Testing For Transformation

<Genesis 43:34> When portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as anyone else’s. So they feasted and drank freely with him.

<Genesis 44>

1 Now Joseph gave these instructions to the steward of his house: “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each man’s silver in the mouth of his sack. 2 Then put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.” And he did as Joseph said.

16 “What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants’ guilt. We are now my lord’s slaves—we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup.”

17 But Joseph said, “Far be it from me to do such a thing! Only the man who was found to have the cup will become my slave. The rest of you, go back to your father in peace.”

18 Then Judah went up to him and said: “Pardon your servant, my lord, let me speak a word to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, though you are equal to Pharaoh himself. 

24 When we went back to your servant my father, we told him what my lord had said. 25 “Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy a little more food.’ 26 But we said, ‘We cannot go down. Only if our youngest brother is with us will we go. We cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ 27 “Your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons. 28 One of them went away from me, and I said, “He has surely been torn to pieces.” And I have not seen him since. 29 If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in misery.’ 30 “So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant my father, and if my father, whose life is closely bound up with the boy’s life, 31 sees that the boy isn’t there, he will die. Your servants will bring the gray head of our father down to the grave in sorrow. 32 Your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father. I said, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!’ 33 “Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. 34 How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come on my father.”

Why does God test us?

• Confirm whether we have true faith.
• Remind us that relying on Him and being God-driven is the only way.
• For us to experience His faithfulness.
• That we may share beautiful testimonies.
• That we may restore His purpose (love God, love men).
• Passing God’s tests 

Joseph’s brothers passed the tests with flying colours.

• 2 tests:
  – Jealousy
  – Sincere love for the favored brother.
• Demonstrated real transformation.
  • But took time (22 years).
• Demonstrated true repentance.
• People today also need to repent from:
• Deceiving and grieving Father God.
• Hating the Father’s beloved Son, Jesus.

When give up our ‘Benjamin’, God’s grace follows.

• Held onto Benjamin >>> Delay
• As it is, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twice.” <Gen 43:10>
• But when committed beloved Benjamin to God >>> Divine mercy.
• <Gen 43> 13 Take your brother also and go back to the man at once. 14 And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”
• Jacob’s problem: Couldn’t trust God fully.
  • Had to keep retaking tests till he passed.
• Trust God:
  – Believe He is powerful enough.
  – Believe He is good and kind.