Joseph - Another Call to Repentance

 

Then he [Joseph] 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 his 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.’” (Genesis 44:1-5 ESV).

 

Nothing has yet convicted the brothers to confess. Not harshness. Not imprisonment. Not returned silver. Not relentless famine. Not father Jacob’s anxiety. Not even Joseph’s lavish kindnesses. Worse, as the brothers leave Egypt, with sacks full, spirits light, and Benjamin and Simeon with them, it seems they might get away with their secret after all. But the love of God won’t let them go. Joseph’s steward comes charging after them, raising a cloud of dust. The steward, scowling, dismounts, strides over, and accuses the brothers of repaying good with evil. After all his master has done for them, how could they run off with the governor’s silver cup?

 

What a charge! The brothers are accused of treating pure goodness with thievery and deceit. Joseph has framed them again, now putting Benjamin in peril. As the old idiom declares they are between a rock and a hard place! They have a choice to make. Either leave Benjamin as a slave in Egypt and lie again to their father or confess their sin.

 

This time their response is different. They have finally had enough of running from their sin. The brothers tear their clothes and return to the city. Here they expect to face a vengeful, harsh judgement. Instead, they find a brother who is willing to forgive and restore. Is this not exactly what Jesus did for us? Is this a time for you to turn back from your rebellious ways?