JOSEPH OPENS THE STOREHOUSES
Genesis 41: 46-57
Joseph is a beautiful, preeminent type of Christ! Our subject is “Joseph Opens the Storehouses.” Here is the main point. To all who are truly famished in sin, when you come to Christ, he will freely open the storehouse of God’s grace to you and save you!
God the Father set the Son of God over all, from eternity, to be his Christ, the Savior of God’s chosen people. We see in Joseph a picture of Christ entering his earthly ministry.
CHRIST’S EARTHLYL MINISTRY
The Lord Jesus was around thirty years old when he entered his public ministry. We see it typified in Joseph—Genesis 41: 46: And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Of Christ Jesus we read:
Luke 3: 21: Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22: And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. 23: And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age,…
Christ was fervent in doing his father’s business. We see it pictured in Joseph—Genesis 41: 46: And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
Joseph had much work to accomplish. He had to appoint overseerers. Joseph had to make sure the fields were planted with seed. He had to make sure the storehouses were built and laborers were sent to the harvest. Joseph made certain the officers took up the 5th part of the corn. And it was to be laid up in store in every city. There was much work so Joseph did not rest.
Likewise, Christ did not rest. Christ said, “I must be about my Father’s business.” Even now, Christ does not rest when it comes to spreading his gospel. Why? Christ entered covenant with the Father before the world was made to do the works of his Father! In the next hour our text will be, Christ’s words,
Isaiah 62: 1: For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. (Isa 62:1)
Sinner, you must be about the business of casting your care upon Christ. And believer, we must be about our business of spreading this gospel to poor and needy sinners.
THE SUCCESS OF CHRIST’S WORK
We see the success of Christ’s work in this earth—Genesis 41: 47: And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls—
The Lord Jesus Christ accomplished redemption plenteously for his people. Christ brought forth by handfuls! He finished the transgression and made an end of sins for God’s elect. Christ made reconciliation for iniquity and brought in everlasting righteousness. He sealed up the vision and prophecy and anointed the most Holy.
Like Joseph, Christ gathered and laid up Life for his people—Genesis 41: 48: And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt,…
Christ is Life for his people like as that corn was life. Righteousness is Life. Christ is the Life of Righteousness for his people. Holiness is Life. Christ is Holiness of Life in his people. Redemption is Life. Christ is Redemption of Life for his people. Christ is all things that pertains to life and godliness.
Christ lays up Life in the churches he establishes through the gospel we preach—Genesis 41: 48:…and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.
Every church Christ has established is like these cities with the food laid up in them. Christ calls apostles, preachers and fellow believers. He gives us the Bread from heaven. He uses us to dispense the Bread by preaching the gospel.
In Christ, there is plenty—Genesis 41: 49: And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.
Have you noticed how God’s grace is described?
· Ephesians 1:7…the riches of his grace;
· 2 Corinthians 4:15…abundant grace
· 2 Corinthians 9: 14…the exceeding grace of God in you.
· 1 Peter 4: 10:…the manifold grace of God.
· Ephesians 3: 20: he is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,…
· 2 Corinthians 9:8 God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Read verse 49 again. By the finished work of Christ Jesus the Lord, Christ gathered up all the blessings of the grace of God as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.
BORN ANEW IN CHRIST
When Christ was raised from the grave every elect child of God was born anew in Christ. This is pictured in the two sons born to Joseph before the famine came—Genesis 41: 50: And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.
The first son Genesis 41: 51: And Joseph called…Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.
God made me forget all my toil and the affliction of leaving my father’s house. Like Joseph Christ left his Father’s house. He suffered the prison of the cross. He was forsaken and forgotten in justice. Christ is “The man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” in all his “toil.” But when God exalted Christ, Christ saw all his firstborn sons saved and Christ forgot all his toil. We read in Isaiah 53:
Isaiah 53: 11: He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
A mother labors in great affliction in child birth. But as soon as the child is born, she sees that child for whom she travailed and she is satisfied. Christ said his redeemed children hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.
Of the second son—Genesis 41: 52: And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.
God made Christ fruitful when he raised Christ because “he raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Eph 2: 6) This is why there is abundant grace in Christ for all who come to him! Christ has saved his people. “For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
THE PROMISED FAMINE
Be sure to get this. Though this was all done, the people did not know what Joseph had done for them until God sent the famine and forced them to flee to Joseph! So God sent the promised famine—Genesis 41: 53: And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. 54: And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands;
In our flesh, in this world, apart from Christ, there is only famine. Yet, God has to make us see it.
Amos 8: 11: Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. 12: And they shall wander, from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro to seek the Word of the Lord, and shall not find it.
But first God provided the Bread of Life—Genesis 41: 54:…but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. So when the people were famished, where did Pharaoh send them? 55: And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.
Has God sent famine into your soul? Are you famished for the righteousness of God? Are you famished for the holiness of God? Are you famished for free forgiveness? Are you famished for free justification from all your sins? Are you famished for salvation by God?
The famished people went to Pharaoh yet, “When the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: Pharaoh said unto all, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.” Sinner, God is too pure to have communion with sinners like us. In order to come to God you have to be as God is as righteous and holy as God, as perfect and pure as God.
Leviticus 22:21: And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD…, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.
How can I be perfect to be accepted of God? God says, ““Go unto Christ; what he saith to you, do.” Sinner, God has provided one Mediator for the famished.
1 Timothy 2:5: For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
John 14:6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
God says to all who are truly hungry for righteousness and acceptance with God, “Go unto Christ; what he saith to you, do.”
WHEN A SINNER GOES TO CHRIST
What happens when a sinner flees to Christ?—Genesis 41: 56: And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians;
When God’s grace draws a sinner to Christ then Christ will open the storehouse freely. Every true sinner truly famished in sin who comes to Christ will never be turned away! Christ will open all the storehouses! Christ delights to show mercy! God takes no delight in the death of the wicked. There is Bread, go to Christ! While will ye die?
But Christ never sells his Life and Righteousness and Acceptance. Christ gives all things freely without money and without price.
Isaiah 55: 1: Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
Amen!