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. Genesis 44:33
I maintain a pause on my study of Ecclesiastes to focus on Joseph, in particular Genesis 42-44, and I lean on the Christ-Centered Exposition Series volume for this book. Based on the commentary's breakdown of the divisions and subdivisions of this text (see post from Monday, 24JUN), I move on to the third division, which explores Genesis 44. Here, we once again see a remarkable story that unfolds where Joseph tests his brothers by, after the celebration wraps (see post yesterday), instructing his steward to hide his silver cup (vv1-2), along with their money for grain returned to them again, among their sacks - with the silver cup to be packed in Benjamin's sack. Joseph's brothers depart to return home to Canaan but Joseph's steward catches up with them and confronts them for the "evil" they have done by stealing the money and the silver cup (v3-12). Joseph's brothers are overwrought, they all return to the city, fully expecting harsh treatment by Joseph. Judah immediately confesses guilt (despite being innocent of stealing the money and cup), and Joseph orders that Benjamin be detained while the remaining brothers can return home (vv16-17). In vv18-34, we see Judah's extended and passionate pleading to Joseph, as Judah describes the anguish Jacob will experience if Benjamin does not return home. The pleading concludes with Judah making an offer to Joseph that Judah take the punishment for Benjamin (although both are innocent of the alleged crime to steal the money and the silver cup).
The below excerpts (not limited to these) from the commentary provide the following insights:
- In discussing Joseph's offer to his brothers (v17) that they can go home in peace (but leave Benjamin with him), the commentary shares: "In Matthew 4 Jesus goes into the wilderness after his baptism and is tempted by Satan three times. The third temptation has the same offer as that made to Joseph’s brothers (Matthew 4:8): Jesus could have peace (all the kingdoms of the world) through slavery (bowing down to worship Satan). However, both Judah and Jesus reject the offer."
- "Judah speaks up on behalf of his family throughout this scene. Woven into his response are threads of a pattern of confession and repentance consistent with what God calls Christians to do when we are wrestling with sin in our lives. First, Judah owns their most glaring sin by saying that Benjamin’s only full-blooded brother “is dead” (v. 20). Though he doesn’t elaborate on this, he acknowledges the one he has sinned against, having no idea that he is speaking to that very person. Moreover, his words in verse 16 admit they have no justification for their sin: “What can we say to my lord? . . . How can we justify ourselves?” (v. 16). Though innocent in the matter of the cup, they are guilty of other crimes and have no credible defense before Joseph. Owning our sin is the first step in repentance. “How can we justify ourselves?” is a question every sinner must confront in his or her own heart. Repentant Christians recognize that there is no place for defending or justifying themselves amid sin. Second, Judah acknowledges God’s role in revealing secret sin. He says, “God has exposed your servants’ iniquity” (v16; cf. Number 32:23). Similarly, Christians must recognize the Holy Spirit’s role in exposing and convicting us of sin as we seek forgiveness (John 16:8). The kindness of the Lord brings us to repentance by exposing our iniquity (Romans 2:4). Third, Judah surrenders to the authority of the master when he declares he and his brothers are now Joseph’s “slaves” (Gen 44:16). Christians must recognize that everyone who seeks repentance must come to the same point of surrender."
- "Judah makes a final appeal, in what is one of the longest speeches in Genesis (vv. 18-34). After pleading with Joseph not to be angry (v. 18), Judah tells Joseph all that has transpired since they left Egypt the first time. Judah recounts that “the boy’s brother is dead” to him, not realizing that Joseph is in fact alive and listening to him (v. 20)."
- "Judah sees his personal responsibility for sin in the same way we all should. Each of us bears the guilt for our sin. Our sin is not an abstract issue but a personal affront to our heavenly Father. Judah’s solution to the mess is to ask Joseph if he can take Benjamin’s place (v. 33). He offers himself as a substitute to suffer for Benjamin’s sin. Joseph responds to Judah’s pleading with the determination to punish only the guilty rather than the entire group."
- "This is the first instance in the Bible of a human serving as a substitute. Readers must not miss the typological significance of this event. Judah offering himself as a substitute for Benjamin points ahead to the coming Messiah from the line of Judah. Only Jesus doesn’t just offer up his freedom but actually offers his own life. Nevertheless, both men trade freedom for the sake of restoring brothers for the sake of pleasing a father. Jesus becomes our substitute both to set us free from slavery to sin and to reconcile us to our heavenly Father (cf. John 15:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion - taking my place on the cross as well as the place of all of humanity for we all sin and fall short of the glory of God and the wages of sin are death. Thank You for my salvation. Yet I am not deserving of such blessing, the greatest gift of all time. My sin is great and it is daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
