Joseph

From: Messages of God's Love: 1965

Narrator: Chris Genthree

A Type of the Lord Jesus

In Joseph, beloved of his father, 1 faithful in his service, hated by his brethren, suffering for righteousness, and exalted to save and bless, we see a very beautiful type of the Lord Jesus in service, suffering, and glory.

JOSEPH IN SERVICE (Gen. 37:2²These 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 father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. (Genesis 37:2)). He was sent by his father on an errand of love; he was envied and hated by his own brothers, who agreed to kill him. So it was with Jesus. You might look up the Scripture references as we go along, and link them with this story. They tell that the Lord Jesus loved His Father (John 3:35³⁵The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. (John 3:35)), and was sent with a message of love (John 3:16¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)), to His own (John 1:11¹¹He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (John 1:11)), but they received Him not. They hated Him and conspired to kill Him (John 15:24²⁴If 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. (John 15:24); Matt. 21:38³⁸But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. (Matthew 21:38)).

JOSEPH SOLD (Gen. 37:24²⁴And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. (Genesis 37:24)). They stripped him of his “coat of many colors” and sold him for twenty pieces of silver—the price of a slave. So Jesus was stripped and sold (Matt. 26:14; 27:28¹⁴Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, (Matthew 26:14)
²⁸And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. (Matthew 27:28)) into the hands of wicked men.

JOSEPH IN PRISON (Gen. 39:20²⁰And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. (Genesis 39:20)). In Egypt, Joseph suffered for righteousness, as Jesus did at the hands of the world (Acts 4:27²⁷For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, (Acts 4:27)). There he was “numbered with the transgressors” (Isa. 53:12¹²Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)). One of Joseph’s fellow prisoners was exalted: the other was hanged. So from Calvary, one converted thief went to Paradise: the other died a railer.

JOSEPH BEFORE PHARAOH (Gen. 41:14¹⁴Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. (Genesis 41:14)). Because of his wisdom and his faithfulness, Joseph was raised from the dungeon to the place of ruler (Psa. 105:20-22²⁰The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. ²¹He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance: ²²To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom. (Psalm 105:20‑22)). There he received a new name, “Zaphnath-Paaneath,” meaning “The Saviour of the world,” revealer of secrets, which is just what the Lord Jesus is (1 John 4:14¹⁴And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. (1 John 4:14)). God has “highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.” Philippians 2:9,10⁹Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: ¹⁰That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (Philippians 2:9‑10).

JOSEPH EXALTED (Gen. 41:43⁴³And 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. (Genesis 41:43)). In Egypt, Joseph received a Gentile bride, and Afterward revealed himself to his brethren, who in their need were brought to him, owned their guilt, were forgiven, and dwelt “in the land” over which Joseph ruled. The Lord Jesus is through the gospel taking out a people for Himself from among the Gentiles—the Church, His bride, for whom He is coming soon. Moreover, He will yet be owned as the true Messiah by His brethren, the Jews, who once slew Him. He will be not only King of Israel, but King of kings and Lord of lords. Those who put their trust in Him as Saviour, and share His reproach and rejection now, will share His throne of glory in that soon coming day.

Memory Verse: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3³Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3).

ML 04/18/1965

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