Genesis 44:4–5

However, this relief was short lived. Joseph had told his steward to overtake them and accuse them of returning evil for good in stealing Joseph's silver cup (vv. 4-5). Of course such an accusation was a shock to the brothers. They protested that they would not think of such a thing.

Joseph, who pictures Christ, was here to carry out the probe needed to clear away all the past wrong, and to form a new heart and a new spirit in his brothers. It was for God's sake and their sakes, not his own. He wanted the reality and the evidence of a divine work in their conscience and heart. This is why the cup went into Benjamin's sack.

The trial was severe, yet love directed it in the fear of God. Even so, we may feel that the way he chose was in no way what the New Testament would suggest to the Christian… Joseph acted according to his measure, weakened no doubt by the Egyptian life around him. Scripture tells us the facts as they were, without approval or apology.

They were innocent, indeed, about the cup. But this means nothing to their consciences… They had been called spies when they were true men. Now they were treated as common thieves, though they were honest men. They might have said this was too bad… But no — nothing of this — that was not the way of Joseph's brothers now. They had once hidden their guilt under the lie they sent to their father. Now they are willing to hide their innocence about the cup under the confession they make to Joseph.

But this, simple as it seems, is the crisis… Will the sorrows of Benjamin move them, as the cries of Joseph once failed to do? Will the grief of the aged father at home plead with their heart, as once it did not? This place, this moment, was the field of Dothan again. They were returning, in spirit, to the place where all their offence was committed.

However, before Joseph can be revealed to them they must be exposed before Joseph. To this end Joseph's cup is placed in Benjamin's sack. After they leave, Joseph's steward chases them and charges them with taking the cup. They protest their innocence.

Notice only that here repentance is tied directly to the rejection of Joseph. This is brought home to the conscience of Joseph's brothers. So in the end it will be with Israel. It is not a matter of the law here — that comes after Sinai — but of the Messiah, whom Joseph pictures. Their consciences are fully convinced, and they go back over all the circumstances of his rejection. It is only gradually that Joseph reveals himself, and with many exercises of heart, which his dealings work in his brothers.

Joseph's wisdom now shows itself in a way that leads his brothers to repentance without accusing them. He told his steward to fill their sacks with food and to put his own silver cup into the mouth of Benjamin's sack. The next morning they were on their way, no doubt glad that this time everything had gone so well.

In the first place, it would be hard to make me believe that Joseph used enchantments at all. That is the thought here in divining. I have very little doubt that Joseph was hiding his true self from them. He gave them the impression that he knew the magic arts of the Egyptians, and was simply an Egyptian lord. But I have no pronounced opinion on the subject. In the second place, the cup was not used to reach his brothers' affections. It was a means of reaching their consciences. The Lord will deal with the nation of Israel in this same way when He takes them up again. He will bring them to admit their guilt in rejecting Him.

Under the searching questions of Joseph the whole truth is confessed. Joseph can say, "What deed is this that you have done?" "Do you not know that such a man as I can certainly make trial?" And this is ever the way grace takes. That is how the Lord dealt with a sinful woman "near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph." "Go, call your husband" was only another way of saying, "What deed is this that you have done?" He made Himself known to that guilty sinner as the One who can "certainly divine," for she said, "He told me all that I ever did." And no one can be happy and at home in the presence of the Lord of glory until they have learnt that the Lord knows the very worst thing about them — and yet loves them.

Severe as the trial was, love dictated it in the fear of God. Still, we may feel that the method he chose was in no way what the New Testament would suggest to a Christian. Joseph acted up to the measure he had, weakened no doubt by the Egyptian life around him. Scripture tells us the facts as they were, without approving them and without excusing them.

He did it for God's sake and for their sakes, and not for his own. He wanted a real work of God in their conscience and heart, and the evidence of it. This dictated the cup in Benjamin's sack. No doubt the shock of finding it there deeply troubled the brothers. But that is how it must be when sin of the deepest kind lay at the bottom of it all. The cup was only a means to make them feel that sin and judge it. After all, the pain of the means employed was very brief... and the same day followed with forgiveness and joy and tender love.

They were horror-stricken when the search found the cup in Benjamin's sack. All turned back to Egypt, and now Judah, to save Benjamin, volunteers to be the slave in his place. He faces the very doom to which he had consigned Joseph. When they reached that point, relief came... He had dealt wisely with them.