Genesis 42:12

When they asked to buy food, he accused them of being spies. Though this was not accurate, Joseph was seeking to stir up concern in their hearts about their past dishonesty. They protest that they are true men, the sons of one man (v. 11). They must later be brought to confess that they have not been true.

They have indeed come to the right person, but they have come with a wrong plan and with a wrong plea. Their plan is to buy, and their plea is, "We are true men" (v. 11). So far they know neither the love of Joseph's heart nor the evil of their own hearts... Love is a giver when worthlessness has nothing to plead. The love of Joseph's heart will shut out all mere bartering. The evil of their hearts shuts out every plea of merit. If they think they are true men, then Joseph will put them to the test.

"Joseph spoke roughly to them." The question of sin must be probed to the bottom. The cutting cord of a guilty conscience must be pulled a little tight. "You are spies." Now notice their defence — "We are all one man's sons; we are true men." They stood in front of the one they had rejected and, in effect, killed. Yet they could still talk about being true men. What a picture of this world! Men can reject Christ, and then pretend to keep the law.

Verse 9 points to another element. Joseph remembered the dreams he had dreamed about them, and told them they were spies who had come to see the nakedness — the exposed parts — of the land. The reality of God's interest in those who honour Him was plain before him, and so was the humbling of those who slight Him by their unbelief. You might not expect such a measure or manner from an apostle or a spiritual Christian. But it suited the governor of Egypt. He was a godly man, and the brother of men who had never fully faced up to their persecution of one who had given them no real cause for offence. It is not love to be indifferent to obvious evil, even in a brother. Faithful are the wounds of a friend. In remembering his dreams Joseph had God before him, and sought the good of his brothers, who as yet remembered nothing as they should.

Joseph, however, had something more to do for them than simply supply their present need. He must prepare not only a blessing for them, but prepare them for a blessing... He had once come to them, and they had said, "Here comes this dreamer"; now they come to him, and he says, "You are spies, you are spies."... It was indeed his work, but it was his strange work; he was doing his own act, but it was a strange act. He arranges the circumstances so that sorrow may produce repentance, but he does not yet reveal himself. All this may be the way of his hand, but it was not the way of his heart. In secret, though they never knew it, he entered into the very sorrows he was causing.

Joseph's brothers were waking up, as they say, "What is this that God has done to us?" God was putting His finger on their consciences. When they get back to their father, they say, "The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us and took us to be spies of the country" (Gen. 42:30). My friend, if you could interpret God's ways, you would find them to be all love. You think He is rough. No, no — He loves you with all His heart, and He has given His Son for sinners like you and me.