Purposeful Custody

Purposeful Custody

Genesis 40: It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. ² And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. ³ So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. ⁴ And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while.

 

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After Joseph was thrown in prison, Pharoah decided that a couple of his leaders needed to be incarcerated.  He threw the chief butler and the chief baker in jail. They were place in custody under Joseph.

 

My Observations:

• The Egyptian leaders worked together to display their harsh, cruel power over servants.
• Joseph did not expect that he would be placed over the chief butler and the chief baker.
• GOD used Pharoah’s cruelty to set Joseph up for HIS success.

 

Joseph was given a dream by GOD and it seemed to get him in trouble. BUT JESUS was with him. His prison sentence was used by GOD for a better purpose. Eventually we will see that the butler and baker will have dreams given from GOD.

 

Joseph will be in the right place at the right time to interpret the dreams. All three men experienced imprisonment under the Egyptian rule. They could not change their circumstances by any effort of their own. They were trapped without a date for freedom. BUT GOD was there.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD point out to Moses that shortly after Joseph was put in prison, the butler and baker were placed there as well?
• Do you believe there are no coincidences with GOD?
• Do you believe GOD has you in the situation you are in for HIS supernatural purpose?

New Assignment

New Assignment

Genesis 39: ¹⁹ So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. ²⁰ Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. ²¹ But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. ²² And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. ²³ The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.

 

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After being lied on, Joseph was thrown in Jail by Potiphar. But the LORD was with him. The prison keeper showed favor to Joseph and placed him in charge of all of the prisoners.

 

My Observations:

• This prison was probably a place that made the slaves do even more work for the Egyptians.
• I believe the pre-incarnate JESUS would visited Joseph and the HOLY SPIRIT worked on the heart of the prison keeper.
• GOD allowed Joseph to go to prison to also give the prisoners favor.

 

Frome being thrown in a pit to being placed over the palace to being put into prison, Joseph had a strange ride in life. He didn’t ask for the dream GOD gave him and GOD knew that. So far, he was hated by his brothers and lied on by Potiphar’s wife. JESUS walked with Joseph every step of the way. Joseph’s fame may have preceded him as he entered prison.

 

The prison keeper may have known who Joseph was and may have heard of his skills. The men who threw Joseph in jail probably knew about Potiphar’s wife’s lie, but they had to follow orders. GOD orchestrated Joseph’s success in prison for a long-term future assignment. Joseph would one day need the prisoner’s help. GOD gave Joseph a strange assignment that had HIS favor.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about the favor HE showed Joseph in prison?
• Have you ever ended up in a figurative prison that robbed you of hope?
• Do you believe that the LORD is with you and HE needs you to view your assignment in a way that HE is showing you favor?