Joseph in Prison
Joseph And Potiphar -Genesis 39:1-23
Joseph, once the favorite son of his father,
became a common slave.
Joseph did nothing to deserve the cruel consequences of his brother’s jealousy.
Being a Christian and serving the Lord means God will watch over us and work all things together for good in our lives.
Potiphar was the captain of the guard for Pharaoh
As Potiphar’s slave, Joseph was hardworking and honest.
He did not allow a trace of bitterness and anger to affect his passion for service.
The Lord was with Joseph.
God gave Joseph passion in his difficult circumstances and caused his hard work to be prosperous.
As one of Potiphar’s best workers, Joseph became a witness of God to his master’.
Because the Lord blessed and prospered Joseph, his master put him in charge of the house.
Joseph was over all of the other servants, the crops, the house, and all of Potiphar’s possessions.
God blessed all of Potiphar’s house because of Joseph.
The Lord turned Joseph’s difficult time into a prosperous time.
He became second in command over Potiphar’s house.
Joseph was handsome, and Potiphar’s wife was attracted to him.
She wanted Joseph to commit adultery with her, but Joseph knew this was a great sin before God.
Joseph also knew it was wrong to take advantage of the trust Potiphar had in him.
Daily, she tried to tempt him, but he would not even be with her; he avoided all opportunities to sin.
Joseph was faithful to the Lord
One day when Potiphar’s wife found Joseph alone, she tried to tempt him again.
He immediately ran away.
He did not fight her or argue with her.
He did not think that he was strong enough to resist temptation.
Joseph ran away so quickly, he even left his robe behind because Potiphar’s wife had grabbed it.
Potiphar’s wife—was angry—and got Joseph in trouble by creating a false story:
Joseph, she said, had tried to force her to sin with him.
Joseph was blamed for the very sin he tried to run away from!
Joseph was going through a very difficult time, and it gets worse.
Joseph was put in prison.
Joseph chose to do what was right in a difficult time, and his circumstances got worse.
As Joseph remained faithful and patient, God, once more, prospered him.
Soon, he was in charge of all of the other prisoners.
He became a great witness to the Lord.
God used Joseph even during this difficult time.
God was with Joseph in the pit,
in Potiphar’s house, and
in prison!
He never left Joseph, even though sometimes Joseph had hard times that were not even his fault.
TODAY’S LESSON
Joseph in Prison Genesis 40:1-41:57
In our last lesson, the false accusations of Potiphar’s wife had put Joseph in prison. God was faithful to Joseph, even in this difficult time, and the prison keeper put Joseph in charge of the other prisoners. We do not know how long Joseph remained in prison. He was seventeen years old when he was sent down into the land of Egypt and thirty years old when he was summoned before Pharaoh. He must have spent thirteen years total in Potiphar's house and in prison.
In our own understanding, it may have seemed BAD for a bright young man to spend such a long time in servitude and in prison.
In God's planning, however, Joseph’s time in prison was not a waste at all; rather, it was necessary preparation for the great work God had in store for him.
As God was always with Joseph, God is always with us;
He will never leave us or forsake us.
We cannot get away from God even if we try; He is always with us.
He is there when it feels like we are all alone or feels like we are locked up in prison.
Not only is God with us, but everything in our life are working together for good (Romans 8:28).
1 Sometime later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. 2 Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer, and the chief baker, 3 and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them. After they had been in custody for some time, 5 each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 6 When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?” 8 “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.” 9 So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream, I saw a vine in front of me, 10 and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and put the cup in his hand.” 12 “This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days. 13 Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. 14 But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. 15 I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.” 16 When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, “I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets of bread.[fn] 17 In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.” 18 “This is what it means,” Joseph said. “The three baskets are three days. 19 Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and impale your body on a pole. And the birds will eat away your flesh.” 20 Now the third day was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials: 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand— 22 but he impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation.
23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.
Although Joseph probably spent several years in prison, only one event is recorded--probably, because it led to Joseph eventually being freed from prison.
The Pharaoh’s butler and baker were thrown into the prison where Joseph was.
The butler was the overseer of Pharaoh’s vineyards and wine cellar as well as his cupbearer.
He was responsible to see that all drinks served to the King were both safe and of the best quality.
Likewise, the baker was responsible for the food served to the King.
The butler and the baker had somehow offended Pharaoh and were thrown into the same prison as Joseph.
It does not say what their crimes were, but the baker lost his head over the matter.
It’s believed that they were thrown in jail while an investigation was made to uncover the guilty party.
Both men were placed in Joseph’s care.
One night, they each had dreams that really troubled them.
The Egyptians always believed that dreams were symbolic of something that would happen.
Both men had dreams concerning the positions they held for Pharaoh. Neither knew whether the dreams had a good or bad meaning.
When Joseph came to check on them in the morning, they were upset. When Joseph questioned their sad appearance, they told him of their dreams and confusion.
Joseph informed them that the interpretations of dreams belong to God.
He asked them to tell him their dreams.
The chief butler reported his dream and received Joseph’s interpretation. In his dream, there was a vine with three branches. As he dreamed, he observed the branches budding, blossoming, and finally bearing luscious bunches of grapes. The grapes were immediately ready for plucking, so the butler dreamed that he picked them and then pressed the grape juice from them into Pharaoh’s cup, which had mysteriously appeared into his hand.
Joseph told him that the three branches represented three days, and this meant that in three days he would be released from prison and restored to his former office.
The butler was happy at that.
Joseph asked him to remember him before Pharaoh, for he was kidnapped and was innocent.
The baker hearing the favorable report given to the butler told Joseph about his dream.
In his dream, he was carrying baskets of baked goods on his head to Pharaoh. Birds came and ate the baked goods out of the baskets.
However, the interpretation Joseph received was entirely different than that of the butler.
The three baskets again represented three days, but instead of being reinstated at that time, his very head would be removed from his body and his body hung on a tree. Instead of the birds eating Pharaoh’s bread, they would be eating his flesh.
The interpretations had come to pass exactly as Joseph had said.
Joseph's hope of being released, but the Bible says the butler forgot him.
Did God did not forget him?
Pharaoh’s Dreams Gen.41:1-57
1 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, 2 when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. 3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. 4 And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. 5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. 6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind. 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream. 8 In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him. 9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 12 Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. 13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.”
So, Joseph continued in the prison for two more years.
We know that he kept his faith in God.
God does not forget us; He has a plan in store for our lives.
Pharaoh had two dreams that troubled him greatly, especially since none of Pharaoh’s wise men or magicians could interpret the dream.
He dreamed that seven plump healthy cows were standing half-submerged in the water and then came out of the water for pasture. Seven ugly thin cows came up and devoured the seven fat cows.
The second dream had a similar meaning. Seven plump ears of corn on a single stalk were swallowed up by seven thin and scorched ears of corn that sprouted after them.
It was then that the chief butler finally remembered Joseph. Knowing Joseph's ability to interpret dreams, he told Pharaoh the two-year-old story about his time in prison when Pharaoh had been angry with him and the baker; he told him of the troubling dreams both he and the butler had. He explained that “Joseph” interpreted the dreams; everything he said came to pass.
God's master plan is unfolding. If Joseph had been released from prison when the butler was released, Pharaoh would not have yet had this dream.
14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh. 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream, I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds. 19 After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. 20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. 21 But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up. 22 “In my dream I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23 After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.”
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine. 28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon. 33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.” 37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” Joseph in Charge of Egypt. 41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt. 44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word, no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”
Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and Joseph was taken out of jail and made presentable before Pharaoh.
As Joseph stood before the King, he maintained that same attitude of dependence on God,
declaring that it was not him, but God who would give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
Pharaoh then told his dreams to Joseph; and without hesitation, he interpreted the dreams for Pharaoh, adding to his interpretation the advice that he should appoint officers and conserve the plenty of the first seven years in order to supply the need for the next seven.
After Joseph interpreted the dreams and advised the Pharaoh, the Pharaoh recognized that Joseph was a man who had the Spirit of God (a man who spoke under God’s direction).
He appointed Joseph to a great position of authority. He would be first in the kingdom. Only Pharaoh was more powerful.
The appointment of power was then followed by Pharaoh placing on the hand of Joseph his own signet ring, giving him fine linen clothing, placing a gold chain around his neck, and permitting him to ride in the second chariot.
God can certainly change everything for us in an instant.
God had not forgotten His faithful servant Joseph. He had an incredible plan for his life.
45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt. 46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city, he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure. 50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” 52 The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” 53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was a famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt, there was food. 55 When all of Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.” 56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. 57 And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph because the famine was severe everywhere.
Pharaoh then gave Joseph the name “Zaphenath-paneah.” He gave Joseph a wife, “Asenath,”
who was the daughter of an Egyptian priest in the land of On
(the “city of the sun” and the great educational center of Egypt).
Joseph was thirty years old at this time and his position gave him the opportunity to travel all over Egypt.
Pharaoh’s dreams were coming to pass; the land was producing abundant crops for seven years, and Joseph put them into storage in the Egyptian cities.
Joseph had two sons which he gave Hebrew names, the first he named Manaseh, which means "forget,"
because God had made him forget the misery of his separation from his family.
The second he named Ephraim, which means "fruitful," because God had made him fruitful in the land of Egypt.
Joseph's wisdom was from the Lord; the seven good years were indeed followed by the seven years of famine.
Not only did the Egyptians come and buy grain, but people from all over the land came to buy grain.
As God had a special plan for Joseph, so He has a special plan for our lives.
Sometimes our problems seem huge, and we can lose sight of God’s promise to work out things in our lives for good. We need to remember that God is still in control.
PRAYER
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