<p>7:12 <i>But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers the first time</i>- The laboured emphasis upon Joseph being recognized only the <em>second</em> time is to demonstrate that the Lord Jesus would be recognized by the children of Jacob / Israel the second time. We might be able to reason back from this type and conclude that the first time the brothers came to Egypt, they were intended to repent of their sin and recognize Joseph; but their lack of repentance meant that their eyes were as it were closed from perceiving him. The similarity with the Lord Jesus and Israel is of course acute.</p>