October 2022 – Page 2

39.p. Joseph as a Picture of Jesus

Joseph is one of the most remarkable portraits of Jesus, the Messiah, in all the Bible. In many ways, his life illustrated the future life and work of Jesus. Here are a few ways in which Joseph and Jesus are alike.

“There is scarcely any personal type in the Old Testament which is more clearly and fully a portrait of our Lord Jesus Christ than is the type of Joseph.” (Charles Spurgeon)

Was a shepherd. Loved by his father. Sent unto his brethren. Hated by his brothers. Prophesied his coming glory. Rejected by his brothers. Endured unjust punishment from his brothers. Sentenced to the pit. Condemned to the pit, though a leader knew he should go free. Sold for pieces of silver. Handed over to the Gentiles. Regarded as dead but raised out of the pit. Went to Egypt. Made a servant. Tempted severely but did not sin. Falsely accused. Made no defense. Cast into prison and numbered with sinners and criminals. Endured unjust punishment from Gentiles. Associated with two other criminals; one was pardoned, and one was not. Showed compassion. Brought a message of deliverance in prison. Wanted to be remembered. Shown to have divine wisdom. Recognized as having the Spirit of God. Betrayed by friends. Glorified after his humility. Honored among Gentiles while still despised or forgotten by his brethren. Given a Gentile bride. Was 30 years old when he began his life’s work. Blessed the world with bread. Became the only source of bread for the world. The world was instructed to go to him and do whatever he said to do. Was given the name “God Speaks and He Lives. His brethren were driven out of their own land. In his second appearing, he did not first go to his brothers; they came to him. He knew his brethren even while unknown and unrecognized by them. He blessed his brethren without their knowledge. He wanted all of his brethren to come to him. There was a significant time gap between his initial relationship with his brothers and his second relationship to his brothers. He gave his brothers a way of deliverance through substitution. His “second coming” to his brothers had two appearances. He made himself known to his brethren at his second appearing to them. He was revealed as a man of compassion. His brothers repented of rejecting him, with great amazement and tears. He allowed no fellowship (as in eating together) until his brothers repented and he revealed himself. His brethren went forth to proclaim his glory. He made provision for his brethren. He prepared a place for his brethren, and he received them into it. He brought Jew and Gentile together in the land.

39.o. “Assemble and listen”

Genesis 49:1 Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come. “Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob, listen to Israel your father.

Jacob summoned his sons together, that he might inform them of what should befall them in the latter days.” We cannot tell our children what shall befall them or their families in this world; but we can tell them, from the word of God, what shall befall them in the last day of all, according as they conduct themselves in this world. (Benson)

We are not to consider this address as the expression of private feelings of affection, resentment, or partiality; but as the language of the Holy Ghost, declaring the purpose of God respecting the character, circumstances, and situation of the tribes which descended from the sons of Jacob, and which may be traced in their histories. (Henry)

Jacob called his sons together for them together to receive their individual blessings and to hear the blessings of their brothers. Jacob, filled with the hope and promises of God to Abraham and Isaac, then to himself, and filled with the Holy Spirit, blessed each son and prophesied their legacy.

We leave Trusts and Wills for our children when we die, but wouldn’t it be Holy and awesome if we were filled with the Spirit of God all the days of our lives and we poured out the Word of God into their lives as an eternal lasting blessing for them rather than give much thought about our worldly possessions and the division of these assets upon our death.

39.n. “God will be with you”

Genesis 48:21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. Moreover, I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.”

One portion above your brothers: This referred to Joseph being father of two tribes, while each of his brothers only fathered one each.

Which I took from the hand of the Amorite: Apparently, while still in Canaan, Jacob battled for control of a portion of land from the Amorites, and he deeded the land to Joseph and his descendants. The descendants of Joseph would take this land some 400 years later.

God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers: This completed a wonderful work regarding Jacob’s recognition of God’s presence in his life.

· I am with you (Genesis 28:15): God gives the young believer every possible assurance of His presence and grace.

· I will be with you (Genesis 31:3): God expects the growing believer to trust He will be with him, even when he only has the promise of His presence.

· God… has been with me (Genesis 31:5): God gives a glorious testimony to the mature believer, able to say how God has been with him, even when he hasn’t felt His presence in the way he wished.

· God will be with you (Genesis 48:21): God gives the mature believer the opportunity to encourage others with the promise of God’s presence.

(Guzik)

39.m. “And when the time drew near that Israel must die”

Genesis 47:27 Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were 147 years. And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place.” He answered, “I will do as you have said.” And he said, “Swear to me”; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed.

Death is not far from any of us. In the blink of an eye an accident, sickness, lightning strike, or murderous hands we are all in the sight line of death. It does not matter if we give it thought or not, it is still there, one second, one breath, or 50 years or a hundred million breaths. No one knows God’s allowed time for their life, and yet, we live as though death is something that happens to others or those of much older age. I don’t know how often I have heard someone say they hope they are good enough to go to heaven when they die. It does not matter if you tell them about Jesus Chris, belief, faith, forgiveness, trust, reliance, and hope are the only way to eternal assurance. They will still fall back into being good enough for heaven though. These are Satan’s lies and are an assurance into eternal hell. Let no one be led astray with this thinking, be warned, “It is not by good works a person is saved but through belief, faith, reliance, trust, and hope in Jesus Christ alone.” If we knew how close death’s door was before us, would we think about this differently? Would there be a sense of urgency? Would there be repentance and a search for salvation? Here today and gone tomorrow happen more frequently than we want to think about. Choosing to deny the need for Jesus Christ and believing you can be good enough on your own and rejecting how close death is to you, may give you comfort but rest assured it is false and your eternal destiny is Hell. God’s Word is clear just as His promises of heaven and hell are clear. Do not let another minute go by without humble surrender, trust, faith, hope, and reliance on Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation.

39.l. “Why should we die before your eyes?”

Genesis 47:13 Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished by reason of the famine. And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought. And Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. And when the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone.” And Joseph answered, “Give your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.” So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. He supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year. And when that year was ended, they came to him the following year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is all spent. The herds of livestock are my lord’s. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our land. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh. And give us seed that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be desolate.”

So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for all the Egyptians sold their fields, because the famine was severe on them. The land became Pharaoh’s. As for the people, he made servants of them from one end of Egypt to the other.

Care being taken of Jacob and his family, which mercy was especially designed by Providence in Joseph’s advancement, an account is given of the saving the kingdom of Egypt from ruin. There was no bread, and the people were ready to die. See how we depend upon God’s providence. All our wealth would not keep us from starving, if rain were withheld for two or three years. See how much we are at God’s mercy, and let us keep ourselves always in his love. Also see how much we smart by our own want of care. If all the Egyptians had laid up corn for themselves in the seven years of plenty, they had not been in these straits; but they regarded not the warning. Silver and gold would not feed them: they must have corn. All that a man hath will he give for his life. We cannot judge this matter by modern rules. It is plain that the Egyptians regarded Joseph as a public benefactor. The whole is consistent with Joseph’s character, acting between Pharaoh and his subjects, in the fear of God. The Egyptians confessed concerning Joseph, Thou hast saved our lives. What multitudes will gratefully say to Jesus, at the last day, Thou hast saved our souls from the most tremendous destruction, and in the season of uttermost distress! The Egyptians parted with all their property, and even their liberty, for the saving of their lives: can it then be too much for us to count all but loss, and part with all, at His command, and for His sake, who will both save our souls, and give us an hundredfold, even here, in this present world? Surely if saved by Christ, we shall be willing to become his servants. (Henry)

In a national crisis, the power of the central government will increase. We certainly have seen this fruit being manifested. A seven-year famine will certainly be a national crisis and the power of the central government should increase. However, when a government unleashes a fear campaign and controls news and media narratives they are able to get the sheep to follow. If only it was fearful respect for God that would drive these sheep to follow after Him. Often fear is based on unknown outcomes with the threat of those outcomes impacting that person. Trusting in God and relying on His grace, mercy, and love will guard your heart against the fear that easily leads sheep to follow after worldly wisdom and action.

We all stand before God bankrupt. When we come to Him through Jesus Christ our debt is forgiven. Though you may have lived 10, 20, 30, or 60, years in famine to God’s grace, mercy, and, love, now is the time to humbly come before Him acknowledging your bankrupt soul and gain eternal life for your soul through belief, trust, and reliance on the blood of Jesus Christ to cover your debt.

39.k. “For every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

Genesis 46:31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ When Pharaoh calls you and says, What is your occupation?’ you shall say, Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

Genesis 47:1 So Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan. They are now in the land of Goshen.” And from among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, as our fathers were.”

“For every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians”. There are many comments and thoughts as to why this is so, but for whatever reason, the Egyptians looked down on shepherds with disgrace, aversion, disdain, disgust, contempt, etc…. Joseph knew this and also had to have been led by God in his thoughts. Joseph was not the least bit worried about telling Pharaoh that his family came from a line of shepherds. Joseph was not ashamed to say this was his family. He also may have had thoughts of trying to keep his family away from the Egyptian culture and their customs and to mark his family in such a way that the Egyptians would willingly stay away from them.

God has a plan for every life if they would but seek Him first in their hearts and minds. For some, this may result in high-profile positions with great influence and power, and responsibility. For others, it may result in occupations and positions less so. Learning to be content in God’s plan for our lives and occupations is not an easy thing. In the guise of contentment, some are just lazy misfits with no drive to succeed or be under the influence of God’s direction. Likewise, there are those who strive for wealth, power, status, and worldly recognition outside of God’s influence in their lives and they are never content. Both of these groups of people and everyone in between has a commonality, God is not in their lives. He is not first in their lives. They are influenced by worldly passions and what the world deems proper and important. Being content can only come to the hearts and minds of those who have learned to follow after God and seek Him first, and purposing to honor and glorify Him in all they think, say, and do. They will have been given discernment and be able to hear the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirits leading in their lives and being able to distinguish worldly from Godly. There is no God-ordained occupation below any of us.

Early in my career I had a garbage route and picked up garbage in a small town with a pickup truck. I also cleaned toilets in an administration building for a biological vaccine manufacturing company. I was also a master plumber. In all that I did God gave me purpose and contentment. At the end of my career, I was a CEO of a biological vaccine manufacturing company. I had no formal post-high school education. God will use and place those where He chooses and content are they who find their contentment in Him.

39.j. “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 55:12   “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace;

John 14:1   “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

John 14:27     Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Romans 5:5   and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Joel 3:16    The LORD roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the LORD is a refuge to his people

Thanks to technology, we see the joy and celebrations of life that occur all over the world, but we also see the heartbreak and despair. It is easy to be discouraged and disheartened by what we hear and see and experience. Wars, weather-related disasters, drought, famine, earthquakes, and not to mention cultural and societal moral decline. Abortion is defined as reproductive rights. Homosexuality and transgenderism is honored, celebrated, and promoted as an alternative lifestyle. Attempts to ban Christianity from schools and government are common. Open hatred for God and things of God are common. How is a person to make sense of what is going on? Where is a person to find HOPE?

We have an anchor and it doesn’t matter how hard the storms or currents rage. God is all-powerful and all-knowing and ever-present. As disheartening and troublesome as life can be at times, HOPE in God never disappoints. Though our journey through trials may seem long and unbearable, hope in God gives us a peace that passes all understanding.

Do not despair, worry, or fear what is going on in the world but rather keep your eyes focused on Jesus Christ and the word of God. There is nothing in this world that can remove the joy from a heart and mind that is fixed on Jesus Christ.

39.i. “sixty-six persons in all”

Genesis 46:28 All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own descendants, not including Jacob’s sons’ wives, were sixty-six persons in all. And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.

The total number of males of this clan was 70. There were 66, plus Jacob himself, Joseph, and his two sons. This large family would become a nation of perhaps more than two million over the next 400 years.

i. Like many great works of God, Israel had a slow beginning.

· From the time God called Abraham, it took at least 25 years to add one son – Isaac.

· It took Isaac 60 years to add another son of Israel – Jacob.

· It took 50 or 60 years for Jacob to add 12 sons and one daughter.

· But in 430 years, Israel would leave Egypt with 600,000 men.

· It took this family 215 years to grow from one to 70, but in another 430 years they grew to two million or more.

ii. In Acts 7:14, Stephen said that there were 75 who went into Egypt. This is because Stephen quoted from the Septuagint version of the Old Testament, which says 75. The number in the Septuagint is not wrong, just arrived at in a different way, specifically adding five more sons (or grandsons) of Joseph born in Egypt.

Only God knows the beginning from the end. He is the author and finisher of His plans and purposes for all of mankind. In and through Him that which seems impossible is made possible and that which seems certain is made not to be. It does not matter what man contrives or attempts, God is in control no matter what the circumstance.

39.h. “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.”

Genesis 45:21 The sons of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. To each and all of them he gave a change of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five changes of clothes. To his father he sent as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.” So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. And Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Pharaoh was kind to Joseph, and to his relations for his sake. Egypt would make up the losses of their removal. Thus those for whom Christ intends his heavenly glory, ought not to regard the things of this world. The best of its enjoyments are but lumber; we cannot make sure of them while here, much less can we carry them away with us. Let us not set our eyes or hearts upon the world; there are better things for us in that blessed land, whither Christ, our Joseph, is gone to prepare a place. Joseph dismissed his brethren with a seasonable caution, See that ye fall not out by the way. He knew they were too apt to be quarrelsome; and having forgiven them all, he lays this charge upon them, not to upbraid one another. This command our Lord Jesus has given to us, that we love one another, and that whatever happens, or has happened, we fall not out. For we are brethren, we have all one Father. We are all guilty, and instead of quarrelling with one another, have reason to fall out with ourselves. We are, or hope to be, forgiven of God, whom we have all offended, and, therefore, should be ready to forgive one another. We are by the way, a way through the land of Egypt, where we have many eyes upon us, that seek advantage against us; a way that leads to the heavenly Canaan, where we hope to be for ever in perfect peace. (Henry)

I like how Henry communicates the correlation to Jesus who:

Who is still alive
Who goes before us to make a way for us.
Who will forgive us if we confess our sin
Who is waiting for us
Who give us instruction
Who is happy to see us come to Him
Who followed God’s will for His life so that we might live
Who is able to overcome worldly trials
Who makes all things work together for good to them who are called by Him

39.g. ” Do you need help?”

FROM TURNING POINT; DR JEREMIAH

He will give you another Helper . . . the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.
John 14:16-17

When asked about our societal issues, Pastor Tony Evans said earlier this year, “Our identity is to be rooted in the image of God. But we’ve gotten so ingrained in the thinking of the culture, that we wind up being parakeets to what the society is saying and culture is doing, rather than taking a solid, loving but clear stance on what God is saying.

Isn’t that the truth! Our current culture can be deceiving. Instead of sharing biblical truth, society spreads falsehoods. It practices duplicity; it does not glorify God. Instead, it has begun glorifying dishonesty and a lack of morality. That is why our Heavenly Father gave us a Helper in the Holy Spirit. When we encounter deceit—knowingly or unknowingly—our Helper points us to the Truth—God’s Word.

If you are feeling confused by all the “truth” in our world, call upon the Helper today for support; the real Truth will be revealed to you.