Obedience: Price and Prize
And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed. (Genesis 39 : 20-23)
Price and Prize! Only one letter difference. Two completely different words, yet interrelated.
Oxford Languages defines Price as “an unwelcome experience, event, or action involved as a condition of achieving a desired end”. While Prize is “a reward given to the winner of a competition or in recognition of an outstanding achievement”. In other terms, you will never get a prize without paying the price.
The story is of Joseph who was sold by his jealous brothers to be enslaved in Egypt. There, his master’s wife became fond of him but Joseph would not sin against God and his master. So she accused him of nearly raping her and had her husband throw him in jail. In prison, Joseph was elevated by the prison keeper as much as he was when he was in his master’s house. Our “locations” and circumstances do not dictate whether we can find favor in God’s eyes and others.
Sometimes we see our blessings in retrospection. Joseph, most likely, did not think he was being blessed in the mist of his troubles. But looking back, he realized even in his darkest times, God was with him and blessed him abundantly. However, it all started with Joseph paying the price of obedience. Too often, we are after God’s blessings but are not willing to obey Him. Or rather, not willing to go all the way. We all have that one thing, that pet sin we are not willing to let go of. And we rationalize, we throw a pity party... Incomplete obedience is disobedience. At this point, we have to be radical: I will obey God. What is that thing the Holy Spirit has been convicting you of?
The devil surely sat on Joseph’s shoulder, telling him all the extra benefits he could get in exchange for pleasing his master’s wife and what could happen if he rejects her. But Joseph chose to obey God and not compromise. No doubt the devil came back later taunting him when he was imprisoned as the price for his obedience. Now, imagine the enemy’s jaw dropping a little more each time Joseph’s blessings kept rolling in until Pharaoh said to him, “You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command.[d] Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you. (…) See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:39-41)
And how did Joseph end up in the same prison as the king’s prisoners where he would later meet the man who introduced him to Pharaoh? He was a slave who was accused of attempting to rape his master’s wife (not another slave). He should have been beheaded at best. But, right from the beginning of what seemed to be his downfall, God was at work rewarding his obedience.
Never forget: the prize for our obedience is always worth the price!