Genesis 41:56,57

Genesis 41:56,57 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands. When the famine began to grow in Egypt, other countries nearby felt the pinch as well. Jacob and his sons were shepherds and depended upon rain to make the grass grow for their sheep to eat. As the famine continued, Jacob’s sheep dwindled and things became desperate. One of them heard that there was food in Egypt, so Jacob sent his sons to buy some grain so that they could at least have a little bread to eat. When the ten brothers arrived in Egypt, they didn’t recognize Joseph. Why would they? They assumed that he was dead and long gone. But Joseph recognized them. But he spoke through an interpreter and kept up his disguise. Joseph spoke roughly to them and accused them of being spies. They assured this stern Egyptian ruler that they were humble shepherds. They explained that their younger brother was gone and that the baby boy was at home with their father. Joseph said that if they were telling the truth, they should bring this youngest boy back as proof. He kept Simeon as a ransom. He waved his hand and sent them away. But secretly, he told his men to put their money back into their sacks of grain that they had just bought. When they stopped for the night after leaving Egypt, they discovered their money that they had paid for the grain was there in their sacks of grain. They became nervous. They thought that God was punishing them for what they had done to poor little Joseph. But poor little Joseph was secretly snickering at them. Were they repentant for what they had done to him, Joseph thought to himself. What were they going to do? But then, Joseph remembered his dreams. He remembered how that God had told him in his dreams that his brothers would bow down to him in reverence. Had that not happened that very day! Joseph was glad to see his brothers, but he was going to make them squirm just a little bit longer. And God still had a lesson to teach them.