In our study last month, we saw Joseph setting forth Christ in the work of His first coming. There was evidenced strength of faith in this young man, Joseph. The Psalmist says, ". . . the Word of the Lord tried him" (Psa. 105:19). The word for "tried" is "tzaraph" and means to "refine or purify metals." Circumstances all seemed to be against him. His brothers "hated him and could not speak peaceably unto him" (Genesis 37:4). "They conspired against him to slay him" (V. 18), and finally stripped off his coat given him by his father and sold him into slavery for "twenty pieces of silver." Because he refused to do wrong he was unjustly cast into prison. The story thrills with triumphs of faith and Joseph never once foolishly blames God. He knew the secret of Rom. 8:28, "that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."

The Psalmist tells us, too, that the "man. . . Joseph was sold for a servant; whose feet they hurt with fetters" (Psa. 105:17, 18). The word for "servant" is "eved," meaning "a bond slave" and is the same Hebrew word used concerning the Messiah in Isa. 52:13; 53:11. So many of these analogies are seen as we think of Joseph and the Messiah that we cannot stop to call attention to all.

In this study we wish to see Joseph as he sets forth the work of Christ during this age of grace. Although Joseph was rejected by his own brothers, he was soon exalted to a throne of power, and became the giver of the bread of life to a starving and famishing world. The one hated by his own comes to be the only one who can sustain life for them and for the world.

Let us look at some of these precious analogies in these two great personalities Joseph the righteous and Jesus Christ "who of God is made unto us. . . righteousness. . . that. . . he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord" (1 Cor. 1:30, 31).

Joseph truly sets forth the work of Christ during this grace age. After his humiliation and suffering in his early years in Egypt we see Joseph exalted to the throne of power in the far country. "And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, see, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck; and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt (Gen. 41:41-43).

Christ is now exalted to the throne of power (Luke 19:12), in the far country. "When He (Christ) had made purification of sins. He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; having become by so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art my Son,. . . sit Thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet?" (Heb. 1:3, 4, 5, 13 R.V.). He is waiting "to take out of them a people for His name. . .. After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down;. . . that the residue of men might seek after the Lord. . ." (Acts 15:14-18).

While Joseph was rejected by his brethren, he was an outcast from his native land. "And Pharaoh called and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah Priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt" (Gen. 41:45). He came into his own. His prophetic dream becomes reality: "And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, see, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt" (Gen. 41:41). While Christ is rejected by His brethren. He is an outcast from His earthly kingdom. "He came unto His own and His own received Him not" (Jno. 1:11). He came preaching "the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." "But His citizens hated Him, and sent a message after Him, saying, we will not have this man to reign over us" (Luke 19:14). But thanks be to God "He ie able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:25).

While Joseph was the despised and rejected one of his brethren, he became the giver of the bread of life to the starving world. "And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: And Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith unto you, do" (Gen. 41:55). All the power of the kingdom of Egypt was given unto him. While Christ is the despised and rejected Son, He is the Giver of the bread of life to the dying world. "For the bread of God is that which cometh down out of heaven, and giveth life unto the world" (Jno. 6:33). I am the living bread which came down out of heaven: If any man eat this bread, he shall live forever" (Jno. 6:51). "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matt. 28: 18b).

Joseph was the only one that sold corn to the famishing world. "And Joseph was the governor over all the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land" (Gen. 42:6). And people everywhere turned to him that they might eat and live. Christ is the only One who has power to save lost men. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). "But as many as receved Him, to them gave He the right to become the children of God" (Jno. 1:12 R.V.). Would that men might hear Him concerning the spiritual bread as freely as the world heard Joseph of old!

Joseph received his brethren when they came to him. "And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near me I pray you. . .. Be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him. . ., Come down unto me (Joseph), tarry not: and thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near me" (Gen. 45:4, 5, 9, 10). Christ receiveth all who come unto Him in faith. "Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out" (Jno. 6:37). "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (Jno. 3:16). Christ "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God our father; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen" (Gal. 1:4, 5).

To have rejected Joseph would have meant death to his brethren, Egypt was the granary of the world. "All countries came into Egypt to Joseph to buy corn; because the famine was sore in all the lands" (Gen. 41: 57). And Jacob said to his sons, "Get you down thither, and buy for us corn from thence; that we may live and not die" (Gen. 42: 2). Joseph said, "I will nourish thee: for yet there are five years of famine" (Gen. 45:11). How foolish for anyone to have even thought of turning from their only source of help! To reject Christ means eternal death. "For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23 R.V.). "He that believeth on Him is not condemned: he that believeth NOT is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God" (Jno 3:18). "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; but he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him" (Jno. 3:36). How foolish for the multitudes to turn elsewhere for salvation when He has the living water. "Come unto Me" and "Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely."