Saturday, June 25, 2005
Joseph, Son of Jacob
Joseph, the dreamer. Today it conjures up pictures of a slacker. Joseph believed and connected with God. To have that sort of relationship, one might have to be still sometimes. In a fast paced world, yea, Joseph could be considered a loser. Well, his brothers thought he was, so they put him in a pit and left him for dead. His father, Jacob, was shown the coat that he had made for his favored son; blood from an animal made the case look convincing. Joseph was dead. Is it a stretch to see a type here of Jesus? Rejected by His own people because He seemed to think he was something special. But they both were unique, paramount historical figures! Doesn’t this say a little about why all of God’s children tend to be rejected? We don’t need to go around bragging. Joseph only stated what he saw—“Hey, in this dream, you guys were all bowing down to me!” It was a dream. So we too, get insights and blessing from our Father. As soon as we mention it to even some who are Christian, they see it as aggrandizement! Joseph points to another who would be rejected by brothers and go on to save them.
The story turns after long suffering in Egypt’s prison and supernatural patience on Joseph’s part, Joseph becomes a powerful man, trusted by Pharaoh because God interprets Pharaoh’s dreams, using Joseph. Joseph spared the Egyptians, thus the Hebrews, from starvation because of God’s power in him. Jesus has saved the gentile nations first, thus Israel. In this way, God is sparing His own chosen when He tells Jacob in Genesis 46:3, “I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt for there I will make thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt: and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon your eyes.” The repeat in history…the vision set forth is how God has never let go of His Chosen—the promise for Israel’s salvation is going to reach Israel by way of God’s Children.
The story turns after long suffering in Egypt’s prison and supernatural patience on Joseph’s part, Joseph becomes a powerful man, trusted by Pharaoh because God interprets Pharaoh’s dreams, using Joseph. Joseph spared the Egyptians, thus the Hebrews, from starvation because of God’s power in him. Jesus has saved the gentile nations first, thus Israel. In this way, God is sparing His own chosen when He tells Jacob in Genesis 46:3, “I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt for there I will make thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt: and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon your eyes.” The repeat in history…the vision set forth is how God has never let go of His Chosen—the promise for Israel’s salvation is going to reach Israel by way of God’s Children.
