Genesis 44 - Joseph Tests His Brothers

Verses 1-5 tells us Joseph puts money in his brothers’ bags again.

“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. 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. As soon as the morning dawned, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys. When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Get up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? Is not this the one from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices divination? You have done evil in so doing.’ “

As soon as the morning dawned, Joseph’s brothers left Egypt in high spirits. They were treated well, had their sacks full of grain, and Simeon was out of prison & they were bringing BENJAMIN back to their father UNHARMED. Their father’s fear of something horrible happening would not be fulfilled.

As before, the grain sacks of the brothers are topped off by the money they paid for the grain, but this time, Joseph has his special silver cup put in the sack of Benjamin.

Why is Joseph doing this?
Some might think he is simply using his position of power to TORMENT his brothers in revenge for their cruelty towards him; but WE NOW KNOW the character of Joseph, & KNOW this isn’t the case. He IS BEING GUIDED by the hand of God, testing the hearts of his brothers, and bringing them to complete repentance.

He indeed practices divination: did Joseph use the cup for divination? We know from other sources that ANCIENTS DID USE sacred cups as divination devices. Some say it WAS JOSEPH, but The Bible RIGHT HERE TELLS US THAT JOSEPH’S SERVANT SAID SO, so we SEE EVEN BEING IN JOSEPH’S PRESENCE DAY AFTER DAY, THE SERVANT STILL WRONGLY ASSUMED Joseph’s spiritual insight and wisdom were more due to this cup than to his relationship with the living God.

BUT WE KNOW JOSEPH WAS LED BY ALMIGHTY GOD & NOT SOME PAGAN PRACTICE…AMEN?

Verses 6-10 tells us The brothers claim they are innocent of theft.

“So he overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words. 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. 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? With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.” 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.”

Far be it from us….we see the brothers CONFIDENTLY stated they did NOT have the cup. This SHOWS they had a healthy TRUST IN EACH OTHER. If they did not trust each other they would have immediately wondered which brother stole the cup.

With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves: They were so confident they did not have the cup (and trusted each other so much), they declared the thief should be killed and all the others taken as slaves.

Now also let it be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave: Joseph did not repeat their offer of a death sentence because he wanted NO BLOODSHED. But he had a plan for taking the brothers up on the suggestion of guilty parties being taken as slaves.

Verses 11-13 tells us the cup is found in Benjamin’s sack.

“Then each man speedily let down his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack. So he searched. He began with the oldest and left off with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. Then they tore their clothes, and each man loaded his donkey and returned to the city.”

The reaction of the brothers shows that this was the WORST thing imaginable. Not only that the cup was found among them, but that it was in Benjamin’s sack - their father’s REMAINING FAVORITE son, the one JACOB NOW LOVED AND WORRIED about the MOST. Now Benjamin was sentenced to a life of slavery in Egypt - if not death.

Each man loaded his donkey and returned…When Joseph was taken as a slave the brothers ALLOWED HIM TO GO, BE TAKEN, & THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT. Now they are willing to STAND WITH BENJAMIN as he faces slavery or death. This demonstrates a significant change in the heart and attitude of Joseph’s brothers.

THIS IS WHAT GOD WAS LOOKING FOR…A CONTRITE AND CHANGED HEART, AMEN?

Verses 14-17 tells us Judah commits himself and all the brothers to stick with Benjamin, even as slaves in Egypt.

“So Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground. 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?” 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.” 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.”

They fell before him on the ground…This demonstrates that the brothers were DESPERATE to gain favor with the Egyptian official to obtain the release of Benjamin. They knew it was a REAL DISASTER to lose Benjamin and bereave their father.

God has found out the iniquity of you servants…With these words, Judah revealed God’s work among the brothers. In Judah’s mind, the bothers are now destined to live the rest of their lives as slaves in Egypt because they sold Joseph as a slave some 20 years before.

The brothers were innocent of the sin of stealing the cup but were guilty of far greater sins. In the same way, we can pride ourselves because we are innocent of some sin or another, yet we are guilty of far greater. You can’t hide from your sin. Time does not erase the guilt of your sin. Only the blood of Jesus can, AMEN?

This resignation to slavery in Egypt is all the more significant.
WHY?
THINK ABOUT IT, they were middle-aged men who came from lives of privilege and status and wealth…with many servants to tend to things for them.

Here we are, my lord’s slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup was found: With these words Judah insisted that the brothers WILL STICK BY Benjamin, though he was the favored and more greatly blessed son. If they quickly abandoned Benjamin it would show little change of heart from 20 years ago, when they abandoned Joseph.

There IS A GREATER PURPOSE for this even in Benjamin. Benjamin was most innocent of all, yet he still needed to be purged of all self-confidence and brought low.


Verses 18-32 tells us Judah intercedes for Benjamin & confesses to Joseph the whole story from the beginning.

“Then Judah came near to him and said: “O my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s hearing, and do not let your anger burn against your servant; for you are even like Pharaoh. My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’ And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, who is young; his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him.’ Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’ And we said to my lord, ‘The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.’ So it was, when we went up to your servant my father, that we told him the words of my lord. And our father said, ‘Go back and buy us a little food.’ But we said, ‘We cannot go down; if our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we may not see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons; and the one went out from me, and I said, “Surely he is torn to pieces”; and I have not seen him since. But if you take this one also from me, and calamity befalls him, you shall bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.’ Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life, it will happen, when he sees that the lad is not with us, that he will die. So your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave. For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father forever.’“

Surely he is torn to pieces . . . I have not seen him since: With these carefully chosen words, Judah does not say that Benjamin’s brother is dead - only that Jacob said, “Surely he is torn to pieces” and that Judah had not seen him since.

When he sees that the lad is not with us, that he will die: 20 years before, Joseph’s brothers showed a callous disregard of their father when reporting Joseph’s “death” (Genesis 37:31-33). Judah shows they were now greatly concerned for the feelings and welfare of their father. This is MORE evidence of a change of heart.

Verses 33-34 tells us Judah lays down his life for Benjamin and his father.

“Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would come upon my father?”

Judah dramatically offers TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE for the sake of Benjamin. This is a dramatic change from 20 years before when the brothers did not care about Joseph, Benjamin, or even their father Jacob.

Judah shines forth as one willing to be a substitutionary sacrifice, out of love for his father and for his brethren. AND RIGHT HERE WE SEE WHY ALMIGHTY GOD CHOSE THE LINE OF JUDAH, FOR THE MESSIAH OUR PRECIOUS JESUS TO COME FROM.

How shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me: Judah was the one who suggested selling Joseph 20 years earlier. (Genesis 37:26-27) Here he sensitively offers to lay down his life for the favored brother. This display of sacrificial love is another example of transformation in the brothers.

JUDAH IS THE FIRST MAN IN THE BIBLE WHO WILLINGLY OFFERED TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR ANOTHER.

AND LATER IN THE BIBLE, WE REMEMBER….

Moses was willing to offer himself for the salvation of Israel (Exodus 32:31-32).

SO was Paul (Romans 9:1-4).

Sacrificial love IS evidence of our transformation reminded to us in John 13:34, AMEN?

IT IS ONE THING TO SAYYYYYY WE ARE CHRISTIANS, WHO LOVE JESUS, STRIVE TO OBEY HIM, AND FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS DAY BY DAY WHILE WE WALK THROUGH THE LOST, BLIND, UNSAVED WORLD THAT CHALLENGES US, DARES US, TEMPTS US, AND SEEKS TO KILL STEAL AND DESTROY OUR WITNESS AND OUR WALK.

BUT DO OUR LIVES GIVE EVIDENCE TO THE TRANSFORMATION JESUS HAS BROUGHT TO US? DOES OUR DAY TO DAY WALK THROUGH THIS LIFE TESTIFY FORRRRRRR US OR AGAINST US BEFORE MANKIND?

GENESIS 44 SHOWS US REMARKABLE EVIDENCE OF THE CHANGED HEARTS OF JOSEPH’S BROTHERS.

They did not resent it when Benjamin was given the favored portion (Genesis 43:34)
They trusted each other, not accusing each other of wrong when accused of stealing the cup (Genesis 44:9)
They stuck together when the silver cup was found. They did not abandon the favored son and allow him to be carried back to Egypt alone (Genesis 44:13)
They completely humbled themselves for the sake of the favored son (Genesis 44:14)
They knew their predicament was the result of their sin against Joseph (Genesis 44:16)
They offered themselves as slaves to Egypt, not abandoning Benjamin, the favored son, their brother (Genesis 44:16)
They showed due concern for how this might affect their father (Genesis 44:29-31)
Judah was willing to be a substitutionary sacrifice for his brother out of love for his father and his brethren (Genesis 44:33)



Genesis 45 - Joseph is Reunited With His Brothers

Verses 1-3 tells us Joseph reveals himself to his brothers.

“Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it. Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence.”

EMOTIONAL DISPLAYS WERE UNHEARD OF BY PHARAOH AND EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS…SO Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him: Joseph ordered all the Egyptians out of the room and was then alone with his brothers. His great emotion showed Joseph did not cruelly manipulate his brothers. He was directed by God to make these arrangements and it hurt him to do it.

Joseph made himself known to his brothers…This probably means that Joseph said he was Joseph and showed his brothers that he was circumcised. Since the Bible tells us that they did NOT RECOGNIZE JOSEPH, they would NEVER have believed this high Egyptian official was Joseph unless he showed he was circumcised as God‘s covenant with ABRAHAM commanded.

And history tells us that NONE IN EGYPT society PRACTICED CIRCUMCISION IN THAT DAY.

But his brothers could not answer him…Because of the punishment they EXPECTED, the great emotion of Joseph, his manner of revelation, and the total shock of learning Joseph was not only alive but right in front of them, the brothers were dismayed. The ancient Hebrew word for dismayed (bahal) actually means, “amazed” or “frightened” or even “terrified.”

Come near to me in Genesis 45:4 implies the brothers cringed back in terror.

Their dismay is a shadow, JUST A SNEAK PEEK of what will happen when the Jews, THE NATION OF ISRAEL FINALLY SEES Jesus for WHO HE WAS AND IS again:

REMEMBER WHAT ZECHARIAH 12:10 SAYS OF THAT DAY, “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.”

Verses 4-8 tells us Joseph’s testimony.

“And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.”

God SENT ME BEFORE YOU… Joseph did not diminish what the brothers did (whom you sold into Egypt). Yet he saw that God’s purpose in it all was GREATER GOOD than the evil of the brothers & no doubt of Satan himself, AMEN?

When we are sinned against we are tempted to fail in one or both of these areas. We are tempted to play “let’s pretend you never did it,” or we are tempted to fail to see the over-arching hand of God in every circumstance, AMEN?

BUT RIGHT HERE…NEW TESTAMENT ROMANS 8:28...WHAT MAN AND SATAN INTENDED FOR EVIL…GOD USED FOR OUR GOOD!

It is fair to ask, “Why was Joseph in Egypt? Was it because of the sin of his brothers or because of the good plan of God?” The answer is that both options are true.

God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance: All Joseph’s sorrows were for a purpose. God used them to preserve his family and provide the conditions for it to become a nation. Joseph was a victim of men, but God turned it around for His glory. None of it was for a loss.

If this family does not go into Egypt, then they assimilate among the pagan tribes of the Promised Land and cease to become a distinctive people. God had to put them in a place where they could grow, yet stay a distinctive nation.

So now it was not you who sent me here, BUT GOD: Joseph realized God ruled his life, not good men, evil men, circumstances, or fate. God was IN CONTROL ALWAYSSSSSSSSS, and because God was in control all things worked together for good, AMEN?.

Verses 9-15 tells us Joseph tells his brothers to go home and to bring their father and find protection from the famine.

“Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.”‘ And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you. So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.” Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.”

Thus says your son Joseph…When Jacob heard this it was one of the greatest days of his life. He had the joy of learning that the favored son, who will save his brethren, who was given up for dead, is now alive.

He kissed ALL his brothers and wept over them: Joseph did not exclude those who had been especially cruel to him. His heart was OPEN, LOVE-FILLED & FORGIVING to his brothers both as a group and as individuals.

After that his brothers talked with him: This was a wonderful conversation. There was a lot to catch up on.

Verses 16-24 tells us Pharaoh and Joseph send the brothers home with many gifts.

“Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land. Now you are commanded; do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’“ Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. He gave to all of them, to each man, changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments. And he sent to his father these things: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey. So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to them, “See that you do not become troubled along the way.”

Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey: The sons of Israel received transportation, provision, garments, and riches because of who their favored brother was. Pharaoh blessed the sons of Jacob for Joseph’s sake.

WE TOO ARE PROTECTED, BLESSED AND FAVORED BECAUSE OF WHO WE ARE….WE ARE CHILDREN OF THE ONE TRUE KING…WE WHO LOVE JESUS ARE CO-HEIRS WITH JESUS…BECAUSE OF WHO OUR JESUS IS…NOT WHO WE IN AND OF OURSELVES ARE, AMEN?

TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE UNIMAGINABLENESS OF THIS COMMAND AND PROVISION FROM PHARAOH AND JOSEPH, BOICE EXPLAINS IT THIS WAY, “To return to Canaan with ‘carts from Egypt’ was the cultural equivalent of landing a RICHES LOADED jumbo jet among a tribe of isolated savages. It would be the stuff legends are made of.”

See that you do not become troubled along the way: The idea behind the words “become troubled” is literally become angry or quarrel. Joseph knew as soon as these men left his presence they would be tempted to act in selfish, unspiritual ways. They had to anticipate and guard against this.

Verses 25-28 tells us Jacob hears the good news - that Joseph lives.

“Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father. And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them. But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived. Then Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

JACOB DID NOT BELIEVE THEM…Jacob was told Joseph was dead and believed it. Then he was told Joseph was alive, and he did not believe it until his sons told him the words of Joseph and showed him the blessings that came to them through Joseph. Then he believed Joseph was alive, though he had not yet seen him.

DO YOU SEE THE COMPARISON HERE…THE IMPLICATION FOR WE WHO LOVE JESUS CHRIST, WHO KNOWWWWW HE IS ALIVE, WELL, MIGHTY AND RULING OVER ALL?

OUR FAITH BELIEVES JESUS WORDS AND HIS PROMISES…EVENNNNNNNN WHEN WE DOOOOOOO NOTTTTTT SEE THEM YET, AMEN?

The only way people will know Jesus is alive is if we TELL THEM HIS WORDS and SHOW THEM HIS BLESSINGS in our lives, AMEN?

IT IS ENOUGH…Joseph my son is still alive: Knowing that the favored son was alive - back from the dead, as it were - changed Israel’s testimony from all these things are against me (Genesis 42:36) to it is enough.

This testimony OF FAITH comes from Israel, not Jacob. When Jacob (HIS FLESH) was in charge, we saw a whining, self-pitying, complaining, unbelieving type of man. But Israel, the man God conquered, had a testimony of faith…IT IS ENOUGH.

GENESIS 45 SHOWS US….AND REMINDS US…WHEN ALL THINGS LOOK THEIR DARKEST, MOST DOOMED, MOST DEFEATED…STAND, HAVE FAITH, WATCH & WAIT….BECAUSE OUR GOD OF THE IMPOSSIBLE HAS A WONDROUS PLAN FOR US…A BETTER PLAN, WAY, PROVISION, PROTECTION…FOR US THAT ANY WE CAN CREATE, BRING TO PASS, WITH OUR MINDS, HANDS, AND HEARTS….

FAITH IN OUR JESUS…IS ALL WE NEED TO REMEMBER IS JESUS PROMISES IN HIS WORD…SPEAK THEM OUT, STAND IN FAITH BELIEVING AND KNOWING WE ARE A CHILD OF THE ONE TRUE KING, JESUS CHRIST AND HE WILL NEVER FAIL US!!!