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First there is the revelation of the person, "I am Joseph". Then follows the revelation
of the purpose, "God did send me before you to preserve life . . . . . to save your lives by
a great deliverance" (Gen. xlv.4-7).
(3) THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL.--Joseph could not be content until `all
Israel' were safely beneath his care. Benjamin had been brought before him by the
strategy of love, and now nothing must hinder the journey of his father Jacob.
One more feature of fundamental importance is marked for us in Heb. 11: If we were
to select the one act in Joseph's life which should eclipse all others as an act of faith, we
hardly feel that the one selected by the inspired writer of Heb. 11: would be our choice.
There in Heb. 11: 22 we read:
"By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of
Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones."
"Concerning his bones!" What is there in these words to deserve such prominence?
Joseph linked the deliverance of Israel with resurrection.
(4) THE RESURRECTION OF ISRAEL.--Joseph stresses the fact that the land of
promise was that which God sware to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob (Gen. 50: 24), and
Christ shows that the title "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" proves the doctrine of
Resurrection (Matt. 22: 23-33). Ezek. 37: connects resurrection with restoration.
We are conscious that much more precious truth lies near the surface of this
remarkable history. We have indicated a few fundamentals of dispensational importance.
One more feature must bring this article to a close. The dreams of Joseph, though their
realization was postponed, were eventually fulfilled, but the postponement shut the door
upon Israel for a time and opened it to the Gentiles. So the rejection of Christ by His
brethren, their refusal to `have this man reign over them' deferred the time of their
restoration. When Israel is at length restored, the Gentiles will have been blessed for a
period of two thousand years, or as the type has it, "For these TWO years hath the famine
been in the land" (Gen. 45: 6).
The Lord who was despised and rejected shall yet be honoured and exalted, and in this
glorious fact is all our hope and desire.
The name Joseph means adding, given by Rachel at his birth, for said she "The Lord
shall add to me another son" (Gen. 30: 24). Eve also, it will be remembered, had
another son added, namely Seth who completes the type partly set forth by Abel whom
Cain slew. In due time the other son was born, but his birth cost Rachel her life.
"And it came to pass, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called is name
Ben-oni (son of my sorrow): but his father called him Benjamin (son of the right hand)"
(35: 18).
However important was the place that Joseph was destined to fulfil, his name was a
continual reminder of the inadequacy even of his full life to set forth the finished work of