Joseph remembered his brothers as they were when they sold him into Egypt, many years before. The only person who could tell on them and their actions, was dead, or so they thought.
Joseph was not “getting even” but finding out if they had changed in the past 22 years.
The Test
Joseph instructed his house steward to fill his brothers sacks with grain and return their money to them by placing it in plain sight on top of the grain.
One exception: take Joseph’s personal silver cup and place it in the mouth of Benjamin’s sack along with the money.
The eleven brothers were sent on their way early the next morning. They were given time to get down the road then Joseph sent his house steward after them accusing them of stealing his silver cup. “Why have you repaid evil for good?” Of course the brothers knew nothing of what the servant was talking about. Genesis 44:1-6
They denied doing any wrong. They went so far to say, whoever you find has the silver cup will die and the rest of us will be slaves. The house steward said whoever has the silver cup will become a slave. The rest will go home, free.
Each of the eleven brothers took their sacks of grain and opened them. The house steward searched each sack, beginning with the eldest to the youngest. He found the silver cup in Benjamin’s sack.
How did the rest of the brothers react? They tore their clothes in mourning, reloaded their donkeys with the sacks and returned with the steward to Joseph’s home.
The eleven brothers saw Joseph, they all bowed down to the ground before him.
Joseph asked what have you done? Judah said, how can we justify ourselves to you? God has found out your servants’ sins – all of us are your slaves.
Joseph replied that is not so. The one who had my cup is my slave, the rest of you will go free. Judah recounted their conversation with Joseph when they first came to Egypt. We told you about Benjamin and our father’s heart would be broken if we did not return with Benjamin, a son he loves dearly. We did as you said. Our father trusted that we would return with Benjamin. Judah then said, take me as your slave and let Benjamin go home to our father. Test: passed!
God’s Word ~ Alive!
Psalm 26:2
“Examine me, O LORD, and try me;
Test my mind and my heart.”
You either pass…or fail.