The actions of Joseph may seem odd at first, yet with some context, they are quite wise.
“Then [Joseph] commanded his house steward, saying, ‘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. Put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his money for the grain.’ And he did as Joseph had told him. As soon as it was light, the men were sent away, they with their donkeys. They had just gone out of the city, and were not far off, when Joseph said to his house steward, ‘Up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, “Why have you repaid evil for good? Is not this the one from which my lord drinks and which he indeed uses for divination? You have done wrong in doing this.” ‘ ” (v1-5)
Joseph’s steward stashes a silver cup in Benjamin’s sack, then catches up with the caravan of brothers to accuse them of stealing. The brothers were quick to say if someone is guilty, let them be put to death and the rest of us will be your slaves (confident words, probably because they knew they were innocent). When the cup is found in Benjamin’s sack, all of the brothers return to Joseph’s house.
Joseph insists that the guilty party (Benjamin, who was framed) become his slave. Judah, the one who promised Israel the safe return of Benjamin, pleads their case at length with Joseph, concluding with this request: ” ‘Now, therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me – for fear that I see the evil that would overtake my father?’ ” (v33-34)
First, let’s clear up something that bugged me – it says that Joseph used the silver cup for “divination”, which was a Mesopotamian practice of pouring liquids into a cup and gaining information based on patterns and ripples (like reading tea leaves). However, in this case we know that Joseph gains all of his wisdom and insight from God, so the cup he uses “for divination” is actually only used to gain information from his brothers, by testing them to see if they have changed. Joseph did not use the cup in accordance with the pagan practices, he used it in a new way, as a clever test of character.
Fortunately, Joseph’s brothers pass the test. They must have matured since they sold Joseph into slavery, otherwise they would have likely acted very differently. The past brothers probably would have let Benjamin be taken as a slave and if their father died from grief, so be it. These new brothers, are willing to go out of their way and do whatever it takes, even sacrificing Judah, so that Benjamin would be able to return home safely and their father may be spared any further grief. They were willing to give self-sacrificially in order to keep their promise to their father and protect their younger brother. This is some major character growth.
I’m not entirely sure what the turning point was for them – perhaps Israel’s grief over the loss of Joseph, perhaps one or more of Joseph’s tests, perhaps the ongoing work of God in each of their hearts, or any combination of those things caused some maturity to form in these men (at this point they still don’t know Joseph is their long-lost brother, so that wasn’t a factor). Regardless of the tipping point, we can see that even the hardest of hearts can be softened through gentle instruction and leading from God (through Joseph).
Father God, please create in us new hearts, and put a new spirit within us; remove the heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh. Please put Your Spirit within so that we may walk in Your ways, and be careful to observe Your commands. Please save us from all uncleanness. Help us to keep our hearts with all vigilance, so from them will flow the springs of life. We know and acknowledge that we are Your people, and You are our God, and we return to You wholeheartedly. (Eze 36:26-27,29, Jer 24:7, Pro 4:23 par)
~ Conqueror in Training