The Silver Cup

After the banquet Joseph’s steward filled the men’s sacks with as much food as they could carry. Joseph arranged for the steward to put his own personal silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. Hardly believing that they had been treated so nicely and were getting away so easily, the eleven sons of Jacob started home. Gingerly they made their way, until finally they were out of the city limits. They began to feel more relaxed, perhaps joking and singing as they started the long journey home.

But a short way out of the city, they looked over their shoulders, and, lo, a cloud of dust was arising as the steward came upon them with a squad of palace police. The brothers experienced a sinking feeling in the pit of their stomachs as they asked: “What is the matter, what have we done?” Then they were told that someone had stolen the prime minister’s silver cup. They protested that one of them would never do such a thing, and to prove their sincerity they volunteered that if any of them had the cup, he should die, and the rest of them would become Pharoah’s slaves. These were confident statements, until the sacks were all opened, beginning at the eldest to the youngest.

The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. What a shock! “Benjamin, how could you do such a thing? Why would you take such a chance for a piece of silver?” It was no matter that young Benjamin protested vehemently that he was innocent. The proof of guilt was there. Can you imagine the reproach Benjamin had to suffer from his brethren because of the silver cup?

In Matthew 20;22 Jesus warned His disciples that to follow Him they had to drink of His cup and asked if they thought they were able to do so. Joseph’s personal cup, speaking of his years of suffering in slavery and prison, was give to Benjamin. In Genesis 44:17 Joseph told the ten brothers that the one that had his cup would stay with him and be his servant, and the rest of them could return to their own realm or homeland.

Beloved sons of God, there is a price to pay to be a servant of Jesus Christ and live in the same realm He is in, “…that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 24:3). Our relationship with Him brings great reproach. The writer of Hebrews tells us to “go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach.”

What do you think the neighbors thought of young virgin Mary when she was found with child? What do you think her parents thought? Do you think they thought she was still a virgin? Do you think they believed her story of an “angel” visiting her? The carnal suspicious mind would never believe that the one responsible for Mary’s pregnancy was an “angel” much less the Holy Ghost. What a terrible reproach that young girl had to bear because she believed and received the word of the Lord that came to her! Was it worth it? Ask Mary now if she would have had it any other way. Sure, there is suffering and reproach to bear, in order to drink of His cup, but He makes it up to His beloved a hundred fold and more.