The Life Of Joseph - From Prison To Prime Minister - Part 5
Misunderstood! Genesis 39 verses 11-23
Suffering and trial is a real problem, and is nearly as old as man himself! Perhaps you are looking for answers and you haven’t found them. Why should hospital wards be full of suffering men, women and children? Why should there be battered wives, abused children, widows, orphans and under-privileged people? Why should millions of people have more than enough to eat whilst many more millions are starving? The Bible does not detail the answer, but it does give us glimpses of truth enabling us to piece together something of the jig-saw of life. In the story of Joseph we have just one piece. In today’s episode we will see Fleshly Sin Resisted, False Story Reported and Faithful Service Rewarded. First we will consider:
Fleshly Sin Resisted: Genesis 39 verses 11-12
This young man was many miles from home, working as a slave in his master’s home, when he was seduced by his master’s wife. He resisted the temptation, despite the fact that he knew she could make life very difficult for him.
Let’s set the scene. Joseph was steward for his master, and as he was busily engaged on his duties, Mrs. Potiphar caught hold of his cloak and again tried to get him to go to bed with her. Joseph knew that there was only one sensible course of action; he took it, as he ran from the house. May I pause to say that this is sometimes the wisest action for us to take, when we are faced with temptation that seems too strong to handle. In the process of running out of the room, however, Joseph left his cloak in her hand. He knew how this wicked, scheming woman, could use the evidence of the coat and the next scene is the:
False Story Reported: Genesis 39 verses 13-20
It didn’t take long for her to put her evil plan into action. As soon as Mrs. Potiphar realised that the young man was not going to commit adultery with her, she called her household servants and, showing them Joseph’s cloak, she said "Look this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house”. When her husband returned to the house she repeated the same lies to him, and we read that “he burned with anger”.
Joseph must have been deeply hurt by the way in which he was misunderstood. He had done what was right yet was accused of doing what was wrong! He had given his master faithful service, yet was being falsely charged with having an affair with his master’s wife. You, too, may be misunderstood. The very people who you thought would believe you, are the ones who are doubting your word and your motives. Be encouraged; we will see how God brought Joseph through this bitter experience, and He will bring you through, too, if you will only trust Him.
It has been said that Captain Potiphar may have suspected his wife of unfaithfulness, because in normal circumstances, a slave in Egypt, caught trying to have an affair with his master’s wife, would not simply end up in prison, but on the gallows! Perhaps he has had his doubts about his wife for some time. We don’t know, but what we do know is that in the providence of God, Joseph ended up in prison rather than in the hands of his executioner. We are also told that the prison to which Joseph was committed was “the place where the king’s prisoners were confined” (verse 20). God’s hand was obviously upon the whole situation, and He was going to bring good out of an apparent tragedy. Nevertheless, we must not picture the prison like some of the modern ones of Western civilisation. It would not be airy, well-lit, and run like a well-ordered establishment. The Hebrew word describing it suggests “a miserable hole”. Two or three little rooms, crowded with prisoners, foul-smelling, and generally dark and wretched. We can well imagine Joseph asking God what he has done to deserve such treatment. He had served his master well, had refused to give in to the temptations of his master’s wife, and had conducted himself in a God-fearing manner.
We do well to recall that when Jesus gathered His disciples around Him in the Upper Room, He told them “in the world you will have trouble” (John 16 verse 33). Perhaps you are suffering because of your witness, and you are wondering if God has deserted you. You feel persecuted and oppressed; even forsaken. Well, remember the words which Jesus added. Having told His followers that they would have trouble in the world He then went on to assure them “Take heart! I have overcome the world”. We have a Lord who really cares for us and is powerful enough to deliver us, when the time is right. God has perfect timing and Joseph was going to experience His deliverance, but he still had a little time to wait. We should try to make sure, under God’s hand, that we learn the lesson of patience as we await for God to work out His perfect plan. Finally we will see…
Faithful Service Rewarded: Genesis 39 verses 21-23.
The next step in the story reveals some improvement in Joseph’s circumstances, because the prison warder recognised that the Lord was with him. He “showed him kindness and granted him favour” (Genesis 39 verse 21). Joseph may not have been released from prison, but at least those who were in charge were more kindly disposed towards him. It may well have been that Joseph didn’t see God’s providential care at the time, for this can often only be traced afterwards. Nevertheless, the fact that it is recorded for us should give encouragement to those who are passing through times of testing and are wondering if God really cares. You may remember the experience of Job, who was tested and tried almost beyond endurance, yet could say “He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23 verse 10). This seems to be the kind of confident trust shown by Joseph, and we would do well to follow his example. Although he must often have been perplexed, even bewildered, there is no record of him complaining to God or questioning His will. It is by us adopting the same uncomplaining attitude that we will ultimately bring glory to God and blessing to us. In return for the trust that the prison warder placed in Joseph and, no doubt, the trust which Joseph had in God, the Lord continued to bless him. We read some remarkable words about that Egyptian prison, for Genesis 39 verse 23 tells us “The warder paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did”. What a testimony to the faithful service of Joseph, and the faithfulness of God. Here is a foreign slave, imprisoned for apparently taking liberties with his master’s wife, yet the prison warder is conscious that his God is with him, prospering him in everything he does. I wonder if our masters are able to give such a word of witness and testimony about us? Do they recognise God’s good hand upon us because of our conscientious work and godly attitude? There are no guarantees that our human masters will reward us in any way, but we can be sure that if we take our stand faithfully for our Lord Jesus Christ, both in our work and home situations, we shall hear Him say “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (Matthew 25 verse 21).
When we stand before our Lord at His Judgement Seat, He will not judge us for our success, but for our faithfulness. How are we likely to measure up on the Judgement Day?
So we leave Joseph in prison, no doubt still wondering when God would fully vindicate him for the righteous stand he had taken, yet beginning to glimpse the over-ruling of God in his life. In the very same prison as Joseph were two of Pharaoh’s former chief officers, one of whom was to play a significant part in his life. Let us never forget that God is still on the throne of the universe. He is Sovereign and through His servant, Paul, He has told us that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8 verse 28). Let us hold fast to that promise.