The Book of Genesis
Day 413
Ge 44:1 And he
commanded the steward of his house, saying, "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 "Also put my cup, the
silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain
money." So he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. 3 As soon as the morning dawned, the men were
sent away, they and their donkeys. 4
When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to
his steward, "Get up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to
them, 'Why have you repaid evil for good?
5 'Is not this the one from which my lord drinks, and with which he
indeed practices divination? You have done evil in so doing.'"
Joseph plants his
silver cup in the sack of Benjamin. Having sown the seeds of jealousy among his
brothers, he now will find out if the brothers have really changed their ways.
These are the hard-hearted brothers who gave no thought to their father or
Joseph when they sold Joseph into slavery. They gave no thought to bringing
back the prized coat of many colors dipped in animal blood to substantiate
their lie that Joseph had been killed by wild animals. (I wonder how many
nightmares Jacob had due to their lies?)
At any rate, now,
Joseph will find out if these guys have really had a change of heart. When the
police catch up to the boys and find the cup it would be easy for the boys to
say, “Way to go Benji, you stole the cup, now pay the price and go rot in
Egypt. This time they would be justified in telling their father the truth and
not have a guilty conscience about it. The cup was in Benjamin’s sack, he was
guilty! Have they really changed their attitude toward their father and his
other favorite son?
This kind of
testing on Joseph’s part may seem a
little cruel, but it wasn’t cruelty that he had on his mind. Rather this test
was designed to help and strengthen his brothers. This kind of testing is essential
for the followers of Christ as well. It is vital that our head knowledge of
faith be tried in the courtroom of real life trials. This testing is not for
God’s sake, but for our own.
It is in
affliction that Jeremiah wrote the Book of Lamentations. Listen to some of his
words concerning his hope in the midst of his trials found in chapter three.
La 3:19 Remember
my affliction and roaming, The wormwood and the gall. 20 My soul still remembers And sinks within
me. 21 This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope. 22 Through the
LORD'S mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your
faithfulness. 24 "The LORD is my
portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!" 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for
Him, To the soul who seeks Him. 26 It is
good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD.
Afflictions or
trials, when borne, bring deeper understanding of God’s mercy, compassion, and
faithfulness to those who persevere.
Jeremiah
continues: La 3:27 It is good for a man to bear The yoke in his youth. 28 Let him sit alone and keep silent, Because
God has laid it on him; 29 Let him put
his mouth in the dust-There may yet be hope.
30 Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him, And be full of
reproach. 31 For the Lord will not cast
off forever. 32 Though He causes grief,
Yet He will show compassion According to the multitude of His mercies.
The lesson for all
is to praise God for the tests. “The Father chastens those whom He loves.” (Heb 12:6)
Are you in trial
right now? God has a multitude of mercies waiting for you….hang in there, for
the promise is sure, “Yet, He will show compassion.”
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