Abraham’s servant, in seeking a bride for his son, Isaac (Genesis 24) teaches us that we have been brought into the closest of relationships with God. We have been sought in a far country to be the bride for Christ. Therefore, we can be assured that we will always be with Christ, and we are being fitted by the Spirit to be the eternal “helper who is just right for” this Perfect Man (cp. Genesis 2:18 NLT).
Joseph’s servant (Genesis 43) provides us with a glimpse of a more official type of relationship. The sons of Jacob represented, to a greater or lesser extent, the character of their father. Fathers in Bible times had ceremonies at which they officially adopted sons. On such a day, the father would make it clear that the “adopted” son should be on equal terms with himself. Their words, deeds and decisions were to be seen as representative of each other. Thus, we are not seen here as babies born into God’s family, nor as the bride of Christ, but as brothers (cp. Romans 8:16-17) who are being changed to be like Christ, the ultimate Son, who was the perfect representative on earth of the Father in heaven.
I find it interesting that this threefold description corresponds to the three aspects often discussed in a consideration of what it means to be made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). The alliteration frequently used for this is resemblance (image or likeness as in a mirror), relationship (seen in the phrase male and female), and representation (responsibility to rule in God’s place).
Fleshing this out, we find it easy to make the connection that babies resemble their parents; in many ways they are like them. So too in redemption, we are to be like God as His children.
Further, as the bride we are to live in an intimate relationship with the Man who has sacrificed Himself for us.
It follows then that we have a responsibility, as brothers, to represent the Father in the official capacity of sonship, in the individual circumstances of our daily lives.
Taken together, we find that the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives restores the image of God in us that was so affected by sin and the Fall. The grief that God felt as He considered His fallen creation, prompting the recall of His Spirit in Genesis 6:3 and the subsequent flood (Genesis 7), has been replaced with joy through the gospel of the happy God (1 Timothy 1:11).
The first post in this series asked the question – where did the Holy Spirit disappear to between His mention in Genesis 6 and subsequent reappearance in Joseph in Genesis 41? What have we found? We have found that, operating in the breezes (John 3:8) of daily life and history, He has been facilitating the restoration of the image of God on earth.
Why was Joseph marked out as a man in whom the Spirit of God was found (Genesis 41:38)? In his various circumstances he represented God in the interpretation of dreams that only God could reveal. He resembled God in his wisdom, discernment, and good character. He had a real relationship with God (“the LORD was with” him is a phrase occurring repeatedly in Genesis 39) that could not be impugned by the offer of an illicit relationship with Potiphar’s wife.
Joseph’s exaltation to Pharoah’s right hand places these aspects of the image of God on display. Pharoah gives him authority to rule on his behalf and to make decisions in his name. He is blessed with a wife. His actions earn him the title Zaphenath-paneah, meaning either “Revealer of Secrets” or “Saviour of the World” (see Genesis 41:45), but the crowning glories of his resemblance to God are seen in the forgiveness and reconciliation he extends to those who sinned against him.
Holy Spirit – may You do the same with us, transforming us into the image of Christ “from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV).
