Genesis 42:1-11 (ESV)

When Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” And he said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die.” So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him. Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them. “Where do you come from?” he said. They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” And Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. And he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land.” They said to him, “No, my lord, your servants have come to buy food. We are all sons of one man. We are honest men. Your servants have never been spies.”

The key to understanding today’s passage (and the next few chapters) is Gen 42:23.

They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them. (ESV)

Joseph isn’t speaking in Hebrew! He’s speaking Egyptian through a translator.

http://www.crystalinks.com/egyptlanguage.html

The Bible doesn’t describe how the scene looked, but it’s not hard to imagine. Egyptian architecture is massive. Joseph is doing everything he can to intimidate his brothers. He’s presumably sitting on some kind of throne – and keeping his distance. By speaking in Egyptian, he makes everything impersonal and also prevents his brothers from recognizing his voice. The scene is magnificent – and unsettling.

All this intimidation has a purpose. Joseph is setting up his brothers for an attitude adjustment.

Speaking of foreign languages, never stop praying for foreign missionaries. Part of the calling to be a foreign missionary is to cross cultural boundaries. While this can be greatly rewarding, it’s intimidating.

In addition to praying for these great servants, seek a deeper sense of what they’re up against. Pay attention to the updates they send out. That lets you target your prayers.

They’re on the front lines of a war and our job is to pray for them.

Their mission depends on it.

The weekly study guides, which include discussion questions, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies