Excerpt from 52 Weeks of Pursuit, Vol. 1
The Bible is an absolutely astounding book, y’all!
Consider these amazing “coincidences” (similarities) in the lives of Joseph and Jesus.
1. Both were the beloved of their fathers. (Gen. 37:3; Matthew 3:17)
2. Both regarded themselves as shepherds. (Gen. 37:2; Jn. 10:11-14)
3. Both were sent to their brethren by their fathers. (Gen. 37:13-14; Lk. 20:13; Jn. 3:17; Heb. 10:7)
4. Both were hated by their brethren without cause. (37:4-5; Jn. 1:11; 7:5; 15:25)
5. Both were plotted against by their brethren. (Gen. 37:20; Jn. 11:53)
6. Both were severely tempted. (Gen. 39:7; Mt. 4:1)
7. Both were taken to Egypt. (Gen. 37:36; Mt. 2:14-15)
8. Both were stripped of their robes. (Gen. 37:23; Jn. 19:23-24)
9. Both were sold for the price of a slave. (Gen. 37:28; Mt. 26:15)
10. Both were bound. (Gen. 39:20; Mt. 27:2)
11. Both remained silent and offered no defense. (Gen. 39:20; Isa. 53:7)
12. Both were falsely accused. (Gen. 39:16-18; Mt. 26:59-60)
13. Both experienced God’s presence through everything. (Gen. 39:2, 21, 23; Jn. 16:32)
14. Both were respected by their jailors. (Gen. 39:21; Lk. 23:47)
15. Both were placed with two prisoners, one of which was later lost, and the other saved. (Gen. 40:2, 3, 21, 22; Lk. 23:32, 39-43)
16. Both were around thirty when their ministry began. (Gen. 41:46; Lk. 3:23)
17. Both were highly exalted after their sufferings. (Gen. 41:41; Phil 2:9-11)
18. Both took Gentile brides. (Gen. 41:45; Eph. 2;11-13)
19. Both were lost to their brothers for awhile. (Gen. 42:7-8; Rom. 10:1-3; 11:7-8)
20. Both forgave and restored their repentant brothers. (Gen. 45:1-15; Micah 7:18-19; Zech. 12:10-12; Rev. 1:7)
21. Both were visited and honored by all earthly nations. (Gen. 41:57; Isa. 2:2-3; 49:6)
In Genesis 45:13, Joseph, the incredible type of Christ, tells his brothers, “tell my father of all my glory.” John 13:31 teaches those of us who are Christ’s brothers (Heb. 2:11) that God is glorified as we glorify His Son! Oh, may we tell the Father of all of Christ’s glory today! Philippians 2:9–11 says, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”