Genesis 41:38
So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?” (NIV)
Today’s Reading: Genesis 41:1-57 and 2 Peter 3:10-14
Joseph has been in prison a while now. Genesis 40 starts with, “Some time later,” and Genesis 41 starts with, “When two full years had passed.” We also learn in Genesis 41:46 that Joseph was thirty years old at this time. Since Joseph was 17 when he was sold into slavery, his total tenure between Potiphar’s service and his prison service was 13 years. But since Joseph was in charge of the entire prison, he had total control over all aspects of prison life. Hopefully he was making himself more comfortable than your typical prisoner. Nevertheless, he was a prisoner.
In our reading today, we see Joseph go from slave to Pharaoh’s second-in-command “in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” Sort of a resurrection story you might say. I see the following parallels to Jesus in this section of Joseph’s story:
- Joseph warned of a coming danger and urged Pharaoh to be prepared (Matt 24:44)
- Joseph was exalted from slave to ruler (Phil 2:7-9)
- Joseph was dressed in robes of fine linen (Rev 1:13)
- Joseph was thirty years old when he began his “ministry” (Luke 3:23)
- Joseph was a savior “for all the world” from the famine (Rev 5:9)
This is the significant chapter in Joseph’s life where it becomes clear what God’s plan for Joseph was all along. Joseph had spent the last thirteen years of his life in captivity at no fault of his own. By all accounts, Joseph was sold out for God and so I can imagine his prayers would be similar to Jesus’s prayers with a tone of “not my will, but yours be done” as in Luke 22:42. But we also know that Jesus starts that particular prayer with “if you are willing, take this cup from me.” I’m sure Joseph had those moments as well.
Joseph was obedient in everything he did yet life kept going wrong for him – at least from his perspective. He served his father Jacob well and became his favorite and yet his brothers hated him for it and sold him into slavery. He served Potiphar well and became head of his household and yet Potiphar’s wife hated him for it and got him imprisoned. He served the prison warden well and became head of the prison. He then interpreted two dreams which would seem to be a sign from God that he’s going to get out of prison yet the cupbearer forgets about him and he is in prison two more years.
Then in one life-altering moment it all becomes clear that Joseph was sent to Egypt to save the world. We will also see that he was sent to set up the greatest event in Jewish history – the Exodus of God’s people. In Christ, we have the same task as Joseph. We are to serve faithfully and be obedient to Christ in all that we do. We may be elevated to great positions here on earth or our reward may not come until eternity. Either way, the reward is coming if we obey. “So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” (2 Peter 3:14)
Christ in the Old Testament 
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