Joseph a Picture of Jesus: Judgment and Freedom

Genesis 40:1-4, 20-23

Survivor’s guilt can seem like a strange thing if you have never had to deal with it. Many people wonder why the “survivor” cannot simply be happy or grateful that they survived. It would seem that random chance or “fate” determined that one person lived while another did not. In our story today, two men are in a similar situation which results in one being killed, and the other being returned to his previous life. In the meantime, Joseph will again be a picture of Jesus for us. As we will see, it is his interpretation and proclamation that reveals the judgment of both men.

It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. 3 So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. 4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while.

20 Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. 21 Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. 22 But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Genesis 40:1-4, 20-23

In a sense, this is the revelation of Joseph. Joseph is revealed as a man in whom God has placed the gift of interpreting dreams. In so doing, he is also the one who pronounces judgment that is to come. There will be individual judgment and national judgment. In this story, one will be taken from the jail to safety and service to the king. The other will be left behind to face judgment and death, just as it was declared by Joseph.

The book of Revelation is actually called “The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ”. He is revealed to the world as God and the judge of the world. In the days that follow, He has declared the coming judgment. There will be individual judgment and national judgment. The redeemed of Jesus will be taken from this world to safety and service to King Jesus. Those who are left behind will face judgment and death because of their sins, just as it was declared by Jesus.

In the story of Joseph, it was the cupbearer who was taken from the prison and restored to his position of service. The baker on the other hand was left in prison until his execution. They both had dreams that were similar. It seemed that the only real difference was that their dreams pertained to their respective jobs. Yet, God used Joseph to reveal his plan and to put Joseph on a path to save his people.

While this seems like a trivial matter, it is setting Joseph up for a far greater picture of Jesus. From a Biblical standpoint this is out of order, but from an eternal perspective it is not. Jesus is and has always been God. As such, He has always been in a position to judge His creation. He became fully God and fully man so that He could become our Redeemer. Jesus was, is, and will always be God. He said in John 5:22 that judgment was given to the Son.

Father, yet again, You have given us a picture of Jesus through the life of Joseph. Joseph revealed the judgment of the cupbearer and the baker just as Jesus will reveal His judgment of the world in the last days. Just as this story in the life of Joseph saw salvation and judgment, so there will be those who are saved from the judgment that will fall on this earth, and there will be those who face it and judgment in Hell. May we proclaim Your message of salvation so that people do not have to face that judgment.