From Pit To Prison

When Joseph arrives in Egypt he is sold as a slave to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the Egyptian guard. In Genesis chapter 39:2-4, the text says that the Lord was with Joseph and that he was a successful man. It goes on to say that even his master saw that the Lord was with him and that He made all things that Joseph did to prosper in his hand. Joseph soon becomes the head administrator of Potiphar’s house and is in charge of all activities under his roof. The text says that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake and that the blessing extended to all that he had in his house and out in the field.

It seems like just when things are improving in our lives trouble comes along to test us by turning up the heat. Potiphar’s wife begins to cast longing eyes at Joseph who refuses to be seduced. Joseph at one point has to shed his coat and flee from her grasp.  Joseph is falsely accused of forcing himself upon her in her bedroom. Her husband’s anger is aroused against Joseph and he chooses to put him into the king’s prison.

In Genesis 39:21 we read, “And he was there in the prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” Once again Joseph is elevated to the position of an overseer and the text says that the Lord was with him and that all he did prospered. Before moving on in the story, it’s important to see that even though Joseph chose to honor God in the way that he lived, he was not rewarded right away for his good behavior. There is a great spiritual truth here in Joseph’s life; when we choose to do the right thing and live in a way that pleases God we might have to endure hardship for it.  We will see later on in the story how God raises Joseph up from the pit and prison to go on to become second in command of all the land of Egypt.  

While in prison two of pharaoh’s servants, a cupbearer and a baker, are thrown into the part of the prison where Joseph was. They both have dreams one night and ask Joseph to interrupt the meaning of their dreams. The cupbearer told Joseph his dream of three vines full of ripe grapes that he pressed into Pharaoh’s cup and placed in his hand. Joseph’s interpretation was that in three days Pharaoh would restore him back into his role of cupbearer and he would once again put the cup back into Pharaoh’s hand. Joseph asks the cupbearer to remember him when his position is restored and to ask Pharaoh to release him from prison.

The baker, upon hearing the cupbearer’s favorable interpretation, tells Joseph his dream. “There were three white baskets on my head with the uppermost basket overflowing with baked goods for Pharaoh. Unfortunately, birds were eating out of the basket that was on my head.” Joseph explains that in three days, Pharaoh would lift off his head and hang him on a tree where the birds would eat his flesh. Both dream interpretations came to pass exactly as Joseph predicted where the cupbearer was restored and the baker was hanged.

There are a couple of similarities between Joseph and Jesus that can be seen in this story.  Joseph was tempted by Potiphar’s wife and he refuses to succumb to it.  Jesus was also tempted while out in the desert and rebukes Satan each time by using scripture. Joseph was falsely accused of a crime, sentenced and forced to bear the punishment in prison. Our own Lord Jesus was also falsely accused, sentenced, beaten and crucified on a wooden cross for trespasses He did not commit. Later we will see how Joseph is rewarded for his tremendous faith as God places him in a position of authority over all of Egypt.

Two prisoners come to Joseph for help, a wine steward and a baker; one’s life is restored while the other is hanged. When Jesus was dying on the cross there were two thieves on crosses hanging on each side of Him.  One thief asked Jesus to remember him while the other mocked Jesus until he died. God seems to be giving us an illustration of the choice all humanity must one day make. To receive Him, the free gift of salvation or to mock Him, be separated and lost for all eternity. What will be your choice?