Joseph tests his brothers

Genesis 44

Joseph is like the 2nd in charge over all of Egypt. There is a great famine in the land and he is in charge of distributing the food to those who need it. In the last few chapters we see that Joseph’s brothers come to him for food. He sent them away with some but kept Simeon in Egypt. They were told to bring back the youngest brother Benjamin back with them to Egypt. The famine kept on getting worse and Joseph’s brothers had to go back to Egypt because they needed more food. This time they did bring Benjamin back just like Joseph requested and they ate with Joseph. In all of this, Joseph never retaliated against his brothers for what they did to him. He actually had compassion on them and wept for them. His brothers did not know that the man they were dealing with was Joseph. Joseph wanted to see how they would be towards the youngest now and to see if their hearts have changed. In this chapter we will see how they have changed. 

The Test:

Joseph told the steward of the house to put the food in the sacks and the money back in the mouth of the sacks just like he did in chapter 42, but this time he had his own silver cup put in the sack of Benjamin. This was to see how the brothers would react over the this set-up crime. Joseph told the steward to overtake them and ask them why would they steal from the master’s house. Remember Joseph was not doing this to get back at them and make their lives miserable; he wanted to see if their hearts have changed. The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack, the youngest, whom Israel loved. Joseph saw them and said the guilt is on the one who stole the cup, he shall surely pay the price. Judah begged for Joseph to not do this to Benjamin but instead take him. He told him that if his father (Jacob/Israel) found out he would die because the news would be too much.

This test that Joseph gave was to see if they would even desire for Benjamin to be safe and live. He remembered his brothers as jealous and desired for his life to end. Now we see his brothers willing to give of their life for the life of the younger. Their hearts have changed.

Joseph never had hostility towards those whom harmed him. If I can go through my life and remember all the times that I was wronged or hurt by someone and how many of those times did I not desire to get revenge is very minimal. I wanted people to be hurt just like I got hurt or they would be upset just like I was upset. I wanted to get even sometimes and if not more have their life miserable too. The Bible is clear about revenge and that when we are wronged by someone else then we need to let the Lord take control of it. I know that is hard because our nature is to get even, but God is the judge and the one who will take your matters and repay who needs to be repaid what. When reading the life of Joseph it is hard to see not reflect a little about Jesus Christ. He was wronged, beaten, bruised and then killed because he is God in flesh. He did not retaliate on his accusers and even more so he went through all that because of the love for mankind. Thank you Jesus for your love which I can easily take for granted.