parallels between the lives of Joseph and Yeshua

One in Messiah Congregation

A few parallels between the lives of Joseph and Yeshua / Jesus in no special order

Both were shepherds of his father's sheep.

Gen.37[ 2] These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

John.10[ 11] I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

[14] I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Both became a servant and then exalted highly

Gen.39[1 ] And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.[ 2] And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.[ 3] And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.[4] And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.[5 ] And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.[6 ] And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

Phil.2[ 7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:[ 8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.[9] Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:[ 10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;[11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Both had garments dipped in Blood

Gen.37[ 31] And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;

Rev.19[ 13] And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Both born through miracles.

Gen.30[ 2] And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

[22] And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

Isa.7[ 14] Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matt.1[ 20] But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.[21 ] And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.[ 22] Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,[ 23] Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Both loved by their fathers.

Both Joseph and Messiah Yeshua were beloved of their fathers. Genesis 37:3 says, "Now Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours." In Matthew 17:5, the Father says of Jesus Christ, "... This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased ...."

Gen.37[ 3] Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

[4] And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

John.3[ 35] The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

John.5[ 20] For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

Matt.3[ 17] And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son , in whom I am well pleased.

Matt.17[ 5] While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son , in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Mark.9[ 7] And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

Luke.9[ 35] And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son : hear him.

2Pet.1[ 17] For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son , in whom I am well pleased.

Both went to Egypt in their youth.

Matt.2[ 13] And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

[14] When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

Both began their life's work at the age of thirty

Gen.41[ 46] And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

Luke.3[ 23] And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,

Both were filled with the Spirit of God.

Gen.41[ 38] And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?[ 39] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:[40] Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

Luke.4[ 1] And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

Both were hated for their teachings.

Gen.37[ 4] And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. [5] And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

[8] And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

John.7[ 7] The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

Both were falsely accused.

Gen.39[ 14] That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:[ 15] And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.[16] And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.[ 17] And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:[18 ] And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.

Mark.14[ 56] For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.

Both were condemned between two prisoners.

Gen.40[ 1] And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.
[2] And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.
[3] And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
[4] And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.

Mark.15[ 27] And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.

Both arose into a new life.

Gen.41[ 41] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt .

Mark.16[ 6] And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

Rom.8[ 34] Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Both returned to their father.

Gen.46 [29] And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.

John.13[ 1] Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father , having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

John.14[ 6] Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

[28] Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

Dreams play a part in both lives

The course of the lives of Joseph and Yeshua / Jesus were dramatically changed by the power of dreams. Joseph became an interpreter of his own dreams and the dreams of others which he used to save everyone's life including his own.

It was also a dream which led Jesus's earthly father, Joseph, to flee Israel for their lives to Egypt. In the same way, it was a dream of Joseph while acting as prince of Egypt which led his family out of Israel and into Egypt. After the danger was over, God called both Joseph's family and Yeshua's family out of Egypt and back to Israel as an shadow of salvation.

Gen.37[ 5] And Joseph dreamed a dream , and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

[6] And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dream ed:

[8] And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. [ 9] And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. [ 10] And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

[19] And they said one to another, Behold, this dream er cometh. [20] Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

Gen.40[ 5] And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.

[8] And they said unto him, We have dream ed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you. [9 ] And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;

[16] When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:

Gen.41[ 1] And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dream ed: and, behold, he stood by the river.

[5] And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.

[7] And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream. [ 8] And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

[11] And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream . [12] And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dream s; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.

[15] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dream ed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.

[17] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream , behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:

[22] And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:

[25] And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. [26] The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.

[32] And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

Gen.42[ 9] And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.

Matt.1[ 20] But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Matt.2[ 12] And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

[13] And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

[19] But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

[22] But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

Both came out of Egypt

Hos.11[ 1] When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt .

Gen.47[ 30] But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt , and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said.

Gen.45[ 25] And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,

Matt.2[ 15] And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Both Joseph and Jesus were hated by their families.

[8] And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

John.7[ 5] For neither did his brethren believe in him.

John.1[ 11] He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

John.15[ 18] If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

[24] If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. [25 ] But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

Pss.35[ 7] For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.

[19] Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause .

Pss.69[ 4] They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head:

Both attained great authority.

When the famine arrived and the grain ran out in Egypt, the Pharaoh told the Egyptians: Do what Joseph tells you.

Gen.41[55] 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 to you, do.

John.2[5 ] His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he ( Yeshua ) saith unto you, do it

Both were sold for the pieces of silver.

Exod.21[ 32] If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant ; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

Both were sold by their brethren. Joseph was sold into slavery for 20 pieces of silver in Genesis 37:28. "Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt." Messiah Yeshua was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. Judas Iscariot met with the chief priests in Matthew 26:15, "And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver." ;

Gen.37[ 28] Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Zech.11[ 12] And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. [13] And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

Matt.26[ 15] And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

Matt.27[ 3] Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

[9] Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;

Both were and will at the end be recognized by their own brethren the second time.

Although Joseph knew his brothers at their first meeting, they did not recognize him until they met the second time . "And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him" (Genesis 42:7-8).

Stephen says in Acts.7[ 13] And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.

Likewise, many Jews will not recognize Messiah Yeshua until He comes to them for the second time.

Heb.9[ 28] So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

One Israel, Bride made up with Jews & Gentiles

Joseph received a Gentile bride after being exalted. "And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On ..." (Genesis 41:45). Messiah Yeshua will receive a Gentile portion of His bride. Rev.7[9] After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues , stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;[10 ] And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

2Cor.11[2] For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Eph.5[ 23] For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.[24] Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.[25] Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;[26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,[ 27] That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.[28 ] So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.[29 ] For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:[30 ] For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.[31] For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.[32 ] This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Joseph received his Gentile bride during the time of rejection by his brothers and before a great famine. Similarly Messiah will get His gentile part of His bride while being rejected by Israel and before the great tribulation.

Through Joseph, God saved not only Egypt and Israel, but all the nations of the world from starvation during the seven year famine. Genesis 41:56-57 says, "And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands."

This foreshadowed Messiah Yeshua becoming the bread of life for a world which was hopelessly lost. "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (John 6:35). Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, "... The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Messiah / Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread."

Gen.47[ 12] And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families.

John.6[ 35] And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

As Joseph forgave his brothers who sold him into slavery. Genesis 50:20-21 says, "... ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them."

Likewise, Messiah Yeshua forgives All who come unto Him!

Rom.10 [11] For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. [12] For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.[13] For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

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