Genesis 39:19-23

CRITICAL NOTES.—

Genesis 39:22. Keeper of the prison.] An inferior officer who was charged with the actual discipline of the prison.

MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Genesis 39:19

JOSEPH IN PRISON

I. An example of the mysterious ways of Providence. The outward sufferings of Joseph were grievous. He was bound as well as imprisoned. They “hurt” his feet “with fetters.” (Psalms 105:18.) But his trouble went deeper than this. “The iron entered his soul.” Though conscious of innocence, yet in the eyes of men he suffered as one guilty. He had to bear shame, and reproach, and punishment on account of his integrity and uprightness. All this time his enemies flourished and triumphed over him. Such is the mystery of Providence in all ages. The prizes of the world seem mostly to fall to the lot of the selfish and the sinful. The just is often made a prey to the sons of violence, and condemned to obscurity and failure, while the ungodly are in great prosperity and are borne to the stars by flatteries and applause. This has been the puzzle of God’s people in all ages. When they have thought upon the dark ways of God’s dealings here it has been a pain and grief to their souls. To all outward appearance, it is not justice, but the blindest and most undiscriminating chance that rules the world.

II. An example of the strength of God’s consolations in the worst trials. Joseph had God’s consolations within him which enabled him to bear up, and hope on, and press forward, even though he could not see his way before him.

1. He had a present reward. “The Lord was with Joseph.” The promise made to Abraham was his. The Lord was in all places and in all circumstances his “exceeding great reward.” (Genesis 15:1.) He had the satisfaction of a good conscience, in the thought of duty nobly done. God was with him, and near him, his help and stay. What can be greater than this to a man who can fully realise it? It is true that Joseph was afterwards exalted to greatness and prosperity. But this was not his true reward, which was one altogether spiritual and unseen by the world. In a most sacred and exclusive sense, his reward was with the Most High. God does not pay His people in the coin and honours of this world.

2. His goodness was made manifest. That brought him a further reward in the sight of men, and led the way to his advancement and exaltation. The first effect was to give him influence over others. He rose in favour with the keeper of the prison. (Genesis 39:21.) “We observe here the real nature of human influence. It is not the influence of rank, but of character. Make all men equal in rank to-day, and to-morrow there will be found those who have acquired influence over the others. These prisoners were all in the same position, but very soon Joseph’s character gained him influence. Thus, by the influence of Paul, the jailer at Philippi was converted, Felix trembled before him, and Agrippa was almost persuaded to be a Christian. Let such a man be imprisoned, but he will soon have converted Cæsar’s household, for his influence is real.”—(Robertson.)

SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES

Genesis 39:19. A prison is a place of humiliation and shame. The inmates are the actual or suspected perpetrators of evil, whose name is a reproach, whom society casts out. But within these walls of guilt we find a guiltless man. The blameless Joseph is here immured. Without transgression, he is numbered with transgressors. Joseph in custody, reviled for iniquity which he knew not, foreshadows Jesus, who, without sin, is made sin for us. He for whom the heaven of heavens is no worthy throne, is clothed for us in prison garb, and tastes for us the prison shame. Hence the Spirit records, “He was taken from prison and from judgment.” But Jesus was arrested by the justice of God. But wherefore? He lived the Holy Man Jesus. He died the Holy Sufferer. How then could justice touch Him with a jailor’s grasp? Because, though no shade of sin was in Him, mountains of sin were upon Him. God transfers the sins of the sinful to His sinless Son. Wondrous is the word, but true as wondrous, “The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquities of us all.” [Archdeacon Law: “Christ is All.”]

Genesis 39:21. No sooner is Joseph a prisoner, than a guardian of the prisoners. Trust and honour accompany him wheresoever he is: in his father’s house, in Potiphar’s, in the jail, in the court; still he hath both favour and rule. So long as God is with him, he cannot but shine in spite of men. The walls of that dungeon cannot hide his virtues, the irons cannot hold them. Pharaoh’s officers are sent to witness his graces, which he may not come forth to shew.—(Bp. Hall.)

A prison keeps not God from His; witness the apostles and martyrs, whose prisons, by God’s presence, became palaces; the fiery furnace, a gallery of pleasure; the stocks, a music school. (Acts 16:25.)—(Trapp.)

Observe the religious tone of this account. We read nothing of Joseph’s intellectual superiority, but that “the Lord was with him.” The reason of his influence was the God within him. Just so far as a man is Christlike will he have influence.—(Robertson.)

In Joseph’s condition, nothing is to be seen but death, the loss of his fair fame, and of all his virtues. Now comes Christ with his eyes of grace, and throws light into the grave. “Joseph is to become a Lord, though he had seemingly entered into the prison of hell.”—(Luther). Joseph’s way is now for a time in the darkness, but this is the very way through which God often leads his people.—(Lange.)

Joseph had much yet to do in this world. He was to become “the shepherd and the stone of Israel.” He was to be lord of Pharaoh’s house, according to the dreams which came to him from heaven; he was to become the father of two powerful tribes in Israel. He could not perish while the promises he had received were yet unaccomplished. All the powers of darkness combined would find themselves unable to put one of God’s servants to death whilst any part of his work remained unperformed. What can man do against God? Not only the righteous and the wise, and their works, but the unrighteous, the unwise, and the worst of their works, are in the hands of God.—(Bush.)