Gen 42:7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.

Genesis 42 records the first visit of Joseph’s brethren to Egypt. The famine spread from Egypt to Canaan. Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, and forthwith proposed that his sons should undertake a journey thither to fetch a supply for their necessities (v.1-5). Joseph’s ten brothers arrived in Egypt. They did not recognize Joseph. They bowed down before their brother Joseph. It reminded Joseph of the dreams that he had dreamed about his brothers bowing to them (Genesis 37:5-11). Joseph concealed his identity to his brethren. He spoke to them through an interpreter. He spoke harshly to them. He accused them of coming to Egypt to spy out the land. He sent them to prison. After three days he allowed nine of them to leave but detain Simeon as security that they would return and bring their youngest brother Benjamin with them. Why did Joseph treat his brothers so harshly? Some said he was taking revenge on his brothers who had sold him into Egypt. They said he resented his brothers and wanted them to have a taste of prison life. Well, if that is true, Joseph should have kept them for a longer period – three days in prison is hardly enough to teach them a lesson. It’s not the Joseph we know. Joseph was a man who feared God. His motive was to discern the present character of his brothers. He had suffered greatly at their hands. He had every reason to test their love and commitment to the family. He needed to know if they loved their father and their brother Benjamin. The trial of Joseph is over but the trial of his brethren and of Jacob has begun. Will they pass the test? It invoked their conscience. They were forced to remember their past sin: “We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us” (v.21). They considered it their retribution. They didn’t know Joseph understood every word they said. It is good when affliction brings sin to mind. Joseph’s brothers saw it as the hand of God pursuing them for their wickedness, and requiting them, as they imagined, for Joseph’s blood. They knew what they did to their brother was wrong and were reaping what they had sown. It is good when tribulation leads to an acknowledgment of sin. The Psalmist says: “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes” (Psalm 119:71). Anything that will lead a man to obey God is a blessing. Whether it be persecutions, troubles, afflictions, suffering, poverty, troubles in relationships, health and other emotional issues, he will be thankful for it in the end; they always do. Charlie Chaplain said these: “Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot.” And, “Nothing is permanent in this wicked world, not even our troubles.” Don’t focus on the trouble; it won’t last forever. Focus on what we are going to do when it is over: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).