Genesis 44:1-34 The Final Test

In this chapter, the brothers began their return journey to Canaan, only to be stopped by Joseph's servant who wanted to check their sacks in order to find Joseph's missing silver cup. The brothers explained that they would never do such a thing and that the one in whose bag the cup was found would be a slave.

The servant agreed to that penalty, searched the sacks and found the cup in Benjamin's sack, because Joseph had earlier commanded the servant to put it there. The surprise and anguish of the brothers was great, and they tore their clothes.

What would the brothers do? Would they abandon their youngest brother just as they had abandoned Joseph. Would they also allow this brother to become a slave in Egypt? Had they learned anything from the earlier experience?

The brothers loaded their sacks on their donkeys and returned to the city (44:13)

When the brothers appeared before Joseph, Judah made a stunning admission, "God has found out the iniquity of your servants" (44:16). The cup had been found; now the iniquity of the brothers was also found.

Judah told of the great grief that would come if the youngest brother were not allowed to return. This comment raises the parallelism between the brothers' earlier mistreatment of Joseph and their dilemma concerning Benjamin. Would the brothers forsake this brother too?

Judah's statement to Joseph provides the answer to that question, "Now, therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers (44:33).

The brothers' attitude had changed. They recognized that they had sinned against Joseph and against God and that their current dilemma was related to their prior sin. They realized the grief they had caused their father. Their evil scheming had come to an end, and Judah was willing to give up his own freedom in order to gain release of his brother.

However, God had another plan, as we shall see in chapter 45.