OVERVIEW: Joseph’s dreams; Joseph sold into slavery; the enticement and lies of Potiphar’s wife; the imprisonment of Joseph; Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams; Joseph is made a ruler of Egypt.
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
The narrative in this section dealing with the life of Joseph is very interesting reading, completely self-explanatory; and the applications to the believer’s life are abundantly clear. By “comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:10, 13), however, this section reveals that Joseph is the most comprehensive type of Christ in the entire Bible!
Consider these amazing “coincidences” (similarities) in the life of Joseph and Jesus.
1. Both were the beloved of their fathers. (Gen. 37:3; Mt. 3:17)
2. Both regarded themselves as shepherds. (Gen. 37:2; Jn. 10:11-14)
3. Both were sent to their brethren by their fathers. (Gen. 37:13, 14; Lk. 20:13; Jn. 3:17; Heb. 10:7)
4. Both were hated by their brethren without cause. (37:4, 5; Jn. 1:11; 7:5; 15:25)
5. Both were plotted against by their brethren. (Gen. 37:20; Jn. 11:53)
6. Both were severely tempted. (Gen. 39:7; Mt. 4:1)
7. Both were taken to Egypt. (Gen. 37:36; Mt. 2:14, 15)
8. Both were stripped of their robes. (Gen. 37:23; Jn. 19:23, 24)
9. Both were sold for the price of a slave. (Gen. 37:28; Mt. 26:15)
10. Both were bound. (Gen. 39:20; Mt. 27:2)
11. Both remained silent and offered no defense. (Gen. 39:20; Isa. 53:7)
12. Both were falsely accused. (Gen. 39:16-18; Mt. 26:59, 60)
13. Both experienced God’s presence through everything. (Gen. 39:2, 21, 23; Jn. 16:32)
14. Both were respected by their jailors. (Gen. 39:21; Lk. 23:47)
15. Both were placed with two prisoners, one of which was later lost, and the other saved. (Gen. 40:2, 3, 21, 22; Lk. 23:32, 39-43)
16. Both were around thirty when their ministry began. (Gen. 41:46; Lk. 3:23)
17. Both were highly exalted after their sufferings. (Gen. 41:41; Phil 2:9-11)
18. Both took Gentile brides. (Gen. 41:45; Eph. 2:11-13)
19. Both were lost to their brothers for a while. (Gen. 42:7, 8; Rom. 10:1-3; 11:7, 8)
20. Both forgave and restored their repentant brothers. (Gen. 45:1-15; Micah 7:18, 19; Zech. 12:10-12; Rev. 1:7)
21. Both were visited and honored by all earthly nations. (Gen. 41:57; Isa. 2:2,3; 49:6)
CHRIST IS REVEALED:
In JOSEPH – (see connections made under HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS)
By the WISDOM OF JOSEPH – Genesis 41:39 (Col. 2:2-3)