Joseph - Genesis 44
- Joseph continues to test his brothers in this chapter. He tested them at the end of chapter 43 by giving Benjamin five times as much food as the rest of them. Would they still be prideful and resentful, or had they changed and would they be thankful for Benjamin's good fortune? Now in this chapter he tests them further by putting his silver cup in Benjamin's sack. Since the steward said that only the one with the cup would have to become an Egyptian slave, when it was found in Benjamin's sack would they get rid of him like they did to Joseph, or would they be changed men? How did Joseph's brothers show that they were genuinely changed men? How did Judah especially show this?
- How have you shown that you have genuinely changed and repented as a Christian?
- How did Judah not only demonstrate genuine repentance as a person, but also genuine love? How are we to demonstrate genuine love?
- How does our love for people demonstrate that we truly love God also as a Christian?
- What do we learn about intercessory prayer to God from Judah's appeal to Joseph in verses 18-34?