Gen. 41:39-57 JOSEPH: A PORTRAIT OF THE GLORIFIED CHRIST Rom. 15:4 - For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 1. Both were beloved of their Fathers – Matt. 3:17; 17:5 2. Both were hated by their brethren – John 15:25 3. Both were rejected and conspired against – Matt. 27:28-36; John 11:53 4. Both were mistreated and delivered up to die – Matt.27:28-36 5. Both were delivered from the pit of their death – Matt.28:1-6 6. Both were servants – Phil. 2:5-7 7. Both were exalted by God – Acts 5:30-31 I. HE PICTURES CHRIST IN HIS POSITION v. 39-44 A. His Greatness – v. 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. Heb. 10:12, But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; Phil. 2:9-11, Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. B.His Giftedness – v.38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 1. His Personal Presence – Heb. 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 2. His Gracious Provision – Phil. 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 3. His Abundant Power – Eph. 3:20; Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. C. His Glory – v. 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. Peter James and John Matt 17:1-2, And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. John Rev. 1:13-18 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. II.HE PICTURES CHRIST IN HIS PERSONAL LIFE v. 45-53 A.The Name He Is Given – v. 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnathpaaneah; Literally = "The Saviour of the World" Jesus = "Jehovah is Salvation" (men may seek salvation in other names – Buddha, Mohammed, Krishna, Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. B. The Nature Of The Bride He Is Given – v. 45 and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. She was taken from among the Gentiles of Egypt. John 1:11. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. Luke 2:32, A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. Rev. 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. C. The Nature Of The Business He Is Given –v. 45 And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. 1. He Is Preparing For Us – John 14:3; And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 2. He Is Prayng For Us – Heb. 7:25; Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 3. He Is Pleading For Us – 1 John 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 4. He Is Paying For Us The Price Of Redemption Has Been Paid In Full – Rev. 5:6; And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. III.HE PICTURES CHRIST IN HIS POWER v. 55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. A The Salvation Of His Power. v. 56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. Joseph had the keys to the granaries. He literally had the power of life and death over all the people. Rom. 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Lifeboat Drill - Life Jackets the same B.The Sufficiency Of His Power v. 49, And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number. v. 54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. Story Of Sailor 1 Tim. 2:5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; C.The Singularity Of His Power v. 44, And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. v. 55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.(Joseph alone was the saviour of the people.) John 11:25-26 – Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? Story. A minister, a toolshed, a man, a long stalk of straw. D. The Scope Of His Power – v. 57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands. ( Joseph’s power reached into all the world.) Rom. 5:20. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: Story A young man When he could no longer read the text for himself, he asked his mother to open the Bible to that verse. "Put my finger on the word 'whosoever,'" he said. "That invitation is broad enough to include even me!") IV.HE PICTURES CHRIST IN HIS PROVISION Joseph opened all the Storehouses. --Genesis 41:56 I. HIS ROYAL AUTHORITY FOR OPENING THE STOREHOUSES 1. The king was only to be approached through Joseph: "Go unto Joseph" (v 55). So with Jesus. "No man cometh unto the Father but by me" (John 14:6).
2. King Commanded that Joseph should be obeyed: "What he saith to you, do" v.55 "All men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father" (John 5:23).
3. In all the land no other could open a storehouse save Joseph. "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand" (John 3:35). II. THE ROYAL AUTHENTICITY IN OPENING THE STOREHOUSES HE WAS A FIT PERSON TO OPEN THE STOREHOUSES. 1. He planned the storehouses, and was justly appointed to control them. See verses 33 to 36. "Can we find such a one as this is?" (verse 38).
2. He provided for the storehouses, and so proved himself practical as well as inventive. "Joseph gathered corn as the sand" (verse 49).
3. He packed the storehouses. He gathered corn "until he left numbering; for it was without number" (verse 49).
4. He provided from the storehouses "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell, and of his fullness have all we received" (Col. 1:19; John 1:16). III. THE ROYAL ACTIVITY IN OPENING THE STOREHOUSES 1. The Purpose for them. Grace is meant to be used.
2. The Practise with them have meant to be opened. 3. The Period Of them He opened them at a fit time: "All the land of Egypt was famished"; "the famine was over all the face of the earth" (verses 55-56).
4. The Provision Through them He kept them open while the famine lasted. They were never closed while a hungering applicant drew near. IV. THE ROYAL AVAILABILITY IN OPENING THE STOREHOUSES OPENED TO ALL COMERS. 1. There was a special eye to Israel, "God sent me before you to preserve you"; but Joseph was also "a father unto Pharaoh" and the preserver of many nations.
2. It was a privilege to dwell near the granaries; but it would have been a dreadful thing if any had died within sight of them. Beware of being "hearers only." Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria. Read 2 Kings 7:19.And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. 20 And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.
3. Yet many people came from far for food: "All countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn" (verse 57).
4. We read of none being sent empty away. V. THE ROYAL ACQUISITION IN OPENING THE STOREHOUSES HE ACQUIRED POSSESSION OF ALL EGYPT FOR THE KING. The Egyptians gladly yielded their money, their lands, and their persons to Pharaoh, that their lives might be preserved. (v 57).And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands. A perishing world hangs on this great fact, that Joseph reigns." --Dr. Candlish
All the spiritual blessings wherewith the Church is enriched are in and by Christ. (Eph. 1:3). Our election is by him (verse 4). Our adoption is by him (verse 5). Our redemption and remission of sins are both through him. All the gracious transactions between God and his people are through Christ. God loves us through Christ; he hears our prayers through Christ; he forgives us all our sins through Christ. Through Christ he justifies us; through Christ he sanctifies us; through Christ he upholds us; through Christ he perfects us. All his relations to us are through Christ; all we have is from Christ; all we expect to have hangs upon him. He is the golden hinge upon which all our salvation turns. --Ralph Robinson
