Genesis 44

The cup of divination...

Previous post: Genesis 43

We’ve got quite a lot going on here in chapter 44. So, let’s break it down.

We’re toward the end of the ongoing saga of Joseph being reunited with his brothers. In chapter 44, we find Joseph again testing his brothers, this time with a silver cup…and not just any ordinary silver cup.

The brothers have loaded up the grain given to them and have begun the journey back to their father. They’re probably feeling pretty good about the trip thus far. No one was executed. They got the grain. They could see the city in their rearview mirror. Phew. Relief.

Then comes Joseph’s steward with a journey-stopping, heart-stopping, peace-destroying accusation: someone stole Joseph’s silver cup of divination. Not good, guys. Not good.

Let’s talk about this cup for a second. First, we have no indication that Joseph ever credited anyone or anything but God with his ability to foresee the years of feast and famine, let alone a cup. However, it wouldn’t be much of a stretch to think that many Egyptians (and people who were saved from starvation by the Egyptians) credited their salvation to Joseph’s ability to predict the future…and very likely to this particular cup used for divining the future (as it is described in Genesis 44:5).

That said, stealing this particular cup wasn’t simply a crime against Joseph but against the kingdom of Egypt as a whole. Stealing a cup from the guy who just saved them was bad. But, stealing the cup that held the predictive power to sustain Egypt through a famine…that’s very, very bad. No wonder the brothers were distraught when the cup showed up in Benjamin’s sack.

“At this, they tore their clothes.” Genesis 44:13, NIV.

Joseph’s ability to predict the future had effectively saved the world as they knew it from starvation. In Genesis 44:13, these brothers had the brutal realization that they had somehow A) stolen the possible source of that ability; and, B) angered the guy with all the power.

Of course, it seems that Joseph was testing them to see how they would handle the gravity of the offense. If the cup was in Benjamin’s bag, would they do as they had done to Joseph all those years ago? Would they sacrifice Benjamin out of anger or, at best, for the sake of their own lives? Would they drag Benjamin back to Joseph saying, “He took the cup! We had no idea! Kill him and take your cup!” Would they kill Benjamin themselves in an effort to appease Joseph? Or, had they truly changed? I’m sure Joseph was curious how they would handle the situation.

Thankfully, the brothers do appear to have changed. Given the option to rid themselves of another brother who was seemingly more dearly loved by their father, not one of them has the idea to throw Benjamin under the bus. Not one of them suggests murder or abandonment. They could have gone back to Jacob with the story, “I’m sorry. I know you love Benjamin, but he stole from the guy in charge of everything and was executed. There was nothing we could do. His blood is on his own hands.” Not this time. In fact, quite the opposite. The brothers refuse to allow Benjamin to pay the price for them. Theologically speaking, we have a bit of substitutionary atonement going on. One of the brothers in particular, Judah, steps up and requests to take the punishment in place brother…for the sake of his father. To repeat, we have a guy who didn’t commit the crime offer to sacrifice his life for those who did commit the crime for the sake of his father back home. Of course, that, in a nutshell is the gospel. This story is foreshadowing another savior who would come through Judah’s lineage.

These were not the same brothers who sold Joseph into slavery all those years ago. Something has changed. No doubt they were still a mess, but we see true guilt, true repentance, and true loyalty to family. They would not sacrifice Benjamin for the sake of their pride, comfort, or inheritance. Instead, they tossed aside all pride, repented, asked for forgiveness, and threw themselves at mercy of Joseph for the sake of their father. And, as we see next in Chapter 45, Joseph wept. He saved. He loved. And, he blessed them. That’s good news for the brothers. That’s good news for us.

Here’s this week’s AI rap summary:

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™