This title is so terrible it's great! This is worse than any dad joke but I love it.
When the brothers return to Egypt they are met with unforeseen kindness and generosity. They are so taken aback by this that they think it is a trap and they will be made slaves for stealing the silver on their last visit. But Joseph simply throws a banquet for them. When he sees Benjamin, his brother from the same mother, Rachel, he is overcome with emotion that he is forced to leave the room and find a quiet room to weep.
Genesis 43:29–30 29 As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there.
At the banquet he gives Benjamin 5x more food than the other brothers. Here he is testing their jealousy. Are they as jealous of Benjamin as they were of him? Do they despise their father's favor towards Benjamin as they did toward Joseph?
At the banquet they are seated in order of their age and they look at each other in astonishment. How could this Egyptian leader know that? They are likely assuming that he knows this by divination and he has ability to know things that he otherwise wouldn't know.
On this note, the cup that Joseph uses in the next scene is said to be used for "divination" (Gen. 44:5). It is difficult to know what is meant by this, much less if this is truly what Joseph used this for. Using liquid cups for divination practices was not at all uncommon in the ancient world. Joseph has previously shown that he can interpret dreams to predict the future, which he specifically attributed to God. It is difficult to square this practice with the later prohibition on practicing divination and interpreting omens in the Law of Moses (Lev. 19:26). It may very well be that he is playing to their assumptions here. They are likely attributing his knowledge of their birth order and the cup in Benjamin's bag to his divination abilities.
They pass this test as they don't display any animosity towards Benjamin for receiving a greater portion. But Joseph has one more test in store for them. As they leave he places a silver cup in Benjamin's sack of grain. Then he sends his steward after them to catch up to them and uncover this "theft". When he catches up with them the brothers are almost incensed at his assertion that they stole the cup.
Genesis 44:9–10 9 If any of your servants is found to have it, he will die; and the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves.” 10 “Very well, then,” [Joseph's steward] said, “let it be as you say. Whoever is found to have it will become my slave; the rest of you will be free from blame.”
Joseph's steward softens the punishment to only the one who is found to have the cup will be a slave and the rest can go free. When the cup is uncovered in Benjamin's sack the brothers then have the opportunity to be rid of another one of their father's favored sons. The opportunity is directly before them to do the same as they did to Joseph. This time however, it would be easier since the situation is happening outside of their control. But, instead of allowing this to happen Judah again steps up and gives the longest speech recorded in the book of Genesis. He concludes his speech by saying,
33 “Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. 34 How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come on my father.” (Genesis 44:33–34)
Judah is willing to trade places with Benjamin as a slave so that his father will not lose another one of his favored sons. It is undeniable that he has indeed changed. At this Joseph can no longer contain himself and reveals his true identity to his brothers. This is one of the most beautiful reconciliation stories in all of scripture. (Gen. 45:1-3)
Joseph had every right to treat his brothers the way they treated him. He had at this point 20 years to stew about it and nurse the grudge. But he didn't. He forgave. The brothers could have hardened their hearts and done the same to Benjamin as they had done to Joseph. But they didn't. They recognized the error of their ways and truly repented.
Reflection
In this story we see a beautiful picture of reconciliation in salvation. We, like Judah, are sinful, sorrowful and repentant. Jesus, like Joseph, was unjustly treated, in a position of authority with every right to enact revenge, yet forgiving and gracious. These stories help the story of salvation come to life. Reflect on what it means to be forgiven by the work of Jesus in light of this story.