E117 - Hope’s Harbor Gritty Bible Devotions - How Joseph Redeemed the Time He Lost in Prison - Part 4 of 4

Hope’s Harbor

Gritty Bible Devotions

Episode #117

Title: How Joseph Redeemed the Time Lost in Prison – Part 4 of 4

Date: July 31, 2023

Contact: info@hopesharbor.net

Key verse: Genesis 41:52 – ‘And the name of the second (son) he called Ephraim: "For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction."

This verse is the first indication recorded of how Joseph redeemed some of his time lost in prison. He began this by being fruitful in the land, or nation, in which he found himself.

Intro: Throughout Joseph’s life he served the LORD in faithful obedience and therefore the LORD was with him. GOD prospered Joseph even after his brothers sold him into slavery. Even after the wife of the slave owner who bought him falsely accused Joseph of attempted rape. Even after Joseph was thrown into prison because of the false accusation. Even after Joseph was forgotten by a former prisoner who was restored to service in Pharaoh’s court and Joseph served another two years in that prison.

You won’t find any health/wealth or prosperity gospel in Joseph’s story. Well, not at first did he prosper. First, he suffered much before he was released.

This episode takes a look at what Joseph did after being released from prison and promoted to 2nd in command of Egypt.

Devotion focus: Some of what Joseph did to redeem the time he lost in prison-

Ponder this question: if you had brothers and they sold you into slavery because of their jealousy and did so to get rid of you, what would you do if suddenly promoted to 2nd in command of a country with an army at your command? Would you pay a visit to those brothers in vengeance?

Here’s what Joseph did as recorded in the Bible, Genesis 41:51 – ‘Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: "For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house."’

These two verses from Genesis chapter 41 reveal that Joseph first of all forgot about his toil as a slave and prisoner. Not forgot it all happened, but put it behind him and moved on. Second, he allowed GOD to make him fruitful.

Fruitful is analogous to good works. And so Joseph got to work. Take note he didn’t drift, he didn’t sit around being waited on and done for. Are there any national leaders that come to mind, those who sit and do little?

Not Joseph.

[If you’ve read Genesis chapter 41 you know Pharaoh had a couple of dreams that GOD allowed Joseph to interpret correctly after all Pharaoh’s ‘magicians and wise men’ couldn’t interpret them. When Joseph gave the interpretation he was promoted.]

 Listen to Genesis 41:47-49 as the Bible portrays good leadership: 

Vs 47 – ‘Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly.

Vs 48 ‘ So he [Joseph] gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them.

Vs 49 – ‘Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable.’

Let’s drop down to verses 53 through 55:

Vs 53 – ‘Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended,

Vs 54 – ‘and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt, there was bread.

Vs 55 – ‘So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, do."’

In these verses, Joseph’s ‘fruit’ or good work is revealed. His leadership was so fantastic that with the abundance of grain stored up, people of surrounding nations came to buy grain.

Eventually, even his brothers came. Yes, one day they showed up to get grain and Joseph recognized them. But that outcome is a story for another day.

So where are you? If in prison of some sort, are you being faithful to GOD and His Word? If you were once imprisoned by a harmful habit or mental distress that has passed, are you redeeming what you lost by being faithful to love others? Serve others? If others caused you unbearable pain and loss, have you forgiven them? And listen, I don’t mean you have to reestablish contact. Especially if they are a danger to you. Or toxic.

Forgiveness of others is for your health – mental and spiritual.

I know from experience how hard it is to forgive, but unforgiveness hurts us, not the offender. And listen, they are not getting away with anything, either. GOD will see to it they receive the consequences for their abuse. It will just take a while normally.

Now, I want you to see that you can redeem the pain by how you choose to live from this day forward. Your attitude about your past is everything. Your future life depends on what you decide to do with what happened or is happening to you.

When I was in a counseling program years ago and was told my anger was a choice, I got mad. But what I had to learn is that I could sit and stew and gripe and complain, but that doing those things got me nowhere but miserable.

I had to learn how to release the anger holding me prisoner, forgive the abusers for my sake, and seek joy and peace, if only in a limited measure. And as I did the aftercare from the counseling I began to change.

Today, years later, I serve GOD the best I know how and it’s all from my love for Him, His Son, and His Spirit. And, He’s enabled me to love others. A little.

GOD gave me a message to share by writing a book, which took me 14 years to complete and then published. The title is ‘A Bridge for Troubled Souls’ and the eBook is available on my website at hopesharbor.net

So what will you allow GOD to do with your pain and loss? What do you want Him to do? If you know, then go tell Him.

He’s waiting for you, arms opened wide.

Summary: When we suffer loss in our lives, GOD offers to ‘restore the years the locust ate.’ Joel 2:25 paraphrased. The choice is ours whether to allow GOD to have the pain, or we carry it in bitterness. Joseph put his painful past behind him and served GOD by being faithful in the work at hand.

Action to consider: Write down the galling thing that happened to you. And it’s not necessary to write the gory details. Just a brief word or two. For me, I would call it ‘child abuse.’ And then write how you feel about it and how the pain continues to affect you, hinder you.

And now write down what you can do in an effort to become free and begin the healing process. Consider professional counseling or speak to a pastor about what you can do to help bring about your fruitfulness in life. Beware of any pastor who blames you for how you feel and uses the word ‘sin’ in a way of manipulation.

Next week’s devotion: Jesus at the Cross