10“As you say,” replied the steward. “But only the one who is found with the cup will be my slave, and the rest of you shall be free of blame.”
11So each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. 12The steward searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest—and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13Then they all tore their clothes, loaded their donkeys, and returned to the city.
14When Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him.
15“What is this deed you have done?” Joseph declared. “Did you not know that a man like me can surely divine the truth?”
16“What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we and the one who was found with the cup.”
17But Joseph replied, “Far be it from me to do this. The man who was found with the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may return to your father in peace.”
Gods plan enacted through Joseph was working, the brothers had to look squarely in the eye of their sin from twenty two years ago.
The cup found in Benjamin’s sack would be the excuse to get rid of another favored son of their father!
But their hearts melted, they were horrified at the thought of loosing Benjamin, they tore their clothes, a sign of the times of complete horror to bad news.
“they fell to the ground before him.” The dream fulfilled again!
Let this verse sink in, “What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we and the one who was found with the cup.”
How different are their hearts in this verse verses twenty two years prior?
They are now humble! They are coming square in the face of their sin towards Joseph!
This is a lesson for us! We need to humble ourselves before the Lord, bow down on your knees and look at your sin square in the eye and repent! It’s at that moment forgiveness comes!
“A physicist could compute the exact time required for his cries to go twenty-five yards to the eardrums of the brothers. But it took twenty-two years for that cry to go from the eardrums to their hearts.” Barnhouse
Instead of giving Benjamin up, they offer to take the penalty upon themselves to be Joseph’s slaves! A transformation in their hearts has occurred!
This is a picture of what Jesus did for you! He offered Himself up to suffer and die for your sins!
Have you fell to the ground before Him?
Blessings, David
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