
“Joseph of Egypt,” by Michael T. Malm
After reading last week about the adversity that Joseph endured, this week we get to experience the joy of his reunion with his family. We can all imagine his joy in seeing his brothers again and learning that they had changed, that they were no longer the men who had sold him into slavery, that they were now capable of far greater courage, integrity, and compassion than they had been previously.
We can also learn from Joseph’s faith that God is in charge, regardless of the harmful decisions other people might make. “God sent me before you,” he said, “to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God” (Genesis 45:7-8). If we really believe this principle, we can be more adaptable and can more easily give things up, believing that God is leading us to better things. See the following blog post: “That They Should Perish Not” – Ether 13:7.
Here are some additional lessons I have learned from this week’s reading:
- The Hebrew word shalom (שָׁלוֹם) appears multiple times in the story of Joseph. It is translated as “peace,” “welfare,” and even “good health.” Understanding the full meaning of shalom can help us better understand the peace God has promised to us (Genesis 43:23, 27-28): How Can I Find Peace?
- We don’t commonly refer to our intestines when describing our emotions, but the word “bowels” in the scriptures conveys the deepest of emotions. When Joseph saw Benjamin for the first time in many years, his bowels did yearn…and he sought where to weep” (Genesis 43:30). Likewise, the Savior has said, “My bowels are filled with compassion towards you” (3 Nephi 17:6-7): What Are “Bowels of Mercy?”
- The Hebrew word paqad (פְקַד) means to number or to count, but it also means to visit. When God tells us that His sheep are numbered, He means that He knows each of us intimately and that He is aware of us and attends to our needs (Genesis 50:24): “I Know My Sheep, and They Are Numbered” – 3 Nephi 18:31.
- Mortal power and influence—gibbor (גִּבּוֹר)—is nothing compared with the power of God—abir (אֲבִ֣יר) (Genesis 49:23-24): What Is the Significance of the Title “the Mighty One of Jacob?”
I’ve also referenced this week’s reading in the following recent blog posts:
- Manasseh and Ephraim (March 13)
- The Sons of Jacob (March 5)
- Your Birthright (February 25)
- Going to Egypt (February 11)
Blog Posts: March 15-20
Judah’s Transformation
When Joseph’s brothers found him in Egypt, they had all matured, but none more dramatically than Judah. About twenty-two years earlier, Judah had pleaded with the other brothers not to kill their younger brother Joseph. Reuben, the oldest, had tried to save Joseph’s life “to deliver him to his father again,” but Judah had proposed…
Ephrath
Our greatest sorrows can give birth to our greatest joys. After God renewed his covenants with Jacob at Beth-el, Jacob traveled with his family toward a place called Ephrath or Ephrathah (אֶפְרָת), which means “fruitful.” When they were almost to their destination, Jacob’s wife Rachel went into labor and died in childbirth. Jacob named the…
Bereaved
“Thou shalt live together in love,” said the Lord, “insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:45). And President Russell M. Nelson said, “The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life” (“Doors of Death,” General Conference, April 1992). The word “bereaved” means deprived of…
Jacob, Ammon, and the Prodigal Son
What could be more joyful than to be with loved ones? And when you’ve been separated for a time, how joyful is your reunion? After more than twenty years apart from his twin brother, Esau was enthusiastic to see him again. He had been angry the last time they were together, but his heart had…
“Be Not Grieved, Nor Angry with Yourselves”
Joseph’s brothers had plenty of reasons to be unhappy with themselves. They had treated Joseph badly—threatening him with death and selling him into slavery—and had never fully reckoned with the consequences of their actions. The guilt they carried with them colored their reaction to the adversity they were now experiencing in a time of famine.…
Patriarchs and Matriarchs
The Amidah, a prayer that is central to Jewish worship, invokes the memory of three significant men known as the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In some reformed Jewish congregations, the matriarchs—Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, and Rachel—are also mentioned. (See “Full Text of the First Blessing of the Amidah,” on myjewishlearning.com.) The word “patriarch” appears only…
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