BENJAMIN AND THE SILVER CUP
(It's In Your bag Benjamin)

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"But the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant." (Genesis 44)

Have you ever had something and not realized what you had? Benjamin discovered some where down the road, much to his astonishment that he'd been given something that he wasn't even aware he had, until it was revealed to him.

Where did this come from? It came from an elder brother, named Joseph. Much of what we possess is passed on to us from others. There will always be a test in what we are given. Even the hidden things, revelaed "in their time." (Genesis 44:12)

IN TIME OF FAMINE:

"Behold the days come says the Lord God that I will send a famine in the land; not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord."

Amos 8:11

As the story goes, there was a severe famine in the lands of both Egypt and Canaan, and Joseph's father and brothers fell on hard times. But Joseph, being warned of God through God's giving him revelation of future events through his gift of the interpretation of dreams and visions, was faithful to lay up in store for this, filling Egypt's silo's with grain during the 7 years of plenty so that they would survive.

IN TIME OF FAMINE:

The famine came right on schedule. And providentially, Joseph's father Jacob learned that there was corn in Egypt, and sent his sons to buy corn; at first keeping Benjamin at home with him; but later releasing him to go with them, as Joseph made this part of the bargining for food.

THE TRIAL INVOLVING BENJAMIN HINGED ON THE CUP IN HIS SACK:

Joseph commanded the steward saying:

"Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man's money in the mouth of his sack. And put my silver cup in the mouth of the sack belonging to the youngest, as well as the money for grain. And the steward did as Joseph told him."

YOU WERE NOT REDEEMED WITH CORRUPTIBLE THINGS:

In this story, there was a trial taking place in the lives of these men, unbeknownst to them--A certain testing of their integrity before God--before men---And it seemed to revolve around this "silver cup!" The brothers of Joseph had given their money to him for corn, but he returned their money "secretly." And Benjamin was given an "extra portion," in the placing of the silver cup in his sack. I'll speak more about this in a moment. The idea conveyed by this story as it transpires is that although they were each given something, the Master was requiring it at their hand.

Benjamin was redeemed with a "silver cup" so to speak. But we were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold. In the life of the believer, we are not our own, but we are bought with a price; with the precious blood of Jesus, who has given to us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.

YOUR LORD IS GOING TO REQUIRE IT BACK FROM YOU:

In Matthew 25:15, we read a parable of "stewardship," in the story of a certain man who was going on a long journey and he called his servants to him and gave five talents to one man two to another; and to another one and to each according as his ability.

The one with five increased this investment to five more talents. The one with two also made two more. But the one with one talent went and buried his. When upon his lord's return he enquired of his investment in the lives of these men, the man who had been given five, proudly showed the increase he'd received. Likewise the man who had received two talents. The Master said: Well done, good and faithful servants!

RELATIONSHIP MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE:

But when the Master came to the man who had received just one talent, the man said to him:

" I knew what a hard man you were, reaping where you did not soww; gathering where you had not scattered any seed. I was afraid, so I went away and hid my talent that you gave me. Here it is."

But the Master said: You lazy servant, you should have put my money to the bank and on my arrival I would have received it back with interest. So he took away the talent from him and gave it to the man with ten talents. The moral of the story is this:

To him that has shall be given, and from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has."

And the Master of that worthless servant cast him into outer darkness where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matt. 25:14-30)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. But it's not a tormenting kind of fear. If you have demonic torment that causes you to fear a close relationship with God, you need deliverance. Find some Spirit-filled friends who have been baptized in God's Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, (Pentecostal) who believe that they have been given authority over devils in Jesus name, and have them pray for you!

The devil is clever. He will try to make you think you're the only one who has ever had this problem. When a Christian is bound by a tormenting sspirit that wrecks havoc with their relationship with God, this can be a difficult thing to talk about, because Christians all speak of their love for the Lord. This need for deliverance does not mean that you don't love God. But you just pray and ask God to lead you to a person who is sensitive and filled with your heavenly Father's love and compassion.

IT'S A CUP OF SERVANTHOOD:

Joseph said: But the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant..." (Genesis 44:17

The offer that was made to Benjamin was not extended to the other brothers at this time because they had not yet actually repented of the sin they'd committed against Joseph because of their envy, jealousy and strife. Repentance had to preceed reconciliation. It was God who had allowed the initial separation between Joseph and his father and brothers to come. It was for the greater good, so all things could work together for good. The pride of heart that had sworn: "You shall not rule over us," had to be broken, that they might be blessed by God through a man whose faith was tried like gold, so that he became as "living bread," in time of a terrible famine. So the Joseph as well as his family, could have "new manna."

Joseph gave them all "silver" which speaks of redemption after the reconciliation was made.

As long as the heart rejects the rule of the Lord Jesus CHrist, the benefits of calvary cannot be fully enjoyed. The Psalmist said: The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and my cup, thou maintainest my lot." (Psalm 16:5)

David knew God as the Good Shepherd and this close relationship caused him to be able to say: My cup runs over..." David was the recipient of God as both Joseph and his brothers were. He had a servants heart, as we see ememplified in Jesus Christ, the son of God. And God referred to David as "My servant David, as Jesus himself is called My Righteous Servant: The Branch!

SERVING ONE ANOTHER AS CHRIST:

Inasmuch as you do it to the least of these My brethren, you do it to Me..."

(Matthew 25:40)

It's one thing to serve those you feel in a mutual agreement with. Joseph's brothers objected to serving him because they were jealous of his position within the family. When the cutting and back-biting remarks no longer caused them to feel superior, they resorted to murder.

God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. He will always provide opportunities in life to be tested and tried in this area of service. If it bothers you to do a work for God in which another gets the credit, or if you despise another's position out of envy; God will cause trials of this sort to crop up in your life until you are willing to humble yourself and to deal with it.

Perhaps your trying times are the result of a mate who takes you for granted or a family member who treats your achievments and accomplishments as insignificant to their own. One of the scriptures which has ministered to me so much through the years is this one:

Jesus said: "Inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these My brothers, you have done it unto Me."

The day came when my "special person" became incapacitated and totally dependant upon my care and this was very difficult for them. It angered them daily. The test for me was to love with the heart of Jesus in spite of it all. When you serve without a thankyou, remember that the God that sees in secret will reward you openly.

THE CUP MY FATHER HAS GIVEN ME TO DRINK:
SHALL I NOT DRINK IT?

Joseph commanded his steward to fill the sacks of the brothers with food, and to put some money (riches) in the mouth of each sack. But when he came to Benjamin's sack, the faithful steward was to deposit Joseph's "silver cup."

When morning came, the men went on their way. They had not gone very far out of the city, nor were they far off; when Joseph said to his servant: Follow them and when you catch up with them, ask: "Why have you rewarded good for evil?"

"Is this not in which my Lord drinks?"

All the sacks were searched. But the silver cup turned up in Benjamin's bag. Benjamin didn't steal the silver cup. But it could have appeared to others that he did. But it was a "gift." Joseph had placed it there, that the hearts and the motives of the brethren might be revealed. So the brothers could not do to Benjamin as they'd done to him. In your Christian life, God distributes gifts "severally as he wills! God wants us to walk as Jesus walked. Not to be deceived as some of those who have walked before us. He wants to enlighten our path and to make it straight. Be careful that you do not allow Satan to fill your heart with petty jealousies, murmuring and self pity and dejection. If God has distributed to a brother or a sister, gifts as He wills, and you fight the individual, you may be found fighting against God.

That person with a "gift" doesn't necessarily have an easier time than you. If there appears to be honor bestowed upon them, remember that there are burdens as well, they you might not wish to bear. Yet God has placed this load or burden on this one.

...Cup Bearers To The King