Bible Study Online Article
I find it very interesting when it comes to the path that Joseph had been forced to take. If we were to look at this path from a natural perception, we could easily think that Joseph had been treated unfairly, being that he was a person that stayed true to the high standard that had been placed on him by the Lord. Although he was still a boy when he was sold into slavery at the age of seventeen, we can see how great of a man that Joseph was growing into. With his gifts that included leadership, loyalty and management; we could easily become frustrated at the way that his life was turning out to be. I must admit, that these are the kind of accounts that could have a person definitely scratching their head in total astonishment when it comes to how the Lord treats his treasures. But on the other hand, these are the type of accounts that can teach you how to look at things beyond the limits of our natural perception -- after all, that's were the mysteries can be found. Let's think about it for a moment, while we do a quick recap on the events that Joseph had to endure so far. First, he's removed from his household; in which his responsibilities dealt with keeping an eye on his brothers while he dreamt of being a ruler of some sort one day in his life. Being that Joseph's removal, deals with him being forcibly sold into slavery. This ordeal would provide him with a short season of mental suffering, being that he doesn't know what fate he will fall victim to. Be as it may, Joseph survives this season, for he now ends up in the house of Potiphar, the captain of guard in Pharaoh's court. God is still with Joseph and because of this - a little time passes and Joseph is promoted to being the overseer of Potiphar's entire household. This means that the dream interpreter is now over everything that belongs to Potiphar -- assets, servants, budget, etc. Although he is far away from home and being held against his will, Joseph now finds himself with more responsibility and authority than he had while he was at home watching over his brothers and daydreaming. Next, Potiphar's wife framed and lied on Joseph, by telling her husband that the dream interpreter was trying to defile and take advantage of her. Although Potiphar didn't believed his wife, the fact that Joseph was still a slave in spite of his position that he held within the household; Potiphar had no choice but to throw Joseph in prison - for he couldn't allow a slave to ruin the reputation of his wife, while having himself shamed in the process as well. Now once again, Joseph has a moment of mental suffering, for he is now being sent to the king's prison for a crime that he did not commit. But as soon as he enters into the prison, we find that God is still with him and the warden over that prison promotes Joseph to be overseer when it comes to the prisoners. So this means that Joseph is now in charge over all the prisoners, within the king's prison. Being that the prison would be much larger, than Potiphar's household; personally -- I believe that this is also a larger promotion than the one Joseph had while serving in Potiphar's household, even though he now finds himself in a place that has an environment that promotes distress and affliction. Some time would go by and the prison would now find itself with two additional prisoners: "Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cup-bearer and the chief baker, and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them." (Genesis 40: 2-4) Keep in mind that the captain of the guard is Potiphar. This means, that these two royal offenders are now in his custody, in which Potiphar would assign them to the king's prison and placed them under the charge of Joseph. Some teachers and leaders tend to make more of the last statement in the passage we just read: "The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them." By suggesting that Potiphar was softening his stance towards Joseph? Personally, I disagree with that assessment, being that Potiphar stance was as soft as it was going to be, since the very beginning of Joseph's ordeal with Potiphar's wife. For I believe that Potiphar would have had the dream interpreter killed if he did not believe him over his wife. Also keep in mind, that the chief cup-bearer and the chief baker would have been automatically charged under Joseph anyway, being that he was the overseer to all the prisoners. There's one thing that we must not forget when it comes to God, and that thing would be - He always has a plan. Understand this, we must not make the mistake of thinking that God has abandon us, because we don't recognize the path that He decides to place us on.
Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty **YOUR CURRENT SERIES WOULD BE HERE** 69) Joseph the Interpreter of Dreams 71) Joseph & The Pit of Darkness 72) Jacob the Father of Sorrow 73) The Importance of Judah's History 75) The Reaping Season of Judah 76) Tamar's Revenge 78) Joseph the Servant of Favor 79) Potiphar's Wife Lies on Joseph 81) <-CURRENT PAGE-> 82) The Dreaming Cupbearer & Baker 84) Joseph's Dark Dreams Interpretation 85) Joseph the Overseer of Egypt  CrossDaily.com Web Search where you can VOTE FOR THIS SITE & other great ones. Christian search engine, directory & voting index. You'll find Bible, chat, churches, jobs, music, reviews, software, theology, & more. See the best sites!
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