The Hidden Gospel of Joseph

 

The story of Joseph starts in Genesis 37, right at the point where we’re introduced to him as Jacob’s favorite son. Now, we’re talking about a whole family dynamic here. Joseph is the 11th of twelve sons, and his father Jacob, later named Israel, shows him extra love. That’s where the famous coat of many colors comes in, and the Hebrew word for this coat, ketonet passim (כְּתוֹנֶת פַּסִּים), can be translated as "coat of many colors," but some scholars believe it refers to a coat with long sleeves or a richly ornamented garment—something that signified Joseph’s privileged position within the family. This coat isn’t just any gift, it’s a declaration of Joseph’s special status and his father’s love. And naturally, his brothers, the older sons, are absolutely furious about it.

Now, let’s stop right here for a second. The moment Joseph gets this coat, it’s kind of a foreshadowing of something bigger. It’s this outward symbol of being "chosen," and that really connects to Yeshua (Jesus), right? Yeshua was the "beloved Son" of God (Matthew 3:17). In fact, at Yeshua’s baptism, a voice from heaven declared, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17, NKJV). It’s almost the same thing that Jacob says about Joseph. And just as Joseph’s brothers felt threatened by him, so did the religious leaders of Jesus’ time—especially when Yeshua started teaching with authority and calling people to follow Him rather than adhere to their man-made traditions.

Now, after the coat, Joseph has some dreams—wild dreams where he’s ruling over his brothers. The Hebrew word chalam (חָלַם) is used here, which means "to dream," and these dreams are not just random; they’re prophetic. Joseph dreams of sheaves of grain bowing down to his, and later, the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowing down to him (Genesis 37:5-9). These are visions of future dominance, but his brothers? They see it as him being arrogant and disrespectful. They don’t like the idea of bowing to Joseph, and that only fuels their jealousy and hatred. And let’s be real—who would? But it’s a reflection of the story of Yeshua too. When He declared that He was the Son of God, the Jewish leaders couldn’t handle the implications of that. It was as though He was saying, "I’m the one you've been waiting for," and they rejected Him because of it. They saw it as a threat to their own authority. It’s the same root cause—jealousy, rejection of the chosen one.

So, Joseph’s brothers take things to the next level. They plot to kill him, but Reuben steps in and convinces them to throw him into a pit instead (Genesis 37:19-24). But in the end, they decide to sell him to a caravan of Ishmaelite traders passing by, and they sell him for twenty pieces of silver (Genesis 37:28). Now, if we just pause for a second, think about that price—twenty pieces of silver. This wasn’t just a random detail. The price of a slave in ancient Israel was typically thirty shekels of silver (Exodus 21:32). So, twenty pieces of silver—Joseph was literally sold into slavery for less than the typical price of a slave. And this is where it gets really interesting when we start comparing it to Yeshua’s betrayal. Judas, one of Yeshua’s own disciples, betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16). Both betrayals are motivated by greed and jealousy, and both end with the "chosen one" being rejected and cast aside. For Joseph, it’s slavery; for Yeshua, it’s the cross. Both seem like the end of the story, but of course, we know better.

Joseph’s journey takes him to Egypt, where he ends up serving in the house of Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh (Genesis 39). This is where Joseph's integrity gets him into trouble. Potiphar’s wife tries to seduce him, but Joseph, in righteousness, refuses. In fact, he says, "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9). The Hebrew word ra’ah (רָעָה) here means "evil" or "wickedness," and Joseph is steadfast in refusing to commit sin, even when it would have been to his advantage. This is a powerful moment of integrity. It’s a stark contrast to Yeshua’s own moral purity. When He was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, Yeshua also refused to give in, quoting scripture and saying, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Both Joseph and Yeshua chose righteousness even when they were under immense pressure.

But just as Joseph is unjustly thrown into prison (Genesis 39:20), Yeshua too would face an unjust trial and be condemned to death. It’s incredible—both of them suffered for doing what was right. And yet, in both cases, God was still at work. For Joseph, being in prison wasn’t the end. It was a place where God was shaping him for something greater. And it’s the same for Yeshua. The cross was not the end of the story, but the beginning of the new covenant of salvation for all who believe. Both Joseph and Yeshua suffered, but their suffering led to salvation for others.

Joseph’s time in prison leads to him being called to interpret Pharaoh’s dream (Genesis 41). The Hebrew word chalam again shows up here—this time, it’s Joseph interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams. And just like Joseph, Yeshua was raised from His lowest point. Joseph goes from the prison to the palace, and Yeshua rises from the grave to sit at the right hand of God. Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt wasn’t just about him being exalted—it was about the fact that he would now be in a position to save lives during the famine. And in the same way, Yeshua’s resurrection wasn’t just about His glory—it was about offering salvation to the entire world.

Then comes a moment that hits hard: Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt during the famine, seeking food. And at first, they don’t recognize him. The word for "recognize" in Hebrew here is nākār (נָכַר), which means to acknowledge or realize someone’s true identity. When Joseph reveals himself, it’s an emotional moment. His brothers are overwhelmed with guilt and shame for what they had done to him. But instead of seeking revenge, Joseph forgives them, saying, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20). This is where the connection to Yeshua is so clear. When Yeshua returns, He will reveal Himself to those who rejected Him, and there will be a moment of mourning, but it will ultimately lead to joy and reconciliation (Zechariah 12:10, Matthew 23:39). Joseph’s forgiveness parallels Yeshua’s words on the cross: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34).

In the end, Joseph’s story is a shadow of something much bigger. Just as Joseph was a type of the Messiah, Yeshua is the fulfillment of everything Joseph's life pointed toward. Joseph was chosen, rejected, betrayed, suffered, and eventually exalted to a position where he could save many people, including those who had betrayed him. In the same way, Yeshua, the beloved Son of God, was chosen, rejected, betrayed, suffered, and was exalted through His resurrection to offer salvation to the world.

Joseph’s story is more than just an ancient tale. It’s a picture of God’s redemption plan—a picture that’s fulfilled in Yeshua, the true Savior. And that’s the beauty of the Bible: God’s story doesn’t change. Through suffering, rejection, and betrayal, salvation comes. Both Joseph and Yeshua teach us that God’s plan, no matter how painful or confusing, always leads to redemption.

 

 

 

 

Image is AI generated - yea, it's a poor image... sorry.

I probably should paint my own images for here! lol