When Jacob heard that grain was available in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you standing around looking at one another? I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there, and buy enough grain to keep us alive. Otherwise we’ll die.” [Genesis 42.1-2]
Little did Jacob or his sons realize what was about to take place. Their impending doom of starvation, as bad as it seemed, would soon turn worse. Their bad situation would deteriorate further.
Trying to imagine how everything went down is quite a task. There are so many factors and players to this story that it is anyone's guess how things might have actually been. We have the narrative of the story, but, it is limited at best in giving all the details.
Why didn't Joseph immediately reveal himself to his hurting brothers (we have to remember that it was impending starvation that sent them to Egypt)? Wouldn't it have been easier to just 'spill the beans' right up front and let the party begin? Maybe. Maybe not.
As governor of all Egypt, the burden lay upon Joseph to manage the food supply and protect Egypt in so doing. It is not ironic then that Joseph accused his brothers of being spies! Even though he recognized them, we must remember that his last memory was of them selling him to slave traders! How could Joseph be sure they had changed? Simple - put them to the test. And, Joseph did just that.
Joseph, even in his reunion with his brothers, remained loyal to his managerial abilities (that had made him #2 man in Egypt), and so, served his duties first and foremost.
Imagine the potential conflict of interest Joseph faced in dealing with his brothers! Had he just welcomed them open-armed, and they turned out to actually be spies on a mission, how poor of judgment would that have been seen to be by Pharaoh? How vulnerable could Joseph have made all Egypt?
But, at the same time, they were his brothers! As badly as they had treated him, Joseph could indeed see that God used their stupidity and evil to promote Joseph so he could save not only their lives, but thousands upon thousands of others. But they were still scoundrels in Joseph's last memory of them and needed to be vetted.
In my eyes, the character of Joseph has just taken a serious elevation. What a lesson to us all for patiently and persistently doing what God has given us to do. But also, what a lesson that even when we advance in our position, the responsibility advances as well.
Father, You have given a magnificent story of stewardship in the person of Joseph. Help me to take to heart all that is revealed by this story.
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