Day #26 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible. Click here to learn more. You are most welcome to join along at any time.
Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Genesis 41-42.
As theologians have pointed out, the whole of the Old Testament points to Messiah.
This pointing is found in numerous way. In our reading of Job, we found him longing for a mediator. Even in Genesis, we find God telling the serpent of his coming defeat by Messiah.
When we get to the books of the prophets, we will see prophetic calls for Messiah, and there also exists what theologians call "types", and/or foreshadowing of Messiah.
It is important that we don't make too much of this, but we will see a great many situations throughout the Old Testament that will foreshadow events in the life of Christ.
Here are a few points on this subject from Dr. Warren Gage (assistant professor of Old Testament - Knox Theological Seminary):
"The Joseph narrative is subject to Marsh’s dictum, for no New Testament text explicitly calls Joseph a type of Christ. But how magnificent a picture of Jesus is the pattern of Joseph’s sufferings and the glory that followed! Let’s begin with a few of the most emblematic correspondences. Joseph was the shepherd son beloved by his father yet rejected by his brothers (Gen. 37:2–3). The sign of his father’s love was a coat of many colors. But Joseph’s brothers took the coat and dipped it in blood. This signified that Joseph had suffered an encounter with a “wild beast” (vv. 31–33). In the course of time, however, Joseph was made to rule at the right hand of the king, and he wore a linen robe with a golden collar (41:41–43). Every knee bowed before him, even his own family, like the sun and the moon and the eleven stars (37:9).Similarly, Jesus is the shepherd Son (John 10:11) beloved by His Father (Matt. 3:17) yet rejected by His brothers (John 1:11). The sign of Jesus’ rejection is the coat He wears dipped in blood (Rev. 19:13), even though His Father has exalted Him to the right hand of a throne encircled by a rainbow of many colors (Rev. 4:2–3). A “wild beast” tried to devour Jesus (Rev. 12:4), but He was lifted up before His own family, represented by a woman clothed with the sun and the moon and the twelve stars (Rev. 12:1). After Jesus was exalted, He appears wearing a robe with a golden sash (Rev. 1:13). Every knee now bows before Him (Rev. 1:17; Phil. 2:10)."
Not all Biblical scholars agree that Joseph is indeed a "type". But my point isn't to argue that one way or another. I desire that we see that there clearly exists uncanny resemblances to the life of Christ throughout the Old Testament, and to me it clearly seems to be another way that God prepares the heart, mind, and soul for his only begotten Son.
As we shall see over, and over, the Old Testament screams, "Come Messiah, come!"
Furthermore, if we keep our ears tuned to the Holy Spirit's teaching, it will become crystal clear to us why we need Jesus the Christ as well. For without his perfect sacrifice, we would remain infinitely at peril under holy God's just wrath.
