Thoughts on the Life of Joseph # 2

In thinking about Joseph, my mind frequently goes to his time in prison in Egypt.

Those who know this Bible story will remember that, after Joseph arrived in Egypt, he was taken to serve in Potiphar's house - captain of the guard of Pharaoh. 

The Bible doesn't tell us how long Joseph was in Potiphar's house. Perhaps a month or two? Perhaps a year or two? We don't know. But sometime later, Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar's wife. Because of that, Joseph was put into a prison in Egypt.

At that point, I cannot help but think what might have gone through Joseph's mind. The Bible says, repeatedly, in Genesis 39 that the Lord was with him. What a comfort that must have been to Joseph. And yet, Joseph was human. While in prison, far away from home, I wonder if Joseph ever had thoughts like these go through his mind... 

What did I do to be here in prison? 

Did I do something wrong, perhaps unknowingly, against God back at home?

Maybe I'm being punished by God for something?

I don't know. Joseph may not have had thoughts like that go through his mind. I know that, if I was in a prison far away from home, thoughts like that would have surely entered my mind. 

There are several things about this time frame in Joseph's life that strike me as being significant.

Once again, we don't know Joseph's exact age when he was put in prison. He was 17 years of age when he went into Potiphar's house, and the Bible says he didn't get out of prison until age 30. This means that, for 13 years (age 17-30), Joseph was in a place he did not want to be, far away from home where he didn't know anyone. 

Many people would call those years the "prime" years of a person's life. And where did God have Joseph during those prime years of his life? 

Primarily, in a prison. To me, it doesn't get much worse than that. 

I've wondered why God had him there in prison. What could Joseph do for God there? 

In thinking about Joseph's situation, several things have inspired me about Joseph. 

For one, I'm certain that Joseph did not continually feel sorry for himself. Although he may have had days of deep depression and grief (which would be only natural considering all he went through), clearly, Joseph did not stay in that constant state. How do I know this? 

The Bible says that both Potiphar and the keeper of the prison could see that the Lord was with Joseph. That says to me that they could see something very different about Joseph's life - something Godly. I believe Joseph served the Lord, even in prison, because Genesis 39:22 says that the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners. God had Joseph in a place of ministry, even in prison. 

I also believe God had another purpose for Joseph being in prison. Joseph got to work with and understand the Egyptians and other prisoners on a daily basis - skills Joseph would need for a later time in his life when the entire world would come to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph. God had a purpose (something Joseph couldn't see then) for Joseph being in prison during those "prime" years of his life.

Beyond that though, there is something that really stands out to me about Joseph being in Egypt, all alone, in Potiphar's house and in prison. 

Joseph had no Bible to read. 

God's Word hadn't even been written yet. Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible (called the Torah in Hebrew), and Moses was born a couple hundred years after Joseph. 

Joseph did not have God's Word to read. You can fact check me on that.

Joseph also had no Godly people to talk to. No fellowship. None. 

All Joseph had was God to talk to. 

Christians know that reading God's Word and being with other Godly people are very important. Both are needful in our walk with God. I have no desire to lessen the importance of those things. 

Joseph did not have God's Word to read or anyone Godly to encourage him. And yet, Joseph walked faithfully with God even during those extremely difficult years of his life. 

The Pyramids of Egypt. Photo taken in October 2010.