Conclusion of Joseph’s Test – Genesis 44

“For twenty-two years, Joseph’s brothers had carefully covered their sins. They hadn’t told the truth and apparently had reaped no serious consequences. Furthermore, they weren’t afraid of being exposed, because the only person who could witness against them was Joseph, and they were sure he was dead (v. 20). But the truth had to come out, both for their good and the success of God’s plan of salvation for the world.

When the eleven brothers left Joseph’s house, they had every reason to be joyful. They hadn’t been arrested for stealing the grain money, Simeon had been released, Benjamin was safely traveling with them, and they were going home at last.

But their joy was only a mirage. Authentic joy and peace can never be based on lies; they must be founded on truth. To build on lies is to build on the sand and invite certain judgment. Apart from righteousness, there can be no real peace, but only a fragile truce that eventually erupts into war. “The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever” (Is. 32:17). God’s way may be narrower and harder, but it leads to peace.” (NKJV Wiersbe Study Bible)

[1] Then he commanded the steward of his house, “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, [2] and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph told him.

[3] As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys. [4] They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? [5] Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.’”

[6] When he overtook them, he spoke to them these words. [7] They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing! [8] Behold, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? [9] Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, and we also will be my lord’s servants.” [10] He said, “Let it be as you say: he who is found with it shall be my servant, and the rest of you shall be innocent.” [11] Then each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. [12] And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. [13] Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.

[14] When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground. [15] Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination?” [16] And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found.” [17] But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my servant. But as for you, go up in peace to your father.”

[18] Then Judah went up to him and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself. [19] My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father, or a brother?’ [20] And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him.’ [21] Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’ [22] We said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ [23] Then you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall not see my face again.’

[24] “When we went back to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. [25] And when our father said, ‘Go again, buy us a little food,’ [26] we said, ‘We cannot go down. If our youngest brother goes with us, then we will go down. For we cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ [27] Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons. [28] One left me, and I said, “Surely he has been torn to pieces,” and I have never seen him since. [29] If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs in evil to Sheol.’

[30] “Now therefore, as soon as I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us, then, as his life is bound up in the boy’s life, [31] as soon as he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol. [32] For your servant became a pledge of safety for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father all my life.’ [33] Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers. [34] For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would find my father.” (Genesis 44, ESV)

Joseph continues his test to see if his brothers have had a change of heart, and he discovers that they have.  Judah, in particular, the one who suggested the brothers sell Joseph into slavery instead of killing him, is now very concerned about his brother Benjamin and about his father’s welfare at learning his son Benjamin is not returned to him.  The brothers have passed the test.

Walton has some very interesting comments about Joseph’s claim to have discovered the “theft” of his silver cup through divination:

“Joseph’s statement when they are again before him is another of the cryptic statements woven through the narrative: “Don’t you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?” On the first level, the brothers are by now certainly willing to accept the truth of that affirmation. The man’s knowledge of them has been uncanny and incredible. Additionally, it is a logical statement to make in connection with this cup, which in 44:5 was identified as a cup for divination. Divination in Egypt was generally only accessible to people of high status. Not much is known concerning the most popular techniques. From Mesopotamia we are familiar with a couple of techniques that use liquids. Lecanomancy functions by observing the shapes that oil makes when poured into water. Hydromancy gains information from the ripples or reflections in the water itself. The brothers would not be surprised that a high official uses such methods.

But it is possible that Joseph insinuates more than this. Divination involves knowledge and interpretation of signs. In the immediate context, Joseph is reading the omens of their behavior to determine whether they are changed men. Indeed, he is using the cup for this divination — but it is far from lecanomancy or hydromancy. Joseph has begun to see God’s plan. In the larger scheme of things, his early dreams had indicated the destiny that he has now fulfilled, and he is beginning to understand what God is doing through him.”

Judah says that through Joseph’s divination (he believes Joseph’s claim) that “God has found out the guilt of your servants,” and because he believes Benjamin did not steal the cup, it implies that he is speaking of the guilt of selling their brother Joseph into slavery and lying to their father.  In recounting Jacob’s conversation with them before they came to Egypt, Judah reveals to Joseph what the story has been about his absence, that is, that he was torn to pieces, so that Jacob believes he is dead.

The truth is coming out.