The Mistreatment of Joseph

Often when we think of the life of Joseph we see a man who, even at the lowest places, ended up rising to the top!
Yeh he was thrown in a pit and sold by his brothers, yes he ended up a slave - but hey, he ended up being in charge of Potiphers house, second only to Potipher.
Then we see him go to prison for something he didn't do - but hey, we see him rise so that he is over all the prison.
Then he ends up prime minister of Egypt!

So I think that we have a tendency see Joseph in light of his 'rising in favour' and to overlook and fail to see that this man suffered greatly.
But Robin McCullagh pointed out Psalm 105:17-20 to a few of us, which would bring us to a realization that Joseph did indeed suffer:

"He sent a man before them - Joseph - who was sold as a slave.
They hurt his feet with fetters, he was laid in irons.
Until the time that his word came to pass,
The word of the Lord tested him.
The king sent and released him,
The ruler of the people let him go free."

I believe this verse clearly indicates that in his early days in prison Joseph was mistreated and had his feet hurt with fetters as well as being chained up.
He did not immediately gain favour but over time those in authority over him grew to respect and trust him, but his initial treatment in prison would have been as a slave who had made a sexual advance on his owners wife. [It is even possible that the same guard who did not look into anything that Joseph did (Gen 39:23), was involved in this earlier mistreatment.]

I think Joseph's own words sum up the plot of his life pretty well;
"You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good". God was continually at work in bringing about His plans for the preservation of His people, through terrible circumstances and through the sufferings of Joseph.

Similarly, the man of sorrows (Jesus), left His place in Heaven and came to Earth as a man, He went through unbelievable and uncomparable sufferings upon the cross as God's wrath over sin was unleashed upon Him. But His sufferings, His death and resurrection have brought around the redemption and forgiveness of all those who believe upon Him; trusting Him for forgiveness and pardon with God.

Thank You Jesus for suffering my punishment & my death!