The Saviour Of The World

by R. Armstrong, London, Ontario, Canada | Category: Christ In Type And Shadow | Dec 1989

These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren ... and Joseph brought the evil report of them unto their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age ... and his brethren... hated him (Gen. 37:2-4).

There was a because in Jacob's affection for Joseph. Parents often live with the results of family favouritism.

Prophetic Indications

Jacob's doting over Joseph brought years of hatred in his family. High above this the eternal God was working out His own purpose. Long grieving years passed and another Child was born, and a Son given, "Wonderful, Counsellor ... Prince of Peace" (Is. 9:6). Of Him it was written centuries before His birth in the land of the people He came to save and bless:

They that hate Me without a cause are more than the hairs of Mine head ... I am become a stranger unto My brethren, and an alien unto My mother's children (Ps. 69:4,8).

Far above the smouldering fires of hatred in Joseph's brothers, God was working out His sovereign plan in preparing both the haters and the bated for a rendezvous with an impending national crisis. Joseph's two prophetic dreams intensified the hatred and brought a rebuke from his father (Gen. 37:5-10).

Destined to Suffer

Joseph's jealous brothers went away to feed their father's flock at Shechem (Gen. 37:12). As days ended and lamps flickered when the evening shadows fell across their tents they would talk about Joseph. Insane jealousy gripped them: "Jealousy is cruel as the grave: the flashes thereof are flashes of fire" (S of S. 8:6).

Those enslaved by that blinding passion run close to the thin edge of murder. The hated brother would one day be their saviour. Also redemptively, God had made a divine choice of Israel to carry the holy seed of One greater than Joseph across the centuries, the Saviour of the world.

"God ... preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all the nations be blessed ... and to his Seed ... not ... to seeds ... as of many; but as of One ... which is Christ" (Gal. 3:8.16).

News reached Jacob that Joseph was missing and presumed dead.

Later, a bloodstained coat, a wicked lie; ten callous sons watched the agony of their grief-stricken father. Joseph is torn in pieces (Gen. 37:31-35). A silent heaven watched. Divine sovereignty withheld justice. God was not finished with the brothers. At the pit we get the real story. "Behold, this dreamer cometh ... let us slay him". The conspiracy rages ... "Let us not kill him", Reuben pleaded. Judah agreed, and the fabricated death story was hatched (Gen. 37:19-26). Centuries later John wrote about the Lord Jesus: "He was in the world ... the world knew Him not... He came unto His own ... His own received Him not" (John 1:10,11).

God watched such cruelty fall on Joseph as with unerring hand He guided the foreshadowings of the Old Testament to reveal eternal grace in sending His Saviour Son. "Where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly" (Rom. 5:20).

Joseph's brothers sold him to travelling merchants for twenty pieces of silver. The price of a young slave. Some day Joseph would know why. Centuries later Judas Iscariot betrayed the Lord Jesus to the chief priests. "What are ye willing to give me? and they weighed unto him thirty pieces of silver" (Mat. 26:15). It was the gain of eternal torment for Judas as he rushed to a madman's death at the end of a dangling rope.

Down to Egypt Joseph must go. We wonder what his thoughts were as he pled for mercy (Gen. 42:21). Your greater Lord will suffer too, Joseph,

and much more than you. Of Him it was written: "He was despised, and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Is. 53:3).

Potiphar, Egypt's captain of the guard, took Joseph for a servant. Rapid promotion followed. "His master saw that the Lord was with him and all that he had he put into his hand" (Gen. 39:3,4).

Alone in the house one day, Satan attacked him through the seductive charms of Potiphar's wife. Day after day the man of steel resisted her advances. She made an unsuccessful attempt to force him. Foiled, she held his garment as mock evidence of attempted rape and had Joseph imprisoned with other prisoners. God's young servant, unknowingly, had forged yet another link in the long history of foreshadowings of Christ. Of Him we read that He was "in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Heb. 4:15). Bible types fall short of the Antitype. Joseph was not sinless, he could have sinned when tempted, but did not. The Lord Jesus was sinless: "In Him is no sin (1 John 3:5);... who knew no sin" (2 Cor. 5:21);.. who did no sin" (1 Pet. 2:22). The imprisoned Joseph was unaware that God was tempering him in the furnace of affliction for days of exaltation ahead.

Touch not Mine anointed ... He called for a famine ... He sent a man ... even Joseph ... whose feet they hurt with fetters ... until the time that His word came: the word of the LORD tried him (Ps. 105: 15-19 AV).

Centuries later Israel's bloodthirsty sons shouted across Pilate's hall: "Crucify Him ... His blood be on us, and on our children" (Luke 23:21; Mat. 27:25). Their voices prevailed and iron fastened Christ to the tree at Calvary, and a ghastly deed was done! The emaciated body of the Messiah testified so poignantly that they hated Him without a cause.

Impending World Food Crisis

In prison, Joseph interpreted the dreams of the king's two prisoners, resulting in one, a royal butler, being pardoned. He forgot his promise to remember Joseph, who had to spend two more years in prison. Pharaoh also dreamed, about seven fat cattle eaten by seven thin cattle. Then another dream in which seven good ears of corn were devoured by seven thin blasted ears of corn. Pharaoh awoke, mystified. Royal magicians failed to unravel the dreams. A flash of memory and the butler remembered Joseph, who had solved his dreams. The young Hebrew is your man, Pharaoh. At last Joseph leaves the prison for the royal court where he unfolds the future: a world famine that could kill millions. Joseph was suddenly in the limelight, but gave God all the glory for the revelation. "God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace" (Gen. 41:16).

Joseph's master plan for the conservation of bumper crops for famine years ahead was all of God. Incredibly, a pagan king as though by divine

revelation addressed his staff: "Can we find such a one... a man in whom the Spirit of God is?" Then to Joseph:

"Forasmuch as God bath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou" (Gen. 41:38,39).

Our Lord Jesus Christ in His lowly servant years was "full of the Holy Spirit" (Luke 4:1). Also in His Deity He is "the mystery of God, even Christ, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden" (Col. 2:3).

The royal proclamation rings out over Egypt about Joseph. "According unto thy word shall all my people be ruled". The investiture, the robe and ring, the gold chain, "bow the knee", ruler over all the land of Egypt, all belong to Joseph (Gen. 41:40-43). If only his brothers and his grief-stricken father could see him now! What precious meditations of our beloved Lord spring to the mind:

He humbled Himself... became obedient unto death... God also hath highly exalted Him, and given unto Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow ... and ... every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:8-11 AV).

Gentile Bride

Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah, the saviour of the world, and gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potiphera priest of On (Gen. 41:45). Quickly our minds go to the great Antitype Redeemer, Lord of

all, "Ruler of the kings of the earth" (Rev. 1:5), who came to redeem from sin's bondage His glorious church, mainly Gentile, His bride resplendent in His glory will be with Him for ever. "For He must reign" (1 Cor. 15:25).

World Food Controller

Famine grips the earth. Joseph's brothers go to Egypt to buy corn. Joseph saw them in the crowd and spoke roughly to them, called them spies, asked about their family. "Bring your youngest brother unto me" (Gen. 42:20). The man seemed to look right through them. Guilt set in. There were skeletons in the closet. "We are verily guilty" (Gen. 42:21). Unknown to them Joseph understood every word they said as their past came surging back to accuse. The die was cast. Go to Joseph for corn, or die. A second long trek to Egypt again brought them face to face with Joseph and their guilt. Joseph saw Benjamin his brother and sought where to weep. Preparations to return north with their load were rudely interrupted by the shock of finding Joseph's silver cup in Benjamin's sack. Back to face Joseph's searching questions: "What deed is this that ye have done? know ye not that such a man as I can indeed divine?" (Gen. 44:15). As deep guilt swept over them Judah spoke. "How shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants" (Gen. 44:16). How searching for each of us in our relationship with the Lord Jesus. "Be sure your sin will find you

out" (Num. 32:23). Then came Judah's impassioned pleading not to leave Benjamin behind. It will "bring down our father with sorrow to the grave" (Gen. 44:31). "Joseph could not refrain himself ... he wept aloud the house of Pharaoh heard ... I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? Come near to me ... be not grieved... God did send me before you to preserve life" (Gen. 45:1-7 AV). What deeply moving scenes. Joseph "kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them" (Gen. 45:15). His heart was bigger than theirs. Forgiveness and reconciliation are sweet.

Israel's Messiah Revealed

Another day is coming when Israel's persecuted remnant will fly to the safety of Edom, away to the east of Jerusalem from the fury of the antichrist (Rev. 12:5,13,14). After Armageddon the Lord whom they crucified will meet them: "Who is this that cometh from Edom with dyed garments from Bozrah... glorious in His apparel... travelling in the greatness of His strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save" (Is. 63:1 AV).

So deeply moved and convicted of the sin of crucifying their Messiah will they be that every family will mourn apart (Zech. 12:12-14). Then the saved and forgiven remnant of Israel will enter the glorious kingdom age of their Lord and King Messiah. We too who know and love Him will share in that glorious reign. And Joseph will be there too.

R. Armstrong, London, Ontario, Canada | Dec 1989
Christ In Type And Shadow