As I traveled to work in San Diego one day, nearing my destination, my left front tire blew out. I looked up and the lanes to the shoulder were cleared so I maneuvered the care across four lanes to the right. I called my husband and he was going to come and assist me and suddenly there was a knock on my passenger side and it was SanDag an agency that assists motorist. He offered to change my tire and as I accepted, I thanked him over and over again. I had no money for a tip and so I offered to pray for him, I asked what his name was and he told me his name was Gabriel. God sent me an angel to watch over me.
As we continue with Joseph from the Hall of Faith we find him unjustly accused of rape, Joseph finds himself in a predicament. He is sent to prison. Read with me these verses in Genesis 39,
And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.
The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper. Genesis 39: 18-23.
The Lord knew exactly where Joseph was and the Lord was with Joseph.
Beloved, what situation are you struggling? We are in the midst of a crisis with the Corona Virus quarantine. Do you feel as though this is like a prison sentence?
Many business are closed because the business is not deemed essential. The business that is essential presents certain risk to the employee and those of us who go to said business.
There was a time I struggled in my marriage and felt as though my marriage was a prison sentence.
Again, I ask what are you struggling? How do you respond in these trying times?
We can learn much from Joseph while he was in prison.
First we learn that God was with Joseph and caused Joseph to find favor. Then from his actions of being available, he is able to service a couple of prisoners who have a dream. God allows him to interpret the dreams for the butler to the Pharaoh who had angered the Pharaoh. Then he allows him to interpret for the baker.
Read these verses in Genesis 40.
And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.
And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:
And Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.
And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:
Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.
But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: Genesis 40: 8-14.
The baker then tells Joseph his dreams. Joseph ask both the baker and the butler to remember him when they are set free because he was unjustly put in prison.
So the next lesson is that Joseph did not waste any opportunity to serve others while in prison and he didn’t give up hope while he was in prison. Also, he listened to the butler and to the baker. Who is God asking you to listen?
How might you serve God during this trying time? How is God changing you? Joseph went from bragger to being completely dependent on God for his freedom.
Beloved, how are you depending on God?
Father God, deliver us from the threat of this virus. You say in 2 Chronicles 7:14 if we will humble ourselves, seek your face, turn from our wicked ways and pray you will heal our land. I am humbled and I ask for forgiveness where I have failed you. Please protect us and heal our land. Please meet our needs. In Jesus’ name. Amen
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7: 14.
In the next blog we will see how God rescues Joseph from prison.
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