“19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, ‘This is how your slave treated me,’ he burned with anger. 20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favour in the eyes of the prison warder. 22 So the warder put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warder paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.”NIV

“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” (22,23).

When Potiphar’s wife says “your slave” (19) it sounds like she is blaming him for what happened. (Of course, nothing did happen – certainly not what she lyingly alleged). It so common that people who are guilty point the finger at someone else. They often kick up a furious storm at the same time, as if shouting will somehow establish their case.

But what really strikes me in this passage is how similar verses 22, 23 are to verses 6,8,9. It’s the same man (Joseph), living under the same blessing of God, and enjoying success in his work life. It’s just that his location and type of work were different. His surroundings were much less agreeable, but God did not stay behind at Potiphar’s place when Joseph went to prison. He was with him there also. He is omnipresent. We cannot get away from His presence (Psalm 139).

‘God is with us as we wait. Joseph spent two difficult years working in the prison, but he held to his faith and did what he could to serve others. The experience helped to “put iron into his soul” (Ps. 105:17-22). If the Lord controls us, it makes little difference who commands us.’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘With the Word’, p.41.

PRAYER: Lord God Almighty, help us to truly believe that in all things you are working for the good of those who love you.

(There will be a break in the notes now for a couple of weeks. We will resume on Monday 17th May, God-willing. Thank you for your interest and support. You may like to read ahead in the remaining chapters of Genesis, and get a feel for the territory in front of us).