Joseph was 17. Full of dreams and hopes. He was a good looking kid from a prestigious family. He was favored by his father. He had a bright future in front of him and then SUDDENLY.
Without warning, his whole world crumbled. He was sold into slavery, taken to a foreign and pagan land, the victim of sexual harassment, falsely imprisoned, and forgotten. For thirteen years, life treated Joseph unfairly. For 13 long years, Joseph is without family, alone, mistreated. 13 years. Boys become men in 13 years. But then SUDDENLY.
One day he is in a dungeon and the next he is second in command of all of Egypt.
How does one go from the dungeon to the palace?
1. You may be in the dungeon but never allow the dungeon to be in you. No matter what situation Joseph was in, he always acted with integrity. He refused Potiphar’s wife because he didn’t want to sin against God. He was kind to the baker and the cupbearer. He was in dungeon but the dungeon was not in him. Don’t allow your circumstance and your surroundings to change who you are.
2. Before you prosper in the palace, learn to prosper in dungeon. We often are waiting for deliverance before we can experience prosperity- “if I only made more money, if only someone would give me an opportunity.” No, prosperity begins within and is unstoppable by your circumstances.
3. Your gift will make way for you. Joseph could have been gun shy about interpreting dreams but he knew this was a gift from God. So he interprets a dream to encourage his friends. This leads to his palace dwelling.
4. Trust God. Joseph had been in captivity for 13 years, dwelling with pagans. But Joseph never forgot nor forsook the God of his father. He remembered God and gave God the glory for his gift.
Brothers and sisters, your dungeon dwelling days are ending. Your suddenly is on the way. Doors are opening! Opportunities are knocking. Your dreams, your promises will be fulfilled! Hold on. It’s coming SUDDENLY!
“Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh (causing to forget), for he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and hardship and all [the sorrow of the loss of] my father’s household.” He named the second [son] Ephraim (fruitfulness), for “God has caused me to be fruitful and very successful in the land of my suffering.””
GENESIS 41:51-52 AMP