The similarities are striking. The stories of Joseph and Jesus seem to run on parallel tracks. Take, for instance, the fact the Jesus and Joseph were both shepherds. Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). “Joseph tended sheep with his brothers”(Genesis 37:2).
Both were loved by their fathers (Genesis 37:3; Matthew 3:17) and hated by their brothers (Genesis 37:4; John 1:11).
God, speaking to Joseph via dreams, promised a glorious future where others would reverently bow before him (Genesis 37:5-11). God spoke of Jesus promising, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David” (Luke 1:32). Indeed, “at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10–11).
Both were sent by their fathers on a mission to their brothers (Genesis 37:12; Luke 19:10).
Joseph obeyed his father’s command and went seeking the welfare of his brothers (Genesis 37:13-17). Likewise, Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient” (Philippians 2:8), and came to earth, not to condemn, but to save (John 3:16-17).
Sadly, but savagely, Joseph’s brothers conspired to kill him (Genesis 37:18-20) just as the “Pharisees went out and plotted against (Jesus), how they might kill him” (Matthew 12:14).
Both men were stripped of their special coats. Joseph’s was the “coat of many colors” (Genesis 37:23, ESV). Jesus’ was a “tunic, which was seamless, woven in one piece from the top” (John 19:23).
Judah sold Joseph for “twenty pieces of silver” (Genesis 37:28) while Judas sold Jesus for “thirty pieces of silver”(Matthew 26:15)
Both men were tossed into a hole in the earth (Genesis 37:24; John 19:38-41), and both came out, alive! (Genesis 37:28; Luke 24:6). After being released, others came seeking them (Genesis 37:29; Luke 24:1-3).
And lastly, a trip to Egypt saved the life of both men (Genesis 37:28; Matthew 2:13-15).
Read the last chapters of Genesis, and marvel at the details woven into the tapestry of God’s great story! It’s amazing!
“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).
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