Have you ever felt pretty good about yourself when you shouldn’t? I have. Back in my early high school days, I had to take extra classes in the summer of 1962 because I didn’t pass all my classes at Holy Name that year. I ended up at Tech High School for the summer with two courses. I was tired of all the study and stuff so along with a friend we sneaked into the school offices and stole the final exam for one of the classes. In and out with no problem. We really thought we had it made. I imagine that’s the way Joseph’s brothers were feeling when they left Egypt in Genesis 44. They had faced the trial of their return. Their worries about their money being returned to them were settled. They had vindicated themselves before the greatest man in Egypt. They had received special treatment from him. They had a meal with him and were honored by him. They were allowed to purchase the grain they needed for their families. Simeon was returned to them and as a whole family, all eleven of them, were on their way home. They had vindicated themselves before Pharaoh’s official and they were about to vindicate themselves before their father as they return with food, Simeon, and Benjamin. All this, and they did it all without being found out with regards to their sin against Joseph 20 years earlier. Yes, I’m sure they felt they had made a great escape and were feeling pretty smug and self-satisfied.
But then, Joseph’s guard catches up with them and accuses them of stealing. You can see the smugness in their reply, “why do you speak such words against us. Far be it from your servants to do such a thing.” Earlier when Joseph had accused them of being spies they assured him that they were “honest” men. Yet, for over 20 years they had lived the lie of Joseph’s death before their Father and other family members. The smugness is soon gone when the guard finds the cup in Benjamin’s bag. Verse 13 tells us that “they tore their clothes.” They had once torn Joseph’s clothes and smeared blood on them to promote their lie. But now they tear their own clothes. As tearing their clothes might expose them physically, it is a visual of the pain of being exposed spiritually. It hurts, humbles, and shames us!
Now, we all know that Benjamin didn’t steal the divining cup from Joseph. They were all innocent of that crime but there was another more important crime that they were all guilty of except for the innocent Benjamin. What Judah, still in the leadership role, says to Joseph is quite revealing. He says, “God has uncovered the iniquity of your servants.” He wasn’t talking about the cup Benjamin was accused of stealing. I think he was publicly acknowledging the family guilt concerning the sins against Joseph – who was standing there listening to it all. The scabs must be pulled off before there can be a true healing. Joseph wanted true healing. Max Lucado writes, “Confession is telling God you did the thing he saw you do. He doesn’t need to hear it as much as you need to say it. Whether it’s too small to be mentioned or too big to be forgiven isn’t yours to decide. Your task is to be honest.” They say “confession is good for the soul.” James 5:16 tells us to “confess our sins to one another so that we might be healed.” Joseph wanted healing. By the way, someone told on us, and we lost all credit for the classes that summer. It feels good to get that off my chest!