Thurs.’s Devo - The Final Exam

Read Gen. 44:1-34

There was one more test Joseph had to do before he could reveal his true identity to his brothers.  He commanded his steward to put the grain and their money back in their sacks and his own silver cup in Benjamin’s bag.  Then they were sent home.  Joseph gave them time to clear the city good before he sent his servants after them.  They accused them of stealing the silver cup.  They were flabbergasted!  They assured him that they wanted nothing of the lord’s silver or gold and whoever took the cup they could put to death and the rest of them would be his servant.  Then they set out their sacks so they could examine them.  They were so sure of their own innocence.  When they got to the last sack which was Benjamin, they found the cup.  Exasperation!!!  They reluctantly went back to Joseph’s house and bowed down before him once again.  Joseph was waiting for them.  They came back humble and repentant.  They knew that this was God’s way of punishing their past sin.  When Joseph told them that all he wanted for retribution was Benjamin as his slave, Judah spoke since he had promised his father to bring him back alive.  He told Joseph the whole story (leaving out their part in Joseph’s life) and begged him not to take Benjamin.   Joseph never planned to carry out the judgment, he was only looking for a response that would reveal their hearts.  Their response did reveal their heart.  They had learned their lesson and were willing to protect the object of their father’s heart above their own lives.  

Trials come to make us strong and to reveal our hearts.  Sometimes it looks like we are being tested in the same areas so we think we must not have passed the test last time.  But that might not be the case.  We will be tested over and over in the places where we are weaker to make us stronger.  The test gets harder and harder but as we keep responding in the right way, the results become easier and easier to pass.  I compare it to going around a mountain and climbing higher each time.  You still have the same scenes but you are at a higher level now and you have a clearer perspective.  

Lord, thank you for your tests that reveal our hearts.  May we be willing to protect the object of your affection, your Son, with our very lives.