Jesus, Joseph, and the Joy of Bible Study

Typology Tuesday

Jesus told the Pharisees in their study of the Scriptures they should have seen Him (John 5:39-40).

We have the benefit of hindsight, having both the Old and New Testaments recorded for us. Knowing fully who Jesus is should send us diving into the Old Testament like treasure hunters who have been guaranteed the mother lode is waiting.

When we do, we’ll find all kinds of neat foreshadowing and connections that will make us fall in love with God’s Word more than ever before.

Take Joseph, for example. His life story is packed with foreshadowing of the Savior to come. A few examples:

Brothers Bowing

Joseph dreamed his family would one day bow to him (Genesis 37), and though they were furious and resentful, he was proven right (Genesis 42).

Jesus told the leaders of His day they would be witness to His glory, and they similarly did not take it well (Mark 14:60-65). He was once vindicated before them in AD 70, and will be again at His final return when every knee bows and every tongue confesses (Philippians 2:10).

Redeeming His brothers

Reuben tried to supplant Jacob’s rule over the family (Genesis 35:22). Simeon and Levi deceived and slaughtered the men of Shechem (Genesis 34). Judah’s family dealt wickedly with one another, and he conceived his own heir through (what he thought was) prostitution (Genesis 38). And of course, the brothers conspired first to kill Joseph, and when dissuaded by Reuben, sold their favored brother into slavery (Genesis 37:18-28).

Meanwhile, Joseph was faithful in all things. God used the good son’s faithfulness to cover and redeem the wickedness of his brothers–exactly as Jesus would later do. Ephesians 1:1-2:10 fleshes out this idea more fully.

Bread and wine

In prison, Joseph encounters two high-ranking men of Pharoah’s court: the baker, and the cup-bearer. While those specifics do not play a significant part of the story, there is no denying the consistent use of these two emblems throughout Scripture, culminating in the Lord’s Supper.

A Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Sorts

Joseph’s life was all about descending and rising. He was thrown into a pit and thrown into slavery by his brothers, only to end up at the head of Potiphar’s house. He was thrown into prison, only to end up at the head of the prison. He was sent down to Egypt, only to rise to the right hand of power.

All of these are death, burial, and resurrection parallels. Like Joseph, Jesus was wrongfully accused and yet the punishment that was meant to end Him only led to His rise to authority.

Saving the Gentiles

Joseph’s redemption and rise didn’t just benefit his own family. He became a father to all of Egypt (Genesis 45:8) and all the nations flowed to Him (41:57). He saved the Gentiles by His faithfulness and all the nations of the world were blessed through Him. Where Adam failed at the beginning of Genesis in taking dominion and cultivating the earth, Joseph has become the provider for all at the end of the book.

The parallels to Jesus here are obvious.

Offered forgiveness to oppressors

Joseph famously forgave His brothers and pointed to God’s providence in their wickedness (Genesis 50:20).
Jesus looked heavenward and asked the Father, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

The parallels in this study alone could continue on, but I’m going to leave a few for you to explore. While Joseph has some of the more easily discovered typology in the Bible, be assured that the Old Testament is full of stories like these which point to our Savior and show God’s hand at work in history.

This article first appeared on Focus+