There is one thing missing from the jigsaw. Joseph has been exalted to a high position but he remains exiled from his family. His original dreams indicated that his own family would bow down to him and recognise his authority. This has not happened yet and does not look like happen. How will God bring the promises to fruition is still not completely answrred.
Read Genesis 42
Jacob’s family in Cannan have been afflicted by the famine. They hear that there is food in Egypt. Jacob sends ten of his sons to confirm this and bring back food. He keeps the youngest, Benjamin at home. Joseph and Benjamin were the two sons of his favoured wife, Rachel. Jacob believed Benjamin to be the only survivor and so wanted to keep him near. Notice too the ongoing switching between “Jacob” and “Israel” as his name, the latter a reminder of God’s covenant purposes and promises which seem threatened at this point (v1-2)
The ten, referred to poignantly as “brothers of Joseph” rather than as “sons of Jacob” set off. When they arrive, Joseph spots and recognises them but they don’t recognise him. It may seem like an unlikely coincidence that with many coming seeking food and with a whole system to administer that Joseph would have direct contact with them. However, first of all, we should perhaps think of the wider world in terms of those provinces under Egyptian influence and control which did at times include Canaan. Secondly, those coming would no doubt arrive in effect as ambassadors for tribes or nations. This is probably the role that the brothers would have carried out. They weren’t there to get food for 12 people but for the wider clans including by this time their own children and potentially grand-children, servants in Jacob’s household and aligned Canaanites, including Judah’s friends and extended family.
Jospeh’s questioning as to where they are from would have been seen as the expected interrogation to confirm their credentials and determine their right to corn. In fact, Jsoeph’s system will have been increasing the dependency of outlying regions on Egypt and so extended Pharoah’s power.
Joseph recognises them but they did not him. It was around 20 years since he had left as a teenager, he would have adopted Egyptian clothing and culture including shaving the body and head, wearing a headdress and also makeup. So, it should not be a surprise that they did not recognise him (v3-9).
Joseph recalls his dreams. He now sees that they are coming true as his brothers bow down. He continues to keep his identity secret and accuses them of being spies. He claims not to believe them when they tell their story. Perhaps he is intrigued by their description of him as “no more.” Are they still living with the pretence that he had died? He has them imprisoned and tells them that they can only send one of them back to get their brother. However, after three days, he releases all but Simeon who he keeps in prison as a kind of hostage.
They recognise that what is happening to them parallels their treatment of Joseph. They believe that God is now punishing them. They begin to confess this to each other. They don’t realise that Joseph speaks their language and can understand what they are saying. Joseph is moved to tears by this.
Joseph also has their silver retuned to their food sacks as well as provision for the journey. One of them discovers his silver in his sack when they stop on route. This fills them with trepidation. Are they being tricked? Back in the land, they tell Jacob what has happened. He is distressed believing that he has now lost two sons and risks losing a third. They also discover that all of them have had their silver returned to them.
The brothers insist that they need to go back but Jacob is not having it. Reuben offers up his won sons as a pledge or security for Benjamin. Note that he isn’t willing to stand as the pledge himself! (v29-38).
Digging Deeper
Confession and repentance are drawn out from the brothers by their experience in Egypt. They are forced to confront their past, their deception and murderous intent. By facing accusation and prison, they must live through a mini experience of what they had subjected their brother to.
Joseph the unrecognised brother offers a precursor to Christ, the one who came to his own people but was neither recognised nor accepted. Jesus was of course not recognised by the men on the Emmaus Road in Luke 24 perhaps doe to a combination of his crucifixion injuries and the changes brought by a glorified resurrection body as well as the fact that they did not expect to meet him there.
In Hebrews 2:11, we see that our relationship to the Father is through our relationship to Jesus as brother, just as Genesis places the focus on the 10’s relationship to Joseph as brother taking precedence over their relationship to Jacob as father.
A look at ourselves
Meeting Jesus requires that we come to the point of true repentance. This means that we learn to look back on our lives and see the truth of our words, thoughts and actions without attempting to justify ourselves. The brothers are beginning to realise that what happened to Joseph was what they deserved just as we deserved the death that Jesus suffered. Jesus took our place so that we are set free from condemnation.
Joseph’s tests give the brothers the opportunity both to speak the truth and to demonstrate that repentance is real by how they respond to the crisis. The Doctrine of Jusitification enables us to be honest about our own sins and failings. True repentance for us should be characterised by changed libes.
Faithroots 