Genesis 39
THE men who had bought Joseph took him to a country a great way off. It was called Egypt. When they got to Egypt they tried to sell him, as if he had been a horse or a cow. In this country, where we live, no one sells men. In some countries men are sold, and are called slaves, and are beaten and made to work very hard, but are not paid any money for their labor.
Poor Joseph was sold as a slave. Do you not hope that a kind man bought him? And it was a kind man that bought him. There was a very rich man who knew the king, and he bought Joseph to be his slave. His name was Potiphar. He took Joseph home with him. He did not send him to work in the field; but he made him a servant in the house. So Joseph had not very hard work to do.
Joseph tried to be a good servant. Though he wished very much to be with his father, he did not waste his time in fretting, but took great pains to please his master. When his master told him to do anything, he did it so well that his master was quite pleased with him. It was God that made Joseph able to do his work so well; and. Joseph's master knew that it was God that helped him to do things well. I suppose that Joseph had told him, for his master did not know the true God, but worshipped idols.
His master liked him better every day. At last his master said to Joseph, “I can trust you so well, that I will give you the charge of the other servants when I am out. Take care of the house, and all the things in it, of the garden and of the fields; for I can trust you.”
So Joseph had the care of everything, and all the other servants minded what he said; and he might do what he liked when his master was out. But Joseph behaved the same as if his master were watching him; for he knew the eye of God was always upon him. There are many children who behave ill as soon as their parents go out of the room. Such children do not fear God.
Though Joseph had the care of nice things to eat, and beautiful things to wear, he only took what his master allowed him to take. He was always busy—sometimes in the house, and sometimes in the field; and God made the things vow well in the field; and the work go on right in the house; so that Potiphar had no trouble himself, but found that Joseph would manage all for him.
So Joseph had now all he could wish for; but he could not forget his father, and his little baby-brother, Benjamin. As for his mother, Rachel, you know that she had died some time before.
Now you shall hear what a sad thing happened to Joseph.
Potiphar had a very wicked wife. She wished Joseph to be turned out of the house; for Joseph had found out how bad she was, so she did not like to see Joseph.
This wicked woman said to Potiphar, "Your slave, Joseph, that you think so good, is very wicked, and when you are out, he behaves very ill." Then she told Potiphar of bad things that she said Joseph had done.
Potiphar was so foolish as to believe her, and he fell into a great rage, and said, "Joseph shall be put into prison.”
So some men took Joseph, and brought him to the prison, which was in Potiphar's house.
Were you ever in a prison, my dear child? It is a dark place with very little windows, and bars of iron before the windows, and iron gates and bolts.
Joseph was put into prison; and his feet were hurt by great iron chains, which were fastened round them.
There were a great many men in the prison, and most of them had done very bad things, but Joseph had done nothing wrong. God still loved Joseph, and he could make him happy even in a prison.
There was a man who kept the keys of the prison, and took care of the prisoners. He was called the keeper of the prison. Sometimes keepers are very unkind, but God put it into the keeper's heart to love Joseph. Joseph had a very sweet countenance or look, and he behaved well to the keeper, and minded all he said.
At last, the keeper took the chains off Joseph's feet and allowed him to walk about the prison, and take care of the prisoners. The keeper found that he could trust him, and that Joseph managed things well. It was God who made Joseph do everything so well; for God was Joseph's friend, and was always watching over him to comfort him.
Joseph hoped that God would someday let him get out of prison.
Hymn 11
See Joseph in a prison cast,
In darkness under ground
His feet within the stocks made fast,
With iron fetters bound.
Can this be he (now clad in raiment vile)
Who lately shared a father's tenderest smile?
But in the prison, shines a light,
Which none but Joseph sees;
The promises of God are bright,
And give his spirit ease.
The day shall come, when he with honor crowned
Shall see his brethren bending low around.
Yes, God shall clear his innocence,
And make it fully known;
Yes, God shall send, and draw him hence,
And raise him to a throne;
But first, like gold, his patience must be tried,
And (as by fire) his heart be purified.