QT 12/31/2025 Gen 44:11-26, What happens when the law appears to conflict with love

Genesis 44:11-26 ESV

[11] Then each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. [12] And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. [13] Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city. [14] When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground. [15] Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination?” [16] And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found.” [17] But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my servant. But as for you, go up in peace to your father.” [18] Then Judah went up to him and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself. [19] My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father, or a brother?’ [20] And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him.’ [21] Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’ [22] We said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ [23] Then you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall not see my face again.’ [24] “When we went back to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. [25] And when our father said, ‘Go again, buy us a little food,’ [26] we said, ‘We cannot go down. If our youngest brother goes with us, then we will go down. For we cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’

 

https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.44.11-26.ESV

 

NOTE: One of the questionable items of this passage is the comment that Joseph practices divination. Later, after the law is given, this would be a major affront to God. Two possibilities exist, 1) Joseph did practice divination but did not know it was wrong. It would still be a sin, but what man does not have sins that he is not aware of? 2) Joseph knew it was wrong and did not practice it, but in order to maintain the illusion of a man who was Epyptian in practice, he said what he did. It also makes the theft seem much worse that a simple silver cup. In this second case, he is now lying to his brothers. Although technically, if you read his words, he does not say he practices divination, but he hints he might by saying, "... a man like me ...." So, he misled them but did not lie. Realistically, I don't see lying as black and white as many do. I think there are cases where lying is necessary. Rahab the prostitute lied to protect the spies and is mentioned in the hall of fame of faith. David lied to the priests (in an attempt to protect them which did not turn out well, but that was Saul's sin, not David's) when he took the shew bread from the tabernacle. I think the spirit of the law is more important than the letter of the law. Jesus sums up the law in two commands that are based on the spirit of the law, love God and love your neighbor. I think hurting someone by telling the truth when it is not necessary is religiosity and not the true gospel. Yes, lying is wrong in almost every situation, even white lies, but there are places where it is a necessity, such as a diplomat or a spy.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I love God first?
2. Do I love people or find enjoyment by hurting people with the truth?

 

PRAYER: Father, our church "logo" is "Treasure Jesus, Cherish People." I love the statment because it keeps things in perspective. I never want to be the hypocrite who if the name of Christ is cruel and unloving to people. Give me grace to know how to love like Jesus. When confronted with the adulterer, Jesus was kind, "go and sin no more" whereas the religious people wanted her stoned to death.