Joseph: Picture of the Messiah

The New Testament speaks of typology in the use of the term “shadow.” Paul stated to the Colossian brethren: “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ” (Col. 2:16, 17). Likewise, in Hebrews 8:4-5, the Record states: “For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.” Hebrews 10:1 speaks the Law of Moses in its entirety as being such: “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.” It should come as no surprise then when places, things, and even people of the Old Testament are represented or alluded to as being typical of the true matters found in the New Testament.

In order for there to be a “shadow,” there must be a light source causing the shadow to be cast, and a substance that causes the shadow to appear. The Scriptures reveal that “God is light” (I Jn. 1:5). However, consider that matters of the Old Testament are the “shadows” of things found in the New Testament. Hence, the “true substance” had to exist before the “shadow” could be cast. In our Bibles, as in history, matters contained within the Old Testament occurred before matters of the New Testament. But, the Record reveals that God declares “the end from the beginning” (Is. 46:10). In essence, we read our Bibles from left to right (Genesis to Revelation); God reads His (if you will) from right to left (Revelation to Genesis). Thus, the “true substances” did exist before the “shadows,” from God’s vantage point.

In so many ways, Joseph can be seen to be a “type” or “shadow” of the Lord. What we see foreshadowed in him, we see substantively in Jesus.

Joseph serves as a picture of the Messiah in that:

His Birth was the Result of Divine Intervention
1. Gen. 30:22-24
2. cf. Mt. 1:18-25
He Was Blessed with Godly Parents
1. Gen. 28:1-15
2. cf. Mt. 2:13-15, 19-23; Gen. 18:19; Lk. 2:22-27, 39-52
He Had Siblings
1. Gen. 35:22-26; 37:11-14
2. cf. Mt. 13:55, 56
He Was Obedient to His Father
1. Gen. 37:12-14
2. cf. Heb. 5:8, 9; 10:9
He Was the Beloved Son of His Father
1. Gen. 37:3
  1. cf. Mt. 3:17; 17:5
He Was a Shepherd “Feeding the Flock”
1. Gen. 37:2
2. cf. Jn. 10:11; I Pet. 5:4; Heb. 13:12
He Was Sold for a Sum of Silver
1. Gen. 37:28
2. cf. Zech. 11:12, 13; Mt. 26:15; 27:3-10
He Was Rejected by His Own People
1. Gen. 37:16-36
2. cf. Jn. 1:11; Lk. 19:14; Acts 2:22, 23; 3:13, 14
He Had One Who Did Not Forsake Him
1. Gen. 37:21, 22; 42:22 (cf. Acts. 7:9)
2. cf. Jn. 3:2; Acts 10:38; Heb. 1:8, 9
His Life Was Depreciated Because of the Sins of Others
1. Gen. 37:12-36
2. cf. Zech. 11:12, 13; 18:19; Mt. 26:15, 59; 27:3-10;
He Possessed Prophetic Insight
1. Gen. 40:1-23; 41:1-36
2. cf. Mt. 26:34; Mt. 23:37-24:35
He Was Spirit-Endowed
1. Gen. 50:38
2. cf. Lk. 4:1
He Was Forgiving
1. Gen. 50:15-21
2. cf. Heb. 8:10-12
He Was a Savior
1. Gen. 47:19-22; 50:16-21
2. cf. Jn. 3:16; Acts 13:23; Eph. 5:23; II Pet. 1:11
He Trusted That God Was With Him
1. Gen. 39:9, 21
2. cf. Lk. 2:49; Jn. 17:1-5
He Possessed a Tender Heart
1. Gen. 39:21
2. cf. Mt. 15:32; Gen. 20:34; Jas. 5:11
He Experienced the Providence of God
1. Gen. 41
2. cf. Mt. 2:13-15
He Had to Suffer Wrong for Doing Right
1. Gen. 39:1-20
2. cf. Is. 53:6; I Pet. 3:18
He Was Without Retaliation
1. Gen. 39:21
2. cf. Is. 53:7; Mk. 15:3-5; Acts 8:32-35
He Was Tempted, But Victorious
1. Gen. 39:1-12
2. cf. Mt. 4:1-11; Heb. 4:15