THE story of Joseph is full of interest; but it is chiefly useful to us as being marvelously typical of the life of our Lord Jesus.
Remark the bounty of providence in raising up Joseph to save the house of Israel, yea, and the whole world, from famishing. Then note the greatness of sovereign grace in raising up Jesus to save his people, and to be God's salvation to the ends of the earth. Joseph had beforehand filled the vast storehouses, and our text shows us how he used the store: "Joseph opened all the storehouses" How much more has been done by Jesus! O to be partakers of his grace!
I. JOSEPH OPENED THE STOREHOUSES BY ROYAL AUTHORITY.
1. The king was only to be approached through Joseph: "Go unto Joseph" (verse 55). So with Jesus. "No man cometh unto the Father but by me" (John 14:6).
2. The king Commanded that Joseph should be obeyed: "What he saith to you, do" (verse 55). "All men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father" (John 5:23).
3. In all the land no other could open a storehouse save Joseph."The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand" (John 3:35).
II. JOSEPH WAS A FIT PERSON TO BE THUS AUTHORIZED TO OPEN THE STOREHOUSES.
1. He planned the storehouses, and was justly appointed to control them. See verses 33 to 36. "Can we find such a one as this is?" (verse 38).
2. He carried out the storage, and so proved himself practical as well as inventive. "Joseph gathered corn as the sand" (verse 49).
3. He did it on a noble scale. He gathered corn "until he left numbering; for it was without number" (verse 49).
4. He had wisdom to distribute well.
The parallel is easily drawn, for our Lord Jesus is that Housekeeper, one of a thousand, who has provided for our soul's famine; "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell, and of his fullness have all we received" (Col. 1:19; John 1:16).
III. JOSEPH ACTUALLY OPENED THE STOREHOUSES.
1. For this purpose he filled them. Grace is meant to be used.
2. To have kept them closed would have been no gain to him
3. He opened them at a fit time: "All the land of Egypt was famished"; "the famine was over all the face of the earth" (verses 55-56).
4. He kept them open while the famine lasted. They were never closed while a hungering applicant drew near.
All this is far exceeded in Jesus the Antitype, in whom a fullness abides; who is ever near us; to whom we may come daily; and in whom every seeker finds a ready supply.
IV. JOSEPH OPENED THE STOREHOUSES TO ALL COMERS.
1. There was a special eye to Israel, "God sent me before you to preserve you"; but Joseph was also "a father unto Pharaoh" and the preserver of many nations.
2. It was a privilege to dwell near the granaries; but it would have been a dreadful thing if any had died within sight of them. Beware of being "hearers only." Read 2 Kings 7:19.
3. Yet many people came from far for food: "All countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn" (verse 57).
4. We read of none being sent empty away.
Yet Joseph did but sell while Jesus gives without money. Will you not come to him for heavenly bread?
V. JOSEPH ACQUIRED POSSESSION OF ALL EGYPT FOR THE KING.
The Egyptians gladly yielded their money, their lands, and their persons to Pharaoh, that their lives might be preserved. Even thus we surrender ourselves, our substance, our abilities, our time, our all to the Lord. Joseph's policy seems hard, but the design of Jesus is love itself. Our full submission and consecration are the grand result of infinite love.
"This is the only hope of Egypt and all lands:-Joseph is exalted. Joseph is in authority. The residue of whatever supply may be available is with him. He has in his hands the keys. 'All countries came into Egypt to Joseph, for to buy corn' (verse 57). A perishing world hangs on this great fact, that Joseph reigns." --Dr. Candlish
Dr. Conyers was for some years a preacher before he had felt the power of the gospel. As he was reading Ephesians 3:8 in his Greek Testament, he came to: "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ" "Riches of Christ"! said he to himself,— "'Unsearchable riches of Christ'! What have I preached of these? What do I know of these?" Under the blessing of the Spirit of God he was thus awakened to a new life and a new ministry. Are there not some yet living who might put to their own consciences similar questions?
William Bridge says,"There is enough in Jesus Christ to serve us all. If two, or six, or twenty men be athirst, and they go to drink out of a bottle, while one is drinking, the other envies, because he thinks there will not be enough for him too; but if a hundred be athirst, and go to the river, while one is drinking, the other envies not, because there is enough to serve them all."
All the spiritual blessings wherewith the Church is enriched are in and by Christ. The apostle instances some of the choicest (Eph. 1:3). Our election is by him (verse 4). Our adoption is by him (verse 5). Our redemption and remission of sins are both through him. All the gracious transactions between God and his people are through Christ. God loves us through Christ; he hears our prayers through Christ; he forgives us all our sins through Christ. Through Christ he justifies us; through Christ he sanctifies us; through Christ he upholds us; through Christ he perfects us. All his relations to us are through Christ; all we have is from Christ; all we expect to have hangs upon him. He is the golden hinge upon which all our salvation turns. --Ralph Robinson
If any of the people of Egypt had refused to go to Joseph, they would have despised not Joseph only, but the king; and would have deserved to be denied that sustenance which he only could give them. Are not the despisers of our great Redeemer in like manner despisers of his Father who has set him as his King upon the holy hill of Zion?... If Joseph had thrown open his storehouses before the Egyptians felt the pressure of hunger, they might soon have wasted the fruits of his prudent care .... Hunger, though very unpleasant, is often more useful than fullness of bread. They were very willing to give the price demanded for their food as long as their money lasted. What is the reason why so many are unwilling to come and receive wine and milk without money and without price? They feel no appetite for it. They are not sensible of their need of it. --George Lawson