Today's Reading:

Genesis 44
Genesis 45 
Genesis 46

 
Joseph instructed the steward to return his brothers' silver and to hide his own silver cup in Benjamin’s sack (Genesis 44:1–2) to test his brothers for a change of heart. Years ago, they sold Joseph (Genesis 37), had they truly repented? The brothers never realized it was Joseph himself who gave these orders; they thought they were dealing only with the stern Egyptian governor. By framing Benjamin, Joseph put his brothers into a similar situation- would they abandon the favored brother to save their own lives again, or would they protect him, which would honor their father Jacob/Israel and Benjamin and Joseph's mother Rachel? Joseph was able to test his brother’s transformed hearts as they could heal the family and save nations to become God’s remnant on earth. While it is not our place to test the hearts of others, we are called to forgive as we have been forgiven and trust in the One who searches our hearts perfectly.

Joseph deliberately had his silver cup put into Benjamin’s sack to test and see if his brothers had truly changed since selling him into slavery. He never intended to enforce the full penalty for the theft—it was entirely staged. At first, he publicly accused them of a crime, threatening death. Then he reduced the punishment to no execution, but lifelong slavery in Egypt. Finally, when Judah’s heartfelt plea revealed their repentance and selflessness, Joseph reduced the penalty to zero—he forgave them completely.

To protect his brothers from any lasting public shame or official record of the accusation, Joseph had the Egyptians and servants leave the room before revealing his identity and reconciling with them, never mentioning the cup again. All punishment cancelled as soon as Joseph knew what was truly in their hearts. Benjamin was freed and embraced by Joseph. The family was given gifts of full honor and provisions. After years of betrayal, slavery, false imprisonment and silently watching his brothers bow before him, Joseph finally broke down. Forgiveness and restoration are an unmistakable part of God’s plan, as He chooses to save lives.

In Beersheba, Jacob was traveling to Egypt to be reunited with Joseph and stopped to offer sacrifices. Beersheba was where Abraham had made the covenant with Abimelech and where Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac. God had also appeared to Hagar at the well in Beersheba when she ran away from Sarah and Abraham being told that she would have a son, Ishmael. In the book of 1 Kings, it is also where Elijah fled and was told to have a snack and nap to feel better (more on that in the future). God spoke to Jacob/Israel in a nighttime vision telling him that “Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.” Jacob was worried about traveling as the Egyptians were enemies and thought of as ritually unclean and dangerous, but God said it would not be a death sentence- just a time of exile with good food. God personally promised His presence, and that Jacob would eventually return to Canaan- He just didn’t mention that Jacob wouldn’t be alive when he comes back to Canaan. There was a tender reunion between Joseph and his father Jacob, with Joseph leading the family in conversation to the Egyptians on their occupation. Keeping the 70 family members as shepherds in the fertile land of Goshen kept them distinct and protected them from assimilation. What God did later to bring the 70 who went down as refugees back to the homeland as a nation was remarkable. Just as Jacob died in Egypt and was later brought back to the Promised Land, the descendants of his name (Israel) would have to 'die' there symbolically—through the crushing weight of slavery—before being raised up by God and redeemed as a great nation of millions. God is patient; He allowed his people to be exiled and oppressed in order to learn that salvation is not through being reformed, but through the resurrection.

Today's Discussion question: 
When has a past mistake or regret come rushing back in your life because of a new crisis? How does it hit you that Joseph (who they hurt so badly) is the one secretly testing them, forgiving them, and then saving them? What does this part of the story make you think about how God might use tough moments to heal old wounds, bring out change in us, or show us His mercy in disguise?

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