Christ in all the scriptures Joseph Saviour of the world Genesis 42-43

 Genesis chapter 42-43

Joseph Saviour of the world

As we ponder these narratives, preserved for us, we begin to understand the sovereignty of God.  To achieve His purposes, He decreed a famine over the whole habitable earth.  Famine is described as one of God's four sore judgments-Ezekiel 14v21, which He can bring upon any situation at His will.  However, when He does this, He always informs His people what He will do, so that they can expect what will come.  This He did in Egypt, and revealed to Joseph a period of seven years of plenty, followed by seven years of famine.  Joseph was appointed administrator of the food supplies, and he stored up the excess to cover for the time of need.  For those who may be sceptical that God prewarns His people of impending solemn judgement, they only need to consult the prophetic utterance of Jesus in Matthew 24v4-8 to His disciples, when He warned of global wars, famines, pandemics, and earthquakes; all of these have happened in the present age, and there may be more to come.  God's word also warns of eternal judgment on unbelievers, and so the narrative has important relevance for all the living today.

The famine was severe over all the lands-"And the famine was over all the face of the earth"-Genesis 41v56; "And the famine was sore in the land"-Genesis 43v1.  Seven years this global famine prevailed on the earth.  Human beings, who think they can flout God's laws, yet take for granted His continued supply of sustenance, fail to recognise the Divine prerogative to bring restraint on their wilful ways, as He chooses, and this was the issue here.  Because of gracious Divine warning, Joseph was able to lay up in store the necessary food for the times of famine.  And so it is recorded. ""And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.  And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread"-Genesis 41v53-54.  The picture is clear, people were facing starvation for lack of food, and only Joseph held the food store, and thus held the lives of all in his hand.  The repeated edict of Pharoah proclaims Joseph to be the saviour of the world.  Note the language of the narrative: Genesis 41v44 "I am Pharoah, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt"; "And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried unto Pharoah for bread: and Pharoah said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph: what he saith unto you, do".   During the years of famine, no one received bread but through Joseph, who administered the storehouses to all who came, on his terms.

What an apt picture of the Saviour of the world in spiritual terms.  The word of God is clear that the world is under the judgment of God, that He has supplied the answer in Jesus.  Only those who come to Him on His terms are saved.  Described as "the Saviour of the world" in John 4v42.  His exclusive claim to Saviour is expressed in many different ways.  His mother echoed the words of Pharoah, "Whatsoever He saith unto you do it!"-John 2v5; Peter said, in the context of Jesus as the living bread, "...to whom shall we go, thou hast the words of eternal life"-John6v68; later, Peter proclaimed to a Jewish audience, "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved"-Acts 4v12; He said Himself, "...no man cometh unto the Father but by me"-John 14v6.  In the famine in Joseph's day, no one was saved except through Joseph.  In the present day, no one is saved but through Jesus.  Thus Joseph prefigures the Lord Jesus, who, alone, is the only way to life and blessing.

Christ in all the scriptures Genesis chapter 41 Joseph exalted

 Genesis chapter 41

Joseph ZAPHNATH-PAANEAH name above every name

"And Pharoah said unto Joseph, forasmuch as God hath shown thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: thou shalt be over my house, and according to thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.  And Pharoah said unto Joseph, see, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.  And Pharoah took off his ring from off his hand, and put it on Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him "Bow the knee"! and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.  And Pharoah said unto Joseph, I am Pharoah, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.  And Pharoah called his name Zaphnath-paaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah priest of On.  And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt."      Genesis 41v39-45

The sweep of this chapter is truly breathtaking.  Joseph, by Divine manipulation of circumstances, rises from prison to the heights of vice regent of Egypt, the greatest power on earth at that time.  It could happen no other way than by God's mighty hand.  Rejected by his brethren, enslaved in Egypt, imprisoned unjustly, then forgotten by the man whose life he saved, is catapulted into the stratosphere of world power, with the life of every living soul at his mercy!  No man was so ill-treated, misunderstood, or humiliated as Joseph; now no man was ever exalted so high in a moments' time.   We cannot mistake, however, the astonishing honour bestowed upon him by the ruling Pharoah of Egypt: we hear overtones of an even greater honour given to the despised, and lowly Jesus.

"See I have set thee over the land of Egypt...";  Psalm 2v6-8, the world against God's anointed, clamouring to be rid of Him; God's answer "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion...ask of me and I will give thee the heathen(nations) for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession."

Ellicott explains; "as decrees became law when stamped with the royal signet, it was naturally the symbol of authority; and so with us, at the formation of a ministry the great seal is formally delivered into the hands of the highest legal personage in the realm, who is thus invested with power".  Of Jesus it was said in John 6v27, Him hath God the Father sealed-highest judicial authority. 

Arrayed in vestures of fine linen; this is historically linked with priesthood, and donned the wearer with religious rights over the people.  Added to his legal authority was priestly authority, making him the highest spiritual person in the land.  Of Jesus it is declared in Hebrews 8v1 and others that He is the great High Priest ruling over all God's house, ordering His house to His design.  He is endowed with full spiritual authority in the realm of religious practice.

Given a gold chain about his neck.  Bible hub comments, "the gold chain round the neck was a mark of distinction, and was conferred on Joseph by Pharaoh when investing him with authority and dignity (Genesis 41:42), and on Daniel by Belshazzar in the same way (Daniel 5:29; see Song of Solomon 4:9).  Thus Joseph was conferred with all the external regalia associated with regal dignity.  The external appearance of the glorified Jesus, likewise, caused John to be amazed, as will the world at large at His coming-Revelation 1v12-17, and 19v11-17.

He gave to him the second chariot, in which he travelled the length and breadth of Egypt, with the Pharoah's courtiers crying "Bow the knee"!.  Paul declares in Philippians 2v10, "At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things on earth, and things in heaven, and things under the earth."

Pharoah gave him a special name, Zaphnath-paaneah-scholars are undecided as to the meaning of this, but perhaps the mystery is deliberate for it separates him from all other rulers.  God gave Jesus a name which is above every name-Philippians 2v9; He had a name written that no man knew but He Himself-Revelation 19v12.  Of the names that can be known, there are three, namely, Faithful and True, the Word of God, King of kings and Lord of lords- Revelation 19v11-16.  These three titles refer to His three offices of dignity, that of Priest, Prophet, and King; for which He was anointed by God.

He was not alone for Pharoah gave him to wife, Asenath, the daughter of the Priest of On.  She is no doubt a picture of the Church, the bride, and ultimately the wife of Christ.  This points to the content of Ephesians chapter 1v22 "And hath put all things under His feet (Joseph was over all the land of Egypt, Christ is ruler over all things in every sphere) and gave Him, head over all things to the Church which is His body..."

All this was done hastily, v14-"...brought Joseph hastily out of the prison..."; Pharoah made him ruler over all Egypt in the spur of the moment; immediately he gave him control of all Egypt's food supply; immediately he conferred on him sole administration of all Egypt's resources.  During the next 14 years, Joseph presided over all the affairs of Egypt.  In a world, tortured by the effects of the fall of man, with tragedy upon tragedy appearing to prevail, Jesus will come at God's command to rule the world, and it will happen very speedily, for when God intervenes in world affairs, it will be sudden, and complete, just as the historical events outlined here.

Psalm 72v6-17 "He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass, as showers that water the earth.  In His days shall the righteous flourish, and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.  He shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth....His name shall endure forever: His name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in Him: all nations shall call Him blessed."

This is the seed of a theme that is developed throughout the scriptures, that the despised and afflicted Man of Calvary shall rule the world, of which Joseph is a faint type.  This whets our appetite to read on, and grasp the wonder of the man who came to save the world.

Christ in all the scriptures Genesis 40 Joseph the interpreter of dreams

 Genesis chapter 39v21-chapter 40v23

Joseph the interpreter of dreams

The scene is now the prison of Pharoah's guard.  Joseph, who had found favour with his father in the home in Hebron, and who was honoured in the house of Potiphar, is now in the prison.  He is there through false accusation, yet even there he comes to the attention of the prison keeper.  Not only did he have the admiration of him but he had his trust, as he committed the running of the prison to Joseph.  Whether at home, or in the home of a stranger, and now in a prison, Joseph excelled, and was noted and honoured.  Wherever Jesus went, whomsoever He met, and in all that He did, He excelled, and people noted it.  Readings from Matthew 4v23-25; 15v29-31; Mark 1v45; Luke 4v16-22; John 6v1-14, and a host of other scriptures reveal One of sterling character.  He stood out in every situation.

Another feature of Joseph in all his suffering there is not one word of protest escaped his lips, even though he was abysmally maltreated.  There is a comment in chapter 49v23-24, concerning his treatment by others, "The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him and hated him: but his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob."  Exiled from his home, betrayed by his brethren, falsely accused by his guardian, yet there was no retaliation, no complaint, no threat.  He felt the injustice keenly, "his soul was laid in iron"; the natural tendency would be to fight back, but "his bow abode in strength".  We ponder the One whom he typifies; when we think of the injustices He endured, the bodily pain suffered; the soul agony experienced.  Peter wrote about it in 1st Peter 2v21-23 "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow in His steps: who dis no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth; who when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously."  The hymnwriter aptly captures the power of this:

"Thoughts of His sojourn in this vale of tears: the tale of love, unfolded in those years.  Of sinless suffering and patient grace; we love again, and yet again to trace."  Mary Jane Deck Walker 19th century.

Jesus committed Himself to the only one fit to properly judge.  As it says again in 39v23 "The Lord was with him", he lived only for His approval, and he moved and acted in the light of that.  

Joseph was also a gifted man, as is evident from the narrative.  There arose a situation in the prison, signalled by the opening phrase of chapter 40, "And it came to pass..."   Two high profile servants to Pharoah (no less) were imprisoned for offences to his highness, the ruler.  It may have been the uncovering of a plot to poison the Pharoah, the two being head baker, and head butler.  These came under the charge of Joseph in the prison for a time.  They both dreamed dreams, and were anxious about the meaning, when Joseph came upon their dilemma.  Not only was Joseph known for his dreams, being called "the dreamer", but here interpreted the dreams of these two officers of Pharoah.  Dreams, according to the scriptures, are one method of Divine communication as is evident from various portions.  This introduces a vast subject, far greater than we can study here, but it is obvious God has communicated to human beings in dreams.  Scriptures like Genesis 20v3; 40v8; Numbers 12v6; Job 33v14-15; Daniel 1v17; 7v1-3; Joel 2v28 (quoted in Acts 2v17); Matthew 2v13, give credence to this.  By Divine revelation, Joseph was enabled to interpret the dreams, the details of which came true, which is the test of any prophetic utterance.

By contrast, Jesus was in constant communion with God, had full understanding of the things of God, and was able to predict the future, as can be seen from His teachings, notably Matthew 13 and 24-25.  In the narrative Joseph predicted the fate of each of these.  In the New Testament Jesus holds the fate of every human being, as scriptures reveal-John 3v34-35; 1st John 5v12; Revelation 1v18.  Joseph revealed secrets, Jesus is the secret to the destiny of every one of us.  The picture is clear, human kind will be separated, one saved, the other perished.  In Jesus, as the truth of scripture unfolds, He is the key to all our futures, not merely in His teachings, but in His person.  This is the story of the bible.

Christ in all the scriptures Genesis 39 Joseph

 Genesis chapter 39

Joseph in the house of Potiphar

The scene can be compared to the real world;  Potiphar means the "priest of the bull", attesting to the idolatrous nature of Egypt.  The world into which Christ came was full of idolatry.  Joseph was sold as a slave to the house of Potiphar; he was so, not by choice, but because of betrayal.  Jesus came into the world as a slave by choice (Philippians 2v7-"He took upon Him the form of a servant").  Joseph's demeanour in this servile position was exemplary, and was given honour in the household for his obedient service, and his value was noted by all.  Jesus' life in this world, in humble service, was such that people were astonished at His teaching, His actions, His manner, and they noticed he was in favour with God and men.  The key to the chapter is the threefold comment "The Lord was with him"-39v2, v3, and v21.  He prospered in all that He did; He found favour with those in contact with Him, it was evident God was with Him.  He was with Him in the house, He was with Him in the prison.  Joseph is a worthy example of the life of Christ in adverse circumstances.  We can trace some of the beauties of the life of Christ as a humble servant in the world of His day.

 Luke 2v40  "And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit and filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him";  Luke 2v52 "And Jesus increased in stature and in favour with God and man"; Acts 10v38 "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil for God was with Him."  Mark 7v37 "And were beyond measure astonished saying He hath done all things well...".  No one could avoid the conclusion that God was with Him.  As with Joseph, so with Jesus.  Joseph prefigured a perfect life that would be lived out in every situation.  He is the very essence of godliness in an ungodly world.

John 1v18 "The word became flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth."  The high ranking member of the ruling Sanhedrim, Nicodemus, acknowledged "Rabbi we know that thou art a teacher come from God, for no man can do these miracles except God be with Him."  He said Himself, "He that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please the Father"-John 8v29.  Concerning His time of persecution, He said "Behold the hour cometh. yea is now come, that bye shall be scattered every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me"-John 16v32.  God was with Him all the way from Bethlehem to Golgotha, where they crucified Him.  Through it all His godly demeanour was evident to all, and this is prefigured in Joseph.

Joseph was tempted to sin in the house of Potiphar, but he resisted the temptation.  Jesus was tempted to sin in the wilderness by Satan, and He resisted the wiles of the devil.

Joseph was tested to the limit in the prison, where he was placed through false accusation.  Jesus was subjected to false arrest in Gethsemane; taken unlawfully to Gabbatha the hall of Judgment; callously and brutally maltreated and crucified, an innocent man, who had done nothing but good.  Of Joseph it was said in Psalm 105v17-19, "He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant (slave): whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him."  The RV  and others render this as, "his feet were in fetters and his soul was laid in iron", thus pointing to both the physical and spiritual suffering of Joseph, who languished 13 years in the prison.  However it was the Lord who was testing him for the work He had in mind, namely the deliverance of the then world.  We know of the extreme physical sufferings of Jesus, who suffered more than any man in body (Isaiah 52v14 "...His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men."  What of His spiritual sufferings as He suffered at the hand of the Lord- lamentations 1v12 "Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of His fierce anger." The trials of Joseph, in body and soul, were but a tiny preview of the physical and spiritual agony of Jesus to save the world.

Christ in all the scriptures Genesis 37 Joseph

      Genesis chapters 37-50

Joseph a type of Christ-chapter 37

Beloved son of the father  37v1-3

"And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.  These are the generations of Jacob.  Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his fathers wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.  Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a coat of many colours."  

Joseph, without question, is a type of Christ in many ways, more than anyone in biblical history.  In the course of these 13 chapters we will find a number of parallels which are very informative, the reality of which were fulfilled in Jesus.  We begin with the special relationship with his father, he was the eleventh son of Jacob, but was favoured above all the others.  Scholars are not sure of the meaning of the coat of many colours, but we know it was a coat of special distinction.  For reasons of his own, Jacob conferred honour on his youngest son, which may have had overtones of supremacy.  Jacob had a bad example in both his parents who favoured one or other of their children, and in the narrative the type is not perfect.  However, what is clear, it points to One who is beloved of the Father, Christ Himself.  The term "only begotten", which is used five times in scripture is monogenes, only one of its kind.  God loves all people, but He has a special love for His Son, whom He calls "the beloved"-Ephesians 1v3.

Hated by his brethren    37v4-11

Three times in the verses, is the evidence of their hatred of Joseph-v4, "When his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him"; v8 when Joseph declared the dreams to them "they hated him yet the more for his dreams and his words";  v11 "His brethren envied him...".   This hatred led to worse behaviour later, and points to Christ who was similarly hated.  The hatred toward Christ is known to all, and He expressed it in the following scriptures; John 7v7 "The world cannot hate you, but me it hateth, for I testify of it that works thereof are evil"; John15v18 "If the world hate you, it hated me before it hated you."; John 15v23-25 "He that hateth me hateth my Father also.  If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.  But that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their law, they hated me without a cause."  When God gives special gifts to some, which He has every right to do, it evinces jealousy and hatred in others.  As scripture proclaims "Jealousy is cruel as the grave", no one suffered more this way than God's beloved Son.  

Sent by the Father to visit his brethren  37v12-17 

There is no knowing why Jacob sent his favourite son to visit his other sons who were keeping his flocks, supposedly in Shechem.  A clue may be in the fact that when Joseph sought them they had moved to Dothan.  Dothan means "two wells", and at Shechem was Jacob's well (John 4v5-6).   This well, according to chapter 29, was sufficient to water Jacob's flock, as well as all of those around.  Perhaps Jacob suspected his sons would not be content at Shechem, and would seek other pasture.  He sent Joseph to report.  We do know that Dothan was on the busy commercial route between Egypt and Syria, and the brothers had an eye on trade as a reason they left their father's well at Shechem.  When we apply this to the mission of Jesus into the world, God knew exactly the state of things; He was sent for a specific reason.  When He came, like Jacob's sons, the world had moved away from feeding at the well of the Father, and sought out other worldly wells.  They were drawn by materialism, fascinated by the creation, rather than the creator.  When Jesus came it was on a rescue mission, failing which the world is doomed.  Consider the mission of Christ.

Galatians 4v4-5 "When the fulness of the time was come, God SENT FORTH His Son...to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons".

John 3v17 "For God SENT NOT FORTH His son to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

1st John 4v14 "We have seen and do testify, that the Father SENT THE SON to be the Saviour of the world."

Like Israel of old, the world had forsaken God, the fountain of living waters-Jeremiah 2v13, and hewn them out broken cisterns that cannot satisfy.  This led to evil deeds as we shall see in the next portion.

Maltreated by his brethren.  37v18-36

They conspired against him  "And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him"-v18.  For no reason, except irrational jealousy, they plotted to kill him.  They did the same to Jesus: 

Matthew 12v14 "Then the Pharisees went out and held a council against Him that they might destroy Him".  This was no ill-feeling, this was murder in their hearts!

Matthew 26v3-4  "Then assembled the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and consulted that they might take Jesus by subtlety, and kill Him".

Mark 3v6  "And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him".  

Others include; Matthew 26v16, v59; John 5v18; John 8v37, v40; John 11v57.  The Jews, the Pharisees, the scribes, the chief priests, the elders, the High Priest, the Herodians, the Sadducees, and even one of His apostles conspired to kill Him.

They mocked Him   "And they said one to another, Behold this dreamer cometh.  Come now let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, some beast hath devoured him: and we will see what will become of his dreams."  37v19

The reality is that in this world, the most insulted person is God, and His Son received the same malicious slander.  

Romans 15v3-from Psalm 69v9,   "The reproaches of them that reproached thee, have fallen on me".  Soon into His public ministry the insults came, and continued to the end.  Joseph was mocked because of his dreams; Jesus because of the prophecies written about Him.  He was despised and rejected of men..."-Isaiah 53v3.  They called Him a drunk-Matthew 11v19, because He sat down with publicans and sinners.  They said He was controlled by Satan-Matthew 12v24.  The thieves with whom H was crucified, mocked Him; all that passed by the cross mocked Him; the chief priests mocked Him; the soldiers mocked Him; the Pharisees mocked Him; Herod and his men of war set Him at nought and mocked Him; the people said He was a Samaritan, a bitter racist insult, and they said He was a devil.  It is highly unlikely we grasp the mockery to which He was subjected, yet not a word in protest, no retaliation, no threats of vengeance escaped His lips.  No protest came from Joseph.

They stripped him, and cast him in a pit, and sold Him to strangers

The link to Jesus is incredible.  The soldiers of Pilate stripped Him, parted Hs garments and cast lots for them-Luke 23v34; Matthew 27v27-28.  They placed on His head a mock crown and on His body a mock robe, and in His hand a reed for a sceptre-John 19v2-5.  The Jewish authorities delivered Him to the Romans, and Judas betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver.  Joseph was sold to the Ishmaelites as a slave, for twenty pieces of silver and taken to Egypt.  Jesus, as a babe had to flee to Egypt for His life.  The comparisons are too many to ignore.  The story of Joseph is as close to the life of Jesus as any other.