04.12. SHADOW: Joseph, the Savior of the Nations
Shadow: Joseph, the Savior of the Nations Genesis 41:53-57 AUDIO http://www.exposingtheword.com/SHADOWS/MP3s%20Shadows/12%20Shadow-%20Joseph%20Savior%20of%20the%20Nations.mp3
Joseph has given us a remarkable foreshadowing of Christ. In the first three messages we have seen that he pictured the Favorite Son of the Father, the Silent Suffering Servant, the Sovereign Ruler over the Kingdom. We conclude today with the Savior of the Nations.
Genesis 41:53-57 And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. 54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. 56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. 57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.
Famine has come to Egypt. Joseph is used of God in a God ordained plan to sustain life, to be the savior of the nations. Notice it said all countries came to Egypt. Joseph brothers have come and bowed before him as well seeking grain. We have a certain amount of overlapping of our story that is unavoidable.
I- His Own Did Not Recognize Him:
When Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt they did not recognize him. Genesis 42:7-8 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. 8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
Joseph had been raised up to be the savior of the world in a physical sense but was not recognized the first time his brother came. Now notice what it says about Christ.
John 1:10-12 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
His own did not recognize Him but those who do He is their Savior.
II- In His Presence there was Consciousness of Sin:
Joseph stood in the presence of his brothers who talked in Hebrew knowing not that Joseph understood them. They discussed their guilt. They were conscious of their sin in his presence.
Genesis 42:21 And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
We hear the testimony of John the Baptist in Mark 1:7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
Then the Roman commander, who bowed to no Jew, saying in Matthew 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
I submit to us that there was a conviction of sin that was to be found in the presence of Jesus. When the men were sent to arrest Jesus and returned empty handed they were asked why they did not arrest him John 7:46 says, The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
Why does the world run from Him who is come to be their Savior? They run because they are convicted of their sin in His presence. John 3:19-20 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
III- Both Weep for Brethren:
Joseph in the presence of his brothers was touched in the heart of his soul for them. Those that had hated him, abused him by selling him, is now touching his heart. Genesis 42:24 And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.
We are told that Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem in Luke 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
We hear this heart cry in Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
I submit that this is the heart of God. It tells us in 1 John 4:8-10 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
IV- Recognized Second Time:
Joseph sends his brothers away except for Simeon who was put in prison for a promise of their return. After they return to Jacob they are finally forces to return to Egypt to buy more grain because the famine continues to rage.
They finally return with Benjamin recorded in Genesis 43:15 And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
Joseph brings them into his private dining area and feeds them observing them all the time. He sends them on their way but plants his personal cup in Benjamin’s sack. They are pursed and arrest and returned to Joseph. Joseph brings them in and we pick up the story in Genesis 45:1-3 a Then Joseph 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 Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. 2 And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. 3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live?
It was this second time that Joseph was revealed to his brethren.
Remember now that Christ was not accepted by Israel at His first coming. We know that in the future He will be. I am not talking about when every knee will bow and tongue confess but when He come again.
Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
He will be seen and recognized the second time unlike the first.
V- Bestower of Grace:
Understand that grace is unmerited favor. It is bestowed upon someone who does not deserve it or yea may even be an enemy. Joseph has revealed himself to his brethren and next he gives them, not what they deserve but he bestows grace upon them. He gives them unearned, undeserved favor. They did not deserve mercy but they received it from Joseph.
Genesis 45:3 b ...And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. 4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. 5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
Joseph was willing to forgive the past and start a new relationship with them.
Beloved we do not deserve Jesus to give us grace for salvation. What can we do to earn salvation, absolutely nothing. Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.
Notice what Ephesians 2:1-9 says, And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Christ is the bestower of mercy and grace.
VI- Invitation to Come:
After Joseph had revealed himself to his brothers he then sends them back to their father to bring him to Egypt. The invitation is to come, come and he would provide for all their needs. Genesis 45:18-20 And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land. 19 Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.
I want to point out that they needed nothing from their former life. He would provide out of the abundant storehouse at his disposal.
Jesus likewise extends His invitation to come to Him and He will supply. Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
He will supply all our needs. Notice Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Men’s greatest need is that of a Savior. Joseph pictured this for us as a foreshadow of Christ. He is willing, able and ready to save all that come to Him. Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.