Choose Mercy Not Millstones

 

Pastor Ron's current Family Bible Series, which is teaching about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is important for all of us, including those who may already be familiar with Bible characters and their stories. 

We all need refreshing and re-instruction from time to time for the next generation. 

From Jimmy Hoang’s notes from Carson’s course on BT:

“How you would let a new believer interpret things like that in the OT? → Just say that that passage hints at what is later revealed or at least starts there.”

Many "churched" people do not have a clear grasp on how important these stories are and what their intent is - why were they given to us by godly people by the Holy Spirit? 

Today we are going to briefly visit the story of Joseph. 

In the late 1800's the life long friend of DL Moody, FB Meyer wrote and preached that Joseph was "Beloved, Hated, and exalted." 

-        Read enough Bible to make the connecting points throughout the Scripture – to consider the broader thematic structures.

James Hamilton[1] uses the illustration:

“For” “Whom” “The” “Bell” “Tolls” – take each word on their own doesn’t make the linkage.

Pieces of information, though commonly used individually, don’t convey the THEME or necessarily make a sensible connected phrase.

“But when Hemingway entitles his novel “For Whom the Bell Tolls” the allusion to John Donne’s meditation is unmistakable.”

Individual VERSES in the BIBLE, while making sense on their own, don’t by themselves CONVEY the WHOLE STORY of redemption – a broader approach and careful reading and familiarity is better over the long haul.

PROMISE BOX ILLUSTRATION:

-         When I was a child, each morning at breakfast, we each selected a little card from a “Promise Box” – a small box full of Bible verses on a little card – and we read our Bible verse to each other.

-         A nice practice, but in the long run, it only becomes a source for our favorite single verses with NO CONTEXT.

Joseph’s Timeline ~ 1914 – 1805 BC (early dating) or 1744-1634 BC or 1700-1550^[2]

 

Event	Age of Joseph	Genesis
Joseph’s father Jacob moves family from Haran to Canaan	6	31:17–21
His Brothers Plot to Kill Joseph, in the pit, then Joseph sold to Potiphar in Egypt. His brothers deceive Jacob about Joseph’s death.	17	ch. 37
Joseph serves Potiphar, and does well then is falsely accused and imprisoned.  Joseph interprets dreams of cupbearer and baker in prison	28	ch. 40
Joseph’s grandfather Isaac dies	29	35:28–29
Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams, is released from prison	30	41:1–36
Seven years of plenty; sons Manasseh and Ephraim born during this time	30–37	41:47–52
Seven years of famine; two years into the famine Joseph reconciles with his brothers and father	37–44	41:53–47:26
Joseph’s father Jacob dies	56	47:28
Joseph dies – his bones carried to Egypt in the Exodus and then buried in the land.	110	50:22–26

Matthew 18:1–7 (NIV)

¹ At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ² He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. ³ And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. ⁶ “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. ⁷ Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!

Psalm 105:16-24

He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; and he sent a man before them— Joseph, sold as a slave.

They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the Lord proved him true.

The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free.

He made him master of his household, ruler over all he possessed, to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom.

Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob resided as a foreigner in the land of Ham.

The Lord made his people very fruitful; he made them too numerous for their foes,

Was Joseph a Type of David? derived from James H. Hamilton article:

Was Joseph a Type of the Messiah? - Tracing the Typological Identification between Joseph, David, and Jesus

READ THE BIBLE BY PAYING ATTENTION TO:

-          THE PLOT LINE –

o   BEGINNING, RISING TENSIONS, RESOLVE AND RESCUE AND RESTORATION AND THEIR NEW FUTURE

o   THEN HOW THAT PLOT/STORY APPLIES TO THE WHOLE STORY OF SCRIPTURE

-          THE CHARACTER LINE – WHAT DOES SCRIPTURE SAY ABOUT THEM / DEPICT THEM?

o   LOOK AT THEIR NAMES – OFTEN CONVEY MEANING

o   LOOK AT COMMON REPEATED PHRASES (TALL, SHORT, MANY, FEW)

o   GROWTH, FAILURES, SINS - REPENTANT OR NOT, HUMILITY / PRIDE

o   BIBLICAL CHARACTERS ARE LIKE MIRRORS THAT REFLECT BACK ON US, ENABLING US TO BEGIN TO SEE A TRUER PICTURE OF OURSELVES THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD.

THE SPIRIT REMOVES THE VEIL - 2Cor 3.18 – NASB - But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

-          KEY PHRASES – “Linguistic Correspondences”

-          PATTERNS OF EVENTS – “Sequential Event Correspondences”

-          WHAT CHARACTERS ARE USED BY GOD TO HELP DELIVER PEOPLE? – “Redemptive Historical Import” [3]

JOSEPH’S LIFE IS A STORY OF:

-          ENVY AND ATTEMPTED FRATRICIDE

-          DECEPTION

-          FALSE ACCUSATIONS

-          PRESERVATION

-          FORGIVENESS

-          RESTORATION

-          PROVISION

-          SACRIFICE – (JUDAH’S WILLINGNESS TO TAKE BENJAMIN’S PLACE)

-          PATIENCE

-          FUTURE – HEALING AND DOUBLE HARVEST

JOSEPH	DAVID
“shepherding the flock”	“shepherding the flock”
his brothers “went off” to shepherd the flock	David’s brothers “went off” to battle
Joseph is sent by his father Jacob to check on “the peace” of his brothers	David is sent by his father Jesse to check on “the peace” of his brothers
Joseph’s brothers call him “THIS” dreamer – using a rare pronoun	David calls Goliath “THIS” Philistine – using a rare pronoun
Coat of many colors stripped off of Joseph Linking the two TAMAR stories – one of Judah/Tamar	Coat of many colors – Tamar/Amnon – linking the two TAMAR stories –
“Let not our hand be upon him” – Joseph’s brothers – ONLY TWO TIMES IN THE HEBREW BIBLE – as they state their opposition to Joseph – and Joseph ends up in Egypt	“Let not my hand be upon him” – King Saul about David – ONLY 2 TIMES IN THE HEBREW BIBLE – as Saul states his opposition to David and David ends up fleeing to the Philistines
God acknowledges and favors Joseph but he is rejected by his brothers/kinsmen	God acknowledges and favors David, but he is rejected by his brothers / kinsmen
Young Son of an Old Father	Young Son of an Old Father
Described as “handsome”	Described as “handsome”
Meet opposition from brothers Succeeds Faces more affliction Prevail to bring deliverance	Meet opposition from brothers Succeeds Faces more affliction Prevail to bring deliverance
Pleasing to foreign Kings – Joseph to Pharoah	Pleasing to foreign Kings – David to Achish the Philistine Lord
30 Years Old when He rose to power	30 Years Old when He rose to power
After coming to power, Forgave his brothers and showed kindness	After coming to power, Forgave Saul and his descendants and showed kindness to Mephibosheth son of Saul
Like Moses, married an Egyptian and had sons by her	David marries a foreigner, daughter of Geshur and had a son
JOSEPH	JESUS
30 YEARS OLD	30 YEARS OLD
Joseph tells his 2nd dream – Jacob kept the saying (rhema) in mind – Gen 37:11 (LXX)	Mary kept these things (rhema) in her heart – Luke 2.51(GNT)
Joseph sold for silver	Jesus sold for silver
Joseph in the dungeon with 2 other prisoners – one of whom lived, the other perished	Jesus on the cross with 2 other prisoners – one of whom went to paradise, the other perished

*Above chart excerpted from “Was Joseph a Type of the Messiah? Tracing the Typological Identification between Joseph, David, and Jesus.” 2015. Southern Equip. October 15, 2015. https://equip.sbts.edu/publications/journals/journal-of-theology/sbjt-124-winter-2008/was-joseph-a-type-of-the-messiah-tracing-the-typological-identification-between-joseph-david-and-jesus/.

God’s constant and faithful commitment to His people despite their constant and unfaithful sins.

Genesis 50:20 sums up the whole story of God’s rescue and redemption throughout the book of Genesis.

Genesis 50:20

²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. ²¹ So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. (NIV)

Joseph says:

Genesis 45.5

Now, do not be upset and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to preserve life (NET)

The Lord is always repeatedly redeeming and saving the sons of Abraham from malady of their own making.

Joseph’s trials in the pit and the prison and then the palace are rightly interpreted in the final analysis to have been the work of God’s plan to rescue:

-          Egypt from starvation,

-          Joseph’s own family from starvation,

-          the forgiveness and restoration of his brother Judah – so the Messianic line could continue –

-          the healing of Jacob’s suffering –

the re-alignment of prophetic intent – Manasseh – the firstborn – God has made me forget is in some ways superceded by the promise of Ephraim’s “double harvest.”

Ultimately, Joseph would be a type of David and of the Messiah:

Joseph is a “faithful” Adam who passes the test of temptation of Potiphar’s wife to ultimately become a redeemer to Egypt – in the famine, but also to include his Egyptian sons in the plan of God.

Jesus, as Joseph, was favored by God and rejected by his brothers.

(compare Acts 7 – Stephen makes a comparison between the rejection of Joseph and the rejection of Jesus.)

Jesus, like Joseph, passes the tests of temptation and the “pit” of death, and fulfills His father’s will – brings deliverance and salvation, and gives forgiveness, and provides a table of blessing and sustenance.

TAKEAWAYS:

HOW WILL WE CHOOSE TO TREAT PEOPLE AND THOSE WITH WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN US RELATIONSHIP?

WILL WE THROW A CHILD (JOSEPH WAS 17) INTO A PIT AND FACE GOD’S MILLSTONE?

WILL WE BE MERCIFUL AND KIND, AND GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAVE HARMED US?

WILL WE BE REDEEMABLE LIKE JUDAH, WHO OFFERED HIS OWN LIFE IN EXCHANGE, AND HUMBLED HIMSELF?

WILL WE CHOOSE FORGIVENESS AND A NEW FUTURE?

WILL WE BE A SOURCE OF KINDNESS AND DELIVERANCE?

WILL WE BE FAITHFUL AS OUR “FUTURE WORD” TRIES OUR HEARTS IN ORDER TO SEE THE LORD’S WILL ACCOMPLISHED?

[1] “Was Joseph a Type of the Messiah? Tracing the Typological Identification between Joseph, David, and Jesus.” 2015. Southern Equip. October 15, 2015. https://equip.sbts.edu/publications/journals/journal-of-theology/sbjt-124-winter-2008/was-joseph-a-type-of-the-messiah-tracing-the-typological-identification-between-joseph-david-and-jesus/. 

^[2] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 114.

[3] “Was Joseph a Type of the Messiah? Tracing the Typological Identification between Joseph, David, and Jesus.” 2015. Southern Equip. October 15, 2015. https://equip.sbts.edu/publications/journals/journal-of-theology/sbjt-124-winter-2008/was-joseph-a-type-of-the-messiah-tracing-the-typological-identification-between-joseph-david-and-jesus/.