Gen. 42:9-179And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. 10And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come. 11We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies. 12And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. 13And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not. 14And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies: 15Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither. 16Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies. 17And he put them all together into ward three days. (Genesis 42:9‑17)
“And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come. We are all one man’s sons; we are true men; thy servants are no spies.” vv. 9-11.
Joseph, guided no doubt by divine wisdom, withheld his identity until an exercise of conscience with his brothers might eventually break down their pride and hardness of heart and bring them to acknowledge their sin and evil ways. Gladly would he have forgiven them at the moment, but well he knew the need of their hearts. It is not love to be indifferent to flagrant evil, even in a brother. They deeply needed this probing of heart and conscience. And this is the way that infinite wisdom deals with the sinner now. Pride must be humbled, abhorrence of one’s sins truly confessed, and complete dependence upon Him for mercy before His grace can act in forgiveness and salvation.
The brethren were well aware they were in trouble and sought to justify themselves before their accuser. “And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.” v. 13. Little did they realize they were in the very presence of this same one who knew all about them. Are we not reminded of Him who “Searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts.” 1 Chron. 28:99And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. (1 Chronicles 28:9). Joseph’s brethren, like the sinner seeking to win God’s favor by proclaiming his own merit, had no ground to stand on, for Joseph could see far beyond their words. “All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Heb. 4:1313Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:13), It was in faithful love that Joseph pursued the matter. He had God before him and sought the good of his brethren. “Hereby ye shall be proved:... Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies. And he put them all together into ward three days.” vv. 15-17. The ten men must have considered this harsh treatment indeed when they had actually come to Egypt for the sole purpose of purchasing food. Yet it was in reality the act of love on the part of their younger brother who, would lead them by his words and ways which troubled them, to awaken their long-slumbering consciences, that they might fear God as he did.
“And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; then He showeth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.” Job 36: 8-10. There were lessons the erring brothers were to learn from their “cords of affliction” in the following days.
ML 07/09/1967