By Jeffery M. Leonard, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biblical & Religious Studies, Samford University
The Pitfall of Injustice
Genesis 39:21–23; 40:4–8, 20–23
Joseph was not a perfect figure. He embraced his father’s favoritism a bit too readily and was certainly not above lording it over his brothers when he had the chance. When he dreamed they (and even his parents) would one day bow down to him, he didn’t hesitate to tell them about it. When his father gave him a special coat to mark him as his favorite, Joseph was not shy about sporting it in front of his brothers. He even foolishly wore the coat when his father sent him to check on them as they worked in the fields.
Joseph was not a perfect figure. But when it counted, he came through in remarkable ways. Far from home and with every reason to succumb to Mrs. Potiphar’s temptations, Joseph said no. He insisted it would be wrong to sin against his master and against God, and when Mrs. Potiphar pressed him, he refused to give in and fled from the scene.
Because he resisted Mrs. Potiphar’s advances, Joseph was accused of attempting to rape his master’s wife. We have to wonder if Potiphar actually believed the accusations. Had he really believed the story, surely he would have had Joseph put to death. The fact that he only put him in prison suggests Potiphar may have had doubts about Joseph’s part in the affair. Either way, Joseph had acted honorably, and a jail cell was what he got in return.
Keep doing good in the face of injustice. (39:21–23)
When Joseph was in the service of Potiphar, the Lord had blessed both him and his master’s house. Now that he was in prison, God blessed Joseph once again, giving him favor in the eyes of the warden. Soon Joseph was put in charge of nearly the entire prison. So faithful was Joseph that the warden had no need to concern himself with the things he put in Joseph’s care.
When Joseph was sold to Potiphar, he could easily have succumbed to bitterness and anger. Instead, he proved to be a faithful servant who brought honor and blessing to the house he served. The same proved to be true in prison. If Joseph could have been resentful before, he had all the more reason to be angry now. Yet once again, Joseph served honorably and was blessed for it.
When you’re a victim, don’t take it out on others. (40:4–8)
Joseph’s next test would come in the form of two attendants of Pharaoh, a cupbearer and a baker, who had somehow managed to displease their king. The pair now found themselves stuck in the same prison where Joseph was confined. While they were in prison, both the cupbearer and the baker were visited by dreams.
Separated from the royal dream interpreters, they had no one to tell them what the dreams might mean. Coming through once again, Joseph assured the men that an interpretation was not something that belonged to a man but rather to God. “Tell your dreams to me,” Joseph said. He would give them the divine interpretation.
Don’t be discouraged by delays. (20-23)
When God revealed the interpretation, it would not prove to be good news for either of the dreamers. The cupbearer, Joseph revealed, would be restored once again to his old position, but on that same day, the baker would be killed. Understandably eager to get out of prison, Joseph begged the cupbearer to remember him when his interpretation came true.
Events played out exactly as Joseph had said they would — one attendant received his old job back, and the other received a death sentence.
Sadly, the restored cupbearer did not do as Joseph had asked. He never got around to mentioning Joseph to Pharaoh. Yet again, Joseph’s faithfulness had been met with seeming abandonment. How much longer could he hold up?
Share with others: