Joseph was the first son who was born to Jacob through his favorite wife, Rachel. He is the main figure in the final fourteen chapters of Genesis. Joseph was not popular with his brothers because he told his brothers about his dreams that implied that his brothers would bow down to him as servants.
If this wasn’t bad enough, Joseph was the favorite son of Jacob, which was shown not just in how he was treated, but his father gave him a special tunic of many colors that made him stand out among his brothers as the one Jacob loved more. All this made his brothers resent Joseph. To get back at Joseph, they planned one day (when they were away from their father) to kill him.
But Reuben, the oldest brother, talked them out of it. They then decided to throw him into a pit. Then
During Joseph’s time in Egypt as a slave, he was falsely accused by his master’s wife of trying to sleep with her. Because of this, he was thrown into prison. But while in prison, he helped two fellow prisoners by interpreting their dreams. One of these prisoners ended up being restored to their position as the cup bearer to Pharaoh. After a period of time went by, Pharaoh had a dream that no one can interpret. The cup bearer then remembered Joseph as one who could interpret dreams.
Upon interpreting Pharaoh’s dream, which was a warning of a terrible famine by God, Joseph was given great authority by Pharaoh. He was placed as second in charge over all of Egypt and was given the duty of preparing Egypt for this great famine. They were ready for the famine. It came as God predicted. Not only did Egypt have enough food for themselves, they had enough extra food to sell to foreigners.
Many came from surrounding lands to buy food from Egypt, including Joseph’s brothers. They came two times. The first time, only ten of the brothers came. Then Joseph asked them to return with the eleventh brother, his
It is nearly impossible to examine the life of Joseph in the Old Testament and not see the similarities of the events in the life of Christ. There are many types and shadows in the Old Testament that prefigure Jesus Christ, and many have believed at the life of Joseph is perhaps the clearest picture of Christ in so many ways.
“I am my Father’s beloved son. I was sent far away to my “brothers” to do an act of kindness for my Father. While away, I was delivered into the hands of strangers because of jealousy. I was stripped of my clothes. I was sold for a few shekels of silver. I was strongly tempted. I was falsely accused and condemned.
Two others were punished with me, and one of those who were punished was restored. God was with me and reversed the terrible injustices done to me. I was risen from my state of lowliness and given great authority, second only to the Supreme Ruler of the land Himself. Even those who mistreated me ended up bowing before me as their master. After my “death”, I first encountered the ten, and then the eleven. And ironically, I became the means that God used to save those who had wronged me.
These things can be said of both Joseph and Jesus. These things all happened to Joseph, as described above, but they all happened to Jesus also. Jesus, God’s beloved Son, was sent from Heaven to this earth. He was strongly tempted by Satan. He was betrayed and sold for thirty shekels of silver.
The Jews delivered Him to the Gentiles, after they had trials, in which Jesus was falsely accused of doing wrong and condemned. The Jews did this to Him out of jealousy. Before He was crucified, He was stripped of His clothes. He was crucified alongside two thieves, one of which came to repentance while on the cross. But God was still with Jesus.
After three days, He was exalted by God. He was raised from His tomb, and was given all authority over Heaven and earth by God. He was first seen by ten of his disciples, then later by the eleven (Thomas was not present during the first appearance). Even those who mistreated Him and killed Him would bow to Him as their Lord, either in this life or the next. He died to give life to those who had sinned against Him.
Joseph was used by God to be a deliverer during the time of famine. Likewise, Jesus was sent by God to be a deliverer for all mankind. Because Jesus came, we no longer need to be in lack (famine) anymore. Our lack is met at the divine exchange on the cross. Amen! Thank you, Jesus! Hallelujah!
2 Corinthians 8:9
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
| Comparison List of Joseph and Jesus | |
| Joseph | Jesus |
| Joseph was Loved by His Father - Genesis 37:3 | God said about Jesus "this is my beloved son" - Matthew 3:17 |
| Joseph's brothers did not believe him and hated him - Genesis 37:4-5 | The Jews Did Not Believe in Christ - John 7:5 and they hated him - John 15:24 |
| Joseph's brothers rejected his right to rule - Genesis 37:8 | The Jewish leaders said "we will not have this man to rule over us" Luke 19:14 |
| Joseph's brothers conspired against him - Genesis 37:23 | They took counsel against Jesus - Matthew 27:1 |
| They stripped Joseph of his garments - Genesis 37:23 | They stripped Jesus - Matthew 27:28 |
| Joseph was sold for silver - Genesis 37:28 | Jesus was sold for silver - Matthew 26:15 |
| Everything Joseph put his hand to prospered - Genesis 39:3 | "… And the pleasure of the Lord prospered in his hand" - Isaiah 53:10 |
| All things were laid into Joseph's trust - Genesis 39:4-8 | God hath given all things into his hand - John 3:35 |
| Joseph's own brothers did not recognize him. | The Jews did not recognize their Messiah |
| Joseph was tempted and did not sin - Genesis 39:9 | Jesus was tested in all things yet was without sin - Hebrews 4:15 |
| Joseph was bound - Genesis 39:30 | Jesus was bound - Matthew 27:2 |
| Joseph was condemned with two criminals - Genesis 40:2, 3 | Jesus was crucified with two criminals - Luke 23:32 |
| One criminal was given life and the other was condemned - Genesis 40:21-22 | Jesus told one of the criminals "Today you shall be with me in paradise" - Luke 23:43 |
| Joseph was trustworthy and wise - Genesis 41:39 | God said about Jesus "this is my beloved son in whom I well pleased" - Mark 1:11 |
| Joseph's brothers bowed their knee to him - Genesis 41:43 | "At the name of Jesus every knee will bow" - Philippians 2:10 |
| Joseph was 30 years old - Genesis 41:46 | Jesus was "about 30 years old" - Luke 3:25 |
| God planned the suffering of Joseph in advance to save many - Genesis 50:21 | Jesus said "God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall be saved" - John 3:16 |
| Joseph was made ruler over all of Egypt - Genesis 41:42-44 | Jesus said "all power has been given unto me" - 8:18 |
| Joseph married a foreign bride who shared his glory - Genesis 41:45 | Believers in Christ are "brides of Christ" in His glory - Ephesians 5:25-27 |
| Joseph was cast into a pit and then later delivered out of it - Genesis 37:24, 28 | When Jesus died he descended into the lower parts of the earth, and later ascended into heaven - Ephesians 4:9 |
| Joseph was imprisoned based on false charges - Genesis 39:19, 20 | During the trial of Jesus false witnesses were brought in testifying against him - Mark 14:56 |
| Joseph's brothers later repented for what they did to him - Genesis 42:7 | "and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn" - Zechariah 12:10 |
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