Postmillennialism In Genesis

 Postmillennialism in Genesis

Those who affirm a hopeful eschatology, that is Postmillennialism, are quick to point to Genesis chapter 1 as a text to reveal the original purpose of man:

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth. (Gen 1:28)

While this is a critical text known as the Dominion Mandate, and is restated in Genesis 9 with Noah, it ultimately finds direction and driving force in the Great Commission of Matthew 28. Yet, there is more to be found in Genesis. 

Others have been able to point toward the end of Genesis as another proof text:

The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. (Gen 49:10)

This is a blessing bestowed upon Judah in the final days of Jacob's life. It is seen as a prophecy pointing to Christ as the ultimate ruler, from the line of Judah (Rev 5:5), who rules with His scepter of righteousness (Heb 1:8), and demands the obedience of all people (Phil 2:10).

Another text that points to the growth of God's people is the Abrahamic covenant. God speaks to Abraham and promises him that his descendants will be “as the sand of the sea” and that that in him “all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12)
We find in Galatians 3:14 that followers of Christ are the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant and the blessings of global scale are confirmed in the New Covenant. 

Yet, I think we can find an even more amazing and direct outline of the postmillennial hope contained within the story of Joseph.  

Joseph is a type of Christ found in the Old Testament. Some resources list as many as 60 parallels between Joseph and Jesus. Joseph was betrayed by loved ones for a bag of silver just as Christ was. (Gen 37:28, Matt 23:7) Joseph was falsely accused, and Jesus had false witnesses brought against him (Gen 39:17, Matt 26:59-60). Joseph’s trials were ordained of God, Jesus had been sent by His Father (Gen 45:8, Luke 4:43). Joseph provided salvation from the famine for both Hebrews and Egyptians, Jesus came to provide salvation from sin for both Jew and gentile (Gen 45:5&7, Rom 1:16). Joseph was lifted from humble servitude to being second in command, Jesus was sent to earth as a servant, and departed to accept all authority and rule (Gen 41:41, Heb 1:3). Joseph commanded his brethren to quickly spread the news that he was alive from the dead, Jesus commands his followers to proclaim to all the earth that He is risen from the grave (Gen 45:9, Matt 28:18-20). 

Many more parallels could be given, but I want to focus on the postmillennial aspect of the story of Joseph, some of which should be obvious from the evidence already given. 

Joseph was presumed dead by his family, as stated multiple times by Jacob and Joseph's brothers (Gen 37:33, 41:13, 42:36, 44:20&28). Joseph works through a series of tests towards his brothers to bring about repentance. Judah finally offers his life in place of his brother Benjamins, and the circumstance causes Joseph to finally reveal himself to his brothers. (Gen 45:1). Joseph tells his brothers how God had sent him to preserve life, and preserve the future of Israel. Joseph uses his authority and rule to establish a place for his people in the land of Goshen. While Goshen would have been a fertile and rich land (thought to be located in the Nile river basin), there had been no planting or harvesting for two years already, and the famine would continue for an additional 5 years (Gen 45:6).

Joseph did not allow the barrenness of Egypt to prevent him from seeing the value of the land where he placed his family. His visionary plan put the children of Israel into a potential and future rich land of Goshen. Joseph didn’t allow the famine ravaged land in Egypt to prevent him from planning ahead. 

We know this land was rich and productive because of the desire of the Israelites to return to their “cucumbers, melons, leeks and garlic” during their time in the Exodus wilderness. (Numbers 11:5)

Joseph had faith that the Israelites would eventually leave the land of Egypt, as he gave final instructions for his bones. (Gen 50:25, Hebrews 11:22). Joseph's faithfulness to God and his forward looking attitude gave the Israelites a future and prosperity, even in the midst of enemies and eventual slavery to the Egyptians. Joseph ruled in the midst of an unregenerate pagan people and gave his brethren salvation from death and the hope of a future.
The Israelites would go on to grow and thrive in the land of Goshen, and even under the tyranny of Pharaoh and the yoke of slavery, they grew to be a mighty people.

Jacob received the news of Joseph's “resurrection” and Lordship over pagan Egypt with disbelief at first, but when the “words of Joseph” were told to him, and he saw the evidence of Joseph’s love, his “heart was revived” and he believed (Gen 45:27). 

Jacob is promised by the Lord that his descendants will be made into a “great nation (Gen 46:3)” while occupying Egypt.

Eventually, over the course of time and after the death of Joseph, pagan Egypt would turn hostile towards the Israelite people. God's people remained separate, and did not mingle with the idolatrous people. Eventually the Israelites would grow to such a number that:

But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them. (Exo 1:7)

Joseph had provided everything that was needed to prosper and grow God's people. Eventually, gradually, the nation of Israel grew to the point where the land was filled with them! So much so that the Egyptians said:

“Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. (Exo 1:9)

They recognized that the Israelites were a threat, as the Psalmist says:

Then Israel came to Egypt; Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. And the LORD made his people very fruitful and made them stronger than their foes. (Psa 105:23-24)

Eventually when God delivered his people from the bondage and tribulation of Egypt, a great multitude of people followed them out of the land. (Ex 12:38) God's people had dominated the pagans in numbers and power. God had allowed suffering, but it had a purpose, and it led to the virtual emptying out of Egypt. The enemy had been destroyed and God's people had grown and prospered beyond their enemies. 

Add to this, that the people of God plundered the Egyptians and left the land of the pagans with blessings and substance beyond imaginable. 

All this was possible because Joseph prepared for the future and was faithful to God's commands. Even though Joseph suffered at the hands of men, he recognized that bad things can happen for the glory of God and the establishment of his people. 

So too, do we as New Testament believers, follow a deliverer in Jesus Christ. He who rules in the midst of His enemies. He has given us the tools to prosperity and victory in his Word and resurrection. He has promised us that His kingdom will not be shaken, and that the gates of hell cannot withstand the onslaught of the gospel. 

We live in the Kingdom of God as a spiritual land of Goshen in the midst of pagan unbelieving people, and we will continue to grow until the enemies of God will find themselves outnumbered and licking the dust (Psalm 72). We are now part of that “mixed multitude” and everywhere the good news of the Kingdom is preached, souls will be taken from Pharoah and brought to the feet of Christ. God is plundering and looting the house of Satan (Mark 3:27)
God will, with time, empty out pagan nations and all will flow to the promised land of a completed New Heavens and New Earth flowing with milk and honey.

While these parallels are edifying and encouraging, this in and of itself is not proof of postmillennialism. There are plenty of other passages for that. However, the narrative and historical accounts found in Genesis can be brought out in a richer and clearer way when the overarching purposes of victory and hope for the future are understood. 

This is just one of the ways Postmillennialism can be found in Genesis.