6 Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. 7 As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked.

 “From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.”

8 Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. 9 Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”

10 “No, my lord,” they answered. “Your servants have come to buy food. 11 We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.”

12 “No!” he said to them. “You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”

13 But they replied, “Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”

14 Joseph said to them, “It is just as I told you: You are spies! 15 And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 16 Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!” 17 And he put them all in custody for three days.

Dear God, I like how it shows that Joseph did recognize them and remember the dreams. I don’t know how much of him messing with them was anger and how much was testing. We’ll see later that he overhears them talking and weeps behind their backs. I know there must have been a lot of hurt here with him. He had been through a trauma, but at the same time the trauma had not only put him in a position of power, but had also provided for his father, brothers, and their families.

I am scarred by events of the past. We all are. I still feel the affects of our miscarriage sixteen years later. I still feel the affects of the unemployment. I still feel that affects of trials as a parent. Some of those things I can see the blessings through and some are still just scars that I don’t understand. I suppose that part of those events was just drawing me closer to you.

Father, I know that you drew Joseph closer to you through all of his experiences, and I know you are continuing to draw me closer to you through mine. Right now, I am about to leave for a lovely three-day conference that will include fellowship with my dad, worship, and fellowship with others. So be with me as I go to Florida. Give me some rest, but also prepare me for the rest of the fall. Be glorified in me and teach me. And be with my wife and kids. Love and encourage them. Help them to all get along and be at peace with each other.