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"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" Psalm 133:1

Text: Genesis 42:1-38

IN FEAR OF THE GOVERNOR OF EGYPT

The sons of Jacob were not used to bowing themselves to anybody! They had been fiercely proud in the past. They tolerated no nonsense from anyone. Yet they found themselves bowing before the governor of the land. That was a welcome change of behaviour and attitude. Joseph was dressed like a powerful Egyptian official and thus the brothers failed to recognize him.

“So Joseph recognized his brothers,
but they did not recognize him.”
GENESIS 42:8

INTERVIEWING THE BROTHERS

The sons of Jacob did not know the customs of Egypt, but they had seen enough of the country to stand in awe of the man who was interviewing them. He charged them with spying on the land! This was not an invalid charge at all. The wealth and the abundant supply of grain in Egypt could cause some nations to send out spies to check out the land (Cf. Genesis 42:8-12)

In return, the brothers protested that they were anything but spies. The brothers had to divulge information about their family to show that they were innocent of the charge of spying on Egypt. What penalties would they have suffered if they could not prove their innocence? At best, they would be jailed. At worst, they could be executed as threats to the security of the nation.

“Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man
in the land of Canaan; and in fact the youngest is with our father
today, and one is no more.”
GENESIS 42:13

The sons of Jacob spoke of themselves as “servants”. They appeared to have toned down significantly over the years! They would never have used this title “servant” with reference to themselves in the past!

A SHORT JAIL SENTENCE

Joseph was not sure just how much his brothers had changed. Perhaps a short sentence would do them a world of good. He would of course make sure that they would not be ill-treated in prison! The allegation that they were spies out on reconnoiter kept being repeated (Cf. Genesis 42:9, 12, 14). Joseph’s authority was such that he could jail them with a word. In fact he did jail them for three days (Cf. Genesis 42:17). Did the brothers now understand what they had put Joseph through in the past?

TESTING THE BROTHERS

Joseph demanded that they bring their youngest brother, or else they would be charged with being spies. He offered to allow one brother to bring back the youngest boy in the family while the rest remained incarcerated (Cf.Genesis 42:14-17)! How the brothers must have been terrified by the words of this fierce governor of Egypt!