50 THE CUPBEARER

God Protected Joseph and Gave Him More Success in Prison. The narrative does not say that Potiphar was angry with Joseph, just that he was angry. Potiphar would have known all too well the nature of his own intimate relationship with his wife. He knew his wife’s moral level and was also aware of Joseph’s high moral character. If Potiphar had believed Joseph were guilty of his wife’s accusation, he would have had Joseph killed. Since Potiphar only put Joseph in prison, we may conjecture that Potiphar knew Joseph was innocent. Joseph’s reputation was already at work for him. Maybe the prison bars were not so much intended to keep Joseph in, but to keep Potiphar’s wife out. Joseph’s reputation for morality saved him. As a Christian of influence in the body of Christ, you too will experience accusations. The best defense is holiness, morality, ethical behavior, trustworthiness, and honesty. Arm yourself with a reputation for these in advance, as Joseph did.

Joseph developed further and even served others in prison. We might think that Joseph had already endured enough, been tested sufficiently, and proven himself true. But God was not finished developing him. When his fellow prisoners asked for an interpretation of their dreams, Joseph could easily have responded by saying, “Ha! Dreams. They don’t mean anything.” But he did not. Joseph knew dreams could have meanings, and he interpreted their dreams for them.

Joseph was wronged by his master who may not have believed the accusation, but had to do something to “save face” for his wife. Joseph dared not tell the truth, as it would reflect too much on his mistress, so there seems to be no remedy. Joseph is condemned to perpetual imprisonment, “Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined” (20). God restrained Potipher’s wrath, or else he would have put him to death; and that wrath which imprisoned him God made to bring Himself praise. God arranged it so that Joseph should be shut up among the king’s prisoners, the state-prisoners. Psalm 105:18 says, “They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons.” That may or may not have been Joseph’s experience but we do know the next sentence says, “while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him” (20, 21).  God designed to pave the way to his enlargement. He was committed to the king’s prison, that he might from there be eventually sent to the king himself. Many an action of unjust imprisonment will, in the great day, be found to testify against the enemies and persecutors of God’s people. Our Lord Jesus also, like Joseph here, was bound, and identified with the transgressors.

Joseph is acknowledged and justified by his God, Who is, and will be, the just and powerful Friend and effective Advocate of all oppressed innocent persons. Joseph was a distance from all his friends and relations, and did not have them with him to comfort him, minister to him, or mediate for him. But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy. Look what verse 21 says, “. . . the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.” This is consistent with Psalm 69:33 which says, “ The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people.” No gates or bars can shut out God’s gracious presence from His people. He keeps His promise that He will never leave them. If you have a good conscience in a prison you also have a good God there. Integrity and uprightness qualify us for divine favor, wherever we are. 

Joseph is not long a prisoner before he becomes a little ruler even in the prison. This is due to the keeper’s favor. God gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. God can raise up friends for His people even when and where they little expect to find them, and can help them receive fair compassion even from those that carry them captive. Look at what Psalm 106:46 says, “He caused all who held them captive to show them mercy.”

Joseph’s business acumen also was a factor. The keeper saw that God was with him, and that every thing prospered under his hand; and therefore entrusted him with the management of the affairs of the prison. Notice the similarity between the views of Potiphar and the prison keeper as we read verses 22 & 23, “So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 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.” Wisdom and virtue can shine in the narrowest places. A good man will do good wherever he is, and will be a blessing even in bonds and banishment. The Spirit of the Lord is neither bound nor banished as we see also in Paul’s experience, as indicated in Philippians 1:12 & 13. “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.”

The next part of the story would not be there except that God was at work through the choice of Joseph’s cell mates. Pharaoh’s butler and baker were also there. These two officers of Pharaoh’s court, having offended the king, are committed to prison at the same time Joseph is there. High places are slippery places, the favor of princes is not usually permanent. Anyone who makes God’s favor their happiness and His service their business will find Him a better Master than Pharaoh. God is not so extreme as to eagerly seek to know what they do amiss. We are not told the nature of the punishment of these servants of Pharaoh. Maybe there was something serious like an attempt against his life or perhaps it was just a fly in Pharaoh’s cup or a grain of sand in his bread. Whatever it was, God used this means to bring them to the prison where Joseph was. That is just the point. Whatever it was God used it.

The captain of the guard himself, who was Potiphar, gave Joseph the responsibility of these two men. “The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them” (4). This would suggest that Potipher began now to be reconciled to Joseph, and perhaps to be convinced of his innocence, though he dared not release him for fear of creating a problem with his wife. John the Baptist must lose his head to please Herodias.

Notice this combination of what some call a “coincidence. Two officers of the king are in prison at the same time Joseph was there. They each have unusual dreams the same night. Both could have his dream fulfilled though only one would live to tell of it. God has immediate access to the minds of men even at night and can give them whatever kind of dream He want to. These He can make serve His own purposes however He pleases, totally independent of anyone else’s concerns. To him all hearts are open and He can speak not only to his own people, but to others as well in dreams as Job 33:15 says, “In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds.”

“When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected” (6). The dreams made both of them sober and eventually both told their dreams to Joseph. This too was due to God’s involvement; not coincidence. God was at work.

Kind Joseph shows an interest in their situations and displays great tenderness and compassion towards them. He enquired with concern “So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, ‘Why do you look so sad today?’” (7) Joseph was their keeper, and in that office he was mild. It looks good for ourselves and for the God we represent when we take note of the sorrows  of those around us. Joseph was their companion in tribulation, he was now a prisoner with them, and had been a dreamer too. Communion in sufferings helps to work compassion towards those that suffer. Let us learn from this to concern ourselves in the sorrows and troubles of others, and to enquire into the reason of the sadness of others nearby. God may be sending us to them or them to us as He did here in Joseph’s prison. Notice our brothers’ countenances; we should often consider the tears of the oppressed as we might deduce from Ecclesiastes 4:1, “Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed—and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors—and they have no comforter.” It is some relief to those in trouble to be noticed. Does it cost too much to enquire into the causes of people’s sorrow? You want to be a leader and are not concerned about others? That is a contradiction.

One thing that may have troubled these prisoners was that being confined they would not have access to the diviners of Egypt who pretended to interpret dreams. They do not yet realize that the best interpreter of dreams is right there with them. There are interpreters which prisoners would wish to have with them, to instruct them in the meaning and design of God’s signs. Elihu seems to suggest that a dependable interpreter is rare. Here is Job 33:23 & 24 “Yet if there is an angel at their side, a messenger, one out of a thousand, sent to tell them how to be upright, and he is gracious to that person and says to God, ‘Spare them from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom for them—” An interpreter who will guide someone’s conscience, not just satisfy their curiosity is truly rare. Joseph, our example of a good leader, directed them which way to look. Do not interpretations belong to God? Joseph means we are to look to the God whom he worshipped and to the knowledge that He alone can give. Will you be such an interpreter? Or will you only tell people what you think they want to hear?

God can tell of things to come. “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’” (Isaiah 46:10). He must therefore have the praise of all the gifts of foresight which men have, ordinary or extraordinary. Joseph begins with a caveat against his own praise, and is careful to transmit the glory to God even before he gives the interpretation. Joseph suggests, “If interpretations belong to God, he is a free agent, and may communicate the power to whom He pleases, and therefore tell me your dreams.”

The chief butler’s dream was a happy prediction of his improvement and re-advancement, within three days. Joseph foretold the chief butler’s deliverance, but he did not foresee his own. He had long before dreamed of his own honor, and the bowing which his brethren would do to him. Now he could only try to encourage himself with that memory. On the other hand, the chief baker’s dream predicted his horrible death. It was not Joseph’s fault that he brought him no better news. Ministers are but interpreters, they cannot make the thing otherwise than it is; if they deal faithfully and their message proves unpleasing, it is not their fault. Bad dreams cannot expect a good interpretation.

Though he was humble and gave God glory for the interpretation of the dreams, Joseph still took the opportunity to make an appeal for his own deliverance from his unfair imprisonment. “But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon” (14 & 15). Though the respect paid to Joseph made the prison as good as a prison can be, yet no one can blame him for wanting his liberty. He makes a modest presentation of his case not blaming his brothers. He only says, I was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, that is, unjustly brought here no matter where the fault was. Nor does he reflect on the wrong done him in this imprisonment by his mistress and his master that was his judge, but mildly claims his own innocence. I have done nothing here that anyone should put me in this dungeon. When we are called to vindicate ourselves we should carefully avoid, as much as possible, speaking ill of others. Let us be content to prove ourselves innocent, and not be eager to charge others with their guilt. He makes a modest request. Bring me out of this house. He does not say, “Bring me to Pharaoh’s house, get me a place at court.” No, he begs for enlargement, not preferment. God sometimes plans the greatest honors for those that least covet or maneuver to obtain them.

Prefer others. Honor others. Help others. Serve others. That is what Joseph did and look what he reaped from what he sowed. Christian leader, take notice.