June 11: Seeing the Christ

“38And Pharaoh said to his servants, ‘Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?’ 39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.’” –Genesis 41.38-39
What an interesting statement that a man outside of God’s covenant spoke: “Here we have a man in whom God’s Spirit lives.” What did the Pharaoh see when he looked at Joseph? Wisdom? Yes, but unbeknownst to him, Pharaoh saw something more…He saw the Christ. The life of Joseph was like so many others in the Old Testament; when the Spirit of God dwelt in them, they became figures of the future savior, Jesus. Joseph possessed wisdom beyond any men of his age (remember what Isaiah 11 said about the Christ?). The end result of Joseph’s life: despite rejection, persecution, temptation, and exile the Lord used Joseph’s life and leadership to save God’s people from being lost. Sound familiar? (Hint: Jesus)
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3.18 that “we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” Dear Christians, by the Spirit we also have the privilege to reflect the glory of the Christ! Those in the Old Testament pointed toward His coming, and we point to His presently redeeming life.
1. What other points in Joseph’s life do you see that reflect the life of Christ?
2. In what areas would unbelievers look at your life and be able to recognize the character of Christ (even if they don’t know it’s Christ they’re seeing)? Direct your prayers toward asking God to conform you to the image of Christ by His Spirit, and to open unbelievers eyes to seeing Christ in you, even if they don’t immediately recognize that it’s Christ they’re seeing.