Sermon Bible Commentary
Genesis 45:28
Joseph is a type or figure of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I. Joseph, in his younger days, was distinguished from his brethren by a purity of life which became the more observable in contrast with their dissolute manners, and caused an evil report to be sent to their father. His brethren saw him afar off, and conspired to kill him. In this we have a true picture of the Jews' treatment of Christ.
II. Joseph was carried down into Egypt, even as was Christ in His earliest days. Joseph was cast into prison, emblematic of the casting of Jesus into the grave, the prison of death; Joseph was imprisoned with two accused persons the chief butler and the chief baker of Pharaoh; Christ was crucified between two malefactors. It was in the third year that Joseph was liberated, and on the third day that our Saviour rose.
III. It is as a liberated man that Joseph is most signally the type of our Redeemer. Set free from prison, Joseph became the second in the kingdom, even as the Redeemer, rising from the prison of the grave, became possessed in His mediatorial capacity of all power in heaven and earth, and yet so possessed as to be subordinate to the Father. Joseph was raised up of God to be a preserver of life during years of famine. Christ, in His office of mediator, distributes bread to the hungry. All men shall flock to Jesus, eager for the bread that came down from heaven.
IV. Joseph's kinsmen were the last to send into Egypt for corn, just as the Jews have been longest refusing to own Christ as their deliverer. But prophecy is most explicit, that as Joseph was made known to his brethren, so the Jews shall behold in Christ the promised Messiah, and worship Him as their all in all.
H. Melvill, Penny Pulpit,No. 1489
References: Genesis 45:28. J. Van Oosterzee, The Year of Salvation,vol. ii., p. 374.Genesis 46:1. W. M. Taylor, Joseph the Prime Minister,p. 137. Genesis 46:1. R. S. Candlish, Book of Genesis,vol. ii., p. 231.Genesis 46:2. A. F. Barfield, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxii., p. 12.Genesis 46:3; Genesis 46:4. Spurgeon, Evening by Evening,p. 133. 46:28-47:10. R. S. Candlish, Book of Genesis,vol. ii., p. 242. Gen 46-50. J. Monro Gibson, The Ages before Moses,p. 202.Genesis 47:1. W. M. Taylor, Joseph the Prime Minister,p. 137. Genesis 47:3; Genesis 47:9. G. Brooks, Outlines of Sermons,p. 279. Genesis 47:7. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. iii., p. 556.