Comparison List
Joseph and Jesus
Joseph | Jesus |
---|---|
Joseph was loved by His Father- |
God said about Jesus |
Joseph's brothers did not believe him and hated him- Genesis 37:4-5 |
The Jews did not Believe in Christ- John 7:5 |
Joseph's brothers rejected his right to rule- |
The Jewish leaders said "we will not have this man to rule over us"- Luke 19:14 |
Joseph's brothers conspired against him- |
They took counsel against Jesus- |
They stripped Joseph of his garments- |
They stripped Jesus- |
Joseph was sold for silver (20 pieces)- |
Jesus was sold for silver (30 pieces)- |
Everything Joseph put his hand to prospered- |
"… And the pleasure of the Lord prospered in his hand"- Isaiah 53:10 |
All things were laid into Joseph's trust- |
God hath given all things into his hand- |
Joseph's own brothers did not recognize him- |
The Jews did not recognize their Messiah- John 1:11 |
Joseph was tempted and did not sin- |
Jesus was tempted in all things yet was without sin- Hebrews 4:15 |
Joseph was bound- |
Jesus was bound- |
Joseph was condemned with two criminals- |
Jesus was crucified with two criminals- |
One criminal was given life and the other was condemned (hanged)- |
Jesus told one of the criminals |
Joseph was trustworthy and wise- |
God said about Jesus "this is my beloved son in whom I well pleased" - Mark 1:11 |
Egyptians were forced to bow to Joseph- Genesis 41:43 |
"At the name of Jesus every knee will bow" - |
Joseph was 30 years old when he began to serve Pharaoh - Genesis 41:46 |
Jesus was "about 30 years old" when He began His ministry- Luke 3:25 |
God planned the suffering of Joseph in advance to save many- |
Jesus said "God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall be saved"- John 3:16 |
Joseph was made ruler |
Jesus said "all power has been given unto me"- |
Joseph married a foreign bride who shared his glory- |
Believers in Christ are "joint heirs" with him in his glory - Romans 8:17 |
Joseph was cast into a pit and then later delivered out of it- |
When Jesus died he descended into the lower parts of the earth, and later ascended into heaven- |
Joseph was imprisoned based on false charges- |
During the trial of Jesus false witnesses were brought in testifying against him- Mark 14:56 |
Joseph's brothers later repented for what they did to him- Genesis 42:21 (?) Genesis 50:17-18 |
"and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn"- Zechariah 12:10 |
"What can we learn from the life of Joseph?"
Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob, his first son through his favored wife, Rachel. Joseph's story is found in Genesis 37—50. After the announcement of his birth, we see Joseph next as a seventeen-year-old returning from shepherding the flock with his half-brothers to give Jacob a bad report of them. We are also told that Jacob "loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him" (Genesis 37:3). Joseph’s brothers knew their father loved Joseph more than them, which caused them to hate him (Genesis 37:4). To make matters worse, Joseph began relating his dreams to the family—prophetic visions showing Joseph one day ruling over his family (Genesis 37:5–11).
The animosity toward Joseph peaked when his brothers plotted to kill him in the wilderness. Reuben, the eldest, objected to outright murder and suggested they throw Joseph into a cistern, as he planned to come back and rescue the boy. But, in Reuben’s absence, some merchants passed by, and Judah suggested selling Joseph into slavery; the brothers accomplished the task before Reuben could rescue him. The boys took Joseph's robe and, after dipping the robe in goat's blood, deceived their father into thinking his favorite son had been slain by wild beasts (Genesis 37:18–35).
1. Joseph’s pain was the key to his greatness
2. Joseph ministered to others in his darkest time
3. Joseph didn’t try to push his own agenda in his life
Joseph is credited for the construction of the Bahr Joussuf, the canal of Joseph, built, according to tradition, by the son of Jacob, and not the least of the many blessings he conferred on Egypt during the years of his prosperous rule. It is interesting to consider that no fault or sin of Joseph is mentioned in Scripture throughout the thirteen chapters dedicated to his life.