JOSEPH #58 | JOSEPH IN EGYPT #40 | LAST WORDS OF JACOB #29
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3654
JOSEPH #58
JOSEPH IN EGYPT #40
LAST WORDS OF JACOB #29
11. JOSEPH #5
JOSEPH AS AN END-TIME PRE-FIGUREMENT OF JESUS' FIRST AND SECOND COMING.
By drawing a typological line in Genesis from Joseph to the future king from Judah, Moses the author explicitly folds the Joseph narrative into Israel’s larger story, which will culminate with the Messiah.
Joseph’s story is the story of the whole Bible. It’s the story of glory through suffering, exaltation through humiliation. It’s the story of the Cross and the Crown.
Let us trace Joseph's story to draw the parallels with Christ's First and Second Coming:
1. Joseph’s test preceded the great crisis of famine in Egypt and the then known world.
Once Joseph passed through his test (slavery and false accusation) and was exalted, he maintained a position of great power and influence.
2. When Joseph came to a position of influence, he married a Gentile Egyptian bride (the grafting in of the Gentiles).
3. During the seven years of famine (a picture of the seven years of the tribulation period of End Times), Joseph had a position of power and supplied food (provision) for Egypt (the nations) and for his family (Israel) so they would survive the crisis.
4. It is interesting that the prophets Hosea and Zechariah both made allusions to the story of Joseph when they described Israel’s End-Time reconciliation with the coming of their Messiah.
Their use of Joseph’s story further emphasized the connection between Joseph and Jesus.
What is our take on today's lesson?
The account of Joseph is not an end in itself. It is a pattern for God’s work in the future.
Joseph’s story is a prediction of Jesus’ goodness at the end of the age and the ultimate resolution of Israel’s story and the redemption of Israel and the nations.
Joseph is a type of Jesus in His End-Time deliverance and provision for His people both Jews and Gentiles.
His story as such pre-figures the Coming of Christ to judge the world of sinners with wrath but the faithful remnant of Jews and Gentiles with mercy.
