The Prison as His Steadfast Love

This morning God has me in Genesis 39 & 40.  Although I’m suffering from a touch of “chemo brain” this morning, I just had to write about this impression the Holy Spirit gave me as I was reading His Word.

To catch you up, these two chapters recount the first part of the patriarch Joseph’s time in Egypt, after maliciously being sold into slavery by his brothers.  He begins to work for Potifar, an officer of Pharaoh, and God blessed the home of Potifar because of Joseph.  Things were going well, until Joseph was unjustly accused of rape by Potifar’s wife, and Joseph was thrown into prison.

Genesis 29:21 tells us that  “the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”

The Lord gave Joseph steadfast love in prison.

This struck me because the prison seems like the opposite of steadfast love.

This phrase “steadfast love” in the original language (Hebrew) is the word “CHECED” which is translated goodness, mercy, faithfulness.

Could it be that the prison WAS God’s steadfast love in Joseph’s life?

Could it be that the prison was to prepare Joseph for all that God has ahead of him (go read the rest of the story!)

The prison is often a place of preparation.

Joesph’s prison made him into a man of humility and utter dependence on God.

Whatever prison of affliction you sit in today, in the path of obedience to the Lord, could be God’s very steadfast love to you.

Be encouraged today, friends.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.”  Psalm 23:6