The Meaning Behind the Silver Cup
Does anyone else find it odd that in Genesis 44, Joseph uses a silver cup as the object of a charade to agitate his brothers? We just got used to him sending his brothers back to their father with food and with their money mysteriously restored to their “suitcase” sacks. We talked about the food and money in the last blog post. The whole story is frustrating and nonsensical from a historical perspective. But not from the doctrinal viewpoint. We already saw:
The Israelites are going through the tribulation.
Their brother Joseph, type of Jesus as savior, provides food for them for free, which He will also do in the tribulation. Hence, he returns their money to them. God pays for what He orders. Notice throughout, the brothers don’t recognize him, just like the Jews have not recognized Jesus for who He was/is.
So now in Genesis 44, the brothers are back in Egypt for more food, and once again, Joseph tells his steward to return each brothers’ money to his sack. (That unnamed steward who is carrying out Joseph’s desires pictures the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t ask questions. He does what He is told.)
Then here comes Joseph’s seemingly random request. “And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money…” (44:2) This cup comes up four times in this chapter. What is that all about?
If you know your types and some cross references, you can probably figure this out. It paints a moving picture.
The first thing we could reasonably conclude is that Joseph is trying to establish guilt. As Israel is guilty of the death of Christ (1 Thes 2:15-16) so are Joseph’s brothers guilty of the apparent death of Joseph. The ordeals depicted in the last few chapters have deeply touched their hearts, prompting them to reflect on their wrongful treatment of Joseph. (42:21-22)
Knowing that, was it necessary to hide his cup in Benjamin’s sack in order to later challenge his brothers—again?
Oh wait. There’s a personal cup in the New Testament associated with Jesus.
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matt. 26:39)
Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? (John 18:11)
Who was responsible for Christ having to drink this cup of wrath? Ultimately God, but by the hands of his own kindred who rejected him. Hold on to that thought.
Look at this cup in Genesis 44. It’s Joseph’s cup, and it’s silver. If I had a silver cup at home, it would be there for decoration. But this was Joseph’s drinking cup. (44:5)
Silver represents the price of redemption. (Zech 11:12-13, Matt 26:15, Matt 27:9) Let’s roll this around in our minds. Thinking of Christ on a human level, whom Joseph pictures, it’s a cup of suffering. On a divine level, it’s a cup of redemption. It’s a silver cup. During the tribulation, the Jews will recognize both aspects of this cup... Christ’s suffering (that they were responsible for) and Christ’s redemption (that they will come to realize and experience). In our Gen 44 story, this was not a random object placed in Benjamin’s sack. It’s a part of the tapestry God weaves throughout the Old Testament to reveal the nuances of the glory of Jesus Christ.
R&J Shee