I’m starting to see the depths of something I’ve known vaguely. That is, the truths we read about in the New Testament have corresponding stories in the Old Testament that add color and depth to the NT teaching.
Let’s see if I can be clear with an example I’m seeing currently. First, let’s review some of what we’ve covered so far with Joseph in Genesis:
- Joseph is a type of Christ as Savior. His brothers are literally his brothers, the children of Israel/Jacob.
- In Genesis 42 and 43, Israel is in tribulation prophetically. Israel is in distress, in famine, and their only salvation is to go to Joseph (the Jesus type) for food in Egypt (type of the world). Please read the blogs below for that background.
- Joseph’s own kin don’t recognize him for who he is, just like Israel didn’t when Jesus came the first time. Clear into the tribulation they don’t recognize him.
Now in our story in Gen. 43, all of Joseph’s brothers are in his presence. Benjamin has just joined the other 10. They are bowing to Joseph (twice in chapter 43), but it’s not the homage that Joseph dreamed of years earlier. (For more on why not, read this blog post.)
Now, let me share the three verses from Gen. 43 that shine a spotlight on a New Testament verse.
And he (Joseph) lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there. And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread. (Gen. 43:29-31) Here are some background points to highlight:
- This love for Benjamin in particular makes more sense when you realize that Benjamin is Jospeh’s full brother. They share the same mother (Rachel). The other brothers are half-brothers.
- Joseph was so moved with compassion for Benjamin that he had to run out of the room and weep. He came back and fed them all.
Now that we have that, let’s look at this passage again next to the NT passage that this story illustrates.
|
(Gen. 43:29-31) And he (Joseph) lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there. And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread. |
(1 John 3:17) But whoso hath this world's good, (Joseph/Jesus) and seeth his brother have need, (Benjamin—whom Joseph is most linked to) and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? |
You see how this Old Testament passage distinctly pictures the 1 John verse?
- Joseph had this world’s goods. He was in charge of the food supply during the famine.
- He saw his brother (full-brother Benjamin in particular) in need and focused his compassion on him.
- Look at the depth of that compassion shown by his weeping.
- He also demonstrated his compassion by “Setting on bread.”
- If you look at the next verse in Gen 43:34, Joseph gave Benjamin 5 times as much food as the other brothers.
Closing thought: While our Genesis passage depicts the tribulation, did you know that in the New Testament 1 John also has tribulation significance? It is among the transition books out of the church age into the tribulation period. Richmond has written a commentary on 1 John. Click here to see the explanation of this. When folks get saved in the tribulation (and some will), they will have distinctive needs. Remember that unless they eventually receive the mark of the beast, they won’t be able to buy or sell. How are non-compliant believers going to eat unless someone provides for them? Genuine love and compassion for fellow believers will be vitally important in the tribulation. It’s why tangible love is such a theme in 1 John. You can see this at a glance from the word cloud shown here. Love is a significant focus of 1 John. And with that understanding, let’s close out with our 1 John verse again. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? (1 John 3:17) Love=feeding in Gen 43 and 1 John 3.
R&J Shee
Comments