Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 18

Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God's Plan?

• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan?
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 2
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 3
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 4
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 5
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 6
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 7
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 8
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 9
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 10
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 11
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 12
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 13
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 14
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 15
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 16
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 17
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 18
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 19
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 20
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 21
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 22
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 23
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 24
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 25
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 26
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 27
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 28
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 29
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 30
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 31
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 32
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 33
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 35
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 34
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 36
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 37
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 38
• Did the Old Testament Greats Understand God’s Plan? Part 39

Recap of Part 17: Joseph ends up in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Most prisoners have this story, but Joseph really did nothing wrong. Potiphar’s wife claimed that he tried to rape her. “And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me…Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out” (Genesis 39:7-12).

Part 18

How would you feel if you were falsely imprisoned? Joseph had just got past the struggles involved with being sold into slavery by his own family. He began to do well as a servant in Potiphar’s house; even becoming the head of all the servants. Life was beginning to turn around and look good for him. Now, because of a lie, he loses all and is imprisoned. Would you have cursed God for this misfortune? How would your attitude toward others be? Let’s see how Joseph handled these struggles.

“And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper” (Genesis 39:20-23).

The Lord is with us too! We must keep that in mind even at our lowest moments in life. Do you live in such a way that Christ is easily seen in you? Or are you grumpy with others? Do you show kindness and sincerity or aloofness and impatience? Let Joseph be your example. He faced many adversities and kept his faith. He knew his Lord and he chose obedience and loyalty. When you see others do you see Christ with them? Do you see Christ in your own life?

While in prison Joseph is in charge of two of Pharoah’s prisoners; the baker and the butler. Each had strange dreams and were discussing them with each other. Joseph noticed that each looked sad and asks them about their dreams. “And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: And Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand. And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days: Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon” (Genesis 40:9- 15).

Joseph blesses this man with God’s help by interpreting his dream. He intends to bless both men. We will see what happens next week. What does Joseph know?