FROM PRISON TO PALACE: A CASE STUDY ON JOSEPH:

By the grace of God, I have read and even done case studies on a number of biblical characters. Granted, majority of them have been inspiring and edifying to me, but for few days now, the LORD, by His mercy, has given me unique inspiration, to do a case study on Joseph. Actually, I have been trying to crystallize and gel

my thought on a caption for this case study on Joseph, the inspired dreamer. Here I have the roughed out topic for our edifying meditation: “A case study on Joseph: From prison to palace”. Meanwhile, please patiently peruse through it, not minding the length. The inspiration is worth the time.
Three perspectives we are looking at, as usual. They are: 

1. JOSEPH’S UNDESIRABLE ROAD TO THE PRISON: (Gen. 39:7-20). And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, lie with me. And it came to pass about this time that 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. And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice: And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out. And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home. (Gen.39:7, 11-16).
That text we have attached to this first sub-topic is a lengthy one, as a matter of fact. That is why I didn’t copy it all. To summarize it. Joseph was a slave Hebrew boy in Egypt. He happened to be attached to a highly placed government official know as Potiphar as a domestic assistant. All of a sudden the madam of the house developed immoral and amorous interest in this innocent and focused young lad. She made successive frantic immoral overtures at him but this holy young man, vehemently, refused and rebuffed her. She, eventually, resorted to wild insinuations and allegations against the uncompromising Joseph. And, the husband, Potiphar, unjustly, hurled this innocent young man into the Prison.
Like they say in my local parlance, “if a man does not attract trouble to himself, his flowing garment will”.
Meanwhile the throes of Joseph started immediately God gave him a vision of leadership and greatness. That was his crime, and all hell was, absolutely, let loose on him. His brothers, callously, antagonized him; they sold him into slavery in Egypt; and, as he was settling down to his unfortunate fate in Egypt, this adulterous, sexually perverted and shameless woman appeared. That was the road that led him to the prison. However, the Lord was with him. That is all we need. The abiding presence of God. And, everything is fine. 

2. JOSEPH’S UNCONSCIONABLE REJECTION BY HIS PEERS: 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: 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: And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him. (Gen. 40:12, 13a, 14, 20, 21a, 23).
In prison custody, as usual, Joseph had colleagues. Of course, they were justly incarcerated for their maleficence, unlike Joseph. However, they were peers and comrades-in-suffering. Eventually, the other two were released in keeping with Joseph’s prophetic dream interpretation. But, upon their release, the one whose fate was favourable forgot Joseph. He rejected him as a friend.
Nothing is as painful as, when in suffering, you think you have found a shoulder to lean on, only to discover that it was a wrong, treacherous shoulder that will even sell you short before the foes. That can wrench and rend any heart of steel. That was the experience of Joseph. But, the LORD was with him.
Dear friend, I don’t know whether you are like Joseph. No crime, yet plenty and plethora of troubles. Not to talk of betrayals here and there. Please and please and please don’t give up hope. The Lord is with you, if you are a born again child of God.

3. JOSEPH’S UNIMAGINABLE RISE TO THE PALACE: And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. (Gen. 41:37-44).
Can you imagine what it was like in the kingdom of wicked Satan and evil spirits the day it was announced that Joseph is now the King over Egypt, the then most powerful nation in the world.Unimaginable.Unthinkable.Unbelievable.Inconceivable.Implausible.Improbable.
Those are the adjectives they will use for you by the time the trials you are going through run their full circle. All those that antagonize you will come and bow before you in submission. Just hang on. Make sure you are with the Lord through sincere repentance and sustenable righteousness and the Lord will be with you during affliction and suffering. More grace.

source: https://www.facebook.com/chidiebere.dennisowah.7?fref=nf