Genesis 40

The outstanding feature of Joseph’s life was faithful loyalty to God under all circumstances.  He carried his convictions with him and lived them out.  The well-known phrase, “When in Rome do as Rome does,” has brought infinite trouble upon those who have followed its guidance.  Joseph never compromised his position and as a consequence he never lost spiritual power or weakened his witness for God.  Someone has said that true independence is to act in the crowd as one thinks in solitude.  (From Wm. H Griffith Thomas)

Consider this evaluation in light of today’s passage.

·        v1-4: Joseph continues to serve, even in prison.  He is blessed and honored because God is with him (39:21-23).  We may conclude that because our lives are difficult that God does not favor us.  But this is contrary to the life of our Lord and the live of every saint recorded in Scripture.  Our trials are in fact the place where God’s grace shines brightest.

·        v5-19: Joseph continues to be God’s means of revealing truth.  Two very important prisoners are put in Joseph’s charge.  Because of his faithful service he is in a position to explain their dreams.  As we will see, this is God’s sovereign plan to put Joseph in line for the eventual fulfillment of his own God-ordained path of good works (Eph. 2:10).

·        v20-23: Joseph continues to wait.  Joseph did what made sense, asking the butler to plead his case before Pharaoh.  But it was not God’s time or plan and Joseph continued to wait and serve in prison for another two years.

Why do we have such sufferings?  We may think it is because of our sin, and sometimes that is true (1 Cor. 11:29-31).  But that was certainly not why Joseph languished in prison for something he did not do.  Suffering is for our good, to make us like Christ (1 Peter 1:6-7).  And suffering provides us opportunities to testify of Christ, opportunities that we would not otherwise have.  In the end, as with all things in our lives, suffering provides an opportunity to glorify God.  Paul desired nothing more or less than that God would be magnified in his body, whether by life or by death (Phil. 1:20).

Perhaps a better question is, “How do I remain faithful in suffering?”  Hear God’s word from 2 Cor. 4:16-18:

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸ while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Ultimately we must have a proper focus that comes from abandonment to God.  What must be supreme for us are the things of God and a commitment to His time and direction for our lives.  Joseph had this.  Do I?  Do you?