GAINING THE ETERNAL CHARACTERISTIC OF FORGIVENESS

For more than one thousand mornings Joseph had opened his eyes and greeted the dim light of day which barely penetrated his prison chamber. Once again on this day, just as he had done many times before, he grievingly recounted in his mind the events of the thirteen years which had passed since his brothers had torn him from the comfort of his father’s arms and set his feet upon this strange path which led him to his present plight.

This day, however, was not to end as those previous days he had spent in this dismal dungeon. This day he would be summoned to the feet of Pharaoh and asked to use his gift as an interpreter of dreams. This time it would not be the dreams of fellow ungrateful prisoners. Now it was the Pharaoh of all the lands watered by the mighty Nile who had petitioned Joseph to explain the meaning of his dreams.

One wonders if the thought might have been whispered into his mind that perhaps this would be the key to the fulfilling of his own youthful vision which had brought such jealousy into the hearts of his brothers. Would he yet live to see the many sheaves bowing to his sheave? How quickly do we move in life from one classroom into the next? In one dramatic moment Joseph went from being the keeper of the jailor’s keys to advisor for the king. Before he had to face one more dim morning sunrise he was moved from prison to palace to provide the place where his next proving ground would be found.

During the next seven yeas of plenty Joseph rose steadily to great power in Egypt. His stature in Egypt eventually surpassed all others to the point where he was answerable to Pharaoh alone. All things along the river became subject to this Joseph who had become the favored of the king. Nothing was withheld from being subject to Joseph, even life and death.

As drought blighted the lands neighboring the once fertile valleys of the Nile, the full granaries under the command of Joseph multiplied his power and fame beyond Egypt’s borders. The spreading fingers of famine finally drew to Egypt’s bread basket the sons of Israel, and there in the palace court, Joseph saw that long ago dream brought to life as his brothers prostrated themselves at his feet. The humbled ten fell on their knees before the power of Egypt, personified in their unrecognized brother. Joseph’s piercing glance looked down upon Simeon who long ago had cast his lot to put this chosen son of Jacob to death. There also were Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher whose last words as they sold their younger brother into slavery were full of jealousy and hatred. All bowed before Joseph except for his full brother Benjamin who had remained at home to give comfort to his father.

During this riveting reunion there was more than the trial of guilty brothers taking place. Joseph was about to pass through a trial which would reach into the eternities where he would be weighed on the scales of eternal justice. The trial in the royal courts of Egypt, as Joseph sat in judgment over his erring brothers, was but a type of the real trial being held that day. The greater trial was going to test the progress of eternal character which was fomenting in the soul of the son who had been the recipient of the coat of many colors. Eternally, Joseph, not his brothers, stood in judgment that day. With the power of his voice he could be vengeful or benevolent, cruel or merciful. He stood alone at the alter of stewardship accountability.

With wonderment and then joy we read as the wisdom and mercy of Joseph unfolds in the story as he chooses to follow the admonitions of his God. We weep as one by one Joseph falls upon the necks of his family with tearful embraces. We stand in awe as Joseph by applying the characteristic of forgiveness changes from being favored of Pharaoh to being favored of the Lord. Although the last scene of this wonderful story seems to be the tearful reunion of the founders of the House of Israel, the whisperings of the Spirit remind us that in reality it was but one more step in the passage of a yet unfinished history.

Our future, like the dungeon chamber of Joseph, is today seen in dimness but will continue to be illuminated in the gathering light of each test we are able to successfully abide. Although we cannot presently comprehend the total nor even perhaps the next classroom we will be asked to enter, it seems imperative that we come to learn well the lab work we are given in the classroom of forgiveness. The Father’s counsel is clear and unmistakable that we must continually be expanding our ability to forgive, working diligently at the task until through the grace of God it becomes an eternal part of our natures.

Spencer W. Kimball brought perspective and light to this truth when he said; “Across the barren deserts of hate and greed and grudge is the beautiful valley of paradise. We read in the papers and hear on the TV constantly that the world ‘is in an awful mess.’ Not true! The world is still most beautiful. It is man who is off center. The sun still illumines the day and gives light and life to all things. The moon still brightens the night. Oceans still feed the world and provide transportation. Rivers still drain the land and provide irrigation water to nourish the crops. Even the ravages of time have not sloughed off the majesty of the mountains. Flowers still bloom and birds still sing and children still laugh and play. What is wrong with the world is man made.”

Somehow I must gain the ability to forgive every folly, overlook all shortsightedness, forget every offense, remember no longer any rudeness and come to the understanding that my brother like me is just passing through the present classroom until he is ready to be advanced to the location of his next soul stretching scenario. Like me he is yet far from being ready for graduation and has much to learn before his journey is through. Like me he will yet make sufficient mistakes before his Father can say ‘Well Done.’

I know progress is possible through patient practice of the principles given to us by He who is in control of the curriculum. We must remember that we have been able to conquer much and that we have already passed through many classrooms and the possibility is bright that we will be able to conquer our desires for revenge and retribution. I strongly believe that we can overcome our need to ‘get even’ and come to the point where we are able to forgive all who have trespassed against us. I also believe that the acquisition of the eternal characteristic of forgiveness takes extreme diligence and effort. I am slowly learning that as the Lord has promised, each step I take toward becoming a more forgiving person brings greater peace and more abundant joy into my life.