Have you ever wondered whether Joseph’s brothers were ever troubled with guilty consciences after almost leaving their brother in that deep cistern, and then selling him to a group of Midianite merchants? (Gen. 37) Perhaps most of them had erased the events from their minds, but I wonder if Judah, as the eldest brother, ever experienced pangs of guilt and sadness about the past. Joseph had one more scenario to work through in his plan to bring his brothers to repentance, and in this one he used his beloved full-brother Benjamin. The brothers must have been relieved, even happy to be returning home. They hadn’t been arrested for stealing the grain money, Simeon was released, Benjamin was with them and they were all on their way back to Canaan!
The shock and surprise came when Joseph’s steward caught up with them and discovered Joseph’s silver cup in the top of Benjamin’s sack! The brothers must have been stunned as the steward accused them of rewarding “evil for good”. They tore their clothes in frustration and disbelief at what was happening, and re-loading their donkeys returned to the city. On their arrival they prostrated themselves on the ground before Joseph! Try to picture the scene as eleven terrified men lay down before the most important man in Egypt, apart from the Pharaoh! It is interesting to note that this was the third time they bowed down before their brother, fulfilling Joseph’s dreams as a much younger man, yet none of his brothers realised who he really was! Judah now becomes the spokesman for the family just as many years before he had persuaded his brothers not to kill Joseph but to sell him. Judah makes it clear he wouldn’t defend himself and his brothers, and that his father in Canaan would die if Benjamin did not return with them.
The brothers had lived with lies, deceit and guilt for over twenty-two years never telling Jacob the Truth about Joseph. Nowadays society has rejected “Truth” and sadly many people appear not to believe in “consequences” either. Our behaviour always has consequences and the Bible reminds us in Numbers 32 v. 23 “Be sure your sin will find you out”! Judah at last was facing up to the Truth, and God in his grace saw Judah’s changed heart and attitude. Remember too that through the line of Judah our Lord Jesus Christ came to earth to redeem us all. How amazing are God’s plans and purposes!
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Dear Father God, Thank you for your constant love and grace for us and that only Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Please help me to follow Him more closely, for His glory, Amen.