The Case Of The Missing Silver Cup

God uses strange ways to speak to the hearts of people. The Bible is filled with story after story in which God used unusual methods and means to get the attention of certain people.

In Ex.3:10 we see Moses – God used a burning bush to speak to this disgraced prince.

In Numbers 22:28-31 in the case of Balaam – God used a donkey to speak to this pagan prophet.

1st Sam 15:14 King Saul – God used the bleating of some sheep to speak too this wayward king,

1st Kings 17:9-24Widow Of Zarephath – God used an empty meal barrel and a dead son to speak to this poor widow.

1st Kings 19:1-18 Elijah – God used a touch, a meal and a small still voice to speak to this discouraged prophet.

2nd Kings 5:4 Naaman – God used an Israelite slave to speak to this great general.

Come here Matthew and tell us what happen, well I wrote in Matt. 26:69-75 about Simon Peter and how God used a rooster to speak to this fallen preacher. God will use some strange way to get our attention.

This list could go on for quite a while, but those few instances are a few points of how God will use whatever means necessary to penetrate the heard heart of humanity with the message He wants a person to hear.

This passage teaches us the same truth. As the story of Joseph and his brothers continues to unfold, God uses a simple silver cup to open the door to forgiveness and reconciliation. After all these years, God brings the guilty brothers of Joseph to a place of repentance through the ministry of Joseph’s silver cup.

This chapter unfolds like a mystery, and I want you to see how God uses a simple silver cup to soften the hearts of Joseph’s brothers. I want you to notice that this incident involved a Conspiracy, a Confrontation and a Confession

In verses1-9, Joseph and his brothers had just enjoyed a time of celebration, and his brothers still do not know who Joseph is, but he is dropping hints trying to tell them. For instance, when he seats the brothers at the table, they are seated in birth order, Gen. 43:33. Also, Benjamin, Joseph’s only whole brother, is given five times as much as the rest of the brothers during the meal, Gen. 43:34.

Now, the meal is over and the next day has dawned. The brothers are feeling pretty good about things. They have convinced the Prime Minister of Egypt that they are not spies. They have rescued the brother Simeon from prison. They are about to return home with more grain for the family, they have all of their money and, most importantly, they are returning home with Benjamin, just as Judah had promised his father that they would in Gen. 43:3-10.

As they prepare to leave there they are filled with excitement about going home to their families and their children. They are congratulating themselves over their successful mission to Egypt. But, what they don’t know it that God is working behind the scenes to bring them face to face with a sin that is at least 22 years old. And I believe that these brothers has some cousins still living right here in Jackson, who has some sins that are 5, 10, 15 and 20 years old.

While the men are preparing to leave, Joseph tells the steward of his house to prepare them the grain that they need. He said give them as much as they can carry, v. 1. Then He tells the steward to give them their money back also.

Then, Joseph tells his steward to do something very strange. He tells the man to take his personal cup, the one that he uses and place it in the sack that belongs to Benjamin, and he does it v. 2. Now the men set out toward home. When they have been gone awhile, Joseph sends the same steward after them to stop them and to confront them about the cup in Benjamin’s sack.

The steward follows them and accuses them of doing evil for good. He accuses them of stealing Joseph’s silver cup, v. 6. The brothers deny the charges and seek to defend their honor, v. 7. They tells the steward, look man we have plenty of money, why would we steal a cup, v. 8. As a matter of fact they were so sure of their innocence that they make some strong promises. They swore that if the cup is found among them, the guilty brother will die and the rest will become slaves to the Egyptians, v. 9.

I thought that this was a strange way for Joseph to treat his brothers. But in this passage, God uses Joseph as His instrument to draw these men to a place of repentance and restoration. Because if you remember, years before, these men had conspired against Joseph in an effort to get rid of him, Gen. 37, they conspired to harm Joseph, but now, the tables are turned and Joseph conspires against them. And my brothers and sisters we might-ought to be careful how you treat somebody, and how we treat our God because one day what you have done will come back to you. But, unlike his brothers, Joseph is not conspiring in an effort to harm them. He is conspiring for their good.