Joseph as a Type of Christ in Genesis 41
Wednesday March 7, 2007
Genesis: Joseph as a Type of Christ in Genesis 41
Tape # 292
Please turn in your Bibles to Genesis 41:1.
This past Sunday, we completed a study of Genesis 45:1-15 and left off with Joseph reconciling with his brothers.
As I noted on Tuesday, before we complete our study of Genesis 45, I thought it would be instructive to study this week the various ways in which Joseph is a type of Christ in Genesis 40-45.
In this study, we will see that many of the events that took place in Joseph’s life that we studied in Genesis 40-45 “foreshadow” or “parallel” the events that took place in the life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
On Tuesday we looked at the various ways that Joseph typifies our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Genesis 40.
This evening we will look at the many ways the events in Joseph’s life that are recorded in Genesis 41 typify our Lord and Savior.
“Typology” is from the Greek word for form or pattern, which is tupos (tuvpo$) and in biblical times denoted both the original model or prototype and the copy that resulted.
Biblical typology involves an analogical correspondence in which earlier events, persons, and places in salvation history become patterns by which later events and the like are interpreted.
A type is a specific parallel between two historical entities.
A type is designed to teach us a lesson about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, we will see in this evening’s study that the historical personage of Joseph “parallels” the historical personage of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Also, many of the historical events in the life of Joseph that are recorded in Genesis 40-45 “parallel” many of the historical events in the life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The fact that the events in the life of Joseph that are recorded in Genesis 40-45 typified the many of the events in the life of Christ and that Joseph himself is a type of Christ does “not” mean that Joseph is equal to the Lord but rather that Joseph and the events in his life foreshadow the Lord and the events in His life.
Genesis 41:1, “Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream, and behold, he was standing by the Nile.”
Genesis 41:2, “And lo, from the Nile there came up seven cows, sleek and fat; and they grazed in the marsh grass.”
Genesis 41:3, “Then behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, ugly and gaunt, and they stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile.”
Genesis 41:4, “The ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. Then Pharaoh awoke.”
Genesis 41:5, “He fell asleep and dreamed a second time; and behold, seven ears of grain came up on a single stalk, plump and good.”
Genesis 41:6, “Then behold, seven ears, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them.”
Genesis 41:7, “The thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.”
Genesis 41:8, “Now in the morning his spirit was troubled, so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.”
Genesis 41:9, “Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, ‘I would make mention today of my own offenses.’”
Genesis 41:10, “Pharaoh was furious with his servants, and he put me in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, both me and the chief baker.”
Genesis 41:11, “We had a dream on the same night, he and I; each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream.”
Genesis 41:12, “Now a Hebrew youth was with us there, a servant of the captain of the bodyguard, and we related them to him, and he interpreted our dreams for us. To each one he interpreted according to his own dream.”
Genesis 41:13, “And just as he interpreted for us, so it happened; he restored me in my office, but he hanged him.”
Genesis 41:14, “Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came to Pharaoh.”
Joseph’s release from prison typifies our Lord in resurrection who like Joseph was mistreated by His brethren (the Jews) and crucified by the Gentiles but was raised by God from the dead (See Acts 2:24-32; 10:40).
John 20:1, “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.”
John 20:2, “So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.’”
John 20:3, “So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb.”
John 20:4-5, “The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in.”
John 20:6-7, “And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.”
John 20:8, “So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed.”
John 20:9, “For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.”
Genesis 41:15, “Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I have had a dream, but no one can interpret it; and I have heard it said about you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.’”
Genesis 41:16, “Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, ‘It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.’”
Joseph is viewed by Pharaoh as a revealer of secrets, which typifies the Lord Jesus Christ who revealed the secrets counsels of God (See John 8:28; 17:1-8).
Colossians 2:3, “in whom (Jesus Christ) are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Genesis 41:17-18, “So Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, ‘In my dream, behold, I was standing on the bank of the Nile and behold, seven cows, fat and sleek came up out of the Nile, and they grazed in the marsh grass.’”
Genesis 41:19-20, “Lo, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such as I had never seen for ugliness in all the land of Egypt and the lean and ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows.”
Genesis 41:21, “Yet when they had devoured them, it could not be detected that they had devoured them, for they were just as ugly as before. Then I awoke.”
Genesis 41:22-24, “I saw also in my dream, and behold, seven ears, full and good, came up on a single stalk and lo, seven ears, withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them and the thin ears swallowed the seven good ears. Then I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”
Genesis 41:25, “Now Joseph said to Pharaoh, ‘Pharaoh's dreams are one and the same; God has told to Pharaoh what He is about to do.’”
Genesis 41:26, “The seven good cows are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one and the same.”
Genesis 41:27, “The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven thin ears scorched by the east wind will be seven years of famine.”
Genesis 41:28, “It is as I have spoken to Pharaoh: God has shown to Pharaoh what He is about to do.”
Genesis 41:29-30, “Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming in all the land of Egypt and after them seven years of famine will come, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine will ravage the land.”
Genesis 41:31, “So the abundance will be unknown in the land because of that subsequent famine; for it will be very severe.”
Genesis 41:32, “Now as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that the matter is determined by God, and God will quickly bring it about.”
Genesis 41:33, “Now let Pharaoh look for a man discerning and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.”
Genesis 41:34, “Let Pharaoh take action to appoint overseers in charge of the land, and let him exact a fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance.”
Genesis 41:35, “Then let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming, and store up the grain for food in the cities under Pharaoh's authority, and let them guard it.”
Genesis 41:36, “Let the food become as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which will occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land will not perish during the famine.”
The fact that Joseph informed Pharaoh of what was about to happen to his nation for the next fourteen years typifies God the Father making known to the church through His Son Jesus Christ what He is about to do to the cosmic system of Satan.
Revelation 1:1, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place.”
Also, when Joseph counseled Pharaoh as to what he must to do meet this impending disaster upon his nation it typified the Lord Jesus Christ who is our Wonderful Counselor preparing us for the future (See Isaiah 9:6).
Genesis 41:37, “Now the proposal seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his servants.”
Genesis 41:38, “Then Pharaoh said to his servants, ‘Can we find a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit?’”
Genesis 41:39, “So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you are.’”
In Genesis 41:37-39, Joseph typifies the Lord Jesus Christ in that just as Pharaoh and his court recognized the wisdom of God in Joseph so the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ were recognized by those who heard Him as wisdom from God.
Matthew 13:54, “He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?’”
John 7:45-46, “The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, ‘Why did you not bring Him?’ The officers answered, ‘Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.’”
Genesis 41:40, “You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you.”
Genesis 41:41, “Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.’”
Genesis 41:42, “Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put the gold necklace around his neck.”
Genesis 41:43, “He had him ride in his second chariot; and they proclaimed before him, ‘Bow the knee!’ And he set him over all the land of Egypt.”
Genesis 41:44, “Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Though I am Pharaoh, yet without your permission no one shall raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.’”
Genesis 41:45, “Then Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, as his wife. And Joseph went forth over the land of Egypt.”
When Pharaoh promoted Joseph to prime minister of Egypt, this typified God the Father publicly promoting the resurrected impeccable human nature of Jesus Christ to His right hand as sovereign ruler over creation and every creature.
Philippians 2:5-6, “Everyone continue thinking this (according to humility) within yourselves, which was also in (the mind of) Christ Jesus, Who although existing from eternity past in the essence of God, He never regarded existing equally in essence with God an exploitable asset.”
Philippians 2:7-8, “On the contrary, He denied Himself of the independent function of His deity by having assumed the essence of a slave when He was born in the likeness of men. In fact, although He was discovered in outward appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by having entered into obedience to the point of spiritual death even death on a Cross.”
Philippians 2:9, “For this very reason in fact God the Father has promoted Him to the highest-ranking position and has awarded to Him the rank, which is superior to every rank.”
Philippians 2:10, “In order that in the sphere of this rank possessed by Jesus every person must bow, celestials and terrestrials and sub-terrestrials.”
Philippians 2:11, “Also, every person must publicly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord for the glory of God the Father.”
Just as Joseph was seated on the throne of Pharaoh so the Lord Jesus Christ was seated on the throne of His Father.
Revelation 3:21, “He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
The fact that Joseph was given a new wife by Pharaoh typifies the Lord Jesus Christ being given His bride, the church.
Revelation 19:7, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”
Genesis 41:46, “Now Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt.”
Genesis 41:47, “During the seven years of plenty the land brought forth abundantly.”
Genesis 41:48, “So he gathered all the food of these seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt and placed the food in the cities; he placed in every city the food from its own surrounding fields.”
Genesis 41:49, “Thus Joseph stored up grain in great abundance like the sand of the sea, until he stopped measuring it, for it was beyond measure.”
Genesis 41:46 records that Joseph entered his life’s work as the prime minister of Egypt at the age of thirty, which typifies the Lord Jesus Christ who began His ministry at the same age.
That Joseph went forth on his mission from the presence of Pharaoh parallels the Lord Jesus Christ going forth from His Father’s presence to embark upon His ministry.
Luke 3:22, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”
Luke 3:23, “When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age.”
Genesis 41:46-49 reveals that Joseph’s service in Egypt was an active and itinerant one, which typifies the Lord Jesus Christ’s active and itinerant ministry (See Matthew 4:23; 9:35).
Genesis 41:50, “Now before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him.”
Genesis 41:51, “Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, ‘For,’ he said, ‘God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household.’”
Genesis 41:52, “He named the second Ephraim, ‘For,’ he said, ‘God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.’”
Genesis 41:53-54, “When the seven years of plenty which had been in the land of Egypt came to an end, and the seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said, then there was famine in all the lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.”
Genesis 41:55, “So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, ‘Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, you shall do.’”
Genesis 41:56, “When the famine was spread over all the face of the earth, then Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians; and the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.”
Genesis 41:57, “The people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the earth.”
This passage also shows Joseph dispensing bread to a starving world, which parallels the Lord Jesus Christ, the “Bread of Life” providing Himself as Savior for a spiritually starving world.
John 6:48, “I am the bread of life.”
John 6:51, “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”
Joseph was used by God to save the entire world from famine, which typifies the Lord Jesus Christ who saves the world from sin and Satan.
Revelation 5:9, “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.’”