Note: When doing a study on a book in the Bible you use a lot of resources. The major influence for me on this study of Genesis is The Genesis Record by Henry Morris.
Here we see the last test of Joseph toward his brothers. After this we see that Joseph will reveal himself to his brothers but he must be very sure that they have repented.
As I have read through these stories many of times it reminds me so much of my life and how the Lord will test and try me over and over again to see if I am pure. He wants to know my true allegiance.
Genesis 44
1. And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks [with] food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth. 2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.
Did you noticed that all had the same thing as far as the money was concerned but it was Benjamin who got the extra cup. The money was returned probably to show them that Benjamin was part of a plot or something and he did not steal the cup.
3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses. 4 [And] when they were gone out of the city, [and] not [yet] far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? 5 [Is] not this [it] in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.
Let us do some interpreting. Let me ask you what do you think about verse five? What is meant here by the words "whereby indeed he divineth"? 1) this is the word used for foretelling or knowledge of the future it could mean that sooner or later Joseph would figure out that his cup was missing and that they would be blamed. 2) maybe it was a play used by Joseph to throw off his brothers. Using cups for superstitions practices and calling upon the spirits was a very common practice in the Egyptian time 3) maybe it did have something to do with him being a prophet.
Genesis 30:27 And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, [tarry: for] I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.
6 And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.
So he catches them and tells them what Joseph has said now look at their reaction.
7 And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing: 8 Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold? 9 With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen.
This is probably Judah speaking here as he does later on in the chapter. But notice something. He kind of puts his foot in it. There has been no punishment mentioned so he decides with a little confidence that he would give the idea of punishment.
It reminds me of someone else who did this not knowing what was going on. Jacob to Laban about the idol
10 And he said, Now also [let] it [be] according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.
Ok, I will talk your word for it.
11 Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. 12 And he searched, [and] began at the eldest, and left at the
youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.
He knew which one to find it in but he did not want to give his position away.
13 Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.
With agony and distress over this they show their disappointment and remorse by tearing their clothes. Then they loaded up and went back to the city.
14 And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he [was] yet there: and they fell before him on the ground. 15 And Joseph said unto them, What deed [is] this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?
So still the part is being played. The brothers fall at the feet of Joseph. They are pleading and Joseph is putting on a great acting job.
Here we see this word again. I believe he is saying do you think that I would not figure it out. How do you think I got in this position.
Next we will see a beautiful display of love and kindness for his father and his brother.
16 And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we [are] my lord's servants, both we, and [he] also with whom the cup is found.
So Judah takes charge. As we know many people from the tribe of Judah take charge. Who? the kings of Israel then the one eternal king of All
Notice he mentions the iniquity. It is a common belief that "what you reap is what you sow". This is a true statement and it will come out one way or another.
17 And he said, God forbid that I should do so: [but] the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.
Joseph still stands firm. Notice that they could leave with no problem but only Benjamin had to stay.
18. Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou [art] even as Pharaoh.
He recognizes who Joseph is. It is a greeting a praise of his power maybe soften him up.
19 My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother?
20 And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him. 21 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. 22 And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for [if] he should leave his father, [his father] would die. 23 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more. 24 And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.
25 And our father said, Go again, [and] buy us a little food.
26 And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be
with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man's face,
except our youngest brother [be] with us.
27 And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife
bare me two [sons]:
28 And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn
in pieces; and I saw him not since:
Here we have a glimpse of what the brothers told their father. They probably told him they just found his bloody coat.
29 And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
Here we see the immaturity of Jacob. He lost one son so he is leaning on the other instead of leaning on the Lord. This is what the Lord means by putting our trust in him and not anyone else. He will take care of us.
30 Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad [be] not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life; 31 It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad [is] not [with us], that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.
Care for his father.
32 For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. 33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. 34 For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad [be] not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.
I believe that this would have been the plea of all of them. No matter who.
There was one who came from this tribe who was also willing to take our place.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
