Genesis 47:8 And Pharaoh said to Jacob, How old are you? I. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN CONVERSANT WITH LIFE'S SUFFERINGS? Take even the life of a believer. A devout pastor, closing tranquilly a prosperous career, intermingled with words of faith and hope the significant declaration, "It is a fight to be born, a fight to live, and a fight to die." And what do such facts teach us? They forbid idolatry of pleasures so disappointing and so piercing. They direct us for happiness to God and glory. They commend to our aspiration a better country, which is a heavenly — a country where possessions are unimperilled, bliss embittered, and sorrows are forgotten as the stream of brooks that pass away. II. How LONG HAVE YOU BEEN CONVERSANT WITH SIN? Who can look back on his past course and not be ashamed in the retrospect? What shortcomings — excesses — follies I What time lost l What privileges perverted! What cleavings to the dust! It is well to mourn over our trespasses. If this sorrow be sincere, it will be salutary. III. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN CONVERSANT WITH LIFE'S MERCIES? God was merciful to Jacob; and what have been His mercies to you? They have not been few nor small. He has clothed you, fed you, sheltered you. When you have been sick, He has healed you; when you have been imperilled, He has rescued you. In the review of your past life every stage of it demands the acknowledgment, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped me." IV. I trust that many of you have not only been born, BUT BORN AGAIN — "born not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever." In that case we have to ask concerning a new life — a divine life, "How old art thou?" How LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN CHRIST? Since when have you turned from idols — idolized sins and pleasures — to serve the living and the true God? But whether or not you have this mercy in possession, know assuredly that you have it in offer. (D. King, LL. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou?WEB: Pharaoh said to Jacob, "How many are the days of the years of your life?" |
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