Genesis 44:9-17 "With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen. And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless. Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city. And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground. And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine? And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father."
Joseph had laid a snare for his brothers that they could not escape. He had secretly restored every man’s money to him. Besides that, he had put his own silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. Then he had sent the steward of his house to bring accusation against them.
They were so quick to protest their innocence that they made a rash statement to the steward of Joseph’s house. If the accusation proved true, they declared that the one who had Joseph’s cup should be put to death. The rest would be bound to Joseph as servants for the remainder of their lives. They never stopped to think about how their money was returned to their sacks on their first trip to Egypt or to consider what their hasty pledge would do to their father if any of this came to pass.
Joseph told them they should not be surprised by his ability to know what was done. Judah had an important revelation in all of this. He told Joseph, “God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants.” He was convicted in his heart, not about the money or the cup, but that these things had come upon them because of their mistreatment of their brother, Joseph.
Joseph assured them that he would not take Benjamin’s life regardless of the oath they had made. However, he would take him to be his servant. He then instructed them to go to their father in peace. The brothers could not see any way at that point for there to ever be peace in their hearts.
There may be a time in our lives when we can ignore our iniquity. When God sends the Holy Spirit into our hearts to show us what we truly are by nature, our first reaction may be to deny that. We may make rash declarations of service without considering the consequences. We may be bold to declare, “I would never do that!”
It is sobering and terrifying when we finally realize that God “has found out” (knows) our iniquity. We may not realize to begin with the blessing it is to be found with the Lord’s cup (Matthew 20:23). Servitude to Him may at first appear fearful until we learn the joy of having His fellowship in our lives. May we all be blessed to discover the joy in being able to get up to our Father in peace!