Joseph - Harsh Words for His Brothers

 

Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them. “Where do you come from?” he said. They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” And Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. And he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land.” They said to him, “No, my lord, your servants have come to buy food. We are all sons of one man. We are honest men. Your servants have never been spies.” (Genesis 42:6–11 ESV).

 

As we begin this chapter in the life of Joseph we are able to see some of the resulting good God works in the life of both Joseph and the nation of Israel. It is interesting that Joseph spoke so harshly to his brothers, who didn’t recognize him (vv. 7-8). It sems like this is the response from someone who was bent on vengeance; However, this was not Joseph’s intent, as we see from the rest of the conversation. He was giving them an opportunity to show their remorse and repentance for what they had done in selling him into slavery.

 

It is also unusual to us that Joseph did not reveal himself to his brothers. However, the rest of the story will make it clear that Joseph does not have malicious intentions. The truth is that Joseph’s brothers were not exactly ready to be reconciled with Joseph and to receive forgiveness. Joseph may well have had a forgiving spirit, but that is not the same as extending or showing forgiveness, which will often happen later in the process.

 

Further, it was important that Joseph’s brothers recognize their sin and confess it. So, Joseph came up with a plan to get them thinking about their relationship as brothers and about their brother Benjamin, who had stayed home with their father. This was a first step in a long and painful but good process of reconciliation, as the brothers hear harsh words from a stranger in a richly ornamented robe.

 

It also points us to the coming of Jesus when He was born into such humble circumstances in Bethlehem. Though the King of kings, he came as a helpless infant, birthed in a stable, surrounded by only Mary and Joseph (his earthly father), and perhaps a few animals seeking shelter from the cold night. God sent His Son to call gently to His chosen people. Often, that is how He comes to us. We should take great care not to mistake that as weakness. It is the greatest expression of grace and love!