Joseph is unjustly treated. An innocent man is put in prison. He had refused to have sex with Potipher’s wife and she had claimed rape. Joseph still believed that God was with him. Joseph learned from his harsh experiences – the pit and the prison. He comes out a better person, not a bitter person. Joseph was open to learn. When he went down he would come up again.

1 – There’s comfort in the most unlikely place (vs. 21)

God showed Joseph kindness when in prison. See Isaiah 63:7. People may not have been kind to you but God will. Joseph had been spoiled as a boy and had not experienced much kindness. Although unjustly treated, he experiences the kindness of God, in prison! Joseph is not negative or cynical. This experience stimulates his faith in God. Joseph is out to prove God for himself.

• Joseph must prove God as an individual – Can you prove God for yourself or do you have a hand-me-down faith? You can seek God in the most unlikely places.
  
• Joseph experienced God in depth – God is with Joseph. Joseph knows it and so does everyone else! God will never leave you nor forsake you, even when your back is to the wall and things seem bad. Joseph’s pit and prison experience helped him experience God in depth.
  

2 – There’s promotion from the most unlikely people (vs. 22-23)

God had a ministry for Joseph in prison. Joseph was not there by choice but he made the most of it. Life had handed him a lemon but he was not bitter. It is God who promotes people. In prison Joseph saw the stars and not the bars. Joseph did not moan and groan. He saw it as an opportunity to learn. Promotion involves starting from the bottom.

• It demands humility – Joseph needed to go low before he could go high. Jesus is an example of this.
  
• Go slow, don’t blow, keep low – Joseph was learning things that were not in his psyche. Joseph had learned much about himself. He has humbled himself under the mighty hand of God. God has his hand on the thermostat.
  
• It requires stick-ability – Joseph must persevere. He must show that he is worthy of promotion. Joseph cannot turn the clock back but he can keep up with God now.
  

3 – There’s a sovereign God in all and over all

See Proverbs 21:1. Joseph did not manipulate the situation or seek to justify himself. He believes God is in control. If it is true of Joseph then it is true of you. Do you believe God is in control? Then trust in him. He will promote you when He is ready and it is THEN that you are ready. Things happen that you don’t know the reason why and you may never know the reason why. You don’t need to know why if you know God is showing you kindness in the midst and others can bear witness to it also.

Categories: Genesis