Joseph: The Forerunner

“Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life…and God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.  So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God.” (Genesis 45:5, 7, 8).

"Whither the Forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus…” (Hebrews 6:20).

In the book of Genesis we find the story of Joseph, a type and shadow of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We also find a pattern by which the sons of God may attain full maturity in the Lord in these last days.  Just as Jesus was a forerunner, Who went before us and overcame all things to provide salvation and eternal life to all who receive Him, Joseph also fulfilled that role for his family and for the world by providing a way for them to be saved during a time of great famine.

Joseph was one of twelve sons born to the Jewish patriarch Jacob.  Joseph’s mother was Rachel, and she was beloved of her husband above the three other women that he had children with.  Sadly, Rachel died at the age of 36 after giving birth to her second son, Benjamin.  For this reason, Jacob loved Rachel’s two boys (and Joseph in particular) above his other ten sons because he cherished the memory of their mother and they were born to him in his old age (Genesis 37:3).  This favoritism did not play to Joseph’s advantage, however.  His brothers hated him and could not even talk to him in a kindly or peaceable way (Genesis 37:1-4). 

 

There were at least three things that caused the rift between Joseph and his brethren.  First, Joseph would reprove his brother’s actions, and tell his father about the things they were doing or saying that were wrong.  Of course, nobody likes a tattle-tale, and most folks won’t bother amending their ways in order for there to be nothing to tell!  Secondly, Jacob had made Joseph a beautiful coat of many colors which was made with either many colored strips of fabric, or with colored threads embroidered on it.  Jacob hadn’t done this for any of the other boys.  Except for Benjamin, they were all older than Joseph’s seventeen years, and were jealous and resented Joseph for this “special treatment.”  Thirdly, there was the matter of Joseph’s dreams which he had shared with his family.

 

Joseph dreamed two dreams that were very significant.  In the first dream, he and his brothers were all binding sheaves in the field, and Joseph’s sheaf stood upright while his brother’s sheaves all bowed down in submission to his.  The very thought of their younger brother reigning over them was revolting to them, and they hated him even more for his dream.  In Joseph’s second dream, he saw the sun, the moon, and eleven stars come and bow down in submission to him.  This time, even his father rebuked him because of the suggestion that he would serve his own son.  Scripture tells us, however, that “…his father observed the saying.” (See Genesis 37:5-11). 

 

In all of these things we can see a glimpse of the Savior, Jesus Christ.  The Bible says, “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.”  Jesus was “despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.” (Isaiah 53:3).  Like Joseph, Jesus reproved His brethren the Jews for their hypocrisy and their evil choices, and they hated Him for it.  His Father, God, had bestowed upon Him alone a ministry that was comprised of “many colors,” that is, multi-faceted and diverse.  Jesus was not just gifted in one or two areas – He was gifted in all!  He was a Pastor and a Good Shepherd, an Evangelist, a Prophet, a Teacher, a Healer, an Apostle, a High Priest, and so very much more.  In fact, every gift of God found its fulfillment in the only begotten Son of God.  This bred jealousy and hatred especially among the priests and religious leaders of Jesus’ time.  And then there was His calling.  That Jesus was proclaimed by many as the long awaited Messiah was more than many of the Jews could bear.  They didn’t want anyone, even the Messiah, shaking up their system of religion.  They had a good thing going for themselves, and they didn’t want this “upstart” ruining things.  The truth was then, and still is, a very inconvenient thing for those who have neglected, or outright rejected, it.  The Jews thought that the Messiah would establish the throne of David once more in Israel and would sit as King of the Jews.  In reference to Himself, Jesus even quoted a verse from Psalm 110 that said, “The LORD said unto My Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.”  They simply were not going to submit themselves to this Jesus of Nazareth! 

 

We find here a theme that is woven throughout scripture.  Darkness hates the light, and will always try to destroy or defame it in some way.  Cain hated Abel because Abel believed God and walked by faith.  Esau resented Jacob because he had secured the birthright from him for a bowl of soup.  At that moment, Esau had despised his birthright and agreed to the deal, while his brother, by faith, understood its value.  Saul despised David and was jealous of his gifts and his victories.  David’s own brothers resented him being anointed as king over them, seeing he was the youngest.  They later mocked him as he was about to face Goliath.  It should not surprise us that the world will hate and despise those who would be witnesses for the Lord.  Jesus told us, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”  (John 15:18, 19).  There are those who will hate and be jealous of the gifts that your heavenly Father gives to you.  They will slander and talk against you to others.  Don’t be distressed by this, dear ones, it is just part of your training in sonship.  There are many tares among the wheat, and God knows how to separate out His chosen.  Pray for your enemies and do good to those who would despitefully use you.  By doing this you will lay up for yourself treasures in heaven! 

 

I’m sure that Joseph would have liked to step right in to the fulfillment of his dreams immediately, but God had very different plans for this young man!  We, too, think that we are ready to embark on some great ministry just because God has indicated His plans for us at some point through prophecy, dreams, or visions.  There is a preparation that the sons of God must go through before they are ready to fulfill all that God has planned for them.  Even Jesus had to come by way of suffering, for the scripture says, “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8). 

 

From the comfort and security of his father’s house, Joseph found himself sold into slavery by his own brothers.  At first, they conspired to kill him outright and tell their father that a wild beast had slain him, but his brother Reuben had some compassion and talked the others into simply casting him into a pit to let him die there.  His plan was to go back and deliver Joseph from the pit and restore him to their father later.  This did not go according to Reuben’s plan, however.  A group of Midianite traders happened by the place where Joseph was, and the brothers decided to sell their brother for twenty pieces of silver.  Reuben apparently was not with the other brothers when this transaction was made because when he returned later to release Joseph, he was distressed to find him gone.  The brothers then smeared the blood of a young goat on Joseph’s coat of many colors and presented it to their father.  They lied to Jacob saying that they had found the coat and weren’t sure whether it was Joseph’s or not.  Jacob, of course, recognized it and assumed the worst. 

 

Jesus knew such betrayal also.  He was sold into the hands of the priests for thirty pieces of silver by one who professed his love and loyalty.  When He could have used someone to stand with Him, all of His disciples fled for fear of their lives.  Are we willing to face such opposition and betrayal in our service for the Master?  We all have been asked to follow in the footsteps of our Lord, and some will be asked to come by way of betrayal and perhaps even martyrdom; but God will grant us the grace to face whatever it is that comes our way.

 

Joseph was carried down into Egypt where he was sold to one of Pharaoh’s officers whose name was Potiphar.  It was here that Joseph had the opportunity to learn to be a servant.  Make no mistake: this is a lesson that is necessary for every child of God.  If we do not learn to minister to and serve others, our ministry will be ineffective.  This is the essence of Christianity and of true charity.  Jesus set the example for us in this, and expected it from His disciples.  “But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.  But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28). 

 

Scripture says that Joseph found grace in his new master’s sight.  This was because Potiphar recognized that God was with Joseph and that the Lord made everything that Joseph did prosper.  By this we know that despite his “misfortunes” Joseph did not lose faith or hope in his God.  Instead of doing just what was necessary to get by, he put his heart into his work, and embraced what was before him.  For this reason, Potiphar made him the overseer of everything he had, placing his full trust in Joseph. 

 

Having now gone through the lessons of betrayal, fear of death, isolation, uncertainty over the future, and servitude, Joseph was now ready to graduate to temptation.  We’re told that Potiphar’s wife “cast her eyes upon Joseph.” She also made her wishes plain to him by asking him to sleep with her.  Joseph refused her, telling her that by so doing he would be betraying his master and sinning against his God.  Later on, she grabbed hold of his clothing to try to force him to respond to her advances.  He had to run from the house leaving her holding his garment.  This she used to falsely accuse Joseph to her husband of trying to take advantage of her.  Of course, Potiphar had to take her word for what happened, and he had no recourse but to have Joseph expelled, and cast in prison.  This was another lesson: how to handle false accusations.

 

Scripture tells us to “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22).  Peter also wrote, “…abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” (1 Peter 2:11).  Youthful lusts are not just a plague of the young.  Christians of any age can become subject to youthful lusts also.  Such lusts war against our own soul, and against our better inclinations.  This is why our best tactic is to flee from such temptations that would lead us toward sin.  We all have certain triggers that the enemy uses to entice us to make bad decisions.  We must learn to recognize those triggers that Satan uses in our lives so that we can resist him.  He uses our eyes, our mind, and our pride to entice us with evil.  Joseph was wise to run from the seductions of his master’s wife.  The more we entertain or flirt with sin, the more likely we are to fall under its power.

 

We must never feel that we are alone in our struggles.  Our situation is not unique to us alone.  It isn’t because we are a particularly bad Christian that we are tempted and that we must face heartache and tribulation at times.  Peter addressed this concern when he wrote, “Beloved, think it not strange [unique, unusual, or extraordinary] concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:12, 13).  Like Jesus before us, and like Joseph, who is a type and shadow of Jesus, we must learn obedience by the things that we suffer.  God has a purpose for our lives, and He is using every opportunity to prepare us for that purpose.  Like a master potter, the Lord kneads us and prods us in order to make us more pliable in His hands.  Then He puts us on His wheel and forms us into the vessels that He desires us to be.  Scripture says, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).  It then goes on to list extensively all of the experiences that life presents us with in every season of our walk on earth.  Birth, death, sowing, reaping, building, destroying, weeping, laughing, mourning, dancing, loving, and hating: they are all there, and we all must face them.  And we can, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, because He is working to make “everything beautiful in His time.”

 

Jesus had to face all of these lessons while He was in the flesh.  The Apostle Paul tells us that “…we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15).  We who are the heirs of salvation, and have been called to sonship, must also learn all of these lessons of life.  In our quest to grow up into Christ in all things, we must face many difficulties.  Our goal is always to trust the Lord, and not lean on our own understanding.  God has a plan for our lives, and He knows what it will take to get us in shape to fulfill that plan.  Every athlete knows that in order to excel in their sport, they must put in many hours of conditioning and training.  It is work, and it is hard, but there are rewards to those who persevere!  “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Corinthians 4:17).  Paul tells us, “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:12, 13).  “Everywhere and in all things” covers every circumstance and situation that life has to offer us, and we can trust that, in the Lord, all things are working together for our good.  There is a lesson and a spiritual growth opportunity in every experience of life, and faith is the thing that will bring us victoriously through each trial.

 

Joseph now found himself in jail for something he was completely innocent of.  It may have seemed to him like he was being thrown from the frying pan into the fire, but his faith held firm.  He did not let fear, doubt, despair, or self-pity get the best of him.  Once again, Joseph looked for every opportunity to serve – and to serve to the best of his ability.  “But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” (Genesis 39:21).  The prison keeper put all the affairs of the prison under Joseph’s hand, and everything that he did prospered. 

 

According to God’s timing, two men were thrown into prison with Joseph.  They were Pharaoh’s butler, and his baker.  They both had somehow offended the king and were both cast into prison at the same time.  While there, they both had dreams in the same night that troubled them deeply.  When Joseph came to check on them the next morning, he noticed that they were unusually sad and asked them what was troubling them.  As they each related their dreams to Joseph, the gift of God that was given to Joseph in the beginning began to operate through him, and he was able by God’s grace to interpret the two dreams.  The butler’s dream portended good for him.  In three days he was to be restored to his former service to the king.  The baker’s dream, however, portended an unhappy outcome for him.  In three days he was to be hanged by the king for his offenses.

 

Joseph saw a possible answer for his difficulties in ministering to these two men.  He said to the butler, “But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: for indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.” (Genesis 40:14, 15).  It’s hard to fault Joseph for using this opportunity to plead for his release, but God has his own timing.  No matter how we may try to tweak it, it always comes down to learning to wait on the Lord.  Jesus understood this perfectly.  When the sisters of His friend Lazarus sent to Him to tell Him their brother was very sick, Jesus deliberately waited for two more days before going to him, knowing that by the time He got there, Lazarus would be dead.  Jesus understood that God had a plan to raise Lazarus from the dead, and so He allowed His friend to die rather than interfere with God’s plan and purpose.  “To everything there is a season…”

 

“Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.” (Genesis 40:23).  When hope is deferred, it makes the heart sick.  When the desire of the heart does finally come, however, scripture says it is a “tree of life.”  It was two full years later before God’s plan came to fruition. 

 

The king of Egypt dreamed two dreams, both in the same night.  In the morning his spirit was troubled by what he had dreamed, but he did not understand what the dreams meant.  So, the king called together all of the magicians and wise men of Egypt to see if any could interpret his dreams for him.  There were none who could.  The king’s butler was standing near, however, and he suddenly remembered Joseph and his gift of interpreting dreams.  He told the king his story and of Joseph’s role in it, and the king immediately called for Joseph and had him brought before him. 

 

It is important to note that in both instances when Joseph used his gift, he gave all of the glory to God, and took none to himself.  With the two men in prison he said “Do not interpretations belong to God,” and as he stood before Pharaoh, he said, “It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” (Genesis 40:8; 41:16). There is no gift or talent that we have that has not been given to us by God.  Aside from His grace, we can do nothing!

 

Joseph was given the interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams and told him plainly what they meant.  God was warning the king that seven years of famine would come upon Egypt and would be felt throughout the known world.  In His mercy, though, God was sending seven years of great prosperity and plenty that would precede the famine.  Joseph’s advice to the king was to store up a fifth of all of the bounty of the next seven years in the cities of Egypt so that when the lean years came, there would be a surplus to draw from.  He also said that someone who was discreet and wise should be set over the project to manage it.  “And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.” (Genesis 41:38-40).  When I read these verses about Joseph being raised out of the prison and being highly exalted in the kingdom of Egypt, I can’t help but think how God raised our Lord from death and set Him over all things.  Consider Paul’s words in his letter to the Ephesian Church, “…that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what [is] the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.” (Ephesians 2:18-23).  Now, compare that to what is said of Joseph: “And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.  And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:41-44). 

 

Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, King of Egypt.  He had spent thirteen years learning to trust His God and be faithful in the face of adversity.  He had been cast into God’s forge and then hammered into an instrument of beauty through whom God Himself could be exalted.  Peter wrote these words during the first century: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.  But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” (1 Peter 5:6-10).

 

Eventually, the famine reached to the land of Canaan where Jacob and his sons were.  When Jacob heard that there was corn to spare in Egypt, he sent his sons there to buy food.  Through a series of events, the brothers were forced to face Joseph.  The scene in the story in which Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers is perhaps one of the most moving in the Bible.  It is in this moment of Joseph’s life that he embraces the character of Christ and exemplifies the love and mercy of God his Father.  “And Joseph said unto his brethren...I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.  Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.  For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.  And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.  So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.  Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not.” (Genesis 45:4-9).

 

When we can see our trials as passing through the hands of a loving heavenly Father, and not allow bitterness, resentment, hatred, or strife to taint our spirits, we have put on Christ.  When we can allow our hearts to be filled with true love toward those who would betray and reject us, seeing only an opportunity to minister the grace of God to preserve their souls in Christ, we have put on the character of Jesus our Lord.  When we can see our lives as the instruments that God wants to use to reach the lost and those who have strayed, we have glimpsed the heart of the Father.  When we can see our lives as the training ground for the ministry that God intends for us to fulfill, then we have come to understand a little of the plan and purpose of God.

 

Imagine a woman with child.  In her womb there is a new life being formed.  It is a work that is done in secret.  No one can see the progress that is taking place within her body, but growth is happening to be sure.  The young life is nourished and protected in the womb of its mother.  For nine long months the baby grows until it has developed to the point where it can survive outside the womb.  Then, in a relatively short time, it is delivered by the mother into the world.  It is then revealed to the world as who he/she is.  The time of deliverance is one of anguish and pain for the mother as she labors to deliver her child; but once it is delivered, there is great joy that a child is born!  In much the same way, the sons of God are being formed inside the womb of the Church.  It is a work that is being done in secret.  They are presently being nourished and protected inside the body of Christ.  All of creation is groaning and travailing together, waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God (See Romans 8:18-22), for they are yet hidden away from the world.  God has gifted us and called us to a high calling in Christ, but we must mature before we can fully understand and utilize what God has called us to.  The Apostle John wrote, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He [Jesus] shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3).  The baby boy that is inside the womb of his mother is altogether and entirely a son.  Just because he is not seen yet does not make him any less a son.  He is developing inside his mother until the time that he is manifested to the world.  The image of his Father is being formed in him, and it is because of this hope that we are purifying ourselves even as He (Jesus) is pure. 

 

In Revelation chapter 12 there is a picture of a woman giving birth to a man child.  This woman is the Church universal, the Body of Christ on earth.  Her man child represents the sons of God who will be perfected within the Body, and then delivered and manifested to the world by the Church.  The red dragon is the devil.  “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: and she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.  And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.  And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” (Revelation 12:1-5). 

 

Read carefully the fourth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, and you will get a picture of the work that the Body of Christ should be doing to perfect the children of God.  “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from Whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:14-16).  In writing to the Galatian churches, Paul alludes to this same concept when he says, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you...” (Galatians 4:19).  Paul depicts the Christian life in these terms: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).  Through everything we face in life one truth stands out: God’s grace is always sufficient for whatever need we have.  We will experience weakness in these temples of flesh and blood, but be assured that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness!  We have this treasure of God’s grace and power in earthen vessels – clay pots, if you will – so that the excellence of the power is seen to be of God, and not of us.  It is for this reason that we do not have to faint at our trials.  We know that although “…our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

 

Do not despair, dear Child of God.  The difficulties that we face today in this life will reap dividends in the world to come.  This life is only a vapor in the wind compared to the eternity that will be our great reward.  When this world burns, and it will, none of the great works of man are going to survive.  Only what we have done in Christ’s name will endure, and will be like treasures laid up in heaven.  The Lord will reward the righteous!  Just as Joseph was rewarded finally for his faithfulness, God will reward those who have been faithful with the things that God has given them.

 

Joseph is a beautiful picture of the Son of God, but he is also the perfect example for we who are following in the footsteps of Jesus.  This walk is not for sissies!  It can be hard!  But what is really hard is trying to do it without Jesus by our side.  His yoke is easy, and His burden is light!

 

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He [Jesus] also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.  For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham.  Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.  For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:14-18).