Genesis 37:1-17
Today we begin the beautiful story of Joseph. There is probably no person in the whole of Scripture who portrays in type the Lord Jesus in a more complete manner. He is the object of the special love of his father but Joseph is at the same time a victim of the hate and jealousy of his brothers, the sons of Israel (compare John 3:19; Matthew 21:38). He bears witness against them of their wickedness (v. 2) and before them of his future elevation which they refuse to believe. Thus Christ, the centre of the prophecies concerning earth (v. 7) and heaven (v. 9), was the faithful and true witness against the world of its evil works (John 7:7) and towards the world of His own future glories (Matthew 26:64). Jacob clothed Joseph in a coat of many colours, a visible mark of his favour which reminds us that Jesus was publicly shown to be the object of the Father’s pleasure (Matthew 3:17; Acts 2:22). Joseph is for each one of us a model of obedience. "Here am I," he replies, (v. 13) when his father sends him to visit his brothers who nevertheless hate him. But how much greater a model Jesus is for us; He presented Himself in perfect obedience when the Father wanted to send Him: "Lo I come: . . . I delight to do thy will, O my God" (Psalms 40:7-8).