Joseph's Final Test; Iniquity -Genesis Chapter 44:1-34

Joseph insists on seeing Benjamin to prove that their story was not a fable. Joseph then sends his brothers to prison for three days to think about his terms. On their release, Joseph offers them a compromise; one brother will remain in prison while the rest return for Benjamin. The predictable effects of Joseph 's "indiscretion" was alienation from his brothers who sold him into slavery- the first real test of his character. Not only did Joseph pass this test, but he also passed a second by refusing a very different kind of "indiscretion" with Pharaoh's wife. After he had convicted his brothers' hearts through kindness, Joseph set in motion his final test to see if his brothers, who betrayed him more than 20 years earlier, would do it again to Benjamin: Then he commanded his house steward, saying, "Fill the men's sack with food, as much as they can carry. Joseph's story shows us that when we fix our gaze on God and choose to rely on him, even the heaviest situations can be made lighter. Remember that "God cause everything to work together for the good of those who love him" (Romans 8:28)

Iniquity 

 From a root meaning" missing the mark," by violating one of God 's commandments. The word for "iniquity" is Avon, meaning perversity or wickedness, from a root meaning" to be crooked," bent or inclined the wrong way. Iniquity is a violation of the right or duty that mankind is under obligation to do. An iniquity can also be a wicked act and immoral conduct or practice. These are harmful or offensive to society and, especially to God. In the bible, the terms, sin, and iniquity, are often used interchangeably. In fact, aside from people, most nouns that can be said to exhibit iniquity can be described as iniquities-e.g. cheating is a practice that is filled with iniquity, as it is inherently neither just nor ethical, and an instance of cheating could be called iniquity. Sin, it turns out, is violating God's law. So, to bring this all together, sin is what happens when you violate God's law; transgression is the actual act of violating the law, ad iniquity is the dirtiness that lives in you when you've engaged in sin by transgressing God's law. While God forgives iniquity upon genuine repentance (Hebrew 8:12) unchecked iniquity morphs into intentional sin devoid of fear for the divine. The metaphorical "cup of iniquity" depicted in Revelation 17:4 warns of he perilous progression toward shameless sin.