Joseph Pictured Christ – Part 2

There are so many times that Joseph is a picture of Christ in the Scriptures that it is amazing.  Too many for one post.  Here is the second installment of how Joseph was a foreshadowing, a picture of Christ to come.

Joseph was the beloved son of the father.  I know that is not good for a human father to love one child over the others.  Favoritism in that sense is not what is being pictured here.  It is how dear the father loved this son.  God has only one Son so favoritism is not involved.  What is being pictured is how beloved the Son is of the Father.

Matthew 3:17  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Ephesians 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Joseph was hated without a cause.  Joseph did nothing to warrant the rejection and cruel treatment of his brethren.  If you look at what Joseph did, you will see that it was in strict obedience to his father.  And his father wanted what was best for his children.  He wanted to make sure they were not doing things that would hurt them or others.  Joseph’s father sent him for the good of the other children.

John 15:25  But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

God the Father send His only Son to the Jewish brethren for their good.  For their benefit.  Jesus came in strict obedience to the Father.  Jesus did nothing to deserve their hatred.  Christ was hated without a cause.  Joseph’s life pictured that.

Joseph’s prophetic dreams involved sovereignty.  His brethren would bow down to him in both dreams.  The dreams are similar but there is a striking difference.  Let’s look at both dreams.

Gen 37:6  And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:

Gen 37:7  For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

The first dream is in the field.  The scene is of earth.  They are toiling in the field.  Joseph’s sheaf arose.  Reminds me of the verse that says, Isaiah 53:2  For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground.  Jesus came to earth and became man.  The brethren are shown that they will bow to him.  It is a dream that not only shows that Joseph’s 11 brothers would bow down, and they did.  It also points to the future when Israel will bow to Jesus.  It is also pointing to the fact that Jesus has authority.  And since this is an earthly scene, it is highlighting Jesus’ authority over the earth.  Isaiah makes reference to His authority over the earth.

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 Isa 9:7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Look at the second dream.

Gen 37:9  And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

The bowing down, the authority is still here.  But the scene is completely different.  It is not of the earth.  This is a heavenly scene.  The two dreams show a picture that Jesus’ authority is twofold.  It is earthly authority, and it is heavenly authority.

Here is a verse that shows plainly what the two dreams pictured about the coming Christ.

Matthew 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

There is nothing that Jesus does not have authority over.   Everything in heaven and everything in earth.  There will be no escaping His authority.  People delude themselves, they sear their conscience.  They will blaspheme, and deny it.  But the truth is they will have to stand before Him and give an answer.  There is no escaping His authority.

Hebrews 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

2 Peter 2:9  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Romans 14:11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

It is a far better thing to go ahead and bow now, get saved, and receive His blessings, than to reject Him and still bow in the end.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

See more posts about Jesus in the Old Testament