Coincidence? Not on your life!
10/13/2018 5:50:19 PM
This is amazing! Joseph, a type of Jesus
Coincidence? Not on your life.
He had me at twenty pieces of silver. That's when I first had this niggling sensation at the corners of my mind . . . a sense of 'hey, does this remind you of anyone else?' Reminded me of Another who was sold for 30 pieces of silver ... Another who was betrayed by one so close to him.
Was Joseph a patriarch or a prophet? The answer is 'yes...both,' and is quite interesting. While he was one of the patriarchs of the Jewish people, his life served as a sort of foreshadowing or picture of the Messiah to come, also from the line of Abraham.
Oh, I have loved getting to know the man, Joseph, in our last days! What a stalwart in the faith - staying true to God in spite of disappointment, in spite of being sold into slavery--separated from his family and the land of his birth. Joseph remained faithful in the face of great temptation, false accusation, wrongful imprisonment - all the while wondering, 'So God . . . about those dreams you gave me? What in the world is going on?'
To put a wrap on our look at Joseph's life, consider with me the brilliance of God. In imparting his story to men to record in the written pages of millennia past and future ~ the whole thing holding together in the Word of God we hold in our hands, similarities emerge between the lives of Joseph and Jesus.
Take a look with me at these remarkable parallels, and where found in Scripture:
Parallel Joseph Jesus
Beloved of his father Now Israel loved Joseph more 'This is My beloved Son, in
than all his children. Genesis 37.3a whom I am well pleased.'
Matthew 3.17b
Envied and hated When his brothers saw that their He knew that the chief priests
without a cause father loved him more than all his handed Him over because of
brothers, they hated him... envy Mk 15.10; "They hated Me
Genesis 37.4 without a cause." John 15.25b
He foretold that "Then behold, my sheaf arose Jesus said to him, "It is as you one day he would and also stood upright; and said. Nevertheless... you will see
rule indeed your sheaves stood a the Son of Man sitting at the
around and bowed down to my right hand of the Mighty One..."
sheaf." Genesis 37.7 Matthew 26.64
Stripped of his They stripped Joseph of his They stripped him. Matthew
Clothing multi-colored coat Genesis 37.23b 27.28a
Stayed strong in Joseph resisted temptation by In all points tempted as we are
face of temptation Potiphar's wife. Gen. 39.7-12 yet without sin. Hebrews 4.15b
Mentioned earlier, both Joseph and Jesus were betrayed by 'a brother' for silver.
All these things the pair held in common . . . coincidence? Sure, if you also believe that the dozens of Messianic prophecies Jesus Christ of Nazareth fulfilled were also coincidental! No, no. 'Twas the invisible hand of God . . . providence.
Here's the thing: when Joseph suffered, God was with him, and he was still at work.
While Joseph waited for God to fulfill his purposes in him, God was with him and always working.
When Joseph stepped into his destiny,
he could turn around and see the hand of God
ever present, patiently, sovereignly at work.
Same with you. Even when you think God has forgotten, he has not.
Even when you feel alone, he is with you.
Even when you do not feel lovable, he loves you.
Here's what God says to you, wherever you find yourself just now . . .
I know the plans that I have for you...
They are plans for peace and not disaster,
plans to give you a future filled with hope. Jeremiah 29.11, GW
No coincidence there,
Christine