Genesis 44:4-5 When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Get up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, Why have you repaid evil for good? Is not this the one from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices divination? You have done evil in so doing.”’

There was a form of divination practiced in those days (and still today) called hydromancy in which you would place flakes of gold or silver in the cup and decipher what they were saying. So was Joseph practicing divination? I don’t think so.

Leviticus 20:6 And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.

Joseph had his man not only fill their sacks with grain and refund their money, but he also set his brothers up by hiding a silver cup in Benjamin’s bag. Joseph wants to give the impression that this is a very special cup, making the theft seem that much worse.

This “magic” cup belonged to the second most powerful man in the world, who had not only thrown a huge banquet for Jacob’s sons, but had given them their money back. Someone who would dare steal such a cup, especially in the wake of such generosity, would could not be saved by any bribe or ransom or expect a pardon. Such a person would need a Savior … Which reminds me of Someone …

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

The good news of Jesus Christ is on every page of this incredible book. Why? Because God wants us to get the message. No matter how righteous we believe ourselves to be, we will never be righteous enough … the bad side of the scale will always outweigh the good side of the scale.

Romans 5:7–8 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

But God … Two of the most important words in the Bible. I was this, but God. I was that, but God. I can have no hope for today, but God. You can face today knowing that your God is patient. He abounds in love. This morning, His mercies are new. Put down the pity, dethrone the doubt and focus on Jesus. Today is going to be an incredible day no matter what happens, not because of you, but because of God.