Lesson 9
Read Genesis 44 - https://www.bible.com/bible/59/gen.44.esv
- Truthfulness – open and honest
- Sincerity – a mix of seriousness and honesty
- Meekness – righteous, humble, teachable, and patient under suffering
- Caring – showing kindness and concern for others

Joseph told his house steward to fill the men’s bags with as much food as they could carry, to replace their money at the top of each bag, and to put his special silver cup in the top of the sack of the youngest brother.

As soon as Joseph’s brothers left the city, Joseph sent his steward after them, telling him to ask the men why they paid back evil for good, stealing his master’s special silver cup!

The brothers answered, “We would never steal your master’s cup! We brought back the money which was mistakenly put in our sacks the last time we came and purchased food. If you find his cup in our possession, let that brother die, and the rest of us will be your master’s slaves.”

“Whoever has the silver cup will be my slave and the rest of you can go home,” the steward replied. The steward searched their bags, from the oldest down to the youngest, and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.

The brothers were so upset they ripped their clothes. They loaded their donkeys again and turned around to go back to the city. They threw themselves down on the ground in front of Joseph. Joseph pretended to be very angry with them. “How could you do this to me? You knew I would discover who stole my special silver cup!”

Judah spoke up, replying respectfully and sincerely, “What can we say? How can we prove to you we’re innocent? God did this to us, to expose our evil. We are guilty and ready to be your slaves. The rest of us are equally guilty with our youngest brother.”

“No,” replied Joseph, “only the brother who had my cup will be my slave. The rest of you are free to go home to your father.”

Judah again spoke for his brothers and meekly reminded Joseph they answered him honestly when he asked them about their father and youngest brother, who was the only son left to their father from that mother. He explained their father loved him so much – probably more than all the rest of his sons combined. Then Joseph had demanded they bring their youngest son to Egypt, even though the brothers had told him it was impossible – their father would die if the youngest son left him. But Joseph had insisted they couldn’t see him again without their youngest brother.

Judah revealed his caring heart as he pled with Joseph, “If we show up without our youngest brother, our father will die immediately of grief, and we’ll all be responsible. It was I who persuaded our father to let our youngest brother come to Egypt, telling him if I didn’t bring him back, I’d stand condemned before him for the rest of my life. Let me stay here and be your slave, not this boy. Please don’t make me go back home without him and watch my father die!”

Applying God’s Word to your life:
*Why do you think Joseph waited to tell his brothers who he was?
*What is God waiting for you to confess, and will you confess it today?
*Why do you think the brothers were truly sorry for their sin?
*What are you willing to do about the confession you have made?