A Perfect Picture Of Salvation

John 16:8 (ESV) 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

Greetings my fellow patriots and disciples. This is Perry Greene, your host for GodNAmerica. Thank you for tuning in to our weekly podcast. I hope you will continue following us on Facebook and stop by our website, GodNAmerica.com. Don’t forget, we have a daily (Monday – Friday) devotional. Be sure to go by the website and download the app so that you can be notified of our updates. More than you can know I appreciate your support, encouragement, and prayers.

When Christians hear the word, “save,” or “salvation,” we think immediately of salvation from sin. Ultimately we all need saving from sin but there are other ways to use these words. If you were to ask a Jewish person if they were saved, their response might be, “Saved from what?” There is salvation from disease, abuse, in all manner of things, not just eternal loss.

I have heard a lot recently about the need to rescue children and others trapped in the human trafficking slave industry. There are organizations like “Operation Underground Railroad,” that are actively rescuing children from this evil. They are “saving” them.

In 2014 Tonda MacCharles wrote an article describing a Canadian Senate committee that was considering a bill to provide greater regulation of prostitution in an effort to impede human trafficking. A young male prostitute testified before the committee. He worried the bill would infringe on his rights. He told the Senators, “I don’t need to be saved, and all my friends who are in the sex work industry don’t need to be saved.” He said his line of work was “not negative. It’s just a way to make a living.”

Even though there is danger, many people do not think they need to be “saved” in any of its forms. They have gotten accustomed to the darkness in which they live and are not interested in the light. We are living in these times right now.

In Genesis 37 we have the incident of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers. Some rabbis say that this is the first picture of God’s salvation of man. For the sake of time we will not read this entire passage. I encourage you to take the time to read it and meditate on the similarities between Joseph and Jesus. This story culminates in Genesis 50:20 (ESV) after the death of Jacob when Joseph reassures his brothers of their safety. Notice what he says to them:

20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Here is a demonstration of Joseph’s grace toward his brothers. No doubt he could have taken revenge on them for the things they did to him. Instead he was generous to them – JUST LIKE God is to us in Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV):

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

JUST LIKE He wants us to be to one another. Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) summarizes this for us:

32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

In addition to the display of grace from God, let’s consider some other aspects of this story that parallels Jesus. Then, let’s make some applications to our time.

I. Jacob, the Proud Father

Jacob, the father of the twelve patriarchs, is a picture of God in this story. Jacob is imperfect in his behavior but in certain actions represents the perfect Father of us all.

He is descended from Abraham by his son, Isaac. In so doing, he becomes a partial fulfillment of the covenant God made with Abraham in Genesis 15. Notice verses 5-6 (ESV, additions by PMG):

5 And he [God] brought him [Abram] outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

As the father, the patriarch of his clan, Jacob was concerned for his children. On this occasion, Jacob sends his beloved son Joseph in search of his brothers. Genesis 37:12-13 (ESV):

12 Now his brothers went to pasture their father's flock near Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “Here I am.”

Of course, God the Father sent His beloved Son, Jesus to the world in search of us. John states in 1 John 4:9-10 (ESV):