Genesis 43:15–25 (ESV)

So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.” The man did as Joseph told him and brought the men to Joseph's house. And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house, and they said, “It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may assault us and fall upon us to make us servants and seize our donkeys.” So they went up to the steward of Joseph's house and spoke with him at the door of the house, and said, “Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food. And when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each man's money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it again with us, and we have brought other money down with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.” He replied, “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. And when the man had brought the men into Joseph's house and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder, they prepared the present for Joseph's coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.

This is the psychological phenomenon of projection. People tend to assume that everyone else thinks the way they do. For example, if someone thinks that everyone cheats on their taxes, it’s a safe bet that he does. He’s projecting his personality onto others.

Joseph’s brothers are assuming that everything Joseph does has an ulterior motive—because that’s what they do. So they ask the steward about the money they found in the sacks, and he says that he received the original payment—it must be God that put money in their sacks.

But he says this in a curious way, even using “Elohim” for God. Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks. They don’t need to be afraid of the Egyptian lord, but there’s another reason to not be nervous—Elohim.

The steward must be in on the whole scheme. Otherwise, he would have no idea why the money was in the sacks and would be puzzled by it.

Instead, he confidently announces that it’s Elohim.

Projection makes many things harder. For example, people are often suspicious of evangelism. They assume we have some kind of selfish “angle.” That’s why charity and evangelism go together so well.

Charity is a way for us to get to know people and for them to get to know us.

That leads to trust, which opens the door to the gospel.

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These weekday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. Saturdays' by Matt Richardson. Subscribe here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community

The weekly study guides, which include questions for discussion or meditation, are here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NASB stands for the New American Standard Bible. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.