February 6

Joseph plants the silver cup because he wants to test his brothers to see if they have changed at all since they betrayed him. As Anderson points out, the brothers may “act to rid themselves of a favored sibling” or they may choose an option that requires a “supreme sacrifice” on their own part. Joseph is pleased when Judah surrenders his own life in Benjamin’s stead, because the sons realize how much Benjamin means to their elderly father Jacob. No longer are they jealous of Rachel’s sons; now they are more sacrificial, protective, and loving– probably because they feel guilty about what they did to Joseph. Joseph was once Benjamin’s most beloved son because he was Rachel’s firstborn. 

In the broader perspective of things, Anderson points out that most of the patriarchal stories in Genesis have to do with a theme of betrayal and sacrifice. The tale of Joseph and his brothers is no exception. When his brothers dropped him into a pit and proceeded to sell him into slavery, Joseph was deeply wronged in the same way that Jesus was deeply wronged when he was betrayed into crucifixion. It is always the most beloved son that is sacrificed or betrayed in some way. Another example is when God asked Abraham to burn his most precious son Isaac. When Joseph plants the silver cup, he wants to see how much his brothers are willing to sacrifice of themselves for the atonement of their wrongdoings and for the benefit of others. By doing this, he sees that their attitude has completely changed and they become worthy of his forgiveness. Paralleling this, God sends Jesus, his one and only son, down to earth for him to be betrayed and crucified by his own people. When Jesus is resurrected from the dead, God judges humankind’s sorrowfulness and shows mercy on us by atoning for our sins through Jesus’ great sacrifice.