How Was Joseph An Old Testament Illustration Of Christ? How Does That Even Matter For Us Today?

 

He was simply walking by faith where and when God wanted him walking. 

It would appear that Joseph..who has often been called a type..didn't really care what people thought of him. He was faithful and cared about what God thought of him. He probably didn't even know it, but he walked nd served as an illustration of Christ. He just simply continued serving as he had before and would rise like cream in every stitution. He was managing one crisis after another while trusting in God to help him administrate and rescue needy people from death. 

I'm convinced that multiple Old Testament Types and illustrations of Christ weren't even aware of how greatly God was using them to example-well for future generations. They made it into His Book in a good way. And perhaps they now know with a fuller picture of what God was doing back in their day. 

Q. What born again believer doesn't really enjoy examining the salient and non-salient minutia in God's Word as they carefully consider how they need to practically put it work their lives? What Types, Shadows and illustrations in the Word have you noticed in the Old Testament? What's most important is how we be daily walk with Christ in joy and victory -- is how we be worshippin' from the heart and passionately talkin' with others about the Lord. I'm so thankful for the example that Joseph was!

Check out his life once again--in fact re-read through the whole Bible. God kindly prepares us for what He has long planned ..and is preparing for us. For sure.. if we walk fully yielded to His Spirit, He will powerfully use us. 

For Joseph, He Was Prepared Of God To Lead As The Number Two Of All Egypt. But yes, there was far more to this.

In many ways, Joseph was a foretaste, an illustrative-picture of our Lord Jesus Christ, even though nowhere in the New Testament is he specifically called an illustration, a shadow, or a type of Christ.

Ask yourself, would there be shadows if there wasn't any light here? Nope.

Have you kinda wondered how types, shadows, similitudes and illustrations differ from each other in the Bible?

- Similitudes - Likeness; resemblance; likeness in nature, comparison; simile, qualities of appearance; as similitude of substance. Let us make man in our image, man in our similitude.

Do you ever consider this: You and I can't understand Leviticus without Hebrews, or Daniel without Revelation, or the Passover, or Isaiah 53 ..without the Gospel accounts of the Crucifixion. The value of the study of the "Types" "Similitudes" "Illustrations" "Shadows" and "Antitypes" is the proof they furnish the inspiration of the Scriptures. Their study proves beyond question that the Scriptures had but one Author (who used those human writers)--the Holy Spirit. 
 
Think about the "Brazen Serpent" and the "Cross." John 3:14-15. No Bible teacher is really competent to minister with the doctrines of the New Testament who is not acquainted with the "Typology" of the Old Testament. What do we mean by "Types?" The Apostle Paul gives the answer in 1 Cor. 10:1-11. In verse 11 he says "Now all these things happened unto them for ENSAMPLES (examples, verse 6) and they are written for our ADMONITION (instruction), upon whom the ends of the world (Age) are come."

- The writer to the Hebrews tells us that the "Types" are but the "SHADOW OF GOOD THINGS TO COME, AND NOT THE VERY IMAGE OF THE THING." Heb. 10:1. 

That is, the Old Testament "Types" are but "SHADOWS." Can there be a "shadow" without some "REAL THING" to make it? Nope. And a "shadow" is not the "very image of the thing," for a shadow is out of proportion, and is an imperfect representation of the thing it reveals. 

So Old Testament Types are "shadows" in the sense that they are not the "Real Thing." They point to something else, and are but imperfect revelations of it. 

Then a "Type" is some "person" or "event," or "ceremony" that is recorded to "foreshadow" some future "person" or "event" or even a "ceremony." For instance...

1. TYPES and ILLUSTRATION-PERSONS, like Adam, Cain, Abel, Melchizedek, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, Jonah.
2. TYPICAL-EVENTS, like the "Flood," the "Plagues of Egypt," the "Passover," the "Brazen Serpent," "Crossing the Jordan," "Cities of Refuge."
3. TYPICAL-CEREMONIES, like the "Offerings," "Ceremonial Cleansing," "Feasts," "Year of Jubilee," "Day of Atonement."

To which might be added "Typical Structures," like the "Ark," the "Tabernacle," the "Temple." "Typical Furniture," like the "Brazen Altar," the "Laver," the "Seven Branched Candlestick," the "Table of Shewbread," the "Altar of Incense," and the "Ark of the Covenant" with its "Mercy Seat." "Typical Colors," like "Blue," "Red," "White," "Purple," "Scarlet," "Green." "Typical Numbers," like "one," "three," "four," "seven," "twelve," "forty." In studying the "Types" the two comparative words "AS" and "SO" are forcibly called to our attention. The word "AS" is used for the "Type," and the word "SO" for the Antitype. The first is historic; the second is prophetic.

"AS in Adam all die, even SO in Christ shall all be made alive." 1 Cor. 15:22."AS the days of Noah were, SO shall also the corning of the Son of Man be." Matt. 24:37."AS Moses lifted up the serpent in the Wilderness, even SO must the Son of Man be lifted up." John 3:14."AS Jonah was three days and three nights in the Whale's belly; SO shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Matt. 12:40.

The above "Types" with their "Antitype" really stand out so prominently in Scripture that their meaning is clear even to the most superficial of readers. But there are "Types" in the Old Testament whose "Dispensational Teaching" does not lie on the surface, and is never seen by the superficial reader. For instance...

Who doesn't love the story of Isaac and Rebekah! See Gen. 24:1-67. In this...

- ABRAHAM IS A TYPE OF "GOD."

- ISAAC A TYPE OF "CHRIST."

1. Both Isaac and Christ were CHILDREN OF PROMISE. Gen. 15:4. Isa. 7:14.
2. The birth of both - PREANNOUNCED. Gen. 18:10. Luke 1:30-31.
3. Both were NAMED BEFORE THEIR BIRTH. Isaac Gen. 17:19. Jesus Luke 1:31.
4. The birth of both was so our of the ordinary...

Remember Sarah was barren. Gen. 11:30.Remember Mary was a virgin. Matt. 1:18-20.

1. Both are called an ONLY SON. Gen. 22:2(Heb. 11:17). John 3:16.
2. Both mocked and persecuted by their OWN KINDRED. Gen. 21:9-10. Gal. 4:28-29. Matt. 27:29
3. Neither Isaac nor Christ had BROKEN THE LAW that they should be offered up. Gen. 22:2. Matt. 27:24.
4. As Isaac carried the wood on which he was to die, so Christ carried His OWN CROSS. Gen. 22:6. John 19:17.
5. As Isaac went willingly to the "altar," so Christ went willingly to the "CROSS."Gen. 22:9. John 10:17.
6. Both apparently given up or FORSAKEN BY HIS FATHER. Gen. 22:12. Matt. 27:46.
7. Both rose from the place of death in RESURRECTION. Heb.11:17-19. Matt. 28:6.

In both cases GOD interposed.

- ELIEZER WAS TYPICAL OF THE PERON OF THE "HOLY SPIRIT."

1. As Eliezer was a servant of Abraham, so the Holy Spirit is a "Servant of God."
2. As Eliezer's mission was to go to Haran and get a bride for Isaac, so the Holy Spirit has been sent from Heaven to get a BRIDE FOR CHRIST.
3. As Eliezer was not sent to get a bride for Isaac until after he was typically offered up, so the Holy Spirit was not sent to get a Bride for Christ until AFTER HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION.
4. As Eliezer did not talk about himself, but about his Master's son, so the Holy Spirit does not talk about HIMSELF, BUT ABOUT CHRIST.
5. As Eliezer was urgent, so the Holy Spirit is URGENT. Gen. 24:53-56. 2 Cor. 6:2.
6. As Eliezer by the precious gifts he gave Rebekah revealed the wealth of his Master Isaac, so the Holy Spirit by His Gifts gives us a foretaste of what is in store for the Bride of Christ, the Church.
7. When Eliezer got Rebekah's consent to be the bride of Isaac he himself took her back; he did not send her back while he remained with her kinsfolk. So when the Bride, the Church, is ready the HOLY SPIRIT WILL GO BACK TO HEAVEN WITH HER.

- REBEKAH WAS TYPICAL OF THE "BRIDE OF CHRIST."

1. As Rebekah believed and yielded to the pleadings of Eliezer, so the Church believes and yields to the pleadings of the HOLY SPIRIT.
2. As Rebekah was willing to separate herself from her kinsfolk for Isaac's sake, so the Believer is willing to separate himself from his kinsfolk for JESUS' SAKE.
3. As Eliezer on the way to Isaac told Rebekah all about his Master Isaac, and what was in store for her, so the Holy Spirit as we journey on our earthly pilgrimage tells us what is in store for us when we shall meet our Isaac-JESUS.
4. As Rebekah was a Gentile bride, so the Church of Christ is a GENTILE Bride.
   While Rebekah was a kinswoman of Isaac, she was a Gentile, for while Abraham was the first Hebrew, his kinspeople were Gentiles, for the Jews are the descendants of Judah, the fourth son of Abraham's grandson Jacob.
5. As Rebekah did not have to pass through any tribulation before she left her home to go to Isaac, so the Church will not have to pass through THE TRIBULATION before meeting Jesus.
6. As Isaac left his home and went out into the field to meet Rebekah, so Jesus will DESCEND FROM HEAVEN TO MEET HIS BRIDE, THE CHURCH, IN THE AIR.
7. As it was "eventide" when Isaac met Rebekah, so it will be the EVENTIDE OF THIS DISPENSATION WHEN JESUS MEETS HIS CHURCH.

Some "Types" have double application. Look at the Prophet Jonah. Jesus uses the swallowing of Jonah by a "great fish," and after 3 days being vomited up alive... as a "Type" of His own Resurrection from the Tomb of Joseph (of Arimathea). Matt. 12:40. But Jonah is also a "Type of the Jewish Nation".

1. Jonah was called and sent to preach to a heathen city Nineveh, so the Jews were called and sent to preach to the heathen nations.
2. Jonah disobeys and flees to Tarshish, so the Jews fail in their mission to the heathen.
3. Jonah for his disobedience was cast overboard, so the Jews have been scattered among the nations.
4. Jonah was miraculously preserved in the stomach of the fish, so the Jews have remained undigested by the nations.
5. Jonah repented in his "grave" in the stomach of the fish, so the Jews will mourn their lost condition in the "graveyard of the nations."
6. Jonah was restored to the land, so the Jews will be restored to their own land.
7. Jonah received a "Second Call" and obeyed, so the Jews will have a second opportunity to witness to the nations and will obey.

How was Joseph a Bible Illustration of Christ?

1. Joseph was "beloved" of his father, so was Jesus.
2. Joseph was sent unto his brethren, so was Jesus.
3. Joseph's brethren rejected him -- they refused to receive him, that happened for Christ too by the brethren of Jesus.
4. Joseph was sold by his brethren, so was Jesus.
5. Joseph was unjustly accused and condemned, so was Jesus.
6. Joseph was buried in prison, so was Jesus in the Tomb of Joseph.
7. Joseph was resurrected from prison and exalted to sit with Pharaoh on his throne, so Jesus was resurrected and exalted to sit on His Father's Throne.
8. Joseph on the throne became the dispenser of bread to starving Egypt, so Jesus on His Father's Throne is the "Bread of Life" for a perishing world.
9. After Joseph was exalted and he got a Gentile bride, so Jesus will get a Gentile Bride--THE CHURCH.
10. After Joseph got his bride his brethren suffered famine and came to him for corn, so after Jesus gets His Bride, His brethren, the Jews, will turn to Him, during the time of "Jacob's Trouble," the "Great Tribulation," for relief.
11. Joseph knew his brethren the first time, but they did not know him, so Jesus knew His brethren when He came the first time but they knew him not.
12. Joseph made himself known to his brethren when they came the "Second time," so Jesus will be recognized by the Jews when He comes the SECOND TIME.
13. After Joseph's revelation of himself to his brethren, they go forth to proclaim that he is alive and the "saviour of the world," so when Jesus reveals Himself to His brethren the Jews they will proclaim Him alive and the SAVIOUR OF MANKIND.
14. Joseph then establishes his brethren and their families in the "land of Goshen," so Jesus will re-establish the Jews in the LAND OF PALESTINE.

Joseph's brothers did not recognize him the first time, but he revealed himself to them the second time when they returned. So it will be with Israel: they did not know Christ when He came the first time, but they will see Him when He comes again and will bow before Him.

Joseph had tests and trials, but please know that not every difficult experience in a believer's life per se.. is necessarily a personal test from God. It might merely come from old pizza. (Of course, any experience could become a test or a temptation for us, depending on how we deal with it.

 

God’s people live on Bible promises and not on extra-biblical explanations. When you trust God’s promises and step out by faith (v. 3), you can be sure that the Lord Himself will give you the clear directions that you need and when you need them. I say.. stay hungry for God's Word. When we lose our desire for God’s Word, then we become vulnerable to the vastly-inferior-substitutes the world has to offer us (Isa. 55:1–2).

I encourage you to memorize, to meditate upon and to pray the word.. or simply pray according to the Bible. This really isn't an option for a born again believer. It's more an obligation for us to know and pray the word. And it's a great privilege to worship Him. It's a wonderful opportunity for us to glorify God’s Holy Name and thus.. to receive His grace. It’s an opportunity to receive His blessing and participate in His miracles.

If we focus more on the gifts than on this Giver of good gifts, we are guilty of idolatry plain and simple. If we accept His gifts, but later complain about them, then we are guilty of ingratitude. If we hoard His gifts and will not share them with others in need, then we are guilty of indulgence. But if we yield to His will and use what He gives us.. for His Great Commission and glory, then we can enjoy life and be satisfied. When God gives to you, it's to bless you in His love, but He also has others in mind--yes, blessing others in mind.

Christ-formation with His character in you ..that's God’s ultimate goal for every believer—so that slowly, so that over time, we will begin to think and act like Jesus. It's so we'll see things as Jesus would see them, and treat people and situations the same sorta way as Jesus would treat them.

Joseph’s dreams (vv. 5–11).

The dreams came from God not self, and certainly the assurance that one day Joseph would rule encouraged him to keep him living faithful during the many years of testing down in Egypt.

The first dream had an earthly setting, The second dream was set in heaven.

This speaks of Abraham’s earthly children (the Jews) and his heavenly seed (the church). Joseph’s brothers did one day bow down to him! See also 42:6; 43:26; and 44:14.

We all have room to grow, to learn humility and to submit to direct and delegated authority in place of pride and rebellion (1 Peter 5:5–6). This is SO important -- obeying human orders short of sinning. Because Joseph was faithful in the small things, God promoted him to greater things. See Prov. 22:29 and 12:24.

In chapter 38 we see a picture of Judah yielding to the lusts of his flesh. What an interesting contrast to Joseph’s purity (39:7–13). God wants us all living pure as believers. Judah was willing to sell his brother to be a slave, yet he himself was already a “slave of sin” (John 8:34). Even so, “where sin abounds, grace much more abounds” (Rom. 5:20), for we see that Tamar is included in the human lineage of Christ (Matt. 1:3). Note that Judah was harder on others than on himself (v. 24). Like David, he wanted Tamar the “sinner” judged—until he discovered that he was the worse sinner! Tamar must have know what Judah was like with loose women of the night.

It’s obvious that Joseph is a type of Christ. The parallels are too numerous to question this. Many have looked closely at this especially Arthur Pink (Gleanings in Genesis), Warren Wiersbe, Dr. T.W. Callaway (I thank you Lord for these men), but let's all look closely at this. Want some more related references to study?   

THE SON
1. Beloved of father - 37:3 (Mt. 3:17)

2. Shepherd - 37:2 (Jn. 10:11-14)

3. Hated by his brethren. - 37:4-5,8 (Jn. 15:25)

Hated by brethren for words. (Mt. 26:64, Jn. 8:40)

4. They would not believe. 37:5 (Jn. 7:5)

"reign over us" - 37:8 (Lk. 19:14)

5. A true witness - 37:3 (Jn. 7:7)

6. Envied - 37:11 (Mk. 15:10, Mt, 27:17-18)

7. Sent to brethren - 37:13 (Lk. 20:13, Heb. 10:7)
..to seek their welfare - 37:14 (Jn. 3:12)

8. From Hebron (fellowship) - 37:14 (Jn. 17:5,24)

9. Conspired - 37:18 (Mt. 27:1, Jn. 11:53) 
.."not our hand" - 37:27 (Jn. 18:28). Gentiles.

10. Judah bargained 37:26-27 (Judas Mk. 14:10)

11. Stripped him - 37:23 (Mt. 27:28, Jn. 19:23)

12. Sat and watched - 37:25 (Mt. 27:36)

.."what will happen to his dreams?" 37:19-20 (Mt. 27:39-44)

13. Sold for a slave - 37:28 (Mt. 26:15)

14. Taken to Egypt - 37:26 (Mt. 2:14-15)

THE SERVANT 39:1 (Lk. 22:27)

1. God with him - 39:2,21,23 (Jn. 16:32)

2. Prospered - 39:2-3 (Isa. 53:10)

3. All in his hand - 39:4,8 (Jn. 3:35)

4. Pleased Potiphar - 39:4 (Jn. 8:29)

5. Tempted - 39:7ff (Mt. 4)

6. Falsely accused - 39:16-18 (Mt. 26:59-60)

7. Bound - 39:20 (Mt. 27:2)

8. Offered no defense - 39:20 (Isa. 53:7)

9. Two other prisoners - 40:2-3 (Lk. 23:32)

..one saved - other lost

10. Suffered under Gentiles (Acts 4:26-27)

11. Respected by jailer - 39:21 (Lk. 23:47)

THE SOVEREIGN

1. Taken from dungeon - 41:14 (resurrection)

2. Loosed bonds - Ps. 105:20 (Acts 2:24)

3. Changed clothes - 41:14 (Jn. 20:6-7)

4. Spirit in him - 41:38 (Acts 10:38)

5. Had God's wisdom - 41:39 (Jn. 5:20, Mt. 13:54)

6. Ruled over the house - 41:40 (Heb. 3:6)

7. Ruled all the people 41:40 (Acts 5:31)

8. Shared Pharaoh's throne at number 2 (Rev. 3:21)

9. Pharoah did nothing without Joseph - 41:44 (Jn. 15:5)

10. Men bow to him - 41:43 (Phil. 2:10)

11. Given new name - 41:45 (Phil. 2:9-10)

..Joseph = "added" 30:24

..Zaphnath-paaneah = "revealer of secrets" Lk. 2:34-35

12. Thirty years old - 41:46 (Lk. 3:23)

13. Gentle bride - 41:45 (the church)

14. Doar he says - 41:55 (John 2:5)

15. All nations come - 41:57 (Isa. 49:6)

16. Dual sovereignty - Mt. 28:19-20

..earth - 37:5-7
..heaven - 37:9-10

THE SAVIOUR OF HIS PEOPLE

1. They knew him not - 42:8 (Jn. 1:10-11, Acts 3:17)

2. Guilty of his blood - 42:22 (Mt. 27:25)

3. Joseph wept - 42:24 (Lk. 19:41)

4. Punished them - 42:7,17 (Hos. 9:17)

5. Confessed guilt 44:16 (Hos. 5:15)

6. Revealed the second time - 45:1 (Acts 7:13, Zech. 12:10)

7. They were troubled - 55:3 (Zech. 12:10)

8. God did it - 45:8 (Acts 2:23)

9. "Behold me," - 45:12 (Lk. 24:29)

10. Showed the grace-4574-15 (Isa. 54:7-8)

11. His glory revealed - 45:13 (Lk. 24:26)

12. Brethren carried the message - 45:9-10 (144,000)

13. Invited to come - 45:18-19 (Mt. 11:28-30)

14. Comforted them - 50:21 (Isa. 40:1-2)

15. Supplied their need 45:20 (Isa. 2:1-5)

Basic Review: A biblical typology is special kind of symbolism. (A symbol is something which represents something else.) We can define a type as a “prophetic symbol” because all types are representations of something yet future. More specifically, a type in scripture is a person or thing in the Old Testament which foreshadows a person or thing in the New Testament. For example, the flood of Noah’s day (Genesis 6-7) is used as a type of baptism in 1 Peter 3:20-21. The word for type that Peter uses is figure.

When we say that someone is a type of Christ, we are saying that a person in the Old Testament behaves in a way that corresponds to Jesus’ character or actions in the New Testament. When we say that something is “typical” of Christ, we are saying that an object or event in the Old Testament can be viewed as representative of some quality of Jesus.

Scripture itself identifies several Old Testament events as types of Christ’s redemption, including the tabernacle, the sacrificial system, and the Passover. The Old Testament tabernacle is identified as a type in Hebrews 9:8-9: “the first tabernacle . . . which was a figure for the time then present.” The high priest’s entrance into the holiest place once a year prefigured the mediation of Christ, our High Priest. Later, the veil of the tabernacle is said to be a type of Christ (Hebrews 10:19-20) in that His flesh was torn, (as the veil was when He was crucified) in order to provide entrance into God’s presence for those who are covered by His sacrifice.

The whole sacrificial system is seen as a type in Hebrews 9:19-26. The articles of the “first testament” were dedicated with the blood of sacrifice; these articles are called “the patterns of things in the heavens” and “figures of the true” (verses 23-24). This passage teaches that the Old Testament sacrifices typify Christ’s final sacrifice for the sins of the world. The Passover is also a type of Christ, according to 1 Corinthians 5:7, “Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.” Discovering exactly what the events of the Passover teach us about Christ is a rich and rewarding study.

Q. What is the difference between an illustration and a type in the Bible? A type is always identified as such in the New Testament. A Bible student finding correlations between an Old Testament story and the life of Christ is simply finding illustrations, not types. Typology is determined by the Scriptures. 

- What is an analogy? It is a comparison between two things, places or persons -- this is typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification.- What is an illustration? It is an example serving to clarify or perhaps prove something to someone. It’s either presented pictorially or by exemplification. 

God the Holy Spirit has inspired the use of types, analogies, shadows and illustrations in the Bible. You can see them when you study the Word. Many people see parallels between Joseph (Genesis 37-45) and Jesus. The humiliation and subsequent promotion / glorification of Joseph seem to correspond to a degree to that of the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ. However, the New Testament never uses Joseph as a model of Christ; therefore, Joseph with his unique story would more properly be called an illustration of Christ instead of “a type” of Him.. even though his walk has some good characteristics like the walk of Jesus exhibited. The most important thing is personally knowing and obeying Jesus as Lord. You can be an effective witness in this world for God the Father too!