Notes on the Book of GenesisMackintosh, Charles Henry
Religion
Notes on the Book of Genesis
Mackintosh, Charles Henry
Bible. Genesis -- Commentaries
The remaining chapters of this book are taken up with the removal of
Jacob and his family into Egypt, and their settlement there; Joseph's
actings during the remaining years of famine; Jacob's blessing the
twelve patriarchs; his death and burial. We shall not dwell in detail
upon these things, though the spiritual mind may find much to feed upon
therein.[21] Jacob's groundless fears dissipated by the sight of his
son alive, and exalted,--the peculiar grace of God seen in its
overruling power, yet evidently mingled with judgment, inasmuch as
Jacob's sons have to go down into the very place whither they had sent
their brother. Again, Joseph's remarkable grace throughout: though
exalted by Pharaoh, he hides himself, as it were, and binds the people
in abiding obligation to the king. Pharaoh says, "Go to Joseph," and
Joseph, in effect, says, "all you have and all you are belong to
Pharaoh." This is sweetly interesting, and leads the soul on to that
glorious time when the Son of man shall take the reins of government
into his own hand, by divine appointment, and rule over the whole
redeemed creation, his Church--the bride of the Lamb--occupying the
nearest and most intimate place, according to the eternal counsels. The
house of Israel, fully restored, shall be nourished and sustained by
his gracious hand; and all the earth shall know the deep blessedness of
being under his sceptre. Finally, having brought every thing into
subjection, he shall hand back the reins of government into the hands
of God, that "he may be all in all." From all this we may form some
idea of the richness and copiousness of Joseph's history. In short, it
sets before us distinctly in type the mission of the Son to the house
of Israel,--his humiliation and rejection,--the deep exercises and
final repentance and restoration of Israel,--the union of the Church
with Christ,--his exaltation and universal government, and, finally, it
points us forward to the time when "God shall be all in all." It is
quite needless to remark, that all these things are largely taught and
fully established throughout the entire canon of inspiration: we do not
therefore build their truth upon Joseph's history; still it is edifying
to find such early foreshadowings of these precious truths: it proves
to us the divine unity which pervades holy scripture. Whether we turn
to Genesis or to Ephesians,--to the prophets of the Old or those of the
New Testament,--we learn the same truths. "ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY
INSPIRATION OF GOD."
FOOTNOTES:
[20] Joseph's wife sets forth the Church as united to Christ in his
glory; Moses' wife presents the Church as united to Christ in his
rejection.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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