The Foreshadowing of God’s Promises To Us That Were Fulfilled in Christ # 8

Joseph was also a ‘type’ of Christ.

In Joseph we see the foreshadowing of the suffering of Jesus Christ who died on the cross to obtain our salvation.

Jacob had 6 sons and a daughter (Dinah) with first wife Leah and 2 other sons with Leah’s maid Zilpah.

Jacob had 2 sons with his 2nd wife Rachel, that is Joseph and Benjamin, and 2 other sons with Rachel’s maid Bilhah.

Genesis 30: 24; Genesis 35: 24

Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons and because of that Joseph’s brothers hated him and sold him into slavery in Egypt where eventually he became the Ruler of Egypt, second only to the Pharoah in authority.

When a great famine came upon the land, God used Joseph to save Jacob and his family and the Egyptians from certain death by starvation.

Joseph died at 110 years old and 430 years after that, Joshua and Israel buried Joseph’s remains at Shechem in the Promised Land.

Genesis 50: 22-26; Joshua 24: 32

In what way was Joseph a ‘type’ of Christ and what likenesses to Christ do we see imprinted in Joseph?

As I said, Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons and favored Joseph by giving him a beautiful multi-colored garment. However, Jacob’s brothers hated him and before selling Joseph into slavery they stole his clothing from him and threw Joseph into a pit.

Genesis 37: 3-4, 18, 23-27

In the same way, Jesus Christ was uniquely loved by His Father, but He was hated by his ‘brothers’, that is unbelieving Israel, who betrayed Him to death on Calvary at the hands of the Romans who also stole his garments and played a gambling game amongst themselves to win them.

Matthew 3: 17; John 1: 11; John 17: 23b, 26b; John 19: 15; Psalm 22: 18; John 19: 23-24

Instead of killing Joseph, his brothers sold him into slavery for 20 pieces of silver, which was the price paid for someone who was Joseph’s age (about 17 years old).

Genesis 37: 28; Leviticus 27: 5

In the same way, Jesus Christ was betrayed by Judas, one of His 12 disciples, for 30 pieces of silver which was the price paid for a slave that was accidentally killed.

Matthew 26: 14-15; Matthew 27: 3; Exodus 21: 32

Then, Joseph was ‘on-sold’ to a rich Egyptian called Potipher who entrusted all that he owned into Joseph’s custody. However, Potipher’s wife brought a false accusation against Joseph, and he was thrown into prison.

Genesis 39: 1-12

In the same way, the Jewish Religious leaders brought false accusations against Jesus and had Him arrested and imprisoned.

Mark 14: 55-60, 65b; Luke 22: 63-65

Joseph was caste into prison with 2 other men – one was condemned but one was saved.

Genesis 40: 1-3, 20-22

In the same way, Jesus was caste upon the cross at Calvary with 2 other men – one remained condemned, but one was saved.

Jesus said to the repentant thief, Luke 23: 43b “today you will be with Me in paradise.”

Later, Joseph was freed from prison, and he became the Ruler of Egypt second only to the Pharoah in authority – at the age of 30, this was the beginning of his ministry to save the Egyptians and his family.

Genesis 41: 41-44, 46

In the same way, Jesus was 30 years old when He started His ministry to save His people, both believing Jews and believing Gentiles.

Luke 3: 23a, Matthew 1: 21b

When Joseph called his family to come to Egypt to escape the famine, he revealed his identity to them because they thought he was dead.

Genesis 45: 3-4

In the same way, Jesus revealed His identity to the disciples who thought He was dead.

Luke 24: 31, 36-45; John 20: 14-16, 26-29

Jospeh’s name in the original Hebrew is Yehosef and means to ‘add, increase, or double’.

Through Joseph’s wise actions, he saved his Jewish family and also saved the Gentile Egyptians = double!

Genesis 41: 56-57

In the same way, through Jesus' ministry, both believing Jews and believing Gentiles are saved = double!

Ephesians 3: 6 ‘And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.’

When his saving work was done, Joseph was reunited with his father Jacob.

Genesis 46: 29-30

And in the same way, when Jesus had finished His saving work on the cross and after He was resurrected from the dead, He ascended into Heaven and was reunited with His Father.

John 20: 17b ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’”

Isn’t it amazing that through Joseph’s suffering he saved both the Jewish and Gentile nations!?

As Joseph said to his brothers, Genesis 50: 20 ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people’.

And concerning Himself, Jesus said, Luke 9: 22 ‘The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.’

Yes, it is through of the great suffering of Jesus that we are saved.

Hebrews 2: 10 ‘He made Jesus a perfect Savior through his suffering’ ERV