Genesis 44:1-3
And he commanded the steward of his house, 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. 2 Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain money.” So he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. 3 As soon as the morning dawned, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys.

God will put us into a fix to see if we’ll try to fix the fix despite Him, or if we’ll fix our faith on Him.

Genesis 44:4-6
4 When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Get up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? 5 Is not this the one from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices divination? You have done evil in so doing.’ ” 6 So he overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words.

Our responses will either be reactive or redemptive.

Genesis 44:7-9
7 And they said to him, “Why does my lord say these words? Far be it from us that your servants should do such a thing. 8 Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? 9 With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.”

Genesis 44:10-13
10 And he said, “Now also let it be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and you shall be blameless.” 11 Then each man speedily let down his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack. 12 So he searched. He began with the oldest and left off with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 Then they tore their clothes, and each man loaded his donkey and returned to the city.

In prosperity, our friends know us. In adversity, we know our friends.

Genesis 44:14-15
14 So Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground. 15 And Joseph said to them, “What deed is this you have done? Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly practice divination?”

The Sword of God either cuts to kill or cuts to cure; it is better to be under the scalpel than the spear.

Genesis 44:16
16 Then Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; here we are, my lord’s slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup was found.”

Genesis 44:17
17 But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so; the man in whose hand the cup was found, he shall be my slave. And as for you, go up in peace to your father.”

Genesis 44:18-29

Genesis 44:30-32
30 “Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life, 31 it will happen, when he sees that the lad is not with us, that he will die. So your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave. 32 For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father forever.’

A hardened heart seeks to appease. A humbled heart seeks to appeal.

Genesis 44:33-34
33 Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. 34 For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would come upon my father?”

The innocent became condemned so that the condemned could become innocent.

Discussion Questions

1. Use Genesis 44:1-6 in context and then discuss this quote: God will put us into a fix to see if we’ll try to fix the fix despite Him, or if we’ll fix our faith on Him.

2. How would this scenario involving Benjamin expose their hearts? Compare their responses from Genesis 44:13 to their responses in Genesis 37:23-25.
   

3. What does adversity teach us about our friends/family? (See Proverbs 17:17)
   

4. Read Genesis 44:16. What do we learn about our sin in relation to time?
   

5. How does Judah’s impassioned speech and appeal demonstrate a heart that has radically transformed from chapters 37 and 38?
   

6. How does Genesis 44:33-34 foreshadow the sacrificial picture of what Jesus Christ would do for us? (See Romans 5:6-8)