Potiphar believed his wife’s lies only
to a certain degree. Verse 19 suggests that he only became angry when Mrs. Potiphar
derogatorily said, “This is what your slave did to me” Who was he actually angry with? His wife
or Joseph? It was probably the subtle accusation made against him by his wife that
had him riled up. So as soon as he heard that, he had Joseph thrown into
prison. It seems strange that Joseph did not say a word. Perhaps he did and
that’s what account for why he was imprisoned and not beheaded. The fact that Potiphar
only sent him to prison instead of executing him is telling. It suggests that
Potiphar was not fully convinced that Joseph did what his wife had described. So
Joseph’s imprisonment was out of necessity to wait for more truth to surface.
The events in Joseph’s life had
indeed turned. From the unused well in Shechem, he rose to take a prominent
place in Potiphar’s household. And now he was back in the jail again. Notice that
he was sent to where all the king’s prisoners were incarcerated. Here Joseph
found favor with the chief jailer because God was with him. Unbeknown to him, God
was working all things for his good. Joseph had a steely faith in God. He did
not waver in faith, whether in prosperity or adversity. He trusted God and
appropriated God’s presence in every circumstance. It was undeniable that God was
with Joseph. Verses 21-23 explicitly said so. “But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave
him favour in the sight of the chief jailer. The
chief jailer committed to Joseph’s charge all the prisoners who were
in the jail; so that whatever was done there, he was responsible for
it. The chief jailer did not supervise
anything under Joseph’s charge because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made to prosper.”
Herein lies the success of Joseph’s life. It’s in this appealing phrase, “But the Lord was with Joseph.” It was clearly demonstrated and evidently so in every circumstance he found himself in. First in the pit in Shechem, then in Egypt in Potiphar’s service. It was clear that God was also with him even when he was negatively embroiled in Mrs Potiphar’s lies. And now again in the king’s jail. No wonder he had such astounding victory regardless where he was. Like Joseph, we will be victorious over life’s circumstance because God is with us. The Yahweh who was with Joseph had sent His only begotten Son Jesus to us. His name is also Emmanuel, meaning God with us. Our key to daily victory is not found in our cleverness or whatever skills we have acquired. It is found in this reality of Emmanuel. Yes, He is with us. We must embrace this reality that the God whom the universe could not contain came to us. He transcended and now ascended to the eternal throne and yet remain with us. May this truth own our soul each day as we walk with Him!
Herein lies the success of Joseph’s life. It’s in this appealing phrase, “But the Lord was with Joseph.” It was clearly demonstrated and evidently so in every circumstance he found himself in. First in the pit in Shechem, then in Egypt in Potiphar’s service. It was clear that God was also with him even when he was negatively embroiled in Mrs Potiphar’s lies. And now again in the king’s jail. No wonder he had such astounding victory regardless where he was. Like Joseph, we will be victorious over life’s circumstance because God is with us. The Yahweh who was with Joseph had sent His only begotten Son Jesus to us. His name is also Emmanuel, meaning God with us. Our key to daily victory is not found in our cleverness or whatever skills we have acquired. It is found in this reality of Emmanuel. Yes, He is with us. We must embrace this reality that the God whom the universe could not contain came to us. He transcended and now ascended to the eternal throne and yet remain with us. May this truth own our soul each day as we walk with Him!
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