Text: “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.” – Genesis 39: 20.
Comment: After Joseph had been sold as a slave to Ishmaelite traders for 20 pieces of silver, he was bought by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, who, in course of time put him in charge of his house. The devil however, moved the wife of Potiphar to seek to have an amorous and ungodly relationship with Joseph. This he resisted because he knew it was not right in the sight of God. (Genesis 39:7-10) For standing up to the demands of faith, Joseph was thrown into prison. He suffered for an offence he did not commit but took it calmly. (Compare 1 Peter 2:20-23).
Joseph did not doubt the providence of God: his faith in God was unshaken. Eventually he came from prison to become second in command to Pharaoh. Scriptures says: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.” – 2 Peter 2:9.