British-israel.us -- Was Joseph A Type Of Christ?

Genesis chapter 37 Star Chart: Clockwise from when Joseph (Orion) was "seventeen years old" (In 1683 B.C. -- cp. Gen. 29:22) and "feeding the (Taurus-Aries) flock" (37:2) (with solar golden grain) and dreamed "the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance" to him (37:9) (rotated down the horizon) till his brothers (Auriga, Gemini, Perseus, etc.) "lifted up Joseph (Orion) (with red radius rope) out of the (black lunar) pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver (twenty revolutions of silvery moon): and they brought Joseph into Egypt" (37:28) is 20° days. Notice Joseph's red radius sheaf (in Taurus) standing "upright" (37:7) while his eleven brothers' constellations rotated down the horizon (bowed) around him. Yes, "the sun (Jacob) and the moon (Leah) and the eleven stars (sons) made obeisance to me" (37:9). Joseph's brethren fulfil his dream without realizing it by bowing before him (42:6). The Lord revealed His plan and purpose to him in dreams (Amos 3:7). God "called down famine on the land ... and he sent a man before them - Joseph, sold as a slave" (Psa 105:16-17). Joseph’s two dreams marked the certainty that the things he dreamed of would actually happen (Gen 41:32).

Was Joseph A Type of Christ?

1. Joseph was the beloved son of his father (see Genesis 37:3). So was Jesus. Both were put "above thy fellows" (Heb. 1:9; Matt. 3:17). Jesus and Joseph were faithful to their respective fathers hence the hatred of the other sons. Both did the will of him who sent him.
2. Joseph was a good shepherd (37:3), a type of Christ, the Good Shepherd.
3. He visited his brothers to "See whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again" (37:14). Christ was sent to the shepherds and the sheep of Israel. This accounts for the special effort he made to appeal to the Jewish religious leaders, even when it seemed he was wasting time with them.
4. Joseph was rejected by his brothers, the Israelites; so was Jesus (see Genesis 37:4 ; John 1:11 ; Isaiah 53:3). "They hated him" because of his dream that one day he would reign over them (37:4,8). The Jews hated Christ and would not have him reign over them (Lk. 19:14). Gen 37:26,27 - Here we see Judah (Hebrew) showing similar characteristics as Judas (Greek). He communed how he might betray him. Luke 22:4 In a parallel we see Judas in Christ's time communing with the High Priests how he might betray him. Genesis 37:4 shows that the way in which Joseph’s brothers ‘hated’ him we see a pattern of the hate that the Jewish leaders had for Jesus – John 15:25
5. He was cast into a pit with no water in it (37:24) just as Christ was cast into a grave (Zech. 9:11; Ps. 69:15). Spices are involved with Joseph and Christ. (37:28).
6. Joseph was sold by his brothers into the hands of the Gentiles; so was Jesus (see Genesis 37:25–27 ; Matthew 20:19)
7. Judah proposed the sale of Joseph. Judas (the Greek spelling of Judah ) was the one who actually sold Jesus. (See Genesis 37:26 ; Matthew 27:3) Certain leaders of the Jews in Jesus’ day turned Jesus over to the Romans.
8. Joseph was sold for twenty pieces of silver, the price of a slave his age. Christ was sold for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave His age. (See Genesis 37:28 ; Matthew 27:3 ; Exodus 21:32 ; Leviticus 27:5)
9. In their very attempt to destroy Joseph, his brothers actually set up the conditions that would bring about their eventual physical salvation. Joseph, by virtue of being sold, would become their deliverer. Jesus, by His being given into the hands of the Gentiles, was crucified and thereby completed the atoning sacrifice, becoming the Deliverer for all mankind.
10. Joseph was "separate (Nazir) from his brethren" (Gen. 49:26; Deut. 33:16) just as Jesus was called a Nazarene "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets" (Matt. 2:22-23). What prophets? Where? Netzer (Branch) is found in Isaiah 11:1 referring to Jesus the Messiah. Nazir (Separated) is found in Judges 13:7, Genesis 49:26 and Deuteronomy 33:16 referring to Samson and Joseph -- both types of our Messiah. Joseph was not a Nazirite in the sense of Numbers 6. Yet he was "separate from his brothers" just as Jesus was. Natsar (to Keep or Preserve) is found in Job 7:20, 27:28, Deut. 32:10 and Isa. 27:3. Jesus is our Preserver.
11. Joseph began his mission of preparing salvation for Israel at age thirty, just as Jesus began His ministry of preparing salvation for the world at age thirty (see Genesis 41:46 ; Luke 3:23)
12. When Joseph was finally raised to his exalted position in Egypt, all bowed the knee to him. All will eventually bow the knee to Jesus. (See Genesis 41:43)
13. Joseph provided bread for Israel and saved them from death, all without cost. Jesus, the Bread of Life, did the same for all men. (See Genesis 42:35 ; John 6:48–57)
14. Joseph was likened to a sheaf (37:7); Christ was the wave sheaf (Lev. 23:11,12)
15. Both were a suffering servant (Zech. 3:8; Is. 42:1 etc.)
16. One of his persecutors tried to save him at the last minute (37:21); so did Nicodemus and Pilate. At least 2 of his 10 persecutors were unhappy about what they were doing , and said so (37:22,26). Perhaps the whole group egged each other on to adopt an attitude none were totally happy with in their conscience.
17. " They stript Joseph out of his coat" (37:23); was Joseph naked in the pit? Same LXX word in Mt. 27:28; was Christ naked on the cross? See Heb. 6:6 "open shame". They parted our Lord's garments. The coat of many colours (KJV) is translated differently in other versions. For example, the NRSV and NEB describe it as a long robe with sleeves, while the NIV says it was a richly ornamented robe. A favoured person, in the Near East, would be adorned with a garment made from patches of different colored cloth. This distinct garment would mark that person as special. Joseph was favoured above his brethren by Jacob, and he showed it publicly by wearing that brightly colored robe. Virgin daughters of kings were also adorned with such robes for distinction (2 Sam 13:18). The phrase divers colours (KJV) comes from the Hebrew word pas. It is the same word that is translated colours here in v.3.
18. A blood drenched coat in both men's lives (Is. 63:2; Rev. 19:13)." Joseph is...rent in pieces. When Jacob saw Joseph's blood drenched torn coat, he rent his clothes" (37:33,34); Jacob shared in Joseph's death. This is a fine prefigurement of the (sadly ignored) pain of God. Joseph being reckoned as dead by his father, and yet alive, may be herein an emblem of Christ's death, and his resurrection from the dead.
19. Symbolically killed by the shepherds of his father's flock (37:12).
Christ killed by the Jewish priests, the shepherds of God's flock.
20. " When they saw him afar off...they conspired against him to slay him" (37:18)
" When the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves (i.e. conspired), This is the heir; come, let us kill him" (Mt. 21:38). Mt. 21:38 is quoting the LXX of Gen. 37:18.
21. But not a bone of Joseph (or Jesus) was broken (39:17-20).
22. Judah disgraced after the condemnation of Joseph (Gen. 38). The same is true for Judah as a nation after their rejection of Christ.
23. Potiphar means dedicated to Ra (the sun god). He was a native Egyptian in the employ of the Hyksos kings who now ruled Egypt. He was Pharaoh's chief guard. While being part of the army, Potiphar took care of civil duties as chief of police, head executioner etc. His master committed all that he had into his hand (39:8). Potiphar: Joseph relationship reflects that between God and Christ. In 39:9-10: Potiphar's wife spoke to and pressured Joseph 'day by day'. Lot was vexed 'day by day' also (2Pet 2:7-8). Here Joseph is example of how to deal with the ways of the world, in contrast to Lot. After v10 we have Joseph's action, in verses 12,13,15,18 of this chapter ten times it uses the phrases 'he left', 'and fled', 'got him out'. Paul exhorts us to be of the same mind: "Flee fornication" (1Cor 6:18)., "flee from idolatry" (1Cor 10:14), "the love of money ... flee" (1Tim 6:11), "Flee also youthful lusts" (2Tim 2:22). So many aspects of human weakness were tested in Joseph: pride with his brothers, lust with women, bitterness in prison, the meteoric rise to success in a career, the glamour and glory of the high life. Our Lord Jesus likewise went through it all -- absolutely all for our sakes. Jesus is our best example, who committed no sin (1 Peter 2:22) and knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). He has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
24. Falsely accused of adultery, but with no defense on his part (39:18-20). Then cast into prison. Christ also silent (dumb) before his false accusers. (prison -- death; the ideas of prison and darkness are often associated (e.g. Is. 49:9). There was darkness at the death of Christ). He wrongly suffered (1Cor 6:7; 1Pet 2:23). Joseph was innocent (40:15), like Jesus. Joseph in prison was typical of Christ's death. Ps. 105:17-23 says: " He (God) sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant; whose feet they hurt with fetters; he was laid in iron: until the time that his word came." On the cross, Christ's feet were hurt with an iron nail. Christ on the cross was the great, supreme prisoner. Like Joseph, He went through all the emotions of the prisoner; the shame, depression, introspection.
25. Joseph lost his garment before he went into the pit and before he went to prison (39:13) Jn. 19:23 says, "Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout."
26. In prison with two malefactors (one good and one bad?) Christ on the cross with two thieves (one good, one bad) The good one asked in each case: "Remember me when it shall be well with thee" (40:14) and "he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom" (Luke 23:42). The cupbearer and baker are like the bread and wine by which we remember Christ's sacrifice (40:8). The Crucifixion is foreshadowed by 3 days till you hang on a tree and die (40:13,19) - one body, the fleshly one, dies; another body, the spiritual one, lives and is rewarded.
27. In Genesis 41:1,14 - Two full years after suffering with two thieves in the jail Joseph returns to Egyptian civilization just as after 2000 years Christ suffers with two criminals he returns in a second coming. The men concerned with bread and wine were freed Gen 40:20-22, but it was to be another two years before Joseph gained his freedom Gen 41:1. The process whereby we obtain our freedom has already started and we celebrate the fact with bread and wine. We don't yet have that freedom, but it will surely come, if we wait patiently as Joseph obviously did. In the meantime, we must be careful that we don't act as the butler did, and forget what has been done for us. Every time he poured out Pharaoh's wine, the butler should have remembered the means whereby he gained his salvation and who provided that means. "This do in remembrance of me." When Jesus returns, the sons of Israel will once again realise that the man they tried to kill is alive and has become ruler over all.
28. "They made him run hastily out of the dungeon...and changed his raiment" (41:14). In the same way, Christ was resurrected from the grave in an instant; a change of clothing is a change of nature (Zech. 3:3,4). The news that Joseph was alive and glorified was received rather like that of Christ's resurrection: initial disbelief, but then a belief.
29. "The Lord...gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison" (39:21) just as Christ increased in favour with God and man (Lk. 2:52).
30. Great pain in Joseph's heart because he knew his innocence (40:15); therefore the shame of a righteous man suffering as a sinner. Even more so with Christ who knew no sin and yet was put to open shame on a cross after being beaten with stripes. The shame of Joseph in the dungeon (40:15); the lowest of the low, according to Ex. 12:29. A type of the supreme degradation of Christ on the cross.
31. All the prisoners in the prison committed to Joseph's hand; " and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it" (39:22)
An eloquent echo of Christ's relationship with us?
32. Because he knew Pharaoh's mind, he was exalted over Pharaoh's house and people (41:40). Christ knew God's mind; now over both Angels (God's house) and us (natural & spiritual Israel)
33. " According unto thy word shall all my people (Egypt) be ruled" (41:40). This is also true of Christ's word. Obedience to the Bible is a prerequisite to salvation.
34. "Only in the throne will I be greater than thou" (41:40). Christ rules on God's behalf, but God is still King."Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name" (Phil. 2:9). Pharaoh's total confidence in Joseph and the power of his word (41:55) is the same as
God's attitude to Christ. "According unto thy word shall all the people be ruled" (41:40) suggests complete trust.
35. " I have set thee over all the land of Egypt" (41:41) is like Christ who is given all power in heaven and earth (Mt. 28:18). All Egypt ruled by his word, therefore 'Egypt' is the church now, and also the future Kingdom. 41:40 - Joseph made number two in the land just as Christ is number two to God.
36. " Bow the knee" (41:43; 42:6). "As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God" (Rom. 14:11).
37. Bread laid up in preparation for the famine is like Laying up the word ("bread of life") as a foundation against the judgment (1 Tim. 6:19). Making the Bible a part of your life. Living the Biblical way of life.
38. Given a new name: " Zaphnath-paaneah" : 'Saviour of the world' (Zaph-n-to) where "to" means country or world. Jerome says it means "Savior of the world." Others say it means 'bread of life.' Christ is both of these. He was given a new name on ascension (Phil. 2:6-9; Rev. 3:12).Joseph was of the seed of Abraham, in whom the promises of fruitfulness and blessing upon all nations were fulfilled (47:27; 46:3 cp. 12:2; Dt. 26:5; Ps. 105:23,24). Jesus was also of the seed of Abraham, in whom the promises of fruitfulness and blessing upon all nations were fulfilled.
39. Joseph married a wife from a pagan king-priest background (41:45). Christ will marry us and we will be kings and priests (Rev. 5:10). Psalm 45 is full of allusion to Joseph (vv. 2,4,5,7,10,14, 16 etc.). Yet it is also a prophecy of the marriage of Christ to His bride, modelled on the marriage of Joseph
40. "Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt" (41:45). Christ is also actively involved in our working out of our salvation.
41. Just as all of Joseph's brothers are blind to his identity, so also Christians know that Jesus is the Messiah, but they are blinded to the fact that they are his brothers hereditarily as the "Lost Ten Tribes." Jews know that they are Israelites in the hereditary sense, but are blinded to the fact that Jesus is the Messiah (Jn. 6:36; 9:41; 15:24 cp. 14:7). They all are bowing before Christ in some way or other. With regard to our Lord, even the apostles didn't recognize him after the resurrection initially.
42. Joseph wept (42:24). Jesus wept (John 11:35). He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
43. Joseph celebrates their repentance with a meal together, at which they sit in their proper places (43:16) typifying the marriage supper of the lamb, with each in his proper place (Lk. 14:10; 22:30; Rev. 19:9) " Slay and make ready" (43:16) for the meal. This is the basis of the prodigal son parable (45:14,15 = Lk. 15:20); father = Christ; prodigal = repentant Jews and Christians, wanting to be servants and nothing else.
44. Joseph's cup is how he discerns (44:5).The cup of the Lord likewise.
45. "Then Joseph could not refrain himself..." (45:1) implies he planned to drag out the process of spiritually refining his brothers, but his love for them caused him to cut it short." For the elects sake the days shall be shortened" by Christ (Mt. 24:22). The same Hebrew word is used in Isa. 42:14 about how God can no longer refrain Himself in the last days. Gen. 42:8 Why did they not recognize him? He was dressed like an Egyptian. We teach today a Jesus dressed like a Greek so his brethren, the Jews, don't recognize him. He knew them but they knew him not. Messiah is not recognized by Jews today. See my face (Yom Kippur). When Judah repented, Joseph revealed himself. Christ will reveal himself when Judah repents also. Gen. 45:1-6 no man with him = Yom Kippur event.

True Courage

To struggle when hope is banished!
To live when life's salt is gone!
To dwell in a dream that's vanished!
To endure, and go calmly on!