Genesis 44:1- Benjamin and the Silver Cup
“Then Joseph instructed his steward: “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each one’s silver in the mouth of his sack. Put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.”
So the steward did as Joseph had instructed.
At daybreak, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys. They had not gone far from the city when Joseph told his steward, “Pursue the men at once, and when you overtake them, ask, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil? Is this not the cup that my master drinks from and uses for divination? What you have done is wicked!’”
When the steward overtook them, he relayed these words to them.
“Why does my lord say these things?” they asked. “Your servants could not possibly do such a thing. We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found in the mouths of our sacks. Why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house? If any of your servants is found to have it, he must die, and the rest will become slaves of my lord.”
“As you say,” replied the steward. “But only the one who is found with the cup will be my slave, and the rest of you shall be free of blame.”
So each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. The steward searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest—and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. Then they all tore their clothes, loaded their donkeys, and returned to the city.
When Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him.
“What is this deed you have done?” Joseph declared. “Did you not know that a man like me can surely divine the truth?”
“What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we and the one who was found with the cup.”
But Joseph replied, “Far be it from me to do this. The man who was found with the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may return to your father in peace.”
Judah Pleads for Benjamin
Then Judah approached Joseph and said, “Sir, please let your servant speak personally to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, for you are an equal to Pharaoh. My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’
And we answered, ‘We have an elderly father and a younger brother, the child of his old age. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’
Then you told your servants, ‘Bring him down to me so that I can see him for myself.’
So we said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father. If he were to leave, his father would die.’
But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your younger brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’
Now when we returned to your servant my father, we relayed your words to him.
Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy us some food.’
But we answered, ‘We cannot go down there unless our younger brother goes with us. So if our younger brother is not with us, we cannot see the man.’
And your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons. When one of them was gone, I said: “Surely he has been torn to pieces.” And I have not seen him since. So if you take this one from me as well and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’
So if the boy is not with us when I return to your servant, my father—his life is wrapped up in the boy’s life— when he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. Then your servants will have brought the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow. Indeed, your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father, saying, ‘If I do not return him to you, I will bear the guilt before you, my father, all my life.’
Now please let your servant stay here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy. Let him return with his brothers. For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.”
Well, Joseph is finally taking a small revenge on his brothers for their heinous act of selling him into slavery. Each one of these men long for their father’s approval, and they have belatedly realized the only way they might get it is to protect Benjamin as much as possible. Too bad these guys didn’t feel the same way about Joseph! Joseph fully realizes what’s happening and devises a trap by putting his brothers’ silver into their sacks and placing his personal drinking cup in Benjamin’s sack. Joseph then dispatches his steward to pursue his brothers and arrest the one in whose sack the cup is found. Notice the description of that cup: “Is this not the cup that my master drinks from and uses for divination? What you have done is wicked!’” Whether or not Joseph actually uses that cup for divination, it’s obviously a common practice among Egyptian nobles, and the steward assumes Joseph observes that practice.
When Joseph’s cup is found in Benjamin’s sack, the brothers tear their clothing in despair and return to Joseph. Now Judah is begging that Joseph make him a slave instead of Benjamin, even though Judah originally advised his brothers to sell Joseph to the Midianite slave traders. “Now please let your servant stay here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy. Let him return with his brothers. For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.” When the brothers originally sold Joseph into slavery, they thought they were merely ridding themselves of a pesty nuisance and that now the affection and love Jacob had lavished on Joseph would come to them. But this plan failed drastically because Jacob grieved for Joseph as though Joseph and Benjamin were his only sons while the others were simply glorified servants. Even though Jacob doesn’t seem to love his other sons, his other sons still love him and long for his affection and approval.
At this point, Joseph’s brothers are bitterly regretting their former sins against him and facing the possibility that one or more of them will remain as slaves in Egypt forever. Given the restrictions that Jacob has placed on the brothers as they have set out, these men are probably wondering if it’s worth it to return to Canaan. If Joseph has hoped for revenge, he is getting it. But is it worth it?
Actions always have consequences. During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus advised his listeners, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48)
James 1:19-20 tells us, “My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.” If someone has hurt you badly and you do everything you can to destroy him or her, what if you have misjudged that person? There’s a story told in one of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books about a lady who had a pen pal at a time when people would write into newspapers and the correspondence would be published. This lady had a neighbor whom she despised; meanwhile, she loved the woman with whom she was corresponding and longed to meet her. Imagine this lady’s remorse when her neighbor died and she found copies of their correspondence at her neighbor’s house. The very woman this lady despised was her beloved pen pal friend! This woman had wasted years of spite and bitterness when she could have enjoyed a loving relationship, and now the opportunity was lost forever. Friends, let all of us be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger! Our anger will not bring about righteousness and we are in danger of grieving God, our Father.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to forgive quickly and leave grudges alone. Help us also to remember that we may be judging on the basis of misinformation and it is far better to be patient with others rather than to retaliate, hurting someone needlessly. We ask these things in the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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