A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE P/15

 

                                                            Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                   FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE

                                      PART XV    

"I, Joseph, had just told the chief cupbearer, who is with me in the same prison that I am in, the good news that he will soon be restored to his position as chief cupbearer...I then continued to talk with him....For I knew that I needed to share something with him.... And I needed to share it with him that very moment... It was then or never... I could not wait a few days... For then he would no longer be in prison with me...The issue I needed to talk with him about had nothing to do with him... It concerned me....He needed to know that I am totally innocent of any crime... I, therefore, do not deserve to be in this prison, which is nothing more than a dungeon...I know that he listened very carefully when I pleaded my case with him to bring my case before Pharaoh...I have no doubt that he will remember to do so when he is back at Court serving Pharoah... I believe it will only be a matter of days before I will be released... I can't wait to go back to Canaan to see my father."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Joseph pleads with the chief cupbearer to speak to Pharaoh about him....

                ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE

                                                                 PART XV

As Joseph tells the chief cupbearer, who is with him in the same prison that he was put in by his master Potiphar, the good news that he will be restored to his previous position as chief cupbearer to Pharaoh, he realises that his own moment to be released has come as you can read in Genesis 40:14-15

"But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness, mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of prison. For 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."

Joseph knows that he has not done anything wrong. In fact, he has done everything right so he should be rewarded by being set free, is it not?....

Read Part Sixteen HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE PART 14

 

                                                             Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                  FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE 

                                      PART XIV            

"I, Joseph, looked at the faces of the two men in front of me... They are in the same prison that I am in.... Because Pharaoh has sent them here.... Today they looked particularly sad... I learned they felt depressed because both of them had had a dream last night they could not understand...But my God is able to give me understanding of their dreams... So I asked the cupbearer to tell me his dream.... He told me that in his dream he had seen a vine... On that vine were three branches... The vine budded and then blossomed.... Its clusters ripened into grapes....He then saw that he had Pharoah's cup in his hand... And he squeezed the grapes into Pharaoh's cup... he then gave the cup to Pharaoh....As I listened, the Lord impressed upon me the meaning of the cupbearer's dream... The cupbearer listened intently as I shared with him what the Lord had put on my heart... I told him hat within three days he would be restored to his position as chief cupbearer to Pharaoh.. The cup bearer looked at me with great relief in his eyes.... He knew that what I had said would come to pass.... He would be released soon so he could once again serve his master Pharoh.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the cupbearer tells Joseph his dream...

 

                  ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE, OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                              FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE

                                                                 PART XIV  

Joseph looks at the two prisoners who are with him in the same prison he was put in by his master Potiphar.Both men have had a dream the night before but do not know its meaning. However, Joseph is convinced that God will reveal the meaning of these dreams so he asks th chief cupbearer what his dream has been about as you can read in Genesis 40:8b-13

Then Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams." So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, "In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. Pharoah's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup and put the cup in his hand." "This is what it means, " Joseph said to him. "The three branches are three days. 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."

As soon as the cupbearer tells Joseph the dream, the Lord reveals to him the good news that the cupbearer will be restored to his old position as Pharaoh's chief cupbearer. 

Read Part Fifteen HERE                                                                        

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE P/13

  

                                                             Read Part One HERE                       

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                   FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE

                                     PART X - III

"I, Joseph, have now been in the King's prison, where my master Potiphar put me, for some time already... I still do not understand why the Lord has allowed me to come here... However, I know that He is with me even here in prison... The warden, who is in charge of the prison, is aware of that as well...He has given me full responsibility over all what happens here... Some time ago I was given the responsibility over two new prisoners... One told me he had been the chief cupbearer of Pharaoh... The other told me he had been the chief baker of Pharaoh... Apparently Pharaoh had gotten angry with them and had sent them to prison... That reminds me of my own situation when my master Potiphar had become angry with me... And in his anger had sent me to prison... I wonder if these men deserve to be here...I know I do not deserve to be here... Because I hav not done anything wrong.... This morning when I went to see the cupbearer and the baker they booth looked very depressed.... I asked them why they looked so sad...They then told me they both had a dream last night... But they do not know anyone who can help them understand their dream.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that two of Joseph's prisoners had a dream....

                  ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                             FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE

                                                           PART X - III 

One day Joseph, while in prison, gets to know two prisoners as you can read in Genesis 40:1-8a

Sometime later, the cupbearer and the baker of the King of Egypt offended their master, the King of Egypt. Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them. After they had been in custody for some time, 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. When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw they were dejected. So he asked Pharoh's officials who were in custody with him in his master's house, "Why are your faces so sad today?" "We both had dreams," they answered, "But there is no-one to interpret them."

Some time after his arrival in prison Joseph, who has been put in charge of the prisoners, receives two new prisoners. He learns from them that both of them had important positions at Pharaoh's Court but are now in prison because of Pharaoh's displeasure towards them. He builds a good relationship with these two men and one morning notices that both of them are looking very unhappy so he inquires why that is so. He then learns that both of them had a dream the night before but they do not know anyone who can help them understand their dream.

Read Part Fourteen HERE

                                                 

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE P/12

 

                                                            Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                  FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE

                                    PART X -II 

I, Joseph, had so hoped to be able to speak with my master Potiphar about my lost coat... But I was not able to do so... As is his custom, he went to see his wife as soon as he came back home... I was in my room in the servants' quarters... So I did not see him coming home.. I only found out that he was home when one of the other servants came to my room... And told me the master wanted to speak with me... He did not say much... But from the expression on his face I could tell that my master was not in a good mood... I expected the worst... The worst did happen... Worse even than I expected.... When I walked into the room where my master was waiting for me I noticed his angry look... I saw my coat.... He held it in his hands... I wanted to say something to defend myself... But I knew I could not... It was no use... Of course, he would not believe me... I am, after all, only a slave.... Not only that.... I am a Hebrew slave... And Hebrew people are despised by the Egyptians....He looked at me... And told me he could no longer trust me.. My heart broke when I heard him say these words... And he told me he was going to send me to prison.... He was not going to have me executed... But he was going to make sure I could not do any harm to anyone... So he was going to put me in prison... And I would be there for the rest of my life... And that is where I am now.... How could God have allowed this to happen?... I know I am not just in any prison... I am in the prison where the King's prisoners are being held... I am not sure if that makes any difference to my situation... For I am still in prison."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Joseph is sent to prison...

                       ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE

                                                              PART X II

When Potiphar comes home from his many duties, his wife tells him a story about Joseph's behaviour. He believes his wife, of course, and, consequently, has Joseph put in prison as you can read                  in Genesis39:19-20a    

When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, "This is how your slave treated me," he burned with anger. Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined.

Joseph will have never expected to be thrown in prison, especially because he had done the right thing. How could God have allowed this to happen? And what will happen to his God-given dreams? Who will find him now? It is true, he is placed in a prison where only the King's prisoners, the prisoners from Pharao's Court are being held. That fact may not matter to Joseph but to God it matters very much which prison Joseph spends time in as you will find out later on.

Circumstances may have changed for some of you as well. However, just as in the life of Joseph, these new circumstances may not have been in line with what you have asked God for. You may have asked God for easier circumstances. However, it seems He has allowed more difficult circumstances in your life. A far as you know you have done the right things and you should be rewarded accordingly. But that is not what seems to have happened. You want to say to God, "Have you not heard my prayers, God? I have asked you for easier circumstances, not more difficult ones." If that is the case with you then God wants you to know that He has some more issues He wants to deal with in your life and He wants to us these new circumstances in your life as part of your further training.

Read Part Thirteen HERE

                                                                                                                                    

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE P/11

 

                                                             Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE, OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                  FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE

                                        PART XI 

"I, Joseph, do have such problems with coats... I have now lost my second one... I am not sure how I can get it back.... Because it is with my master Potiphar's wife.... And I cannot go back into the house to finish my duties... For, no doubt, my master's wife is very angry with me...Since I refused to do what she asked of me...I am now here in my own room in the servants' quarters.... The other servants are all back in the house.... But no one has come to see me... I am not sure why that is... Has my master's wife accused me of wrong doing before them?.... Are they, therefore, not willing to speak to me?... The only person I can hope to plead my case before is my master Potiphar... I know that he thinks favourably of me...After all, I run his household for him... He trusts me completely... But how can I tell him that his wife has made suggestions that are unacceptable to me?.... And what if she uses my coat to try and prove to him that I have behaved towards his wife in a way that is so very wrong?".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn who else Potiphar's wife shows Joseph's coat to.....

 

                  ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

                                            FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE

                                                                  PART XI

It seems Joseph has problems with cloaks, the first one, his many coloured coat given by his father, was used by his brothers to make their father Jacob believe Joseph has been killed by wild animals. The second cloak is being used by Potiphar's wife to accuse him of attacking her to the household servants. But she does not stop there as you can read in Genesis 39:16-18

She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. Then she told him this story: "That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house."

Potiphar's wife is incensed that Joseph refused her advances and is adamant that he must pay for his "misdeeds"by accusing him to her husband of things he has not done.

Read Part Twelve HERE

         

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE P/10

 

                                                            Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

               FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE

                                      PART X 

"I, Joseph, have once again lost my coat... I lost my first coat some time ago... The one my father Jacob had given me... My brothers took it from me the day I was thrown into the pit... I was then sold to merchants to be taken to Egypt.... That is where I still am... My second coat is with my master Potiphar's wife....It all happened because I went into the house to take care of my duties.... My master's wife came out of her room.... She then caught me by my coat.... She wanted me to stay with her... But I could not do such a wrong thing.... So I ran out of the house...However, I could not take my coat from her.....She is still in the house...But I am in the servants' quarters... I do not want to go back to the house...I am concerned, though, about this situation... For she may use my coat as proof to accuse me to the others servants of having done something wrong....But I know the truth... And so does my God!"... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Joseph lost his coat again....

                     ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE

                                                                      PART X

The temptatations do not stop for Joseph while working as Potiphar's slave as you can read                    in Genesis 39:11-15

One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants were inside. His master's wife caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out the house, she called her household servants. "Look," she said to them, "this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came here to sleep with me but I screamed. When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house."

Joseph is so determined to do what is right that he runs out of the house, but without his cloak... Unfortunately, Potiphar's wife then uses Joseph's cloak to accuse him to the other household servants. But that is not all she does....

Read Part Eleven HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE P/9

Read Part One HERE
  

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                 FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE

                                        PART IX                                                                                                    

"I, Joseph, have been having some very difficult challenges lately... My master Potiphar's wife has been asking me to be with her... I wonder why that is... Is God trying to test me?.... If that is so, what would be the reason He is trying to test me?..... Is He preparing me for something that I do not yet know about?... Are these tests to get me ready for what God has for me next?... Is He perhaps getting me ready to go back to my family?... I am not sure what these tests are all about... One thing is sure, though... I do not want to give in to them....I could do so... For no one would ever know about it... Certainly my family in Canaan would never know about it... But my God would know about it... My master's wife may not understand why I cannot do what she keeps asking me to do... But my God understands that what she is asking of me is wrong... And I must please Him... As I must please my master."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Joseph's character is being tested...

 

                  ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

                                                FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE

                                                                    PART IX

Like Joseph, you may find yourself in circumstances you would not have chosen, if you had been given a choice. However, God wants you to know that He is with you even in these circumstances and that He is teaching you things you would not otherwise learn. Perhaps you have been asking God for a change in your circumstances, believing that He will answer your prayers.                                                            Joseph's circumstances are changed by God, Who all along has been watching the progress of Joseph. Yet God knows that there are still issues in his life that need to be dealt with and that further training is required to make that happen so God designs a plan whereby Joseph does indeed leave Potiphar's home. However, his destination is not Jacob's tent. Let's read Genesis 39:6b-10 to find out what situation Joseph has begun to face.

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me." But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No-one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

God is testing Josephs character and so far he is doing well. But is he able to continue to withstand the temptation offered to him? After all, no one from his family back in Canaan will ever find out if he gives in and serves the wife of his master in she way she desires....

Read Part Ten HERE

 

                                                                                        

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE P/8

 

                                                             Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

                   FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE

                                      PART VIII

"I, Joseph have begun to look like a real Egyptian... I dress like an Egyptian... I talk like an Egyptian... But I am not an Egyptian... I am a Hebrew... My father is Jacob... Every day I pray to my God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that one day I will be re-united with my family... Perhaps one day God will answer my prayer... I know, though, that my God is with me even here in Egypt... I do not understand why I am here.... But I do know that God is watching over me even here... I am no longer the favourite son of my father... I am only a slave of my master Potiphar.... But God has given me favour with my master.... He has now placed me in charge of his whole household... I wonder if he views me more like a son than a slave... Perhaps one day he will release me and send me back to my family in Canaan... After all, God has given me two dreams... In both dreams my family bows down to me... These dreams can only be fulfilled if I am with them... I am now in Egypt.... And they are in Canaan.... These dreams can, therefore, not be fulfilled here, in Egypt... I am sure God will move me somewhere one day... Perhaps he will do it through my master Potiphar."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Joseph completely earns the trust of his master Potiphar....

                  ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFEL OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                           FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE

                                                            PART VIII

Things do look good, though, for Joseph because he has great favour with his master Potiphar. Over time Joseph may well have begun to hope that one day Potiphar will give him back his freedom and allow him to return home so that his God-given dreams can be fulfilled. After all, he has earned this man's complete trust as you can read in Genesis 39:2-6a

The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered and lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favour in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So he left in Joseph's care everything he had; with Joseph in charge he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

It lools like Joseph is more like a son to Potiphar than a slave... or is he?

Read Part Nine HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE P/7

 

                                                            Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

                FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE

                                    PART VII   

"I, Joseph, have been on a very tiring journey.. It was not a journey of my own choosing... I have been travelling from the fields near Dothan to Egypt.... I never planned to go to Egypt... I planned to go back home to my father Jacob's tent after my visit to the fields in Dothan...I went to these fields to visit my brothers... They were grazing our flocks there.... But when I got there my brothers threw me into an empty cistern... They planned to kill me.... But they then changed their minds.... Instead, they decided to sell me to a group of merchants who were on their way to Egypt... I know they do not like me.... But I never thought they would do such a thing...  But they did... I could not do anything to prevent them from selling me.... I did try though... I begged them to let me go home to our father Jacob.... He is already old.... And I knew he would be so worried if I did not return to him... But they would not listen.... So I ended up being taken by a group of merchants all the way to Egypt.... When we eventually arrived in Egypt I was taken to slave market.... I had never been to such a place... There I was sold to a man named Potiphar... When I was the favourite sone of my father everything was done for me... But now I am a slave so I have to work very hard each day... My master is very kind to me though."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Joseph became a slave to a man named Potiphar after his arrival in Egypt...

 

                  ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

                                                FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE

                                                                   PART VII 

When Joseph arrives in Egypt he is taken into the home of a man named Potiphar as you can read in Genesis 37:36

Meanwhile the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard.

Your training may not take you to another country. Your training may well take place where you were born. Wherever your training takes place, you can be certain that it will be at the place God intends it to be. You are not there by accident. You are there by God's design. He planned for you to be there at this time to prepare you for whatever He has for you to do as you can read in Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Joseph's first training ground is in the house of a man named Potiphar. He will have learned many things there even though he may have wondered whether his dreams will ever come true. 

Read Part Eight HERE