Genesis 42:7 - Meaning and Application

We may fairly wonder why Joseph, during the twenty years he had been in Egypt, and especially during the seven years when he was in power, never sent word to his father about his condition. It is also strange that he, who traveled through all Egypt (Genesis 41:45, 46), never made a trip to Canaan to visit his aged father, especially when he was in the border region nearest Canaan. The journey in his chariot may have taken only three or four days. It is likely that God had a special purpose in all of this, so that his plan for Jacob and his family would come to pass.

When Joseph’s brothers came, he recognized them by many clear signs, but they did not recognize him, since they never expected to find him there (Genesis 42:8). Joseph remembered the dreams (Genesis 42:9), but they had forgotten them. Keeping God’s words in our hearts is very useful in all our actions. Joseph kept his dreams in view, knowing they were from God, and shaped his conduct toward his brothers with those dreams in mind. He aimed both to fulfill them and to bring his brothers to repentance for their old sins. Both goals were accomplished.

I. He treated them in a very stern and severe way. Even the way he spoke, given the authority of his office, was enough to frighten them. He spoke harshly to them (Genesis 42:7). He accused them of evil plans against the government and treated them as dangerous men, saying, “You are spies,” and he strongly declared by Pharaoh’s life that they were so (Genesis 42:16). Some take this as an oath, while others see it as a forceful statement, like “as surely as you live.” Either way, it was more than a simple yes or no, and so it was wrong.

Bad speech is easy to pick up from people who use it, but much harder to unlearn. Joseph, by living at court, had picked up the court style of swearing, “By the life of Pharaoh.” He may have done this to make his brothers think he was an Egyptian and not an Israelite. They knew that was not the speech of a son of Abraham. When Peter wanted to prove he was no disciple of Christ, he cursed and swore. Why, then, was Joseph so hard on his brothers? We can be sure it was not from revenge, as though he wanted to trample on those who had once trampled on him. He was not that kind of man.

Rather, it was, first, to bring his dreams to completion. Second, it was to lead them to repentance. Third, it was to draw from them news about his family, which he longed to hear. If he had asked them as a friend, they might have recognized him, so he questioned them like a judge. Since Benjamin was not with them, he may have feared that they had harmed him too. So he gave them reason to speak about their father and brother. God’s providence sometimes seems harsh to those he loves, and he may speak roughly to people for whom he still has great mercy in store.

II. They, in response, were very humble and submissive. They addressed him with great respect: “Nay, my lord” (Genesis 42:10). What a change from the day they said, “Here comes this dreamer.” They quietly denied the charge: “We are no spies.” They explained their purpose, that they had come to buy food, which was a proper reason and one many other strangers had for coming to Egypt at that time. They offered to give a full account of themselves and their family (Genesis 42:13), and this was what Joseph wanted.

III. He then put them all in prison for three days (Genesis 42:17). In this, God often deals with the souls he intends for special comfort and honor. He first humbles them, terrifies them, and brings them under a spirit of bondage, then heals their wounds by the Spirit of adoption, that is, the Spirit who assures believers they are God’s children.

IV. At last, he told them that one of them would stay as a hostage, and the rest could go home and bring Benjamin back. But he gave them a comforting word: “I fear God” (Genesis 42:18). It was as if he said, “You can be sure I will not do you wrong. I dare not, because I know that, high as I am, there is One higher than I.” Those who fear God give us reason to expect fair treatment. The fear of God restrains people in power from abusing their authority with oppression and cruelty. Those who have no one else above them should still stand in awe of their own consciences. See (Nehemiah 5:15), “I did not do so, because of the fear of God.”