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Joseph


Reading: Genesis 41




The Root, the Branch, and the Savior.



Introduction

The patriarch Joseph, son of Jacob, was a spiritual forerunner YAHUSHUA the Messiah. His work was a 'living blueprint' of the spiritual work of salvation the coming Savior was to accomplish for all mankind. In this lesson we will examine a few of Joseph's qualities and experiences, bearing in mind all the while that though the lessons we learn could apply to any true follower of YaHuWaH, Joseph's life was primarily a 'prophetic preview' of the coming Savior of the world!


1. Joseph the Dreamer

YaHuWaH often speaks to His people through dreams (Joel 2:28, 1 Sam 28:15). Several Bible prophecies were given that way. In Joseph's case the dreams came from an early age and he was mockingly called by his brothers 'the dreamer.'


Gen.37:19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.

Though his brothers envied him, his father Jacob pondered over the dreams Joseph related.

 

Gen. 37:5-11... His brothers envied him; but his father observed the saying.


Interpretations belong to YaHuWaH

As he grew older, Joseph learned some very important lessons. The first was that the ability to interpret dreams and prophecies belongs to YaHuWaH alone; to the One who gave the dream in the first place.

 

Gen. 40:8 And Yoseph said unto them,( Pharaoh's butler and baker) Do not interpretations belong to Elohim?
Gen.41:6 And Yoseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: Elohim shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

The prophet Daniel mentions this same fact in Daniel 2:28 when he said to king Nebuchadnezzar: …'there is an Elohim in heaven that revealeth secrets.' In other words, the interpretation of a prophetic dream or prophecy can only come from the Person who gave that dream or prophecy in the first place. We Christians may struggle and strain endlessly to understand Bible prophecy, but until the Almighty Elohim of Abraham opens our spiritual eyes to see, true understanding will never come! This means that we should constantly pray the Psalmist's prayer:



Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Torah. (Psalm 119:18)
Shew me Thy ways, O YaHuWaH ; teach me Thy paths.(Psalm 25:4)

2. Joseph's Experiences

Here are some facts about Joseph:


  • Family life: Loved by his parents, hated by his brothers.
  • Slave/Servant: Sold into slavery by his brothers.
  • Prisoner: An innocent prisoner accused of rape!
  • Ruler: Rose to become the ruler of all Egypt.
  • Savior: saved the lives of tens of thousands.

3. Joseph's Personal Qualities

Concerning Joseph's personal appearance and character we are told:

Appearance: Gen.39:6 … And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favored.

In other words, Joseph was an extremely good-looking man.
Industry: And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. (Gen. 39:22)


Foresight: As far as we know the plan to store food for the seven year famine was Joseph's plan.


Genesis 41:33 : Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.
34: Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
35: And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
36: And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.

When Pharaoh considered Joseph's astonishing proposal he said:


Gen. 41:38 Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of Elohim is?
39: And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as Elohim hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:

Love & Emotion:

Joseph held no grievances against those who had harmed him. When, after 20 years of suffering, he again met his brothers, who were instrumental in causing his suffering, Joseph had no bitterness in his heart against them. He forgave them freely; even before they asked forgiveness. Joseph was an emotional man. Like YAHUSHUA the Messiah we are told that he wept with emotion.


Gen. 43: 30 And Yoseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: (Benjamin) and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.
Gen. 45:1 Then Yoseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Yoseph made himself known unto his brethren.
2: And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.
Gen:46:29 And Yoseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while

Joseph's heart was full of love and the 20 years of utter loneliness burst from his eyes; he wept a good while.


4. Joseph's Moral Standards

As far as sexual morality was concerned, ancient Egypt was much like our present civilization. Illicit sexual intercourse was commonly practiced. The sanctity of marriage mattered little and the women of ancient Egypt were as bad as the men. Just as they are today. Indeed, every great civilization has been the same. Sexual depravity, adultery, fornication, incest, rape, child-abuse, violence and greed has characterized them all. The mighty civilizations of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome all glutted themselves to death on illicit sex and violence. Our present civilization is the last in the line. It is exactly the same. Men and women are obsessed with sex. The bookstores, the media, the holiday brochures and the television are saturated with illicit sexual overtones, insinuations and invitations. It was into that caldron of sexual corruption that the captive Joseph was hurled.

 

Genesis 37:36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.
Gen. 39:7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Yoseph; and she said, Lie with me.
8: But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
9: There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against Elohim?
10: And it came to pass, as she spake to Yoseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
11: And it came to pass about this time, that Yoseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
12: And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

The story is well known. Joseph refused to commit adultery, to sin against YaHuWaH ! I wonder how many men would have stood up to such persistent and compelling temptation.


5. Joseph's Fruitfulness

Joseph had just passed one of the greatest tests of his life. He had placed the commandments of YaHuWaH above natural inclination and passion and had refused to sleep with Potiphar's wife. YaHuWaH noted Joseph's obedience and raised him to the highest rank in Egypt, under the Pharaoh himself. It was in this post that Joseph lived up to his name and became the Savior of millions of people. A mighty world-wide famine arose.

And the famine was over all the face of the Earth… (Gen:41:56)

The grain Joseph provided went to all the surrounding countries. No doubt, the fame of Joseph's Elohim went with it; for had he not said to his brothers:

Gen.45:7 And Elohim sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.


Joseph: A Blessing to All

Everyone who befriended Joseph was blessed.


Gen:39:5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that YaHuWaH blessed the Egyptian's house for Yoseph's sake; and the blessing of YaHuWaH was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

6. Joseph's Faith

Joseph believed in the resurrection. The oath he extracted from the people of Israel is proof that he believed that their stay in Egypt was temporary and that one day they would leave Egypt for the country YaHuWaH had promised Abraham and his descendants. Joseph believed YaHuWaH 's promise and wanted to return with Israel to the Promised Land; where he would rest in his grave till the ressurrection of the dead.


Gen. 50:24 And Yoseph said unto his brethren, I die: and Elohim will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
25: And Yoseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, Elohim will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.
Exo 13:19 And Moshe took the bones of Yoseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, Elohim will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.

The bones of Joseph, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob and some other Hebrews lie in the town of Hebron awaiting the resurrection. That's faith for you! I, personally look forward to meeting these people of whom I have read so much.


7. Joseph's Example

Few people in history compare with Joseph. There is nothing recorded in the Scriptures against him. Everything he did was without fault. He was a perfect physical and spiritual specimen. He was a type of Messiah, a forerunner of YAHUSHUA the Savior of the world! He was a man who rose from a lowly shepherd boy to rule the mightiest empire of the ancient world - Egypt! We can trace no blemish, no laziness, no dishonesty, no foolishness, no pride, no malice, no sexual malpractice and no lack of love in Joseph's record. In an age given over to sexual license, pride, greed and hate, as was ancient Egypt, Joseph's example shines forth with amazing brilliance. Young and old should remember that they can be true to YaHuWaH and keep His commandments - anywhere!


  • In the sheepfold,
  • In a servant's post or slave pen.
  • In the prison dungeon
  • In high office. In fact, anywhere & in any condition!

What's more the Holy Spirit can be with us - and in us - amid all these circumstances. Said Pharaoh:


'Can we find a man such as this, in whom is the Spirit of Elohim?'


Are you a fruitful branch on the spiritual vine of YAHUSHUA? Are you, like Joseph, honest, hard working, loving and pure? Do you endeavor to save life by sharing the spiritual bounties YaHuWaH has freely given you?


8. Joseph's Blessing

Gen.49:22 Yoseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:
23: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
24: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty Elohim of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
25: Even by the Elohim of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
26: The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Yoseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

9. Joseph's Secret

Joseph's secret of success was that YaHuWaH was with him. In all his experiences we have these words repeated YaHuWaH was with Him.'

 

Gen.39:2 And YaHuWaH was with Yoseph, and he was a prosperous man…
verse 21 But YaHuWaH was with Yoseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
22: And the keeper of the prison committed to Yoseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

Joseph's obedience and pure life ensured YaHuWaH 's presence. And it was YaHuWaH 's presence which was the secret of Joseph's success. Every true believer has exactly the same opportunities for success as Joseph had. I repeat: Faith and Obedience ensure YaHuWaH 's presence; and it is YaHuWaH 's presence in a believer's life which ensures success in every field. That was the secret of Joseph's success. It can be yours.