This is a story about true repentance. What a huge difference true repentance makes to relationships – both, with God and men.
In Genesis 42 and 43, we saw that Joseph's family had been brought to Egypt because of the famine.
In Genesis
42 he had provided them with grain, though he had kept Simeon. They had
been accused of being spies, and as an assurance that they would return, Simeon
was kept. As proof of innocence they were also told that
they needed to bring Benjamin, their youngest brother. Jacob, their father,
needed much persuasion in this, but ultimately necessity and hunger drove them
back to Egypt. Here we find them again, treated
hospitably once more by Joseph. After obtaining their provisions they had a
meal with him, and now we find them ready to depart. But Joseph had one more great
test for them. This test would ultimately reveal the truth about them. We have seen that Joseph has kept himself from revealing himself
spontaneously to his brothers. Why? Joseph needed to test the hearts of his
brothers, because he had been so severely betrayed by them.
Were they still the same as they were 20 years ago? Had they changed?
Was there a future for them as a family?
OUTLINE
1.
Joseph’s test (44:1-17)
2.
Judah’s
plea (44:18-34)
1. JOSEPH’S TEST (44:1-17)
In order to know the heart of his brothers, he determines to test them to the limit. Warning! Do not try this at home. Do not use this example to put your husbands, wives, children or parents to the test to see how much they do / do not love you. Joseph's dealings here are not a role model nor an encouragement for us to test our families. That would bring unnecessary stress or trouble into the family.
What we have here is much, much bigger than a sadistic pleasure or a desire for revenge. Joseph's testing of his brothers is really an extension of God's dealing with his brothers. Remember the big picture. God is in this. This family is God’s covenant family. It is God’s prospective covenant nation. At this time it is a broken family. God, through Joseph is going to test the brothers to reveal their hearts. This is going to be essential in order to move forward as a prospective nation. At Joseph’s level, he will have to know what he is committing himself to, if there is any hope of going forward. There can be no reconciliation, there can be no way forward without true repentance. This is something which we forget so very easily.
There are two great questions in Joseph’s mind.
How will they treat Benjamin and
how much do they really care about their aged father? Once again we need to be reminded that 20
years ago they cruelly disposed of Joseph and they told their father a gross
lie. Do they still possess this mind-set?
Are these still the same men? As Joseph asks this question in his heart, I
want to remind you that
we must never assume that people
cannot or will not change. This week I was reading 2 Chronicles. There I was reminded of
the example of an extremely wicked king - Manasseh (2 Chron.33:1-20) - a man
that started extremely badly but who truly changed. He truly repented of his evil ways. I also read of king Joash who started so well and who ended very badly (2 Chron. 24)]
44:1-2 Joseph wants to see the hearts of his
brothers. The way he does that is to
return the money in their sack (just
like the first time- 42:25) – not to
incriminate them, but as an act of unmerited kindness towards
them. But now, in addition a special silver cup is placed in Benjamin’s sack. Let the test begin. It’s
a very shrewd one.
44: 3-15. Not long after the
brothers have left, Joseph tells his steward to pursue them in search of his ‘stolen’
silver cup. After protesting innocence (44: 7-9), each one’s bag is checked
beginning with the eldest (44:12).So confident they were they of their innocence,
that they insisted on the death penalty for anyone who was found with this cup in
possession. The steward in turn insists that no death penalty is needed. The
guilty party would simply be taken into slavery (44:10). The others were free to leave. The cup is discovered in Benjamin’s sack (44:12).The brothers are devastated …”then they tore their clothes…” (44:13 extreme grief and anguish),
having to return back to Joseph to face
the music. Note, again that “they fell (bowed) before him on the ground” (44:14 cf. 43:26,28)
Do you see what is happening here? Joseph as God’s instrument has incriminated the most vulnerable and most indispensable member of the family. How will they react to this? Do you see the ingenuity of this test? Having formerly abandoned Joseph and having lied to their father (Gen.37), they are tested in their concern for their youngest brother Benjamin, and in their love for their father.
How will they react?
Will they now abandon Benjamin?
Will they tell their father
another lie?
In 44:15, Joseph questions them, “What
deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed
practise divination?” The word
comes from the Latin ‘divinare’,
meaning, “to be inspired by a god”,
and thus to foresee. To practice divination is to uncover hidden knowledge by
supernatural means. It is associated with the occult and involves
fortune-telling. God forbids divination. “There
shall not be found among you . . . anyone who practices divination or tells
fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a
necromancer or one who enquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is
an abomination to the LORD.” (Deut.18:10-12).
Practicing divination is listed as
one of the reasons for Israel’s exile (2
Kings 17:17).
In the book of Acts we find a
slave girl who had a spirit of divination bringing her owners much gain by
fortune-telling (Acts 16:16). The
girl’s ability to penetrate mysteries was due to a demon that controlled her.
Paul was troubled by this and he exorcised the demon (Acts 16:18), freeing the girl from her spiritual bondage.
Divination is not harmless
entertainment or an alternate source of wisdom. Christians should avoid
visiting fortune-tellers, astrologers, witches and mediums, those that read
tarot cards, consult the dead etc. The spirit world is real, but the spirit
world is not innocent. The Bible teaches
us about the world of demons and deceiving
evil spirits. We must have nothing to do
with them.
So, if Joseph is in God’s hand,
how can he practise something that God has so clearly forbidden? You will remember earlier in Gen.41 where he interpreted Pharaoh’s
dreams, Joseph was very clear that the interpretation of dreams was not in him.
He said, “It is God who will give
Pharaoh a favourable answer.” (41:16).
I think that Joseph was simply using a scare tactic to make them believe that
he had powers to see where the missing cup went.
44: 16-17 Judah takes the lead, and it is very clear
that the brothers are lost for words. You see no protestation of their innocence. “God has
found out the guilt of your servants“ (44:16)
(Remember last week’s discussion of the powerful effect of the guilty
conscience).They recognize that God has exposed them.
Go back to that first journey to Egypt in Genesis
42:21, when they were accused of being spies, incarcerated for 3 days and
then told that one of them needed to stay behind until they returned with the youngest
boy. Notice there how the
brothers interpret that happening: "In
truth we are guilty concerning our brother in that we saw the distress of his soul, when
he begged us, and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us."
And then Ruben says in 42:22, "So now there comes a
reckoning for his (Joseph's) blood".
You see how this 20 year old guilt remains deeply etched on their
consciences. And now Judah says it again, "God
has found out our guilt" (44:16).
These brothers are guilt riddled. But the question is this. How will they deal
with their guilt? There are two sides to this question. One will be answered
in this chapter and the other in Chapter 45.
But it is 44:17 that constitutes the real test. Joseph tells them that they may leave to go back to their father. Only Benjamin must remain. He offers them freedom at Benjamin's expense.
What will they do?
If
they will only betray Benjamin, they are free to go.
2. JUDAH’S PLEA (44:18-34)
Here we find one of the most
powerful pleas in the Bible. He is not
asking for mercy. Judah declares his willingness to be a substitute for his
brother. He is not arguing, he is not
denying guilt - he is simply
pleading that his life should be
exchanged for Benjamin’s , and he does
it for the sake of his father “whose
life is bound up with the boy’s life”. He fears to see the evil that would find his father (44:34) if Benjamin were not
returned. Notice how he provides
Joseph with a brief history of the
family in verses 44:19-34 and
in this he makes two pleas:
(i) he makes it clear that he will do anything he can to avoid hurting
his father (ii) he makes it clear that he pledged himself (with a curse – 43:9 ;44:32) if he does not
bring Benjamin back.
Look at the emotional language he uses in 44:20,
28-29.
That shows us the work of grace that has been done in the heart of Judah. And here is the first answer to how they must deal with their guilt. And you can see that everything spills out of the depth of his soul, from the heart, which is now filled with confession and repentance and the desire to do things right – all at once. Again, Judah is not asking for mercy – but simply to be a slave in the place of his brother. This is one of the brothers who years before had ignored the cries of Joseph. He was complicit in the cheating against his father. And here he is – the man for others. Does this not remind you of Another One from the tribe of Judah, who would offer Himself in the place of the guilty, your and my guilt- so that we, the guilty might go free?
All this showed Joseph that this was a changed family.
For unity to be maintained among God’s people it is important that sin must be confessed and dealt with. Paul urges the Ephesians, (struggling with divisions – Eph. 2 &3), in Ephesians 4 that one's Christian profession must have substance:
“25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each
one of you speak the truth with his neighbour, for we are members one of
another... 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be
put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted,
forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:25, 31,32)
Spiritual revivals often begin
with the pain of confessing sins that have hindered blessing in local congregations.
[1]
Judah's heart has been truly changed by God and it shows in the way he loves. The
stage is set for a revival of this family
in chapter 45 – the revelation of Joseph and the reconciliation of the
family.
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