JOSEPH: A PORTRAIT OF CHRIST
Genesis 37:1-2 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. This is the account of Jacob’s family line. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.
The first eleven chapters of Genesis cover a period of 2,000 years of human history. This period of mankind’s history is one of sin, rebellion and judgment, ending with the Flood. The next thirty-nine chapters of Genesis are dominated by four men. The life stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph dominate the pages. These four men, as well as others throughout the Old Testament, are portraits of the future Messiah, Jesus the Christ.
Abraham is the example of God’s sovereign election by grace. Isaac depicts the example of divine, selective calling. Jacob exhibits for us God’s salvation by grace alone and justification by faith. And in Joseph we find God’s picture of divine glorification. Scripture gives us these stories as theological teachings on themes we have studied in the New Testament. God’s plan depicted in these men’s life stories is what the Apostle Paul understood when he wrote: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him… those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8:28, 30)
From this chapter to the end of Genesis we have the story of Joseph. His life mirrors that of Jesus Christ. Like Jesus, Joseph was envied and rejected by his brothers. His brothers stripped off his clothing before selling him into captivity. In prison, his Godly character was recognized by his captors. He was bought by the captain of the Egyptian army. The lies of the captain’s wife thrust Joseph back into prison and certain death. But after many fierce and cruel trials, Joseph was finally exalted to the right hand of Pharaoh, the King, who bestowed upon him a new name and the authority over all the king’s people and land.
God’s unfolding drama of redemption marches forward.
