Joseph, the Revealer of Secrets - a Type of Christ

Let us turn again to God's words and the chapter we were reading in Genesis 41. Here we go, in portion through to verse 36. And I want now to read from verse 37 through 45. In Genesis 41, reading then from verse 37. Remember the counsel that Joseph is giving to Pharaoh there at the end of our reading.

He advises that in the years of great plenty Pharaoh should arrange that there is that portion that he's put aside in order to provide in the years of great famine that were to follow. And at verse 37 we're told that the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a man as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art. Thou shalt be over my house, and 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 off his ring from his hand and put it upon Joseph'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, Bow thy knee, and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-Payaniah, and he gave him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Patipharah, priest of On, and Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. We're told concerning this name that the Pharaoh gives to the Hebrew Joseph, it's a Coptic name and it means a revealer of secrets.

But what I want to try to do today, both now and then again this evening, is to contrast two men, that is Joseph and Moses and to contrast these two men in the relationship that they bear towards the land of Egypt. Joseph of course by a remarkable series of divine providences had been brought before Pharaoh and is being brought before the pharaoh leads to his great exaltations we have just read in this portion of scripture.

And all of this of course in many ways is a fulfillment of the words that God had spoken some 400 years previously to his friend Abraham. remember Abram was a friend of God's and God enters into covenant with him and there in Genesis 15 and verse 13 God says unto Abram know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs and shall serve them and they shall afflict them four hundred years and also that nation whom they shall serve will I judge and afterward shall they come out with great substance. Well from this exalted position that we find Joseph being brought to under the good hand of God he is therefore able to make every provision for Jacob and all his family because in those years of great famine they come into the land of Egypt And we are told later on in chapter 47 and verse 12 how Joseph nourished his father and his brethren and all his father's household with bread according to their families. But then as the years pass and different men become kings there in the land of Egypt, we then come through to Exodus and in the opening chapter, verse 8 we're told, there rose up a new king over Egypt which knew not Joseph. After all those many years, those centuries really, Joseph was forgotten by the pharaoh. And then of course we next have the birth of Moses. and again it's strange isn't it to see how that in God's providences it is Moses who is also brought to a position of some exaltation there in the land of Egypt the time comes you see where that word that God had given to Abraham must have its accomplishment and remember the words that we have for example at the end of the second chapter in Exodus and it came to pass in process of time that the king of Egypt died and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage and they cried and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage they're praying, they're pleading with the Lord and God heard their groaning and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob they're not going to be forever there in that strange land of Egypt after 400 years had to come out with great substance is what God had said back in Genesis 50 and we're told how God looked upon the children of Israel and God had respect unto them and then we have of course the call of Moses but what I want to do this morning really is to concentrate more especially on what we're told here with regards to Joseph and the position that Joseph comes to under the good and the gracious hand of God and so taking for our text this long portion of scripture that we just read from verse 37 through verse 45 and it's interesting to observe in the whole context the significance of dreams as we see them being used of God in all the life and the experience of this man Joseph.

Of course in the former part of the chapter we have the record of the Pharaoh's dreams and how it was Joseph who is the only one who is able to interpret the dreams and how does he come to be in the presence of Joseph it's because of previous dreams that he'd been able to interpret it was through what the butler said on to Pharaoh concerning that man who had been in the prison with him. And it's back in the previous chapter of course that we read of Joseph interpreting the dreams of two men who were servants to the Pharaoh. One was the butler and the other was the baker. I'm sure you're not unfamiliar with the account that we have that each of these dreams his dream and the consequences that the butler is restored to his position. and goes again into the household of Pharaoh and serves him his cup but the baker on the other hand is taken and he is beheaded.

But if we go right back to the beginning of Joseph's experiences in chapter 37 it's Joseph who dreams a dream and that dream increases the hatred of his brethren towards him as one of the twelve sons of Jacob is this man Joseph and he dreams that dream at the beginning of chapter 37 and in the dream he witnesses how the sheaves of his brethren and the sun and the moon and stars they all bow down before Joseph and we might say he's rather foolish in that he boasts of these things back in that 37th chapter we read of the dreams there at verse 5 following and he tells his brethren and then in verse 11 his brethren envied him no they envied him they hated him but his father Jacob observed the saying he observes the saying of course we know that this is a period previous to God's words being as we have it on the page of Holy Scripture.

God was still speaking to men by means of prophets and seers, and would also speak to people by means of dreams. In the book of Job, Elihu mentions in chapter 33 the significance of dreams. An interesting portion and maybe sometimes we read it and we think well I've had experiences similar to that where dreams have come and dreams have troubled me but it is interesting what Elihu says there in Job 33 and verse 14 following God speaketh once yea twice yet man perceiveth it not in a dream in a vision of the night when deep sleep fall upon men in slumberings upon the beds then he opened up the ears of men and sealeth their instruction and so forth God did make use of dreams in those days but of course we know that this is a different day and we have a more sure word of prophecy the language that Peter uses there in the opening chapter of his second epistle a more sure word of prophecy than dreams or visions. Now in these last days God has spoken unto us by his psalm in the opening language of the epistle to the Hebrews The Apostle reminds us of the significance of the coming of the Lord Jesus, God who at sundry times and in diverse manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, that in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds.

He is the Word of God and He is that Word incarnate. We beheld his glory, says John, the glory is of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. No man hath seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared it. We are to look to the word of God and the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ as we have it said before us, of course, on the page of Scripture. The one who says, search the Scriptures, these are they which testify of me.

But we have to acknowledge that in the life and the experience of this man Joseph, dreams do have such a substantial part to play. And so what I want to do first of all this morning is simply to observe something of the historical context here with regards to his being so exalted in the land of Egypt. And we see it of course principally because he was such a wise man really. It's difficult at that time to know how much religion had become degenerated there in the land of Egypt.

Did Pharaoh, in some ways, recognize that the God of Israel is the true God? In the language that we have him using here, in verse 38, when he addresses his servants concerning Joseph, and says, can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? He speaks of the Spirit of God. Did he have some awareness of the God of the Hebrews. We know that Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, was a man who did seem to have an awareness, a knowledge even, of the God of Israel. If you look at the language that that man is using in Exodus chapter 18, there at verse 9, we are told how Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians and Jethro said blessed be the Lord who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods for in the thing wherein they doubt proudly, he was above them. Jethro seems to be aware. Was the pharaoh, this pharaoh who is dealing with Joseph, was he a man who also recognized that there is a true God?

In spite of all the idolatry that was round and about him, he certainly recognizes that there's something rather significant with regards to this particular individual, even in the name that he gives him. There, at verse 45, Zavnath Painea, the Coptic for a revealer of secrets, he could interpret the dreams of the Pharaoh. None of the magicians of Egypt could do such a thing. And what does he say here then, concerning this man? 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 all this ability to understand and to interpret the dreams and how we see him this is Joseph throughout acknowledging God in these things it is God who enables him to understand look at verse 25 for example the dream of Pharaoh is one God has showed Pharaoh what He is about to do He repeated in verse 28 what God is about to do He showeth unto Pharaoh even again at verse 32 for that the 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 faithful, you see. He is bearing testimony to God. It's not that this wisdom and this discretion is something of himself. He acknowledges the Lord's hand in this. And so, is it in a sense to be recognized that this Pharaoh, like Jethro after him, is brought to make a confession that the God of Israel, the God of Abraham, a giant and Joseph and Jacob is really the true God. Here is a man then who is wise, who can interpret dreams, but only do so because of the ability that God has given to him. God has shown him these things.

But also, is he not wise in the particular counsel that we find him giving to Pharaoh? as God has revealed what is going to happen over the coming 14 years 7 years of great plenty to be followed by 7 years of sad famine well he gives advice there at verse 33 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 and that the land perish not through the famine Oh, here is a man then who is ready to give counsel and advice to the king, and he has such confidence in his God. He's ready to venture all upon the ability that God has given him to interpret the dreams. Even if we go back to what he says to the baka when he interprets his dream in chapter 14. And there at verse 12 and the following verses, he says to the butler in the prison, this is the interpretation, the interpretation of his dream, 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 he says 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 it's almost a prophetic word really seems that the man did forget him but here is Joseph he's ready you see to venture on the truth of the words that he has spoken he knew that those things would come to pass he knew those things would happen and how we see his wisdom time and again in the advice that he had given that all this plenty is to be gathered under the hand of Pharaoh he enriches Pharaoh really throughout all these years and we see it in the following chapters in chapter 47 and there at verse at verse 13 and verse 14 there was no bread in all the land it says for the famine was very sore so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine and Joseph gathered up the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan for the corn which they bought and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. In the years of famine, he is managing affairs and all the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan, they're coming, they're buying the corn and what is Joseph doing?

He's enriching the Pharaoh. But not only that, subsequently, when the money is gone, how are they going to obtain a means whereby they can buy the corn?

Well they have to forfeit their land. They have to forfeit their land. Verse 19 of that 47th chapter. Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, they say to Joseph. And we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh, and give us seed that we may live and not die, that the land be not desolate. And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh. For the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them. So the land became Pharaoh's.

He's enriching. He's master, the Pharaoh. He's a wise man. a generous man in many ways is ready there, you see, to open the great stores when the need begins to prevail. The end of the chapter, this 41st chapter, verse 56, the famine was over all the face of the earth, it says. And Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold on to the Egyptians. And the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.

He's a wise man, he knows what he's about and he's a faithful servant to the Pharaoh. What a man is this that is exalted to such a position and he's faithful. He's the chief official under Pharaoh throughout all the lands. And he is true to the one that he is serving. and yet we see such a spirit of humility at the same time in this man Joseph though he is so highly exalted here at verse 16 he says to Pharaoh concerning the dreams it is not in me it is not in me God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace he takes no credit to himself no glory to himself. He says to those men in the prison back in chapter 40 verse 8, do not interpretations belong to God. It's God who interprets dreams. It's God who gives the dream. It's only God who can interpret the significance, the meaning of the dream.

And as we've already seen three times here in verses 25 28 and 32 he is making it plain to the pharaoh that it is the great God, the God of the Hebrews who is revealing his purposes to this haughty monarch of the Egyptians, to the pharaoh and so having humbled himself in all these ways we see how this leads on really to his great exaltation, how he is exalted in the language that the Pharaoh is using.

Verse 14, Thou shalt be over my house, says the Pharaoh, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled. Only in the throne will I be greater than thou. Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See I have set thee over all the land of Egypt, And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, 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, bow the knee, and he made him ruler over all the lands of Egypt. He is exalted. All pride cometh before a fall. But you see, those who will humble themselves, they shall be exalted. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, says Peter, that he may exalt you in due time. Oh, this man is highly exalted. Why? Because he humbled himself, he takes nothing to himself, no glory to himself.

But here in the historical context we see how significant it is. It is the means whereby that word that God had given to Abraham concerning his seed, his descendants going into the land of Egypt, how it came to pass. All those strange providential dealings in the life of a man like Joseph, they were so significant. They had to happen in order that he was in the position that he was in.

But this is not just history, is it? it's interesting historically, it's very interesting to read these things and this of course is the truth of scripture but there's mystery here surely, there's mystery in these things here is a man and how is he described to us by pharaoh in verse 38 can we find such a one as this is a man in whom the Spirit of God is. A man in whom the Spirit of God is. Who is the man in whom the Spirit of God is? Who is THE man in whom the Spirit of God is? Well, that is the Christ, surely. The Messiah. The Anointed One. The Anointed One. And what is the Anointed? That He is upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

Well, we're told, aren't we, God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him. Oh, what an effusion of the Spirit came upon him! There, as he comes out of the waters of baptism, and the Spirit descends upon him in the form of a dove, there is his anointing, and he is led of the Spirit into the wilderness. And then he comes out of the wilderness, having resisted all the temptations of Satan for 40 days, he comes out of the wilderness full of the Spirit, it says. Are we not directed then to a far greater man than Joseph, even the Lord Jesus Christ himself?

It's interesting here looking at the book of Genesis as a whole. The account of Joseph begins there in chapter 37. We're told, and Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. And then these are the generations of Jacob, Joseph being 17 years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren. And as I've said, it was there, of course, that he relates to them something of his dream, wherein Not only his brethren, but his mother and father.

Not only the stars, but the sun and moon will all bow before him. Now Genesis, as you're probably aware, is really the book of beginnings. That's what Genesis means, the beginnings. And of course it is that, because it gives us an account of the creation of all things. when God created the heavens and the earth. We have it there in the opening chapter in six days how God worked day by day in calling all things out of nothing into being. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He spoke and it was done. He commanded and it stood fast. It's the beginning.

The beginning of creation that we have recorded here but Genesis is more than the book of beginnings. In a sense, it is also the book of the generations. And that's, in a way, the manner in which the book is divided. If we go back to the beginning of the book, what do we read there in verse 4 of chapter 2? These are the generations, these are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created in the day that Lord God made the earth and the heavens so that's the first of the generations but then in chapter 5 we read this is the book of the generations of Adam in the day that God created man in the likeness of God made he him male and female created he them and blessed them and called their name Adam in the day when they were created and then we have Adam's genealogy following the generations of man and woman. And then of course, after the great flood, there's a sense in which there are new beginnings. And so what do we read in chapter 6 and verse 9?

These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God. And then Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth and so forth. so we have the generations of Noah, the new creation because all except the family of Noah had been destroyed in the universal floods and then we come to those words that I just read in chapter 37 these are the generations of Jacob and immediately upon reading of the generations of Jacob we have Joseph Joseph.

It's interesting, all the generations of Jacob center in Joseph. Now all the generations of the spiritual Israel, all the generations of the spiritual Israel, the true Israelites, They all center in a different Joseph. They center of course in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ who is the covenant head of the church, who is the mediator of the new covenant. And so surely we have to conclude that there's something about Joseph that is significant in relation to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Can we not consider this man as a type? And really that's the theme this morning, is it not? He is a type of the Lord Jesus. He is a revealer of secrets. But the Lord Jesus Christ is the one who is the revealer of the greatest secret of all. Great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh. Oh, what a revelation we have there in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time. The only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared it. And so think for a while of Joseph in terms of being to us a remarkable character, a type of the Lord Jesus directing us to Christ.

Christ is that one in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Isn't that what we read there in Colossians chapter 2 and verse 3? in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. In him is all the fullness of the Godhead." Bodrum says the apostle there in Colossians.

In a sense we have said that Joseph was able to make Pharaoh rich in the way in which he managed all those affairs of the king through those years of plenty and of famine. Now the Lord Jesus Christ, you see, has glorified God in all the great work that he did.

This is the purpose of his coming. There are strange words, aren't there, in 1 Corinthians 15, maybe they trouble you man, I can remember when they used to trouble me I thought well isn't this suggesting to us that the Lord Jesus is subordinate in the Godhead that he's not really equal to the Father thinking of the language that we have there in that great 15th chapter of 1st Corinthians where we see what was the purpose of the incarnation the manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ that passage at verse 27 through 28 two verses it says he hath put all things under his feet In other words God has put all things under the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ. He has put all things under his feet but when he says all things are put under him it is manifested he is accepted which did put all things under him. What is that saying? Well it's telling us that the Lord Jesus of course comes as a mediator of the covenant, he comes as a servant of God in his incarnation, he comes to do the will of the one who has sent him. God has put all things under him. but it says accepted is the one who has put all things under him.

And then it says in verse 28 when all things shall be subdued unto him then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him that God may be all in all. Now what are we to make of that? Is the Son God's, the Son, the eternal Son of God, is he subject unto the Father?

Do we not say in the doctrine of the Trinity that he is equal? There's no priority or no superiority and inferiority that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are equal as they are co-eternal. But you see, when we think of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ we're not only to think of the Son of God in terms of the doctrine of the Godhead, his essential glory, we're to think also of his mediatorial glory when we think of him in the great outworking of the plan of salvation.

The purpose of it all is the honor and glory of God Father, Son and Holy Ghost. That's the great end. That's the great end. Just as Joseph is enriching Pharaoh in all his dealings. This is the great work of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's the honor, it's the glory of God. That's the great objective. Of course, he comes also to save a multitude of sinners. But ultimately, it's solely of glory. It's all to the glory of God.

Salvation is of the Lord. For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things to whom be glory forever and ever, says the apostle there at the end of Romans chapter 11. And now it's in the Lord Jesus Christ that we see remarkable wisdom. He is the very wisdom of God.

There's that great 8th chapter, isn't there? In the book of Proverbs. And who is the person that he's being spoken of throughout Proverbs chapter 8? Many a time we've referred to this passage, does not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice. It's interesting it's in the female gender but it's referring really to the Lord Jesus Christ as wisdom. She standeth in the top of high places by the way in the places of the past. She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in of the doors. Unto you all men I call and my voice is to the sons of men.

All the language that's being used here in this chapter here for I will speak of excellent things and the opening of my lips shall be right things for my mouth shall speak truth and wickedness is an abomination to my lips this is the word of the Lord Jesus Christ surely it is verse 14 counsel is mine sound wisdom is I am understanding I have strength the Lord Jesus is that one who is the wisest of men, much more so than ever was the case with a man like Joseph. As the Pharaoh says there in verse 39, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art. If it was true of Joseph, how much more is it true of the Lord Jesus Christ himself. And we see him there later in that 8th chapter, of the Proverbs when there were no depths he says I was brought forth when there were no fountains abounding with water before the hills were settled before the mountains was I brought forth he's that one who is the eternal son eternally begotten eternally brought forth the very son of God and he is wisdom, he is wisdom to his people Well we have to recognize that, that's how the Apostle speaks of him, is it not? There at the end of that opening chapter of 1 Corinthians. We referred to chapter 15, but look at the end of chapter 1 of that epistle.

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 gloryeth let him glory in the Lord. Or do we need wisdom? Where will we obtain it? if you lack wisdom ask of God says James he giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not but ask in faith nothing wavering what is the wisdom that's being spoken of by James? well it's 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 it's a person, it's the Lord Jesus and this is the one we are to look to for wisdom but as I said Joseph was a wise man, he was also a humble man he was a humble man how readily, how willingly he served the Pharaoh how he was faithful to his master but what of the Lord Jesus Christ? Is he not a pattern of humility? Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

Who, being in the form of God, says Paul, 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.

He humbled himself. or Joseph was exalted to the highest place next to the Pharaoh but now Christ is also exalted therefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess in heaven and in earth and under the earth for all are to confess him he is that one who is exalted and now is he exalted why the Lord Jesus is exalted for sinners he is exalted to save those sinners that were given to him those who really make up the true Israel of God, God's spiritual Israel remember how Joseph was exalted for the purpose to preserve his family through those great years of famine to preserve them those 400 years that they were there in Egypt till there arose a pharaoh that knew not Joseph and then there must be another, there must be Moses we're going to say something with regards to Moses we trust in the Lord's will later today but thinking of Christ and his exaltation How is He exalted?

Why is He exalted? He's exalted for His people. He's exalted to save His people. The language of Psalm 68, remember, is taken up by Paul there in Ephesians 4, and applied to the church, that was descended on high, that was received gifts for men, it says, yea, for the rebellious also. that the Lord God might dwell amongst them. The Lord Jesus has been exalted for a purpose. He receives gifts for men, even rebellious men. And what is the great gift that the Father has given to him?

The Holy Ghost, of course. Being by the right hand of God exalted. That's what Peter says there in his sermon on the day of Pentecost. and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost by the right hand of God exalted to receive the promise of the Holy Ghost he has shed forth this which he now see and hear all the gift of the Spirit it's God's gift to sinners through the mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ he hath God exalted with his right hand He gives the spirit and what does the spirit do? The spirit comes to work all that is necessary in the soul of the sinner in order to salvation. He is exalted to give repentance to Israel and the forgiveness of sins. Or we have to look to the Lord Jesus.

He is the author and finisher of our faith. Joseph is the one who opens all the storehouses, isn't it? there in verse 56. Joseph opened up all the storehouses and made every provision for all the people there in the land of Egypt and they came also from the land of Canaan. But now the Lord Jesus Christ is that one who has opened up all the storehouses of the sovereign grace of God.

Oh, in him dwelleth all the fullness of the God embodied. Think of all that he is in his blessed person, his God. And yet, his man and those two natures, so wonderfully, mysteriously united in that one person. Distinct natures, yes, always distinct natures, and yet, how we see him there as one who feels for his people, touched with the feeling of their infirmities. and yet how as God he can minister to all the wonder of it. You see, if we think of Joseph as the type, how the anti-type, which is the Lord Jesus, is so much greater and more glorious.

What does Joseph do? He sells the core. He sells it to all commerce, but the people have to use their money, and when the money's gone they have to forfeit their loans. And it's Pharaohs and rich. But you know, the wonder with Christ is, this salvation is free. It is free. Oh, everyone that thirsted, come ye to the waters, ye that have no money, come, buy milk and money without price, it says. It's free.

And when we come to the end of scripture, what does it say there in the closing part of 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 water of life freely. You know precious is water, and are we not reminded of that with all the great heat that we've had to endure the last few days, how refreshing is the water. You think of the water of life, that great salvation that is in the Lord Jesus Christ, and it's free. And yet foolish sinners refuse it. It's free! And yet, Christ says He will not come unto me, that you might have life.

Oh, the Lord Jesus, fullness of salvation is to be found in him yes Joseph nourished all his father's house but how the Lord nourishes his people Pharaoh says unto his servants can we find such a man as this is a man in whom the Spirit of God is that's the Lord Jesus oh that's the Lord Jesus and he is the revealer of secrets. Verse 45, Joseph's name in the Coptic is Zachnath, Payoneer, the revealer of secrets. But the Lord Jesus reveals to sinners all that greatness of all the secrets, the secret of the Lord, His covenant. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, He will show them His covenant.

Oh the Lord be pleased then to open our our eyes to these wondrous truths, to open our understanding, to open our hearts. We were reading at home, only yesterday, a lovely account of Lydia there in Acts 6, whose heart the Lord opened. And what was the consequence? She attended unto the things that were spoken of Paul. Oh Lord, open your heart to attend to the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who will reveal to the sinner the secret of salvation. May the Lord be pleased to bless His Word. Amen.

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Joseph, the Revealer of Secrets - a Type of Christ

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