Genesis 44:1-34
Q.1. What plan did Joseph devise to see if his brothers had changed? What offer did the brothers make to prove their sincerity? How did they react to Benjamin’s seeming guilt? – (Gen.44:1-13)
Joseph knew from what his brothers had said that his father was still alive. He also would have been encouraged that they had heeded his instructions to bring Benjamin with them if they wanted further help. However, would they put their lives on the line for their father and their half – brother? Joseph decided on a plan to implicate Benjamin in the stealing of his silver cup. His steward was commanded to – 1 … “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 Put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his money for the grain.” … (Gen.44:1-2). After the brothers had started on their journey home, the steward was dispatched to apprehend them, with the question – 4 …Why have you repaid evil for good? 5 Is not this the one from which my lord drinks and which he indeed uses for divination? You have done wrong in doing this.' (Gen.44:4-5). The brothers were confident that they had done nothing wrong and protested that they had previously returned the money. They offered - With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord's slaves (Gen.44:9). Now, as the steward systematically searched for the silver goblet, their fear heightened - 12 He searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest, and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. 13 Then they tore their clothes, and when each man loaded his donkey, they returned to the city (Gen.44:12-13). This was an unmitigated disaster.
Q.2. How did Joseph greet his brothers? What explanation did Judah offer? Would the brothers abandon Benjamin? What did Joseph plan to do? – (Gen.44:14-17)
Joseph pretended to be angry, as his brothers fell at his feet. All Judah could get out was – … “What can we say to my lord? What can we speak? And how can we justify ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s slaves, both we and the one in whose possession the cup has been found.” (Gen.44:16). Their guilt followed them wherever they went. Joseph closed in the net, and – … said, “Far be it from me to do this. The man in whose possession the cup has been found, he shall be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father” (Gen.44:17). Would they pass the test?
Q.3. What was the substance of Judah’s appeal? Why did Judah offer himself as a substitute? – (Gen.44:18-34)
Judah had been particularly hateful and mercenary in the selling of Joseph into slavery years earlier (Gen.37:26-28). However, here it was Judah who made a humble and impassioned plea to Joseph – Then Judah approached him, and said, “Oh my lord, may your servant please speak a word in my lord’s ears, and do not be angry with your servant; for you are equal to Pharaoh (Gen.44:18). He rehearsed the events leading to this calamity: (i) It was Joseph who had asked questions about Jacob and Benjamin (Gen.44:19). (ii) They had explained how the death of Benjamin’s blood-brother had made Jacob over-protective of Benjamin (Gen.44:20-22). (iii) They had heeded Joseph’s demand not to return to Egypt without proof of their story – But we said,We cannot go down. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ (Gen.44:26). (iv) Judah claimed that Jacob would die if they returned without his beloved Benjamin (Gen.44:27-31). Judah had revealed his love for his father, when pleading for Benjamin to be allowed to return with his brothers. He offered himself as the substitute slave in Benjamin’s place (Gen.44:32-34). Joseph’s plan had revealed what he needed to know – his brothers were changed men.