Daily Devotions
Genesis
"O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up. You understand my thought afar off." Psalm 139:1-2
Text: Genesis 44:1-34
AN ELABORATE PLAN
Joseph devised an elaborate plan to test his brothers. The first part of the plan was executed when Simeon was detained while his brothers were allowed to return home. The brothers had passed the first test. They returned to Egypt with the money that had been put into their sacks. They also brought extra money to pay for the new grain they hoped to purchase. They even brought presents! They had not abandoned Simeon to his fate in Egypt.
The next part of the plan was even more intricately woven. The steward was given careful instruction as to what he should do.
“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.
Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack
of the youngest, and his grain money.”
GENESIS 44:1-2
DEPARTURE FOR CANAAN
The sons of Israel were given accommodations at the home of Joseph for the night. Early next morning they made ready to return home, suspecting nothing, for did they not have a merry time with Joseph the day before? They did not check their sacks, for they figured that the phenomenon could not happen twice!
Once again, Joseph gave fresh instruction to his steward, this time to pursue the brothers and to confront them with the following questions.
“Get up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say
to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? Is not this the one
from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices
divination? You have done evil in so doing.'”
GENESIS 44:4
IN FEARFUL PROTEST
The brothers must have groaned in their hearts! Not again! How could this nightmare occur again?
“And they said to him, ‘Why does my lord say these words?
Far be it from us that your servants should do such a thing…
How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house?
With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die,
and we also will be my lord’s servants.'”
GENESIS 44:7, 9
The brothers were confident in their protest of innocence. They may not be as cultured as the Egyptians, but they were certainly not thieves! They were so sure that the allegations were unfounded and untrue that they boldly declared that if a thief was found among them, that person deserved to be executed. The rest of the brothers would turn themselves in as Joseph’s slaves! With great confidence, yet with a tinge of fear, the brothers pleaded their case with Joseph’s steward. They could not be wrong, could they ?