Back to Joseph, no longer a boy with a varicolored coat, but a man in jail in Egypt!--put there by the brothers who were tired of his superior attitude.
Now, an official of Pharaoh, the captain of the Pharaoh's guard by the name of Potiphar, bought Joseph from the Ishmaelites who bought him from his brothers back in Canaan.
Ancient Egypt was a land of contrasts. (Study--) "People were either rich beyond measure or poverty stricken. There wasn't much middle ground. Joseph found himself serving Potiphar, an extremely rich officer in Pharaoh's service. Rich families like Potiphar's had elaborate homes two or three stories tall with beautiful gardens and balconies. They enjoyed live entertainment at home so they chose delicious fruit from expensive bowls. They surrounded themselves with alabaster vessels, paintings, beautiful rugs, and hand-carved chairs. Dinner was served on golden tableware, and the rooms were lighted with gold lampstands. Servants, like Joseph, worked on the first floor, while family occupied the upper stories.
Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while, Potiphar's wife took notice of Joseph and invited him to bed with her. But he refused, "With me in charge, my master does not concern himself with anything in the houses; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" Day after day, Joseph refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.
But one day, she outwitted him as none of the servants were there and she caught his cloak and held on tightly. Again, she offered herself, but he wriggled out of his cloak and ran out of the house. She called in the servants and claimed Joseph himself had taken off his cloak when she screamed for help during Joseph's supposed attempt to rape her. And she told the same story to Potiphar, her husband.
Potiphar burned with anger upon hearing the story, saying, "This is how your slave treats me?" And Joseph's master took him and put him in prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him kindness and favor with the prison warden. Joseph was put in charge of the others being held there, because the Lord gave Joseph success.
Two men, the king's cup-bearer and baker, offended the king and were imprisoned. Each of them had a dream on the same night with different meanings and Joseph agreed to listen, as he knew God would interpret their dreams as interpretations belonged to God in Joseph's view.
The cupbearer told Joseph his dream. "I saw a vine in front of me, and on the vine were three branches. When they budded, it quickly blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. 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."
"This is what it means," Joseph said. "The three branches are three days. 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. But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness, mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. For 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."
The baker, too, told his dream to Joseph, " On my head were three baskets of bread. 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."
"This is what it means," Joseph said. "The three baskets are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat away your flesh."
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; He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, but he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had said. However, the chief cupbearer forgot and did not remember to speak of Joseph to the Pharaoh.
Study/ When the subject of dreams came up, Joseph focused everyone's attention on God. Rather than using the situation to make himself look good, he turned it into a powerful witness for the Lord. Also, when Pharaoh's cupbearer was freed from prison, he forgot about putting in a word for Joseph, even through he had Joseph to thank for his freedom. It was two full years before Joseph had another opportunity to be freed. Yet Joseph's faith was deep, and he would be ready when the next chance came. When we feel passed by, overlooked, or forgotten, we shouldn't be surprised that people are often ungrateful. In similar situations, trust God as Joseph did. More opportunities may be waiting.
Hard to do, but I think good advice. If I don't get there right away--and still feel passed by-- I call on the Holy Spirit who reminds me to trust God for another opportunity, and peace returns!
All for you,
Jo INMN
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