Sunday, January 29, 2023
“These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report” (Genesis 37:2 KJV).
Let us search the Scriptures to see how Joseph is a type of the antitype Jesus….
Indeed, young Joseph was envied, hated, betrayed, and imprisoned. He was in a foreign land, amongst a pagan people, and employed as a lowly slave, yet the most important fact (and, dear friends, we dare not forget it!) is recorded in these few verses that follow: “But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison…. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him [Joseph], and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper” (Genesis 39:21,23). No matter how rough and tough his circumstances became, the LORD was with Joseph every step of the way—and it was the only reason Joseph survived any of it.
As the perfect Man, the Lord Jesus Christ lived in this world surrounded by sinners and, just think, He was treated far worse than Joseph ever was (more than we will ever know!). Just like the LORD blessed Joseph’s efforts, in spite the extreme satanic opposition, so Father God endorsed the Lord Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry and it was exceeding fruitful. Peter the Apostle commented as the Spirit of God gave him utterance: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him” (Acts 10:38). Christ Himself stated, “Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me” (John 16:32).
Now, having taken a quick run through the numerous references, we will summarize this devotionals arc….