From Bound to Free

Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt.  And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. - Genesis 41:46, ESV


At age seventeen, Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery.  Thirteen years later he is number two in all of Egypt.  However, the road to that position was not an easy one.  He was sold by his brothers because they couldn't stand him.  He was then sold again by those who bought him from his brothers to Potiphar, the captain of the Pharaoh's guard.  He was then accused of trying to rape Potiphar's wife (accused by her of this) and sent to prison.  Pharaoh has a dream and hears from the cupbearer that there was this guy in prison who can interpret dreams (cupbearer forgot to mention Joseph to Pharaoh for two years).  Joseph interprets the dream, gives wise counsel on how to respond to the dream and is promoted.  This was a thirteen-year plan to get Joseph to this place for God's purposes.  But here are some key things to keep in mind to apply to your own life:

1).  IT DOESN'T ALWAYS FEEL INSTANT.  Joseph was in bondage for thirteen years.  He didn't experience the rose-covered path.  He experienced pain, neglect, loneliness and betrayal.  But in all of it, Scripture is clear to point out that "God was with him."  If you're in the middle of it, hang in there.  The key to the crisis is not how to get out of it (even though you should keep your eyes open for the escape hatch), but rather how to find Christ in the crisis.  When you do that it changes everything.

2).  YOU'RE FREE! How did it feel for Joseph to be in a prison at the beginning of the day to going "through all the land of Egypt" by the end of the day? He was a prisoner at breakfast.  At dinner, he was free.  But not only was he free, he had the power of Pharaoh at his disposal.

"Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck." - 41:42, ESV


Joseph was given new clothes.  He was given a gold chain to wear around his neck.  And on top of all of that, Pharaoh took off his own signet ring and put it on Joseph's hand.  This signet ring was Pharaoh's signature.  When Pharaoh wrote a new edict or law to put into effect, he would use his signet ring as his signature.  Joseph now had that signet ring and all the power and resources of the Pharaoh that came with it.  And the truth for you to remember, Christian, is that you have the power of the King of the universe at your disposal to accomplish his will, along with all the resources that you need to get it accomplished.  You are free.  You have been changed.  And with that, he has given you his power to live by as you walk "through all the land."

If you're in the middle of it, hang in there.  God has a purpose.  He knows exactly what he is doing.  And realize this: he will heal you completely of your past.  He did it for Joseph.  We can see this in that when Joseph got married and had two kids, he named the first boy, "Manasseh."  Do you see it? Of course not.  I didn't either until I saw why he named his firstborn Manasseh.

"Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, 'For,' he said, 'God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house.'" - 41:51, ESV


God caused Joseph to forget about the hardship without losing the character, endurance, and hope that came with the lessons learned through hardship (see Romans 5:3-5).  Joseph was freed.  Joseph was empowered.  Joseph was healed.  This is the perfect picture of what Jesus does with each person that comes to him.