Joseph and Christ
12/30/24-
The relationship between Joseph and Pharaoh is very similar to the relationship between the Lord Jesus and his Father.
First, let’s understand the meaning of ‘vicegerent.’ It’s when a person has been delegated power as a substitute Ruler or King in the place of another. We find several examples of this in the scriptures. Nebuchadnezzar co-ruled with his father Nabopolassar until his father’s death in 605 B.C. Tiberius co-ruled with his father Caesar Augustus for 15 years until Augustus’s death. Also, Joseph and Pharaoh co-ruled Egypt, and Jesus and his Father co-ruled the heaven and the earth.
The first few years of Joseph and Jesus’ life were difficult, to say the least. But both were well-favored, Joseph by Pharaoh who sat on the throne of Egypt, and Jesus by his Father in heaven. Both would be given viceregal powers.
Pharaoh asked, “Can we find such a man as this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” Compared with,
Matthew 3:16, “The Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Pharaoh said to Joseph, Genesis 41:40, “You shall be over my house, and according unto your word shall all my people be ruled:”
John 16:15, Jesus said, “All that the Father hath are mine:” Jesus is given the title of Messiah or Christ, King, Prophet, and High Priest, appointed and declared by the Father in heaven. Every King needs a Kingdom, and the earth shall be made Jesus’ footstool.
Here’s the interesting part, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Only in the throne will I be greater than you.”
Jesus said, John 14:28, “I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.”
Like Pharaoh, the Father of our Lord is greater in the throne of heaven. Therefore, the Lord is obedient to his Father’s every word and, authority.
Pharaoh said, “I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.” So, Joseph was designated as administration over the people and the land of Egypt.
It is said of the coming Messiah, Isaiah 9:6, “The government shall be upon his shoulder:”
Matthew 11:27, Jesus said, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father,” and,
John 16:15, “All things that the Father has are mine:”
Genesis 41:42, “Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand,” So Joseph was now sealed as ruler over the house of Egypt. The signet ring sealed the deal for Joseph. The Holy Spirit whom the Father sent, sealed the Lord as King.
Proverbs 8:23, “I (the Wisdom or Word of God) was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.”
Matthew 28:18, “Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
Luke 4:18, Jesus said, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me,” set up and anointed of the Father to rule over the creation.
Joseph was arrayed in garments of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;”
Revelation 1:13, “In the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps (chest) with a golden girdle (band).”
Genesis 41:43, “He (Pharaoh) made him (Joseph) to ride in the second chariot.’ Pharaoh had two chariots of like kind, and Joseph was given the second, a high honor indeed.
Verse 43, The guards went before the chariots of Pharaoh and Joseph, with a trumpet and loud voice crying out to the people, “Bow the knee: and he made him (Joseph) ruler over all the land of Egypt.”
Should we as Christians bow our knees to the Lord Jesus? We are told,
Isaiah 45:21-22, “There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be you saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”
Let’s compare that with the following.
Isaiah 45:23, “Unto me (God) every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”
Who is our Saviour?
John 4:42, “Know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”
Acts 5:31, “Him has God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour.”
We are told to worship God only. In all of the following, the word “worship” is the same Greek, “proskuneo.”
Matthew 4:10, “Jesus said unto him (the devil) thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt you serve.” The devil wanted Jesus to worship him, Jesus was telling the devil, “You worship me.”
Matthew 2:2, The wise men, said to the King (Herod), we “are come to worship him (Jesus).” Verse 11, when they found him, they “fell down, and worshipped him.”
Matthew 9:18, A certain ruler named Jairus a ruler of the synagogue he came “And worshipped him (Jesus),”
Matthew 14:33, “Then they (Jesus disciples) worshipped him,”
Luke 24:52, “And they (his disciples) worshipped him,”
Revelation 5:8, “And the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb,” To fall down, is to worship.
Revelation 7:9, “A multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people and tongues (the bride of Christ), stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;”
Revelation 7:11, “And the angels stood round about the throne, (where Jesus and the Father sat) and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God.”
There shall be one throne in heaven, Revelation 22:3, “The throne of God (the Father) and of the Lamb”
Jesus repeats Revelation 1:8 in Revelation 22:13, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”
So, according to the above, Jesus is worthy of our worship as God, all to the glory of the Father in heaven.
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