There’s only about a
minute between chapters 43-44.
Joe and the bros. just
finished a family reunion feast. However, Joseph was the only one that
recognized they were brothers.
This was the second
time in about a year Joseph’s brothers made the approximately 300-mile trip
from Canaan to Egypt. They had to. It was the only place to buy food, because
for two years, their whole world had been suffering severe famine.
They didn’t know that
the person they just ate with, the one who provided the food for their very survival,
was their very own brother, Joseph.
The brother they hadn’t
seen in 22 years.
The very brother that
22 years prior, they despised, rejected, abused, threw in a pit to leave for
dead, but then, sold as a slave instead.
Yet, God was with
Joseph, and raised him up.
Sound familiar?
Jesus was despised,
rejected, abused and scourged, thrown in a tomb, left for dead. Isaiah 53.
Yet, God was with
Jesus and raised Him up! Philippians 2:5-11.
Even after all that,
Joseph still loved his brothers.
Sound familiar?
While we were yet sinners, Christ died for
us. Romans 5:8.
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 each man’s money
in the mouth of his sack.
Joseph showed them kindness, gave them
provision as much as they could carry, and didn’t take a penny but returned
their money, back in their sack.
His will for them was only good, to give them a future
and a hope, to deliver them from the wrath of the seven-year famine.
Yet, he had to test them, to prove them. To discern
the thoughts and intents of their hearts. To determine if his blessings would
help them, or only feed envy and greed and evil behavior.
Sound familiar?
My
son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction; For
whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he
delights. Proverbs 3:11-12, (Hebrews 12:5-6).
2 Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the
mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain money.” So he did
according to the word that Joseph had spoken.
Putting the money
back in the sack was a repeat of their first visit. A repeat of the first test
of their honesty.
They passed that test
and returned the money.
Now, the test goes
deeper than greed and exposes the thoughts and intents of their heart, their
love for one another, especially, their youngest brother, Benjamin.
Joseph had given his
full-blooded brother Benjamin five times more food at dinner. Benjamin was
probably seated closest to Joseph.
Would this provoke
the brothers’ jealousy, like the coat of many colors their father Jacob gave to
Joseph?
Would their true
colors now show?
Would they turn
against Benjamin like they did Joseph?
Notice, the testing
came, not through fiery trials, but through acts of generosity and kindness.
Joseph gave them
their money back—twice.
Now, he adds his
silver cup and sets them free.
Our most telling
tests are what we do with our freedom, our blessing.
Do we squander our
time (our most precious commodity)?
Or do we redeem the
time and make the most of every opportunity? (Ephesians 5:16).
Are we preparing for His coming, as a Bride prepares to meet her Groom? (Ephesians 5:27; Revelation 19:7-8).
Do we play like the
world?
Or, when
we’re playing are we praying?
Are we looking across
the card table praying for those lost souls?
Do we remember what
we’re there for, when we swing the club and shout, “FOUR!” ?
Is our only goal to
get a hole in one, or to lead them to the Holy One?
3 As soon as the morning dawned, the men
were sent away, they and their donkeys.
The brothers are
leaving. Smiling. Good night’s rest. Bellies full. Sacks full. Got their grain.
Got their other brother Simeon. Most importantly, still got young Benjamin.
Dad will be glad.
Mission accomplished.
All is well.
Well, not so much for
Joseph. From his palace window he might’ve watched them ride away. His eyes
mostly on his brother Benjamin. Would the brothers pick on him, show
animosity toward him, ride off and leave him to follow in their dust?
Perhaps the brothers were
smiling and whistling, while Joseph was watching and weeping. Will I see
them again? Will Benjamin be, okay? How will this turn out? Should I have told
them who I am?
4 When they
had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph
said to his steward...
Did Joseph watch from
his window as far as he could see? Then, did he climb to the roof balcony of
his fine and fancy palace and watch them even further? Did he pace and pray as
he watched them all the way out of town?
Lord, did
I do the right thing? Please keep Benjamin safe. What if something happens? What
if they don’t come back? What if...
They were finally out
of sight, is that when he rushed to his steward...
“Get up, follow
the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid
evil for good? 5 Is not this the one from
which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices divination? You have
done evil in so doing.’ ”
6 So he
overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words.
And just like that
the brothers are no longer smiling, no one is whistling.
They were minding
their own business, heading home.
They did the right
thing by returning the money.
Imagine, you went to
the grocery store. Did the right thing by returning money they accidentally
overpaid. Went back inside to rescan the thing that was accidentally overlooked.
And then, minding
your own business, heading home. Sirens blare, lights flash, squad cars force
you to the side of the road.
Out of the car. On your
knees. Hands on your head. You’re falsely accused of taking something you never
touched. Of doing something you never did.
You’re so sure of your
innocence, you say something like the brothers did...
7 And they said to him, “Why does my lord
say these words? Far be it from us that your servants should do such a
thing. 8 Look, we brought back to you from the land of
Canaan the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks. How then could
we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? 9 With
whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my
lord’s slaves.”
This is very telling,
in a good way.
They were absolutely
certain none of them stole anything. They trust the integrity and honesty of
their brothers so well, that they’re willing to wager their life on it.
Also notice they
maintain proper decorum. Respect. Restraint. They don’t attack the steward
verbally or physically. They continue to call him lord, and themselves, servants.
(That’s lord with a small “l” showing respect like “sir”).
They respectfully
state the obvious. We showed our honesty by returning the money. So, why would we
turn around and steal a cup?
The brothers have
changed. They are not the same evil, angry, envious, boys that threw Joseph in
a pit, and then sold him into slavery.
However, they might’ve
been a tad bit presumptuous by saying, whoever has the cup, let him die.
10 And he
said, “Now also let it be according to your words; he with
whom it is found shall be my slave, and you shall be blameless.”
Joseph’s steward ignores
the brothers’ words about death to the one with the cup.
This test wasn’t for
death, but life. Joseph wasn’t trying to condemn them, but to prove them, with
a desire to redeem and reconcile their relationship.
Sound familiar?
John 3:17
For God did not send His Son into the
world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
John 10:10
The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I’ve come that you have Life,
and Life more abundantly.
11 Then each
man speedily let down his sack to the ground, and each opened his
sack.
So sure, and certain of
their innocence, they speedily dropped and opened the sacks.
Look and see and know,
we’re innocent.
12 So he
searched. He began with the oldest and left off with the youngest; and the
cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.
Of course, the
steward knew where the silver cup was stashed. So, he saved the best for last (and
made no mention of the money in the mouth of each sack).
The day before at
dinner, Joseph honored Benjamin with the royal portion of five times more than
the brothers. (Gen. 43:34). Now, Benjamin is the one with the silver cup in his
sack.
Remember, the goal
was to expose the hearts of the older brothers.
Would the jealous
rage that once burned in the brothers against Joseph flare up against Benjamin?
Would the brothers
abandon Benjamin?
Would they go,
leaving Joe and Ben to live happily ever after? Well, not so happily; but at
least Joseph and his younger brother gentle Ben would be together again. (By
the way: Benjamin was about 29 years old, and Joseph was about 10 years older).
Would the brothers
pass the test?
Or would they yield to
the temptations of the past?
How will they
respond?
Come back next week and
see the exciting conclusion—
Just kidding 😊
13 Then
they tore their clothes...
They tore their clothes; a
sign of deep mourning, and grief. Practiced to this day among Jews; it’s called
kriah.
Jacob tore his clothes, as his heart was torn, when he
thought Joseph was dead. Gen. 37:34.
Kriah;
Jewish sign of
mourning: A tear in the outermost garment, usually at the neckline, and down
about 3 inches. A tear on the left side reflects mourning for a parent; on the
right side for other relatives. Instead of tearing a garment, a black ribbon
may be worn. On the left, reflecting the loss of a parent, and on the right
side, for other relatives.
The
tear should be clearly visible during shiva (7- or 30-day period of mourning).
These brothers of
Joseph’s who tore their clothing in great mourning over the fate of Benjamin,
are the very same brothers who tore the garment off of Joseph, and
then sat down to eat and drink while he pleaded to them from the pit they’d thrown
him in. Gen. 37:23-27.
Friends, we cannot judge who men are, by who they’ve been.
Or what they’ll do, by what they’ve done.
One touch from God, makes all things new. His amazing
grace, saved a wretch, like me.
Those who despised, rejected, abused and sold Joseph, now
rend their hearts and their garments and will not abandon their brother Benjamin.
13...and each
man loaded his donkey and returned to the city.
Meanwhile back at the
governor’s mansion, Joseph doesn’t know what’s happening. No cell phones to
livestream. No camera crews.
What’s Joseph doing?
Is he still on the
roof. Pacing, praying. Eyes glued to the last spot he saw them.
God, I pray
this goes good. What’s taking so long? Will they come back? Did they recognize
me, but don’t want to have anything to do with me? Except for what I can give
them? Could they hate me that much? Should I have told them who I am? Should I
go after them? What’s taking so long? Did they resist? Was there a fight? Did Benny
get hurt? What if they don’t come back? What if I never see them again? What if—
Then sunlight glimmers
off a horse’s bridle.
The steward leading,
smiling.
The brothers following,
clothing torn. Fight? No, kriah. Eyes leaking. Benjamin riding, safely
surrounded by, brothers.
14 So Judah
and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there; and
they fell before him on the ground.
Notice Judah is
mentioned by name. This man is rising to the top.
Notice Joseph was
still there at his house. See, maybe he was watching and pacing and praying
from his rooftop.
Notice they fell
before him, just like in Joseph’s dreams; the ones they once had mocked.
15 And Joseph said to them, “What
deed is this you have done? Did you not know that such a man as I can
certainly practice divination?”
Not that he did practice
divination, that is forbidden by God. But, “such a man as I can certainly
practice divination.”
The intention wasn’t to
deceive them, but to test them.
16 Then Judah
said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how
shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants;
here we are, my lord’s slaves, both we and he also
with whom the cup was found.”
Both we
and he. Judah’s first appeal is to tether them together
as one with Benjamin. We are all guilty before God,
here we are, all your slaves.
All for one. One for
all.
Oh Lord, we this people, this Ekklésia, this
body of Christ, we ask You to give us the heart of Judah. When one grieves, is burdened,
hurting, all grieve, are burdened, and hurting. Let there be no schism, make us
one, as You prayed in John 17, that we’d be one, as You are one. One body with You
as Head. Thank You, Lord, amen.
Additionally, Judah
recognizes the principle of sowing and reaping. It’s a law that works in the natural
and spiritual realm.
It’d been 22 years, but
they still remembered, all too well, the evil seeds they sowed, with what they
did to Joseph.
We might not have
stolen the silver cup, but before God we’re all guilty.
If they had not
treated Joseph so poorly, they would not be reaping the severity of Joseph’s
testing.
Galatians 6:7-9
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he
will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the
flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit
reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not
grow weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
When we’re slandered
unjustly, falsely accused, before screaming I’m innocent! I did nothing wrong!
Why me!!! Pause, and ask God, “Lord, did I sow this seed?”
Speaking
of sowing and reaping.
California fires are
top of the news. We want to pray for a great big rain.
But like this famine,
in our text, God didn’t send rain, to stop the famine. At least not for seven
years.
However, He did send warnings
and wisdom way ahead of time (by way of dreams to Pharaoh, and wisdom to Joseph).
Pharaoh
listened.
So, God used Joseph to
save many people alive. Gen. 50:20.
Likewise, God sent warnings
and wisdom way ahead of time, to California Pharaoh, Gavin Newsom, and those
like him.
They did not
listen.
So, because the Bible
is True, and they refused to retain God in their thinking, God turned them
over to a corrupt, reprobate, debased mind; just as He said He’d do in Romans
1:28.
So, with their corrupt,
reprobate, debased minds, they foolishly, stupidly, wickedly, saved many smelt
alive, instead of people.
Now they are complicit
in many people burning alive, in this life, and eternity.
Only
the Bible tells us what happened, while simultaneously telling us what will
happen. It’s all at once history, and HIStory.
17 But he
said, “Far be it from me that I should do so; the man in whose hand
the cup was found, he shall be my slave. And as for you, go up in peace to your
father.”
Joseph denies Judah’s
request that they all stay to be his slaves.
He calls Benjamin, “the
man.” The man, will stay, the rest of you go in peace back to your father.
This is
Joseph’s Final Exam.
Okay boys, now’s your
chance to cut and run. Leave Benny and go free. This time you don’t have to lie
like you did with Joe. This time you can tell dad exactly what happened. The Pharaoh’s
right-hand man wouldn’t let him go. Who are we to resist the power of Egypt?
But Judah, once
again, steps up to the plate. Stands in the gap. Intercedes for his brothers.
Then, Judah, rises to
the top and makes a powerful speech, the longest speech in all of Genesis. It
changes the course of Israel and reveals why God chose the line of Judah, to
birth the Messiah.
Lord willing, we’ll
hear all about it in a week.
For now, let’s pray.
Lord, what
shall we say? What shall we speak? How shall we clear our name? You see the
iniquity of us all. Only by Your grace, Your blood, are we able to stand before
you offering ourselves to You, Your servants, Your sons and daughters, ever in
Your debt and in Your care.
We pray,
You make us one.
Your will
be done, in our lives, as it is, in heaven.
We love
You, forever.
Amen.
Prayer
Requests:
Call or text:
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Email: pray4measap@aol.com
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Watch
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Genesis 44:1-17
This was feed for you
to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.
Thank you for
sharing.
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