It’s interesting that after Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, we took a detour last week with the story of Judah and Tamar.  This week we’re back on track with the adventures of Joseph following his being sold in Ishmaelite slavery.  Look at the wording in verse one of Chapter 39, “Joseph had been taken down into Egypt”…here we go again, friends, with that word “down”!  It usually means life has taken a turn and most of the time its not for the best, but look also at the wording in verse 2, “the Lord was with Joseph and he prospered”.  That phrase makes all the difference.

I asked if you would find at least four provisions by the Lord in Joseph’s journey.  Here are my suggestions:

1.      Provision Number One:  From the very beginning Potiphar, the captain of the guard, one of Pharoah’s officials in Egypt, bought Joseph from the Ishmaelites.  First impressions make all the difference, friends, and I think Joseph’s first impression was a good one.  We never read where Joseph is complaining or feels sorry for himself.  He appears to take life one day at a time and looks for opportunity to show himself a good and faithful worker.

2.    Provision Number Two:  Potiphar takes Joseph into his home.  Not living as an ordinary servant, Joseph is given the chance to prove himself and this he does.  Joseph becomes Potiphar’s assistant and is now in charge of all Potiphar’s household and belongings.  God granted Joseph favor to handle Potiphar’s possessions and both men prospered.  Potiphar, in turn, worried about nothing (scripture tells us) but what he was going to eat.

3.    Although all the blessings and provisions are positive to this point, the actions of Potiphar’s wife cause Joseph distress.  She wants him, he denies her advances and she makes up lies about his intentions.  The provision from God?  Provision Number Three:  A way out!  “But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.”  Potiphar becomes insanely angry and put him in prison.  But this prison was where the king’s prisoners were confined.  Maybe better than general population?

4.    Provision Number Four:  Now Joseph finds favor in the eyes of the prison warden.  The warden puts Joseph in charge of all the prisoners.  And once again, “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.”

Isn’t it great to know regardless of what happens to us or what situation we find ourselves, God is always there?  As long as we give our allegiance to our Lord, the Savior of our souls, we can withstand the task at hand and, as a bonus, God will bless us and those whom we serve.

Lord, you are gracious and good.  Help us to have a clearer vision of our duty as a Christian and to stand with the armor of God firmly attached not only to our bodies, but to our souls.  May you be given the honor due your name in everything we say and do.  Thank you, Lord.  Amen.

For next week’s assignment:  Read Chapter 40

As Joseph continues his time in prison working now as the assistant to the warden, he is put in charge of two of the king’s prisoners, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.  We are not given the exact reasoning why these men are in prison, but they are in confinement.  They each have a dream and need interpretation of these visions. 

1.      Explain the cupbearer and the baker’s dreams. 

2.    What prerequisite did Joseph give before interpreting the dreams?

3.    What was the interpretation of each dream?

4.    Why do you think Joseph is given this opportunity to interpret dreams?