Genesis 45

Wow. The foreshadowing comes on thick in this chapter. There have already been subtle clues that Joseph prefigures Christ, but it was all laid out when he reveals himself to his brothers. Seeing their shock and grief, he tells them, "Be not afraid, and let it not seem to you a hard case that you sold me into these countries: for God sent me before you into Egypt for your preservation" (Genesis 45:5). Could not this exact statement be applied to what Christ did for us?! We may be inclined to lament and torment ourselves over the scourging and crucifixion of Christ caused by our sins, but Jesus Himself would say to us, "let it not seem to you a hard case... for God sent me before you... for your preservation." And Joseph says further, "God sent me before, that you may be preserved upon the earth, and may have food to live" (Genesis 45:7). Is not Christ Himself food for us to live?! According to Him, He is! These connections and portents never fail to astound me -- they don't pop up haphazardly here and there, they maintain a continuous presence throughout the narrative of the Old Testament until they are fully realized in the New. In Joseph's account, he was sent by God to preserve his people from the earthly famine then plaguing the land; and on a much larger scale, Jesus was sent by God to preserve all of humankind from the even greater plague of a spiritual famine then and even now sweeping the land.