Joseph – Wise, Caring And Trustworthy | Grace & Truth, Inc

Feature 1 –September 2016 — Grace & Truth Magazine

JOSEPH
Wise, Caring And Trustworthy

The story of Joseph cannot help but touch us, drawing us to the Lord Jesus. In the following pages we intend to highlight a few striking points about Joseph and his life.

The birth of Joseph, the first son of Jacob’s favored wife, Rachel, brought a turning point in Jacob’s life. It was then that he told his father-in-law, Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my country” (Gen. 30:25 NKJV). Let’s apply this point to ourselves: When the Lord Jesus comes into our lives – the moment we are born again (Jn. 3:6) – the desire arises to identify with His people. It is God’s desire that the Lord Jesus would become greater in our lives and that we would be interested in His people, both the heavenly (the Church) and the earthly (Israel).

Joseph’s name means “Let him add” or “Jehovah will add.” There would be another son, Benjamin, and he cannot be separated from his brother Joseph. Both are part of God’s plans for Israel (Gen. 49:22-27).

Separated
Even though his half-brothers hated him, Joseph loved them. Together, they took care of their father’s flock. It was love for his brothers that made Joseph report their sins to his father (37:2). This same love also led him to seek and find them (vv.14-17). All the while, Joseph was in a sense separated from them (49:26), for he had no part in their sinful acts.

Joseph had told his brothers about the dreams God gave him, which resulted in hatred and jealousy on their part to such an extent that they conspired to kill him (37:18). Having, in love, pursued the mission his father sent him on, “I am seeking my brothers” (v.16), Joseph was stripped of his beautiful garment and thrown into a pit (v.24). This situation is a touching picture of our Lord Jesus and how His earthly people treated Him, as described in the Gospels.

While there are many similarities between Joseph and Jesus, there are contrasts as well. The pit, mentioned seven times in Genesis 37, was empty. But this was not the case for the Lord Jesus (Ps. 40:2, 88:4-6).

Later, Joseph’s separation was further demonstrated. Judah let himself go into sin (Gen. 38), but Joseph, when severely tried, fled the temptation (Gen. 39). However, no one equals the Lord Jesus, who knew no sin, committed no sin, and in whom was no sin. Nevertheless, Joseph is a remarkable type of Christ in other ways too.

Faithful
Sold by his brothers into slavery at age 17 and taken far away from home to a strange country, Joseph remained faithful to God. Joseph served Him faithfully, knowing His presence and using His help to be successful (39:2). When his master, Potiphar, realized that Joseph served well and that the LORD made all that Joseph did to prosper (v.3), he placed everything into his hand. The LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house and field for Joseph’s sake (v.5). This reminds us of what God told Abram, “I will bless those who bless you” (12:3).

When things seemed to be going well, the LORD allowed a serious test for the young man Joseph: His master’s wife wanted to have physical relations with him. She insisted day after day that he satisfy her immoral desires. Joseph, however, looking at this from God’s perspective and with respect for his master told her, “How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Yet she kept pushing him until one fateful day. When no one else was in the house she tried forcing Joseph to sin with her. He saved himself from sin by fleeing from her presence, but in his hurry to get out he left his outer garment behind. This woman used Joseph’s garment to falsely accuse him, and it left his boss with no other option than to throw him in prison (39:7-18) even though he likely realized that Joseph was innocent.

Joseph had passed this difficult test, yet he was falsely accused and found himself in prison. But the LORD, who knows everything, had mercy on him and gave him favor in the eyes of the jailor, who placed the care of the prisoners into Joseph’s hands. The LORD was still with Joseph and He made everything Joseph did to prosper (vv.19-23). These things remind us of the Lord Jesus, of whom we read that God was with Him during His earthly ministry (Acts 10:38) even though falsely accused.

Determined
After some time, possibly a few years, of faithful service in the prison, Joseph was entrusted with the task of serving two high-ranking prisoners – some of Pharaoh’s personal servants (Gen. 40:1-4). This gave Joseph the opportunity to interpret two dreams these men had, using the gift God had given to him while giving to God all credit (vv.5-19). On the third day, the interpretations Joseph gave were fulfilled exactly as he had said (vv.20-21).

Yet God allowed another test for Joseph. He had asked the cup-bearer to remember him, but he was forgotten (vv.14-15,23). This must have reminded Joseph of the dreams he had told his brothers at least ten years earlier, through which Joseph knew that God had a plan for him. Joseph waited in prison “until the time that His word came to pass [a period longer than Joseph anticipated] the word of the LORD tested him” (Ps. 105:19). This means that the Spirit worked in Joseph through what he knew of God’s word and revelations, along with this time of testing, to have a purifying effect.

We should note that such testing implies a work of the Refiner of gold or silver: the LORD Himself (Mal. 3:2-3). God applies the same standard to His Word, which He describes as silver purified seven times (Ps. 12:6). He also applies it to His way: “His way is blameless” (2 Sam. 22:31). This consideration must have brought comfort to Joseph as it does to believers today when passing through trials that God allows. The LORD helped Joseph to endure the testing (Jas. 1:12) – not to give up or despair, but to be exercised through this process (Heb. 12:5-12). His determination to trust God and continue with Him helped Joseph to persevere for two more years.

This faithful man’s resolve was finally rewarded when Pharaoh had two dreams, and none was able to interpret them. It was then that the cupbearer remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh about the Hebrew servant of the captain of the guard (Gen. 41:1-13). Joseph was called and brought with haste out of the prison dungeon; he shaved himself, changed his garments and appeared before Pharaoh. Just as he had said years earlier to the high-ranking officers, namely that God gives interpretations of the dreams He has given, so Joseph confirmed this to Pharaoh (v.16).

All through Scripture we learn that God’s servants relied on Him and not on their own intelligence (consider Proverbs 3:5). When we rely on self, our own position, knowledge or honor, we will lose the help that comes from above. When cultivating our dependence on God and our relationship with Him, He will help us as Joseph experienced and as the apostle Paul testified much later (Acts 26:22).

Marked By The Wisdom From Above
Using his God-given abilities, Joseph was able to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams, which his wise men had not been able to do (Gen. 41:1-32). We also see wisdom in the counsel Joseph gave afterwards (vv.33-36). Pharaoh and his servants were so impressed by the wisdom God had given to Joseph (vv.37-39) that the ruler set him over the whole land of Egypt (v.41), calling his name Zaphnath-Paaneah, meaning “revealer of secrets” (v.45). In his new position of authority, Joseph’s wisdom as administrator was clearly displayed (vv.46-49; see also Genesis 47).

Furthermore, this wisdom was seen when his brothers came to Egypt after two years of famine, 22 years after he saw them last. Joseph dealt with them harshly, not for vengeance, but using his wisdom so God could produce repentance in his brothers, as initially was the case (42:21-23). More evidences of repentance followed later.

The wisdom that comes from above (Jas. 3:13,17-18) is also seen in the way Joseph led his brothers to bring Benjamin along so he could test them to see how they felt about their father and their youngest brother. Through Joseph’s wise actions it became clear that, indeed, a work of God was taking place in his brothers. At that time they did in fact care for their father, to whom they had lied in the past when he had lost his beloved son. Additionally, they were concerned for their brother Benjamin, unlike the time when they were indifferent to Joseph’s sorrow. The climax came when Joseph’s golden cup* was found in Benjamin’s bag. This situation led Judah to become his brothers’ advocate and to defend his brother Benjamin and his father’s cause. It was the same Judah who many years earlier had suggested selling his brother Joseph (Gen. 37:26).

Such a profound change in attitude in all his brothers led Joseph to reveal himself to them and to explain how God had been in control all the way, giving Joseph a position of leadership over the land of Egypt (Gen. 45:1-8). Later, God’s wisdom is seen in Joseph’s care of his father and of the whole family, settling them in the land of Goshen. After his father’s passing away, Joseph reiterated the point that, after all, it was God who had been taking care of them (Gen. 50:20-21). Wisdom is seen in the way Joseph comforted his brothers after their father died and had been buried, and it is evident in his instructions concerning the future exodus from Egypt (vv. 24-25).

What an example, what lessons for us!

ENDNOTE
* This does not mean that Joseph actually used divination, but his cup (Gen. 44:5) was linked with his official position over Pharaoh’s house. Compare this with Daniel who was placed over the wise men in Babylon (Dan. 2:48), which does not mean that Daniel actually used their methods of divination, just as Joseph did not practice the Egyptian rituals, or as Moses did not do later in a position of authority when having access to all the treasures of Egypt.

By Alfred Bouter

Prophetic Aspects Of Joseph’s Garments
.

The special coat received from his father that caused his brothers to hate him in envy. The beautiful testimony the Lord Jesus received from God the Father, “You are My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Mk. 1:11). The special coat, violently taken away (Gen. 37:23) and sent back to his father, dipped in blood. The Lord Jesus being executed and pierced, rejected by His own people. Joseph’s servant’s garment taken away through false accusations. Jesus was falsely accused before Pilate (Mt. 27:28) and His garment was taken away. When called to appear before Pharaoh, Joseph’s prison garments were changed. The Lord in resurrection. Joseph was clothed in clothes of byssus or fine linen (Gen. 41:42). “We see Jesus crowned with glory and honor” (Heb. 2:9). Joseph’s special garment as vice-regent. Jesus’ public manifestation in glory. The special coat received from his father that caused his brothers to hate him in envy. The beautiful testimony the Lord Jesus received from God the Father, “You are My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Mk. 1:11). The special coat, violently taken away (Gen. 37:23) and sent back to his father, dipped in blood. The Lord Jesus being executed and pierced, rejected by His own people. Joseph’s servant’s garment taken away through false accusations. Jesus was falsely accused before Pilate (Mt. 27:28) and His garment was taken away. When called to appear before Pharaoh, Joseph’s prison garments were changed. The Lord in resurrection. Joseph was clothed in clothes of byssus or fine linen (Gen. 41:42). “We see Jesus crowned with glory and honor” (Heb. 2:9). Joseph’s special garment as vice-regent. Jesus’ public manifestation in glory.

The special coat, violently taken away (Gen. 37:23) and sent back to his father, dipped in blood. The Lord Jesus being executed and pierced, rejected by His own people.

Joseph’s servant’s garment taken away through false accusations. Jesus was falsely accused before Pilate (Mt. 27:28) and His garment was taken away.

When called to appear before Pharaoh, Joseph’s prison garments were changed. The Lord in resurrection.

Joseph was clothed in clothes of byssus or fine linen (Gen. 41:42). “We see Jesus crowned with glory and honor” (Heb. 2:9).

Joseph’s special garment as vice-regent. Jesus’ public manifestation in glory.