Christ in Joseph - A savior to His brethren

"And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do." (Genesis 41,:25)

We see before us in this chapter that God is working all things after the counsel of His own will, and that the fruition of His plan is in the fulness of time. Joseph, forgotten by the chief butler, languishes in prison for a full two years, but then Pha­raoh has two disturbing dreams. He calls for the magicians and none can interpret them unto Pharaoh (Gen. 41:8). The incident is used to jog the memory of the chief butler and Joseph is brought from prison. What was needed at such a time as this was one who could reveal God's ways to Pharaoh. How like our Lord Jesus, the One who has revealed to us fully the ways, purpose and character of God, “He has declared him” (John 1:18). Joseph as a picture of our Lord Jesus proves to be a “wonderful counsellor” (Isa. 9:6). He was able to reveal the future through the interpretation of the dreams and also pro­vide a solution to save Egypt from imminent disaster. In the providence of God, Egypt would be blessed, but it was for Israel's sake that God was at work.

The solution to the seven years of famine which would fol­low the seven years of plenty was the appointment of a man discreet and wise, set over the land of Egypt (Gen. 41:33). Here is a picture of the One whom God will set over all His affairs in a coming day. Joseph was to oversee the holding back of a fifth part during the time of plenty, so that there would be corn in Egypt during the time of severe famine that would follow. However, the famine would not just be in Egypt, but “this dearth was in all lands” (Gen. 41:54).

Joseph's wisdom and planning would be God's means of saving his brethren from certain death in the time of famine. In like manner, “when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adop­tion of sons” (Gal. 4:4-5). We are happy that although He came to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, through Him all the families of the earth will be blessed. He has come to save us from some­thing worse than temporal famine. He is the bread of life!

M.A.