Read Genesis 39 at Bible Gateway.
There is an extraordinary number of threes in the chapters concerning the life of Joseph.
He was made overseer three times.
- For his father (Gen 37:2-4);
- For Potiphar (Gen 39:4);
- And for the keeper of the prison (Gen 39:22-23).
He was cast down three times.
- Into a pit (Gen 37:23-24);
- Into slavery (Gen 37:36);
- And into prison (Gen 39:20).
Three is a Sign of Messiah in the Bible. It signals to us that Joseph is a Prophetic Type for Messiah in Scripture. The prophecy of Messiah revealed in this chapter, is that just as Joseph was cast down, though exalted, so also was Messiah.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Phi 2:5-8
Why This Matters: Yeshua told the Pharisees, “If you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me” (Joh 5:46). Messianic Types are one way Moses wrote about Messiah. It’s not even that Moses realized he was writing prophecies of Messiah when he compiled the family history that he had received into Genesis. But, it does reveal that Moses was used mightily by the Holy Spirit, writing God’s words and not his own.
The Hebrew paragraph for this chapter:
39:1-23 {p} Joseph in Egypt
Today’s paragraph concludes a Strong Theme:
38:1-30 {s} Judah and Tamar
39:1-23 {p} Joseph in Egypt
38:1-39:23 {s+p} Strong Theme: Judah and Joseph departed from their brothers to live among the pagans
If there are questions, these are good resources:
Pharaohs and Kings: A Biblical Quest – David Rohl
Joseph in Egypt, part one – Associates for Biblical Research
The Joseph Narrative – Associates for Biblical Research
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