Now the plot thickens, as we find the brothers in deep trouble in chapter 44. See, after they ate, Joseph instructed his servants to fill the brothers’ sacks with food and money. He also instructed them to put his silver cup in the sack of the youngest and the money for his grain. Then Joseph sent the men off to their homeland as soon as it was light. He sends his servants to meet them at the gate and charge them with stealing his silver cup. Joseph set them up. Why would he do such a thing? Well, let’s see if the answer is in chapter 44, shall we?

As I said, the text states they were stopped at the gate. In verse 4-5 Joseph instructs his men to say,

“Why have you repaid evil for good? Is not this the one from which my lord drinks and which he indeed uses for divination? You have done wrong in doing this."

The brothers could not believe it. They were trying to defend themselves. The brothers were so confident they had done no wrong that they issued a challenge in verse 9. This challenge was accepted in verse 10, and they searched the sacks, from oldest to youngest.

Of course, since it had been planted unbeknown to the brothers, they found the cup in Benjamin’s sack. Now right here, if the brothers were still the same as they were when they sold Joseph, this would have been their out. They could have said, too bad for you Little Benny, and left him there. But they did not. Immediately they were convicted, and tore their clothes. This was a way of mourning in their culture. The brothers went to Joseph to try and plead their case.

They fell on the ground in front of Joseph. He chastised them. They then tried to honor what they had said, that they would all be his slaves. But Joseph honored what his servants said, that the one who had the cup would be. Then Judah makes his new character known by rebutting. He begins to tell the story of how things got to this point in verse 19. He makes a passionate plea about how his father will die if Benjamin were not returned. Judah proves with his actions he is a different man and his heart has changed.

The chapter ends with Judah’s plea. We will have to go on the chapter 45 to find out how Joseph responds. I pray he is merciful and just. What do you think?