The Story

Primary

On this second visit, the brothers spent the night at Joseph's house, and early in the morning they were sent on their way home with their sacks full of grain. The money was put back in their sacks as before, and in Benjamin's sack Joseph's silver cup. It was a cup to drink from, and also the Egyptians and others in old times read signs in such a cup, in the play of light in the water or wine. Sometimes also jewels or other things were dropped into the liquid. Joseph's steward went after the brothers and charged them with stealing the cup. He would have brought back Benjamin and let the others go, but the brothers were faithful to Benjamin and they all came back with him to Joseph's house. Judah told how he had promised to take care of Benjamin and bring him home safe. It was enough to show Joseph that he could trust them, and he told them who he was and that he forgave them for the unkindness that they had done to him. The Lord had made it the means of saving them and all their family in this time of famine. The brothers must go and bring the family, and Joseph would give them a home and take care of them in the land of Goshen, a part of Egypt good for sheep and cattle. Save till another time the story of their coming, and all listen while we read the chapters, Gen. 43, 44 and 45.

Joseph's brothers were sent on their way home with their sacks full of grain. What else had been put into their sacks on their first visit? Their money, and this was done again by Joseph's orders, and in Benjamin's sack besides his money was put Joseph's silver cup. It was called, "it wherein my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth." The Egyptians and others in old times read signs in such a cup in the play of light in the water or wine. Sometimes also jewels or other things were dropped into the liquid, or a ring was made to swing against the sides of the cup. Joseph knew better than the Egyptians that the Lord only can reveal secrets. When the chief butler and baker told their dreams he said, "Do not interpretations belong to God?" And he said to Pharaoh, "It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace." (Gen. 40:8; 41:16)

Why was the cup hidden in the sack, and why were they accused of stealing? Was it perhaps to test the faithfulness of the brothers to Benjamin? If they were faithful to him, then Joseph would make himself known to them all, and show kindness to them all; and this is what did happen. But if they were unfaithful to Benjamin, it would be better to separate him from the others and to show kindness to him alone. Rending the clothes was a sign of grief. (Gen. 37:29, 34) Can you find this same sign of grief in the New Testament?

The brothers did not try to excuse themselves, but Judah's confession of guilt refers not so much to the cup as to the wrong that they had done to Joseph and which they felt was the cause of all their trouble. (Gen. 44:16; 42:21; A. 5785) Judah spoke for the brothers and told Joseph why they could not go and leave Benjamin. It was Judah who promised to take good care of Benjamin and to bring him safely to his father. Judah's words were very loving and tender. Joseph knew now that he could trust his brothers and could show kindness to them all.

1. Read the first verse of chapter 44. Who commanded? What position did the steward hold? Who are the men mentioned?

2. Read verse 20. Who was the father? How old was he? Who is called a "little one"? Who is spoken of as dead? Who was the mother?

3. What was put with the grain in the sacks? What was put into Benjamin's sack? Why was this done?

4. What did it prove when all the brothers came back with Benjamin? Why did Judah offer to stay instead of Benjamin?

5. Of what is it a sign, when someone, like Judah, is willing to lay down his life for his friends?

Spiritual Study

We must try to learn the meaning of the part of the story about the silver cup. The cup is closely associated with the money. What was represented by the money, and by its being returned with the grain? The money brought by the brethren to buy food represents the self-confident belief that we can gain knowledge about the Lord and heaven and strength of heavenly character of ourselves. But the returning of the money means that this is not so. We can gain nothing of heavenly life in our own strength; it is all a gift from the Lord. Even the knowledge that there is a God and a heaven we could never find out for ourselves if the Lord had not revealed it to us. The same lesson is taught in the words of Isaiah: "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." (Isa. 55:1; A. 5488)

Now Joseph's cup in which he drank and with which he divined is found in Benjamin's sack, and he is accused of stealing it. A cup for water and wine is plainly a symbol of truth and intelligence. This meaning is still plainer from the fact that it was a silver cup, for silver is associated with intelligence, as gold is with love. Most of all does the use of the cup for divining, for reading secrets by the play of light, suggest that it is a symbol of spiritual insight and perception. Benjamin himself represents nearly this same quality of heavenly life. The cup seems almost to belong to him, but his being accused of stealing it means that even this spiritual perception has at first something of self-confidence about it, believing that it sees and enjoys heavenly truth in its own strength. This feeling must be overcome and one must become thoroughly humble before the Lord, for it is only as we become humble that the Lord can make us wise and can make Himself known to us. This is beautifully explained in A. 5747.

The decision of the brothers to become Joseph's bondsmen, and Judah's confession that they are his servants, represent the subjection of all the external life with its natural powers of use and pleasure to the inner, spiritual life and to the Lord. This submission seems beforehand like a bondage, but it proves not so. Compare the resolve of the prodigal son to become as one of the servants in his father's house, and the result. (Luke 15:19, 20; A. 5763, 5786)

Notice in this chapter how Judah comes to the front and is the leader and spokesman of the brothers. (Verses 14, 16, and on) Each of the sons of Jacob represents some element of character. There is a stage of development when intellect leads. Such a state is represented when Reuben speaks for the brethren. (Gen. 42:37) But Judah, in a good sense, represents a humble, heavenly love; and a state in which love leads is represented when Judah acts as leader and speaker. Notice the great tenderness of Judah's words and his willingness to bear the punishment for his brother. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13; A. 5782, 5842)

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