Sold But Sent – Joseph’s Lessons From Prison

Feature 2 –February 2019 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Sold But Sent
Joseph’s Lessons From Prison

The worldly man usually seeks to learn lessons from prison because he does not want to return to the same place. For many, the error of one’s ways landed him or her behind bars, and the goal is then to avoid repeating a criminal past. The time to be served is meant to be commensurate with, or corresponding to, the crime committed, giving a prisoner plenty of time to contemplate, learn valuable lessons and make a positive change. Of course, the most positive change would be to commit one’s life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Although in jail, there are some who are innocent. In certain places individuals are imprisoned for righteous behavior. No matter the reason, God allows the circumstances of one’s imprisonment to fulfill His purposes, but what can be learned in these situations? Even for this, Scripture has many valuable lessons.

Providence
The book of Esther does not mention the word “God,” but any careful reader of the Scriptures can see His providence throughout all ten chapters. A climatic verse was stated by Mordecai when he spoke to his niece about the imminent doom of the Jews: “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Est. 4:14 NKJV). God was indeed working behind the scenes. He was in complete control then as He is now, accomplishing His will – this is providence.

The providence of God was definitely at work in Joseph’s life, too. Unlike the book of Esther, we have the privilege to see the name of God punctuated throughout the entire life of Joseph. However, he had to learn about the providential ways of God. Joseph was loved by his father and hated by his brothers (Gen. 37:3-4). He was given a coat of many colors as evidence of the father’s love. The dreams that he told his brothers gave rise to more hatred. The favoritism of his father and the hatred by his brothers cannot be justified, but God allowed them. The providence of God was at work; and Joseph landed in a pit. “And Reuben said to them, ‘Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him’” (v.22). God was working behind the scenes to send Joseph into Egypt. Joseph was to go from the pit to Potiphar’s house, to prison, to the palace and to the seat of power as governor of Egypt. However, in the regular circumstances of Joseph’s life, he was sold to the Ishmaelites for 20 pieces of silver.

Divine providence caused Potiphar to buy Joseph. Potiphar, captain of the guard, was an officer of Pharaoh. Joseph was diligent and faithful, even in difficult circumstances. He must have seen God working in his life, and he did not complain. Potiphar certainly saw that the LORD was with Joseph and committed all that he had into Joseph’s hand (39:4-6). However, this young man was not to remain in the house. Potiphar’s wife tried repeatedly to seduce him; her sinful behavior and Joseph’s righteous reaction landed him in prison (vv.19-20). His response to the seduction included a godly answer and action (vv.8-13). “Flee youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Tim. 2:22).

Yes, Joseph was in prison for doing what was right, but he was precisely in the providence of God. “Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison” (Gen. 39:20). Joseph had the proper perspective in prison; he realized that God had placed him there.

Perspective
It would have been easy for Joseph to complain. Christians are reminded about their perspectives on all matters in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Instead of self-pity, we see Joseph’s character shined as his work ethic continued. He was responsible with the small tasks that he was given. “A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men” (Prov. 18:16). The prison keeper noticed Joseph right away and unknowingly acted in the same way as Potiphar, “The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper” (Gen. 39:23). Joseph’s superb administrative skills were being used again, as they were in Potiphar’s house. All believers can learn an important lesson from Joseph’s attitude in the prison: Difficult circumstances should not stop our productivity for the Lord, especially with the gifts and talents that He has given us!

Not only was Joseph productive in prison, he was also joyful. The proper perspective brings joy even when one cannot be happy. Joy comes from the Lord; in fact, “The joy of the LORD is your strength” (Neh. 8:10). It was not by chance that Joseph ended up in the same prison as the chief butler and the chief baker; it was providence. The LORD wanted Joseph to meet them. Joseph’s joy was seen in his attitude, but he realized where he was – he called the place a “dungeon” (Gen. 40:15). Having a joyful attitude, he noticed their sullen countenances and then interpreted their dreams. Again, Joseph was using to the fullest extent, while in the dungeon, all that God had given him. He used the unique gift of the interpretation of dreams given to him and other Old Testament saints by God, and he used his administrative talents. This young man had a great work ethic and a cheerful attitude. Joseph was confined, but his abilities were not. The Lord may allow a difficult circumstance for a believer, but what He has given us is not confined; in fact, He expects us to use those abilities to His glory while we await our release from “prison.”

Patience
The Lord delights to teach us patience for our own good. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (Jas. 1:2-4). It took the chief butler two full years after his release before he remembered Joseph. The Lord was teaching Joseph a lot of patience, which we can easily see when we consider that he was 17 years old when he had difficulties with his brothers (Gen. 37:2) and he was 30 years old when he was made governor of Egypt (41:46). Another seven years of plenty and at least a year of famine must be added to Joseph’s years before he began to see his family again, in the various contexts in which he dealt with them.

Joseph may have struggled through his years of prison. Scripture is silent as to these details, but the fact that Joseph wanted the chief butler to remember him gives us an indication that he wanted his freedom. He stated, “But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews, and also I have done nothing here that they should put me in the dungeon” (40:14-15). Despite Joseph’s good attitude, the pressures of his circumstance wore on him. He was outside of the land promised to the descendents of his grandfather, away from his family and in prison. As we behave sometimes, Joseph looked to the butler and to Pharaoh for deliverance. We can empathize. Yet, with Joseph and with us, God is patient as He teaches patience. He wants us to be perfect, or complete. He was still with Joseph as he languished in prison, and He is with us as we suffer through our difficult times!

Power And Position
Joseph’s pit led to Potiphar’s house. Potiphar’s house led him to prison. Prison led him to the power of the governor’s office and put him in the position to save his family and the world. Joseph could never have understood this without experiencing it. It is the same with us. After two full years, God allowed the butler to remember Joseph through the circumstances of Pharaoh’s dream (Gen. 41:9-13). God was still working; He had not forgotten Joseph. He was working out His purposes. But when did Joseph see it? When did Joseph know that God was working on his behalf? We have the wonderful statements that he made to his brothers in Genesis 45:5-8: “God sent me before you to preserve life ... And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance ... So now it was not you who sent me here, but God.” Joseph was able to see what God was doing as he looked back on his plight. Perhaps he saw some of what God was doing as he went through each phase of his struggle, but he could clearly understand the whole thing from the governor’s house where he was used to save lives. We can look back too and state confidently, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). In the brothers’ final attempt to secure their lives after their father’s death, Joseph could say to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Gen. 50:19-20). Joseph had learned many lessons from prison. His brothers sold him, but God had sent him to Egypt.

Conclusion
God has graciously given the believers of today the full canon of Scripture. Indeed, we are truly blessed. We can read about Joseph’s life and learn many lessons from his imprisonment, learning about God’s providence and sovereignty in our lives for His purpose and glory. Then, we can have the proper perspective and learn to be patient as we wait for Him to deliver us. Finally, when He places us in some position of opportunity, we can be exercised to act for him the way Joseph did. “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4).

By Albert Stuart