#116 Burn Genesis 44

Then he commanded the steward of his house, "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, and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain." And he did as Joseph told him. As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys. They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, "up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, 'why have you repaid evil for good? Is it not from this my lord drinks, and by this that he practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.' " When he overtook them, he spoke these words. They said to him, "why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing! Behold, the money that we found in the mouths  of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord's house? Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, and we also will be my lord's servants." He said, "let it be as you say: he who is found with it shall be my servant, and the rest of you shall be innocent." Then each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. And he searched beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded  his donkey, and they returned to the city. When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground. Joseph said to them, "what deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination?" And Judah said, "what shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord's servants, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found." But he said, "far be it from me that I should do so! Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my servant. But as for you, go up in peace to your father." Genesis 44:1-17ESV

What kind of men had the brothers become? Joseph tests them again, and gives room for them to leave their brother Benjamin behind. If they have not been convicted of their past, then this opportunity to be tested again, as in the days of the coat of many colors, will be lost. If their envy and jealousy are not checked by the pain they witnessed in their father, then they will fail.  If they do not put themselves in the skin of the brother who tried to reason with them, then they will fail. Joseph has made it all too easy for them to walk away, and yet, there is Judah. He is remembering, and he is seeing this as from the Lord. He is convicted, as if this is a judgment handed out by God, and he is accepting the punishment. Joseph is anything but malicious and he will rejoice more than any man to find a change of heart. This is a second chance.

…6In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,…

 1 Peter 1:6-8