In this chapter, Joseph set his brothers up to see the true condition of their hearts. He put a silver cup in Benjamin’s sack and then had him arrested for stealing the cup. By this, he could see whether his brothers would abandon Benjamin like they abandoned Joseph years earlier or whether they would try to negotiate for his release. A sincere attempt to rescue Benjamin would reveal a true heart of humility.

Real humility was what Joseph was looking for before he would reveal himself to his brothers (Gen. 45). Likewise, a heart of humility is what God is looking for in sinners before he will reveal Jesus Christ to them.

The Set Up – v. 1-6

To check them out, Joseph had each man’s money restored and a silver cup hidden in Benjamin’s sack. Then they were arrested just outside of town and accused of stealing Joseph’s divining cup, which was a major offence.

The Plea – v. 7-9

The boys immediately pled innocent to the charge and professed their righteousness. As proof of their confidence, they pledged to submit the thief to the death penalty and themselves to a life of slavery. With this attitude, they were exactly like sinners dealing with the Holy Spirit:

God is not interested in a sinner’s profession of righteousness – Job 9:20

The Penalty – v. 10

The steward accepted their willingness to be punished, but lowered the penalty to a life of slavery for the thief and freedom for the others. That’s because this was a set up to get Benjamin to stay in Egypt. Their "words" and the steward’s demand that only the thief be punished reveal some things about sinners dealing with God:

• Sinners are condemned by their own words – Matt. 12:37
  
• Sinners each suffer for their own sins, not the sins of others – Eze. 18:20
  

The Discovery – v. 11-12

The steward found the cup in Benjamin’s sack after searching through all of his brothers’ sacks and finding their money. This pictures God revealing to us the secrets he discovers in us – Rom. 2:16

The Confession – v. 14-16

Here we see real humility at work in their lives.

• They "fell before him;" they didn’t merely bow out of reverence as in times past. This is the same thing God looks for in a sinner – Ps. 51:16-17; Lk. 18:13
  
• They offered no words of defence. This is exactly what happens to any sinner who truly faces God with his own sin – Job 40:3-5; Rom. 3:4
  
• They admitted their iniquity. While they knew that they hadn’t taken the money and the cup, they knew that "God" had finally caught them for their sin against Joseph – 42:21. Likewise, though sinners can find things in the law that they haven’t broken, there are many things for which they are guilty – Ps. 51:3; 32:5
  
• They submitted themselves to Joseph as his servants. That’s exactly what a sinner is supposed to do after he receives Jesus Christ – Rom. 6:13; 6:16-18
  

The Test – v. 17-34

At this point, they were subjected to the ultimate test. Joseph gave them the opportunity to escape without Benjamin in order to save themselves. If their humility and love for Benjamin were real, they wouldn’t forsake him. And, of course, they didn’t forsake him.

Judah demonstrated genuine humility in that he accepted the blame for something he did not do (Phil 2:7-8; 1 Pet. 2:20-23) and offered himself as a substitute (surety) for Benjamin (1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Cor. 5:21). They passed the test!!

Therefore, until a man is willing to admit fully his guilt before God (1 Tim. 1:15) and humble himself before God (1 Pet. 5:5-6), he is in no real condition to be saved. So, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, like Joseph and his steward, reprove men until they see their sin and their need of Jesus and are humbly willing to accept him. This operation by God leads a man to forsake his own righteousness and see the righteousness of Jesus Christ as his only hope of salvation.