Joseph - A Type of Jesus Christ

Vol 1 - No 19, November 12, 2004

The Faith of Joseph:

God answered the prayers of Jacob's wife Rachel and she bore a son named Joseph (Genesis 30:22 - 2422 And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

23 And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:

24 And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.

) but the Word of God does not introduce him until he was 17 years old and feeding his father's flocks (Genesis 37:22 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 father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

.) The record of Joseph's life forms a remarkable type of Christ. As Joseph fed his father's flocks Christ fed His father's sheep, the multitudes. Joseph was loved by his father and clothed so as to show his equality with his father. The "coat of many colors" was said to be worn by Eastern chieftains and was given to the son for whom the birthright was designed. The equality of the father, Jacob, and son, Joseph, pictured God the Father and His son Jesus Christ.

Joseph testified of heavenly things to his brethren and repeated that testimony in spite of their opposition and hatred.

As Jacob's faithful servant he went with cheerful readiness, when sent, to seek his brethren in Shechem where they betrayed him. His brothers, as suggested by Judah, sold Joseph to the Gentiles for twenty pieces of silver (i.e., thirty shekels) - Genesis 37:25 - 2825 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.

26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.

28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

. So Christ was sent by His father and came with cheerful readiness to testify to His father's children in spite of their hatred. Christ was sold to the Gentiles by one of His own, Judas, for 30 pieces of silver - Matthew 26:1515 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

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The Egyptian Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, bought Joseph from the Ishmeelites and soon placed him in charge of his household - Genesis 39:1 - 61 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.

2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

6 And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

. Joseph was a handsome man and Potiphar's wife took a liking to him and tried to seduce him - Genesis 39:7 - 117 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

. But Joseph resisted, explaining to her "There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" - Genesis 39:99 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

. All this a picture of Jesus of whom there is none greater, whose Father kept nothing back from Him and who refused to sin against God. Jesus was indeed tempted in all ways yet He was totally without sin - Hebrews 4:14 & 1514 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

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Potiphar's wife falsely accused Joseph and he went to prison but even there he was trusted by the head of the prison who put all under his authority. He accurately interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh's butler and baker, who had also been thrown into prison. The butler was restored to his position in Pharaoh's household but the baker was put to death - Genesis 40. This all pictures Jesus Christ who being unjustly accused was put to death by crucifixion. He foretold the future events of mankind, some to life and some to death, and being just He never the less suffered for the unjust.

Joseph was finally called upon to interpret Pharaoh's dreams and then taken out of prison and given charge of all of Egypt, answering only to Pharaoh - Genesis 41. As the story unfolds Joseph's brothers went to Egypt to get food and finally came to bow down to their brother Joseph where they were blessed with the best Egypt could offer - Genesis 42 - 46. As Joseph was cast into dungeons of darkness but brought out there from and exalted to Pharaoh's right hand; blessing the Gentiles; and finally, forgiving, and enriching his brethren with all blessings so was and will be the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ was cast into hell after His death on the cross but He rose victorious over sin and death. He was, and is now, exalted at the right hand of God.At some future day His brethren, the Children of Israel, will finally recognize and worship Him. The story of Joseph is a striking and prophetic picture of the Lord Jesus Christ who will someday be the Head of all and who will finally be recognized and worshipped by all and from whom all blessings will flow.

Not a negative thing can be found in the record about Joseph because he is presented as a type of Jesus Christ. But humanly speaking Joseph was like all other men in that he, in and of himself, was not perfect, as was Jesus Christ. We must turn to the book of Hebrews to find the point of Joseph's faith for which he was borne witness. Specifically, we find that he believed God's Word, that is, he had faith that he along with the children of Israel would receive the promises made to his great grandfather Abraham, his grandfather Isaac and his father Jacob. "By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones." - Hebrews 11:2222 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen - Hebrews 11:11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

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Joseph was used by God to live an exemplary life, which pointed to and pictured the Lord Jesus Christ, but he was saved because he had faith in God's Word.

(Note: a portion of the interpretation and description for this study was taken from George Williams' Student Commentary.)