Genesis 43 44, The Test

Now please open your Bible with me to Genesis starting in chapter 43. Hear the word of the Lord. Now the famine was severe in the land and when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt their father said to them Go buy us a little food.

But Judah said to him the man solemnly warned us saying you shall not see my face Unless your brother is with you. If you will send our brother with us We will go down and buy you food, but if you will not send him we will not go down.

But the man said to us you shall not see my face unless your brother is with you. Israel said Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother? They replied the man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred saying is your father still alive?

Do you sir do you have another brother? What we told him was an answer to these questions. Could we in any way know what he would say that he would say bring your brother down. And Judah said to Israel his father send the boy with me and We will arise and go that we may live and not die both we and you and also our little ones.

I will be a pledge of his safety from my hand. You shall require him if I do not bring him back to you and set him before you then let me bear the blame forever. If we had not delayed We would now have returned twice.

Then their father Israel said to them if it must be so then do this. Take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bag and carry a present down to the man a little balm and a little honey gum myrse pistachio nuts and almonds.

Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. Take your. Take also your brother and arise go again to the man.

May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me if I am bereaved of my children I am bereaved. So the men took this present and they took double the money with them and Benjamin and they arose and went down to Egypt and Stood before Joseph when Joseph saw Benjamin with them He said to the steward of his house Bring the men into the house and slaughter an animal and make ready for the men are to dine with me at noon.

The man did as Joseph told him and brought the men to Joseph's house and the men were afraid Because they were brought to Joseph's house and they said it is because of the money which was replaced in our sacks the first time.

That we are brought in so that he may assault us and fall upon us and make us servants and seize our donkeys. So they went to the steward of Joseph's house and spoke with him at the door of the house and said oh my lord, we came down the first time to buy food and When we came to the lodging place We opened our sacks and there was each man's money in the mouth of his sack our money in full weight.

So we have brought it again with us and we have brought other money down with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks. He replied peace to you. Do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you.

I received your money. Then he brought Samian out to them and when the man had Brought the men into the Joseph's house and given them water and they had washed their feet and had their and had given their donkeys Fodder they prepared the present for Joseph coming at noon for they heard that they should eat bread there.

When Joseph came home they brought into the house To him the present that they had with them and bowed down to him to the ground and he inquired About their welfare and said is your father? Well the old man of whom you spoke.

Is he still alive? They said you're serving our father as well. He is alive and they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves and he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin his mother's son and said is this your youngest brother of whom you spoke to me.

God be gracious to you my son. Then Joseph hurried out for his compassion grew warm for his brother and he sought a place to weep and he entered his chamber. And wept there. Then he washed his face and came out and controlling himself.

He said serve the food and they served him by himself and them by themselves and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves. Because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews for that That is an abomination to the Egyptians.

And they sat before him the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest According to his youth and the men looked at one another in amazement. Portions were taken to them from Joseph's table.

But Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs and they drank and were married with him. Then he commanded the steward of his house fill the men's sacks with food as much as they can carry and put each man's money in the mouth of a sack and put my cup the silver cup in the mouth of the sack of the youngest with his money for the grain and He did as Joseph told him as Soon as the morning was light the men were sent away with their donkeys.

They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward up follow after the men and when you overtake them say to them Why have you repaid evil for good? Is it not from this that my lord drinks and by this that he practices divination.

You have done evil in doing this. When he over when he overtook them he spoke to them these words and they said to him Why does my lord speak such words as these far be it from your servants to do such a thing?

Behold the money that we found in the mouth of our sacks. We brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we still steal silver or gold from your Lord's house? Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die and we also will be my Lord's servants.

He said let it be as you say. He who is found with it shall be my servant and the rest of you shall be innocent. Then each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground and each man opened his sack and he searched beginning with the eldest and Ending with the youngest and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.

Then they tore their clothes and every man loaded his donkey and they returned to the city. When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground. Joseph said to them.

What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination. And Judah said what shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak or how shall we clear ourselves?

God has found out the guilt of your servants. Behold. We are my Lord's servants both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found. But he said far be it from me that I should do so only the man in whose hand the cup was found Shall be my servant but as for you.

Go up in peace to your father. Then Judah went up to him and said oh my lord, please. Let your servant speak a word in my Lord's ears and let not your anger burn against your servant for you are like Pharaoh himself.

My lord asked his servant saying Have you a father or a brother. And we said to my lord? We have a father an old man and a young brother the child of his old age. His brother is dead and he alone is left of his mother's children and his father loves him.

Then you said to your servants bring him down to me that I may set my eyes upon him. We said to my lord the boy cannot leave his father for if he should leave his father His father would die. And then you said to your servants unless your youngest come brother comes down with you.

You shall not see my face again. When we went back to your servant my father. We told him the words of my lord and when our father said go again buy us a little food. We said we cannot go down if our youngest brother goes with us.

Then we will go down for we cannot see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us. Then your servant my father said to us You know that my wife bore me two sons one left me and I said surely he has been torn to pieces and I have never and I have never seen him since if You take this one also from me and harm happens to him.

You will bring down my gray hairs in evil to Sheol. Now therefore as soon as I come to your servant my father and the boy is not with us. Then as his life is bound up in the boy's life as soon as he sees that the boy is not with us He will die and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol.

For your servant became a pledge of safety for the boy. So to my father saying if I do not bring him back to you. Then I shall bear the blame before my father all my life. Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord and let the boy go back with his brothers.

For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would find my father. May the Lord add his blessings to the reading of his Holy Word. Well, have you ever been tested?

Anyone take an SAT yesterday, of course, we've all been tested in school usually with plenty of an advance notice. Knowing kind of generally what we're testing on and why for some jobs. You have to be tested in order to be able to do the job.

You know lawyers have to take the bar exam so they can practice law, you know. Obviously, you don't want someone saying they're a lawyer. Maybe even representing you in court who doesn't really know the law for some jobs.

You may have to take a drug test, you know. Like if you drive a bus or some kind of a heavy equipment something like that and those tests aren't really tests of knowledge. You know, whatever knowledge is in our brain, but of whatever substance is in our body.

Of course, the real goal of the test is to find out what you do in your spare time. So you don't show up at the job? Unable to do the job. And of course the reason they do the test you think they could just ask people, right?

Do you take drugs you get drunk too much? But they do the test because if they just ask people if you take you do you take illegal drugs some people. Especially those who actually take the illegal drugs would lie.

So they don't just trust right they they ask for a test and that's what tests are all about. We don't trust people to self report now. I suppose teachers could ask students. You know, do you know your material?

You know it to an a-level you think you know, it's an a-level or a b-level maybe and students can you know. Let's tell them. Yeah, okay. I'm about a b-level. Sometimes we lament having to take or give so many tests now wouldn't be great if we had a life.

It's just free of test. But how else are we to know what you know what the students are learning how much they're learning. By how they feel they've learned. By just asking them are we tested when it comes to God.

About whether we're really a believer. Now surely not many would object today since faith they say is purely an inward thing and after all all we need is faith right and Faith shows itself in different people in different ways and maybe even for some.

It doesn't really show itself at all. That is they are you you can tell by testing their lives things that can be tested. They're really no different from unbelievers, maybe even worse, but they still have faith.

How do you know they have faith because they say so. But if their life test negative for the effects of faith does that mean they have no faith. No, many insist today. No signs are necessary. All you must do is is just say you believe self-reporting, right?

It would be like a student insisting that he really does know math I'm a math expert and when you test him, he can't add two and two together.

Okay.

You know you he insists he really does know his English very well, but he can't write a proper sentence. Since he really I'm a master of my American history and he doesn't know who the first president was but of course We we know that when it comes to math or English or history We don't just take a student's word for it.

We test them but when it comes to faith If he or she says they believe. Do we just take their word for it? And. So we get to the situation of studies, you know, they do these polls and studies and so forth that that show.

Supposedly show that Christians, you know Sometimes hear this that Christians really have the same or even higher Divorce abortion child and wife abuse rates than people who are non-religious, you know the point.

Well.

What's it good to do be a what good is it to be a Christian. Because you know. They're no different and the problem with those studies is though that is that they they just take people's word for it. About whether they are Christians or not.

I was asking you a Christian. Yes, you abuse your wife. Yes. It would be like asking people if they are math experts and they say, you know, are you a math expert?

Yes.

I'm a math expert and then find. See how the good these self-reported math experts are in math and the outcome then is that math experts are? No, I'm really no better at math then non math experts. The conclusion therefore is No need to no need to teach math in school.

No need to teach math because math experts aren't any better than non math experts. Of course something's wrong with the approach right. When they do those studies and then we know. You know when they do them and then ask the people testable questions.

Like.

How often do you go to church? Do you pray? Do you read your Bible? Do you give and Then study those who actually do those things. You know those then are the people they call Christians.

You know.

They regularly go to church and privately pray and they read their Bible when they find that those people are Remarkably better. That they have much lower divorce rates and abortion rates and rarely abuse their wives and children.

The people who are in other words the people who are testably doing more of the things that Christians do spiritually also testably. Do the don't do the bad things the good people are not supposed to do.

But still some Christians have been teaching over the last century or so that you can have real faith. Saving faith. And that it may not show up in any testable way. Faith they say is purely an inward condition.

Maybe it's just claiming to agree with a few basic facts. And if that doesn't make any difference in your life that can be observed. Well, that's too bad. We wish you were better, but that doesn't mean you don't believe what's to say you believe.

You can be assured of your salvation if you say you believe. It's kind of like saying you can be Considered a math expert if you say you are even if you fail a math test. You can be considered an Olympic runner if you just say you are even if you can't jog a mile.

Saying you have it is all you need. We have no way to test it. Many people believe now the Puritans called that theology Antinomianism against the law. It's been called easy believe ISM. Its proponents call it free grace.

Sounds great done it free grace. Recently apologist Michael Brown has published a book attacking it as we calls it hyper grace. You got to make up a new term right sell a book. The question is can faith be tested or is it something like is it something like knowledge athletic skill?

Drugs in your body that test can show is there or not? Or is it just something purely inward you just can't tell. Well the answer to that. We'll see we'll see at least assumed I think in this passage in these two chapters in four parts first Israel's uncertainty then Joseph's hospitality.

Then Benjamin's culpability and finally Judah's advocacy. Now first Israel's uncertainty that you see that in the first 15 verses of chapter 43. If you recall the end of chapter 42 Jacob now who is here now called Israel was adamant that Benjamin is Not gonna go with you all down to Egypt.

Even if it meant possibly not getting Simeon back. Okay, that just wasn't a risk worth taking as we saw Jacob was in the dark. He didn't really know what was going on. He didn't know that this Lord of the land his sons talked about was really his long-lost Joseph.

He didn't know that his sons were being tested by Joseph. He didn't know he was being tested By God as In chapter 42 and so here Jacob now called Israel. He's Israel. He's the head of the family the head of the people of God on earth the head of the church.

He should believe in God's providence. You know life he sounds bitter here, but life has hasn't really been hard on Jacob. Life's turned out pretty well. He was forced out of his father's home largely because he lied and He fled to his uncle's estate in Mesopotamia and now they're sure his uncle tried to cheat him.

But it turned out for his good. Really, you know, he got he got two and really four wives whether that's good or not. I don't know it resulted in 12 sons. God blessed his shepherding and so he got rich off his uncle's flocks.

Until he he had to flee back to his homeland now. He was afraid coming back home that his brother would be angry and would try to kill him. Only to find though his brother Esau forgiving and peaceful and glad to see him.

So life has turned out pretty well for Jacob despite all the all these times what it could have gone very badly. But there's just one horrible thing. That that he can't get over. His son Joseph he thinks is gone mauled by some wild animal.

That one tragedy he feels is just looms over. Everything else until he resigns to living the rest of his life in mourning until he says his gray head Goes down to shield to the dust of death. Now he should have known by now the surprising providence of God protecting him from Esau.

Prospering him multiplying his children. He should have known even if he doesn't have, you know. He doesn't have Romans 828 to turn to yet. He but he should have known to rely on On God that God will bring something good out of this tragedy.

Now sometimes we might experience some tragedy. Hopefully not the loss of a child for some it has been that and.

Then.

What? It's easy to say all things work together for good to those who love God if those things. You know, there's people like that promise and those things you're you're hoping something good will come out of.

Maybe or like maybe a traffic jam. Injuries that keep you from your favorite sport. Irritating people. You got a co-worker and his drives up the wall. Not getting the first college you want to go to have to settling for.

Second third choice. Maybe the girl a boyfriend. Breaking up with you that kind of thing. You know, do you say well, it's something good to come. God works all things for good. Now sure emotionally those might seem momentous at the moment.

Especially if the traffic jam is keeping you from something really important or you you know, you've trained hard for this sport. But now you can't do it.

Got hurt.

The person irritating you. You think you're about to blow your stack or you really thought that boy a girlfriend. It was he or she was the one and now they broke it off. Can you believe that God has something good for you in that.

Maybe to learn patience. Maybe to plan ahead. You're not so cutting it so close or that you have more important things to do in your life than athletics. Or to set your affections on Christ and not be so dependent on another person for your happiness.

Those are hard lessons. Believing in God's providence, but they're much easier than what Jacob is going through. Losing his children. He thinks his favorite first. Then another Simeon detained in Egypt by that cruel man.

Known only to him as the Lord of the land and now they call him here over and over again the man. And now being asked to risk a third.

Maybe more.

Maybe he hoped the famine would let up, you know, and he would. He could just cut his losses it to leave Simeon down there. Too bad tough luck. But he doesn't and so he's got to make a decision. They've run out of grain and they have no bread.

They can't live on honey and pistachios and almonds alone. They need bread. So the brothers must go back to Egypt now. Judah speaks up his pleas. Here you notice they begin and they end this portion of the story of bringing Benjamin to Egypt.

He reminds his father in verse 3 the man Solemnly warned us saying you shall not see my face unless your brother is with you. The brothers ago agreed to go if Benjamin goes with him, but. But won't go if he doesn't and he repeats that in verse 5 for emphasis Israel is Uncertain now, he certainly didn't want to send Benjamin.

So he complains in verse 6 about them even telling the man. Why have you been so bad to me? Telling that man about Benjamin. He sounds like I'm a man who's bitter at the way life has turned out. Trying to hold on to something.

Fearfully, he's gonna lose it all. Not trusting that something good is about to come about. I think here is a picture of a believer, but one who is hurt by losses and disappointments. Who's missing something or someone?

Dear to him and forgetting that God works all things together for good, so. You know, yes him. Why did you even tell him? They say, you know, how are we supposed to know? They of course didn't know they were being tested that Joseph think about Joseph questioned them about Benjamin.

Think what that shows about Joseph. It shows that all that he suffered. Didn't make him totally self-absorbed. He's wondering about his only full brother if the other brothers had that done something to him.

You know with himself out of the way. He knew that Benjamin would be the next favorite. The you know, the only other brother of Rachel and so he's wondering. Over these years, especially when the ten brothers show up.

The ones that sold him away to slavery and there's no Benjamin and wonder if they started harassing Benjamin, too. Maybe they plotted something against him, too. And so for all he knew Benjamin had been sold away to some other passing Caravan or maybe there was no caravan and the brothers had done to Benjamin what they had first planned to do to Joseph.

And we asked them and they said he was alive. He was maybe he was relieved. But you know, come on you're gonna trust these guys. They're self-reporting. He doesn't fully trust them. So we demanded they they bring Benjamin down and then he's really gonna test them.

Jacob doesn't know any of this is going on. Just like we don't know often what God has planned for us when our plans go awry. When we suffer some disappointment, you know when it's we're getting injured and our favorite sport or something just goes wrong.

Or worse yet some tragedy. Contrary to the prosperity preachers. We are never promised that we will be spared tragedy. But we are promised that God will work some good out of it that much we can depend on.

Well Judah again speaks up starting in verse 8 appealing. Like Reuben had before at the end of chapter 42, you know showing that there can be a substitute. But this time he's more thoughtful. He's wiser.

This time he's putting himself forward, you know, not rashly his own two sons like Reuben did in verse 9. Judah says I will be a pledge of his safety from my hand. You shall require him if I do not bring him back to you and set him before you then let me bear the blame.

Forever.

Lofty words but if the time comes. If he's tested. Will they be empty words? Israel is Uncertain, but that was enough Judas Words and the fact that if they don't go soon, you know, they're all gonna die.

It's not as though they really have a choice if it must be so he says in verse 11 and it must be so. So take a gift he says, you know, maybe some honey and other gifts will sweeten the man up. Take double the money.

Refunding what was put back in the sack. Hoping Judah. Jacob is hoping it was just a mistake implying there in verse 12. That Jacob wasn't really certain that he was being told the truth. By his sons about the money being put back in the sacks.

Maybe he's probably wondering it. Maybe his son stole it. He says take double back. Maybe it maybe it was maybe it really was a mistake like they said. But he doesn't quite trust them. Does he? Finally you could take Benjamin and then a blessing in verse 14.

May God Almighty in Hebrew else should I? The God who revealed himself to Abraham and covenanted or bound himself to them that that family would multiply. And be blessed and be a blessing to the nation's here.

They are facing starvation their life. You know He's wondering if he's gonna lose all his children and he looks back to that promise to Abraham. May the God who made that promise to us that we would multiply be as many as the stars of heaven.

Else should I God Almighty. May that God? Grant you mercy Before the man and may he send back your other brothers in Benjamin. He trusts them into the hands of Almighty God.

Well.

Sort of he's still uncertain. If I'm bereaved to my children I'm bereaved. Does Jacob pass the test. I Really don't know. He has in the past. He took the name Israel Prince of God as he's called here or God prevails.

It could be interpreted. He puts away the idols that were in his family. He built an altar to the Lord. He's committing himself to the Lord, you know, it's God the God of Israel. God's gonna be his God.

He said he is on. He is uncertain here. He's vacillating between Distrusted finally kind of fatalistically casting himself on his fate. If I am bereaved I am bereaved if he passes. He does he does just barely not with all A's.

Just because we believe that true faith and salvation shows itself Doesn't mean it always does so.

Perfectly.

But he does call on the name that God revealed himself to Abraham, you know that special Covenant name God Almighty El Shaddai. When everything in him feels that his world is falling apart he calls on that name and sometimes.

That's enough to pass the test. Next from verses 16 to 32. We see Joseph's hospitality. And it's an unexpected. Hospitality to them this mysterious character. It was first, you know to them. He's a harsh man who spoke roughly to them interrogated them threw them into prison threatened him took one of them as hostage.

He was the man. They didn't expect to be hosted at his house. It was such a surprise. They were sure something ominous was up and something was up. They were being tested. They passed the first part of the test simply by bringing Benjamin notice in verse 16 says when Joseph saw Benjamin with him.

Then he decided to host them. Story could have gone a whole nother way. If there would been no Benjamin, they hadn't done to Benjamin what they had done to Joseph after all. So prepare some fresh meat and invite them for a big lunch.

This is a very this is very disconcerting to these brothers, you know, they're afraid they want to get their grain. Hopefully get Simeon and get out of there as fast as they can what should be a gesture of grace and peace is.

Interpreted by them as a threat. Maybe they're gonna be accused of stealing the money. Maybe that's what it's about. Notice the verse 18. They're nearly hysterical. No, sir. Verse 18. He's brought us here to assault us and make us slaves and seize our donkeys.

As though a man is rich and powerful as Joseph, you know cares about their donkeys. But those are the kind of wild conspiracy theories that people think up when they feel threatened when they don't trust so so nervous.

They come to that steward of Joseph's house and you know, they tell him what happened. We're innocent. Really the steward responds soothingly.

Peace Shalom.

Be at ease.

Be well.

It says do not fear your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. Well, they didn't expect that. Out of an Egyptian out of these people who are making them so nervous They didn't understand it everything.

They've been interpreting as threats and danger is actually mercy. A severe mercy. Yes, but certainly more mercy than they deserve. And They nearly killed their brother instead sold him to a caravan going down to Egypt and now that same brother is speaking to them through the steward.

Says peace.

To them. In 2nd Corinthians chapter 2 Paul speaks of the gospel being the the aroma of life to those who are being saved. That's how we we feel about it and the aroma of death. The stench of death to those who are perishing those who are not being saved.

It's the same gospel but interpreted differently, it's the Word of God's peace. Shalom to his people. But unbelievers hear something different. To unbelievers the God of the Bible often seems so Severe his threats of stern.

He makes them uneasy and nervous and Then he speaks peace to his people as in our Psalm today 85 verse 8 he will speak peace to his people his saints and they are Often surprised we are to see that he has life to hear peace.

When before we thought we were being threatened C .s. Lewis wrote of his conversion surprised by joy. It's often for God's people surprised by life here. The brothers are surprised by peace. But it's not a complete peace yet, they're still being tested.

Joseph apparently wants them at ease. Being themselves. He restores Simeon to them has them cleaned up feeds their donkeys. You know that they thought that he was gonna steal from them. But Joseph comes in verse 26 and they bow to him for the first time now all 11 of them like in that dream.

He asked about their father. Is he well literally there in Hebrew? It says does he have? Can you believe it peace? Shalom again, they respond. He has Shalom life and They bowed again a second time in verse 28.

He sees Benjamin and blesses him. God be gracious to you my son. And then he has to hurry away and it says he says in verse 30 his compassion grew warm. For his brother and he sought a place to weep and he entered his chamber his bedroom.

And he wept there. This is the second time this has happened to him overcome with emotion. The Bible often to talk about what people feel. But what usually what they do because if they really feel it, they really are it whatever they like here it will show In what they do.

His compassion is so great is yearning to be reconciled with his brothers is so overwhelming it just gushes out of him and Many people think that's what reconciliation is, isn't it? You know with God or with other people is feeling warmly about them.

Never mind what they done you feel good about them now you'd be reconciled. But as we saw last week sins can't just be wished away and ignored. He wants to be reconciled. He wants it so badly. You see here.

He's weeping for it. But are they repentant. Well more testing is necessary. Have these brothers really changed? Well, he could simply ask them couldn't he? I mean that would be the modern way of doing it.

Reveal who he is. Hey, I'm Joseph after all and then ask him. Do you feel sorry for what you've done? And if they say yes, which of course obviously they will. And all that settles it doesn't it? I Think that they're saved and won't be judged for their sins.

You know, are you sorry that you've offended the Holy Judge of all the earth? And do you believe him? And yeah. You'll say yes people then assure them that they're saved even if they show no signs of change.

Joseph doesn't believe that he hosts them. He wants to be right with him. He yearns for it with with all his heart so much so he can't always control himself, but he has to know. Are they really repentant or do they have those same hard hearts.

That sold him away to slavery. So we test him he favors Benjamin. Notice that right in front of them giving giving him Benjamin five times as much food as the rest. Preferential treatment. Joseph knows how.

How their dad's preferential treatment, you know to him to Joseph that really ticked him off. Remember the coat thing the coat of many colors. Oh, that was preferential treatment. Only Joseph got that and they were that does they hated that.

How will they respond now that we find in chapter 44? There Joseph frames Benjamin to make it appear he has culpability. Joseph's special silver cup. It's probably a chalice or a goblet is put in Benjamin's sack and then as they have just left the brothers have just left with their food.

He tells us to where to chase after them overtake them and even tells him exactly what to say, you know roughly. Why have you repaid evil for good? And when he caught up with them, they denied it far be it from your from your servants to do such a thing.