Last week, we left Joseph in prison, taken there unjustly by his master, Potiphar. Even there, Scripture tells us that . . .
. . . the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. Genesis 39:21
Like Potiphar, the prison guard sees a difference in this man.
So, the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison. 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. Genesis 39:22-23
We can only conjecture on what Joseph’s duties might include. Maybe organize the men into work groups? Some serve the food? Assign duties like scrubbing floors or cleaning toilet areas? (Not like our toilets, of course.) Keep fights at bay? Organize brief walks?
Whatever Joseph does, it works well and the warden trusts Joseph completely. Even in the dark days of prison confinement, Joseph is learning leadership skills. Joseph takes lemons and makes lemonade!
More growth takes place when the king’s cupbearer and the king’s baker are thrown in prison.
When Joseph came to meet them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. So he asked, “Why are your faces so sad today?”
“We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Genesis 40:6-8
Then, and still today, dreams are very important to those in mid-eastern cultures. Joseph realizes anew the ability to interpret dreams that the Lord has given him.
Joseph said them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.” Gensis 40:8
The chief cupbearer goes first.
“In my dream, I saw a vine in front of me, and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. Pharoah’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in his hand.” Genesis 40:9-11
Joseph interprets the dream.
“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.” Genesis 40:12-13
The cupbearer is so pleased, but he stops listening at this point. He fails to hear Joseph when he asks the cupbearer to put in a good word for him to the Pharaoh.
Next comes the baker’s dream interpretation. Unfortunately, he doesn’t fare so well when Joseph interprets his dream.
“Within three days Pharoah will lift off your head and hang you on a tree, and the birds will eat away your flesh.” Genesis 40:19
Yikes, not such good news for the baker. Joseph calls it as God reveals it and both dreams accurately come true.
We, like Joseph, can grow in wisdom even in the throes of hard times. Hope is growing in Joseph, but he has another character lesson to learn—perseverance.
. . . we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4
May you find strength in the Lord today in whatever phase you find yourself. Character-building is hard work.
~ Joyce ~