HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div
And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. Genesis 37:24
It is impossible to read this inimitable story without detecting in the water-mark of the paper on which it is written the name Jesus. Indeed, we lose much of the beauty and force of these early Scriptures if we fail to observe the references to the life, character, and work of the blessed Redeemer. Notice some of these precious analogies:-
Our Saviour’s shepherd-heart (Genesis 37:2). These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
The love of the Father before the worlds were made (Genesis 37:3). Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
The dreams of empire, which are so certainly to be realized, when we shall see Him acknowledged as King of kings and Lord of lords (Genesis 37:7). For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.
Envied by His brethren, to whom He came, though they received Him not (Genesis 37:11). And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.
His alacrity to do His Father’s will, and to finish His work, in which will we too have been sanctified (Genesis 37:13). And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.
Cast into the pit of the grave, as a seed-corn into the ground to die, that He might not abide alone, but bear much fruit (Genesis 37:24). And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.
The thirty pieces of silver for which He was betrayed (Genesis 37:28). Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
The indifference of the Jewish people to their great Brother’s fate (Genesis 37:25). And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.
Rejected of the Jew, and turning to the Gentile (Genesis 37:28). Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
The bitter grief which His rejection has brought on the Jewish people (Genesis 37:35)- And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.
It is as though the Holy Ghost, eager to glorify the Lord, could not wait for the slow unfolding of history, but must anticipate the story of that precious life and death which were to make the world new again.
