Genesis 42:7

Joseph had something more to do for them than simply supply their present need. He must prepare not only a blessing for them, but them for a blessing. The method he had to take might look strange to them for a while. But love and wisdom directed it all from beginning to end. To bless them with real blessing, as he intended, he must lead them to repentance. He once came to them, and they said, "Here comes this dreamer"; now they come to him, and he says, "You are spies." By this he calls their sin to mind. It was indeed his work, but it was his strange work; it was his act, but it was his strange act... For all this may have been the way of his hand, but it was not the way of his heart. Secretly, though they did not know it, he entered into the very sorrows he was causing.

It is no wonder that a man in his position "made himself strange to them and spoke roughly with them." It was not in the least through pride or lack of affection. ... He had every right to test them, and his conduct proved both his good sense and his goodwill. They badly needed the moral probe.

Love will set itself to work to win their hearts. It will set them at perfect ease in the presence of the one against whom they had so greatly sinned... There is only one way for the heart to be at perfect ease with the one it has offended. All must be brought to light and fully confessed. The sleeping conscience must be aroused, the sins recalled, and the sins confessed. It is only through the conscience that the heart can be reached and set at ease. Moved by love, Joseph set himself to reach their consciences.

They had been the original cause of his imprisonment. They must be imprisoned. Then the memory of their brother came home with power. Joseph did not speak of it. No one in Egypt knew of it. But there was a witness inside their own hearts. It may have been asleep for a time, but it could not stay silent forever. It now woke up, and each one saw his look of anguish again as clearly as ever: "We saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen." Memory does not die, though it may sleep for a while.

His brothers did not know Joseph, but he knew them. He spoke roughly to them. They thought he was a hard man. Do you think Christ is a harsh man? He will tell you what you are. He will tell you that you are a sinner, full of hostility toward God, and that there is no good thing in you. People do not like that. They do not like being shown what is in their hearts.

Up to now Joseph has made himself strange, spoken roughly, and dealt harshly with his brothers. There was conscience work to do and repentance to bring about. But love's strange work is now finished, and Joseph can no longer hold back from making himself known. Having exposed the guilt of their hearts, he must make known the love of his heart.

For the Jewish remnant, things will be different. The true Joseph will have to "make himself strange" and to "speak roughly" to them until there is true repentance. He will take great care with them. He will speak to their heart until the valley of Achor — the place of trouble and repentance — becomes a door of hope to them.