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| Joseph Ruler of Egypt |
Birth
Joseph’s birth had a supernatural element to it, in that God opened the barren womb of Rachel. “Then God remembered Rachel, and God gave heed to her and opened her womb. So she conceived and bore a son and said, ‘God has taken away my reproach.’" (Genesis 30:22-23).
Likewise, Jesus’ birth was also miraculous in that God overshadowed Mary with the Holy Spirit while she was still a virgin and caused her to conceive Jesus in her womb apart from any union with her husband Joseph. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:18).
Persecuted
Joseph's brothers hated him, which the Lord taught us is the same as murder (Mt 5:21-22). So when they wanted to kill him but then decided to throw him into the pit, that was essentially murder, which is a type of what they did to Christ. Likewise, Jesus was persecuted by His own brothers, as well as the scribes, Pharisees, and elders (Mt 26-27). "For even his own brothers did not believe in him." (Jn 7:5, NIV).
Joseph's brothers persecuted him because they were jealous of him, just as the religious leaders were jealous of Jesus and crucified Him. Scripture says, "Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt." (Ac 7:9a, NIV). And again, "[Pilate]...knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him." (Mt 27:18, BSB).
Joseph was put in prison. “So Joseph's master took him and put him into the jail, the place where the king's prisoners were confined; and he was there in the jail.” (Gen 39:20). Likewise, Jesus was arrested and bound. “So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him...” (John 18:12)
They tried to stop Joseph from fulfilling his calling. “When they saw him from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death. They said to one another, ‘Here comes this dreamer! Now then, come and let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say, “A wild beast devoured him.” Then let us see what will become of his dreams!’” (Gen 37:18-20). Likewise, they tried to stop Jesus from fulfilling His calling as Messiah. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him." (Mt 27:42, NIV).
Joseph was sold into Egypt. “Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt.” (Gen 37:28). Likewise, Jesus went to Egypt, when Joseph fled there with Him and Mary to escape from King Herod. “So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt.” (Mat 2:14).
Sun, Moon and Stars Bowed Down to Him
Joseph had a dream about his parents and brothers bowing down to him. “Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, ‘Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.’” (Gen 37:9). In the case of Jesus, the sun, moon, and stars actually do worship Him. “Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light!” (Psalm 148:3)
Moreover, in the end, Joseph’s brothers did come and bow before him. “Now Joseph was the ruler over the land; he was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.” (Gen 42:6). Likewise, Jesus' brothers eventually did believe in Him and worship Him. Here is how James and Jude identified themselves in their epistles once they came to believe in Him:
“James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jas 1:1)
“Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James…to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:1, 25)
Consider Jacob’s attitude toward Joseph when he had his dreams. “[Joseph] related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, ‘What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?’ His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.” (Gen 37:10-11). Likewise, after Jesus' parents found Him in the temple, and He asked them why they didn't realize He had to be in His Father's house, Mary treasured these things in her heart. “And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.” (Luke 2:51)
The Blood
The male goat's blood on Joseph’s garment was a type of Christ’s blood. “So they took Joseph's tunic, and slaughtered a male goat and dipped the tunic in the blood;” (Gen 37:31). That goat had to shed its blood and die for their sin. Likewise, Jesus had to shed His blood and die for our sin: "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith." (Ro 3:25a, NIV).
Ruler of All
Joseph ended up being ruler of all Egypt under Pharaoh, so he was exalted to Pharaoh’s right hand. "But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace." (Ac 7:9b-10, NIV)
Likewise, Jesus is now King of all kings ruling as Lord of all under the Father. He is exalted to the Father’s right hand. “And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’” (Rev 19:16). Elsewhere it says, "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.” (Acts 2:33). And again, “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name...” (Phil 2:9)
Savior
What Joseph’s brother’s meant for evil, God meant for good for the saving of many lives. “But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.’” (Gen 50:19-20)
Likewise, what they meant for evil when they crucified Jesus, God meant for good for the saving of many souls. "Everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (Jn 3:15-16, NIV).
Joseph saved Egypt from perishing in famine, but he also saved Gentiles from other nations that came to buy grain:
“God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.” (Gen 45:7)
“The people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the earth.” (Gen 41:57)
And of course, he saved the Hebrews from perishing, as it says in Scripture: “So the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who were coming, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also.” (Gen 42:5)
Likewise, Jesus is the Savior of all, both Jews and Gentiles. “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for ‘whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” (Rom 10:12-13)
Forgiveness
Joseph forgave his brothers. Jacob told Joseph's brothers what to say to him:
“‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.” And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.’ And Joseph wept when they spoke to him...Joseph said to them, 'Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?'...And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them." (Gen 50:17, 19a, 21, NIV).
Likewise, Jesus forgave those who crucified Him, and He forgives all who repent and believe in Him. “But Jesus was saying, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’” (Luke 23:34)
“Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:46-48)
Temptation
Joseph was tempted by Potiphar’s wife, who tried to seduce him into committing adultery. However, he did not sin, but maintained his integrity. “But he refused and said to his master's wife, ‘Behold, with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my charge. There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?"’ (Genesis 39:8-9). It was not just once that she tried to seduce Joseph but repeatedly. "And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her." (Ge 39:10, NIV).
Jesus was tempted by satan again and again, but He did not sin (Mt 4:1-11). “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15).
Falsely Accused
Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife. “Then she spoke to him with these words, ‘The Hebrew slave, whom you brought to us, came in to me to make sport of me; and as I raised my voice and screamed, he left his garment beside me and fled outside.’” (Genesis 39:17-18)
Likewise, Jesus was falsely accused. “And they began to accuse Him, saying, ‘We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.’” (Luke 23:2)
Betrayal
The betrayal of Joseph by his own brothers for twenty pieces of silver was also a type of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas, one of His own Twelve disciples, for thirty pieces of silver. “Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt.” (Genesis 37:28)
Judas treated Jesus similarly: “Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?’ And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him.” (Matthew 26:14-15)
Resurrection
Jacob thought Joseph was dead all those years when he was in Egypt, and all his brothers even said to Joseph that one of their brothers (Joseph) was dead: “'We said to my lord, “We have an old father and a little child of his old age. Now his brother is dead, so he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him.”’” (Genesis 44:20).
But then they discovered he was actually alive and Jacob rejoiced. “They told him, saying, ‘Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.’ But he was stunned, for he did not believe them.” (Genesis 45:26).
This is a type of Christ’s death and resurrection on the third day. After Jesus died on the cross, "The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it." (Lk 23:55, NIV). And the two disciples met by Jesus on the Road to Emmaus mourned His death saying, "The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him." (Lk 24:20, NIV).
But then the angels met the women at the empty tomb saying, “'He has risen!'...When [the women] came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others....But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.” (Luke 24:9,11)
Concealed Identity
Joseph initially concealed his identity from his brothers when they came to him in Egypt. But later he revealed his identity to them. “Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?’ But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.” (Genesis 45:3). And "On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family." (Ac 7:13, NIV)
Jesus initially concealed his identity from his disciples after His resurrection like Mary who thought He was the gardener, and the two on the road to Emmaus, whom He initially kept from recognizing Him by appearing in a different form, and then later opening their eyes to recognize Him.
“Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, ‘Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.’” (John 20:15).
“While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him...Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.” (Luke 24:15-16, 31)
Closing Words
In our study of Joseph as a type of Christ, we have seen the parallels between their lives in so many uncanny ways. They were both born miraculously, definitely called by God, tempted yet maintained their integrity, hated, and persecuted by those who were jealous of them and who tried to thwart them from fulfilling their divine callings. They were both taken down to Egypt, betrayed by someone close to them, and falsely accused. The blood of the goat that they put on Joseph's garment was a type of Jesus' blood shed for sinners. What others meant for evil for these two men, God meant for the saving of many lives.
They both became rulers of all, forgave those who persecuted and sought to kill them, concealed their identity from others before ultimately revealing themselves to them. And even finding Joseph still alive as ruler of all Egypt was a type of Christ's resurrection as King of kings and Lord of lords. Just as Joseph's own brothers didn't believe in him, but later came and bowed at his feet, so also Jesus' brothers didn't even believe in Him, but later served Him and worshiped Him as their Lord and Savior. Just as Joseph saw the sun, moon, and stars bowing down to him in a dream, the sun, moon, and stars also praise the Lord Jesus Christ.
Studying types of Christ like this can help us grow in our love and knowledge of the Lord. I trust this has helped to accomplish that very goal in your life as you have read this article. I hope you will come back again later to enjoy more articles on the types in the Bible.
Attribution notice: Most Scriptures where noted taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, used by permission. Other Scripture quotations taken from the NASB, copyright Lockman Foundation, used by permission. Image may be subject to copyright, used per Fair Use Act for commentary and educational purposes only.
Author's note: Also see Adam as a Type of Christ, Isaac as a Type of Christ, Noah's Ark a Type of Christ, The Temple as a Type of Christ, The Passover Lamb as a Type of Christ, and Hagar and Sarah as Types. You can access the Main Directory for Biblical Typology, or my complete blog directory at Writing for the Master. Now I'd like to ask a very important question.
Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus. Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15). He preached that we must repent and believe.
Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International. He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.
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