04.09. SHADOW: Joseph, the Favorite Son of the Fathr
Shadow: Joseph, the Favorite Son of the Father
Genesis 37:1-11 AUDIO http://www.exposingtheword.com/SHADOWS/MP3s%20Shadows/9%20Shadow-%20Joseph%20Favorite%20Son.mp3
Genesis 37:1-11 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. 4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. 5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: 7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. 8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. 9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? 11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.
Perhaps the greatest foreshadow of the coming Messiah in the Old Testament is found in the personage of Joseph, son of Jacob, grandson of Isaac and great grandson of Abraham. Joseph, you remember, the boy who had the coat of many colors. The one sold into slavery by his brothers, the one who God used mightily to persevere Israel.
I am going to break with the pattern of the past shadows in that we are going to spend the next few weeks looking at this foreshadow of Christ. We will look at Joseph in the following areas. Shadow: Joseph, the Favorite Son of the Father Shadow: Joseph, the Silent Suffering Servant Shadow: Joseph, the Sovereign Ruler over the Kingdom Shadow: Joseph, the Savior of the Nations Fasten your seat belts this is going to be a great ride over the next few weeks.
I- The Favorite Son of the Father:
The first point today is the title I have given the overall sermon today. The favorite son of the father. Remember Jacob had a total of 11 other sons. At the time we are looking at Joseph had ten older brothers, Benjamin had not been born. Jacob had children by four women but his favorite wife and the one he loved was Rachel. Joseph was the son of Rachel.
Joseph: Genesis 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
Christ: Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
The position of son-ship for Christ was not one of bloodline but one of position in relationship to the Godhead. Christ is spoken of as the only begotten Son.
The symbol of the love of Jacob for Joseph is the coat of many colors. Genesis 37:3 We know the story well. Joseph was clothed by a garment that foreshadows the clothing of Christ it the clothes of humanity.
God clothed Christ in human flesh. Notice Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
II- Shepherd to the Fathers Sheep:
The family business of Jacob was livestock, namely sheep.
Joseph: Genesis 37:2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren...
Joseph along with his brothers were shepherd to their fathers sheep.
Christ: The Bible clearly foretold that Messiah would be a Shepherd. Isaiah 40:11 "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."
We see Messiah is portrayed as a shepherd throughout the New Testament. John 10:11-14 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. He is also the great Shepherd according to Hebrews 13:20 . The Chief Shepherd according to 1 Peter 5:4 .
Beloved Christ is the Shepherd of the Father’s sheep as pictured by Joseph.
This means He is the protector and provider for us. Remember what the psalmist David said, Psalms 23:1-2 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
III- Hated by His Brethren:
Imagine seeing Joseph day after day with a garment that was unique and screamed to others of the love his father had for him. Where love dwells most times no one can do no wrong. (i.e. those perfect grandkids.) The other side is where hate dwells nothing right can be done. Joseph was hated and everything he did made that hate grow.
Joseph: Genesis 37:4-5 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. 5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
The dream of Joseph was understood that they would bow down before Joseph. Because of jealously they schemed to do away with Joseph.
Christ: John 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. This is written in Psalms 69:4 .
Jealously also drove the rejection of Christ. John 8:40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
Jesus threatened their status quo and their position as ruler. They were jealous of their position of power. Matthew 26:64-65 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
They cried that the words of Christ were blasphemy.
IV-Both Testified of Evil of Others:
Joseph today would probably have been called a snitch or some other bad name. He however told the truth. People don’t want anything told on them and especially the truth.
Joseph- Genesis 37:2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
Joseph tells on his brothers for their evil deeds. He tells of their laziness and sluggishness in doing the right thing their father had sent them to do. The word report actually means slander. This made the reputations of the brothers suffering in the eyes of their father and they hated him for it.
Christ- John 7:7 "The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil." Jesus confronted the evil of the day. Remember he called the Pharisees on three separate occasions a bunch of snakes. Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Beloved Jesus did not come to hold our hands while they are covered with the blackness of sin and sing cum by ya. He came to confront us in our sins, move us to repentance and then to cleanse us from them. Jesus knows the truth about us and still loved us enough to die. How did He do that? Glad you asked.
V- Sold as a Slave:
Many today may think that God was paying the debt of sin and that Satan was the one who demanded the payment. Beloved we see pictured for us in Joseph the Lord Jesus being sold for the price of a slave so He could deliver us. The one whom the payment was due was God Himself. Joseph- Genesis 37:26-28 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? 27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. 28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
20 pieces of silver was the price of a slave in Joseph day.
Christ- Matthew 26:14-15 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. For 30 pieces of silver Christ was betray. This was so He could become sin for you and I. So that the righteousness of God could be satisfied and we could be declared justified in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
VI- Conclusion and Decision Time:
Joseph pictures for us Christ as the favorite Son who was the Shepherd of the Fathers sheep but was hated and betrayed by His brethren. He was sold for a few pieces of silver but thereby with His dead obtained redemption for you and I. Have you accepted Him as Savior today?