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Throughout Scripture clothing has a symbolic value. The result of Joseph's pre-eminence
is prophetic of Christ. "His brethren . . . . . hated him."
Joseph's career cannot be dissociated from dreams, and they run in pairs:--
1st pair.
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Joseph's dreams of pre-eminence.
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Lead to prison and suffering.
2nd pair.
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The prisoners' dreams being interpreted.
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Lead to deliverance from prison.
3rd pair.
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Pharaoh's dreams being interpreted.
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Lead to glory and honour.
The words of his brethren at the recital of his first dream anticipate the words of the
enemies of Christ:--
"Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And
they hated him yet the more for his dreams and for his words" (Gen. 37: 8).
The statement made concerning Jacob--"his father observed the saying"
(Gen. 37: 11)--upon the narration of the second dream remind one of the words
concerning Mary that she "kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart"
(Luke 2: 19).
It is very strongly emphasized in the sequel that the envy and hatred that sought to
prevent Joseph's dreams from becoming accomplished facts were over-ruled by God to
bring about their fulfillment:--
"So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and He hath made me a father to
Pharaoh, and a lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt"
(Gen. 45: 8).
So Peter could say:--
"Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have
taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain" (Acts 2: 23).
Joseph's dreams spoke of rulership over his brethren. The rejection of Joseph by his
brethren temporarily suspended this prophecy from fulfillment, and during the interval he
became ruler and saviour among the Gentiles, reaching the destined rulership at a
subsequent period. The "postponement theory" cannot be proved from a type, but the
fitness is nevertheless confirmatory. Christ was heralded as a King. His rejection as such
was foreknown; and when at length He is acknowledged King, it will be found that He is
Saviour as well.
It is also surely not an accident that it is one named Judah (Judas in Greek) who
suggested selling Joseph for twenty pieces of silver, while Judas sold Christ for thirty
pieces of silver. It was the father who sent his beloved son Joseph to his brethren, the
latter saying, "Come now, therefore, and let us slay him". It was the Father Who sent His