We have been studying through the book of Genesis in some detail, building a case for the Old Testament. One of the most important things we are learning is that the Old Testament gives a picture of things to come via the promises of God through covenants. These covenants unfold from Abraham through his son Isaac and grandson Jacob, and then to an entire nation of people known as Israel.
A huge part of the Covenant Promise includes a blessing for “all the nations” and this culminates in the person of Jesus, the promised Savior, the Son of God. Once we understand the big picture, then the rest of the Old Testament comes together with a focus on this one promise: A Messiah. So it makes sense that throughout the Old Testament we find stories of real people like Isaac, Joseph and Moses who give us a foreshadow, or a partial picture, of the things Jesus would eventually accomplish in fulfillment of God’s promises.
One of the most obvious foreshadows comes in the life of Joseph, one of Jacob’s twelve sons that eventually comprise the Nation of Israel. Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son because he was the first son with his beloved wife Rachel who would later die in childbirth having the twelfth and final son Benjamin.
The Twelve Tribes of Israel and their notable Biblical descendants:
- Reuben………..none
- Simeon………..none
- Levi…………….Aaron, Moses, Eli, John the Baptist
- Judah…………..David, Joseph and Mary, Jesus
- Zebulun……….none
- Issachar………..none
- Dan……………Samson
- Gad……………none
- Asher………….none
- Naphtali……….Barak, (Elijah?)
- Joseph*…….……Joshua, Deborah, Gideon, Samuel
- Benjamin………Saul, Esther, the Apostle Paul
*Joseph’s tribe is later split into two tribes: Ephraim and Manasseh because the tribe of Levi would take on the role of priests.
Parallels between Joseph and Jesus (a foreshadow of Messiah)
- Their fathers loved them dearly and suffered the temporary loss
- Shepherds of their father’s sheep
- Sent by fathers to brothers
- Hated by brothers
- Others plotted to harm them
- Robes taken from them
- Sold for the price (of a slave)
- Taken to Egypt
- Bound in chains
- Tempted
- Falsely accused
- Placed with two other prisoners, one who was saved and the other lost
- Both 30 years old at the beginning of public recognition
- Exalted after suffering
- Forgave those who wronged them
- Saved their nation
- What people did to hurt them God turned to good
Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. (Genesis 50:18-19)
As you read and study through this section of Genesis think about these points that foreshadow Jesus and what He would suffer through for our salvation.
Listen to John Piper’s presentation on the story of Joseph and how he foreshadows Jesus:
Bible Study Points:
Read Genesis 37-50
It would be important to read this entire section in one sitting to get the big picture of Joseph’s story. Pay special attention to the role that his brother Judah plays as he will be an instrumental part of the entire big picture of the Old Testament. We will just focus on chapter 37 here.
- Ch. 37 Joseph’s dreams; Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery
- This chapter finds Jacob and his family living in the Promised Land, but they will not be able to stay there for long and will end up in Egypt by the end of this book, not to return for several hundred years. Joseph is hated by his brothers because his father favors him, and to make matters worse Joseph has tells his brothers and his father about the dreams that he has where it appears that he will be ruling over them at some point (notice in verse 11 it says “His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind”), and when we get to the end of Joseph’s story his dreams will actually be a reality.
- The second half of the chapter tells us about Joseph being sent by his father to find out how his brothers were doing, and when they see him coming they become enraged and plan to kill him, but Reuben, the oldest, says, “let’s throw him in the cistern instead” (because Reuben had planned to rescue him later and take him back to his father). Reuben leaves for a short time and while he is gone the brothers decide to sell him to a caravan going to Egypt. When Reuben returns he is devastated, but goes along with the plan to deceive their father by agreeing to dip Joseph’s coat in the blood of an animal and telling their father they found it. (Special Note: Simeon was second oldest and would have been in charge in Reuben’s place which may be the reason that he is kept in prison by Joseph later in the story). Jacob, upon learning of Joseph’s supposed demise, was devastated, and grieved for Joseph for a very long time.
- Meanwhile Joseph is sold into slavery in Egypt to a man named Potiphar, the Captain of the guard, one of Pharaoh’s officials.
This will lead up to the story of Joseph in Egypt which we will focus on more next week along with the very important journey of his brother Judah.
Bible Study Review:
- Rachel had died in childbirth with Benjamin (Gen. Ch. 35:18-19). How was it obvious that Jacob favored Joseph and why (Gen. 37)?
- What did Joseph do to make his relationship with his brothers worse, and how did they react? (Gen. 37:1-11)
- What did the brothers end up doing to Joseph? (Gen. 37:12-36) What specific brothers are mentioned in this conflict and what did each of them do?
- What stands out to you about Joseph at this point? What do you see that foreshadows (or gives us a picture of) Jesus?
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Teri Dugan
TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com
1 Peter 3:15
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