The other night I attended a college production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”. Having known nothing about the musical beforehand, I was surprised and delighted by each new scene and song. It also got me thinking about Joseph himself–and how we, as believers, can relate to him.
Ultimately, Joseph is an Old Testament picture of Jesus. But I realized our stories sometimes parallel the lives of Joseph and Jesus. First, Joseph (the favored 11th son) received a coat of many colors, a symbol of his father’s favor and blessing. Similarly, at Jesus’ baptism He heard His Father proclaim, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17). And when we accept God’s free gift of salvation, He clothes us with robes of righteousness and adopts us into His eternal family (John 1:12, Galatians 4:4-5).
Next, Joseph’s own brothers, weary of hearing about his God-given dreams and jealous of their father’s favoritism toward him, sold him into slavery. Jesus also dealt with family strain when at one point His brothers thought Him crazy for the things he taught and did. And they sought to whisk Him away from the crowds (Mark 3:21). We, too, experience family discord and misunderstandings, whether with parents, siblings, or both. I’ve yet to meet a perfect person with a perfect family.
To make things worse for Joseph, his master (prompted by the master’s wife) accused him of attempted assault and threw him into a dungeon. Likewise, Jesus had two false witnesses accuse Him, bolstering the pharisees’ case to arrest Him (Matthew 26:60-62). From jail He went to the cross to die (and rise again on our behalf.) Even if we personally do not have human accusers, we know that in the spiritual realm Satan makes accusations against us day and night, seeking to condemn and defeat us (Revelation 12:9-11). This is why Jesus intercedes for us before the Father (Romans 8:31).
In the end, the Pharaoh ended Joseph’s servile existence by elevating him to a place of prominence and authority—placing on him the royal signet ring and having him ride in the chariot reserved for Egypt’s second in command (Genesis 41:39-43). God later did the same for His one and only Son, raising Jesus from the dead, exalting Him above all creation, and seating Him at His right hand. God also promises to promote us at the proper time, as we live humbly before Him (I Peter 5:6). Ultimately, when our lives end, we will live forever in His loving presence.
One way we live humbly is by heeding the revelation God gives us and walking in the grace He supplies, as Joseph and Jesus lived. And just as Joseph and Jesus desired their Father’s approval, we long to one day hear the Father tell us, “You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Begin the joyous tasks I have assigned to you” (Matthew 25:21 TLB). To live a faithful life, despite the curve balls life and others throw our way, is the best story one’s life can tell.
Thank you Carrie, I had not even thought of the parallels in Joseph’s and Jesus’ lives – very helpful to me that you pointed those out!