Many autocratic leaders don’t tolerate any dissent and treat people terribly. Sergei Tikhanovsky, the husband of Belarus’ opposition leader, has been freed unexpectedly and reunited with his wife in Lithuania. He has been forced into exile. Sergei was arrested in 2020 as he planned to run for president of Belarus. In 2021 he was sentenced to 18 years on politically motivated charges. While in prison he was kept in isolation and cut off from all contact with the outside world. After his release he spoke at an emotional press conference, “You don’t even get letters, not a single call. For five years, I couldn’t even go to confession with a priest. No letters, no calls, no priest, no lawyer,” he said. Then he began to sob. “It’s a nightmare.” Some family members didn’t recognise him.

In the Bible we read about Joseph, a righteous man, who found himself in prison on false charges. He was his wealthy father’s favourite son and was hated by his brothers who thought to kill him but instead sold him into slavery in Egypt. He became a slave in the house of an important official but was falsely accused by the man’s wife and put in prison. While in prison the warden realised Joseph was a trustworthy man and put him in charge of running the prison. Eventually Joseph was released and became a very important man in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. Joseph suffered from the age of 17 until he was 30.

Three things stand out about Joseph. Through the years he was suffering he maintained his personal integrity. He proved himself trustworthy in every situation and his presence was a blessing to everyone. He also was kept from becoming bitter and resentful. When he met his brothers many years after they had sold him into slavery, he forgave them and said, “You meant to harm me, but God meant it for good.” Throughout his sufferings God was with Joseph and worked all things together for good.

Through the centuries many Christians have been unjustly imprisoned and still are today. The Bible tells us to pray for those imprisoned unjustly, “Remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” On the great Day of Judgement all people will stand before God and be judged in perfect righteousness. Jesus said those who will be granted entrance into God’s eternal happiness in heaven will include those who have visited his people when they were in prison. He said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”