Monday, August 17, 2020

The Story Of Joseph Part 8--In Jail

 Genesis 39: 20-23

Joseph's brothers had hated him for being their father's favorite, sold him to a caravan headed for Egypt, and Potiphar bought him as a house slave. Since Joseph was faithful to God, He blessed whatever Joseph did, and Potiphar made him manager over everything he owned. 

Then Potiphar's wife threw a monkey wrench into Potiphar's works, and accused Joseph unjustly in being rejected by him.

(20) So Joseph's master took him and put him into the jail, the place where the king's prisoners were confined; and he was there in the jail. 

Potiphar didn't put him in the common jail where criminals were incarcerated, but in the elite jail for those who offended Pharaoh, the king. 

By this time, most likely several years have passed and Joseph must have been in his twenties by now.

(21) But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer. (22) The chief jailer committed to Joseph's charge all the prisoners who were in the jail; so that whatever was done there, he was responsible for it. 

Just as the Lord was with Joseph in Potiphar's house, now He is blessing what Joseph does in this prison house, and the chief jailer made him a trustee, with responsibility over the other prisoners.

(23) The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph's charge because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made to prosper. 

Just as Potiphar was able to leave him in charge, so now the chief jailer could also see that Joseph was capable, honest and responsible, so he also could give Joseph a free hand in what he needed to do in the jail, just as Potiphar did over his property. 

Joseph is still maintaining his faithfulness to his God, even in the midst of all the idols and idolatrous attitudes of the people around him, who didn't know about his God. And God's influence in Joseph's views and attitudes gave grace in the eyes of his authorities over him, to grant him more freedom of movement and action. 

But he was still in jail, unjustly, for maintaining his integrity. 

O my Father, even when Joseph was unjustly incarcerated, You were still with him, and His trust in You did not wane. And Your blessing on everything he did also did not diminish. Which was noticed. 

O Father, may Your blessing be on what my hands do, also, that others will see my trust in You, and realize how good You are. Send out all of Your children, Father, to tell everyone about Your love. Only love can counter the hatred that has been so prevalent lately in our societies. Open their ears and hearts to receive Your love, and their minds to understand Your ways for their own good. 

My Father, please help every living person have the opportunity to seek You, and to accept and receive Your gracious and generous gift. Let them all have a clear choice, and draw all of Your embryonic children to the birth. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!