By Kevin Harris, pastor of the Illawarra Community Baptist Church in Wollongong, NSW
Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh…. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
Genesis 41:14, 41
And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
Matthew 14:10
Here are two godly men, both of them innocent, yet both are imprisoned wrongfully.
What had Joseph done to deserve being sold into slavery? When propositioned by Potipher’s wife, he had resisted day after day, even running when it became necessary to avoid sinning. But she lied, made him out to be a rapist, and her husband tossed Joseph into prison.
What had John the Baptist done to deserve his prison sentence? He had rebuked Herod for committing adultery. People don’t like their sin being exposed. We love darkness rather than light.
Two wronged men with two outcomes.
One was promoted to the palace; the other to paradise.
One was spared because the Lord had a task for him to perform. The other had finished the task the Lord had given to him.
‘Oh, how tragic!’ In one sense, yes, his murder was tragic. But of the two, who got to be with his Lord sooner than the other?
Romans 8:28 promises that all things work together for good for the believer according to the purposes of God. ALL things, even wrongful detention, can turn to good.
Our Lord is King, and He can order our lives as He wishes. My duty is to meekly submit. It is a privilege to fit into His good plans for this world.
Father, if You have further work for me to do during my lifetime, help me to faithfully do it. When the time comes to graduate to Glory, help me to cross the finish line still running faithfully the race You’ve set before me. Meanwhile I praise You for Your good plans. I ask in the Name of the Lord Jesus, Amen.
This article was written by Kevin Harris Dapto pastor of Illawarra Community Baptist Church.