74. Joseph framed them to test (Gen 44:1-17)

 Joseph put the silver cup in Benjamin’s sack to test their hearts.

πŸ‘‰ Read Gen 44:1-17

It was (           ) who instructed this trap for his brothers.

When the cup was found in (            )’s sack, they tore (                       ) and returned to the city.

(              ) and his brother came back to Joseph and said, “What can we speak? (           ) has exposed the sin of your servants. We all are now my lord’s (              ).” But Joseph said, “No, the rest of you may go back to your father in (               ).”

Answers and Meditation

Joseph

Why did Joseph manipulate the case and frame them? We might accuse Joseph of his unfairness in his treating his brothers. However, it is undeniable that Joseph had authority and power over them, like Pharaoh or God.

Whatever Joseph had done to them, they said, “it was God who did this to us.” (42:28, 43:23, 44:16)

Maybe, God is testing their loyalty to their father and love for their brother through Joseph’s power, though his motive was hidden.

 

Benjamin, their clothes

They had been so confident about their innocence. But it turned out worst that Benjamin was going to be a slave.

 

Judah, God, slaves, peace

So far, the author has called them ‘the men.’ They have been passive under the test. From now on, they became active and spoke up. The author no longer calls them ‘the men’ and starts to single out Judah from his brothers. Judah will act out to save his brother and his father.

They wanted to be punished together, ‘we all become your slaves.’ (9, 16) But, Joseph wanted to detain only Benjamin. He wanted to see how they would act for their brother. Joseph said, “only he will become my slave, the rest of you will go in peace.” (14, 17)

This is the same situation of 20+ years ago when they returned to their father’s house in peace while Joseph was sold. Did Joseph want to know if they would behave the same or not?

Don’t ask why Joseph didn’t reveal his identity. It is not the focus. What matter is not Joseph’s success but their change, not revenge but reconciliation, not grain but breaking down of Jacob’s favoritism.

Focus on how this test reveals their sins and heal their scars and how the Lord heals the brokenness among Jacob’s family.


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