Joseph and Moses, both initially rejected by their brethren, remind us of our beloved Lord Jesus, who was “despised and rejected … and we did not esteem Him” (Isa. 53:3).

Joseph’s brothers initially harbored an unbridled jealousy for Joseph, the favored of the Father: “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” (Gen. 37:8). God would work in them over time, but here their question betrays a lack of the natural affection they ought to have had for their step-brother.

We hear Christ’s prophetic words: “We will not have this man to reign over us” (Lk. 19:14). They were offended; their unbelief, combined with envy, resulted in crowds jeering, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” (Jn. 19:15). Yet just as surely as Joseph’s dreams came true, the Lord Jesus will take His rightful place as visible Ruler in a soon-coming day.

Stephen, in Acts 7:35, focuses on the question from Moses’ kinsman: “This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush.” Moses had to be taken to the backside of the desert to be prepared to deliver God’s people; nevertheless, because of his failure he was prevented from entering the land. Christ on the other hand was forty days in the wilderness, and no fault was found in Him then or throughout His life. The similarity, however, is that Moses was both a judge and deliverer, and with the Lord Jesus we read that all authority has been committed to Him (Mt. 28:18). For those who trust in Him, by grace we will also reign with Him (Rev. 20:6; 2 Tim. 2:12).