Yes—Joseph's brothers not recognizing him is a prophetic picture Les Feldick uses to show how Israel did not recognize Jesus at His first coming, and how He will reveal Himself to them at His second coming.
In Genesis, Joseph knew his brothers when they came to Egypt, but they did not know him. Les Feldick teaches that this mirrors Israel's failure to recognize Jesus as their Messiah when He came the first time. Joseph's later revelation of himself on the second visit points forward, in Les's teaching, to the day Christ unveils Himself to Israel.
Genesis 42:8 — This verse records the exact incident: Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
Genesis 45:4 — This is the moment of revelation, when Joseph identifies himself to his brothers on the second visit.
Acts 7:13 — Stephen emphasizes that it was 'at the second time' Joseph was made known to his brethren, which drives Les's teaching.
The first time Joseph's brothers came to Egypt to buy grain, Scripture is explicit about the outcome: "And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him" (Genesis 42:8). Even though they were standing before the man they had sold into Egypt, they had no idea who he was. When Joseph later made himself known on their second visit, he said, "I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt" (Genesis 45:4). Stephen's speech in Acts highlights the timing: "And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh" (Acts 7:13).
Les Feldick reads the Joseph account as a divinely placed type of Christ and Israel. He emphasizes that when the brothers came the first time, "Joseph knew who they were, but they didn't know who he was." Their confusion over the banquet, when Joseph seated them from eldest to youngest, shows how close the clues were—"he knew them, but they did not know him." Les makes the same application to Christ: "The same way when Jesus came on the scene, should they have known who he was? Sure they should have, but they didn't." He also notes both Joseph and Christ were hated and rejected by their brethren—Joseph's dreams provoked his brothers' fury, and Jesus' claim to be king brought the response, "We have no king but Caesar." The turning point, for Les, is "the second time." In Acts 7:13 Stephen stresses that Joseph was made known "at the second time." Les teaches that just as Joseph revealed himself to his brothers on their second visit and was reunited with weeping, Christ will reveal Himself to Israel when He comes the second time, and Israel will realize He is their God and Savior.
Genesis states plainly that when Joseph's brothers came to Egypt, Joseph knew them but they did not know him. Les highlights the banquet as one of the clues Joseph gave them. Joseph seated the brothers at the table from the eldest to the youngest, and they were astonished that this Egyptian ruler knew their ages, yet they still did not connect him with Joseph. As Les puts it, Joseph gave them hints that "blew their mind," but "they had no idea who Joseph was."
When the brothers returned a second time because the grain had run out, Joseph made himself known. Genesis 45:4 records his words: "I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt." He invited them to come near and told them not to be grieved that they had sold him, because it was part of God's sovereign plan. Les describes the reunion as full of weeping and elation, as the brothers suddenly realized that this powerful man in Egypt was not only their provider but their own brother.
Les draws a direct parallel between Joseph and Christ. Joseph was rejected by his brothers and sent into a far country; Christ came to Israel and claimed to be their King, but they said, "We have no king but Caesar; crucify him." Les says the Jewish brethren were infuriated by Joseph's dreams because they understood he was claiming they would bow to him, and in the same way Israel rejected Jesus' claim to be their promised Messiah. The first-visit pattern—Joseph knew them, they did not know him—applies to Israel's response to Jesus' first coming.
In Acts 7:13 Stephen specifically notes that it was "at the second time" Joseph was made known to his brethren. Les makes this the hinge of the prophecy. Just as the brothers went to Egypt a second time and Joseph revealed himself, so Christ's second coming will be the time He makes Himself known to Israel. Les says that when that day comes, every believing Jew will suddenly know that He is their God and that they are His people, and there will be a joyful reunion.
Stephen quotes the second time Joseph was made known
Les points directly to Acts 7:13 and underlines the phrase 'at the second time,' setting up the prophetic pattern.
The first visit: brothers unable to identify Joseph
Les explains that Joseph gave the brothers hints—like seating them by age—but they still had no idea who he was, just as Israel had no idea Jesus was the promised Messiah.
The banquet hint and the second-visit revelation
Les recounts how the brothers marveled that the Egyptian knew their ages, but they still did not recognize Joseph until the second visit, when he revealed himself.
Joseph reveals himself and reassures his brothers
Les reads Genesis 45:4, where Joseph says 'I am Joseph your brother,' and teaches that the brothers' sale of Joseph was within God's sovereign plan.
The brothers' dependence on grain without knowing the provider
Les emphasizes that the brothers were totally dependent on Joseph's stored grain while still having no idea who he was.
The final reunion and the joy of recognition
Les describes the great elation and tears when the brothers suddenly realized that the second man in Egypt was really their savior and their own brother.
Joseph and Christ both rejected by their brethren
Les compares Joseph's rejected claim that his brothers would bow to him with Christ's claim to be Israel's King, which Israel answered with 'We have no king but Caesar.'
Second-coming application: Joseph reveals himself
Les ties the second trip to Egypt to Christ's second coming: as Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, so Christ will reveal Himself to Israel and there will be weeping for joy.
Genesis 42:8: And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
This verse directly states the central fact of the question: Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.
Genesis 45:4: And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near: and he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
This is the climactic moment when Joseph makes himself known to his brothers on the second visit.
Acts 7:13: And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.
Stephen's summary of Joseph's story emphasizes that the revelation happened specifically at the second time, which Les applies to Christ's second coming.
Genesis 37:8: And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.
This verse shows the brothers' hostile reaction to Joseph's dreams, which Les cites as evidence that they rejected Joseph before he was sold into Egypt.
Scripture says simply that "Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him" (Genesis 42:8). Les Feldick emphasizes that Joseph even gave them hints—such as seating them by age at the banquet—but they could not put it together. For Les, this pictures Israel's blindness to Jesus at His first coming.
On their second trip to Egypt, after the grain had run out, Joseph said, "I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt" (Genesis 45:4). Les connects this to Acts 7:13, which notes that Joseph was made known "at the second time."
Les Feldick teaches that Joseph's second-time revelation is a type of Christ's second coming. When Jesus comes again, He will reveal Himself to Israel, and every believing Jew will suddenly know that He is their God—just as Joseph's brothers finally knew who their brother and savior was.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Rejected Their Messiah — Acts 7 & Joseph Explained