All Things For Good.

ALL THINGS FOR GOOD.

Genesis 50:15-21.

Young Joseph made the mistake of sharing his dreams with his brothers, and ended up in a pit, then sold into slavery, then falsely accused, and thrown into prison, then forgotten by someone for whom he had done a favour. Yet God did not make a full end there: Joseph was remembered, released, and promoted.

Joseph, in all this, is very much a ‘type’ of Jesus. Joseph was the firstborn of Rachel (cf. Genesis 30:22-24). Jesus was the firstborn of Mary (cf. Matthew 1:25).

Joseph was his father’s favourite (Genesis 37:3). Jesus is God’s ‘beloved Son’ in whom He is ‘well pleased’ (Matthew 3:17; Matthew 12:18).

Joseph dreamt that he should be a ruler (Genesis 37:5-11). The prophets foresaw Jesus as a ruler (cf. Micah 5:2) and spoke of Him receiving ‘a kingdom which shall not be destroyed’ (cf. Daniel 7:13-14).

Joseph’s brothers would not believe Joseph’s dreams (cf. Genesis 37:5). Jesus’ brothers did not believe in Him (cf. John 7:3-5).

Joseph was sent by his father to his brothers (cf. Genesis 37:13). Jesus was sent by His Father to Israel (cf. Mark 12:6-7).

Joseph was stripped of his coat, and it was dipped in blood (cf. Genesis 37:23; Genesis 37:31). Jesus had His coat taken from Him at His crucifixion (John 19:23), and when He appears in the Apocalypse, He is clothed in ‘a vesture dipped in blood’ (cf. Revelation 19:13).

Joseph was sold for twenty pieces of silver, the going price of a slave (Genesis 37:28). Jesus was sold for thirty pieces of silver, the going price of a slave (cf. Matthew 26:15).

Joseph was falsely accused (cf. Genesis 39:11-20). Jesus was falsely accused (cf. Matthew 26:59-61).

God was with Joseph (cf. Acts 7:9), and the Spirit of God indwelt him (cf. Genesis 41:38). God was with Jesus (Acts 10:38), and He was full of the Holy Spirit (cf. John 3:34).

Pharaoh raised Joseph to be ruler over his whole kingdom, and all knees bowed to Joseph (cf. Genesis 41:40-44). Jesus is raised up and exalted to the right hand of God, and every knee shall bow to Him (cf. Philippians 2:9-11).

Pharaoh sent the starving Egyptians to Joseph, as the only source of bread (cf. Genesis 41:55-57). God sends us to Jesus for eternal life (cf. 1 John 5:11-12).

Joseph graciously offered forgiveness to his brothers, announcing that God had a purpose in it all (cf. Genesis 45:5-8). Jesus prayed, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do’ (cf. Luke 23:34).

Joseph’s brothers were welcomed by Pharaoh because of Joseph (cf. Genesis 45:16-20). We are welcomed into the presence of God not in our own righteousness, but because of Jesus, His righteousness (cf. Ephesians 2:8).

There are many other ways in which we can compare the life of Joseph with the life of Jesus and find a match. In both their lives there is the overarching Providence of God overcoming the things that seemed to be against them and turning them for good.

In today’s passage (GENESIS 50:15-21), we see first of all the brothers’ sense of awakened guilt, which left them doubting, and wondering whether they were truly forgiven (Genesis 50:15-18). This is how we might react, sometimes, when we catch a sense of the great weight of sin that we left at the foot of the Cross when we first believed. Why should we doubt when Christ has proved faithful? If we have truly relinquished our sins, then there we must leave them!

When they pressed him upon the matter Joseph, for his part, reassured them: “Am I in the place of God?” (Genesis 50:19). What THEY had meant for evil, God had meant for good. Not only for Joseph, but “to keep many people alive” (Genesis 50:20). Yes, of course he would provide for them (Genesis 50:21)!

In all things God works for good, for the good of His people (cf. Romans 8:28). And, incidentally, not only for them, but for others also. There is an overflow of blessings which sifts through God’s Christian people to the world.