JOSEPH: A SLAVE WHO BECAME A PRISONER

When he arrived in Egypt and was purchased by Potiphar, Joseph's circumstances
were less than ideal. He was still a slave, although he lived and worked in a nicer
environment. The Scriptures tell us that "The Lord was with Loseph and he prospered"
(Gen. 39:2). Now, slaves own nothing! How did he prosper? As we read further in
Scripture, it becomes clear that Joseph's was not a prosperity of wealth or possessions,
but rather a prosperity of effort! Potiphar, who did not know God, saw that God blessed
Joseph's work.
Unfortunately Joseph's career was headed for a nose dive! He encountered a bit of a
sexual harassment, as we call it today. Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him. He told her,
"How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" (Gen. 39:9). When
she accused Joseph of attempted rape, he was thrown into prison. Yet he had been obedient
to God! What happened? Did God let Joseph down?
No. God used every turn of events for kingdom purposes! Joseph hit bottom again.
But he did not stay there. God was with him, working strategically for Joseph's good, in
spite of the accusations of Potiphar's wife.
Joseph's career was on the rise again not just because of his abilities, but because of
God's involvement in his life. God continued to bless Joseph's work, and it affected his
life in prison. Finally, God provided him the opportunity to interpret the dreams of two prisoners. Joseph did so, giving God full credit. He said to them. "Do not interpretations
belong to God?" 9Gen. 40:8).
Because both dreams came true as he had predicted. Joseph was asked to interpret
the pharaoh's dream. Pharaoh's dream. Pharaoh told 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" (Gen. 41:15).

The world's agenda is our attempt to live and work apart from the authority of God.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of
the Father is not in him. For everything in the world, the cravings of sinful man, the lust
of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does comes not from the Father but from
the world (1 John 2:15-16).

"While Joseph was there in prison the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and
granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge
of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.
The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the Lord was
with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did (Gen. 39:20-23).