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Jacob and his sons soon began
their journey to Egypt. It was a long journey, but a very happy one
for Jacob. When they came to Beersheba, Israel offered sacrifices to
God, and thanked and praised Him for all His mercies. In the night,
God spoke to Jacob, and said, "I am God; the God of thy fathers
Abraham and Isaac; fear not to go to Egypt; for I will be with thee; and
will make thee there a great people; and, in a future time, I will bring
thy children's children again to Canaan." Then Jacob arose, and
went to Egypt with all his family; his sons and their wives, and their
children, seventy people. When Joseph saw the wagons coming, he
commanded his servant to being his chariot, and rode in it to meet
Jacob. Joseph fell on his father's neck, and kissed him, and they
both wept a long time. They had much to tell one another: all
the wonderful things God had done; all their past sorrows and fears; and
all their joy now. The next
day, Joseph brought his father and his brothers to king Pharaoh. The
king was very glad to see them, and he spoke gently and kindly to old
Jacob, and asked, "How old art thou?" Jacob said, "The days
of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty years; few and evil have the
years of my life been." And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went
out. Joseph gave his father and his brothers a possession in Egypt,
and fed them with bread all the years of famine. The people still
came to Joseph to buy corn, but now all their money was gone: Joseph
took it, and gave it to Pharaoh. Then the people brought their
cattle, and gave them for corn: and when they were gone, they sold
their fields: so all the land of Egypt became Pharaoh's, except the
land of the priests, which was not sold. After the famine was over,
God sent corn and bread in plenty again. The
story of Joseph is wonderful. He knew not why God sent him to Egypt;
nor why he was put in prison; nor why he was so many years alone and
sorrowful, far away from his dear father. But God knew why: He
is wise; He knows all things: He sees the end of all, and He
commands all; and He does all rightly. Let us love and serve this
wise, and great, and gracious God! Then He will be with us, to keep
and comfort us, as he did Joseph: we know that "All things work
together for good to them that love God." Romans 8:28.
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