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position in the family is indicated by the "coat of many colours" which his father made
for him. The marginal alternative of the A.V. `pieces' is to be rejected. The embroidered
garments of Aaron--the blue, the purple, and the scarlet, were symbols of the priestly
office. Joseph was the heir and the priest of the family. When Rebekah prepared Jacob
to deceive Isaac and to seek the birthright, she took `raiment of desires'. 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
Joseph's dreams of pre-eminence.
Lead to prison and suffering.
2nd pair
The prisoner's dreams being interpreted.
Lead to deliverance from prison.
3rd pair
Pharaoh's dreams being interpreted.
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 reminds 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