What purpose did God have in sending Joseph to Egypt before his brothers?
God sent Joseph ahead of his brothers to preserve them and to keep a posterity alive in the earth. Through Joseph’s position in Egypt, God intended to save their lives by a great deliverance, showing that He is sovereign over all the circumstances.
Les explains that Joseph’s rejection and being sent to Egypt also picture Christ’s rejection and death, which brought about the plan of salvation so that He could die for us and extend salvation by grace. God’s stated purpose was to send Joseph before his brothers to preserve them as a posterity in the earth and to save their lives by great deliverance. This happened before the family later came down to Egypt, into Goshen, as described in chapter 46.
And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.