"Demotion And Promotion"

"And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison." Genesis 39:20

When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, he wound up in a man name Potiphar's house. The Lord blessed him and caused him to have favor with Potiphar so much so that he was made overseer of his house and all that he had. Joseph was in a place of position and authority even though he was a slave.

One day Potiphar's wife tried to get Joseph to commit adultery with her. He refused and ran out of the house. In his haste he left his garment behind and she used it as evidence to support her lie that Joseph had tried to force himself on her. Joseph was thrown into prison.

"What happened?", I am sure he asked. The test came-- would he obey the commands of the Lord and abstain from sexual immorality or give in; would he do the right thing and resist or not? He did the right thing, He followed the commandments of the Lord, he remained faithful to his God and loyal to Potiphar, yet he was thrown into prison.

On the surface it looked as though following the Lord and keeping His commandments only got him in trouble. He certainly didn't look blessed because he did. He passed the test, but the outcome looked like he failed. It cost him-- he went from a position of authority to a prisoner in the king's prison. Joseph didn't realize at the time that what looked like a demotion actually brought him closer to his promotion. Being put in the prison brought him one step closer to the palace.

Often when we have done the right thing (the thing that pleases God) and it seems to "back-fire" on us and it looks like we have been "demoted", what's happening is that it is bringing us closer to our promotion. Joseph would not have made it to the palace had he not gone through the prison. The prison was the reward (although it didn't look like it at the time) for passing the test because it positioned him for the promise. He had to go "down" (demotion) before he could go "up" (promotion) because going "down" is the route that leads "up".

Have a great day. What looks like a demotion may actually be positioning you for promotion.

For further reading:

Genesis 39; 41

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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