9. Joseph: A Type of Christ.

1. Beloved of the Father.

“Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other sons.” (Gen 37:3). Jesus is the Beloved of the Father. “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt 3:17).

2. Sent By The Father.

“And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” So he said to him, “Here I am.” (Gen 37:13). The Father sent Jesus. “And the Father Himself, Who sent Me, has testified of Me.” (John 5:37 cf Matt 21:37-38, Mk 12:6-7).

3. Rejected by Brothers.

His brothers rejected Joseph. “But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.” (Gen 37:4). Our Lord was rejected by His brethren. “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” (Jn 1:11). “For even His brothers did not believe in Him.” (Jn 7:5). “If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.” (Jn 15:24).

4. Exalted but Became A Slave.

Joseph was in an exalted position with his father. But he became enslaved because of the sin of his brothers. Gen 37:25–28, “And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt. So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened. Verse 36. “Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.” Jesus left his exalted status to become enslaved. “But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.” (Phil 2:7). Jesus became enslaved because of our sins, and Joseph became enslaved due to the sins of his brothers.

5. Sold for Pieces of Silver.

“Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.” (Gen 37:28). Jesus was betrayed or sold for 30 pieces of silver. “And said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.”

6. Ministry Began at 30.

“Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Gen 41:46). “Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about 30 years of age.” (Luke 3:23).

7. Sold By Judah.

Joseph was sold by his brother called, Judah. “So, Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened.” (Gen 37:26). “Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought the thirty pieces of silver back to the chief priests and elders.” (Matt 27:3). Judah betrayed him, and Judas betrayed Jesus. Judah and Judas mean the same in Greek.

8. Wrongly Accused.

Joseph was accused by Potiphar and put in the pit, which represents death. “So it was when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in prison.” (Gen 39:19-20). Jesus was wrongfully accused and delivered to death. “Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. Many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree.” (Mk 14:55-56).

9. Both Went Into a Pit.

Joseph was cast into a pit by his brothers. (Gen 37:28). Jesus went to the pit. Psalm 16:10 says, “For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” God didn’t leave Joseph in the pit forever. The One Who rescued Joseph from the pit was the same God Who saved Jesus from the dead. 

B). Rose from the dead.

Joseph came out of the prison to save his brothers. Jesus resurrected from the grave to save us, His brethren, which is all of us.

10. Position of Authority.

“Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent, no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” (Gen 41:44). When Jesus resurrected, He said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matt 28:18). Joseph had all authority, and our Lord is Lord because He has all control.

11. Lived In Egypt.

“And they took Joseph to Egypt.” (Gen 37:28b). Jesus was taken to Egypt. “Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word.” (Matt 2:13). “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt, I called My son.” (Hos 11:1).

12. Stripped of Clothing.

Joseph was stripped of their clothing. “So it came to pass when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colours that was on him.” (Gen 37:23). “And they stripped Jesus and put a scarlet robe on Him. (Matt 27:28).

13. Clothes Dipped In Blood.

  Joseph’s coat was dipped in blood. “So, they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood.” (Gen 37:31). Jesus’ clothes were dipped in blood. “He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.” (Rev 19:13).

14. Bound

Joseph was bound. “And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in prison.” (Gen 39:20). “And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate, the governor.” (Matt 27:2).

15. Condemned With Two Criminals.

Joseph was also condemned with two criminals. “It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in prison, the place where Joseph was confined.” The chief butler received life, but the baker was hanged. (Gen 40:20–23). Jesus was hanged on the cross with two criminals. The one on the left received spiritual death because he condemned the Lord. However, the one on the right hand believed and had eternal life. “Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:39–43).

16. Others Desired To Rescue Them.

Reuben wanted to rescue Joseph. “But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands and said, “Let us not kill him.” And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands and bring him back to his father.” (Gen 37:21-22). Pontus Pilate wanted to rescue Jesus. “Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. (Luke 23:20).

17. God Was With Both.

God was with Joseph. “The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man, and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. (Gen 39:2). God was with Jesus. “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38).

18. People Bow The Knee.

 “And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he set him over all the land of Egypt.” (Gen 41:43). All Joseph’s brethren bowed down to him. Everyone bows to Jesus. “At the mention of the name of Jesus, every knee should bow.” (Phil 2:10).

19. Given New Names.

Joseph was given a new name. “And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-Paaneah. And he gave him as a wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. So Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.” (Gen 41:45). Jesus had a new name after completing His work on earth. “And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Rev 19:16).

20. Do Whatever He Says.

 “So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, do.” (Gen 41:55). Do whatever Jesus says. “Mary said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”” (John 2:5).

21. Givers of Life.

Joseph was the source of life in Egypt. “So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands.” (Gen 41:57). In other words, life was at the hands of Joseph. If you want to live, you need to humble yourself to Joseph. Jesus is Life, and if you’re going to live, you must surrender to Jesus. “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11). You couldn’t have life without Joseph, and you cannot have life without Jesus.

22. Life Savers.

“So, they said, “You have saved our lives; let us find favour in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.” (Gen 47:25). Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our hearts that God has raised Him we saw be saved.”

23. Brothers Did Not Recognise Him.

When Joseph became the Prime Minister, his brothers did not notice him when they came to him. But on their “second” coming, he made himself known to them (Gen 45). People do not recognise Who Jesus is and deny His deity, but all will know Him on His Second Coming. “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” (Rev 1:7).

24. Both Forgave Brothers.

Joseph forgave his brothers who wanted to destroy him (Gen 45:5). Jesus forgave at the cross. “Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34).

25. Brothers Enjoy Favour Because of Him.

Joseph’s brothers enjoyed the favour and settled in Egypt because of the blessing given to Joseph by Pharoah. We enjoy favour from the Father not because we are good but because of the acceptance of Jesus. The Father is now our Father because of what Christ did. (John 20:17).

26. What Was Meant For Evil Became Good.

What Joseph’s brother meant for evil, God turned it into good. “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” (Gen 50:20). Satan thought killing the Messiah was great but did not know God would use that to favour us. “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Cor 2:7-8).

27. Relationship With Gentiles.

Joseph married a Gentile woman called Asenath. (Gen 41:50). His sons Ephraim and Manasseh enjoyed full tribal status. We are Gentiles, but we are now sons by faith, and we enjoy full tribal status as the Jews. We have been accepted in the beloved. (Eph 1:6; Acts 28:28).