Let us turn to God's Word, turning
to this 41st chapter in the book of Genesis, and directing you
tonight to words that we have in verse 38. Genesis 41, 38. And Pharaoh said
unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is? a man
in whom the Spirit of God is. I want us to consider the man
that he's being spoken of here in the text, a man in whom the
Spirit of God is. And here we certainly see Joseph. Historically it is Joseph that
he's spoken of, but there is one greater than Joseph. Isn't
Joseph a type? of the Lord Jesus Christ. And
do we not see it here when we read of this man in whom is the
Spirit of God? Remember how God gave not the
Spirit by measure unto Jesus of Nazareth, that he is indeed
the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One. And in this passage
we certainly see Joseph as one who would direct us, as it were,
to the Lord Jesus, even the name that Pharaoh gives to him. There in verse 45, Zathnath-Pahaniah,
we're told in the margin, it's a Coptic, it's an Egyptian name,
it means a revealer of secrets. And isn't the Lord that one who
was the great mediator of the new covenant reveals to us God's
secrets reveals to us that great eternal purpose of salvation
that he came to accomplish and remember how we read in the psalm
that God's secret is with them that fear him he shows them his
his covenant well I want us to consider these these words here
in verse 38 for a while this evening. And first of all to
say something with regards to the history, it's real events
that are being spoken of. Such a person as Joseph actually
lived on the face of the earth. We deny that this book of Genesis
is nothing more than mythology. There might be those higher critics
who want to tear our Bibles to pieces and say that we need to
demythologize so much of the Old Testament as if these events
never occurred but thank God he has given us faith to believe
the truth of those things that he has spoken here in Holy Scripture. So first of all to consider Joseph And we see him, as I said, as
one who is a type of the Lord Jesus. What do we see here? Two
things. First of all, we certainly see something of his wisdom.
What a wise man Joseph was. The words that we have in the
following verse, verse 39, Pharaoh says to Joseph, for as much as
God has showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and
wise as thou art. The Pharaoh recognizes the wisdom
of this man, and thou is the only one who is able to interpret
the dream. As we saw, as we read through
the passage, Joseph, at verse 25, he says to Pharaoh, the dream
of Pharaoh is one. God has showed Pharaoh what he
is about to do and then he explains the seven good kine, the seven
good ears and that followed by the thin and ill-favored kine
and the seven ears that are blasted with the east wind and empty. God is revealing what he is about
to do there in the land of Egypt. Again at verse 32, Joseph says
that dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice. It is because the thing
is established by God and God will shortly bring it to pass. He is wise, says the Pharaoh,
because he understands the dreams. He can interpret the dreams to
Pharaoh. And we know the dreams certainly
were very significant in the life of this man Joseph didn't
he himself have dreams as we see there in the earlier chapters
in the first part of chapter 37 we read of his dreams and
how he understands the significance he tells his brethren which was
probably not a wise thing at that time because in his dreams
he speaks of the the sheaves bowing down before him and then
in his second dream there in chapter 37 he speaks about the
sun the moon and the 11 stars also all bow down before him
and it is God speaking to him by those dreams because he was
to be a man of some significance and importance later in the land
of Egypt. We're familiar, I'm sure, with
the history of Joseph, how he was sold into servitude by his
envious brethren, but how God appeared for him. Although everything
seemed to go against him until the time that his word came,
says the psalmist, until the time that God's word came it
had to be fulfilled but until that time how that word tried
him and he was he was cast as you know into the prison and
even there in the prison we see the significance of dreams when
first the butler and then the baker of their dreams and how
Joseph is able to interpret their dreams and the butler was going
to be restored to his office he would bear the cup again before
Pharaoh and Joseph asks that he will then remember Joseph
who was languishing so unjustly in the prison having had false
charges brought against him And that's why, of course, he is
now brought before the Pharaoh. Verse 9. Now the butler says
to Pharaoh, I do remember my faults this day. Pharaoh was
wroth with his servants. Put me in ward in the captain
of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker. And we dreamed
a dream in one night, I and he. We dreamed each man according
to the interpretation of his dream. And there was there with
us a young man and Hebrew servant to the captain of the guard and
we told him and he interpreted to us our dreams to which man
according to his dream he did interpret and as he repeats all
that had happened to the Pharaoh so we see how that Joseph is
then summoned as we've read he interprets the dream he interprets
Pharaoh's dream also. He was certainly a man who was
wise. He had this ability and he acknowledges
that it's from God. Do not interpretations belong
unto God, he says to those men with him in the prison. But he
was granted that wisdom by the Lord God himself. and then we see how he was also
wise with regards to his counsel he doesn't just interpret the
dream to Pharaoh he goes further than that at verse 33 he says
now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise and
set him over the land of Egypt Let Pharaoh do this, and let
him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part
of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. And let them
gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay
up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the
cities. And that food shall be for store
to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall
be in the land of Egypt, that the land perish not through the
famine. how he gives this counsel and Pharaoh accepts it, acknowledges
it as we see in verse 37 the thing was good in the eyes of
Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants and then we come
to those words of our text Pharaoh says to his servants can we find
such a one as this is a man in whom the Spirit of God is, how
he is acknowledged as a wise man and he also isn't only wise
in the interpretation of the dream and wise in the counsel
and the advice that he dares to give to the Pharaoh he also
has heavenly wisdom because he has confidence in God He trusts that God is going to
deliver him even from that prison. When in that previous 40th chapter
he speaks to the butler, there he interprets his dream
at verse 12, this is the interpretation, the three branches are three
days, Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head and
restore thee unto thy place, and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's
cup into his hand after the former manner, when thou wast his butler. But think on me, when it shall
be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make
mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house. He utters those words and although
initially the butler forgets and then as we've seen the Lord
God comes again and speaks now to the Pharaoh by means of the
dreams and then the butler remembers. Or Joseph is a man who is wise. He is certain of those things
that God has revealed to himself to the butler, to the baker,
to Pharaoh, God he sees to be in all of these things. And then also with regards to
this man, we see him not only as one wise, but we also see
something of his humility. As I've already said, he makes
that statement back in chapter 40, do not interpretations belong
to God? That's the answer he gives to
the to the butler and to the baker. It's not so much that
Joseph is able to do these things of himself. Here in verse 16
he says, it is not in me. He's not the one who is able
to do this simply of himself. It is not in me. God shall give
Pharaoh an answer of peace, he says. Oh, we see something then
of his humility. He recognizes how God was in
these things, and God was even showing Pharaoh certain truths. As he gives that interpretation,
at verse 25 following, God hath showed Pharaoh what he is about
to do. Verse 28, what God is about to
do he showeth unto Pharaoh. And then in verse 32, The dream was doubled unto Pharaoh
twice. It is because the thing is established
by God. And God will shortly bring it
to pass. It's God. And he recognizes God. It's not himself. He doesn't
imagine that he has anything of himself. All that he knows,
all that he does is under that good, that gracious, that sovereign
hand of God. He believed that God was able
to reveal his purposes. And we can think of the language
that Job also speaks with regards to his dreams here in Job 33. In Job 33 and verse 14, Job says, God speaketh once,
yea, twice, yet man perceiveth it not in a dream in a vision
of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings
upon the bed. Then he openeth the ears of men,
and sealeth their instruction." Well, this man recognizes God
and the absolute sovereignty of God. He's living, of course,
in days when God is still giving that revelation of himself. There
was not a complete Bible then. God would speak to men in various
ways and so not surprisingly they recognize how God comes
and even when men are sleeping he will seal their instruction
as Job says. There's much of that spirit of
humility then in the way in which Joseph is handling the situation
here. And how important that humility
is. How important it is. He is going
eventually to be exalted. And we see that as Joseph is
placed next to the Pharaoh. What does he say at verse 14?
Thou shalt be over my house. According unto thy word shall
all my people be ruled. Only in the throne will I be
greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph,
See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh
took up his ring from his hand, and put it upon Pharaoh's hand,
and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain
about his neck. And he made him to ride in the
second chariot which he had. And they cried before him, bowed
and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. What is the
path to that exaltation? It is that path of humility,
even that path of trials and of troubles. Peter says, be clothed
with humility. God resisteth the proud and giveth
grace unto the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under
the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time and
so it was for this man as I've already said there in Psalm 103
we read something of his history now God's word did try him oh
how that word of God that the God had showed him in his dreams
that he was one day going to be a man of some consequence
even amongst his own family, they would all have to acknowledge
him. But how God's Word previously was a great trial to him. Well, these things are recorded,
and as I said, this is all historic, and they're written for us and
for our learning, that we, through patience or endurance and comfort
of the Scriptures, might have hope. But as I said also, We
don't do justice to this portion except we understand that the
Lord Jesus Christ, one greater than Joseph, is here. And so, I want to turn secondly
to consider Christ as it were the anti-type. Christ is the
anti-type. Can we find such a one as this
is? A man in whom the Spirit of God
is. Who is that man? in whom we see
the Spirit of God. Remember those words at the end
of John 3, that God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him,
even the Lord Jesus, how it is baptizing. The Father acknowledges
him and the Spirit descends upon him in the form of a dove. He
is anointed by God the Holy Ghost. And I know there are some who
contest the idea that we are to see Christ in the history
and the affairs of Joseph. Even those who would say that
they are Bible believers don't accept that in any sense is Joseph
a true type of the Lord Jesus. But he is. He is. What is the book of Genesis?
When we think of the whole context of this book, you're probably
aware of the meaning of the title of the book, Genesis, which literally
means beginnings. It is the book of beginnings.
It's the first book of Holy Scripture. It's the first book in the Pentateuch,
the first five books being the writings of Moses, what the Jews
would call the Torah. These five books, Genesis through
to Deuteronomy, that is the Lord of Gods that was given to Moses. And this is the first of the
books. And it of course does record the beginnings of all
things. The account of creation is found in chapters 1 and 2,
and then in chapter 3 we have the sad history of the entrance
of sin in the form of Adam and Eve, our first parents. It is
the book of beginnings. But also, Genesis is the book
of generations. We see that quite clearly in
chapter 2, verse 4, we read, These are the generations of
the heavens and the earth. the generations of the heavens
and the earth. Chapter 5 and verse 1, this is
the book of the generations of Adam. And then we read of those descended
from him. In chapter 6 and verse 9, these
are the generations of Noah, it says. and then there are other
generations but eventually we come to chapter 37 and verse
2 and it says these are the generations of Jacob and then what follows
Joseph being 17 years old was feeding the flock with his brethren
and so forth so as soon as we read of the generations of Jacob
we're introduced to the history of Joseph and that history of
Joseph runs right the way through to the end of the book of Genesis. So, it is quite clear that the
generations of Jacob who became Israel those generations all
center in the person and the history of his son Joseph. And how significant is that?
Because When we come to the New Testament and the Lord Jesus
Christ, do we not see that the generations of God's spiritual
Israel, Israel in the Old Testament,
a typical people, a type of God's true spiritual Israel, the church
today is that spiritual Israel, and the generations of God's
spiritual Israel all center in the person and the work of the
Lord Jesus Christ and so it is evident that this man Joseph
in the Old Testament is a type of the Lord Jesus just as Israel
is a type of the true people of God and so I don't have any
problem really in acknowledging that what we have here whilst
it is true historic fact yet we don't do justice to it unless
we understand the spiritual significance. It's not just history, there's
mystery here. We should desire surely to discern
something of the Lord Jesus Christ. And I think that the words that
we have there at the beginning of Hebrews, remember that the
epistle to the Hebrews opens, God who at sundry times and in
diverse manner spake in time passed unto the fathers by the
prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,
whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made
the world and so forth. In the Old Testament, God spake
unto the fathers. How did God speak unto the fathers? Well, he spoke at sundry times.
Throughout the Old Testament, God is revealing himself. And
it says in diverse manner. He often spoke by the word of
the prophets. They came as God's servants.
They were moved by the Spirit of God, and they spoke the word
of God. They could say, Thus and thus
saith the Lord. But there were diverse revelations,
and amongst those different revelations God also spoke by dreams. But God has spoken in these last
days by his Son. And Peter speaks, doesn't he,
of that more sure word of prophecy. We have also, he says, a more
sure word of prophecy. So, we're not to be looking to
God to speak to us in those diverse ways that he revealed himself
in the Old Testament. We come to the Word of God, to
the Law and to the Testament. We test everything by the Word
of God. And as we test everything by
the Word of God, we also recognize that all of the Word of God speaks
to us of the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who says, search the
Scriptures. In them you think that you have eternal life, and
these are they that testify of mine. Now, I just spoke of two
aspects in the history of this man Joseph. First of all, how
he is recognized as a man of wisdom. There is none so discreet
and wise as thou art. The words that Pharaoh speaks
to Joseph there at verse 39. But what wisdom is in the Lord
Jesus Christ? What wisdom is there? Colossians
chapter 2 and verse 3 we're told in whom are hid all the treasures
of wisdom and of knowledge. All the treasures of wisdom are
to be found in the Lord Jesus. And Christ is that one of course
who is there in the wisdom literature. I think of books like Proverbs,
Ecclesiastes, the Song of Solomon, the wisdom literature of Solomon.
Isn't the Lord Jesus Christ there? Remember the language that we
have in the opening chapter of the
book of Proverbs. We are immediately introduced
to wisdom. And how she speaks, it's the
Lord Jesus that is speaking in truth. There in Proverbs 1.20,
wisdom. Without she uttereth her voice
in the streets. She crieth in the chief place
of concourse, in the openings of the gates, in the city. She
uttereth her word, saying, How long, ye simple ones, will ye
love simplicity? And the scorners delight in their
scorning, and fools hate knowledge. Turn you at my reproof. Behold,
I will pour out of my spirit unto you, I will make known my
words unto you. Always at least the Lord Jesus.
And we see him there in John chapter 7, in the chief place
of concourse in the temple. And John tells us how the Spirit
was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified. It's when
Christ is glorified that this word here in Proverbs 1 is really
fulfilled. I will pour out of my Spirit
unto you, says wisdom. And that's what Christ did of
course on the day of Pentecost. But here we see him as the wisdom
of God. And we have it so clearly later
in the whole content of chapter 8 does not wisdom cry and understanding
put forth her voice or how we see the Lord Jesus he says at
verse 23 I was set up from everlasting from the beginning whatever the
earth was when there were no depths I was brought forth when
there were no fountains abounding with water before the mountains
were settled before the hills was I brought forth Verse 30,
Then I was by him as one brought up with him, and I was daily
his delight, rejoicing always before him, rejoicing in the
habitable part of his earth, and my delights were with the
sons of men. All the Lord Jesus is that one
then who is wisdom, and that's how the Lord is given to his
people. or can say to those Corinthians
of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom
and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that as it is
written he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. Oh he is that one to whom we
are to look and how we're encouraged to that if any lack wisdom he
is to ask of God who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth
not but is to ask in faith how we need that wisdom how we feel
ourselves so often to be such dances in the things of God how
we need him to come and instruct us and it must be with us line
upon line and line upon line and precept upon precept and
precept upon precept and here a little and there a little Oh,
we're so dim and we need him to come with that gracious light
of his words, a lamp unto our path, a light to guide and direct
us in the way. What wisdom it is, the wisdom
from above which is first pure and then peaceable and gentle
and easy to be entreated and full of mercy and good fruits
and without partiality and without hypocrisy. Where can we obtain
such wisdom as that? It's only found in the Lord Jesus
Christ. This is the man, a man in whom
the spirit of God is, the spirit of wisdom is in him. But besides
saying that we see Joseph as a wise man, I also refer to the
humility of him. the humility of him and what does he say here at
verse 16 it is not in me as he is brought forth you see the
butler has remembered this man he is brought before the pharaoh and he answers it is not in me
God shall give pharaoh an answer of peace And again, back in that
40th chapter, verse 8, he says, do not interpretations belong
unto God. All we recognize is that. And
we see it, the humility of the Lord Jesus, when we see him in
his mediatorial offices. And he says there, in Mark 13,
32, concerning the end of time, he's coming again. He says, of
that day and that hour, knoweth no man, no, not the angels in
heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." Now, of course,
as the eternal Son of God, He is God, as the Father is God,
as the Holy Spirit is God, and as such He is that One who is
omniscient, He knows all things, but there He is speaking in terms
of His mediatorial office. or the humility of the Lord Jesus. Of that day, that hour knoweth
no man, no, not the angels in heaven, neither the Son, but
the Father. And we see that humility, of
course, in that remarkable second chapter of the Epistle to the
Philippians. And Paul sets him forth as such
a pattern Let this mind be in you, he says, which was also
in Christ Jesus. What is that mind? Oh, it's the
mind of Christ, it's that humble mind, that loneliness of mind. He thought it not robbery to
be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, took upon him
the form of a servant, was made in the likeness of men, and being
found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself. and became obedient
unto death, even the death of the cross." And it's all that
humility that leads to exaltation. As was the case here with Joseph. Remember, verse 40 following,
he is exalted, he is next to the Pharaoh in all the land of
Egypt. And so there in Philippians 2 and verse 9 we're told, "...wherefore
God also hath highly exalted him." Oh, that one who humbled
himself. to the obedience of the death
of the cross. God also has highly exalted him
and given him a name which is above every name, that at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, every tongue confess, in
heaven, in earth, under the earth. He is that one then who is exalted
having humbled himself to death, he is exalted, and as he died
for sinners, so he is exalted for sinners. That's what we see
so clearly in the Scriptures. Thou hast ascended
on high, says the Psalmist, thou hast received gifts for men,
yea, for thee rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell
amongst them. And those words in Psalm 68 are
applied directly to Christ by the Apostle in Ephesians 4.8. He has ascended and he has received
gifts and that gifts for men even rebellious men. Oh what
is the greatest of his gift he has given the Holy Spirit being
by the right hand of God exalted having received of the Father
the promise of the Holy Ghost He hath shed forth this which
ye do see and hear, says Peter in his preaching on the day of
Pentecost. The exalted Christ is the one
who grants that gift of the Spirit, or the wonder of salvation. It is the Father who sends the
sign. And the Son willingly comes, it is the Son having come, having
accomplished all the goodwill of the Father, risen, ascended,
now He sheds abroad the Holy Ghost, and the Holy Ghost comes.
And He doesn't speak of Himself. He comes to take of the things
of Christ and reveal them. How Christ is exalted then, and
exalted for sinners. Him hath God exalted, says Peter
with His right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour. to give repentance
to Israel and the forgiveness of sins. Oh, he gives repentance,
he gives faith. He's looking on to Jesus, the
author and finisher of our faith. He gives the sinner all things,
all things richly to enjoy. And what do we see here? At the end of this chapter, with
regards to Joseph, we're told in verse 56, the famine was over
all the face of the earth and Joseph opened all the storehouses
and sold onto the Egyptians. Oh, there was food laid up, there
was provision mined because of his wisdom. And so when the famine
came, he could open all the storehouses Oh, but the Lord Jesus Christ
doesn't He open to us all the storehouses of His grace? And we're told there how Joseph
sold. But the Lord Jesus, when He opens
the storehouses of grace, it's all bestowed so freely. Isn't
that the gracious invitation of the Gospel? Those familiar
words that we have in the opening verses of Isaiah 55, O everyone
that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money,
he that hath no money, come ye by a DJ, come by wine and milk,
without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for
that which is not bread? and your labour for that which
satisfieth not, hearken diligently unto me, and eat of that which
is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your
ear and come unto me, herein your soul shall live, and I will
make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies
of David. Behold, I have given him for
a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people."
Oh, it is the Lord Jesus who is that witness, that leader
and commander, the mediator of the covenant, who comes and bestows
all those sure mercies of David, without money, it says, and without
price. And then right at the end of
Holy Scripture, there in Revelation 22, The Spirit and the Bride
say, Come, and let him that heareth say, Come, and let him that is
athirst come, and whosoever will, whosoever will, let him take
of the waters of life, Freeland." Oh, what a word, Freeland, Freeland. And so we see Christ here in
the history of this man. He's able to bring all that that
will be for the good of the people, how He nourishes them. In chapter
47, verse 12, we're told, Joseph nourished his father and his
brethren and all his father's household with bread according
to their families. Isn't Christ there? Doesn't Christ
nourish with bread? He is the bread of life. He says,
I am the living bread, which came down from heaven. If any
man eat of this bread, he shall live forever, and the bread that
I will give is my flesh. All my flesh, he says, is meat
indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. Now he is the one who
nourishes. all his father's house all those
that the father had given to him in the eternal covenant he
feeds them and he feeds them with himself all the Lord Jesus
surely is here this is the man that he's being spoken of in
our text tonight Pharaoh said unto his servants can we find
such a one as this is a man in whom the Spirit of God is that
we might know this man and he is that man by whom of course
we come to God one God we're told one mediator between God
and men the man Christ Jesus and so as we come together tonight
it's our privilege to come and to call upon God and to address
him and seek his face in and through our Lord Jesus Christ
the only mediator May the Lord be pleased to bless His word
to us. Amen.