Freedom in prison

From the minute Joseph entered Potiphar’s house as a slave, the Bible says that ‘The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered.’ (Genesis 38:2)  Joseph served faithfully and well and everyone could see that the Lord was blessing him and Potiphar.  Potiphar trusted Joseph with everything in his household and Joseph was learning valuable life skills for God’s destiny for his life. 

God’s plan was that Joseph would be second in the land of Egypt, with only Pharaoh over him. He would need to understand, amongst many things, about Egyptian life and culture which I am sure he knew little about.  He would need to know how to run a nation and he started off by learning to run a household.  What the devil had meant for harm, God was using for good. 

The devil then ‘attacked’ Joseph again using Mrs Potiphar.  The devil hoped he would either give in to the sexual temptation and be discredited or be wrongly accused.  He resisted the temptation but Mrs Potiphar wrongly accused him and he was thrown into prison for something he had not done.

We do not know if Potiphar asked Joseph for his side of the story when his wife accused him. Either way he believed his wife.  Remember there are always two sides to a story and always find out the other side before making your mind up.

Twice now Joseph was at the mercy of other people and ended up in less than desirable circumstances.  The first time he went from being a favoured son to being a slave and then he went from being a favoured slave to being a prisoner.  Both times the devil tried to steal his destiny and his favour but no one can steal God’s favour from your life unless you let them.  Again Joseph could have been embittered, angry and resentful and again he rose above his circumstances and feelings and served where he was.  ‘But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favour in the eyes of the prison warder.  So the warder put Joseph is charge of all those held in the prison and he was made responsible for all that was done there.  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. (Genesis 39: 20 -23)

God did not place Joseph in prison to teach him the character and life skills needed to become second in Egypt but God used the circumstances to teach him many valuable lessons.  God may not have instigated your circumstances; they may be from the devil or from men’s evil plans but God will use everything to do you good if you let him.  There is nothing he cannot turn around and God is with you and God’s favour is on you. 

Joseph may have been in prison but he was not a prisoner – he was a child of God on whom God’s favour rested.  Joseph did not let the circumstances imprison him to other’s people’s plans.  He walked free in the favour of God in prison and God blessed him and all those around him. 

Today do not be a prisoner of past or present circumstances and what other people or the devil has done to you.  Be free in Jesus.  In the midst of your circumstances walk free as a child of God.  Resist the work of the devil, forgive those who have hurt you, bless them and ‘and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.’ (Romans 8:28)