Consider that his father greatly loved Joseph, but his brothers hated him and that these brothers sold him into the hands of Gentiles for pieces of silver. Consider that Joseph was falsely accused and placed right between two criminals and that he brought a message of life to one and death to the other. Here we can see glimpses of the life and death of the Lord Jesus.
Consider that Joseph was then brought up from the dungeon and exalted to the right hand of Pharaoh where he became lord of all, the savior of the world, and we can see the resurrection and exaltation of the Lord Jesus.
Today, we want to examine the time after Joseph was raised and exalted, the time after he became lord of all. We want to look at the reason why he was called “the vine.”
Please read the following passage with me and answer the questions below:
Genesis 41:47-49 NIV During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. (48) Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. (49) Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.
Genesis 41:53-57 NIV The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, (54) and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. (55) When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.” (56) When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. (57) And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.
During the famine, the brothers who sold Joseph into slavery came to Egypt to get grain from Joseph. In fact, “the whole world” came to Joseph to receive grain from him (Genesis 41:57). And so Joseph became, in a sense, the life-source for all who came to him. He provided grain, or bread, that which would keep all people alive during the famine. Life was in Joseph! If you didn’t go to Joseph, you died of starvation.
Friend, we should understand that when turning to sexual impurity, we are in a spiritual famine. We become empty and dry, parched and dehydrated spiritually. Our sin leaves us empty and broken, hardened and deceitful.
But there is a way out of this! It is to come to Jesus daily and receive from Him. He is “the Vine,” the life source for all, just as Joseph was.
Joseph became the “vine” even for his brothers who had acted so wickedly in selling him into slavery. They sent him away, but Joseph drew them near. They took all he had; Joseph gave them all they needed. They wanted to kill him; Joseph gave them life. They tried to pay for the grain, Joseph gave it to them free of charge, putting their money back in their sack as they went home.
Isn’t this precisely the way it is in the gospel? By your sins, you sold Jesus and put Him to death, but God raised Him from the dead and exalted Him to His own right hand—the place of power. Now He invites you to come to Him, receive forgiveness of sins and new life from Him. “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost” (Isaiah 55:1).
When you come to Jesus, you discover He has more than enough for you. Joseph had “huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea!” (Genesis 41:49), and Jesus has enormous quantities of grace for you! Joseph had so much grain; it was “beyond measure!” (Genesis 41:49). “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it” Ephesians 4:7). Grace to atone for every sin you have done, no matter how severe. Grace to teach you to say no to ungodliness and lust. Joseph had “cities full of grain” (Genesis 41:48), and Jesus has an entire heaven full of grace for you!
Question 4. Do you see all the grace and love that Jesus purchased for you at the cross, and that He gives it to you as you come to Him?
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