THE SEED PLANTED IS NOW GROWING!
Last devotion, I told you that I wanted to plant a seed in your mind, and that seed was this: “Joseph is a type of Jesus Christ”. That means that when we look at the life of Joseph, we can see similarities and correlations to Jesus and His life. Today, I want to show you just one instace of that typology of Christ in the life of Joseph.
In our reading this morning, Joseph has been in prison for 2 years. And He is finally brought out to interpret a dream for Pharaoh. All the magicians and false teachers tried to interpret the dream, but couldn’t. When Joseph came to do so, he recognized from the get go it was God that would help him interpret the dream.
Joseph was told by God that famine would come on the land, and it would be devastating. After interpreting the dream, Joseph has the following conversation with Pharaoh, and what we see happen is amazing!
Genesis 41:33-40
“So now, let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this: Let him appoint overseers over the land and take a fifth of the harvest of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. Let them gather all the excess food during these good years that are coming. Under Pharaoh’s authority, store the grain in the cities, so they may preserve it as food. The food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine that will take place in the land of Egypt. Then the country will not be wiped out by the famine.” The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants, and he said to them, “Can we find anyone like this, a man who has God’s spirit in him?” So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you are. You will be over my house, and all my people will obey your commands. Only I, as king, will be greater than you.”
Joseph is an incredible picture of Jesus all throughout his life, and this is just one instance of that!
First, just like Joseph, Jesus is a messenger from God. Joseph was a mouthpiece used by God to accomplish His will. He had a message for Pharaoh, and it was God’s message! Not His own. Jesus had a messqge from God. He was sent by God
Second, just like Joseph, Jesus speaks truth about the future. Joseph was able to interpret the dream and predict exactly what would happen in the future. And it was all true. Jesus tells us a lot of what will happen in the future, or if we obey or disobey Him, and it is all true. We find that in His Word. But I want to challenge you with this, you will never know what Jesus says unless you read His Word!
Third, just as Joseph’s plan provided bread, the plan of Jesus provides the Bread of Life. Joseph was wise in his suggestions and vision for the future. This plan made it possible for people to not perish, but to exist and live. The plan we find in John 3:16 provides the Bread of Life for everyone that will accept it. We can’t save ourselves, just like the Egyptian people couldn’t save themselves. But we have the bread of Life ready and available at all times!
Lastly, just like the Egyptian people had to accept the leadership of Joseph, the believer must recognize the authority of Jesus. The Egyptian people could have not listened to Joseph, but that wouldn’t work out well for them. They wouldn't have made it. We can try and not listen to Jesus. We can try to be our own authority, but we must recognize that God is the ultiate authority. Everything rises and falls with Him.
Joseph wasn't perfect. None of us are. But Joseph strived to please God in ALL he did. That is why he is such a great picture of the Lord Jesus Christ! Take these truths with you today, and take some time to commune with the Father!