By W. H. Griffith Thomas
Joseph a Type of Christ
IN addition to the lessons from Joseph as a historical person which are so clear that he who runs may read, there are other points of profound interest and importance in which his life has some very striking and remarkable points of comparison and contrast with that of our Lord. It is perhaps too much to say that we have in this the element of prediction, because there does not seem to be a single reference in the New Testament to the typical nature of Joseph’s life, and yet it is impossible to avoid seeing the close, prolonged, and striking resemblances between Joseph and Christ. It is not mere ingenuity that endeavors to see in the story of the outstanding events in the life of the Other. While we are careful not to proceed to fanciful extremes, it is not only legitimate but in every way spiritually profitable to ponder the life of Joseph in the light of the history of our blessed Lord (see Candlish, Genesis, vol. ii. 138-146). I. Joseph and His Father. Joseph was the beloved son of his aged father Jacob, and those early dreams clearly indicate that he was the subject of high destinies. There was to be in some way or other a remarkable future for this beloved son. In like manner our Lord Jesus Christ was the Only Begotten of the Father. "Thou art my Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased." He too was appointed heir of all things, and the destinies of the world were linked with Him. II. Joseph and His Brethren. We notice three points in the story in this connection. (1) He was sent to inquire after his brethren’s well-being. (2) His brethren were envious of him, being altogether out of sympathy with their FATHER’S love and purposes concerning him. (3) Joseph, however, maintained his faithfulness, not abating his testimony, but speaking frankly and fully that which he believed to be right. He might have been spared the pit had he been willing to yield to his brothers wishes. In all this we cannot help seeing the Lord Jesus and His brethren. (1) Was He not sent by His Father? (2) Were not His brethren envious of Him, being altogether opposed to the Divine purpose as expressed in Jesus Christ? (3) Did He not, however, abide faithful, bearing testimony with dauntless courage, telling both high and low of their sin in the sight of God? He might have spared Himself the Cross had He been willing to abate His testimony and keep silence in the face of opposition. III. Joseph’s Rejection. Once again we notice the story for its typical lessons. (1) His brethren conspired against him, "Come let us kill him." (2) He was betrayed by his brethren. (3) He was sold by his brethren for money. When we turn to the pages of the New Testament we are struck with the almost literal agreement with these events in the life of our Lord. When they saw him, they said, "This is the heir, let us kill him." "He came unto His own and His own received Him not." Our Lord, too, was betrayed and sold by His brethren into the hands of the Gentiles. Just as the sight of Joseph brought out all that was latent in the anger and animosity of the brethren, so Christ by His life and teaching brought out all that was evil in the human heart, so that they no longer had any cloak for their sins (Joh 15:22). IV. Joseph’s Humiliation. Once again let us trace the story of the Hebrew lad. (1) He became a servant and entered into the degradation of slavery. (2) He was sorely tempted and yet sinned not. (3) He was alone in the dungeon through no fault or sin of his own. (4) He won the respect of his jailer and was entrusted with responsible service. (5) He was the means of blessing to the butler and the messenger of judgment to the baker. Again we are impressed and even awed by the striking agreement point by point with our Lord’s earthly history. He took upon Him the form of a servant. He was tempted in all points like as we are, without sin. He was alone, forsaken of God and man, and yet on the Cross He called forth the admiration of the centurion, was the means of blessing to the penitent robber, and the occasion of judgment to the impenitent one. Surely in all this we may find food for prayerful meditation and whole-hearted adoration. V. Joseph’s Exaltation. As Joseph stood before Pharaoh we notice that his exaltation accomplished three ends. (1) It revealed God’s purposes for Egypt. (2) It manifested God’s righteousness in bringing him out of prison. (3) It established Joseph’s position as next to Pharaoh. When our Lord was raised from the dead He was exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour. God raised Him and gave Him glory. He was declared to be the Son of God with power. God set Him at His own right hand, exalted Him, and put all things under His feet until that day when the Son shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God the Father and God shall be all in all. VI. Joseph’s Marriage. We notice that this marriage was appointed by Pharaoh, and in the New Testament we read of a certain King that made a marriage for His Son. We are also told of the Church which is at once the Body and the Bride of Christ, the figure of the Body suggesting the union of life, the figure of the Bride the union of love. In the case of Joseph the bride was a stranger to him, and the Bride of Christ consists of those who were once estranged and alienated by wicked works, and are now reconciled to God by the death of His Son. Joseph’s bride shared his glory; all the nearness and intimacy of true wedded life belonged to her. His position gave her her position; she was what she was because she was his wife. So is it with the Bride of Christ. As He is so are we in this world. The Church is to share His glory. Not only are we crucified together, we are raised together, and even now seated together, and by and by shall reign together with Him in glory. VII. Joseph’s Office. Why was Joseph exalted? What was the purpose of it? It was not for his own sake, but that he might become the channel of blessing to the whole world. So also our Lord was exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance and remission of sins (Act 4:31). The work of Joseph’s life was to provide food for the people. During the famine it was to him that they turned, and from him they received all that they needed. By some authorities his Egyptian name Zaphnath-paaneah is interpreted to mean the bread of life, but whether this be the case or not he certainly was the bread of life to the people. Our Lord came as the Bread of Life. "I am come that they might have life." There is, however, one significant difference between the type and the ante-type. The people came to Joseph to buy bread, but we come to Christ without money and without price (Isa 65:1). The order of Joseph’s work is very striking. He provided first for the Gentiles as represented by Egypt, then he provided for his brethren, and subsequently all nations came to Egypt to buy corn. May we not see in this some slight adumbration of the order of our Lord’s spiritual work in the accomplishment of God’s purposes? His Church to-day is mainly composed of Gentiles, those who are willing to receive Him, but the day is coming when He will reveal Himself to His brethren the Jews, "and they will look upon Him Whom they pierced," and be reconciled to Him with tears of repentance. Then will come, and only then, the blessing to the whole world, and the reign and rule of Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. There was one sole condition of blessing during the years of famine. That was unconditional submission to Joseph. He was their saviour because he was their master. They trusted him wholly, and their trust was justified by the marvellous and perfect provision that he made for all their needs. This is the one and only requirement in things spiritual. Unconditional surrender, unquestioning submission, unwavering trust. When this attitude is taken up and maintained our spiritual needs are all provided for, our wants met, our desires satisfied, our lives protected, our hopes realized. Christ is only truly our Saviour in proportion as He is our Lord. Whenever people came to Pharaoh he had one word and one word only for them: Go unto Joseph, and what he saith to you, do. So is it to-day. In view of all our needs, sins, sorrows, weaknesses, failures, fears, one word suffices for them all: "Whatever He saith unto you, do it." |
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