Joseph, Type of the Risen Christ

From: Selected Writings of Charles Stanley: Volume 2 By: Charles Stanley

From: Pamphlets

Genesis 45 • 28 min. read • grade level: 5

Read Genesis 45.

It is most interesting and profitable to trace in the Old Testament histories the shadows of God’s purposed blessings in the risen Christ. The history of Joseph is a picture penciled by the hand of God. When the light of resurrection is thrown upon it, the whole is lit up with indescribable beauty.

When Joseph made himself known to his brethren, he had been, as it were, dead about twenty years. Yes, twenty long years had passed away since his father had said, “I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning” (Genesis 37:35³⁵And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him. (Genesis 37:35)). Thus, with rent clothes and sackcloth upon his loins, had Jacob wept for him. But now Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive” (Genesis 45:28²⁸And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die. (Genesis 45:28)). As a type of Christ, death and resurrection are the two great points. The preeminence of Christ was shadowed forth in the dreams of Joseph (Genesis 37). The sheaves of the field, the sun and the moon, and the eleven stars made obeisance to Him.

“Jesus! Lord of all creation,

To Him shall all creation bow.”

“God hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth” (Philippians 2:9-10⁹Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: ¹⁰That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (Philippians 2:9‑10)).

The preeminence of Joseph filled his brethren with envy; the preeminence of Jesus filled the Jews with hatred. The brethren of Joseph said, “Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come, now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit” (Genesis 37:19-20¹⁹And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. ²⁰Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. (Genesis 37:19‑20)). And the Jewish brethren of Jesus said, “This is the heir; Come let us kill Him” (Matthew 21:38³⁸But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. (Matthew 21:38)). Joseph was cast into the pit. “And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it” (Genesis 37:24²⁴And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. (Genesis 37:24)). The wickedness of their hearts was thus manifested; they cast him into a pit, and they sat down to eat bread. The Jews crucified Jesus, and then sat down to keep high Sabbath, Joseph was sold for twenty pieces of silver; Jesus was sold for thirty. Like Isaac, in this shadow, Joseph did not actually die; there was no water in the pit. But with our precious Jesus, He sank in the deep mire. He says, “All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me” (Psalm 42:7⁷Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. (Psalm 42:7)). Yes, Isaac, when laid on the altar, was spared; Joseph, when cast into the pit was spared: but when Jesus was nailed to the cross, God “spared not His own Son” (Romans 8:32³²He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32)). Cruel as was the treatment of Joseph’s brethren, yet he was not forsaken; but Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46⁴⁶And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46)). Oh! why was He thus forsaken on the cross? Oh! why did it please Jehovah to bruise Him? Ah, “Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin ... . Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows ... . He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:10,4-5¹⁰Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:10)
⁴Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. ⁵But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4‑5)). The sufferings of Joseph were against his will; but the death of Jesus was his own voluntary offering. “I lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10:15¹⁵As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:15)). Yes, “Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18¹⁸For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18)). Thus has our God commended His love to us.

Joseph is sold into Egypt, and his brethren have got rid of him. Jesus is killed, and the world has got rid of Him. The lies and deceit of Joseph’s brethren succeed so well and so long, until Joseph is almost forgotten. If ever remembered, he is only remembered as the one that is dead, or the “one [who] is not” (Genesis 42:32³²We be twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan. (Genesis 42:32)).

Oh! dark, cruel world, you have killed the Prince of Life, and boastest of progress; long and well have you succeeded with your lies and delusions. But you are doomed; your day is at hand; your seven years of plenty will soon run out; then shall your seven-fold judgments come. If you remember Jesus, it is only as one that is dead, or one that is not. Oh! despising, rejecting world, you shall soon find Him to be to you the terrible Lord of heaven and earth.

Let us return to the history. Seventeen years of age was Joseph when he fed the flocks with his brethren; and he was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Seven years of plenty had also run their course, so that for twenty years the foul sin of his cruel brethren had been concealed. But at last “the famine was sore in all lands” (Genesis 41:57⁵⁷And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands. (Genesis 41:57)).

How often this is the case. Sin may be forgotten while years of plenty roll away. While the prodigal rolls in luxury, we hear nothing of his sins or his father’s house; but when all is spent, and the famine comes, then he cannot forget his sins, and must return to his father’s house. Truly,

“God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform.”

“I cannot forget the things I did sixty years ago,” said an old man to me, the other day, on his dying bed. Should these lines meet the eye of one who has rolled in plenty! and now every worldly hope is blighted; that idol once so dear to you is gone; wealth and wealth’s friends are gone. In poverty and need you find it a cold, cruel world; little did you expect the treatment you have met. Is it a famine in all lands to you? Oh! the thousands of hearts thus wrung with bitter anguish in this cold, deceitful world.

Let me speak a little further. How about your sin? is that question settled? Have you to add to your heavy sorrows a troubled conscience? Perhaps sometimes, the remembrance of sin is unbearable; at such a time the thought comes, and sticks like a poisoned arrow, “My sins have brought all this on me.” But you try to forget them.

The seven years of plenty were ended; the seven years of famine began. As the prodigal remembered the bread; so Jacob heard there was corn in Egypt; and the ten brethren of Joseph must go down and buy, that they may live, and not die.

Ah, when the Spirit of God begins to deal with a man, how He can bring sin home to the conscience. Joseph was governor over all the land; to Joseph they must come; no other person under heaven can give them bread. They knew not that it was he. In like manner the soul must be brought to Jesus. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12¹²Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)). Yes, “Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him, with their faces to the earth” (Genesis 42:6⁶And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. (Genesis 42:6)). What must he have felt, for he knew them, though they did not know him. No doubt they were much altered in twenty years. Remorse had marked the features of some; felt need had brought them all. It is so with the sinner, when first seeking salvation; he may not come with the full confession of sin, so much as with the desire of being saved.

Joseph “spoke roughly unto them” (Genesis 42:7⁷And 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. (Genesis 42:7)). The question of sin must be bottomed. The cutting cord of a guilty conscience must be pulled a little tight. “Ye are spies” (Genesis 42:9⁹And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. (Genesis 42:9)). And now note their defense — “We are all one man’s sons; we are true men” (Genesis 42:11¹¹We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies. (Genesis 42:11)). They stood in the presence of him they had rejected, and, as it were, killed, and could talk of being true men. What a picture of this world! — men can reject Christ, and then can pretend to keep the law.

They say they are twelve brethren; the youngest is with their father; and then, meaning Joseph himself, they say, “And one is not” (Genesis 42:13¹³And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not. (Genesis 42:13)). The cord is pulled a little tighter. Except they send and fetch their youngest brother, they shall not go hence; and, instead of getting corn, they are all put into prison. And thus God seems sometimes to treat the awakened soul roughly; instead of giving salvation, the poor, anxious one finds himself in Joseph’s prison. But on the third day — for resurrection is the only door out of Joseph’s prison — “This do, and live” (Genesis 42:18¹⁸And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God: (Genesis 42:18)) says Joseph; let a surety be given, and you are set free, till you bring your younger brother. But, oh! what bitter anguish guilt gives. “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” (Genesis 42:21²¹And 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. (Genesis 42:21)). Oh! how bitter is the grief of the heart! When guilt weighs upon the conscience, you look back upon past sins with indescribable remorse. But this is not true repentance; that has not come yet.

Rough as Joseph appeared to be to them, there was nothing but love in his heart; “He turned himself about from them, and wept” (Genesis 42:24²⁴And 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. (Genesis 42:24)). They little thought it was Joseph, for he spoke to them by an interpreter. However hard God’s ways may seem to the trembling, guilty soul, He is love. When Jesus beheld the city, He wept. The substitute is bound before their eyes, and they receive their sacks full of corn. All seems over; they have got their corn, and they depart from that mysterious governor. A moment’s relief. This often happens to the soul. You have certainly got a blessing; perhaps your heart feels as full of it as their sacks were full of corn. But you have not fully repented yet; the question of sin is not settled yet; you are not truly and fully converted yet.

Ah, it was a sore stroke, when one opened his sack at the inn, and espied his money. Their distress was greater than ever. “And their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?” (Genesis 42:28²⁸And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us? (Genesis 42:28)). Yes, in a moment, even when you thought you had clean done with sin, some circumstance opened the sack mouth; the remembrance of sin comes rushing like a mountain torrent; oh! the heart fairly fails. Thus must heart and flesh fail, when conscience is brought into the light of the presence of God. Satan roars at such a time, “God is against thee, thou vile sinner.” Well is it, at such a dead thrust at the soul, to remember that Satan is a liar. But, alas! at those times, one seems ready to swallow every word he says.

They return to their father. The sorrowing old man is overwhelmed with grief when he hears their account. “All these things are against me” (Genesis 42:36³⁶And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me. (Genesis 42:36)) said he. Little did he think how all these things were for him. The only thing before his mind was the death of his Joseph.

Still the famine was sore in the land: To Egypt’s governor again they must go. Poor, troubled, tossed soul! to Jesus you must go. What trouble of conscience! Benjamin must be given up; Judah becomes surety forever. All this must be the experience of the soul that only knows the death of Jesus. Well, if they must go, the old man says they must take the best of the land — a little balm, a little honey, spices and nuts, myrrh and almonds, and double money. Ah, how like Cain’s religion; he thinks God wants man’s best fruits. They knew not Joseph; man knows not God; He makes fresh resolutions, fresh efforts at self-righteousness; a little balm, a little honey; and it is a little, is it not?

They came with their gifts, but found Joseph’s feast. It seemed so strange. Brought into his house, they are afraid, they think he seeks occasion against them to fall upon them. But instead of deserved wrath, it is “Peace be to you, fear not” (Genesis 43:23²³And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them. (Genesis 43:23)) and gave them water to wash their feet. Joseph comes home at noon. Again they bow to him; his heart is moved with yearning love; he says, “Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? is he yet alive?” (Genesis 42:27²⁷And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth. (Genesis 42:27)). What he must have felt, and they knew him not. They say he is alive, and they bowed down their heads. But when be saw his long-loved brother Benjamin, he could hold no longer; he said, “God be gracious unto thee, my son” (Genesis 42:29²⁹And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them; saying, (Genesis 42:29)). He made haste, and went out, and wept. What a picture of Divine grace! Oh! my reader, if you knew the yearning heart of God!

Joseph still refrains himself. They all sit down to the feast. Ah! see what man is “They drank, and were merry with him” (Genesis 42:34³⁴And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffic in the land. (Genesis 42:34)). Sin is forgotten again, and they are merry. But this is not conversion. Sin may be forgotten for a time; you may feast at the board of the Lord; but forgetting and forgiveness are two very different things.

Their sacks are filled again. There may be repeated blessing, and still ignorance how sin is forever put away. The cup is found in Benjamin’s sack; this fairly breaks them down. “What shall we say unto my lord? What shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants” (Genesis 44:16¹⁶And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. (Genesis 44:16)). Ah! such is now the overwhelming remembrance of sin, that they give up all attempts to clear self, and yield themselves up as guilty. Judah wishes to be surety for his brother. There was, doubtless, a great change in them from that day when Joseph was cast into the pit. There may be any amount of anguish, sorrow, and remorse, as it was with Judas Iscariot, and still no true conversion, and no true change of mind.

What did change their minds? Let us now look at Genesis 45.

We have seen them brought to utterly despair of clearing themselves; they are guilty before God. “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. And he wept aloud” (Genesis 45:1-2¹Then 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. ²And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. (Genesis 45:1‑2)). What would be their thoughts when he said, “I am Joseph” (Genesis 45:3³And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. (Genesis 45:3))? Can you imagine their astonishment? What a change of mind; every thought in their hearts would be turned. The very Joseph whom they had cast into the pit, of whom they had long spoken as dead, now alive again, now before them, lord of all Egypt. They could not speak; they were troubled; and well they might be at his presence. Justice could have demanded their lives, but, in grace, “Joseph said ... Come near to me, I pray you” (Genesis 45:4⁴And 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. (Genesis 45:4)). And Jesus says, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)). The Joseph who was as dead is alive, and makes himself known. This gives them the true change of mind about Joseph.

Oh! how like the revelation of the dead and risen Christ to Saul of Tarsus; the one was as sudden as the other. Saul was on his murderous mission to Damascus, his heart filled with hatred to the name and followers of Jesus. Suddenly a light above the brightness of the sun shines round about him; a voice speaks, and says, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? ... It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:4-5⁴And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? ⁵And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (Acts 9:4‑5)). Astounded at these words, Saul replies, “Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus” (Acts 9:5⁵And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (Acts 9:5)).

“Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph” (Genesis 45:3³And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. (Genesis 45:3)). Jesus said to Saul, “I am Jesus” (Acts 9:5⁵And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (Acts 9:5)); and the effect was the same. The moment Saul heard those few words, “I am Jesus,” every thought in his heart was turned. It was the revelation of the living Joseph that changed their minds; it is the revelation of the risen Jesus that alone gives the true change of mind not to be repented of.

“And they came near” (Genesis 45:4⁴And 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. (Genesis 45:4)). Blessed place for the poor, guilty sinner to be brought to god. Oh! my fellow-sinner, think, oh! think, what grace is this! The God against whom you have sinned is the One to go to, and so near. Ah, He knows all your sins, only don’t seek to justify self; own you are guilty; own it to Him; He knows you cannot clear yourself. He knows you are guilty.

And now hear the words of Joseph; he said, “I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt” (Genesis 45:4⁴And 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. (Genesis 45:4)). He says, “God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God” (Genesis 45:7-8⁷And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. ⁸So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. (Genesis 45:7‑8)). Truly this is most precious as a type of the risen Christ. Peter, speaking of the resurrection of Jesus, says, “Him, being delivered by the determinate council and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up” (Acts 2:22-36²²Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: ²³Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: ²⁴Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. ²⁵For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: ²⁶Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: ²⁷Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. ²⁸Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. ²⁹Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. ³⁰Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; ³¹He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. ³²This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. ³³Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. ³⁴For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, ³⁵Until I make thy foes thy footstool. ³⁶Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:22‑36)). He then shows that this was God’s promise to David; indeed, his purpose in all Scripture. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 4:36³⁶And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, (Acts 4:36)). Thus that same Joseph whom they cast into the pit, God made lord of all Egypt. That same Jesus, whom men crucified, God hath made Lord of heaven and earth.

The making known of Joseph changed his brethren’s minds; the making known of the risen Jesus gave repentance and remission of sins to three thousand souls. But if, in this shadow, God purposed by Joseph to save much people alive, what I ask, was God’s wondrous purpose of grace in the death and raising again of Jesus from the dead. The purpose of God in resurrection is so little thought of in this day, I scarce know how to speak sufficiently plain to be understood. Take this illustration: a gardener has his vinery so blighted, the vines are so dead, that he cannot possibly have fruit from the old vines. Knowing this, he purposes, and brings in, an entire new vine, new kind, new stock, that he may have fruit. He does not purpose to improve the old vines, but to set them aside, and have an entire new vinery. The old vinery of Adam’s race is blighted with sin. God sees it so dead in trespasses and sins, that He knows fruit cannot be found in it. Man is ruined, dead, blighted with sin. Now, this is the long forgotten truth. God did not purpose, in sending His beloved Son, to improve the old vinery, but to set it aside in death, even the death of Jesus, proving, that as Jesus died for all, then were all dead. And thus, in raising Jesus from among the dead, God has begun a new vinery, so to speak; an entire new creation, having entirely new life, new nature, everything new, and everything of God. Men could not make a greater mistake than they do in trying to improve the old vinery. In Christ risen from the dead, the beginning of this glorious new creation, all is perfect and everlasting; and if any man is in Him, old things are passed away, all things become new, and all things of God (2 Corinthians 5:14-18¹⁴For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: ¹⁵And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. ¹⁶Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. ¹⁷Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ¹⁸And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (2 Corinthians 5:14‑18)).

If Joseph had not been sent into Egypt to preserve life they must have perished in the famine. If the gardener had not got a new vine, the vinery would have perished with the blight. If Christ had not died, and risen again, the whole world would have perished through sin. If Christ had lived forever in the flesh, though in the midst of this world’s blighted vinery, He could not have improved its condition; He must die, and be the first born from the dead, or all must perish. Nothing could atone for sin, but His precious blood. Nothing could give life to the dead but the life of the risen One, who destroyed death by dying.

Now, note, all blessing in this type flows from this risen Joseph. He is lord of all Egypt. His brethren are not only forgiven — and, oh! how forgiven! “He kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them” (Genesis 45:15¹⁵Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him. (Genesis 45:15)). What assurance of forgiveness. But this was not all, they were blessed with earthly blessings in the land of Goshen. Grace not only forgave, but abounded over all their sin. My fellow-believer, we have not only forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus, but God hath blessed us in this risen Christ with all blessings in heavenly places. Now, for your everlasting comfort and joy, do ponder, this well — that vile as was man in putting Jesus to death, yet was it really God who fore-ordained Him to this very death of the cross, for the express purpose of saving you with a great salvation. View the amazing death of the cross as a transaction, entirely between God and His Son, for your salvation. God sent Him for the very purpose; Jesus died for the very purpose of cleansing you from all sin, and bringing you into an entirely new creation, where sin can never, never be; where the blight of death, or breath of pollution can never come: oh, blessed fact, sin can never mar God’s new creation, in the risen Christ. Oh, wondrous, stupendous grace. God’s eternal purpose, God’s greatest work is thus shadowed forth in the history of Joseph. That very Jesus, who died on the cross, who lay in the cold grave, is now the head of the new creation; exalted above all principalities and powers; “Head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23²²And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, ²³Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:22‑23)). Oh! the eternal mystery, kept hid from ages. Poor, dead sinners of the Gentiles raised up together, and made sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Oh! what a triumph to God. Look at the old creation, and then at the new. Look from Adam, its beginning; to the cross, its end. Ah, and there is another end for such as despise that cross — the Lake of Fire — sad scene of sin and misery, doom and death. Now look at the new, heavenly, holy creation, Christ “the beginning, the firstborn from the dead” (Colossians 1:18¹⁸And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18)). Oh! view it rise and swell; every soul that passes from death unto life filling up the heavenly body.

When Joseph’s brethren were come, it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. What must be the joy of God in the new risen creation. There is joy in the presence of God over one sinner that repenteth. But when that bright resurrection morn shall come, that morn without a cloud — so near — when the whole redeemed Church shall rise to meet the Lord; ah! then what a scene of unmingled delight. God will have His infinite joy, His eternal rest. Oh! bright and glorious prospect, view my soul that fair creation. The delight of God shall beam in every eye, shall ravish every heart. Desolate, weary pilgrim, you shall be there. The love that died for you, the love that is gone to prepare your place in those mansions [abodes] of light will, oh, yes, He will bring you there. Press on! press on! what is this world’s vain store to you?

It grieved Joseph, when the misgiving hearts of his brethren said, “Joseph will peradventure hate us” (Genesis 50:15¹⁵And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. (Genesis 50:15)). How often does Satan whisper those dark “peradventures”. He says, “Perhaps after all, God will deal with you as you deserve.” They had not rested fully, and alone, in the love of Joseph. They had a secret leaning on the life of the old man, their father. This is too often the case with the believer, some secret trust in the old man, its religiousness, or its morality. The heart has not been fully brought to trust in the love of God, in Jesus alone. Then our old nature is found to be sin itself. Then follow misgivings, and terrible conflict. We are compelled to own ourselves vile, and utterly dead. When Jacob was dead, Joseph’s brethren drank still more deeply of his kindness and love. And when we are stripped of everything, not a particle left of old self in which we can trust, then it is sweet indeed, to find the unchanged love of our Jesus still the same. Oh! Lamb of God, thou art worthy of our entire, our only trust — thine is love beyond a brother’s.

Once more, reader. Have you thus learned the love of Jesus? Do you know Him? Have the thoughts of your heart been thus changed about Jesus? Have you ever found yourself in His presence, as the brethren of Joseph? Have you heard the words of Jesus, and believed on God who sent Him? then He says “You have everlasting life.” Oh! fear not, you shall not come into condemnation. You are passed from death unto life. No man can be said to have true repentance, or a true change of mind, until thus brought alone to Christ. You need no other but Jesus to speak to; no creature heart so kind as His. Oh! have you owned your sin to Him, to Him alone? Have you thus been brought to Him? Oh! poor doubting one, look again at this lovely picture, this beautiful illustration of the meeting of a poor sinner with Jesus the risen Christ. God give you now to hear His own sweet words of untold love.

Every man had to go out while Joseph made himself known to his brethren. This at once changed their minds. His forgiving love melted their hearts. “They were troubled at his presence” (Genesis 45:3³And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. (Genesis 45:3)). But he said, “Be not grieved” (Genesis 45:5⁵Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. (Genesis 45:5)). He was a lovely type of the risen Jesus. When the risen Jesus made himself known, and stood in the midst of His disciples, He said, “Peace be unto you” (Luke 24:36³⁶And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (Luke 24:36)) but they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. But now, note His tender words. He said unto them, “Why are ye troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet” (Luke 24:38-39³⁸And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? ³⁹Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. (Luke 24:38‑39)). Thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead. He says, “Peace be unto you” (Luke 24:36³⁶And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (Luke 24:36)). Do you believe Him? Forgiveness, perfect, everlasting, certain forgiveness is preached to you. What love to the guilty and lost. Joseph had not one angry word. Jesus would not have us feel one troubled thought.

Vile as was man’s act in crucifying Him; vile as have been our sins in rejecting Him; yet, now He makes Himself known in perfect love. Oh! look at His wounded hands and feet. Ah, we! our sins gave agony and death to Him. His death gives peace — everlasting peace to us. The peace of Joseph’s brethren was the peace that Joseph gave them in his own presence. There was nothing but peace in his heart to them. For this Jesus died, that we might have peace through His blood. It is not our happy feelings that give peace, it is the blood of Jesus. He has made peace for us. He, is our peace. He died for our sins. He rose for our justification. Being justified by faith, we have peace with God. Joseph wept upon his brethren. This was enough to melt the hardest heart. They deserved the severest wrath — he showed them the freest love. Poor, weary, doubting one, is not this a true picture of God? Did not the father fall upon the prodigal’s neck? (Luke 15) was there one angry look, or one hard word? Ah, when God is thus revealed to the poor soul, trembling beneath the burden of guilt, then what a change of mind. How melting, the certainty of pardoning love. God would have us perfectly happy in His presence — not a doubt — not a cloud — not a spot remains. If God appointed Joseph’s sorrows to save much people alive, has He not, by the death of Jesus, brought an innumerable company of lost sinners into the life and glory of the risen Christ. This was God’s eternal purpose. This is God’s greatest work. Words fail to express the greatness of that mighty work which He wrought in Christ to us-ward, when He raised Him from the dead. Nothing can be more certain, than that the very place God hath given the risen Christ, is the place He hath given to all believers in Him. Joseph was not ashamed to own his brethren before Pharaoh. Jesus is not ashamed to call us brethren. Have you, my reader, believed this wondrous love — this wondrous power? Then, you are risen with Him. What manner of persons ought we to be? Dead with Christ — risen with Christ — one with Him forever. Well might the Apostle say, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1¹I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1)). What a change it must have been to Joseph’s brethren; starved with famine, oppressed with guilt, seeking a little food. Read over again Genesis 45, and note the unbounded kindness of Joseph. What full forgiveness! what provision for the way! changes of raiment to every man. What joy in his presence! Yes, the beggars and aliens, are the brothers and joint heirs with Joseph, bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh.

Glowing as is the picture, it is but a shadow of the heavenly relationship in which the believer now stands. Once an alien, without God, an enemy by wicked works, trying to hide and forget sin; then a convicted, trembling, guilty, wretched, famished sinner, in the presence of the God of righteousness, yet God of grace. A person once said to me, in London, after hearing the subject of Joseph, Oh, that I knew for certain that God loves me as Joseph loved his brethren.” I replied, “If you did, that alone could not give you peace; you must know that God not only loves you in purest grace, that you have not a particle more merit than Joseph’s brethren had; but, also, that God is infinitely righteous, through the death of Jesus, in showing you this unbounded love.”