How closely does Joseph's life parallel the life of Christ?
Joseph's life closely parallels Christ's, with many events repeating almost exactly. Joseph serves as the Old Testament picture of Christ. Both were beloved sons whom the Father loved intrinsically. Joseph was given the coat of many colors, a detail connected to earlier teaching.
Les explains that Joseph almost fills the rest of the book of Genesis, yet he seldom treats the Joseph story verse by verse because most people already know it. In the account, Joseph is 17 years old, feeding the flock with his brethren, including the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, and he brought their evil report to his father. Jacob loved Joseph more than all his children. Les emphasizes that in Joseph's life many things are an exact pattern that will be repeated almost exactly in the life of Christ. Joseph is the Old Testament picture of Christ. Christ was the Son of the Father, the beloved Son whom the Father loved intrinsically, and so was Joseph. Joseph was also given the coat of many colors, which Les connects to earlier teaching.