For more than twenty years, LearnTheBible.org has consistently provided free content from a Bible-believing perspective to our thousands of annual visitors. We do not run ads or charge for access to this wealth of Bible study materials, outlines, preaching, teaching, and so much more! Expenses to maintain our hosting, servers, etc. are provided by the generous donations of God's people. If you have been helped and blessed by LTB through the years, would you help us continue to maintain and support this growing ministry by partnering with us with a onetime or monthly gift?
To those who read, listen, and share our content, we are extremely grateful! Please continue to pray for us and "Thank You!" for 20 great years!

Three Kinds of People

Published Date: 
July 27, 2004

Genesis 43:32, in reference to Joseph eating with his brethren before they knew who he was, states, "And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians." In this verse we see three categories of people--all of whom were unable to eat (or fellowship) with the others.

  1. The Egyptians, who are a picture of the lost.
  2. The brothers of Joseph, who are a picture of believers who are out of fellowship with God. They had sold Joseph into slavery but had never repented of their deed.
  3. Joseph, a picture of the believer in right fellowship with God.

Please note that the believer who is right with God cannot fully fellowship with the believers who are in rebellion. However, later, when Joseph's brothers confess their sin against him and repent, they are able to join in full fellowship. We often classify people as belonging to one of only two groups--the saved or the lost. However, this threefold division is also clear in scripture. Consider these titles from 1Corinthians.

  1. The natural man (1Corinthians 2:14) corresponds to the lost man; the person who is what he is by natural birth.
  2. The carnal man (1Corinthians 3:1, 3, 4) corresponds to the believer who is out of right fellowship with God.
  3. The spiritual man (1Corinthians 2:13, 15; 3:1) corresponds to the believer who is in a right relationship with God.

This is also seen in the stages of deliverance experienced by the Israelites when God brought them out of Egypt.

  1. In Egypt - they were a picture of the lost
  2. In the wilderness - they were a picture of the un-surrendered believer
  3. In the Promised Land - they were a picture of the mature or spiritual believer

The question is, where are you? Are you lost in Egypt? Then you need to trust in Christ as your personal Saviour. Are you wandering in the wilderness? Then you need to give yourself entirely to God.

David Reagan

Daily Proverb

Proverbs 30:29

There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going: