“Which things

are An

allegory”

Joseph & Pharaoh

“Which things are an allegory”

•A familiar scriptural principle for us, as Bible students:

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Galatians 4 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by afreewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was bypromise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, whichgendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem whichnow is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Greek allegoreo“To speak… in a figure” (Thayer)

“To use a likeness” (Louw and Nida)

1 Corinthians 10 1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers wereunder the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of thatspiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased:for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should notlust after evil things, as they also lusted. […] 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: andthey are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Greek tupos“A shape… resemblance” (Strong)“Foreshadowing” (Exegetical Dict.)

Greek tupikos“A model or representative” (Ex. Dict.)

“By way of example (prefiguratively)” (Th.)

Exploring in bit more detail: Greek tupos

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NT:5179 tu/po$ tupos (too'-pos); from NT:5180; a die (as struck), i.e. (by implication) a stamp or

scar; by analogy, a shape, i.e. a statue, (figuratively) style or resemblance; specifically, a

sampler ("type"), i.e. a model (for imitation) or instance (for warning):

KJV - en- ex-) ample, fashion, figure, form, manner, pattern, print.

A resemblance, common shape

Won’t be a perfect copy

Varies based on material being worked with

Pattern is formed through striking

Why consider allegories and types?

• They provide additional depth to our understanding (as in Gal. 4)

• They can be written for our warning/admonition (as in 1 Cor. 10)

• They wonderfully illustrate scripture’s multi-layered design

• They broaden our appreciation of the antitype (Jesus Christ)

A confirmation of the love of God for His Only Begotten SonJoseph & Pharaoh 4

Joseph – THE most detailed type?

• The life of Joseph is an incredible foreshadowing of our Lord:

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The beloved son

Envied and rejected by

brethren

Cast into pit and left for dead (sold for pieces of silver)

In distant land becomes second

most powerful ruler

Later reunited with brethren, who

recognise their fault

“This is my beloved Son” (Matthew 3 v 17)

“For envy they had delivered him”

(Matthew 27 v 18)

“The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented

me.” (Psalm 18 v 5)

“set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens” (Hebrews 8 v 1)

“they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son” (Zechariah 12 v 10)

Our more specific consideration, J & P…

For the purposes of our study, we’ll focus in on Genesis ch. 40 onwards (i.e. Joseph’s imprisonment with butler and baker)…

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Joseph – the beloved but rejected/persecuted son= Our Lord Jesus Christ

Pharaoh – the supreme world ruler in a distant land= Our Heavenly Father, God

A brief synopsis of our planned study

Privation & Preparation [before approaching Pharaoh] Genesis 40

• False imprisonment // Two wrongdoers // Miraculous signs // Bread (baker) & Wine (bearer) // Three days

Escape & Elevat ion [ in front of Pharaoh]Genesis 41

• Two year delay // Out of the dungeon // A man with God’s spirit // Ruler over the house // Second only in throne

Tr ial & Tes t ing * [during regency with Pharaoh]Genesis 42-44

• Proving of Israel // A full end not made

Disclosure & Deliverance [during regency w/Pharaoh]Genesis 45-49

• A man sent by God // A great deliverance // Acceptance into the household // All land possessed

Resu r rect ion & Reward [fol lowing deat h]Genesis 50

• Faithful promises // The true inheritance

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* Of Israel and his children

Genesis 40 – the means of elevation (#1)

•Covers the period immediately before Joseph’s exaltation

• In the allegory, therefore, we might expect parallels with the period before Jesus’ ascension to Heaven…

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The imprisonment of an innocent man

• Joseph falsely accused

• Jesus accused by false witnesses

• {Gen. 39 v 19; Matt. 26 v 60}

Punishment alongside two actual wrongdoers

• Butler and baker both offenders

• 2 malefactors crucified• {Gen. 40 v 2; Luke 23 v 32}

One of the two wrongdoers is saved

• Butler restored before throne

• Promise to thief on cross• {Gen. 40 v 21; Luke 23 v 43}

+ Miraculous signs of God’s favour {Gen. 40 v 8; Acts 2 v 22 / Matt. 27 v 54}

Genesis 40 – the means of elevation (#2)

•But why, in the allegory, a chief baker and a chief butler?

•An inescapable link with Jesus’ sacrifice… (Matt. 26 v 26-29)

•Both have an association with three days! (Gen. 40 v 12, 18)Joseph & Pharaoh 9

Bread Wine

-&-

Gen. 41 – called before supreme ruler (#1)

• This sequence has brought us to the principle interaction between Joseph & Pharaoh

•Overlapping layers of meaning e.g. “two full years” (Genesis 41 v 1), compare with Jesus’ 2,000 year earthly absence

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Genesis 41 14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought himhastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, andcame in unto Pharaoh.

“Hastily out of the dungeon”

{Psa. 16 v 10}

“He shaved… changed his

raiment”{1 Cor. 15 v 52-53}

“Came in unto Pharaoh”{Eph. 4 v 8}

Cp. Role of angels

Gen. 41 – called before supreme ruler (#2)

•Given our specific focus we won’t spend time on Pharaoh’s dreams (although note Genesis 41 v 15, none but Joseph suitable)

•We are supremely interested, though, in the outcome:

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Genesis 41 37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 AndPharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39 AndPharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wiseas thou art: 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: onlyin the throne will I be greater than thou. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all theland of Egypt. 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayedhim in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 43 And he made him to ride in the secondchariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land ofEgypt. 44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand orfoot in all the land of Egypt. 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-paaneah; and he gave him towife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

Wondered that was no man, so own arm brought salvation (Isa. 59 v 16 cp. Rev. 5 v 3-5)

Spirit of LORD rest on him, wisdom and understanding (Isa. 11 v 2-4)Son only subject to the

Father (1 Cor. 15 v 27)

Christ as a son over his own house (Heb. 3 v 6)

Son of man, having come to Ancient of days, given dominion, glory etc. (Dan. 7 v 1-14)

At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow (Phil. 2 v 10)

Saints, New Jerusalem, as a bride arrayed for husband (Rev. 21 v 2)

“Treasury of the glorious rest” (BDB)

Righteousness and immortality

(Rev. 19 v 8)

Genesis 42-44 – testing of his brethren

• In the period when Joseph with Pharaoh in his court (in the allegory – heaven), trials and testing for Jacob and his sons

• This has been the lived experience of the Jews since Jesus’ ascension into heaven

• This has also been time when seed of God’s Word has been distributed (cp. Pharaoh’s storehouses “all countries came”*)

•We have been the fortunate beneficiaries of this bounty Joseph & Pharaoh 12

* Gen. 41 v 57

Genesis 45-49 – salvation of his brethren

• The ultimate outworking, however, is the recovery of Jacob’s sons (note: prominence of Judah – Gen. 43 v 8, 44 v 16)

•According to allegory the position of Joseph was in Pharaoh’s stead (as Jesus will be in God’s stead, on earth), hence:

•Pity is taken on Israel’s children, for the father’s sake, and there is a restoration effected (Zech. 12 v 10, Rom. 11 v 25-26 – they had been blind to their brother’s identity!)

•A special place is made in Pharaoh’s land for God’s peopleJoseph & Pharaoh 13

Genesis 44 18 Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I praythee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thouart even as Pharaoh.

Genesis 50 – the promised land

•Ah, says the critic, didn’t you say that in this allegory, or type, Pharaoh’s distant land was heaven itself?

• Yes, this is where the reward will come from but note that both the bones of Jacob and Joseph were returned to the Promised Land (Canaan), see Gen. 50 v 4-6, 25

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Joseph & Pharaoh – a wonderful allegory

•We have been strongly reminded of the intricacy and marvelof scriptural design

•Could a man possibly have produced such a writing, all of which so forcefully speaks to us of God’s plan through His Son?

• It is our earnest hope that God’s [Pharaoh’s] storehouses will pour out an abundant blessing upon us…

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“Bring ye all the tithes into the

storehouse, that there may be meat in

mine house, and prove me now

herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I

will not open you the windows of

heaven, and pour you out a blessing,

that there shall not be room enough to

receive it.”(Malachi 3 v 10)