Be Still, Advent Day 6: Then, Put My Cup, The Silver One, In His Sack

“Then put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.” – Genesis 44:2

For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. — Hebrews 7:14

Can you remember the first time you heard the story about Joseph, the small boy with the coat of many colors, who ended up purposely tricking his brothers by burying the silver goblet in his brother Benjamin’s sack and then accusing them of stealing?

If even Joseph is out to get us, what hope can we have?

If we remember our felt board Sunday school lesson, we have watched how God gracefully set Joseph up for success, to hold a mighty, powerful position. Joseph, who has stoically endured many trials, has always been a paragon of virtue. Despite his brother’s betrayal, Potiphar’s wife’s false accusations, and years of imprisonment, he remained faithful, wise, and forgiving. Now, suddenly, Joseph steps out of his role into one of mischief. The idea of Joseph orchestrating an apparently deceptive act feels completely out of step with his character.

Why Did Joseph Hide the Silver Cup?

The act seems like a betrayal of his own integrity or needless cruelty to his brothers, especially since they had already shown remorse for their past sins. (Does it already seem to sound a bit too familiar? God, Haven’t I had enough already…)

The Bible likes to present its heroes as complex and flawed individuals – which is what makes the entire book so fascinating and real. Abraham lies about Sarah, Moses murders an Egyptian, and David commits adultery and murder. Here, Joseph’s actions are ambiguous.

These stories purposely raise questions about how divine protection and purpose interact with human actions that seem wrong. How many are intrigued enough to continue with the story? How many will give up — it’s hopeless?

The Silver Cup As A Mirror

By framing Benjamin, Joseph recreates a scenario that mirrors his own betrayal: a favored son at risk of being lost – forcing his brothers to confront (see the reflection of) their guilt and decide whether they will abandon Benjamin as they once abandoned Joseph. This test painfully forces the issue — his brothers have to look at what they have done before and question whether they are really new people and transformed.

In a dramatic plot twist, Judah steps forward and offers himself as a substitute for Benjamin. Judah—the same brother who once suggested selling Joseph—is now ready to sacrifice himself. He cannot bear to break his father’s heart again.

A Legacy of Loyalty

Just as a silversmith uses fire to purify metal, God uses life’s challenges to purify our hearts.

In the context of the Biblical narrative, Judah’s response is so poignant because it perfectly echoes the work of Christ, observing that “our Lord sprang out of Judah.” Hebrews 7:14. The Tribe of Benjamin, referred to in the New Testament is portrays a legacy of loyalty. The bond between Judah and Benjamin didn’t end with this story. It continues to play out over generations. When the other ten tribes of Israel deserted the house of David, the tribe of Benjamin remained faithful to Judah – still rooted in sacrificial love and trust forged during Joseph’s test.

Transforming Challenges Into Silver Cups

What began as a moment of terror—a cup hidden in a sack—was Joseph doing his brothers a favor. It’s a testament to how God uses even our trials to write a bigger, better story. God allows dramatic, shocking moments—not to harm us, but to test us, grow us, and bring us closer to Him. The silver cup is a tool of transformation.

How often do we see disappointments and problems as silver cups? Just as his brothers were unaware of Joseph’s true identity, we don’t see God calling us not only in our challenges but in delivering challenges to us.

If we turn this story into an allegory of our own lives, maybe all we must do is slap a silver cup sticker on all of our disappointments and problems and “voila”—instant healing.

Transforming the way we view our problems and disappointments into silver cups is hard work. Could we just slap a silver cup sticker on all of our problems and be done? Jesus’ own words in Matthew 26: 39, now take on new meaning. “Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” As Jesus showed here, transformation requires yielding to divine power within us. It requires us to let God reveal the truth of who we are and accepting the fact that he is not finished with us, and has put silver cups in our sacks to get our attention.