Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned accor-ding to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. Romans 5:14
Adam was a type of Christ, Paul says, and there are many similarities between them to confirm it. First Adam was a prophetic foreshadow of another Adam that would come — one that would undo the damage that first Adam did to humanity. However, Adam was not the only one to represent Jesus, and the role He would fulfill in God’s master plan. The more of these prophetic types we study, the better we understand God’s plans with us, and how they will unfold.
This article looks into the life of Joseph, and how he projected the life and work of Jesus.
Joseph was his father’s beloved son, “because he was the son of his old age.” Whatever Jacob’s reason was for loving this son more than the others doesn’t really matter, because Joseph represented Jesus, who was His Father’s beloved Son.
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him. Genesis 37:3,4
Joseph’s brothers hated him for the same reason the Jews hated Jesus from the early days of His ministry:
Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. John 5:18
The hatred for Joseph escalated to a point where his brothers cast him into a pit to get rid of him. Just then a company of Ishmaelites passed by, and Judah suggested instead of killing him, they should sell him, which they did.
Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. Matthew 26:14,15
Note that even the name of His betrayer matched the name of the one who sold Joseph! To cover their heinous deed they conspired to kill a goat and stain Joseph’s robe with its blood, telling their father a wild animal must have killed him. Joseph’s tunic itself was a point of contention because it reminded his brothers of the favor he had with their father.
When Jesus was crucified, He wore a very special robe, so special that the soldiers cast lots to see who should have it.
Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece.They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: “They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.” Therefore the soldiers did these things. John 19:23,24
Joseph’s brothers presented the bloodstained robe to his father, a sign and confirmation of his death. Likewise Jesus presented His own blood to His Father — a clear sign and confirmation of His death — and what He accomplished by it:
But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:11,12
Joseph had prophetic dreams that were very disturbing to his brothers, and added to their hatred for him:
Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.” And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Genesis 37:5-8
This dream was fulfilled when they all came to Egypt where Joseph ruled as governor, and they found themselves subject to him. But this dream will ultimately be fulfilled in Jesus, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, and the twelve tribes of Israel will recognize and accept Him as their King:
“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. Zechariah 12:10
Pharaoh was so impressed with Joseph after he interpreted his dream, that he gave his daughter (a Gentile) to Joseph as wife, (See Genesis 41:45) yet another aspect of his life fulfilled in Christ. The church — the bride of Christ — is for the most part a Gentile church. God has His eye on us Gentiles even then!
Joseph was 30 years old when he became governor in Egypt, his true calling that saved his family from a severe famine — and so was Jesus: He started His ministry at 30 years of age.
The above only touches on a few points that highlight the prophetic rehearsal of Joseph’s life that was finally fulfilled in Jesus. But there is one aspect that is still unfulfilled.
The world of that time was plunged into a famine that lasted for seven years, but because of a dream that Joseph interpreted for Pharaoh, they were able to save up enough food to last throughout those years. Joseph’s family were in dire need, but he was able to take care of them, and they were allowed to join him in Egypt where they were safe from the devastation.
The Bible informs us of another tribulation of seven years, yet to come. It is true that the world has always known tribulation, but there is a specific period Jesus spoke about:
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. Matthew 24:21
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Revelation 3:10
The coming tribulation will be a time when God will pour out His wrath on all unbelievers. Those who rejected His offer of peace, paid for by the blood of His beloved Son, will experience what life on earth is without the Prince of Peace and His followers. Jesus will take care of His earthly family, and shelter them from the wrath to come.
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. Colossians 3:5-7
The good news is that the family of God will not be punished with unbelievers. Like Joseph, Jesus will bring us to where He dwells:
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3
For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the [blast of the] trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain [on the earth] will simultaneously be caught up (raptured) together with them [the resurrected ones] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord! 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 ~Amplified Bible
For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 1:9,10
But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:8-10
- The church is the household of God. (Ephesians 2:19)
- The church is the temple of God. (Ephesians 2:21-22)
- The church is the family of God. (Ephesians 3:15)
- The church is the bride of Christ. (Ephesians 5:22-32)
- The church is the army of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:10-17)
He will never abandon us! There is a belief going around that God will use the Tribulation to purify His bride, by putting her through a furnace of intense trials. But it is not in the character of a loving God to do such a thing!
Look how He purifies us:
…that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:26,27
Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh… Hebrews 10:18-20
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:4-6
Let us never underestimate the power of Jesus’ blood to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. God was satisfied when His blood flowed down the cross, and we put our trust in His sacrifice. To proof your faith by standing strong during the Tribulation, is nothing but an offer of own works. The case is closed in the mind of God.
You are not going to miss the coming tribulation because you are perfect, because you never will be, no matter the furnace of trial you may experience. You are going to spend eternity with Him only because He paid the penalty for your sin. God unleashed His wrath for your sin upon Him, sentenced Him to death, and punished Him harshly for it on the cross. He even abandoned Him by turning His face away from Him, as He hung there with your sin laid upon Him.
Joseph of old foretold the story of salvation, and showed us it will unfold. If you are in Christ, the world’s worst seven years will be your best!
