Hi Mousey
Reading about Joseph Gen 37, 39 to about Gen 50 is nice.
The bible is hard to understand in some places; but here is a brief interrogation of its magnificence.
In Genesis 37, we read of Christ's sufferings, though Christ is not mentioned.
We have Joseph, a son of Jacob (Jacob is a man later renamed to Israel), who is loved more by Jacob than the others because he is the son of his old age. This is really about Christ, who is loved more by GOD because he is his only begotten son - but those coming to Christ will be loved equally, as it is written.
In Genesis 37 Joseph's brethren hate him; just as the nation of Israel, Christ's brethren, jews, hated him (and those that follow Christ partake of his sufferings, as they hate Christ, they will hate his followers (John 7:7 et al. [and others]) because he testifies to the world, that the works thereof are evil. These events really happened, and Christ's coming was foreseen: here we read again of Christ, this book being published before Christ's coming -- that Joseph dreamed that he would be worshipped by his brethren. This event was "inspired" by GOD to show both his power in the earth, and to foreshadow what would happen; the jews, though completely unaware, being Christ's "blood-brethren" so to speak, being jews, will eventually bow the knee and confess as Christ as Lord even though, in part (as some jews believed), they would despise such a thing from happening before seeing his glory after Christ rose from the dead. You can read in Genesis 37 (and others) about the evil done to Joseph, which is no more powerful than that endured by Christ.
Here we have a marvelous thing, Joseph, a man taken from his father and left as dead, becomes greater than all the men in Egypt, save the Pharaoh, as Christ to GOD -- now these events actually happened, and a thorough study of the bible always realized that the bible was created by the same power that created the heavens/sky above, the earth below, the sea beneath, and all that in them is.
In Genesis 39 we also read of the integrity of Christ, as Potiphar's wife, who was most likely the beautiful wife of the captain of the guard, tried to get Joseph day by day to at least do SOME sexual activity with her, but Joseph was innocent 100%; and see what she does... she accuses him falsely when she can not have him, and he is sent to prison. Christ was given the "chief ointments" (Olive oil mixed with EXTREMELY good smelling substances, as myrrh, spikenard before his crucifiction...) rightfully because he DID have the afflictions of Joseph (the afflictions of Joseph is an idea enabled from Amos 6:6, Christ having the afflictions of Joseph is seen by analyzing his life throughout his ministry).
The story continues and it is very interesting how, this being an actual event in the history of the world, a man's life is given such "inspiration," and later, as applied to Christ, it is seen again, yet more powerfully, as Christ is the "firstborn" of many brethren (anyone that comes to Christ, knowing his righteousness, and the sacrifice of sin which is a sweet savour to GOD [as animal sacrifices used to be offered in the time of Moses to "take away sin" to point to Christ's future sacrifice that was, indeed, for forgiveness of sins, and it is written that the sacrifices of animals were a sweet smelling savour to GOD when burned...] so Christ, being without blemish of sin, and perfect, yet blamed and accused of sin greater than murderers by his brethren, and that was spat on, and hated, had a crucifixion/sin sacrifice that was a "sweet smelling savour" to GOD in light of mankind's wickedness in the whole world... Christ's death on the cross/the crucifixion is therefore a sweet smelling savour to GOD in this way, that the stain and shame of sin would no longer be present to those who come to him with such faith)... because it shows that with Christ's attributes and faith in Christ, the "believer" in him, whether Jew or Non-Jew, can become pleasing, perfect, and what GOD intended for mankind to be, without blame before him in love and joy to the full.
There are 4 books of Moses; Genesis, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. In them is given the "law" of Moses.... In this law a woman that cheats on her husband is to be stoned to death. There are laws against stealing... and an eye for an eye... a tooth for a tooth. After every sexual act of a man and woman, or just a man... where the seed of copulation comes out, they are to wash themselves with water and be "unclean" until the evening. There are laws against usury... people that have accidentally killed another, as the axe blade falling off accidentally are to flee to cities specially made for people that have accidentally done such things, so they are not killed by spite. A great series of laws are read to reveal that mankind without severe carefully designed checks sent from above is weaker, less righteous, less knowledgeable, and less powerful than those without... "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." When Christ comes, we don't see the law of Moses replaced, but a sinful, rebellious people is given the "grace" of GOD, whereas Moses, who is less powerful and righteous than Christ, brought the "law" of GOD. The gathering is no more to Moses and the "law" of Moses (the faithful in Christ are no longer "under" the law) differing to what was in times past, but the gathering is supposed to be to Christ now (Genesis 49:10 et al. [and others]). Therefore though the law is still good, and perfect; it was a schoolmaster, just as watching the movie Rambo, would show a facet of the art of war; the law of Moses shows the work and discipline one must attain to be perfectly justified in the sight of the creator of heaven and earth; and when the person so justified came, being Christ, the jews, who were first given the 'oracles of GOD and the law of Moses, should have recognized him as such (if the jews had properly followed the law by faith before Christ came they would have recognized this)... that Christ was the fullness of all that GOD desired, constructed, and desired in mankind; the Messiah, and that GOD would bless, chastise, and give full inheritance to -- both Christ and all those who come after Him that have his traits -- such that they inherit the promises of the bible, and those that come to him be not ashamed at him in his very near second coming (not that we in Christ are to labor for reward, though reward is given, but be unprofitable servants... doing because it is our duty to do (Luke 17:10 et al. [and others].)
