E116 - Hope’s Harbor Gritty Bible Devotions - How Joseph got out of Prison - What about us? Part 3

Hope’s Harbor

Gritty Bible Devotions

Episode #116

Title: How Joseph Got out of Prison – What about us? What about us? Part 3

Date: July 24, 2023

Contact: info@hopesharbor.net

Key verse: Genesis 41:14 – ‘Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh.’

Intro: In this final message from the life of Joseph and his time in prison, let’s look at how his faithfulness to GOD led the way, eventually, to his release. And while we’re at it, see if we can find freedom from any type of prison experience we may be in ourselves.

Devotion focus: GOD’s plan for Joseph included his time in prison, the way in which he was released, and his life in Egyptian culture afterward.

As mentioned in earlier episodes it is possible to create your own prison, that of being in bondage to harmful habits, whether addiction to chemicals, social media, money, food, you name it. You’re in prison and you know it.

The way out may seem impossible. But wait. Joseph was in prison, even though innocent, and in that day and age there was no appeal for release. And yet he got set free.

Let’s revisit the story found in the Bible, Genesis 41:1 – 40, and I’ll read excerpts from this passage. A side note here: two years before his release Pharaoh imprisoned his cupbearer and his baker. While in prison with Joseph, they both had dreams which Joseph correctly interpreted. Bad news for the baker, his dream predicted his execution, but for the cupbearer – freedom. When the cupbearer was released Joseph asked him to remember him. Listen to Genesis 40:14 - “But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house.” Now I’ll skip down to Genesis 41:1:

VS 1 - Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream;

Let’s stop right there – 2 years went by after the baker was released before he mentioned to Pharaoh that a man he met in prison could interpret dreams. Why would the baker wait so long, knowing Joseph was languishing in prison? Would you want to remind Pharaoh about your own time in prison, remind this ruler with the power of life and death, that you had at one time angered him so much he put you and your buddy the baker in the dungeon? Probably not.

But now, even though the reason the cupbearer mentions Joseph, after 2 years, is not noble. No, it’s self-serving on the cupbearer. Listen to the story as it continues in Genesis 41:9-14 after Pharaoh has 2 dreams and no one in his court could interpret them.

Genesis 41:9 – ‘Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: "I remember my faults this day.

VS 41:10 – “When Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker,

VS 41:11 - “we each had a dream in one night, he and I. Each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream.

VS 41:12 - “Now there was a young Hebrew man with us there, a servant of the captain of the guard. And we told him, and he interpreted our dreams for us; to each man he interpreted according to his own dream.

VS 41:13 – “And it came to pass, just as he interpreted for us, so it happened. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him."’

VS 41:14 – ‘Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh.

So in faithful service to GOD Joseph tells Pharaoh GOD will answer.

Only then does Joseph interpret the dreams and as it turned out, interpreted them correctly. Pharaoh promoted Joseph.

Hang on a minute, how much faith do you think it took for Joseph to tell Pharaoh GOD would interpret the dreams?

Now, how about us? For those of us in prison, or those of you who have family trapped by circumstances through some of the afflictions mentioned in earlier episodes, how does Joseph’s experience offer hope to us?

It should be obvious that the faithfulness Joseph lived by when serving GOD is the same level of faithfulness required of us. It takes strong faith to believe GOD’s promises He gave when He said He would send us a comforter when He said He would never leave nor forsakes us, when He said of all GOD the Father gave Him, He would lose none.

Are you willing to wait for freedom from prison, freedom from bondage, even if it takes years of you being faithful despite not being set free? Do you need a quick fix? Have you turned your back on GOD because of a seemingly never-ending painful experience? Listen, I’ve done all the above. Sometimes in anger, other times in hopelessness. And at other times in the depth of low self-esteem.

I’ve also been delivered from painful suffering that I thought would never end. One particular event took 3 years to be set free and probably 4 or 5 years to recover from it. Looking back 22 years ago this event now doesn’t seem so bad, but that’s only because as memory fades and dulls the remembrance of the pain I can say this.

Part of that experience I went through sifted my faith in GOD, His Word, and especially His promises. I was challenged to pray regardless of the fear and doubt of my survival. But listen, GOD never changes, and how you may feel about this, or how you feel unworthy of GOD’s intervention… don’t give in to your feelings. I can’t emphasize this enough.  

Summary: Joseph’s freedom came after a long time of him waiting, but when it came it came suddenly. This was all GOD’s planning and purpose for Joseph. For us it may also take years before freedom comes, whether suddenly, or as a process. Our part in this is how we choose to react, and then how we choose to act while waiting for GOD.

Action to consider: If you are in a painful place right now, write down the circumstances leading up to the trouble and how it’s affected you so far. Also, write out how you see this going forward. What is your expected result? Write down how you feel about it all, and be honest. GOD already knows how you feel. No need to try and keep up a false front with Him.

Now, write out what you can do to improve your frame of mind. If need be get a book by a trusted source that you can use as a guide.

And then pray. Every day. For as long as it takes for you to become free.

Next week’s devotion: How Joseph redeemed his lost time and how we can too.