Joseph: A Dreamer In Prison Series

There are so many aspects to the story of Joseph. He is the favorite son of the Patriarch Jacob. His brothers burn with jealousy and hatred toward him because his ten older brothers know he is the favored one of his father. The special ornamented coat Jacob gave Joseph made that evident. The Joseph was a dreamer and told his brothers that in his dreams they served him. In one dream where sheaves of grain bowed to his and the other the moon and stars bowed to him.

The jealousy of his older brothers was so intense that they planned to kill Joseph. In the end they backed down from killing him but threw him in a pit and sold him into slavery. While a slave in Egypt he rose to manage the affairs of Potiphar.

Potiphar saw how the Lord was blessing Joseph, so he put Joseph in charge of his household. Then Potiphar’s wife constantly tried to seduce Joseph. When he would not bend to the wishes of Potiphar’s wife, she makes up false charges against Joseph that he tried to attack her.

He is in prison because of his integrity. Joseph experience firsthand just how unjust and unfair life can be. Through a series of bad breaks and hard knocks the favorite son of the wealthy patriarch.

Joseph is in prison in Egypt, but he has a clear conscience. His moral character, purity, his faith and his relationship with God are strong. He was in prison, but he was freer than his brothers who had none of the moral standing Joseph did.

Joseph is not the only one to be put in prison for doing what is right. The New Testament is full of others who were imprisoned for their faith in Christ. Much of our Bible Old Testament and New Testament was written from a prison cell.

The all-time best Christian classic after the Bible, Pilgrims Progress was written from prison. To be locked away in prison does not mean God cannot use Joseph. We must admire anyone in prison for integrity and does not lose sight of God’s purpose in their life and can keep their joy and relationship to God vibrant even in prison.

But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden (Genesis 39:20-21)

Joseph’s dreams played a role in him being a slave in Egypt. I wonder if Joseph ever wondered if his dreams of being a ruler could possibly come to pass now that he is in prison. It was eleven years since he had those dreams. Was he just a wishful thinker of dreams that would never come to pass?

Now at 28 years old the issue of dreams came back in Joseph’s life. Apparently, Joseph still believed his dreams came from God. Joseph was put in charge of his fellow prisoners. Two prisoners came who were servants of Pharaoh. The cupbearer of Pharaoh and the baker of Pharaoh.

Both of these men had dreams. After they had been in custody for some time, 5 each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. (Genesis 40:4-5)

Joseph had confidence that God was acting powerfully in his life. He interpreted the two dreams. We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.” (Genesis 40:8)

First the cupbearer shared his dream and Jacob told him the meaning.

This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days. 13 Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. (Genesis 40:12-13)

It all happened for the cupbearer as Joseph had foretold. The cupbearer was brought up after 3 days. Joseph requested him to remember him, But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.” (Genesis 14-15)

The Baker shared his dream with Joseph also. The interpretation Joseph gave was that in 3 days Pharaoh would call for the baker and have him beheaded. This also came to pass just as Joseph shared.

It was obvious that God was giving Joseph the meaning to these dreams. The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. (Genesis 40:23)