Bottom line up front: The Hatred of Joseph

Introduction: It is one of the most important stories in history and certainly one of the most important in Scripture. It is the story of Joseph, the son of Jacob/Israel and Rachel. Why is this such an important story? Because it is a foreshadowing of Christ.

Joseph was initially hated by those God sent him to save. Jesus was hated, too, viscerally. He was in fact murdered. But Jesus came for sinners. That’s us, folks. And it’s the good news that Christ came to save His people from their sins.

Following the Story: Jacob the patriarch had been renamed Israel by God:

And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob but Israel shall be your name.” So he called his name Israel (Gen 35:10)

Joseph as Typology:

 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. (Gen 37:5-8)

Questions:

1. Do you see how, when Joseph announced his news from God, the people resented him, even hated him?
2. Do you see how God used symbolism to show how God was going to raise up this man Joseph for His (God’s) own purposes?
3. Do you see how Joseph was predicted to become as one who has authority to reign?
4. Do you see how this connects inextricably to the New Testament and to Christ?

Takeaway: Scripture is revealing one coherent story, guys. It’s all connected. It all redounds to God’s glory in Christ Jesus, but you have to be able to connect the dots and see how all of the historical events point to Christ.

*This is Part 1 of several I’ll do as we look into the life of Joseph, and how God used him as a type of the One who was to come later, God the Son incarnte, Jesus of Nazareth. For now, just notice how Joseph was hated, and how that hatred is echoed in the hatred Jesus experienced.