JOSEPH IS A CHRISTOLOGICAL TYPE
Jacob’s sons were jealous of their brother, Joseph. He was the favored son of Jacob’s favorite wife, Rachel, who had died giving birth to Benjamin, the youngest. Joseph had made things worse with his brothers by giving their father a bad report of their shepherding. He also had shared his dreams of them someday bowing down to him.
One day Jacob sent 17 year-old Joseph to check on his brothers who were feeding his flock at Shechem. When they saw Joseph coming towards them wearing the tunic of many colors that their father had given him, they plotted to murder their brother. They stripped him of his clothes and threw him in a dry cistern. When they saw a band of traders passing by, one of the older brothers, Judah, convinced them that it would be better to sell him into slavery rather than murder him. They agreed and sold their brother for 20 shekels of silver. The traders sold him on the slave market in Egypt.
Joseph is a Christological type, which means his life was similar in some aspect, so that it pointed to the coming Christ. Notice the similarities between Joseph and Jesus. He was rejected by his brethren. Betrayed. Stripped naked. Thrown into a pit (Jesus was put in a tomb). Sold for 20 pieces of silver (Jesus was betrayed for 30). Yet years later, when famine struck the entire land, Joseph would be their savior. For he was eventually elevated from the pit to the palace of Egypt, where he fed and forgave his starving brothers.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus to us. He was betrayed and sold by his brethren, crucified and buried for our sins. Yet, He has risen and ascended to Your right hand, where He intercedes for us. We have believed in Him as our Savior and Redeemer. Now we are Your children by grace through faith. Thank You Lord! In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.