Genesis 37-40

Prayer & Praise, News, and Inspiring Stories, located in Decorah, Iowa

Several Parallels Between Joseph and Jesus

They were loved deeply by their fathers

Sent by their fathers to their brothers.

They were hated by their brothers

Both were taken to Egypt

Both were accused falsely

Put with 2 other prisoners, and each time, 1 was saved & 1 lost

Both began their public service at age 30

Both were exalted after suffering.

Both forgave those who wronged them.

Both saved their nations

God turned what people did to them from harm to good.

Sources: iLumina Link: http://www.ilumina.com/home/default.asp

and John Hagee, "Jerusalem Countdown," pp.172-173.

The names Joseph and Jesus come from the same Hebrew root word.

"Joseph's wife represents the Gentile church, and his two sons, their spirtual offspring. It is to be remembered that Manasseh and Ephraim were given a full inheritance with national Israel.

Remember that Joseph did not reveal himself to his brothers until the Gentiles were removed from the room. This means to me that Christ will not reveal Himself to the Jewish people until after the rapture when the church has been removed from the earth." Dr. John Hagee, "Jerusalem Countdown," p. 173

Genesis continues:

Genesis 37

There are a number of remarkable parallels between the life of Joseph and the life of Jesus. The above chart lists many of them. The parallels are highlighted in the following text along with the New Testament reference.

The motive:

This chapter is all about Joseph, age 17 when the chapter opens. Joseph is his father Israel’s favorite (Matthew 3:17) because he is the child of Israel’s (Jacob) old age. His brothers burn with jealousy. His father gave him a “distinctive long tunic with sleeves.” Vs. 3 Amp.

Joseph had a dream about sheaves in the field and all of the sheaves bow down to him. This dream was prophetic. Joseph told his brothers and his father about his dream. Joseph has a second prophetic dream. In this dream, 11 stars and also the sun and moon bow down to him. Of course he has 11 brothers and none of this is lost on them.

The Plot:

Joseph’s brothers plot against him. His father sent him to his brothers.(Hebrews 2:11) They see him coming and discuss killing him. He was hated by his brothers.(John 7:5) Reuben wanted to save his brother Joseph and implores the other brothers not to kill Joseph but to throw him in a pit. The text says nothing about Benjamin, who is very young, and it is my assumption he is not there.

When Joseph arrived, he is taken by his brothers, stripped and thrown in a pit. Just then a caravan of Ishmalelites came from Gilead. Judah, the oldest brother, suggested Joseph be sold into slavery so there might be a profit and his blood would not be upon their hands. The caravan was headed towards Egypt and Joseph was sold to them for twenty pieces of silver.

Reuben, who had been gone, returned and found Joseph gone. Reuben was grieved by this whole business. The brothers tear his distinctive garment and soak it in blood to weave a believable story. The brothers tell their dad Israel (Jacob) of Joseph’s death and show him the torn and bloody garment. Israel mourned for his lost son.

Joseph is sold in Egypt to Potiphar who was an officer to Pharaoh and is taken to Egypt.(Matthew 2:15-16)

Genesis 38

The rest of Genesis is primarily about Joseph and his brothers (The are now Israel) but chapter 38 turns away from Joseph to give an interesting account of Tamar, who is one of only three women actually named in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus. Bathsheba is mentioned in this genealogy but not named being called merely the “wife of Uriah the Hittite.” (link: Bathsheba and Uriah the Hittite) The only other women actually named are Mary, the mother of Jesus, Rehab and Ruth. “So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.” Matthew 1:17 NKJV

Judah, Jacob’s 4^th son by Leah, married a Canaanite woman Shuah. Shuah bore Judah three sons. They are Er, Onan and Shelah. Tamar was chosen for Er to be his wife. But Er was “wicked” before the Lord and the Lord “slew” (Amp vs.7) him. As was the custom, Judah’s second born took Tamar as his wife. Please note that any children coming from this union would belong to the older brother Er. But Onan “prevented conception” (vs. 9 Amp) with Tamar to deny his deceased brother offspring and this was also displeased the Lord and the Lord slew him also.

Now wait just a minute here, something important must be going on. The first time my men’s group, and we were studying Genesis, read this chapter, we just didn’t get it. Why would the Lord kill two brothers? I later read John Eldredge’s “Wild at Heart” and understood these men were treating Tamar wrong and it made God angry.

Judah is hesitant to give his 3^rd son to Tamar and puts her off saying Shelah is too young. But the context given here indicates Judah has no intention of ever giving Shelah to Tamar so he is misleading her. Tamar is sent to live with her father.

Tamar took this matter into her own hands and took action to right this wrong done to her. She disguised herself as a harlot (prostitute) and waited for Judah. Judah saw her and thought she was a harlot and asked to have sex with her. Tamar negotiated price and Judah gave her his seal, cord and staff as a pledge for the ram he promised her in payment. He had intercourse with her and she became pregnant. When Judah sent his people to look for this harlot to pay the ram in exchange for his pledge, she is not to be found.

Three months later, Judah found out Tamar is pregnant. He sent for her with the intention of putting her to death. When Tamar was brought before Judah, she confronted him with the truth and showed him his pledge which identified him as the man who made her pregnant. Judah said: “She has been more righteous and just than I because I didn’t give her to Shelah my son.” (Vs. 26 Amp)

A midwife attended the birth of twin boys. During the birth, one of the children put out his hand and the midwife tied a scarlet ribbon to his arm. The twins were born. They were named Perez (meaning ‘breaking forth’) and Zerah (meaning scarlet). The child with the scarlet ribbon was considered as having been born first but the other child, Perez was born first. Hence his name. Perez is the child named in the genealogy of Christ.

"Faithfulness is an important characteristic in our lives. Judah doesn't exhibit faithfulness, but Tamar does, even though she takes things into her own hands. Faithfulness is listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit. God is consistently described as a faithful God, and he wants us to exhibit the same wonderful quality--faithfulness."

"Woman of the Bible," p. 214.

Genesis 39

We return to the account of Joseph who is now in Egypt having been sold as a slave by his brothers. But the Lord is with Joseph and he prospered even as a slave. Joseph was skilled and was made a supervisor over all that his master Potiphar owned. Because Joseph had God’s favor, Potiphar’s household prospered greatly.

Now Joseph was an attractive man, and still very young, and Potiphar’s wife (un-named) attempted to seduce him. Now Joseph was ‘tempted’ as was Jesus (see Matthew 4:1) but withstood the temptation and refused. Joseph would not have sex with another’s man’s wife.

The wife kept after Joseph but he steadfastly refused. Potiphar’s wife became angry and falsely accused Joseph of raping her. (As was Jesus, see Matthew 26:59-60) And Potiphar believed his wife and put Joseph in prison. But even in prison, Joseph has God’s favor and is put in charge of the prison.

Genesis 40

Pharaoh became angry with both his chief butler and his chief baker and they are put into prison with Joseph. And both have dreams that they do not understand. Both tell their dreams to Joseph who gave them interpretations. As with the two thieves who hang on the cross beside Jesus, one is saved and one is lost. (Luke 23:32) Joseph had correctly interpreted both dreams and asked the chief butler to remember him when the butler is released as Joseph prophesizes. But the butler was released and immediately forgot Joseph. Both of the interpretations, given by Joseph, are fulfilled just as he prophesized. The Baker was killed and lost. But Joseph remained in prison two more years.