Thought

We are not told exactly why Joseph tested his brothers by hiding the cup in the sack that belonged to Benjamin, but we can make a good guess based on what we know of his story. Joseph was a good man and had proved himself to be a man of honor, despite what his family did to him. Joseph was also a powerful man at the time his brothers came to him in Egypt, and he certainly could have forced his brothers to say or do whatever he wanted. And we also know that Joseph was a man who had suffered much at the hands of his brothers. Perhaps through this test that he designed, he wanted to see how his brothers behaved—would they turn on one another, as they had turned on him so long ago, and give up the youngest of their family? Or would they behave with honor and loyalty?

Word

Genesis 44:32 NIV

Your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father. I said, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!’

Question

If you were in control of all the land of your country, what would you do for your family?

What would you do for your friends?

Challenge

Read through Genesis 44:11–34 and compare it with Genesis 37:17–36. Write down all the differences you notice between how the brothers behaved toward young Joseph in Genesis 37 and how they behave toward Benjamin in Genesis 44.

Prayer

God of mercy, help us to have mercy on those who have hurt us in the past. Help us to remember that sometimes courage looks strong and powerful, and sometimes courage looks like giving up power in order to let You take control. Amen.