The Second Time

C. H. Spurgeon., Dean Plumptre.
Acts 7:9-15
And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,…
There is a plain parallel between Joseph and Jesus, his brethren and ourselves. Certain classes of real seekers do not at once find peace: they go to Jesus after a fashion, and return from Him as they went. Our fear is that they may grow indifferent or despairing. Our hope is that they will go again, and before long discover the great secret, and find food for their souls. To this end we would follow the track of Joseph's story, and use it as an allegory for the benefit of the seeker.

I. THERE IS A SOMETHING WHICH YOU DO NOT KNOW. The sons of Israel did not know Joseph. Like them —

1. You have no idea of who and what Jesus is. Power and pity blend in Him. He is far more than He seems.

2. You view Him only as great, lordly, unapproachable; a great and stern governor and tax-master.

3. You do not know that He is your brother, one with you in nature, relationship, and love.

4. You cannot conceive how He loves; He yearns to make Himself known; His heart is swollen big with compassion.

5. You cannot guess what He will do for you: all that He is and has shall be at your disposal. Picture the Israelitish shepherds in the presence of the exalted Egyptian prince, as he stands veiled in mystery, girded with power, and surrounded with honour. Little could they imagine that this was Joseph their brother.

II. THERE IS A REASON WHY AT YOUR FIRST GOING YOU HAVE NOT LEARNED THIS. Joseph was not made known to his brethren on their first journey, nor have you yet found out Jesus so as to know His love.

1. You have not looked for Him. The sons of Jacob went to Egypt for corn, not for a brother. You are looking for comfort, etc., not for the Saviour.

2. You have not yet felt your sin against Jesus, and He would bring you to repentence, even as Joseph brought his brethren to confess their great wrong.

3. You have not gone with your whole force. As the brothers left Benjamin at home, so have you left some faculty or capacity dormant, or chill, in your seeking for grace.

4. You have a larger blessing through the delay; and the Lord Jesus will in the most seasonable hour reveal Himself, as Joseph did. Till then He refrains.

III. THERE IS GREAT HOPE IN TOUR GOING AGAIN TO HIM. Joseph's brethren made a great discovery the second time; you are in similar circumstances to them. Go a second time; for —

1. You must go or perish. There was corn only in Egypt; and there is salvation only in Christ.

2. Others have gone and speeded. All nations went to Egypt, and none were refused. Has Jesus cast out one?

3. You have lingered too long already, even as did Israel's sons.

4. A welcome awaits you. Joseph longed to see his brethren, and Jesus longs to see you.

IV. THERE ARE FORECASTS OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU GO. The story lends itself to prophecy. As the sons of Israel fared with Joseph, so shall you fare with Jesus.

1. You will tremble in His presence.

2. He will bid you draw near.

3. He will comfort you by revealing Himself to you.

4. He will bless and enrich you and send you home rejoicing, to fetch all your family to Him.

5. He will rule all the world for your sake, and you shall be with Him, and be nourished by Him.Conclusion:

1. Let us hasten to go to our Saviour the second time.

2. Surely this is the season, for the Holy Ghost saith "to-day."

(C. H. Spurgeon.)

All his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. — Seventy is given as the number, including Jacob, Joseph, and his two sons, in Genesis 46:27;Exodus 1:5; Deuteronomy 10:22. Here, however, Stephen had the authority of the LXX. of Genesis 46:27, which gives the number at seventy-five and makes it up by inserting the son and grandson of Manasseh, two sons and a grandson of Ephraim. With them it was probably an editorial correction based upon Numbers 26:27. Stephen, as an Hellenistic Jew, naturally accepted, without caring to investigate, the number which he found in the Greek version.

(Dean Plumptre.)