Joseph a Picture of Jesus: Faithful

Genesis 39:1-6; Hebrews 3:1-6

Can you imagine being a teenager and moving to another country? To make matters worse, you are not on vacation or some grand adventure, you have been sold into slavery. You must learn the language and do your work. On the inside you grieve the life you lost, but on the outside you absolutely must keep it together and do your assignment. Your life could literally depend upon it. That is where Joseph found himself.

---

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had taken him down there. And the LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. Now his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all that he did prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and put him in charge of all that he owned. It came about that from the time he made him overseer in his house and over all that he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house on account of Joseph; so the LORD’S blessing was upon all that he owned, in the house and in the field. So he left Joseph in charge of everything that he owned; and with him there he did not concern himself with anything except the food which he ate.

Genesis 39:1-6

Therefore, holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession—Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house. For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, in so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. Now MOSES WAS FAITHFUL IN ALL HIS HOUSE AS A SERVANT, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later, but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope.

Hebrews 3:1-6

---

Joseph was faithful in the house of Potiphar. So faithful in fact that he was promoted to the position of head slave. In the affairs of the house, only Potiphar had more authority than him. This was quite an accomplishment considering he was probably only around 25 years old. Potiphar trusted this young man so much that he didn't even look over his shoulder. Joseph was a man of integrity, and it showed.

In Hebrews, the writer uses Moses to reveal the faithfulness of Jesus. Jews knew who Moses was. He was their hero. He was to Israel what George Washington is to America. Moses was obedient to God, and for that he was placed in the position of prominence and leadership.

Jesus, though not in a position of worldly leadership, was faithful and obedient to God. His faithfulness surpassed that of Moses and Joseph. He is the head of a spiritual house, the church, and the family of God. Moses was good, but Jesus is better.

For the Christian, because we wear the name of Christ, we are called to follow His example. We are to be faithful in our dealings in this life and even more so, we are called to be faithful in our work for God. As disciples of Jesus, He set the standard, and we are to follow Him. If we are honest, we fall way short of Jesus’s standard. We do not put in the hours or obedience that Jesus did. This does not mean that we don’t even try. We should try harder each day.

Father, thank You for giving us the examples of Joseph, Moses, and especially Jesus. Help us to be faithful in our service to You in Your house. May our obedience reveal that You trust us with responsibility and fruitfulness of lives saved and disciples matured.