Joseph, A Type

Both Joseph and Jesus endured tremendous trials of character, were separated by rejection from their Jewish brethren, married Gentile wives, and brought salvation to the known world. Ultimately, they also brought (and will bring) salvation to their entire Jewish family as they were, and will be, revealed.

Joseph’s type of Jesus is nothing short of amazing, as you can see in the non-conclusive listed in the right-hand column. My assumption is that you know the profound story of Joseph (if not, read Gen. 37-50). In light of the context of this particular study, I would like to highlight a very important prophetic point of inclusion – our adoption!

Presently, those of us who have entered the New Covenant, during this predetermined age of the Gentiles, have in fact, been adopted into a very Jewish family – the Israel of God – not separate from them, but adopted into their family by a marriage covenant to a Jewish Redeemer.

It is this blessing of adoption into God’s family that is of interest to the Gentiles!

Before Jacob died, Joseph brought his two sons before Jacob so that he might bless them, as we see the adoption unfold throughout Genesis chapter 48:

And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine…

Here Jacob adopts Joseph’s two sons as his own, giving them equality to both the first born status of Reuben and Simeon and the inheritance of the Commonwealth of Israel. NO other grandchildren of his were given that status! This was an amazing type and shadow for us being adopted into the family of God.

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ Rom 8:15

The Inheritance of Our Adoption 

(TS represents Type and Shadow and PF represents Prophetic Fulfillment.)

TS… Jacob continues…”Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.” Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age… Gen 48

PF…For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Rom 11:25

TS… Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly…’Bless the lads; let my name be named upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.’ Gen 48

PF...For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek…for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Gal 3:26-29

And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.  Gal 6:16

TS…Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him…But his father refused and said, ‘I know, my son, I know…but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations (the fullness of the Gentiles).’ Gen 48

Ha-melo ha-goyim, in Hebrew is frequently translated as multitude of nations but it is also is translated as the fullness of the Gentiles. (Totally appropriate in this moment to shout Alleluia!)

PF… they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Luke 21:24

The New Testament tells us that God concealed the mystery in offering salvation to the Gentiles. By doing so, the Gentiles would be full and equal heirs to the Commonwealth of Israel. However, God placed dots throughout the prophetic Script that would all be connected in the end times, His appointed time, to reveal Himself just as Joseph to with his brothers. Up to this point, it was a shhhhhhh secret until the appointed time!