Genesis 41:41 and the Typology of Joseph: Understanding Christ in the Old Testament
“And Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.’” Genesis 41:41
One of the fascinating things about the account of Joseph in the book of Genesis is that he is a typological symbol of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament contains pointers to the coming of Christ. These are glimpses of things to come that link the Old Testament to the New. Since the two testaments are unified by their common authorship through the Holy Spirit, it is not surprising that we see foreshadowing of Christ in the Old Testament.
The New Testament notes some of these foreshadowings. Paul refers to Adam as a type of Christ (Romans 5:14-21). They both had a significant impact on those who came after them. Though Adam’s fall brought death, Christ’s sacrifice brought life. Death reigned through one, but eternal life came from the other.
The offices of prophet, priest, and king are types in the Old Testament. All the people who served in these offices were flawed and imperfect. Christ fulfilled each of them perfectly. He is our great High Priest who mediates on our behalf to the Father, our great King of Kings who protects us, and the prophet from the Father who teaches us the will of God. Because we see the work and ministries of these offices in the Old Testament, we can better understand the work of Christ on our behalf.
The sacrifices in the Old Testament serve as types. The lambs who were sacrificed prefigure the offering of Christ on the cross. He was the innocent lamb, without spot or blemish, who gave himself as the atonement for sin. John the Baptist recognized this when he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
Moses is a type of Christ in that he was a mediator, lawgiver, and a leader in the nation’s exodus (Matthew 5:17). Solomon was a type of Christ in that he taught wisdom to the people (Matthew 12:42). Jonah’s emergence from the stomach of the fish is a type of resurrection (Matthew 12:40). These are all pointers to Christ, who will fulfill each role perfectly. The Exodus from Egypt is a type that foreshadows our release from sin and the victory over death that Christ will make possible.
Joseph’s life foreshadows many aspects of Christ’s life and ministry. Joseph was the beloved son of his father, as Christ was of his heavenly Father (Matthew 3:17). Joseph was rejected by his own family, as Jesus would be by the Jewish people (Matthew 26:1-5). Jesus suffered unjustly, just as Joseph was rejected by his brothers and sold into slavery. Joseph rose to power after his sufferings, as Jesus was exalted to the right hand of God after his ascension (Philippians 2:8-9). Joseph displayed prophetic gifts, as would Jesus. Joseph provided food for many people, as Jesus provides eternal life and salvation for all who believe (John 6:35). Forgiveness characterized Joseph’s life, as it did the life of Jesus (Genesis 50:19-21, Luke 23:34). Joseph told his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20), and God used the crucifixion of his Son, intended for evil, to bring about the redemption of the world (Acts 2:23-24). That Joseph was without a major character flaw foreshadows the perfect sinlessness of Christ (I Peter 2:22).
Why should we read the Old Testament? One reason is that people, events, offices, and objects (such as the temple) help us better understand Christ and his work. They are the foundation for our understanding of the nature of God’s salvation in Jesus Christ.