God used the famine and Jacob’s sending of his sons to Egypt to deal with Jacob for his maturity in life. During his long wait for the return of his sons, Jacob was emptied of all his preoccupations (v. 36; 43:13-14) that God might fill Jacob with the element of the divine life. See note Gen. 45:26¹.

The account of the relationship between Joseph and his brothers in chs. 42—45 is a detailed portrait of the relationship between Christ and the nation of Israel:
1) Just as Joseph’s brothers were forced to turn to him for food (vv. 1-5; 43:1-15), the children of Israel will be forced to turn to Christ to preserve their existence (Zech. 12:10; Rom. 11:26).
2) Just as Joseph’s brothers were ignorant of him (vv. 8, 28; 43:32-34; 44:14-34), so the people of Israel are ignorant of who Christ is today.
3) Just as Joseph tested and disciplined his brothers after they were forced to turn to him (vv. 15-24; 44:1-13), so Christ will test and discipline Israel when they are in the process of turning to Him (Zech. 13:8-9).
4) While Joseph was disciplining his brothers, he loved them and cared for them in a secret way (v. 25; 43:16, 25-34); similarly, at the end time Christ will secretly show His love toward Israel and provide for their needs (cf. Rev. 7:2-8).
5) Just as Joseph eventually acknowledged his ignorant brothers (Gen. 45:1-4, 14-16), Christ will acknowledge the ignorant nation of Israel (Rom. 11:26).
6) Just as Joseph’s brothers eventually recognized him (Gen. 45:15), the Israelites will eventually recognize Christ (Zech. 12:10).
7) Just as Joseph revealed himself in his exaltation and glory to his brothers (Gen. 45:1, 8, 13), Christ will reveal Himself in His exaltation and glory to the remnant of Israel (Micah 5:3-4; Matt. 24:30).
8) Joseph’s brothers participated in the enjoyment of his reign, and Joseph took special care of them as God’s testimony on earth (Gen. 45:16-24; 47:11-12; 50:21); likewise, in the millennium Israel will participate in the enjoyment of Christ’s reign, and Christ will care in a special way for Israel as God’s testimony among the nations (Isa. 2:2-3; 61:6; Zech. 8:23; 14:16-19).

The record of Joseph’s life is a revelation of the rulership of the Spirit, for the rulership of the Spirit is the reigning aspect of a mature saint. Although he was full of human feelings and sentiments toward his brothers (v. 24; 43:30-31; 45:1-2), he kept himself with all his feelings under the rulership of the Spirit. He dealt with his brothers soberly, wisely, and with discernment, disciplining them according to their need in order to perfect them and build them up that they might be a collective people living together as God’s testimony on earth (cf. Gen. 45:24). Joseph denied himself and placed himself absolutely under God’s sovereign leading, conducting himself wholly for the interest of God and His people. Joseph’s living under God’s restriction, a portrait of the human living of Christ (John 5:19, 30; 7:16, 18; 14:10), manifested the maturity and perfection of the divine life and brought in God’s kingdom.

This was done to touch their conscience and cause them to realize their guilt in hating Joseph and selling him (vv. 21-22).

It might have been Simeon who took the lead in plotting to murder Joseph (cf. Gen. 49:5-7).