Genesis 44:1

Genesis 44:1 says, And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth.  Joseph once again had his brother's money returned to the top of their sacks.  We might think that they would have checked this time before they left, but they didn't.  If we find ourselves placed in a compromising position once, through no fault of our own, we might want to check things out if we find ourselves in a similar situation again.  Verse two adds, And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.  Not only did Joseph have the money returned, but he had his cup added to Benjamin's sack.  This would make Benjamin even more guilty than his brothers were, and would give Joseph an opportunity to see how the other brothers would react in this situation.  We cannot feel that someone else is more guilty of sin than we are because we view their sin as greater than ours.  Verse three states, As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.  Joseph's brothers were sent away at daybreak.  It is possible that they were never given a real opportunity to check the sacks, and they may have been afraid that they would insult Joseph if they asked.  Still, they should have done so, and so should we when there is a possibility that we may be placed in a compromising situation.  Verse four adds, And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?  Joseph didn't allow his brothers to go home and discover the money and cup.  He sent his steward to overtake them and ask them how they could reward Joseph's good to them with their evil toward him.  Verse five continues, Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.  Joseph told the steward to accuse one of the brothers with stealing his cup.  Once more, I don't believe that Joseph was doing this out of spite, but to truly test the character of his brothers.  Would they feel the same way toward Benjamin as they had toward Joseph all those years ago?  Verse six states, And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.  Joseph's steward caught up with them and repeated what Joseph had told him to say.  The steward had little choice in the matter without bringing trouble to himself.  We today may be caught up in a situation where we seem to have little choice to do something that we know is wrong, but we need to stand for what is right no matter the cost.  Verse seven says, And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:  The brothers had to be totally confused about what they were being accused of, just as we should be totally confused if we are falsely accused of doing something wrong today.  They swore by God that they had done nothing wrong.  Verse eight adds, Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord’s house silver or gold?  The brothers said they had returned the money they found, so why would they now steal Joseph's silver or gold.  Of course, just because a person has been honest in dealing with us in the past doesn't mean that they always will be, though the brothers were in both situations.  Verse nine declares, With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord’s bondmen.  The brother's were so sure of their innocence that they said if the cup was found in the possession of one of them that he should be put to death and the others would be Joseph's bondsmen.  We should never make statements without first knowing all the facts, and if we are going to make statements in God's name, then we should certainly seek His guidance first.  Verse ten states, And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.  The steward said that the one that the cup was found with would be Joseph's servant, and the rest could go free.  We should never be willing to allow someone who is innocent to suffer as long as it doesn't cost us anything, especially our brother's and sisters in Christ.  Verse eleven declares, Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.  The brothers were impatient to prove their innocence.  They should have remembered what had happened before prior to being so quick to act in what I believe was indignation.  We should never allow pride or anger to dictate our actions.  Verse twelve states, And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.  The sacks were searched in the order of their age, and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.  The other brothers could have gone away free by sacrificing Benjamin, whom I believe was still being treated as more important than the other brothers by their father.  This was Joseph's big test of them.  We have to ask if we would allow someone that we feel is being treated better than us to be falsely accused and convicted if it didn't cost us anything.  Hopefully, we will stand for what is right no matter the cost to us personally.