Genesis 42:9

Strange, and yet beautiful and excellent! His dreams had merely exalted him above them. If, when he remembered them, he had only wanted to make those dreams come true, he could have revealed himself at once. As the favoured sheaf in the field, or as the ruling sun in the heavens, he could have had them on their faces before him. But instead of exalting himself, restoring their souls becomes his purpose straight away... He remembered his dreams — dreams that exalted him, and nothing else. Yet he turns at once to the defiled feet, the guilty hearts, the unclean consciences of his brothers, so that he might heal and wash and restore them.

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

The conscience must be faithfully dealt with, if anything is to be done. And Joseph aims at it at once. He makes himself strange to them. He speaks to them through an interpreter, and he speaks roughly. He must get their conscience working, whatever it costs him personally. His love, for now, must be firm; its hour for melting and tenderness is still ahead. It will be satisfied later; now it must serve.

He said they had come "to see the nakedness" — the exposed parts — "of the land." You would not expect an apostle or a spiritual Christian to take such a line. But it suited the governor of Egypt, godly man though he was, whose brothers had never fully faced their persecution of one who had given them no just cause of offence. It is not love to be indifferent to flagrant evil, even in a brother. Faithful are the wounds of a friend. In remembering his dreams Joseph had God before him. He sought the good of his brothers, who as yet remembered nothing as they should.

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... To bless them with real blessing, as he intended, he must lead them to repentance. He orders his behaviour toward them now with that purpose. 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." By this he calls their sin to mind.

Joseph knew the secrets of their hearts. He knew them, but they did not know him... What did they say? "We are honest men. Your servants have never been spies." Listen. "We are honest men." Well, you say, if that is not a lie! Yes, it is. Oh, my friend, you can put on any face you like with me or with your neighbour, but you cannot put on a face with God. He knows you.

He recognizes his brothers. His heart is towards them when they have no idea who it is that enjoys the glory of Egypt. So Joseph carries out a most solemn searching of the heart and conscience of his brothers. It 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 they never expected; they do not know Him. But He too will let the pinch of famine press on them. He too will work in their hearts as a result, so that in due time He may be made known to them righteously.