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Bible Notes - Tabernacle Commentaries
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Genesis 39:21
Comments
The Lord was with Joseph because he was innocent of the crime he had been accused of. History now repeats itself for Joseph, and again he is elevated, first of all within the prison itself. The Lord shewed him mercy, and caused human beings to show him mercy always, for the Lord can make our natural enemies to do us good. This jailor would have been a hard-bitten character. How was it that Joseph managed to gain the favour of a worldling? The answer, surely, lies in Joseph’s consistent character. Once again he is displaying godly character, and this earns the respect even of such a man as this. Joseph was not a peevish person, or a haughty person, or grumbling or self-pitying. What would melt a cynical jailer’s heart? Courtesy, respect (Joseph was a slave in prison, yet had respect) humility, likeable attributes, cheerfulness, diligence, helpfulness, and an uncomplaining spirit. This melted the heart. Once again he was honest and clean, and he got these virtues from the Lord. God raised up delivers for Joseph even in his predicament. Joseph was being trained by the Lord, though he would not have been able to understand it at the time. God was going to humble him to the lowest level, before he exalted him to the highest. When, subsequently, Joseph was lifted up by Pharoah, it would be without pride because of this earlier experience.
Application
In one sense it would have been a time of relief for Joseph, for his temptation has ended. God will sometimes deliver us from the temptation by causing the world to lose patience and turn on us instead. For us this is far safer though we may not recognise it because we feel the discomfort of being persecuted. The world’s hostility is often safer for us than the world’s friendship.
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