I spent some time today wondering how it was that Joseph, after all he had been through, could be so righteous. The thought that came to me was that as Jacob's favored son perhaps Jacob really spent time with him and taught him the ways of the Lord. Maybe he was his favorite son (besides being of his favorite wife) because he saw a spirit and character in him him that Jacob should have been himself. Or perhaps he realized after seeing the behaviour of his older boys that he better invest some serious time teaching Joseph. At any rate, Joseph is the first character mentioned in the Bible that there is no major sin mentioned. (The second being Daniel- makes a great name for son- Daniel Joseph-I know 2 of them. However, please note how Joseph is spelled-post delivery drugs will mess you up!!) Even in Egypt away from his family and any possible Godly influences, he is always consious of the fact that if he sinned it would be against the Lord. Of course many sermons have been preached on this point: he didn't even CONSIDER going to bed with Potipher's wife. He didn't even let it enter his thought process (which is where all sin starts). "He refused to go to bed with her or even be with her". You always hear the excuses: 'we didn't mean it to happen" "we didn't plan it" "it just happened". Joseph didn't give it chance to 'just happen'. He removed himself from even the possibility. Good advice.
Joseph as Type of Christ
I used to think that when pastors talked about a "type of Christ" in the OT that it was some deep theological thing........well it is, but it's not hard to understand. Think of a "prototype" and you'll get the idea. It's a forerunner of what's to come. Or in the bible, it's a foreshadowing or word picture of the One to come. Joseph is probably the best example in all the Bible of a Type of Christ. In googling it, I came up with a bunch I had never thought of. Can you add any?
Report :Joseph gave a bad report of his brothers to his father. (Genesis 37:2)
Jesus condemned the practices of the Chief priests, Sadducees, Pharisees and scribes. (Matthew 23)
Hatred :Joseph was hated and envied by his brothers. (Genesis 37:4)
Jesus was hated and envied by the Chief Priests, Pharisees and scribes. (Matthew 27:18)
Pictured as ruling over his brothers:Joseph told his brothers and family of his dream picturing him ruling over them. (Genesis 37:5-11)
Jesus informed the High Priest he would see the “Son of Man” coming in glory and power. (Matthew 26;64-66)
Rejected his dominion :Joseph brothers rejected Joseph ruling over them. (Genesis 37:8)
The Chief Priest rejected Jesus ruling over them. (Matthew 26:66-68)
Was sent by the father and traveled a long distance to check on the welfare of his brothers: Joseph is sent by his father to find his brothers (Genesis 37:12-17) Jesus was sent by the Father
Plot of death :Joseph is sent to his brothers, who see him in the distance and plot his death. (Genesis 37:19)
The Chief Priest, and rulers plot the death of Jesus. (Matthew 26:14)
Suffering :Joseph upon coming to his brothers is stripped, mocked and put in a pit. (Genesis 37:23-24)
Jesus after being rejected by the High Priest, is stripped, beaten and mocked (Matthew 27:28-30) (I remember a Kay Arthur video series, originally on TV, in which she taught through the book of Matthew from the Holy Land (at all the places in Matthew). She described a pit where they held Jesus before his trial (I think in the praetorium of Herod?) and I think she even showed pictures of it. (I did find some pictures of what they think to be the "Holy Pit" but the website points out that there were very common in homes for cisterns and storage. )
Sold by Judah :Judah betrays his brother, by selling him to the Ishmaelites for 20 pieces of Silver. (Genesis 37:27-28)
Judah (i.e. 'the Jews'), the remaining tribe after the Babylonian and Assyrian captivities turns Jesus over to the Romans.
Sold for silver :Judah sells Joseph for 20 pieces of silver. (Genesis 37:28)
Judas sells Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. (Matthew 26;15)
Rejected by a brother :Judah was Joseph’s brother, one of the 12 brothers.
Judas was one of the 12 disciples who spent three years with Jesus, like a brother.
Brothers used Goat’s blood in his place :In place of Joseph, the sons of Jacob dipped his coat in the blood of a goat, representing the blood as Joseph’s (Genesis 37:31)
The tribes of Jacob, were instructed to sacrifice the blood of animals for their sins. This was until Messiah came, who was pictured in sacrifice.
Suffered from false accusations and slander :Joseph as a slave, in Egypt was falsely accused and slandered by the Egyptians. (Genesis 39:17-19)
Jesus was falsely accused by the High-Priest and others. (Matthew 26:59-61)
Exalted to become savior of Egypt :Joseph was elevated by Pharaoh to be the savior of Egypt. (Genesis 41)
Jesus rejected by the Jews, was accepted by the Gentiles as savior.
Honored but unknown to his brothers:As Joseph was honored by the Egyptians/Gentiles he was unknown to his brothers, being considered as dead.
(Genesis 42:7-8)
Jesus is honored by the Gentiles, but virtually unknown to the Jews his brothers, being considered dead.
Concealed :Joseph’s brothers did not recognize Joseph the first time they saw him, being about age 30(Genesis 42:7-8)
Jesus was not recognized by the Jews at his first coming, being about age 30.
Revealed :Joseph revealed himself to his brothers the when they were alone. (Genesis 45:7)
Jesus revealed himself to his brothers and followers after the ressurection and will be fully revealed at His second coming
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