As we progress throughout the book of Genesis, it’s time to look at the long and comprehensive story of Joseph. While studying the material, I found a list of parallels between him and Jesus. I’ve learned that much Old Testament literature and storytelling often repeats itself, so does Joseph’s story truly prepare us for the story of Jesus. I have chosen eight parallels they both went through, which we might be going through, to see how they wrestled with them and what we can learn from their responses.
There are more parallels to discuss that focus on the Messiah and leadership-like stories. If you want to hear that side of their stories, let me know, and Part 2 of this series will return. Enjoy the latest series I’m calling “Joseph vs. Jesus.”
The sixth parallel is that they both were exalted or lifted up after suffering.
41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.”
We left Joseph in prison with the cup-bearer and the baker. Joseph was able to successfully interpret the dreams of these two. This led him to interpret dreams for Pharaoh, which showed seven years of harvest and seven years of famine. Because of Joseph’s interpretation, Pharaoh felt called to put him in charge of everything that was going on. Joseph would manage the harvest surplus and how to manage it all when it arrived. Joseph went from being thrown into slavery by his brother, thrown in prison on false accusations from Potiphar’s wife, to being Pharaoh’s second-in-command. This position is one of importance.
1 On that same day King Xerxes gave the property of Hama, the enemy of the Jews, to Queen Esther. Then Mordecai was brought before the king, for Esther had told the king how they were related.
2 The king took off his signet ring – which he had taken back from Haman – and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai to be in charge of Haman’s property.
3 Then Esther went again before the king, falling down at his feet and begging him with tears to stop the evil plot devised by Haman the Agagite against the Jews.
4 Again the king held out the gold scepter to Esther. She rose and stood before him.
5 Esther said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor with him, and if he thinks it is right, and if I am pleasing to him, let there be a decree that reverses the order of Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, who ordered that Jews through all the king’s provinces should be destroyed.
6 For how can I endure to see my people and my family slaughtered and destroyed?”
7 Then King Xerxes said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jews, “I have given Esther the property of Haman, and he has been impaled on a pole because he tried to destroy the Jews.
Now, this is a lot of scripture to say that Mordecai was exalted to take over the command and property of Haman, a corrupt ruler. Esther is a unique book to study that doesn’t get its proper recognition. A series on that entire book will probably come later next year! Anyways!
While we shouldn’t expect rewards here on earth for being faithful to what God’s called us to do, they often happen in the most unexpected ways. Esther and Mordecai were faithful, even to the point of risking their own lives to save others. They were willing to give up everything. How many of us would give up everything? Everything we own, our relationship, and every dollar in our bank account to save our community. Very few, and Jesus recognized his teachings to the rich young ruler.
21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow Jesus.
We would have to do this and obey the commandments (the 10 Commandments, to be precise). The rich young ruler was gloomy. He didn’t want to have to do that to follow Jesus. There’s a reason that Jesus says this.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or fathers or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.
30 But many who are the greatest now will be the least important then, and those who seem the least important now will be the greatest then.
The idea is the heart posture. Will you be willing to give away all your possessions to follow Jesus? The rich young ruler took this literally. The disciples did the same, stating they had given up everything. They gave up their jobs and seeing their family and friends so they could follow Jesus as his disciples. Jesus states that those who have sacrificed property, relationships, jobs, and more for the benefit of his call will be blessed earthly and eternally. Going back to Esther and Mordecai, they received their reward through Haman’s property. They were able to reverse the decrees that Haman had in place that hurt the Jews. Their reward was not only for them but for future generations through their actions. You might not see the fruits of your labor through your ministry and work in Christ, but you will see the reward of your obedience.
1 Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province.
2 The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests.
3 Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the empire.
Another book that deserves a series, shouldn’t it? I better start making a list! Anyways!
At this time, Daniel was over 80 years old and one of Darius’s top three administrators. Daniel worked with those who didn’t believe in his God, but he worked more efficiently and capable than all the rest. Thus, he got the attention of the pagan king and earned his respect. What does this mean for us? We can influence non-Christian employers by working diligently and responsibly. We don’t have to work for a church or religious organization to spread the work of the Kingdom. We can reflect our Christian morals and standards through our work ethic in our normal 9-5s (or whatever your normal is), showing that the work of the Gospel is more than just religion-centric ideals.
It’s time to talk about Jesus’s side of the story, but we won’t do it from the Gospels! Most of our scriptures will be from Paul’s letter and one from the unknown author of Hebrews.
9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Even those condemned will see Jesus’ authority and right to rule at the Last Judgment! People can voluntarily choose now to follow Jesus, or they will be forced to recognize him as Lord in the second coming. This isn’t to sound aggressive like I believe most Hellfire and Brimstone pastors make it seem. We will all be seen before God and Jesus at the final judgment. We have this choice today: we can follow God right now, accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and live according to his standards and will. If we don’t, we will recognize that Jesus was God and face what happens then! Jesus went back to heaven for a reason in Acts 1; this place of elevation shows why.
19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power
20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else – not only in this world but also in the world to come.
22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.
We are still astonished at the latest scientific discoveries. Yet, we belong to the same God who created the atoms and the universe. This same power resurrected Jesus from the dead. This same power helps us grow, change, and love others. Because of this power and the work the Spirit continues to do in us, helping us overcome difficulties daily. The resurrection power that God is in us through the work of the Holy Spirit. It helps us realize that there is nothing that we can’t do with God. If God could resurrect people from the dead, what more could he do within and through us.
Having been resurrected, Christ becomes the head of the church and the ultimate authority over the world. Jesus is the Messiah. He is the one Israel has been waiting for. He is the one who would set this world straight. Let it be known that this Jesus isn’t the Jesus they expected. They thought the Messiah would be this war-torn battle leader ready to conquer and overthrow all who stood in their way. Jesus came with an upside-down mindset to show God’s radical love and compassion. As Christians, we are confident that God has the final victory and controls all. There’s nothing to fear, including death. Jesus defeated it all. We are now in waiting. We will work together with God and each other to help make the world resemble the Kingdom of Heaven until we are taken from this world into eternal life. There is nothing that separates us from God and his love.
3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.
4 This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.
Not only is Jesus the exact representation of God, but he’s also God himself. He is eternal, working with God in creating the world. He is the complete representation of who God is for the world. Hebrews connects God’s creative abilities and his power of salvation. The same power that brought our universe into existence and kept it functional is the same one that saves us and purifies us from our sins.
Why do we think that God couldn’t forgive us for what we’ve done? There’s nothing bigger than whatever we’ve done. God created the world, and there’s no bigger incident or event than that. He can and will forgive us when we go to Him through our Lord and Savior. During this time and culture, priests would always stand while performing sacrifices, and sacrifices would happen continuously. Since Jesus sat down, the work was done and finished. We find finality in our cleansing because Christ’s sacrifice is the final one that purifies us from our sins. What does this mean for us? There’s nothing that we do that God can’t forgive. Nothing so severe that God won’t share his mercy with us. Instead of beating ourselves up for our past, we can rest and find comfort in knowing that God has overcome all this through the sacrifice of his son.
10 So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
11 For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’”
12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.
When reading this passage, I thought, “Where is Paul quoting from?” It’s from Isaiah 45:23, a section of the passage where Isaiah receives a message from God talking about the future conversation of the non-believing people. The whole section is six verses long and worth the read.
20 “Gather together and come, you fugitives from surrounding nations. What fools they are who carry around their wooden idols and pray to gods that cannot save!
21 Consult together, argue your case. Get together and decide what to say. Who made these things known so long ago? What idol ever told you they would happen? Was it not I, the Lord? For there is no other God but me, a righteous God and Savior. There is none but me.
22 Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other.
23 I have sworn by my own name; I have spoken the truth, and I will never go back on my word: Every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to me.”
24 The people will declare, “The Lord is the source of all my righteousness and strength.” And all who were angry with him, will come to him and be ashamed.
25 In the Lord all the generations of Israel will be justified, and in him they will boast.
There is a transliteration point to show you. In Greek, “every tongue will declare allegiance to me,” and Hebrew, “every tongue will confess.” However, what is the combined message being shown here in both messages?
If we look at Paul’s message, Paul asks why we Christians choose to condemn other Christians. We often come from a place of ego and pride to say, “You’re wrong, and I’m better than you.” Following this passage in verse 13, Paul tells his audience and us to stop condemning one another. We are to live in a way that doesn’t cause others to stumble and fall out of their relationship with God and their Christian beliefs. While Paul focuses on the cycle of condemnation between believers, Isaiah looks at it from the struggle with false Gods. The Gentile audience would have most likely believed in the different gods of their community and culture over what the Israelites believed. Isaiah’s message is aggressive, even as a message from God, but that’s their passion. They wanted to ensure that every soul followed and worshiped the Hebrew God of Israel because that was the ultimate path to salvation.
What does this mean for me? Don’t criticize and condemn other Christians, really other people in general. At the end of it all, we will all have to face judgment before God. God is the almighty judge, not us. We can point out concerns and offer gentle correction if the situation allows, but that’s it. Our responsibility as Christians here on earth in 2024 is to love our God with all of who we are and love our neighbor as Christ loved us.
Another long-winded study! Take a deep breath and allow the Spirit to wash over you, soaking in the information you read. We have two more sections to go through: forgiveness and the good of being hurt by others. We’re ending with heavy topics, which we should wrestle with today. Until next time, stay blessed!
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