Joseph makes himself known to his brothers: “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!” (Genesis 45:4). Jesus makes Himself known to His disciples (Matthew 16:13-17).
In Joseph’s self-identification, there is a statement about why God had
sent him into Egypt – “it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of
you … God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth
and to save your lives by a great deliverance” (Genesis 45:5,7). Jesus was sent by God to call out the “Church” by an even greater deliverance – deliverance from “the gates of hell” (Matthew 16:18). Joseph said, “God has made me lord of all Egypt” (Genesis 45:8). Concerning Jesus, Scripture declares that God has made Him Lord of all – He has “the keys of the Kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:19).
The words, spoken by Joseph’s brothers to their father, Jacob, bring
out another connection with Jesus. “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he
is ruler of all Egypt” (Genesis 45:26).
Jesus is alive and He rules over all. He is the risen and reigning
Christ. The connection between the story of Jacob (or Israel) and the
Gospel of Jesus Christ is highlighted in Psalm 14:7. The
Old Testament longs for the coming of the Saviour – “Oh, that salvation
for Israel would come out of Zion!” It looks forward to a time of
rejoicing, a time of gladness – “When the Lord restores the fortunes of
His people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!”
Psalm 48:1-14 Lord, we worship You in the place of worship – “Within Your Temple, we meditate on Your unfailing love.” Help us to go out from there, and play our part in seeing that Your praise “reaches to the ends of the earth” (Psalm 48:: 9-11). How will other people know of Your love, if we don’t tell them? How will they find their way to Your House, if we don’t invite them? When we share Your Word with others, help us to remember Your promise: “My Word … will not return to Me empty, but will … achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).
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