Firm and Immovable

I am becoming an admirer of Joseph who was the son of Isreal and Rachel. I love the fact that he was firm and immovable when it came to God's standards of behavior and because of this he was blessed greatly. His father was also the same way. Even though Isreal was strong in the faith, some of his sons strayed from the things that they knew to be right. Simeon murdered a whole city of men and took their women and children captive. Judah committed adultery and did not keep his word to his daughter-in law. Reuben committed adultery with his father's wife Bilhah. I wonder how Isreal felt when he saw the wickedness around him of his children. Joseph his first son by Rachel became the son that inherited because of the wickedness of his brother. And because of his righteousness Joseph was sold into Egypt because as he says, "And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance." (Genesis 45:7) I'm sure that at the time 17 year old Joseph was sold into Egypt by the Ishmealites who found him in the pit that he could not find a purpose for it. Later he found the reason and could see the hand of the Lord in his life. If he had not fled from Potipher's wife, he would not have been cast into prison and eventually brought before Pharoah. When he interpreted Pharoah's dream he found himself at the age of 30 second in command of all Egypt. The Lord's hand was in his life because of his righteousness and he was able to preserve his family.

How often do we go through some trial and wonder what the purpose is for suffering or the trial? I have had to learn in my life that if I keep my mind on the reason why I am here that my burdens become light. I found a poem that illustrates this:

With thoughtless and impatient hands
We tangle up the plans
The Lord has wrought.
And when we cry in pain
He saith,
Be quiet, man, while I untie the knot.
(Anonymous)

So when I remember the purpose of life, that I am here in a great school or learning experience to see if I will keep the commandments of God, I can easily ask what would Jesus have me do? I look at Joseph's life and his example of how he kept his covenants and promises that he made and the Lord blessed him because of it.

I found this quote about Joseph and his life: "The ability to turn everything into something good appears to be a godly characteristic. Our Heavenly Father always seems able to do this. Everything, no matter how dire, becomes a victory to the Lord. Joseph, although a slave and wholly undeserving of his fate, nevertheless remained faithful to the Lord and continued to live the commandments and made something very good of his degrading circumstances. People like this cannot be defeated.” (Hartman Rector, Jr., Ensign Jan. 1973, 130)