Exposed by Grace: God’s Loving Tests

Hey everyone good morning! I’m so glad you’re here. Whether you’re with us in the room, or online, thank you for joining us today. Whether you are new here or not new here, We’re really grateful you’ve found us, wether you are listen live or later you are truly part of our extended spiritual family.

Hey, if you’ve got kids with you this morning—now’s a great time for them to head to class. We’ve got an amazing team ready to welcome them and help them know Jesus in a way that makes sense to them

For the rest of us, grab your Bible, get comfortable, and open your heart., and get ready for what God has for you today.

Now, again, I want to share the main point that we are looking towards and that we are focused on. Joseph has been through some incredible torment in his life. He had everything…then lost it. Then his life was brought up high again, and he lost it again. Finally God has brought Joseph up high to be the second most powerful man in the world. Then he meets his brothers and Joseph has the whole picture in mind and this is what he says to them. "As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose." —Joseph . In other words. What man means for evil…God means for good!

I want you to think about a time for me this morning. Think about a time when you felt like your world was closing in—not because you did something wrong, but because everything started to feel designed to expose something inside of you? Maybe it’s a moment where life presses hard—your job is unstable, your relationships are strained, your conscience is loud—and it feels like you're being cornered. You didn’t plan for the crisis, but the crisis feels like it’s planning for you.

What if I told you that sometimes… that’s not the devil at work like we tend to claim—but God? What if the stress, the accusation, the unexpected challenge—was God’s gracious hand applying pressure, not to destroy you, but to expose you—to draw out what’s hidden, to confront the guilt you’ve buried, and to bring you to repentance and restoration?

That’s exactly what Joseph was doing to his brothers in Genesis 44. He used the pressure of a fabricated crime to test their hearts and draw out the fruit of repentance—and it’s a mirror for how God often works in us.

When God turns up the heat in our lives, it’s not random. He’s not chaotic—He’s precise. He doesn’t test to torment; He tests to transform. And that’s exactly what we see in Genesis 44. This isn’t just a strange turn in the story—this is a divine setup. Joseph, acting under God’s providence, sets the stage with amazing detail—not to punish, but to press. So, let's look first at how this test is carefully constructed to draw out what’s in the hearts of his brothers.

We’re start off in Scripture together this morning and read together

Genesis 44:1–6 ESV

Then he commanded the steward of his house, “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 cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph told him. As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys. They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.’ ” When he overtook them, he spoke to them these words.

What we’ve just read isn’t random or reactionary—it’s calculated. Every detail in this scene is by design. Joseph isn’t simply playing a game with his brothers; he’s setting up a test. And behind Joseph’s hands, we see the sovereign hand of God at work—pressing, probing, and preparing these men for redemption. Let’s look first at how this test is set in motion. Let’s see…

The Setup (vv. 1–6)

So I gotta be honest…this feels like a little bit of a messed up situation. Why would Joseph do something like this? I mean, why would Joseph set them up, and then go after them as if they had stolen his money and special silver cup. Well there has to be a reason, otherwise this wouldn’t have happened.

So the first thing we see here is that…

Joseph's test is meticulous and intentional

Right at the beginning of this narrative Joseph gives very precise orders regarding the placement of this special silver cup. Joseph was creating a scenario of maximum pressure to test their loyalty. This cup, that many scholars believe would have been used in front of the brothers, is a very personal item and would have been an item of great value being made of silver. Therefor, if it was in fact stolen…this would be a great crime, and a great offense to Joseph personally.

The value of the silver cup of course causes one to recall the silver the brothers received for Joseph’s life. This is meant by Joseph to create a tension among the brothers. You see, Joseph secretly put in place the ultimate test of his older brothers. By watching the other brothers’ response to Benjamin’s trouble, Joseph would be able to observe firsthand his brothers’ true character. Were they faking things before? This would tell him because they have the opportunity here to just leave Benjamin for dead and tell their father that something awful happened to Benjamin…just like they did to Joseph.

Joseph was applying pressure to allow his brothers to reveal the change in their hearts. God’s sovereign hand is reflected in Joseph’s wisdom here. Look at what we read in

Proverbs 17:3 ESV

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.

Of course that leads us to realizing that

God often uses what seems like opposition to do heart work

The steward obeys Joseph and puts everything in the sack the way he was told. Then at the right time, the steward went out and accused the brothers of theft—something they have not done. It seems like they are being unjustly pursued and falsely accused. From their perspective, this is an attack. But from the wider view of God’s providence, this is a refining fire.

You see, God is using this moment—not to punish, but to expose what still lies buried in their hearts: their guilt over Joseph, their readiness to abandon another brother (Benjamin), their capacity to stick together or splinter under pressure.

Now…I know it’s hard to think of God testing us because God already knows the truth. So what if God’s testing wasn’t to prove to God where our hearts lie…but to reveal to us so that we can repent and realign our hearts properly? Look at this with me.

Psalm 66:10–12 ESV

For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.

Here’s the deal…God’s people often misinterpret His testing, or His refining as opposition when it's actually grace. This testing comes in unexpected ways too…a boss, a friend, a crisis at home…God sovereignly designs trials to confront and expose the heart. What is it that God is trying to expose in you this morning?

Joseph’s steward may be the one chasing them down—but it’s God who’s chasing their hearts. He does the same with us—using pressure and even opposition to refine what we often try to hide. Let’s take a look at how this pressure begins to uncover what’s really inside.

Genesis 44:7–13 ESV

They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing! Behold, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, and we also will be my lord’s servants.” He said, “Let it be as you say: he who is found with it shall be my servant, and the rest of you shall be innocent.” Then each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.

Now the heat is rising. What began as a quiet and excited journey home has turned into a moment of panic and crisis. The brothers were confident in their innocence—but God is after something deeper than a missing cup. Through Joseph’s test, God begins peeling back the layers of the heart, exposing what’s been hidden under years of guilt, fear, and pride. In this next section, we don’t just see external events—but internal unraveling.

The Exposure of the Heart (vv. 7–13)

The truth is that trials reveal what is hidden in the heart and are capable to produce unity through humility. That is exactly why God provides tests and trials, not to burden us, but to grow us. These tests are designed to confront what we hide—to expose guilt, transform character, and unify His people.

Something happened though when the brothers are confronted by Joseph’s steward and the pressure increases.

Their confident denial reveals a misplaced self-righteousness

Did you catch what they did…They claim innocence and even pronounce judgment on themselves if they are found guilty—which in turn seals their own guilt. They are so sure of themselves, and that they could not have possibly done any wrong, they make a rash statement about the guilty party being killed and the rest to be put as slaves to Joseph.

Remember way back in Genesis 42 when they found the money in their sacks the first time. They ignored guilt then…now their guilt has chased them down.

This is actually eerily similar to Peter when he was talking to Jesus after being told he would deny Jesus. Peter said, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” (Matthew 26:35 ESV). Just like Peter though, they don't see that their hearts are far more vulnerable than they realize. What’s happening here however, isn’t really a righteous group claiming innocence. This is self-righteousness—a claim of innocence rooted not in grace, but in ignorance of their true moral condition. It’s as if, this time, they have forgotten their own guilt that they remembered before.

What is being revealed here though is far more than the guilt of theft. The brothers’ insistence on their innocence shows that they still believe their greatest danger is external, the person of Joseph—but God is exposing an internal rot that hasn’t yet been confessed out loud. God is working to expose their heart which we know is deceitful above all else. So let me ask you again…what is it that God is trying to expose in you.

Then we see something when they are judged as guilty…

Their unified grief shows genuine transformation

First of all the steward is increasing the tension by checking the bags from the eldest to the youngest. There is something really interesting that takes place here. You see, Once the cup is found in Benjamin’s sack, the text says: “Then they tore their clothes…” – a sign of mourning, shame, and grief. Now, remember back in Genesis 37…where they tore Joseph’s robe and sold him off without remorse. Now, they tear their own in sorrow for Benjamin.. This is a sign of genuine sorrow that has not been seen before. They all return to Egypt together. No one deserts Benjamin. In Genesis 37, they abandoned the favored son. In Genesis 44, they stand by him.

There is finally a humbling that is happening in the heart of the brothers. Look at what James the brother of Jesus says.

James 4:9–10 ESV

Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

The brothers have been humbled now. They have seen that their sins have in fact caught up to them, and now they have no hope on their own. Their torn clothes reveal a shared sorrow and a repentance that is beginning to take root in their hearts.

Here’s the hard truth…Sometimes God will use a painful experience to lead you to deeper unity with him and genuine repentance. So, are you more concerned with being seen as innocent—or being made clean by grace? What will it take for you to have the kind of grief that leads to confession and transformation…or do you feel its good enough to only be outraged when you’re accused. It’s important to realize that the brothers were in fact innocent of this crime. However, God was revealing what they were not innocent of…What is it you’re not innocent of, but you keep trying to cover up?

These men, who once sold their brother and never looked back, now tear their garments in shared grief. Something is changing. But now comes the decisive moment: will they take responsibility, or will they look for a way of escape? Let’s move into verses 14–17, where we see how they respond under the full weight of accountability.

Genesis 44:14–17 ESV

When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground. Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination?” And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found.” But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my servant. But as for you, go up in peace to your father.”

Now the test reaches its peak—not just in exposure, but in accountability, as Judah steps forward to speak for them all.

The Challenge of Responsibility (vv. 14–17)

We begin to see how true repentance accepts guilt and submits to justice while pleading for mercy. Right off the bat we see that

Judah speaks as a leader for all

Isn’t it interesting how Judah, not Reuben or another brother, becomes the voice and the spokesman to Joseph. This continues the shift that we saw a few weeks ago in Gen. 43 where Judah took responsibility to protect and watch over Benjamin.

There is a powerful spiritual shift that happens here. The man who once said, “What profit is there if we kill our brother? Let’s sell him” (Genesis 37:26–27), has already provided his life as a pledge for another…and now Judah is the man who bows in humility, with no defense, only surrender.

We see in the humility in their posture. They are not simply talking to Joseph…they fell before him to the ground. This isn’t just an act of fear…it’s the beginning of confession. They are no longer deceiving or resisting. They’re only submitting. In Psalms 51:17 David says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

Judah as the spokesman again is a foreshadowing of the Lion of Judah that will come and die for the sins of many.

It is especially encouraging to see the brothers heart here…

They admit guilt not just for the cup, but for past sins

Their repentance is comprehensive, not just circumstantial. Judah says that, “God has found out the guilt of your servants”. This is a profound admission to Joseph, even though they don’t realize who Joseph is.

Judah isn’t even talking about the cup…there is no mention of the cup here…only that they are guilty of sin. Earlier this week I was asked how to know if someone has confessed of enough or of the right sins. The answer is that you have a heart of repentance…that is the heart that the brothers are showing here.

This is more than, “we were caught”. Saying, “we are guilty” shows their true hearts condition. Not only is This is what Joseph needs to see from his brothers…This is what God needs to see from each of us.

You see, Joseph created a space where self-preservation could have led the brothers to abandon Benjamin and walked away. However, Judah, and the other brothers, refuses to take the easy way out. They humble themselves to submit to judgement.

Join me in reading…

1 John 1:8–9 ESV

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

True repentance doesn’t say, “Let’s move on, that’s in the past.” It says, “I’m guilty, and I can’t fix this.” So this morning look at your own heart, are you offering God polished excuses—or falling before Him in surrendered honesty? God doesn't redeem the self-righteous. He restores the broken. This morning…are you still attempting to be self-righteous…or have you finally realized how broken you really are.

Remember…God graciously applies pressure—not to destroy us, but to expose, humble, and restore us. Like Joseph, God’s test are intentional. God brings guilt to the surface through a crisis. Then God leads us to confession, not condemnation in order to restore us into a right relationship with him.

Like Christ, Judah stands in for Benjamin

Just like Judah stands between Benjamin and judgement, Christ stands in the gap for sinners fully exposed before a holy Judge.

Hebrews 7:25 ESV

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Romans 8:34 ESV

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Just as Judah offered to be a substitute. Jesus became the substitute for you and me.

So where are you this morning? Are you in the middle of pressure as God is exposing your heart? Are you resisting conviction, or embracing a humbling grace?

Finally, have you acknowledged your guilt before Christ—and entrusted yourself to His mercy?

The same God who exposed Joseph’s brothers did not leave them in shame—He restored them in love. And He offers the same restoration to all who will confess, surrender, and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Is that you this morning?

Today is the day we will celebrate communion…To follow our new tradition when we have communion we will have a more directed opportunity to respond to the Gospel. We do that through the comment/commitment cards on your seats. Everyone go ahead and grab a card and answer the following questions.

What is God exposing in your heart today that He wants you to surrender to Him? (Pride? Hidden guilt? A relationship? Fear of being known? Something else?)

2. Are you clinging to self-righteousness, or are you ready to confess your need for Christ’s mercy? (Maybe you have been resisting what God is trying to heal?)

and finally,

3. What step of repentance or faith is God calling you to take today? (Is it Receiving his grace? Forgiveness? Accountability? A conversation you’ve been avoiding? Obedience to follow and serve the Lord?)

Listen, Joseph tested his brothers not to condemn them, but to lead them to repentance and ultimately in hopes of reconciliation. Today, we come to a far greater Joseph—Jesus Christ—who sees every hidden sin, every guilty moment, every broken part of your heart. But He doesn’t expose you to shame you—He exposes you to save you.

At this table, we remember the One who didn’t just offer to take our place like Judah—but who actually gave His life as our substitute. This bread and this cup point us to the body broken and the blood poured out—not for the righteous, but for the repentant. For those willing to say, like Judah: ‘We have no excuse. God has uncovered our guilt.’

So as you come forward today, do not come to appear worthy—come because He is worthy. And if the Spirit is pressing on something in your heart today, don’t ignore it. Confess it, and bring it to the altar. Let this be more than a ritual—let it be a moment of surrender and renewal.

…

And if you need prayer—if the weight is heavy—I’ll be right here with the other Elders to pray with you as you come.

Take a moment now to respond. Write your answers honestly. When you’re ready, bring your card to the altar and place it here as a sign of surrender and faith. Then, take the bread and the cup in remembrance of Christ—the One who bore your guilt and now invites you to draw near.

Let’s Pray