A Change of Heart

Can a leopard really change it's spots? Do people change? Did Joseph's brothers change, had they mended their ways? Did they really care about anyone but themselves?

Joseph has had the satisfaction of seeing his brother Benjamin safe and well. He has heard his brothers acknowledging their guilt concerning himself. He decided to put their attachment to Benjamin, and the genuineness of their change of nature, to a test.

Hello and welcome. I know it has been awhile since I posted anything, it has been crazy with the end of the school year. And then I had the honor of preaching at my mom's husband's home-going. So if there is anyone out there who is still reading my blogs here we are on Genesis 44. We are quickly closing in on the end of this study of the Book of Genesis.

Genesis 44 At A Glance:

Joseph commands his steward to put his cup secretly into Benjamin's sack, v. 1-2.

The sons of Jacob depart with the grain that they had purchased, v. 3.

But Joseph commands his steward to pursue them and to charge them with having "stolen" his cup, v. 4-6.

The brothers excuse themselves, protest their innocence, and offer to submit to be slaves if the cup is found with any of them, v. 7-9.

A search is made and the cup is found in Benjamin's sack, v. 10-12.

They are brought back and submit themselves to Joseph, v. 13-16.

He determines that Benjamin alone, with whom the cup is found, shall remain in captivity, v. 17.

Judah, in a very powerful speech, pleads for Benjamin's release and offers himself to be a bondman in his stead, v. 18-34.

(From Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996 by Biblesoft)

Genesis 44:1-5

44:1 Now Joseph gave these instructions to the steward of his house: "Fill the men's sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each man's silver in the mouth of his sack. 2 Then put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one's sack, along with the silver for his grain." And he did as Joseph said.

3 As morning dawned, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys. 4 They had not gone far from the city when Joseph said to his steward, "Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, `Why have you repaid good with evil? 5 Isn't this the cup my master drinks from and also uses for divination? This is a wicked thing you have done.'"

1. Joseph Test His Brothers Again

Joseph sent his brothers away with sacks full of corn, but not before having his cup concealed in Benjamin’s sack. The brothers took their packed donkeys and started the long journey home thinking everything was okay. But before they had gotten very far Joseph gave his steward orders to go after his brothers and confront them over the supposedly stolen cup.

"also uses for divination ." Divining by cups, was a common custom in Egypt. It was mentioned here to enhance the value of the cup. I suspect that Joseph did not really practiced any sort of divination.

Genesis 44:6-13

6 When he caught up with them, he repeated these words to them. 7 But they said to him, "Why does my lord say such things? Far be it from your servants to do anything like that! 8 We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found inside the mouths of our sacks. So why would we steal silver or gold from your master's house? 9 If any of your servants is found to have it, he will die; and the rest of us will become my lord's slaves."

10 "Very well, then," he said, "let it be as you say. Whoever is found to have it will become my slave; the rest of you will be free from blame."

11 Each of them quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. 12 Then the steward proceeded to search, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. 13 At this, they tore their clothes. Then they all loaded their donkeys and returned to the city.

2. The Brother’s Are Outrage at the Steward’s Accusation.

They stated that they brought back the money they found in their sacks last time as well as more to purchase more corn. “How or why should we therefore, steal silver?” The brothers were so sure of their innocence that they made a bold and rash statement, “If any of your servants is found to have it, he will die; and the rest of us will become my lord's slaves." I think this is a good example of mouth engaging without the brain thinking. But, maybe not to the extent of this; I think if we would admit it we have all at some time or another made a rash statement like this.

Joseph answers "let it be as you say." He excepts their terms but with restraint. “Whoever is found to have it will become my slave; the rest of you will be free from blame." The steward searched from the oldest to the youngest. And low and behold the cup was found in Benjamin's bag. When the cup was found all the brothers tore their clothes as a sign of distress or mourning. Baby brother, dad's favorite; whom the brothers had pledge to bring home was found guilty and now by their word resigned to be a salve to Joseph. This was bad, very bad!

Genesis 44:16-34

16 "What can we say to my lord?" Judah replied. "What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants' guilt. We are now my lord's slaves--we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup."

17 But Joseph said, "Far be it from me to do such a thing! Only the man who was found to have the cup will become my slave. The rest of you, go back to your father in peace."

18 Then Judah went up to him and said: "Please, my lord, let your servant speak a word to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, though you are equal to Pharaoh himself. 19 My lord asked his servants, `Do you have a father or a brother?' 20 And we answered, `We have an aged father, and there is a young son born to him in his old age. His brother is dead, and he is the only one of his mother's sons left, and his father loves him.'

21 "Then you said to your servants, `Bring him down to me so I can see him for myself.' 22 And we said to my lord, `The boy cannot leave his father; if he leaves him, his father will die.' 23 But you told your servants, `Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.' 24 When we went back to your servant my father, we told him what my lord had said.

25 "Then our father said, `Go back and buy a little more food.' 26 But we said, `We cannot go down. Only if our youngest brother is with us will we go. We cannot see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.'

27 "Your servant my father said to us, `You know that my wife bore me two sons. 28 One of them went away from me, and I said, "He has surely been torn to pieces." And I have not seen him since. 29 If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in misery.'

30 "So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant my father and if my father, whose life is closely bound up with the boy's life, 31 sees that the boy isn't there, he will die. Your servants will bring the gray head of our father down to the grave in sorrow. 32 Your servant guaranteed the boy's safety to my father. I said, `If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!'

33 "Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord's slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. 34 How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come upon my father."

3. Judah's Defense for Benjamin

The defense that Judah puts up for Benjamin’s life is considered one of the most moving in the Bible. We see Judah’s willingness, even his insistence, that he takes Benjamin’s place.

Judah's plea at first consisted of short, broken sentences, as if, he was overwhelmed by emotions. His words were choked, but they became more free and abundant by the effort of speaking, as he proceeds. Every word finds its way to the heart; I can just imagined that Benjamin, who stood there speechless, like a victim about to be laid on the altar, when he heard the magnanimous offer of Judah to submit to slavery for his ransom, would be bound by a lifelong gratitude to his generous brother. (From Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)

Judah stated in natural, affecting, powerful, and irresistible words the love of their aged father. "Let me set mine eyes upon him"-regard him with favor and kindness. "He shall leave his father and he shall die." If he were to leave his father, his father would die. "And now let thy servant now abide instead of the lad a servant to my lord." the intense anxiety with which, after a severe struggle, their father had allowed Benjamin to come. It was only after he (Judah) had offered to be answerable for his life; and the heartbreaking fact, that if they returned without the Benjamin, they would drive Jacob to the grave. This was the humble and earnest petition of Judah.

He calmly and firmly sacrificed home, family, and birthright, rather than see an aged father die of a broken heart. “Now let thy servant (me) remain instead of the lad as slave to my lord, but let the lad go up with his brethren; for how could I go to my father without the lad being with me! (I cannot,) that I may not see the calamity which will befall my father!"

Wow what a change of heart! The brothers had seen what the supposed death of Joseph had done to their father. Now after roughly sixteen years of unconfessed sin and shame all came out and the true love of their youngest brother Benjamin was heard in Judah's heartfelt plea.

I guess while a leopard can't change it's spots, the human heart with the help of God can be changed.