He Left His Home Of Privilege To Become A Slave - The One Year Book of Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament

He Left His Home of Privilege to Become a Slave

Joseph lived a life of privilege in the house of his father, Jacob. But his father’s favor served only to kindle his brothers’ resentment. “When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him” (Genesis 37:18).

But rather than kill him, they sold Joseph into slavery and he was carted off to Egypt, where he became a slave in the house of Potiphar. What a contrast—to go from being the favored son in his father’s house to being a slave in a foreigner’s home! Joseph would never have willingly left the home of privilege he enjoyed with the father who loved him to become a slave in a foreign land. But he did foreshadow One who was willing to leave his home of heaven, where he enjoyed the love of his Father, to become a slave in a foreign place. Jesus willingly “gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave” (Philippians 2:7).

As a servant, Joseph pleased his master, Potiphar, who gladly put him in charge of his entire household. So it was with the One Joseph foreshadowed, who was given all authority by his Father. Jesus said about his Father, “I always do what pleases him” (John 8:29). After being falsely accused, Joseph was cast into prison. It is possible that Potiphar didn’t believe the accusation his wife had brought against Joseph. If he had, he would have ordered this Hebrew slave to be put to death. Here, too, Joseph prefigures Jesus, who was also falsely accused and arrested. And clearly Pilate did not believe Jesus was truly guilty even though he handed down the sentence of crucifixion.

Joseph, the innocent one, suffered severely. Psalm 105 says of Joseph, “They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar” (105:18). So too did Jesus, the innocent One, suffer severely. He was mocked and spit upon, scourged and crowned with thorns, and nailed to a cruel tree. But Joseph did not remain enslaved and imprisoned forever. He emerged from prison to an exalted place in the kingdom of Pharaoh. Jesus, too, emerged from the prison of death. “God elevated him to the place of highest honor” (Philippians 2:9).

How I want to have the same attitude you had, Jesus—willing to let go of your divine privileges to become a slave, humbling yourself in obedience to death. My knee bows before you, exalted Jesus, and my tongue confesses that you are Lord, to the glory of God the Father!