… and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. – Genesis 40:3

Today's Scripture Reading (October 21, 2024): Genesis 40

Decades ago, a friend of mine was in trouble with the law. I was unable to attend the trial and was stressed when he ended up in jail. I remember the first thing that I wanted to do was go and see him in prison. I jumped through the hoops and made arrangements with the prison for my visit. I also wrote a note to my friend, telling him I had scheduled a time to visit him.

The day arrived, and with more than a bit of nervousness, I jumped into my car and made my way to the prison. I went through the various metal detectors and met with multiple officials before I was told that my arrangements had been lost in transit. My response? "Come on, I have jumped through the hoops. Various people have interviewed me over the phone over a week ago and today in person; you mean I still can't see my friend." Of course, the answer was no, not today. Come back next week, and we will let you in.

I did come back, and true to their words, they did let me. Not only did I get in, but unlike other visitors who would have had to visit through a glass partition, they allowed me to see my friend in the chapel, where we could sit and talk and have a little human contact. It was a good visit and one that I have never forgotten.

Joseph had no one trying to visit him. His family didn't even have any idea that he was still alive, let alone that he was in jail. And slaves didn't have friends. But if someone knew he had been imprisoned and wanted to visit, they would have had difficulty finding him. Part of the problem would have been that Joseph had not gone through the legal system that we have today. Joseph was enslaved. He had no rights, and so when Potiphar decided that he was to be placed in prison, he didn't send him away to some central jail. Potiphar locked him up in the prison that was connected to his house and which he oversaw. It seems likely that no one knew that Joseph was in jail except for Potiphar and his wife. Potiphar played the roles of arresting officer, prosecutor, judge, and jailer. Joseph had been buried and possessed no rights for which anyone needed to fight.

There is a saying that we should "lock him/her up and throw away the key." Essentially, that was precisely where Jacob found himself. He was locked up with no chance of parole because no one knew he was there. Unless something significant happened, no one would find him, and Joseph's life would not change. In this prison, he would simply disappear from the pages of history.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 41