Genesis 42:7 Commentary and Bible Study

Joseph saw them and recognised them, but they did not know him. He was about seventeen at the time he was sold into slavery, and his face would have changed now that he was about thirty-nine. Besides, they would never have imagined that this supreme governor was their younger brother. What is he trying to achieve? What is he looking for in them before he will reveal himself? The whole manner of his dealing with them is most peculiar. In order to understand what follows and to make sense of Joseph’s behaviour, we must take note of the words, ‘And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them.’ He had often reflected on the dreams and continually looked to see if they were coming any closer to being fulfilled. Now he is seeing their fulfilment after all these years, and seeing that God is faithful. He has not been forgotten by the Lord. Nothing has been overlooked; nothing has gone wrong. God knew exactly what would take place, including all the twists and turns that led up to this moment. Here he was looking upon that scene that had been before his eyes for so many years. They bowed before him, but they did not even know who he was. That would come later. Joseph deliberately made himself strange to them so that they would not know who he was. At the same time he spoke roughly to them: ‘Whence come ye?’ He knew of course. It was with his dream in mind that he said this: ‘Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.’ He knows this is not the case, but gives hostile reception. What is he doing? This is not said out of revenge or anger at all the evil they have done him. We know this from the way in which he blesses them by giving them their money back, and at the end it is with great relief and tears that he finally reveals himself to them. He has very different emotions in his heart, but he is hiding his true feelings from them. This can only mean that he saw that his dreams must have their fulfilment, and that he would be hindering their fulfilment by immediately revealing himself to them. The encounter will not take place till they face up to their sin. They must fear Joseph. A relationship of dependency, need, and fear has to be established. They must see his majesty, power, right to punish. This must always be in place when we come to God.In his dreams it was his whole family that bowed to him, but Benjamin is not among the brothers. The dream must be fulfilled. Clearly he did not see this in personal way – they bowed to him, but that is because of his God given role as the deliverer of the family. In Egypt he has been plunged down, and now he has been raised up, but it is not just that he will be their provider and deliverer; this also involves his bringing them to repentance. We can’t be sure if it included spiritual repentance, but they certainly changed their outward ways. He is to be the family evangelist. He asked them tough searching questions. He assumed a hostile manner. What Joseph did, he did so the prophecy would be fulfilled. There had to be conviction and repentance before he could be their guide and provider.They answer him honestly; they give good responses – we are of one family and not spies. But that is nothing like deep enough. Joseph has much work to do with them. Leupold comments that they attempt to disarm suspicion by giving more information than they are asked.