Genesis 37 - Part A

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Now, let's get started with today's message from Pastor Skiff Heitzik.

Now this week I was with my son out at a golf course just shooting a bucket of balls. and somebody next to me on that driving range said to me, Todd? Todd, is that you?

Well And it wasn't Todd, it was me.

So I looked up and I said, No, I'm sorry, I'm not Todd. He goes, Oh, you look like. Todd, whoever Todd Was or is. But you've all had that happen where somebody said, You look like or you remind me of someone.

somebody else, or I mistook you for somebody else. That is the impression we get as we move into chapter 37, all the way through chapter 50, as we're reading the story of Joseph. He reminds us of somebody else. And it's not Abraham, and it's not Isaac, and it's not his dad Jacob. When we read about Joseph, He reminds us of Jesus.

Very, very similar to Christ. as I'll point out a few of those things in just a moment. In chapter 37, we are moving into the final division of the book of Genesis. The next 14 chapters, including this one. is that final division And the central focus of attention is on one person.

And that one person is Joseph. It's quite remarkable that 14 chapters of the first book of the Bible are devoted to one. Single Unique personality. Think about it this way. There's more space devoted to Joseph.

Than there is to Abraham. Then there is to Jacob than there is to Isaac or any other person. That we find. 14 chapters. If you were to compare these 14 chapters with the first 11 chapters, and if you remember Genesis 1 through 11, they're significant chapters.

They're chapters of origin, we would call them. The story of creation. Story of the fall of man. the stories of Noah and his family, story of the great world wide flood. The post-Diluvian era, the Table of Nations in chapter 10, the Tower of Babel in chapter 11.

All of those Incredible stories put together Don't even match. the real estate given to one single person.

Now what is Joseph like? In a word, I'll give you one word. He's different. I know the saying, like father, like son, but in this case, It doesn't work. Because as you look at Joseph, he's almost.

Flawless. Did you know there's not one Bad Evil Malicious wrong thing said of Joseph in all of the Bible. As a human being, he's nearly flawless. He's different from his dad. He is what the Bible would call pure.

in heart. Not like Dad, who was manipulative and conniving of heart. Joseph was pure of heart. Many commentators, researchers, and looking at the life of Joseph have come up with many ways in which. Joseph is like Jesus.

Some have counted over a hundred different ways. Time. prevents us from doing that tonight. Others have counted fifty. Time prevents us from doing that tonight.

But now that we come to chapter 37, and now that it is communion night, and we like to do this once a month. I thought it was more appropriate to give you more of a devotional. And a summary of Joseph's life. Rather than a verse by verse through the entire chapter, chapter 37.

So that next time we can go through it in our normal way and from a different angle.

Well, let me give you a few ways in which Joseph looks a lot like Jesus. Number one, Joseph was uniquely loved by his father. That's the first thing we learn about him when his story unfolds in chapter 37.

Now Jacob dwelt in the land. where his father was a stranger in the land of Canaan. This is the history of Jacob. Joseph being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, And the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives, and And Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father.

Now Israel loved Joseph. More than all his children. Because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a tunic, of many colours.

So, the first thing we're told is about the relationship between. Dad and son is the unique love that his father had for his son. He made him a tunic. A tunic of many colors was thought to be a coat. or a distinguishing piece of garment that honoured him or gave him authority.

When Jesus first arrives on the scene at the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist, A voice comes from heaven. From the Father. Remember what it said? This is my beloved son. in whom I am well pleased.

And if indeed this tunic was a symbol of authority, well. Again, that reminds us of Jesus. Who in Matthew 28 said, All authority is given to me. In heaven, And on earth.

Some, and I'm not quite sure I didn't do Enough digging in the sources, but some Believe that the translation of this tunic of many colors. could be best rendered Seamless rather than variegated or many colors. Seamless. And when I read that, I thought exactly of what John said when Jesus was crucified. And they were auctioning off or throwing dice, gambling for his robe, his tunic Which was called a robe without seams, sewn from top to bottom in one piece.

At any rate, That's the first mark. Joseph was uniquely loved by his father. Here's the second way Joseph looks like Jesus. Joseph was maliciously hated by his brothers. That follows with this unique love.

In chapter 37 again verse 4. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more, Then all his brothers they hated him and could not speak peaceably. to him. He was hated. And the hatred grows through the chapter until the inevitable happens.

As he is sold into slavery, and a lie goes back to his dad about how he was killed out in the field.

Well, that also is a lot like Jesus. He was hated. He came into his own. His own did not receive him. The Bible says when Jesus would speak that the common people Heard him gladly.

They loved hearing him. He made sense to them. He was so different than the Normal religious leaders who spoke in sanctuary tones and very condemning manner, Jesus was a breath of fresh air. Because they saw that the common people were hearing Jesus gladly, that fomented a sort of envy and jealousy from the religious leaders toward Jesus. And that grew and that grew and that grew until when Jesus stands before the Sanhedrin at his trial, they have to bring in false witnesses.

to make up things about him. Lies about him. And when Barabbas was offered to the crowd.

So that Jesus could be let go. They said about Jesus: crucify him, crucify him. He was hated. So uniquely loved by his father, Joseph was, maliciously hated by his brother. Number three.

He was unjustly sold for twenty pieces of silver. Joseph was. If you go over to Verse 28. CHAPTER thirty seven Oh, we'll begin a few verses back, verse 26.

So Judah said to his brothers, What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites. And let not our hand be upon him. For he is our brother and our flesh, like they're being nice. And his brothers listened.

Then the Midianite traders passed by.

So the brothers pulled Joseph up Lifted him out of the pit and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph, to Egypt. When Jesus was on the earth, There were lots of people around him as his ministry of three and a half years. went on and on. It was very controversial, but nonetheless he Commanded great crowds of people who were very interested in him, as we have seen on Sunday morning in John chapter 6.

Because of his miracles. But though he was surrounded by Lots of people. The closest to him were his disciples. Just like for Joseph, the closest to him. were his own brothers.

Now there were 12 of these boys. 13 if you count Benjamin.

So imagine having twelve brothers around you. Jesus had twelve of his brothers, his disciples around him, those closest to him. Many times didn't understand, and one of those who were closest to him, Judas, sold Jesus into the hands of the Romans for 30 pieces of silver. It's very similar. This is 20 shekels.

With Jesus, it says... 30 pieces. You're listening to Connect with Skip Heitzig. Before we get back to Skip's teaching, the 1960s promised us an explosion of love and brotherhood, but instead, they delivered a nation in turmoil, confusion, and moral decline. Fortunately, God has the solution for our damaged families.

And in Beyond the Summer of Love, Relationships in the Real World, Pastor Skip Heitse gives a biblical guide for marriage and families that can help restore relationships which have been damaged by sin. Beyond the Summer of Love is our thanks for your gift of at least $25 today to help share biblical teaching with more people around the world through Connect with Skip Heitzig. Go to connectwithskip.com slash offer or call 800-922-1888 and request your resources when you give $25 or more today to help reach people around the world with the good news of Jesus through Connect with Skip Heitzig. Let's continue with today's teaching with Pastor Skip. Uniquely loved by his father, Hated by his brothers, Sold for 20 pieces of silver.

Number four. He was accused, falsely accused. for crimes he did not commit. Joseph didn't do what he was accused of. As we go on later on in our story.

Chapter 39. He's taken to Egypt. He's in Potiphar's house.

Now I'm fast forwarding the story.

Okay. He becomes one of the servants of Mr. Potiphar, one of the princes of Egypt. He's away at the office almost every day. His wife, Mrs.

Potafar. Was a very lonely desperate housewife. Joseph? was a young, handsome, single man. And you know the story already how misses Potiphar came on to Joseph.

Come on, Joey, baby. Nobody's looking. You and I, man. Come on. And you may remember.

Then Joseph said with integrity, Look, nobody physically, humanly, might be looking, but God is looking. How could I do this wickedness and sin against God? At that point, She screams, she cries out, and she accuses Joseph of being a rapist. A false accusation. which lands him a stay in the Egyptian prison.

Very similar to Jesus, falsely accused. For crimes he did not commit. And once again, as I mentioned before, the Sanhedrin, they had to come up with false witnesses to bring in false accusations. And you know what they said about him? They said, this man.

Perverts the nation. They said that about Jesus. This man perverts the nation and forbids people to pay taxes to Caesar. They said that because Jesus said, render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, but render unto God the things that are God's. False accusations.

Number four. Accused falsely. Number five. Joseph was providentially placed Next to two other criminals. Chapter 40, when he's put in prison, it says that there were two other men, a chief butler of Egypt and the chief baker, who were placed in the same cell.

Next to Joseph, two criminals next to Joseph. during his confinement. Yeah, that Rings a bell. That brings us to the cross. Where as Isaiah predicted and as the Gospels declare, Jesus was crucified between two criminals.

One on the right, the Bible says, and one on the left, Luke chapter 23. It's also interesting that when Joseph was in prison, One of those other prisoners was set free. and exalted And the other one was killed. I find that fascinating because the two that were next to Jesus, one on the right and one on the left, one mocked Jesus. Blaspheme Jesus.

And died in his sin Eternally separated from God. The other, humbly cried out. Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus said, Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. Spiritually, one died.

spiritually one lived. There's a sixth way in which Joseph looks like Jesus. Joseph was seemingly dead. To his father. Before he appears alive, Some time later.

In chapter 37. If you go down to verse thirty-two. It says they sent the tunic.

Now they took Joseph's. Favored status. Clothing. dipped it in animal's blood. said it was Joseph's blood.

And they brought it to their father and they said, We found this, liars. Do you know whether it is your son's tunic or not? Leading question. And he recognized it and said, It is my son's tunic. A wild beast has devoured him.

Without doubt Joseph is torn in pieces. Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. For years his father thought he was dead. Until chapter 45. When the boys come back from Egypt needing to get grain, Joseph reveals himself to them and he goes, Go tell my father I'm alive.

Well, they have to because they won't be able to get their son Benjamin back unless they do it.

So they come clean with dad and they say, Your son, Joseph. Lives The Bible says when Jacob heard that, His heart? stood Still. It's like He couldn't believe it. That which was dead is now alive?

How could that possibly be? And it was uncovered, how it could be. But Joseph was dead to his father for a period of time and then revealed to be alive. As Jesus died on the cross, was buried, rose from the dead. Peter in Acts chapter 3.

Says to the people gathered in Jerusalem, You killed the prince of life. But God raised him up from the dead. The seventh way in which Joseph is like Jesus or looks like Jesus. is that Joseph rightfully was in charge of everything. As the story in Genesis unfolds, he becomes the prime minister of Egypt.

And he's in charge of everything. He pulls the strings. Effectively, he works in proxy for the king of Egypt himself. He rightfully is in charge of everything.

Now, there's a hint of this if you go back to chapter 37 toward the beginning. In verse 5, it says Joseph had a dream, and again we'll cover this more in depth later. And he told it to his brothers, and they hated him even more.

So he said to them, Please hear this dream which I have dreamed. There we were binding sheaves in the field, then behold. My sheaf arose. also and stood upright. Indeed, your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.

Of course they wouldn't like to hear that dream. But that was prophetic of what would happen. He would become in charge effectively, rightfully, he became in charge of everything and everyone. If anybody in Egypt wanted to eat food or get grain, the one who was in charge of doling out the percentage of grain was Joseph. In charge of everything.

Jesus said, The Father has committed everything into the hands of the Son. Jesus is rightfully in charge of everyone and everything as well. And as we have been studying, Jesus said, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never hunger, whoever believes in me. will never thirst.

Joseph looks a lot like Jesus. Number eight, and finally, I'll close with number eight, since it tends to be the number of new beginnings, and it's probably enough times said. And spent. is that with Joseph Everyone humbly bowed down to him. Everyone humbly bowed down to Joseph.

As the story goes on in chapter 37 of these dreams that he. tells his brothers. In verse 9, it says, He dreamed still another dream, and he told it to his brothers.

Now, you'd think he'd get a clue by this time. And he said, look, I've dreamed another dream. And this time The sun The moon And the eleven stars Bow down to me. And not just your sheaves. But 12 plus 2.

Now, watch. His father gets the point and will interpret the dream, so he told it to his father. And his brothers, and his father rebuked him and said, What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I? And your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth.

Before you Well, that's exactly what happened. In chapter 42, and here's the text. It says, Joseph's brothers, when they saw the prime minister of Egypt, not knowing it was Joseph, bowed down to the ground with their face to the ground. Before Joseph. In chapter 47 and 48, When Jacob sees him, he bows down his face down to the ground.

Same language.

So your brothers and I bow down? Uh-huh. All y'all are going to bow down. That's why I say Joseph looks a lot like Jesus, Philippians 2:10. That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, every tongue should confess.

That Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

So Joseph looks a lot like Jesus.

Now, why are we going through this and why do we actually discover this? I've only covered eight of the very many ways. in which Joseph looks a lot like Jesus. Simply to show you what you find a lot in the scripture, and that is. The evidence of the fingerprint, so to speak, of the Holy Spirit in the Holy Rhet.

in the scripture itself. In the superintending of the writing of the text, so that we have the very words of God. given to us. The whole Bible is filled with Jesus. The whole Bible.

That's why we study the Old Testament. I've been asked: why do you study the Old Testament and the New Testament? Why don't you just study the New Testament?

Well, because Jesus said to those religious leaders of his day, search the scriptures. For in them you think that you have eternal life, but these are they which testify of me. But even Genesis, even Leviticus and Exodus and Numbers and Deuteronomy, the Torah. The works of Moses? Oh, yes.

Because you see, after Jesus rose from the dead and he was walking along the Emmaus road, and there were those two disciples who were despondent. And they said, man, we can't believe what's happened. This Jesus guy, whom we believed. Died, and he spoke something about a resurrection. I don't really know what that's about.

And Jesus said, Oh, Slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ To have suffered and entered into his glory.

Now, listen to this: it says, and beginning at Moses. And all the prophets He expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. He went back to Genesis. He took the writings of Moses and the prophets, and he showed how one typifies him and another predicts him, and this one was. symbolic of him.

Thanks for listening to Connect with Skiff Heitzig. We hope you've been strengthened in your walk with Jesus by today's program. Before we let you go, we want to remind you about this month's resources that will help you understand and follow God's plan for your relationships. Beyond the Summer of Love: Relationships in the Real World by Pastor Skip Heitzig is our thanks for your support of Connect with Skip Heitzig today. Request your copy when you give $25 or more.

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Come back next time for more verse-by-verse teaching of God's Word here on Connect with Skip Heitzig. Make a connection! Make a connection, never fall. Of the crossing cast your burdens on his wood Make a connection. Connection.

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