'As
soon as Joseph saw his brothers he recognised them, but pretended to be a
stranger and spoke harshly to them....' Genesis 42:7
It has now been over 20 years since his brothers sold Joseph into slavery, and although Joseph immediately recognised them when they met, they did not recognise him, (v 8). Joseph had managed to put the past behind him with the new life he had, (see 41:51), but suddenly memories came flooding back and, as they bowed down with their faces to the ground, Joseph remembered his dreams all those many years earlier. Some things can seem totally forgotten until we see something, hear something, smell something that opens that long sealed door in our memory and we are whisked back through the years to that place of joy or horror.
Why was Joseph harsh with them? The rest of the story would indicate that it was not out of revenge. No, there were many things Joseph wanted to know. Was his father still liveing and well? Benjamin wasn't with them, why? On Jacob's loss of Joseph did Benjamin become father's favourite and had they done something terrible to him? They say Benjamin is with his father back in Canaan, but are they telling the truth? They were hardly virtuous men back then, which is why Joseph was able to tell tales about them, (37:2). Over 20 years have passed. Had they changed? Did they still remember what they did to him? Did they regret it? Was there any remorse? Repentance? There were so many unanswered questions.
People change over the years and are not the same people we once knew. Sometimes, sadly, we maintain the memory of that foolish or sinful thing they did back then, and do not give them a chance to reveal how they have changed. 'Lord, forgive us. Amen.' God bless you all.
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