A Lamp Unto My Feet Bible Study Website
GENESIS 37 Review
Lesson #54
JOSEPH, A PREFIGURE OF JESUS CHRIST
- Memory verse: Psalms 81:5a “This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt;”
- Joseph a prefigure of Jesus Christ
- The meaning of Joseph’s two names:
- Joseph had two names, a Hebrew name, Joseph, and an Egyptian name given him by the Pharaoh of Egypt.
- The two names indicate the dual nature of Christ: fully God and fully man.
- The name, Joseph, means = may God add.
- The name, Zaphnathpaaneah (41:45), means = a revealer of secrets.
- Joseph revealed his father’s heart.
- Joseph revealed his brother’s hatred.
- The meaning of Joseph’s two names:
| The Life of Joseph | The Life of Jesus Christ |
| The name, Joseph, = may God add | The name, Jesus, comes from the name, Joshua, which means = God is salvation. The Son of Man.
The first Adam was the great subtractor, but the second Adam (Christ) is the great adder. (1Cor 15:22) |
| Zaphnathpaaneah (41:45), = a revealer of secrets | The title, Christ, = the Anointed One (Mesiah). “Son of God”
Christ reveals the heart of God. (Joh 1:18) Christ reveals the hearts of men. (Luk 2:34-35) |
| Joseph was a shepherd that fed the flock
(Gen 37:2) |
Jesus is our shepherd who feeds us, His flock
(Joh 10:11) |
| Joseph was opposed to and revealed evil.
(Gen 37:2) |
Jesus is opposed to and reveals evil. (Joh 7:7) |
| Joseph was especially loved by his father.
(Gen 37:3) |
Jesus is loved by God, the Father. (Loh 3:16
Mat 3:17) |
| Joseph was the son of Jacob’s old age. (Gen 37:3) | Jesus Christ is God’s son from all of eternity past. (Joh 17:24) |
| Joseph wore a coat of many colors, marked as one of noble birth. (Gen 37:3) | Jesus Christ, had many outward characteristics marking him as one of noble birth. (Mat 1:23, Mat 2:2) |
| Joseph was betrayed into the hands of Gentiles (Egypt) (Gen 37:28) | Jesus was betrayed into the hands of Gentiles (Romans) (Mat 27:11) |
| Joseph was envied and hated by his brothers (Gen 37:4) | Jesus Christ was envied and hated by the Jews. (Joh 7:7 Joh 15:18 Mat 27:17-18) |
| Joseph was hated because of his words.
(Gen 37:8) |
Jesus Christ was hated for his teachings.
(Joh 5:18 Luk 4:28-29) |
| Joseph’s prophetic dreams revealed a future authority. (Gen 37:7-10) | The Old Testament prophets reveal the future authority of Jesus Christ. (Isa 9:6-7) |
| 1st dream = earthly authority
2nd dream = heavenly authority |
Jesus’ earthly authority = King of kings
Jesus’ heavenly authority = Lord of lords. (1Tim 6:16-17) |
| Joseph was sent by his father to do a job and willingly went. (Gen 37:13) | Jesus was sent by God, the Father, to do a job and willingly came. (1Joh 4:10 Heb 10:7) |
| Joseph seeks the welfare of his brothers in Shechem.
(Gen 37:14) |
Jesus came to earth to seek the welfare of the Jews in a place of violence.
(Joh 1:11 Joh 3:17) |
| Joseph was sent from the valley of Hebron, which means communion or fellowship.
(Gen 37:14) |
Jesus Christ was sent from heaven. (Joh 6:38) |
| Joseph came to Shechem, which means shoulder. It was the place of sin and passion. (Gen 37:14) | Jesus Christ came to the earth, the place of sin and passion, to shoulder the burden of men’s sins and become a servant.
(Gen 49:15 Phi 2:6-7 Gal 4:4) |
| Joseph was a wanderer in a field. (Gen 37:15) | “field”= the world (Mat 13:38)
Jesus wandered in the world for 3 ½ years. (Mat 8:20) |
| Joseph did not give up but sought until he found his brothers.
(Gen 37:17) |
Jesus does not give up but continues to seek the Jews.
(Luk 19:10) |
| Joseph found his brothers in Dothan, which means = law or custom. (Gen 37:17) | Jesus Christ found his brothers, the Jews, bound to legalism and custom. (Mar 9:8) |
| Joseph’s brothers conspired against him to kill him. (Gen 37:18) | The Jews conspired against Jesus to kill him. (Mat 12:14) |
| Joseph’s brothers mocked him in unbelief.
(Gen 37:19) |
Jesus was mocked in unbelief by the Jews.
(Mat 27:39-42) |
| Joseph’s brothers stripped him. (Gen 37:23) | Jesus Christ was stripped and put to an open shame.
(Mat 27:27-28) |
| Joseph was cast into a pit. (Gen 37:24) | The pit where there is no water is another name for Hades, the place of the non-believing dead. Jesus Christ went there after the crucifixion. (Eph 4:9) (Mat 12:40) |
| While Joseph suffered, his brothers sat down. (Gen 37:27) | While Jesus suffered on the cross, the Jews sat by and watched.
(Mat 27:35,36) |
| Joseph was taken out of the pit alive. (Gen 37:28) | Jesus Christ was resurrected alive from the dead. (Act 2:23-24) |
| Joseph is sold for 20 shekels of silver. (Gen 37:28) | Jesus had been sold for 30 pieces of silver.
(Mat 26:15) |
| Joseph’s blood-sprinkled coat is presented to his father. (Gen 37:32) | The shed blood of Jesus Christ was presented to God, the Father, in heaven. (Heb 9:12,14) |
Homework
Genesis 38
- Application of Gen 37
- Considering that Jesus Christ went through the same rejection as Joseph, what can you learn about rejection that applies to your life?
- Preparation for Gen 38
- Read gen 38:1-30 Judah’s sin
- The story of Joseph is interrupted by an incident with Judah.
- Background: the Levirate (husband’s brother) law of marriage
- (Deu 25:5-6)
- If a man died leaving no children, it was the duty of an unmarried brother to marry the widow and have children in the name of the dead man. In this way, a family inheritance was passed on and the family lineage was maintained.
- Why do you think it is important to God that Onan refused to perform his Levirate duty and continue Judah’s lineage?
- Why was Judah’s sin (38:26) greater than Tamar’s incest?
- (Clue: Mat 1:1-3)
- The story of Joseph is interrupted by an incident with Judah.
- Read gen 38:1-30 Judah’s sin
- Memory verse : Gal 4:4
