Plagues and Prophets

While studying Moses and the plagues of Egypt this week in Exodus chapters 7-13, I learned a few lessons on how we might parallel the plagues of Egypt to our own lives…

1. Just like some of the plagues affected everyone - both Israelite and Egyptian, there are difficulties and trials (“plagues”) we will encounter in this life that no amount of righteousness on our part can help us avoid. They could be things like dealing with certain types of disease or facing the consequences of natural disasters. Sometimes the righteous suffer right along with the wicked, and that’s just part of mortality.
2. The Israelites, God’s covenant people, were given protection from some of the plagues that affected the Egyptians (8:22, 9:4, 9:26, 10:23). Likewise, as we live our covenants, we are blessed with protection from worldly plagues like addiction to drugs, alcohol, and pornography.
3. The Lord provided specific instructions, to both the Egyptians and Israelites on how to avoid some of the plagues (9:19-21, 12:3-20). The Lord will also give us, through His prophets, special instructions on how to prepare for and avoid some of the modern plagues that are coming. The prophet is the Lord’s spokesman for the whole world and his words are spoken for all mankind to hear and hearken to.

I thought this last lesson was especially timely given that it’s General Conference this weekend. Last General Conference President Nelson said in his opening remarks, “One of the plagues of our day is that too few people know where to turn for truth. I can assure you that what you will hear today and tomorrow constitutes pure truth.” I hope that we all will listen to the Lord’s prophet and realize that his words to us are just as critical to saving lives in our day as they were to saving Israelite lives during the days of Moses.

The Influence of Righteous Women

One of the recommendations in the Come, Follow Me manual this week was to study the women in Exodus 1-6 and see how their actions played a part in God's plan that would help prepare and preserve Moses to be able to fulfill his earthly mission of delivering the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. This was a very insightful study for me and I wanted to share what I learned.

• The midwives Shiphrah and Puah (Exodus 1:15-20): both of theses women were examples of great courage and love for God as they defied Pharaoh's orders and let God prevail in their lives.
• Moses's mother, Jochebed (Exodus 2:2-3) shows us the ultimate sacrifice of a mother, protects her child as much as possible and then puts her trust in Lord's plan that He would deliver her son (this also parallels the story of Abraham and Isaac).
• Moses's sister, Miriam (Exodus 2:4,7) is an example of watching over her brother to make sure he was safe and would be cared for.
• Pharoah's daughter (Exodus 2: 5-6) is an example of rescuing people and showing compassion towards others.
• Moses's wife, Zipporah (Exodus 2:16) is an example of someone that is capable of hard work and who knows how to take care of a flock.

As our family talked about the different attributes these women all had, we also talked about how Moses also exhibited these attributes in his life because of the influence of the women that he associated with. 

This made me think of the important impact that women can have on the people in their lives. Brady shared a talk with me this week that goes right along with this principle. The talk is called Here Am I, Send Me by Elder M. Russell Ballard. He said these impactful words: "I have a deep and abiding feeling about women and about the crucial difference they make in every important setting—particularly in the family and in the Church....We cannot fulfill our mission as a Church without the inspired insight and support of women....sisters have always been vital and integral to the work of the Lord. Faithful women have labored valiantly in the cause of truth and righteousness from before the foundations of this world....Every sister in this Church who has made covenants with the Lord has a divine mandate to help save souls, to lead the women of the world, to strengthen the homes of Zion, and to build the kingdom of God....Every sister who stands for truth and righteousness diminishes the influence of evil. Every sister who strengthens and protects her family is doing the work of God."

Just like the women in Moses's life each used their unique roles and gifts to help further God's plan, each of us has the ability to bring about God's work by using our different attributes and talents within our own sphere of influence to help God in His work of delivering people from bondage. God can then take all of our combined efforts and use them to create a great story of deliverance for the people in our lives just like he did with Moses.

More than an Amazing Coat

After studying the story of Joseph these past two weeks, I was amazed at how rich it was with principles of the gospel and symbolism of Christ. Here some of the lessons that stood out most to me..

• In times of plenty we should be preparing for times of crisis, both temporally and spiritually. (Genesis 41-42)
• God makes all things work together for our good. (Genesis 45:7-8)
• Given enough time, hearts can soften and change. (Judah sells Joseph to become a slave-Genesis 37:26 but twenty years later Judah is willing to become a slave in place of Benjamin-Genesis 44:33)
• After passing through trials, can we look back and see the hand of God in our life? (Genesis 50:20)
• When Christ forgives he also forgets. When we keep bringing up past grievances that have been resolved, He weeps. (Genesis 50:17-21)

Who knew there were so many lessons to learn in the story of Joseph? I sure didn't! I love this quote by Elder Robert D. Hales: "In order to gain the greatest insights the scriptures have to offer, our study will focus not so much on places and names as on principles and doctrines. It is not simply book knowledge we are after but insights that will change the way we live and that will actually make a difference in our lives. We must see the scriptures for what they are: an instruction manual for becoming like our Savior" (The Journey of Lifelong Learning). I thought I knew the story of Joseph really well because I grew up singing all the songs to the musical. Yes, I know all the colors in his coat and all the names of his brothers🤣, but, it turns out there are a lot more important things to be learned about in this story regarding the character of Christ and His gospel. This is why the Come, Follow Me program has been so wonderful for me and my family. It is showing us how to “liken all scriptures unto us, that (they) might be for our profit and learning” (1Nephi 19:23).

Keeping the Lord with us

One of the many lessons we can learn from Joseph's story is that even through difficult trials and adversity the Lord can be with us, and wants to be with us, (Genesis 39:2,3,21,23) IF we do our part. What did Joseph do to stay close to the Lord during his trials?  As members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we hear every Sunday during the sacrament prayers what we need to be doing in order to always have the Lord with us; always remember Him and keep His commandments. Can we find examples of both of these requirements in Joseph’s story? Yes, we can! 

Keep His Commandments

• When Joseph is sold to Potiphar as a slave is says that he served him (Genesis 39: 4). 
• When Potiphar's wife tries to get Joseph to break the law of chastity, he refuses and flees from her (Genesis 39: 7-12). 
• When Joseph is in prison and is asked to take charge over the butler and the baker, he serves them and mourns with them when they are sad (Genesis 40: 2-6)

Always Remember Him

• When Joseph is confronted by Potiphar’s wife to commit sin, his ultimate reason for refusing her advances is because of his love of God (Genesis 39:9). 
• When interpreting the dreams of the butler, baker and Pharaoh, Joseph gives credit to God for his gift (Genesis 40:8, 41:16)

Joseph's obedience and loyalty to God and His commandments reveals why he was blessed with the companionship of the Lord through his trials. Rather than becoming bitter and angry, he turned to the Lord and became better. We can do the same. One of my favorite quotes of the week came from an interview with Dr. Lili Anderson on the Follow Him podcast. While talking about this principle she said: "It's because my life isn't fair, and I choose to be good, that the Lord can be with me and consecrate my afflictions for my good. That's the purpose. That's the plan." 

In this life we will all experience hardships regardless of how righteous we have been. Look at both Joseph's life and Jesus' life. Both were obedient and loyal to God and his commandments and yet both still suffered a life full of injustices and betrayals. Despite these afflictions, they stayed on the covenant path. They didn't become bitter, they turned to God and became better. We can follow their examples and do the same.

Returning Home

The reunion between twin brothers Jacob and Esau in Genesis 33 is very touching, especially considering the fall-out the two had experienced 20 years earlier (Genesis 27:41). One of the podcasts I listened to this week (Unshaken Saints) suggested that we can look at this reunion as a parallel to the future reunion we will have with our older brother Jesus Christ when we return to our heavenly home.

We can look at Esau as a type and shadow of Christ in the way he receives Jacob back home. Esau shows instant acceptance of Jacob, full of love and forgiveness for his younger brother (Genesis 33:4). In this parallel, we can also see ourselves in Jacob's shoes, returning home with some fear (Genesis 32:11) and uncertainty that we will be welcomed back into our Father's presence. 

Elder J. Devn Cornish gave a talk in October 2016 titled Am I Good Enough? Will I Make It? that addressed this concern that many of us have; how will I be welcomed home? Elder Cornish says "I witness to you that if you will really try and will not rationalize or rebel—repenting often and pleading for the grace, or help, of Christ—you positively are going to be “good enough,” that is, acceptable before the Lord; you are going to make it to the celestial kingdom, being perfect in Christ; and you are going to receive the blessings and glory and joy that God desires for each of His precious children." This quote gives me great comfort when I have these same fears that Jacob had about returning home.

Even though Jacob had made covenants with the Lord (Genesis 28:12-22), it did not preclude him from having to endure hardships and struggles in his life. But as he tried his best to keep his covenants the Lord kept his promise to Jacob and brought him into his land, into his home (Genesis 28:15), where he was received with open arms (Genesis 33:4).