But the grand purpose of Divine Providence in conveying Joseph down into Egypt was, that he might be the honoured instrument of making such a provision during the years when the earth yielded abundance as might feed the famishing nations during the years of famine. In this he was peculiarly the type of the Lord as the Saviour.
As Joseph's detention in prison represented the Lord's trials and temptations, which ended with his death and burial, and his being three days in the heart of the earth; his being brought up out of the prison dungeon into the the palace and presence of the mighty and magnificent Pharaoh, represented the Lord's resurrection. When Joseph was out of his prison house, he shaved himself and changed his raiment. So when our blessed Lord rose from the dead. He left His garments in the tomb, and appeared to His disciples in new and heavenly robes. By this was represented that He put off in the tomb the remnant or residue of the frail humanity derived from his mother Mary, and rose with a humanity wholly derived from His Father, and therefore Divine.
