Introduction

Good day to all! Let us delve into the forty-fourth chapter of Genesis, where the narrative becomes increasingly captivating. Its brilliance lies in the profound presence of God's workings. We, as believers, must recognise God; we observe Joseph's actions, yet many fail to grasp his intent. A Joseph emerges perhaps once every four or five millennia. Joseph was remarkably astute, possessing an intimate understanding of God's workings. The theme of this chapter is "The God Who Tests People."

Joseph was deeply aware of God's ways. If you lack this understanding, you risk ruin. Often, God merely seeks to test us. This narrative recounts how Joseph instructed his steward to fill his brothers' sacks with grain, return their silver into their respective bags, and place a silver cup in Benjamin's sack. We may be perplexed by Joseph's actions. What was he doing? He was testing these men, observing their reactions.

Brothers and sisters, are you aware that our God is constantly testing us? Some, after being tested, remain unchanged, while others reveal themselves as precious treasures, pure gold. You must understand that the story is intriguing. Joseph orchestrated this event, and as a result, his brothers journeyed home with their grain-laden donkeys, only to encounter not robbers, but a misfortune.

The steward, riding on horseback, pursued them, shouting, "Halt! Our master has lost a silver cup used for divination." These men immediately faltered, unable to withstand the test. They responded to the steward with unwavering assurance, though their words proved futile. I suspect here that Reuben, Simeon and Levi were the ones who spoke these words.

"Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing! (Genesis 44:7)

Whether you commit such an act is irrelevant; regardless of your actions, this event will still befall you.

Behold, the money that we found in our sacks' mouths we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord's house? With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord's slaves." (Genesis 44:8-9)

I tell you, their folly lies in their unwavering confidence, despite never having seen or examined the contents of the sacks. Where do you derive such assurance? You cannot control everything. If God places the cup in your bag, where can you escape? Do not be so presumptuous. "With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die." Does this not resemble Jacob's words when pursued by Laban? It is similar. Was it appropriate to speak such words then? Not quite.

Upon searching, the cup was discovered in Benjamin's sack, causing the others to tear their clothes. The search began with the eldest, yielding nothing, bringing relief. The second search also proved fruitless. "Finally, it is not me!" Observe their reactions; it was not them. However, when the cup was found in Benjamin's sack, they were ruined. They loaded the grain onto their donkeys and returned to the city to see Joseph.

Joseph, the vizier of Egypt, recalled the vow he made to his father. Hearing the account of what transpired, they were bewildered, realising the gravity of their predicament. Their father would descend to Sheol in sorrow. To Jacob, Joseph was already lost. If Benjamin, the son of his beloved wife, were also lost, and his beloved wife was already dead, it would be unbearable for old Jacob.

We said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.' (Genesis 44:22)

Do you find this narrative intriguing? Many parents are the same, cherishing their children above all else. Judah said:

Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a slave to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers. (Genesis 44:33)

As a result of this test, Judah stepped forward. God often tests people in this world. When the tide recedes, we see who is unclothed. When the stock market is thriving, and you profit, do you believe it is due to your skill? Not necessarily. Often, it is unrelated. For instance, if properties in a particular area are highly desirable, a seller's market, and you sell ten properties, it is not solely due to your abilities.

When the market shifts, the true test of skill emerges. Similarly, in schools, a student's success is not solely attributable to the teacher, but a student's failure often reflects on the teacher. Why does this sound so perplexing? It means that in critical moments, what can one control? The time of birth and death is beyond our control, as is the presence of a silver cup in one's bag. We cannot dictate when or what events will befall us. Joseph's mother died in childbirth while bearing Benjamin; you cannot control that. What can you control? Your husband may love you dearly, but he will still die. We must recognise that this story highlights one crucial point: we can decide nothing.

Joseph's Deep Understanding of God's Workings

God is a God who tests people, and after the test, He observes whether you will forsake Him. During the test, He often targets your core interests, unjustly accusing you. After being unjustly accused, where can you seek redress from Joseph? To whom can you appeal? To Joseph? How? It is impossible! Therefore, we must understand that God frequently touches our core interests. For example, the selfishness within people runs deep. In shepherding people, I often confront their selfishness. At times, it seems challenging.

Joseph deeply understood that God is a God who tests people. So what was Joseph doing? He was conducting a test of people. Aside from God, there should be no other core interests. The Bible says: You must forsake. If you do not forsake and try to play games with God, do you think you can win? You cannot even win against a computer; do you think you can win against God? I tell you: God wants to test you, and we often do not know if the events we encounter are God testing us.

Some time ago, I often spoke about learning to be a filial person. I deeply despise those who do not respect their parents. In fact, I have always had a knot in my heart, wanting to solve the problem of those who do not respect their parents, but I have not done well enough. Those who do not respect their parents receive a deep curse. Why? Because honoring parents is mentioned in the Ten Commandments, which is not a joke.

A few days ago, there was a sister who was selfish to the core, with her core interests being money and herself. She wanted to drive her husband's father out of the house. Before she could do so, something happened. I guess this was all from God. Why offend God? Even if you have a million reasons, it is not justifiable to drive your husband's father away. Even if you argue with God with ten thousand reasons, can you win? The Ten Commandments are not conditional, but unconditionally accepting God's work! As a result, something happened at home, and she lost money. Her husband hit someone while driving.

Speaking of sore spots, God is a God who tests us. If the test is not successful and the exam is failed, what happens? If you fail, you will be brushed off and cannot move forward. Joseph wanted to test his brothers. Did Joseph know that Benjamin was his father's core interest? In fact, Joseph knew as soon as he heard the conversation between his brothers and his father.

Old Jacob regarded Benjamin as a treasure. Do not think that being regarded as a treasure means that it is a real treasure! If a person is not destined to be regarded as a treasure, then they will be spoiled! If you are Joseph, you cannot be spoiled. If you are not Joseph, you may be spoiled and completely corrupted. If we have people among us who spoil their children, be careful.

This story is all from God. God wants to tell us: Do you see what Joseph did? What Joseph did is pleasing to my heart. Is everyone sad? Yes! That is right, it is meant to make you sad. Have you experienced sad things? How can you grow without struggling! A person's life is about suffering and tossing and turning. If you are Joseph, you will become the vizier of Egypt after experiencing it. If you are not Joseph, the test will be over, and you will fail every time, suffering for the rest of your life. Every time you suffer, you fail. Another time you suffer, you still fail.

I have been telling you to have destiny and to live for God, as if I want to harm you. Some people think: If I live according to what you say, how can I live my life? I said: If you do not live according to what I say, can you still live your life? Then go ahead and live it! What else can a person's core interest be besides God? I thank God! Not only do I act like Joseph, but I also think like Joseph in many ways. I said: God, although there are not many Josephs, I want to be like Joseph. It takes thousands of years to produce one. It is amazing to be like Joseph!

Test and See Your Reaction

Joseph's brothers seemed to be swearing:

With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord's slaves. (Genesis 44:9)

How do you know that the silver cup is not with you? As a result, it was found. How the father is, so the children will do. Because Jacob said such a thing: Whoever is found will die. As a result, Jacob's wife died miserably. I think it is really related to this. In the future, do not say that if something happens, you will die, or that you will be struck by lightning. You cannot decide, so do not say these words. It is not a big deal if you are struck to death. It does not matter much to this earth whether there is one more or one less person. It is just like that whether there is one more or one less cremation at the crematorium.

Do not take yourself so seriously. Look at your reaction. When you have not encountered anything, you speak so boldly. Why? The reason is simple. You always think you are someone. Unlike me, I always think I am no one. One day, someone said to me: Teacher, do you know how famous you are? I said: I do not want to be famous. People thought I was lying, but I was telling the truth. I never thought about being famous. What do I want fame for? It is best to hide my name and quickly finish my journey on this earth.

I only have one core interest, which is my God. What is your core interest? Is it your money, your business, your status? You are always holding these things, and you cannot let them go! A brother told me that they thought I was a wild chicken. Now, whether it is a domestic chicken or a wild chicken, you cannot say it casually, because it has other meanings. But some people say: No, I have to prove to you that I am not a wild chicken. They make themselves like a fighter jet. I think they are fighting chickens. I taught them for a long time, but they did not learn. I am very touched!

What are you proving there? What can you prove after proving it? If you prove that you are very rotten, then you definitely have no problem.

To brag a little, I have written about one hundred and some books so far, adding up to at least one or two million words. There are more on pressure management, career planning, and programming. In the future, I will also write a book on business management, about one hundred books. When I wrote my first book, people said to me, "Can you write a book with your appearance?" I wanted to write the worst book in the world. What was the effect? The effect was pretty good. What did I want to prove? I just wanted to prove that I wrote the worst book in the world. I went to the Guinness Book of World Records to evaluate it, but it has not been evaluated yet.

God wants to test you and see your reaction. If God says you are a wild chicken, you might as well say, I am chicken manure. If God says you are a mad dog, I am the excrement of a mad dog. Do not think you are a dish, how tiring it is to live! Always holding on to it, what if you cannot let it go after holding on to it? I have a problem that I can never change. People always use the word "General" when addressing people. It is best not to have the surname "Zha," because that would be called "Bastard," but I like to call people by their names directly.

Is it not good to call people by their names? It is good for everyone to be ordinary people. The problem is that people live and live and do not know who they are. Recently, there have been many cases on Douyin, who was arrested. The officials put on airs, Ge You lying down, and lazy people lying down, thinking they are very powerful! If you really want to lie down, push a wheelchair over, that would be a show. Lying there, looking like Hawking, with hands like this and a mouth like that. We must know that the test is to see your reaction! Look at what Joseph's brothers said earlier:

With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord's slaves. (Genesis 44:9)

How bold they were when they said it! But later they all slipped away. When they saw that they had to be slaves, they thought it was better to forget it. How uncomfortable it is to be a slave. Everyone, look at Reuben, he does not speak. Look at Simeon, he also lowers his head and does not speak, thinking that he just came out of prison and cannot let me go back. Look at Levi, he is also very slippery, like he did not bring his wallet after eating, hiding in the toilet waiting for someone to pay before coming out. Seeing these three brothers, they were puzzled! Did they not say it very boldly just now? Why did their phones run out of power, and their heads droop as soon as they got serious? They are only good at talking!

Recently, a short joke has been circulating: I will donate 100 million to you if I have it. I think this is very interesting. If you have 100 million, you can donate it all! What about 1 billion? You will definitely donate it. What if you have 10 billion? You will definitely donate it, and you will definitely surpass the top philanthropist, right? Then someone said: Donate your car. He looked at the car and said: No. What he said just now was "if." "If" is used to fool people. 100 million, 1 billion, 10 billion, you can say anything, that is "if." But this car is not okay, because he really has a car. If you really have 100 million, you definitely cannot say it, and you cannot donate it.

Reuben, Simeon, and Levi suddenly became deflated eggplants, ashamed. Now it is Judah's turn to take the lead. As a result, Judah is quite brave. It is time to perform at the critical moment, and he did not fail. I tell you, when you get to the critical moment, you have to rush to the front, because God often tests us. Brothers and sisters must know that I always rush to the front no matter what I do. Why? May God remember me! Is it tiring? Yes, it is tiring, so tiring that I cannot straighten my back. But you must do things honestly, as if doing them for God. Do not hide, and take responsibility when you should.

In the past, I always took responsibility for what I did. I did a lot of work! I was not exhausted or died of exhaustion. Brothers and sisters must know that I often boast about my God. You must perform well at the critical moment. It is a big loss if you do not perform well in front of God. Judah seized the opportunity! If he failed, and his brother stood up and saw that Judah was also like a frost-beaten eggplant, withering, then it would be over. The birthright would have nothing to do with Judah.

God is directing a play. Joseph did not fail. Joseph tested his brothers, and Judah did not fail. If you fail as soon as you are tested, I guess they will definitely change people in the end. You must know that God is directing this play, just to see people's reactions. So do not get it wrong, and do not say that if I have 100 million, I will donate it all. Recently, there was a cancer patient, and everyone took turns praying for him. Some people were very surprised, Teacher, why do not you come? Is it not your turn? When it is your turn, I have to go in and take a look! I saw that it was the kid who slipped away quickly, often slipping away quickly, not working.

I often watch from the side, and sometimes I also play the role of Joseph, putting the silver cup in the grain bag. What is going on? You talk about it. Our God tests you, what will you do? Do not tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes as soon as you do it. What are you doing? If you know you are not good, then you must often be strong and be a man. Benjamin is also very interesting. He was spoiled by Jacob. He did not say anything when he encountered something. He was so scared that his legs were soft. He was so scared that he wet his pants when he entered Joseph's house.

No One Knows What Will Happen Behind Them

A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be; and who can tell him what will be after him? (Ecclesiastes 10:14)

No one can know what will happen behind them. It is not what will happen after you die, but what will happen next. No one knows. If you think you are very capable when you make money, you will know that you are not very good when you lose money. Many times I am observing and find that many people are very interesting. Many people make money, and when you come into contact with them, you find that they do not have any special strengths. I think God allows people to experience many temptations, which makes people very confused. In fact, there is nothing to be confused about. Who knows what will happen to you? Who knows that God will test you? As a result, after the test, you see yourself as a dish, and you are always holding on to it. Can you not be uncomfortable?

The scripture I like to study the most is Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes writes about vanity of vanities. Except for knowing God and walking in God's will, everything else is meaningless. Having money is meaningless, and not having money is also meaningless. Do you know? When I do not have money, I do not act like a grandson. When I have money, I do not act like a grandpa. We cannot control what will happen later. Do not think that you can control your own destiny in the future. You cannot control it. Not to mention anything else, you cannot control when you have a headache, when you have a stomachache, or when you have something in your heart. You should still learn to fear God.

I do not take living seriously either. I eat gutter oil when I should. Let me give you another difficult problem to see how you react. If a bowl has just been used to hold feces, and then you wash the bowl clean, would you dare to use it? I dare to use it. If you do not dare to use it, it is because you have a psychological barrier. But there is a plate on the table that holds feces every day called large intestine, and everyone thinks it is delicious. When my mother was alive, she was very interesting. Her brother, my uncle, said: I do not like pig intestines that are washed too clean. They are not fragrant after washing.

I think it is very interesting. A bowl that has been used to hold feces cannot be used after washing, but something that always holds feces is put in the stomach. I am very touched. Anyway, I do not care. I eat both large and small intestines. I do not care where I sleep either. As long as there is a place, I can sleep. Living is very simple. I just want to work all the time. Because we do not know what we will encounter behind us, and we do not have the final say when we encounter something.

For example, when China is weak, the Japanese devils come, and you have to flee. At this time, you cannot care about large or small intestines, or whether they hold feces or not. It is good enough to have something to eat. Everyone, think about it. Many people like to do a lot of boring things. Sometimes I hear many people taking trivial things very seriously, but they cannot work. It is not necessarily good to be able to work. If you can work but have this requirement and that requirement, then you are in trouble.

People must be resistant to stress. If you are asked to be a slave like Joseph for ten years, can you survive if you are not resistant to stress? People must be able to handle things, speak well, and work hard. If it is your turn to be Joseph, you will be imprisoned to the end. God is not with you, but the devil is with you, will you not be destroyed? Brothers and sisters must know that we must not be controlled by these things. What does God want us to do when He tests us? He wants us to know that everything is vanity of vanities, and the only core interest is God. Have you grasped the key point after I have said so much? Do you know that you cannot control what will happen behind you?

Many people think that a person's life is predetermined, but many times it is closely related to your choices. There is a very famous joke called Luo Cheng Divination. Who is Xu Maogong? He is Tang Taizong's advisor, who knows astronomy and geography, like Zhuge Liang in the world. He said that Luo Cheng could live to seventy-three years old. As a result, one day Luo Cheng met another fortune teller, who said that he could only live to twenty-three years old. Why? In order to protect his core interests, he did something bad that reduced his lifespan by ten years, and then he did another bad thing that reduced his lifespan by another ten years. He did five bad things in total, reducing his lifespan by fifty years. So he only had twenty-three years left. If he reduced it further, he would be gone, and he should have died long ago.

Brothers and sisters, we must learn to fear God. When God tests you, you must know that this is not accidental. Either you have sown too many curses in the past, and now you can only swallow them slowly and eat them yourself. You eat what you sow. Or God is testing you, but no matter what, you must know that you do not know what will happen behind you. You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. The elderly often say: You do not know if you can put on your socks tomorrow after taking them off today, so you must know that you are not very capable.

Judah's Willingness to Offer Himself

"Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord, and let the lad go back with his brothers." (Genesis 44:33)

Judah said: Let me be the slave, and you all go home. Was Judah taking a loss or gaining an advantage? Judah had already calculated this matter clearly. Judah is truly a man of courage. Why did Judah receive the birthright? He was truly courageous at this time. If he became a slave, what would happen to Tamar at home? He didn't care. What about Shelah and Perez? He didn't care either. Let Tamar take good care of them. Help me send a message back home that I am a slave in Egypt. If it were you, could you let go?

Judah had it tough; two sons died, leaving only one young son. He was reluctant to let his young son die, somewhat like Jacob. As a result, Tamar pretended to be a prostitute and had children with him, giving birth to Shelah and Perez. Now it was his turn to be a slave. Brothers and sisters, you must begin to know how to offer yourselves. Did Judah struggle? Yes, who wouldn't struggle? But after some struggle, Judah chose to overcome. Some people, after struggling, chose to escape.

Some people just don't know what kind of people God likes and what kind of people God dislikes. If you become someone God dislikes, it's devastating. Do you want to be someone who pleases God or someone who annoys God? Brothers and sisters, you will gradually understand. I hope you can know to be a strong person, to be a man. Don't be someone who sneaks around, always ready to run away; that is being a deadbeat in God's eyes. Do you want to be a treasure in God's eyes? Then be like Judah and forsake yourself.

Only by Forsaking Can You Gain

Why does this chapter talk about God's will, about God being a God who tests people? In fact, there are few things that God is not testing people in. Even when the devil comes, he tests you. Can't God manage this? He can. I tell you, the entire Bible illustrates that God doesn't particularly favour believers. You believe in the Lord, so what? What matters is whether you are willing to forsake for God. You can only gain by forsaking; this is the most difficult thing to understand.

"So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life." (Mark 10:29-30)

Do you want to be such a person? But don't kick your husband's father out of the house. I have shared my mother's testimony many times: my mother is very filial; you really can't find many daughters-in-law as filial as my mother. It's truly a blessing. I've said so much, and after listening, you should do what you should do, and those who are unreliable will continue to be unreliable. When it comes to the crucial moment, your core interests are still the most important. We must emphasize again that God tests people by seeing if you are willing to forsake.

When God tested Abraham, Abraham offered his son. When God tested Isaac, Isaac did not争抢that well. These are all people's core interests. Jacob also did not haggle with his uncle Laban. God added what belonged to him to him. Joseph also did not计较with his family. This time, it was Judah's turn, and he finally took responsibility. In this family, the first in ranking is Joseph, and the second is Judah, truly great.

I hope that brothers and sisters can grasp such spiritual principles. If you don't practice usually, what will you do when the time comes? If you are unwilling to forsake small things, can you forsake big things? It can only be, "If I had a hundred million, I would donate it," which is just an "if." It would be troublesome to regret it when you really have a hundred million.

Have our brothers and sisters learned? Joseph conducted a simulated experiment to test his family. His family really didn't know he was Joseph, and they really didn't know how things would develop in the future. But if you truly have faith, then walk by faith. No one and nothing can ruin God's good plan for you, only your own choices. I have spoken so eloquently; does it sound good?

Thank the Lord, may God bless everyone!

Genesis Chapter 44 Scripture

44:1 Then he commanded the steward of his house, 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.
44:2 Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain money.” So he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.
44:3 As soon as the morning dawned, they sent the men away, they and their donkeys.
44:4 When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Get up, follow after the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good?
44:5 Is not this the one from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices divination? You have done evil in so doing.’”
44:6 So he overtook them, and he spoke to them these words.
44:7 And they said to him, “Why does my lord say these words? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing.
44:8 Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house?
44:9 With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.”
44:10 And he said, “Now also let it be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and you shall be blameless.”
44:11 Then each man speedily let down his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack.
44:12 So he searched. He began with the oldest and left off with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.
44:13 Then they tore their clothes, and each man loaded his donkey and returned to the city.
44:14 And Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, for he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground.
44:15 Joseph said to them, “What deed is this you have done? Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly practice divination?”
44:16 Then Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; here we are, my lord’s slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup was found.”
44:17 But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so; the man in whose hand the cup was found, he shall be my slave. And as for you, go up in peace to your father.”
44:18 Then Judah came near to him and said: “O my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s hearing, and do not let your anger burn against your servant; for you are even like Pharaoh.
44:19 My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’
44:20 And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, who is young; his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him.’
44:21 Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’
44:22 And we said to my lord, ‘The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’
44:23 But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.’
44:24 So it was, when we went up to your servant my father, that we told him the words of my lord.
44:25 And our father said, ‘Go back and buy us a little food.’
44:26 But we said, ‘We cannot go down; if our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we may not see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’
44:27 Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons;
44:28 and the one went out from me, and I said, “Surely he is torn to pieces”; and I have not seen him since.
44:29 But if you take this one also from me, and calamity befalls him, you shall bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.’
44:30 Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life,
44:31 it will happen that when he sees that the lad is not with us, he will die. So your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave.
44:32 For your servant guaranteed the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father forever.’
44:33 Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord, and let the lad go back with his brothers.
44:34 For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would come upon my father?”