The brightest and best steel comes through the hottest furnace. The early life of Joseph was certainly spent in the furnace of affliction, and it was just when circumstances seemed to improve that he found himself under still greater pressure. Promotion and prosperity in Potiphar’s house exposed him to sore temptation when ‘his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph’, Gen. 39. 7. But he was faithful to his master, and faithful to God; ‘thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?’, Gen. 39. 9. His faithfulness meant that he did not lose his purity or his character.
Joseph had to contend with false accusation, false evidence, and false imprisonment. Consider his position.
- He had tried to be good. But with what result? His moral integrity had earned him an indefinite prison sentence.
- He had begun to rise. But only to end up worse than before. But whilst Joseph’s circumstances were sufficient to break the spirit of most men, he triumphed over them. Potiphar’s house and the prison must have been worlds apart, but Joseph was as diligent and trustworthy in serving ‘the keeper of the prison’, Gen. 39. 22, 23, as he was in the service of the ‘captain of the guard’, vv. 1-6. We do not have to look far for the secret of Joseph’s consistency. In Potiphar’s house, ‘the Lord was with Joseph‘, and what is more, ‘his master saw that the Lord was with him’, vv. 2, 3. In the prison, ‘the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison’, v. 21. He proved the reality of the promise in Isaiah 43. 2, ‘When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee’.
Joseph’s imprisonment secured at least two beneficial results for him.
- It became the means of greater promotion than was ever possible in Potiphar’s house.
- It was preparation for future responsibility. His uncongenial circumstances were all part of divine training. ‘He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried [tested] him’, Ps. 105. 17-19. God makes no mistakes. He is with us in the trials of life, and also directs those trials for our highest good, and His greater glory.
