With New Testament Eyes: 10 - Joseph and His Brothers
By Henry Mahan
Genesis 42-45
God, in his wisdom, uses the natural world, creatures, and events to illustrate the spiritual world, his saving grace, and his redemptive work in Christ Jesus. The wonders which God performs in the heart can be seen in the wonders God performs upon earth and records in his word (1 Cor. 10:4; John - 3:14; Matt. 12:40). It is the duty of the preacher and the teacher to look for these parables and pictures and preach Christ from them. Joseph's dealings with his brethren is a picture of our Lord's dealings with his erring brethren, given him by the Father and purchased with his blood.
41:57 - 'The famine was in all lands' The terrible famine was not only over the land of Egypt but over all lands and reached to all people. There was no food even in Israel, the chosen people.
This is what the word of God declares concerning sin and spiritual death. It is a famine of sin and spiritual death which is over all of Adam's race, even the elect of God.
'Death passed upon all men, for all have sinned' (Rom. 5:12).
'For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God' (Rom. 3:23).
'We were by nature children of wrath, even as others' (Eph. 2:3).
'You were without Christ, having no hope and without God' (Eph. 2:12).
42:1 - Jacob heard some good news 'There is corn in Egypt.' Jacob called his sons together to tell them the good news. 'We do not have to die, for I have heard that there is plenty of corn in Egypt.' This is the good news of the gospel preached to hungry, weary, and dying sinners--we do not have to continue in spiritual poverty, hunger, and death; for there is life, mercy, and grace in Christ Jesus.
