Joseph A Type of Christ; Genesis 37

The interesting history of the Patriarch Joseph, the son of Israel, begins at this chapter.

And as he is in many instances a most striking type of the Lord Jesus, it merits our attention the more.

Here therefore I beg the reader to call to mind the motto with which I opened our comment on this book of Genesis: Moses wrote of Christ.

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"And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him" (Genesis 37:23).

Reader! look at Him, of whom Joseph was in this instance the type! Matthew 27:28.

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"And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?" (Genesis 37:26).

Did not David ask a similar question, as typical of Jesus? Psalm 30:9.

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"Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content" (Genesis 37:27).

So was the Lord Jesus sold by one of His disciples. Hebrews 2:14.

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"Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt" (Genesis 37:28).

Judges 6:3.

How striking a resemblance to Jesus! Matthew 26:15.

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I turn aside from every other consideration, as of less moment, in order to follow up the evident intention of the Holy Ghost in this chapter, to behold Him whom the Patriarch Joseph plainly shadowed out in several striking circumstances of his character.

And did not God the Father send His beloved Son from the realms of bliss into this our world, to see if it were well with us, and how we fared?

But though He came full of love and mercy, yet when He came unto His own, His own received Him not.

Did they not conspire against Him? nay, why do I say did they not, have we not all by sin and by rebellion conspired against Him, sold Him into the hands of the Gentiles, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain Him?

Was He not stripped of His raiment, cast into the pit, and His grave made with the wicked in His death, because He had done no violence, neither was there any deceit found in His mouth!

Oh! Thou Almighty Joseph of Thy brethren! give me grace to see that though Thou hast been despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and I have (like those unnatural brethren) hid as it were my face from Thee; yet by the sovereignty of Thy grace help me to see that Thou wert sent by God the Father, to look after and provide for my everlasting welfare.

Thou art sent indeed before Thy people, and to save their lives by a great deliverance.

Hail, Thou dear Redeemer! henceforth may the language of my heart be, blessed be He that cometh in the name of the Lord.