while others are bare rocks. The population of Fiji is 120,000. In this respect it exceeds Tonga, Samoa, or any of the eastern groups; on the west, however, New Guinea and others are much more populous. Viti Levu is the largest island, on which stands Suva, the capital. Formerly the capital was Levuka. The next in size is Vanua Levu. The native name of the islands is Viti, not Fiji. Through Favium the 180th meridian passes.
In the eastern part of the groups are found many Tongans, who have drifted over in their canoes and have intermarried with the Fijians. The descendants of these are much lighter in complexion than the Fijians. The Fijians say their ancestors came from the west. The western inhabitants are dark. Among the inhabitants are found Tongans, Samoans, Solomon Islanders, and from twelve to fifteen thousand Hindus from India. The last-named have been imported to work on the plantations, as, tho the Fijians are not lazy, they can not be depended on to work all through the year.
The Work.
Present truth was first introduced into Fiji by the Pitcairn about ten years ago. Many of our publications were at that time sold to the white people, about three thousand of whom were then living on the islands. After the visit of the Pitcairn, Brother Tay was left there to the time of his death. He lies buried in Suva. Brother Cole, who labored for two years on Norfolk Island, afterward labored for one year at Fiji. Then I joined him. Soon he left on account of sickness. He is now in America, but he still loves Fiji and its work. He has been instrumental in procuring us a printing press, a typewriter, and a magic lantern. He has also induced the North Pacific Conference to send a laborer to Fiji.
Later, C. H. Parker and wife came to Fiji, but after two years they were compelled to leave on account of failing health. Fiji has thus had its ups and downs with its workers. Only one European minister and one licensed preacher are now in Fiji.
Residence of Old Chief, Vanua Levu.
About one year ago we commenced meetings in Suva. Our Sabbath-school in Suva numbers forty-five, twenty-one of these being baptized adults. On the other islands are a few isolated Sabbath-keepers. Our missionary house is across the bay from Suva in the native village of Suva Vou, or New Suva. There are three Sabbath-keepers on Vanua Levu. One of these is the father of the boy now attending Avondale School. At Levuka there is but one white Sabbath-keeper.
Among the brethren who first accepted the truth was Brother Pauliassi Bunoa. He was engaged for thirty years in missionary work among the Wesleyans. He labored for ten years in New Guinea, where he lost his wife and children. Previous to my visit to America he was very much interested in the truth. I was translating a small tract, and in this work he helped me much. This helped him to see the Sabbath. In fact this was one means of leading him not only to see the Sabbath, but baptism and other truths, as he would constantly question me about these things. He was much perplexed. He took them to the other missionaries. They said to him, “You don’t want to be unsettling yourself over these things. You have been a worker among us for thirty years, and see what has been done. These people don’t understand the language. Don’t allow them to unsettle you.” “Yes,” he replied, “these people may not understand the language; but they understand the Bible, and prove these things from the Bible. I want to know the truth. I want you to show me from the Bible whether these things are right or not.” His mind remained unsettled till my return from America, when we held meetings in Suva. Then with his wife and family he stepped out. There was a young man who was associated with Pauliassi. We talked about the truth to him. He said he was going to keep the Sabbath, and he remained faithful in spite of persecution. He has been studying the truth for some weeks now. He is the captain of a small sailing vessel, and has been spreading the message among the islands.
After Pauliassi had started to keep the Sabbath, other teachers came to Suva Vou and began speaking against the truth. After the sermon was over, Pauliassi had a talk with the white man who conducted the meeting. I was not there, and I regard it as providential that I was not. The talk was in Fijian, while had I been there it would have been in English. It was thus better for the natives I was away. The missionary asked Pauliassi why he had given up his former belief, and joined these Adventists. Said Pauliassi, “If you can give me one text from the Bible under your arm, then I’ll give up keeping Sabbath and come back to Sunday and die as I have lived.” The missionary began talking about the blessedness and triumphs of the church. “Tell me from the Book,” Pauliassi said, “not from your mouth. Then I’ll keep it.” The missionary replied, “Just think how the Lord has blessed us.” “What constitutes a blessing?” said Pauliassi. “Is it numbers? Daniel was the only one in the lions’ den, yet he had the blessing of God.”
As the conversation closed, Pauliassi took the missionary’s hand, and said: “There is a judgment approaching. You are not the judge, and I am not the judge. If then I am in the wrong, I will charge Moses, who gave the law to the people in the wilderness; I will blame the prophets, who exhorted the people to be true to the Sabbath of the Lord; I will blame Jesus Christ, who kept the Sabbath and spoke no word of any change; I will charge the great apostle to the Gentiles for his teaching and example in meeting with the people on the Sabbath day. If you are wrong, whom will you accuse?” This was a better argument than any I could have used.
Pauliassi has helped us in translating and working among the natives. When given any position, the natives are usually proud, but this man is humble. The Lord has used him, and, we believe, will use him. Recently when Elder Gates and I visited different islands, he talked quietly among the people.
Let me mention one instance of his usefulness to us. Once in making a journey among the islands in our cutter, we took a pilot. Our vessel was tossed upon the waves all night. It was most squally at midnight, and our vessel was being driven toward a coral reef. As Pauliassi was a good navigator, he was at the rudder. We thought we could see the point we were making for; so we imagined we were on the right course. We made slow progress, and thought we were making toward the land. But we were deceived, and sailed on in the darkness. All except Pauliassi thought we were inside the coral reef which surrounds the island. We commenced to run toward the land, and soon heard the murmur of the sea on the reef right ahead of us. The pilot was confused. Pauliassi said, “Let me have the boat.” This pilot was no good but for eating yams and other things. Pauliassi took charge of the boat. Ambrose, a high chief, told Pauliassi to leave the boat alone, as he would go on the reef. It is a great offense to disobey a high chief, but Pauliassi quietly answered that it would be all right. Just as the vessel was about to run on the reef, he ran it alongside; and when he came to the narrow opening, he shot the boat through into the open lagoon behind. We reached our destination safely at two o’clock on Sabbath morning.
He has gone with the cutter since, preaching round the islands. White people have come to listen to him, and have been much surprised. He has scattered much literature round about the islands. His native home is on Vanua Balavu. He has been instrumental in creating a great interest among the islands. His last trip was made to Kadavu, where he left much literature. He has done great service, and the Lord is not done with him yet. His age is about fifty years. If you were to ask a Fijian how old he was, he would say, “I don’t know. I think I am about thirty.” No one keeps any record of his age. Pauliassi commenced to work when quite young, and he is very willing to work.
Ambrose, whom I have mentioned, is a chief of high birth. He would be king if the old government were still in existence. His old subjects still bow to him and respect him. His wife is a lady of high birth also. Both have now accepted the truth, and are living a very consistent life. He gave up drink and tobacco at once, and has never touched them since. He is very anxious, perhaps rather too eager, to present the truth to his people.
People say he was the biggest rogue in Fiji, and that we must have paid him a big sum of money to induce him to keep the Sabbath. I remember when he came to church one Sabbath morning, he prayed and broke down and cried. He invited us to the town and gave us land. I was quite carried beyond myself. It seemed too good to be true, and we all cried with him for joy that morning. He has been many times tempted by white men, who like him to drink with them, but he has remained true to his convictions.
Some little time ago a hospital was opened. All the missionaries were there and the great chiefs. Wine was passed round to the missionaries and the chiefs. No Adventists were there except him; yet when the wine was passed to Ambrose he said, “No, I can not drink it.” He came to me to pay tithe one day. I said, “How did you get money to pay tithe?” “O,” said he, “I won a lot, playing billiards.” I told him that he had been among bad companions, and the Lord did not approve of these things. A Fijian proverb says, “If you go with13clean clothes to a place full of mud, you will get it on your clothes.” “Well,” said he, “I’ll never go again. But here’s the money.” He had done it quite innocently. He has the reputation of being the best billiard player and draughts player in Fiji. He has a bright, quick mind, which now he is devoting to the study of present truth. He is next to Pauliassi in intelligence. An old man named David is also helping us. He was a deacon in the Wesleyan church, and is a faithful, humble old man.
The Needs of the Field.
Now I must tell you the needs of the field. We need literature. We have only two tracts. One is a small tract on the Sabbath question, which was first printed in California, and afterward at Avondale [N. S. W.]. The other tract is on the Lord’s coming, and has been translated by Elder Gates. We have a little press, and print a small paper in Fijian. We have got out fourteen numbers. These have been circulated in different parts of the group. Calls are coming from all parts of the field for papers and tracts. Just as I boarded the steamer to come here, I received this letter from a man in the interior: “I have received the letters and tracts. I have read them. Since doing so, daily as I go about I have felt condemned as I see the seventh day is the Sabbath, also about baptism. I want to see you or Pauliassi. I was glad to read the paper.” Calls for literature come from all parts of the group. Captains of steamers and others offer to take papers and distribute them freely. Some want 100 copies or more. On one occasion my wife and I went out distributing papers. Some men were at work on the bank of a river. One of them recognized us and asked for papers, and soon fifty others did likewise. They all swam out round the boat and eagerly grasped their papers. Then they swam ashore, holding up the paper with one hand and swimming with the other.
The Fijians have the Bible in their own language, and the Wesleyans print a paper even smaller than ours. Once they had Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress,” but it is out of print now. A Fijian Bible can not now be had. We sent to London for a shipment some time ago and received only one copy. We need literature very much in Fiji. You, brethren, would not like to be situated as we are in Fiji with so little literature to help you in your work. As soon as possible we hope to have “Christ Our Saviour” printed in Fijian. (Voice: “How are you going to sell your books?”) Well, the natives have no money. In some islands you would not find a sixpence. How, then, do they live? They collect their yams and copra, and take them to market and buy clothing, food, and anything they need, before they go back. Should there be a little money left, they buy bread with it and eat it going home; they have no use for money among themselves. Now I believe in spite of this we can sell the books to the natives. Let us establish agencies here in these colonies, and get them to send their coconuts to you. Then, brethren, turn out your cows and use coconut milk. Thus we can sell the books.
The next question is, How are we to get them to these islands? Our small cutter is poor accommodation, and is at the mercy of reefs, currents, seas, and hurricanes. We need a little launch, and we believe one can be got at a reasonable price. We could sell our cutter, and buy the hull of a launch with the proceeds. Then we would need £150 [$750] to buy machinery to put in it. With a launch we could cross the reefs at half-tide, which is impossible with a cutter owing to the deeper draught.
We have done a little medical missionary work, but not as we would like to have done. We need a medical missionary and a nurse.
Fiji is to me one of the most interesting countries on the earth. The Fijians are a good-hearted people. Sixty years ago they were cannibals, and it is marvelous what a wonderful change has come over them as the result of the work of the Wesleyans. Now, however, the latter are resting on their oars. We want your prayers. We want young men and women to get ready to go to Fiji. We want you, brethren, to help us with your means. Now is the time. Soon prejudice will arise, and it will then be almost impossible. Will you help us? If you say so, we’ll go forward. The way to say so is by helping us.
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above.” Col. 3:1.
WILL YOU GO?
THROUGH the doors that open stand,
Who will go?
Calls invite on every hand;
Who will go?
You whom Christ from sin has freed,
Hear the Lord of glory plead
For the lands that lie in need;
Who will go?
Soul, does Jesus speak to you?
Will you go?
Has He work for you to do?
Will you go?
He has borne the cross before;
He will keep the crown in store;
Enter, then, the open door.
Will you go?
—Anon.
THE MATTER OF EDUCATION.
By Editor
We are nearing the school year. There are many of the Christian young men and women of California, Utah, and Nevada, who are readers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, who desire an education,—an education that will fit them to be of service to God and their fellow-men. To such we recommend Healdsburg College, Healdsburg, Cal. Situated in one of the most beautiful and fertile valleys of the Golden State, traversed by the Northern California Railway, it is easy to reach and a fine place to live. Healdsburg itself is a much healthier town than it used to be. A good sewer and water system is greatly improving it. The college has advanced with advancing, clearer light. God wants workers. Healdsburg College can fit workers for Him. To do this it needs young men and women consecrated to Him.
In other parts of the land, in reach of other readers, there are the following schools:—
Emmanuel Missionary College, Berrien Springs, Mich.
Walla Walla College, College Place, Wash.
Union College, College View, Nebraska.
Keene Industrial Academy, Keene, Texas.
Mt. Vernon Academy, Mt. Vernon, Ohio.
South Lancaster Academy, South Lancaster, Mass.
Southern Industrial School, Graysville, Tenn.
There are others also of less prominence. Write to any of these and ask for catalogue.
PLEASE GIVE ATTENTION
THE long evenings for study are here, and would you not like to improve them by taking up the work of the Correspondence Course connected with the Sanitarium Medical Missionary Training School? Lessons are sent weekly to a class of students who are unable to leave home duties in order to take a regular course at one of our sanitariums. This is the third year this course has been carried on, and scores are availing themselves of it. Studies on eleven subjects are given, among which missionary work and care and treatment of the sick are prominent.
The tuition fee is $3.00, which barely covers the cost of sending out the lessons, correcting the replies, and returning the reports to the students. The books required for this work are furnished at actual cost price. We shall organize a new class in October, which will continue one year (some finish in six months), and shall be glad to hear from all those interested. A descriptive circular giving full particulars, also testimonies from those who have taken the course, will be sent free on application.
Address Correspondence Department, Sanitarium Training School, Battle Creek, Michigan.
OUR OPPORTUNITY.
By W. F. Oldham
The startled nations, aroused from heathen lethargy, are uneasily and expectantly conscious that the great God is about to appear among them in strange, new ways. All the lands are wide open to Gospel effort; all the languages have been mastered; foundations have been laid; beginnings have been made everywhere. The militant hosts of the Lord Christ have made accurate survey of the whole task of discipling a world. All mere earthly romance of foreign missions has been swallowed up in the deepened fervor of hearts that have counted the cost, and are prepared to toil and suffer that Christ may be known everywhere. Two things are wanted—a larger endowment of power, a larger support to make possible a wider Gospel effort. Thousands of workers in the fields ripe to harvest! Shall there not be a mighty chorus of intercessory prayer in the opening days of the new century, that they may all be empowered by the Holy Ghost for a great ingathering?—W. F. Oldham, D. D.
Haussa as the Language of Tropical Africa’s Future
It is said that the Haussa language, spoken by one of the finest of the African peoples, is already the language of one per cent. of the population of the globe, and there is a committee in this country, upon which are the Archbishops of York and Canterbury, the main object of which is to further the scientific study of the language. A Haussa-English dictionary is soon to be published by the Cambridge University Press. The author, Mr. Charles Henry Robinson, thinks that the Haussa language will be the language of the future in Tropical Africa.—Present Truth, London.
No Preaching
NO PREACHING is Christian that does not contain an element of consolation. There are always souls in every congregation that are in sore need of sympathy. “To preach to broken hearts,” says Dr. Joseph Parker, “is to preach to the times.” It is a very grateful thought that the Christian religion, in contrast with many man-made faiths that have been fairly cruel in their spirit and practises, is a sympathetic religion. It is a religion for the broken-hearted.—Selected.
OUR WORK AND WORKERS.
THE South Lancaster (Mass.) Academy began the fall term on the 18th ult.
SIX candidates were baptized at the recent camp-meeting at Missoula, Mont.
AFTER a few meetings held in Fargo, N. D., by Brother D. Nettleton, two persons were baptized.
THE Walla Walla (Wash.) College opened for the fall term on the 4th ult., with a favorable outlook.
THE Ohio Conference has voted to support Prof. F. W. Field as a missionary in Japan for one year.
A CAMP-MEETING is to be held at Traverse City, Mich., commencing October 4 and holding over two Sabbaths.
CAMP-MEETINGS are appointed at Carthage, Mo., October 8–13, and at Poplar Bluff October 29 to November 4.
AT Lynden, Ont., where Brother Wm. Simpson has been holding tent-meetings, thirteen conversions have been reported.
TWO PERSONS were baptized and added to the church at Bronx, N. Y., on the 31st ult. Brother C. H. Kestlake officiated.
AT the late session of Ohio Conference, Brother A. G. Haughey was re-elected president, and Brother M. S. Babcock was chosen vice-president.
FIVE persons have decided to observe the Sabbath of the Lord through the labors of Brethren L. A. Gibson and R. D. Quinn at Dillon, Mont.
EIGHT converts are reported as visible fruit of a series of meetings held at Panora, Iowa, by Brethren Wm. Guthrie, P. P. Adams, and A. F. French.
AS FRUIT of tent-meetings held at Picton, Ont., by Brethren W. H. Spear and E. J. Dryer, they report to the Ontario Messenger that twenty-five persons had decided to observe the Sabbath of the Lord.
IF you have not read the tract, “Sound an ‘Alarm!’” you ought to do so at once. It only costs one cent, and seventy-two cents will buy 100 to give away. It throws the true light on the labor and social agitations now prevalent.
THE church-school in this city was opened September 16 with forty-five pupils. The teachers are Edward Johnson and Miss Luella Reed. The prospect is good for a successful term, which will mean a permanent educational institution.
ON the 20th ult., Brother J. H. Behrens and wife, who have been laboring in Montana for over two years, sailed from Vancouver, B. C., for Honolulu, expecting to arrive on the 28th. Brother Behrens takes charge of the work in the Hawaiian Islands.
AS THIS paper goes to press a camp-meeting is being held at Weiser, Idaho. It is attended by Brethren J. N. Loughborough, W. T. Knox, A. J. Breed, and E. D. Sharpe, as ministers, and Brother S. C. Osborne, as representative of the publishing work.
ON the island of Tobago, near Trinidad, Brother W. G. Kneeland has been opening the work recently, and reports progress to the extent of six souls deciding to obey the truth. The difficulties connected with the work there are great, owing to severe drought and consequent poverty and sickness.
THE “Union College Year Book” for 1901–1902 is a handsome pamphlet of eighty pages, illustrated by half-tone cuts of buildings and departments of the institution. It is replete with information concerning the college and its courses of instruction. The fall term began on the 18th ult. The total enrolment last year was 423. Address, L. A. Hoopes, Secretary, College Place, Neb.
PERIODICALS WANTED.
Signs, Sentinel, and other denominational papers, for distributor work. Address, post-paid, Eliza Haffner, Sausalito, Cal.
GREAT CLEARANCE SALE
By C. H. Tyrrell
For October and November
In BARRED PLYMOUTH ROCKS BLACK LANGSHANS, and WHITE WYANDOTTES
To make room, will sell at HALF USUAL PRICE for immediate orders
23 “And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colors that was on him; and they took him, and cast him into the pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. And they sat down to eat bread; and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a travelling company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother, our flesh. And his brethren hearkened unto him. And there passed by Midianites, merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they brought Joseph into Egypt. And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go? And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a he-goat, and dipped the coat in the blood; and they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found; know now whether it be thy son’s coat or not. And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.”
Golden Text.—“The patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt; but God was with him.” Acts 7:9.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) When Joseph came to his brothers, what did they take from him? Where were Joseph’s brethren? and why had he gone to them? Verse 23. Note 1. (2) What then did they do with him? Verse 24. Note 2. (3) How was their cold-heartedness further manifested? What did they see as they were eating? Verse 25. Note 3. (4) What comment did Judah then make? Verse 26. (5) What action did he suggest? What did his brothers think of this proposition? Verse 27. Note 4. (6) When the caravan came along, what did the brothers do? What did the merchantmen do with Joseph? Verse 28. Note 5. (7) When Reuben came to release Joseph, what did he find? How did he express his disappointment? Verse 29. Note 6. (8) On returning to his brothers, what did Reuben say to them? Verse 30. (9) What then did they do with Joseph’s coat? Verse 31. (10) To whom did they take it? What report did they give? Verse 32. (11) What did Jacob surmise when he recognized the coat? Verse 33. Note 7.
NOTES.
1. Joseph was the eleventh in order of age of the twelve sons of Jacob. Because Joseph was the first-born of Rachel, who was the wife of Jacob’s first choice and real affection, his father’s attitude toward him led the older brothers to suspect that he designed to bestow upon him the birthright. Certain dreams of Joseph’s were also interpreted to mean that Joseph was to have the pre-eminence. This naturally aroused the envy of his ten older brothers, who were Jacob’s sons by different mothers. Then to add to their discomfort, Jacob had shown his preference, and perhaps his ultimate design, by clothing Joseph in a very conspicuous coat. The ten brothers had been sent away to feed their father’s flocks in Shechem, and Jacob sent Joseph, who was then but seventeen years old, to see how they were getting along. At Shechem Joseph was told that his brothers had moved on to Dothan, so he went on to their new camp. When his brothers saw him approaching, some of them wanted to kill him, and thus get him out of their way. But Reuben proposed putting him into a deep pit, and the rest agreed to this plan. Reuben intended to secretly take him out and send him home. This introduction brings us to the lesson scripture.
2. There were many cisterns, also called pits, in that country. They were either cut out of the rock or dug in the earth and plastered. Being covered, with the exception of an opening in the center of the top, escape unaided was impossible.
3. The heartless satisfaction of the brothers with the prospect of being rid of their hated brother, could not be better illustrated than in their deliberately sitting down to eat under such circumstances.
4. The proposition of Judah to sell Joseph shows that the brothers were discussing the situation as they were eating. After all, there was an instinctive shrinking from either killing him outright or allowing him to starve to death in the pit. So the suggestion to sell him was readily accepted.
5. Selling Joseph into slavery, when a career of pre-eminence over his brethren had been marked out for him, would be a temporary satisfaction to his envious brothers, and they could imagine themselves innocent of his blood; but that could not cleanse their hearts of the sin of murder. 1 John 3:14, 15.
6. Reuben was not with his brethren when they sold Joseph. He was grievously disappointed at the failure of his plan to rescue Joseph from the evil design of his brothers. He rent his clothes in token of his great grief. This was the common oriental token of extreme sorrow or indignation. But he had not shown a spirit of real courage in opposing their designs, and did not afterward have the fortitude to expose them.
7. For over twenty years did Jacob’s sons allow him to labor under the impression that Joseph had been slain by a wild beast. The terrible secret had to be wrung from them through the ordeal of trial and suffering.
