By Nathan Moulton
Some might say that Joseph of Egypt had it pretty rough. His brothers conspired to kill him before selling him as a slave. Then, after getting back on his feet, he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. If anybody had reason to hold a grudge, it was probably him.
But after all those injustices he forgave his brothers, and their lives and hearts were changed for the better because of it.
At an Education Week seminar Monday, Aug. 21, 2006, Clyde Williams, an associate professor of ancient scripture at BYU, discussed the role of obedience and forgiveness in the life of the Old Testament prophet. Joseph''s adherence to those principles helped him get through his trials and reap the blessings of righteousness, Williams said.
'With eternal perspective, Joseph was opting for the joy of the ages rather than the thrill of the moment,' Williams said of Joseph''s experience with Potipher''s wife. His motivation to flee her seduction was not the fear of loosing his job or other worldly concerns, but his desire to be obedient to the Lord''s commandments.
Later on, after he had gained the trust of Pharaoh and become one of the highest-ranking officials in Egypt, Joseph wanted to see if his brothers'' hearts had changed since they sold him. After putting them through several tests and seeing their commitment to their father and younger brother Benjamin, Joseph opened his arms and his heart to them.
According to Williams, if Joseph had been holding on to a grudge for all the years after he was sold into captivity, he would have had less power to resist temptation.
Another trait that helped Joseph be preserved was his selfless attitude, Williams said. When questioned by Pharaoh about his ability to interpret dreams, Joseph gave the glory to God.
Joseph''s life had many parallels to the Savior''s. And it can also provide a pattern of righteousness for everyone else, he said.