Genesis 39: 20-23
And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.
After serving for Potiphar for some time in a God glorifying way, Joseph was unjustly thrown into jail under a false accusation and without a trial by a jury of his peers. Joseph got a bum rap and found himself in prison with no lawyer or hope of release.
BUT the Bible says “the Lord was with him”—those are glorious words! He who has promised never to leave or forsake me was with Joseph even in prison. I need to know that. I need to be reminded that the Lord will be with me in prison regardless of whether I am guilty or innocent. His presence with me is not conditional or geographically limited.
BUT there is more: The Lord showed Joseph steadfast love. In prison, and far from family and friends, Joseph experienced the love of God.
BUT not just love, the Lord gave Joseph favor in the eyes of the prison guards. The Sovereign God of the universe intervened in an individual manner, on behalf of Joseph, such that, the man in charge of the prison noticed Joseph and thought well of him. Who gave him that thought? Where did that trust come from? Who motivated him to think this way? Genesis 39:21 clearly indicated that it was the Lord who was behind all this on behalf of Joseph. Then we think “Wow! Could God do all that?”
BUT there is more: To top it all off, look at the end of verse 23: the Bible says that whatever Joseph did, the Lord made it succeed. Now that is one powerful phrase. Joseph was so in tune with what God was doing and God was so using Joseph that whatever Joseph did it was something that the Lord made successful.
Now remember all this is to the glory of God because Joseph is not getting richer in prison; his lifestyle is not changing; his bank account is not growing larger and Joseph, at this point, has no idea why he has been brought to Egypt and thrown in jail.
BUT remember in the end it was not about Joseph (or me); it was, is and will always be about the Lord and His glory!
