Genesis 42:8

Moreover, love is quick to discern. Need drove crowds from the surrounding nations to the feet of Joseph. But the moment these ten men appear before him, love discerns that they are his brothers. For twenty years he had not seen them. Yet with love's quick perception he sees in those ten needy men the brothers from whom he had so long been parted. And love "knew them." Love knew their past history and the present need that brought them to his feet.

Joseph was governor over the land, in charge of the vast stores of grain against the foretold years of famine, now beginning. He saw his brothers, and knew them. The change in him must have seemed beyond measure in their eyes. He had been a mere growing youth in their own lowly setting. Now he was prime minister, and a great deal more, in the greatest kingdom of that day. They, grown men, remained much the same for his observant glance.

Joseph, however, had something more to do for them than simply to supply their present need. He must prepare not only a blessing for them, but them for a blessing... To bless them with real blessing, as he purposed, he must lead them to repentance. He had once come to them, and they had said, "Here comes this dreamer." They now come to him, and he says, "you are spies, you are spies." He makes himself a stranger, and speaks roughly to them, and by this he calls their sin to remembrance... But he hides himself while all this is going on. He speaks to them by an interpreter. It was indeed his work, but it was his strange work.

All must be brought to light and fully confessed. The slumbering 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.

The way Joseph takes to wake up the consciences of his brothers is very interesting. The effect of his rough words was electric. "They said to one another, In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us." Their consciences were reached, and it is a good thing when the conscience gets reached. God's avenue to the heart is ever by the conscience.

They did not know him, though he recognized them. He began at once to deal with them in a way that would test them and arouse their consciences. Accusing them of being spies, he drew out from them the family details he wanted. These included mention of Benjamin and of himself — for he was the one who "is not." How mistaken they were in this! They were soon to discover that Joseph "IS," and that their very lives are in his hand. The careless world today acts as though Christ is not. They have yet to learn that He is the Master of their lives, for He is the great "I AM."

But ten of the brothers come down to buy grain in Egypt; and there it is that God works marvellously by Joseph. He recognizes his brothers. His heart is towards them when they are altogether ignorant who he was that enjoyed the glory of Egypt... This is exactly what the Lord, from a better glory, will do before long with His Jewish brothers. He is now outside in a new position quite unlooked for by them: they know Him not. But He too will cause the pinch of famine to press upon them. He too will work in their hearts in consequence, that He may be made righteously known to them in due time.