Learning Contentment in Confinement

Intro:

Today we will continue our series titled, [Finding Jesus in Joseph]. The subject of today’s message is [Learning Contentment in Confinement].

We live in a nation with unlimited potential. I have been fortunate to travel to different nations, and it always makes me thankful to live in the United States.

In our county, we have freedom to say what we feel, freedom to worship, and freedom to live our lives the way we want.

Our nation has more money and opportunity than ever. I watch as it seems people have more stuff than ever. Cars are easy to finance, stores allow people to purchase on credit, and home loans are easy receive.

People seem to have more in terms of things, however, many people are discontent.

I recently read an article titled, “Americans are becoming less happy, and there’s research to prove it.” The results of the three year survey indicate Americans are more miserable than ever before.

Even though incomes have increased three times since the 1960s, people are less happy than in the past. It intrigues me that in a country where people have more opportunities and they seem to have more possessions, they are more likely to be discontent and discouraged than people from developing nations.

As income and wealth has increased, interest in the Lord and church has decreased. One two year survey (Gallup) showed in the late 1950’s to the early 1960’s 73% of Americans belonged to a church.

Form 2016-2018 that number is now 55% of people belong to a church. People increasingly disinterested in church, however, discontent and unhappiness are on the rise.

Can we see what is happening? As people become less interested in the the Lord, they become more unhappy.

The wise King Solomon explained,

Proverbs 19:23 NKJV

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.

The New International Version reads, “The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.”

When we have respect, awe, and admiration for the Lord, we will live a life of contentment. However, the farther we get from God, the more difficult our lives become.

Simply put, when we exclude God in our lives, problems are inevitable. When we include God in everything, God will help us. That is not to say problems will never arise, however, we will have the proper perspective on our problems.

Contentment is defined, a state of happiness and satisfaction.

I want us to think of that word as we look at this portion of Joseph’s life. Born into a life of luxury as the favored father of Jacob, Joseph’s life took a downward spiral when he was sold into slavery at age seventeen.

However, God was with him. Even though he was in a foreign land, God gave him a leadership position. God honored his commitment to fear and love the Lord.

Nevertheless, God was with him. Even though he was in a foreign land, God gave him a leadership position. God honored his commitment to fear and love the Lord.

Even his pagan master Potiphar recognized God was with Joseph. Therefore, Joseph was placed in a position of trust. Everything in Potiphar’s house was under the direct influence and control of Joseph.

However, the enemy wanted to stop Joseph. He had to hear Joseph when he told his brothers about the prophetic dreams he had. Satan knew enough about God to know Joseph’s was not going to be in Potiphar’s home forever, God had bigger and better things for him.

Therefore, through a series of lies and innuendo, Joseph ended up in prison. Out of sight and out of mind, Satan thought perhaps he had squashed any future for Joseph.

However, God used this time in prison to help Joseph grow in Him. Notice, even in prison, the Lord was WITH Joseph and gave Him supernatural favor.

As we look at Joseph’s life, I want us to see how he become content even though he was confined. Later we will see how Jesus exhibited this as well. Then we can learn how to be content in all things.

Contentment in confinement. I have three points, [Joseph Ruled in a Dungeon], [Joseph Revealed the Dreams], and [Joseph Requested Deliverance].

Let’s begin

1. Joseph Ruled in the Dungeon

Prisons were virtually unheard of in these days except in Egypt. The normal way of handling crimes was to execute or severely punish the offender.

Knowing this helps us realize Potiphar’s response to the accusations against Joseph. Had he really believed Joseph was guilty, he would have wasted no time in killing him.

Instead he placed him in prison with the king’s prisoners. The prisoners would wait there until Pharaoh’s judges could determine their guilt.

To say this was a difficult time in Joseph’s life is an understatement. He had to be miserable in prison. After being plucked from his family at age seventeen, he served Potiphar for eleven years.

Sure he missed home, but he adjusted to his new normal. Now at the age of twenty-eight, he was sentenced to prison for a crime he did not commit.

Even though the enemy thought he had silenced Joseph, two times from verses 21-23, we are told that the Lord was WITH Him. As a result, whatever he did, the Lord caused it to prosper.

God’s presence and supernatural prosperity is wonderful, but if I were Joseph, I would prefer to have these two things OUTSIDE OF PRISON.

But notice what happened, as a teenager Joseph two dreams that showed him he had a great future. Then at Potiphar’s house, he had great favor and he flourished in all he did.

Surely being in prison would cause all of that to stop, right? Wrong. Joseph began to notice a progression, it was not luck or good fortune, it was God’s hand on his life that helped him.

Joseph prospered in an unlikely place. He never wanted to be there and the keeper of the prison noticed Joseph’s leadership abilities so he gave him responsibilities.

Were these responsibilities a result of Joseph’s good ideas or natural skills? No, it was because God was with Joseph and He had so much more to teach him.

When Joseph was imprisoned, God enabled him to rule in the dungeon...

2. Joseph Revealed the Dreams

Genesis 40:6–8 NKJV

6 And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in the custody of his lord’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?” 8 And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.” So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”

After Joseph was placed in prison and put in charge, he acquired two new cell mates. These were not common criminals, they were men who were once in positions of trust and power.

They were the chief butler and the chief baker. These two men held important positions. Though they seem menial and insignificant, they were responsible to ensure the safety and health of the Pharaoh.

In their primitive society, murdering a king was a normal way of introducing a new king. People would conspire to kill the king by poisoning his food or drinks.

Therefore, the butler would taste the kings drinks to ensure they were not poisoned. The baker was another unique position of trust. He was responsible to make sure they kings food was safe to eat.

The Bible is silent on why these two men were sentenced to prison. Perhaps there was a plot on Pharaoh’s life and they were implicated in the process.

It is likely that they were in prison as they determined their fate and their guilt. As they two men were in prison, one morning they both were sad.

Joseph saw their sorrow and sympathized. Joseph asked why they were sad, and both answered they had a dream that troubled them. Joseph showed his faith and trust in the Lord by indicating all interpretations belong to God.

The butler dreamt of a vine with three branches which brought forth ripe grapes. Suddenly the cup of Pharoah was in his hand and he gave it to Pharaoh.

God revealed to Joseph that in three days the butler would return to his position as butler. This was excellent news for he would return to his former position of power and prestige.

The baker heard it and hoped for good news. His dream was similar, there were three baskets and in these baskets were all the bread for Pharaoh. Suddenly birds swooped down and at the bread from the baskets.

Here is where Joseph showed himself to be a man of integrity. He knew the dream would be fulfilled in three days, and he knew it was not good news. He could have said, your dream is similar and good things are coming for you.

Instead he told the truth. In three days you will be hung on a tree and the birds of the air will eat your decomposing flesh. I am sure the next three days were somewhat awkward in the prison.

As remarkable as the interpretations are, it struck me that as difficult as it was for Joseph to be in prison, he was concerned about those he was called to lead. If anyone had a reason to bemoan and complain, it was Joseph.

However, Joseph was learning contentment in confinement. He knew the Lord was with him and God use him to rule in the dungeon, reveal the dreams, and then...

3. Joseph Requested Deliverance

Genesis 40:14–15 NKJV

14 But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. 15 For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; and also I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon.”

Genesis 40:20–23 NKJV

20 Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. 21 Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. 22 But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

As we read this part of the story, it is easy to admire Joseph’s qualities. He was learning to be content. He was concerned for the other prisoners. He was placed in a position of trust.

However, a little bit of human nature shines through in Joseph’s request to the butler. Clearly God was with him, clearly God had given him favor, but Joseph couldn’t help but include, when you get to Pharaoh remember me.

A request like this seems logical, however, part of Joseph’s destiny was to be totally dependent on the Lord. These two verses reveal where Joseph was in the process.

He still wanted to vindicate himself. He was still dealing with the hurt of being sold by his brothers. He still wrestled with being homesick for his Hebrew family. So in a moment of weakness he saw an opportunity of escape.

Instead of placing his trust in the Lord, he looked to the butler and requested deliverance through him. Did it work?

Genesis 40:20–23 NKJV

20 Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. 21 Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. 22 But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Just as Joseph said, the butler was restored to his place of power and the baker was killed for a crime. But the butler forgot Joseph, then Joseph had to wrestle with being failed by someone he helped.

Though Joseph’s time in prison was hard on him, God used it to help Joseph grow. I do not personally believe that God is the source of the bad things that happen in our lives.

James 1:17 NKJV

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

God is a giver of good things, however, when bad things happen to us, He can use them to make us more like Him and to help us trust Him more.

It reminds me of the story of Chuck Colson. He was known as President Nixon’s hatchet man. As special counsel to the president, he was influential in Watergate. He was arrested and plead guilty to obstruction of justice.

After his arrest and before his sentence, he was introduced to Jesus and was born again. Many ridiculed his conversion as a ploy to get a shorter sentence in prison.

However, he went to prison, served his time, and from that experience something beautiful occurred.

In his best-selling memoir, Born Again, Chuck wrote, “I found myself increasingly drawn to the idea that God had put me in prison for a purpose and that I should do something for those I had left behind.”

During his time in prison, his relationship with the Lord developed so that he began Prison Fellowship, and today they work with thousands of prisoners, helping them come back to Jesus, and become productive citizens.

Had he never gone to prison, God may have never birthed this vision in his heart. The same is said for Joseph, God had to get Joseph to a place of total dependance on Him.

Joseph would never be able to interpret Pharaoh’s dream, rescue Egypt from the famine, become Egypt’s Prime Minister, and eventually forgive his brothers had he not learned contentment in confinement.

Close:

So far we can see that God was with Joseph throughout his life. However, we know the whole story. Let’s try and think of how Joseph felt during this time of his life.

He struggled with forgiveness, yet God was with Him. The Lord showed him favor and grace. However, during his two year confinement, he learned the value of contentment.

Now, let’s find Jesus in Joseph. As I read this part of Joseph’s life, I cannot help but think of Jesus. For thirty-three years, He was confined to a body. He walked this earth, feeling all the emotions and temptations we face.

Yet He understood how to be content. He was content with the plan the Father had for His life. Even when He voiced His desire to avoid the cross, He renewed His commitment when He declared:

Matthew 26:38–39 NKJV

38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Jesus submitted to the Father’s plan. Likewise, Joseph had to submit to the Father’s plan.

Psalm 105:17–19 NKJV

17 He sent a man before them— Joseph—who was sold as a slave. 18 They hurt his feet with fetters, He was laid in irons. 19 Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him.

Both Jesus and Joseph faced temptation and both went through situations where they had to be content.

The good news is, both fulfilled the plan God had for them. Now, we have the opportunity to learn and glean from their examples.

As I mentioned in my introduction, we live in a discontent society. People are increasingly unhappy even though it appears the opposite should be true. And sadly, many people, including Christians, choose complacency and complaining instead of contentment.

When challenging times come, we have to options

We act more like Joseph, looking for a quick out, and less like Jesus submitting to the will of the Father. However, if we will commit to draw closer to the Lord and depend on Him, we will learn to be content.

Philippians 4:

Philippians 4:11–13 NKJV

11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Paul shows us the secret, if we ever want to do, be, and have ALL that God wants us to do, be, and have, we must learn to be content. If we cannot be content in our current state, our current state will be our perpetual state.

Joseph had to learn contentment in confinement, or else he would have stayed confined forever. Likewise, when we face difficulties, struggles, spiritual attacks, and hard times, there are not easy outs.

We have to learn to be content. This does not mean to get satisfied or stuck in our struggle, but to trust God will help us through and provide us a way forward!