By Jude Watchman Oguta
Throughout the Old Testament, God embedded prophetic pictures of Jesus Christ within the lives of key individuals. One of the clearest and most remarkable examples is Joseph, the son of Jacob. Long before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the life of Joseph served as a living prophecy of the coming Messiah.
While Joseph was a real historical figure, his experiences foreshadowed the life, rejection, suffering, exaltation, and eventual acceptance of Jesus Christ.
The similarities are so striking that many Bible scholars refer to Joseph as a "type of Christ"—a person whose life prophetically points to Jesus.
What is a Biblical Type?
A type is a person, event, or institution in the Old Testament that foreshadows a greater reality fulfilled in Christ.
Joseph was not Jesus, but his life paints a prophetic portrait of Jesus hundreds of years before the Incarnation.
As Jesus Himself said:
"For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me." (John 5:46)
The story of Joseph is one of those places where Moses wrote about Christ through prophetic symbolism.
Major Parallels Between Joseph and Jesus
| Joseph | Jesus Christ |
|---|---|
| Beloved son of his father (Gen. 37:3) | Beloved Son of God (Matt. 3:17) |
| Sent by his father to his brothers (Gen. 37:13-14) | Sent by the Father to Israel (Gal. 4:4) |
| Shepherd over his father's flock (Gen. 37:2) | The Good Shepherd (John 10:11) |
| Received prophetic revelations (Gen. 37:5-9) | Revealed the mysteries of God's Kingdom |
| Hated by his brothers (Gen. 37:4) | Hated by His own people (John 1:11) |
| Brothers conspired against him (Gen. 37:18) | Jewish leaders conspired against Jesus |
| Stripped of his robe (Gen. 37:23) | Stripped of His garments (Matt. 27:35) |
| Cast into a pit (Gen. 37:24) | Laid in a tomb |
| Sold for silver (Gen. 37:28) | Betrayed for silver (Matt. 26:15) |
| Taken into Egypt (Gen. 39:1) | Jesus was taken into Egypt as a child (Matt. 2:13-15) |
| Falsely accused (Gen. 39:17-18) | Falsely accused at His trial |
| Suffered though innocent | Suffered though sinless |
| Numbered with two prisoners (Gen. 40) | Crucified between two criminals |
| One prisoner saved, one condemned | One thief saved, one rejected |
| Exalted from prison to the throne | Exalted from the grave to God's right hand |
| Given authority over all Egypt (Gen. 41:40) | Given all authority in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18) |
| Every knee bowed before Joseph (Gen. 41:43) | Every knee shall bow to Jesus (Phil. 2:10) |
| Became the source of bread during famine | Jesus is the Bread of Life |
| Took a Gentile bride (Asenath) (Gen. 41:45) | Christ presently has a predominantly Gentile Church |
| Revealed himself to his brothers later | Will reveal Himself to Israel at His return |
The Most Powerful Parallel: Rejected Then Exalted
One of the greatest themes in Joseph's story is rejection.
Joseph's brothers hated him because of who he was.
They rejected his message.
They rejected his dreams.
They rejected his leadership.
Eventually they sold him into slavery.
Yet the very one they rejected became the one God exalted to save them.
This is exactly what happened to Jesus.
"He came unto his own, and his own received him not." (John 1:11)
Israel largely rejected Jesus as Messiah.
The religious leaders delivered Him to be crucified.
Yet God raised Him from the dead and exalted Him above every name.
The rejected Son became the Savior.
Why Didn't Joseph's Brothers Recognize Him?
Perhaps the most fascinating parallel appears later in Genesis.
Years after selling Joseph into slavery, his brothers stood before him in Egypt seeking food.
But they did not recognize him.
Joseph recognized them immediately.
They were looking directly at the man they had rejected, yet they could not see who he truly was.
Why?
Because Joseph now appeared different.
He spoke Egyptian.
He dressed like an Egyptian ruler.
He possessed power and authority they never imagined.
Their expectations blinded them to his identity.
This is remarkably similar to Israel's relationship with Jesus today.
The Jewish people were expecting a conquering king who would immediately establish political dominion.
Instead, Jesus came as a suffering servant.
Because He did not fit their expectations, many failed to recognize Him as the promised Messiah.
Paul explains:
"Blindness in part is happened to Israel." (Romans 11:25)
Just as Joseph's brothers stood before Joseph without recognizing him, many Jews today read the Scriptures that testify of Christ yet do not recognize Him as the Messiah.
Joseph's Gentile Bride and the Church
While Joseph was rejected by his brothers, something remarkable happened.
He was given a Gentile bride named Asenath.
This happened during the period when he was separated from his brothers.
This mirrors the current age of the Church.
After Israel largely rejected Jesus, the Gospel spread throughout the Gentile world.
Today Christianity is predominantly Gentile.
Africa, Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and many nations contain millions of followers of Christ.
The Apostle Paul explains that Israel's rejection opened the door for the Gentiles.
"Through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles." (Romans 11:11)
God has not abandoned Israel.
Rather, we are living in a period where the Gospel is being preached among the nations.
The Church, composed largely of Gentiles, is like Joseph's Gentile bride.
The Future: Israel Will Recognize Her Messiah
Joseph's story does not end with separation.
One day Joseph revealed himself to his brothers.
When he finally disclosed his identity, they were shocked.
The one they had rejected had become their deliverer.
The one they sold was now their savior.
Joseph told them:
"God did send me before you to preserve life." (Genesis 45:5)
The Bible teaches that something similar will happen with Israel.
There is coming a day when many Jewish people will recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
Zechariah prophesied:
"They shall look upon me whom they have pierced." (Zechariah 12:10)
Paul writes:
"And so all Israel shall be saved." (Romans 11:26)
The blindness is temporary.
The rejection is not permanent.
The story ends with recognition, reconciliation, and restoration.
Just as Joseph's brothers eventually bowed before him and received life through him, Israel will one day recognize Jesus and embrace Him as the promised Messiah.
What This Means for Us Today
Joseph's story reminds us that God's plans often unfold through rejection, suffering, and delays.
What appeared to be Joseph's defeat was actually God's path to his throne.
What appeared to be Christ's defeat at Calvary became the means of salvation for the world.
The lesson is powerful:
- God's purposes cannot be stopped by human rejection.
- Suffering often precedes exaltation.
- What men reject, God may choose.
- God's promises are fulfilled in His timing.
- Jesus is the center of both the Old and New Testaments.
The life of Joseph stands as one of Scripture's most beautiful prophetic portraits of Jesus Christ.
Rejected by his brothers.
Exalted by God.
Given a Gentile bride.
Provider of bread.
Savior of his family.
And finally recognized by those who once rejected him.
In all these things, Joseph points us to the greater Joseph—the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
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