Mercy and Justice in the laws of the Old Testament

Exodus 20-23

In chapter 20 we find the basic law, the ten great foundation stones. These are also found in Deuteronomy 5:6-21, Mosiah 13:12-24, Matthew 5:17-37, D&C 42:18-29; 59:5-9 As we study these laws we discover they form the foundation for all proper human conduct. They show us the three great priorities of life. The first four teach us our proper relationship with God, The fifth establishes the importance of family. The last five regulate our relationships with others.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Honor they father and thy mother

Thou shalt not kill

Thou shalt not commit adultery

Thou shalt not steal

Thou shalt not bear false witness

Thou shalt not covet

Basic characteristics of biblical law:

First- The basic principles are declared (The Ten Commandments)

Second- The major portion of the law is case law or how to apply the law in specific circumstances.

Third- The law has a purpose and direction which is the restitution of God’s order.

“The law is primarily negative. Eight of the Ten Commandments and many of the other laws deal with what ought not to be done rather than with what should be done. Many today view negative laws with distaste. They feel they are very restrictive, and they often prefer positive laws which, by assuring our rights, appear to grant freedom. The appearance, however, is false. God gave the laws to Israel not to shackle them but to guarantee the greatest individual freedom.”

 Explaining how this is so, one scholar stated:

“A negative concept of law confers a double benefit: first, it is practical, in that a negative concept of law deals realistically with a particular evil. It states, ‘Thou shalt not steal,’ or, ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness.’ A negative statement thus deals with a particular evil directly and plainly: it prohibits it, makes it illegal. The law thus has a modest function; the law is limited, and therefore the state is limited. The state, as the enforcing agency, is limited to dealing with evil, not controlling all men.

“Second, and directly related to this first point, a negative concept of law insures liberty: except for the prohibited areas, all of man’s life is beyond the law, and the law is of necessity indifferent to it. If the commandment says, ‘Thou shalt not steal,’ it means that the law can only govern theft: it cannot govern or control honestly acquired property. When the law prohibits blasphemy and false witness, it guarantees that all other forms of speech have their liberty. The negativity of the law is the preservation of the positive life and freedom of man.” (Rushdoony, Institutes of Biblical Law, pp. 101–2.)

Remember that in God’s preface to the Ten Commandments He said, “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (Exodus 20:2; emphasis added). In saying this, Jehovah reminded Israel that the very purpose of the law was to make them free and keep them free."(Old Testament Student Manual)

Comparison to New Testament law:

Abinadi said that the law (Mosaic) was “a very strict law” of “performances and of ordinances” given because Israel was a “stiffnecked people” (Mosiah 13:29–30). In the law of Christ, a general principle such as “whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12) covered situations similar to those mentioned in Exodus 21. But in the higher law of the gospel specific additional commandments were not required. Under the law of Christ a person does not have to be told to guard against negligence or to make restitution for accidental loss. He will do it because he loves his neighbor. The law of Moses specified how the law was lived in daily, practical situations, but it still taught the law of Christ.

Lets look at some specifics:

·         Exodus 21:22-25

“If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief (death) follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

The basic law is “Thou shalt not kill”

“Certain crimes were so serious that they required the death penalty. This fact clearly shows, first, the seriousness of murder, and, second, that the death penalty, when carried out by legally constituted authority, is not a violation of the sixth commandment.”

As we read these verses it is a case of accidental abortion and helps us realize the seriousness of abortion.

“If an abortion caused by accident was to be punished severely, one can assume that deliberate abortion without justifiable cause was far more serious.”

By this we can see the value of life and especially the life of an innocent child. To see the churches official position on abortion follow this link: http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/official-statement/abortion

·         Exodus 21:26-27

26 And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake.

27 And if he smite out his manservant’s tooth, or his maidservant’s tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake.

The basic law is “Thou shalt not steal”

This example of case law teaches us the principle that one can steal through negligence or accident. It is an example of stealing the physical wholeness from another. It shows how restitution is to be made. The law of Moses is not a law of retaliation, but a law of reparation.

If we translate this to the law of Christ, we will feel a responsibility to those we have harmed by accident. We will restore them in whatever way we can.

We see similar examples of this same principle in the following verses.

·         Exodus 21:28-32

28 If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.

 29 But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.

 30 If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.

 31 Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.

 32 If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

Most of us don’t have oxen any more, but to keep in the spirit of animals and translate this to a potential situation today. Let’s say we have a dog. If our dog viciously attacks someone, the dog should be put down. If we knew our dog was capable of this and maybe has even done it in the past, then not only is the dog responsible, but we are also responsible.

These next verses address property that is put in the care of another. “The law was concerned with making restitution to the offended parties. The ratio of restitution is established. Multiple restitution rests on a principle of justice. Restitution must calculate not only the present and future value of a thing stolen, but also the specialized skills involved in its replacement.”

If we consider criminal law now, there is very little of the principle of restitution. We must file a civil suit to recover any damages.

·         Exodus 22:7-13

“If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man’s house; if the thief be found, let him pay double. If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods. For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour. If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it: Then shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good. And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof. If it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn.

In these verses responsibility is determined for goods held in custody. It might be embezzled or lost through neglect. There also needed to be protection for the person holding the property if the property suffered damage or disappeared without fault. Embezzlement was punished by paying double. If it was a doubtful cause, the trustee was allowed to clear himself by an oath. A clear case was determined by evidence or proof that it happened through unavoidable accident.

If we use this as an example of living Christ like, we will be willing to restore double for those things that happened by our neglect or intentional embezzlement. If we have put our property in the trust of another and something happens to it, if there is any doubt we need to let it go and not continue to blame the other for the loss of our property.

As we consider these next verses, we see how important it is to the Lord that we care for each other.

Caring for widows and the fatherless is so important that the Lord lists afflicting them as one of the crimes worthy of death. Restitution for afflicting them in any way can only be made by one’s own life and the Lord reserves that right to Himself.

In living a Christ like life, we will go out of our way to help the widows and the fatherless.

·         Exodus 22:22-24

22 ¶Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.

 23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;

 24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

How do we treat those who would make us their enemies? We would help them and treat them with respect as we should do to all.

·         Exodus 23:4-7

4 If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.

 5 If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.

 6 Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.

 7 Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.

The Mosaic Law is not a law of retaliation but of restitution. It is a law requiring a high degree of morality, justice, and righteousness, and requirements to do good to one’s neighbor.

In Galatians 3:24 we read:

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

As we study the Mosiac law written in the Old Testament, we need to look how the principles brought out help us learn to be more Christ like. They take the basic laws of the Ten Commandments and teach us how to apply them to our lives. As we do, we will find the freedom and feel the love because that is what our loving Heavenly Father wants for us and His purpose in giving us these laws. They school us and train us to be more faithful and bring us freedom and joy.

Deliverance from Bondage

Exodus 12 -Atonement of Christ frees us from bondage of sin (including addiction)

It was only through the blood of the lamb and slaying of the firstborn that the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt.

For us: it is only through the atonement of Christ and our knowing how to use it in our daily lives that we are freed from the bondage of sin- especially the particularly difficult to overcome bondage of addiction. There were many preceding opportunities for the Israelites to be released from bondage, but it was only the shedding of the firstborn and the blood of the lamb that freed them.  

We may think of addiction in terms of alcohol, drugs, or pornography, but we all have behaviors that we turn to time and time again in an addictive manner that cause continued destruction in our lives and pain to those around us. Think of anger, blame, self-depreciation, unhealthy food, resentment, etc.  Many times we repeat those behaviors over and over even though we don’t like it in ourselves and we wonder why we would continue to cause ourselves and others pain. Those behaviors we use to cover or hide from our inadequacies and fill the holes in our lives need to be replaced by Christ. Knowing Him, feeling His love for us, allowing Him to teach us and change us, remembering and turning to Christ constantly is the only way to fill those holes in our hearts and overcome our weaknesses. 

This is an overview of the elements of the passover as told in Exodus 12. Symbolically we can find this same type of pattern in many scriptures as we look for it.

Elements of the Passover	How the Element Represents Jesus Christ	Personal Commentary
“Take to them . . . a lamb” (Exodus 12:3).	Jesus is the Lamb of God (John 1:29).	For me the lamb represents the willingness of Christ to give us this gift of love.
“This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.” (Exodus 12:2)	So significant was the event about to take place that the Lord commanded Israel to use this event as the beginning of their calendar. Thus the sacred calendar of Israelite feasts and festivals begins with the month of Abib (later called Nisan), which corresponds to late March and early April. (OT Commentary)	No event in the history of the world is as significant as the atonement of Jesus Christ. The Passover is full of symbolism representing why this event was so significant for each of us as individuals.
“lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year” (Exodus 12:5)	1 Peter 1:18-20 “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year,’ signifying that the Lamb of God, pure and perfect, without spot or blemish, in the prime of his life, as the Paschal Lamb, would be slain for the sins of the world.” (OT Commentary)	There is no one more perfect or more loving, yet he was taken in the prime of his life and crucified. This is a message to me to not allow the criticism of others to discourage or defeat me. All that matters is what Christ thinks of me and he has made a covenant with me that if I do my very best, He will take care of all the rest.
“Israel shall kill it in the evening and they shall take of the blood” (Exodus 12:6-7)	“They were to take of the blood of the lamb and sprinkle it upon the doorposts of their houses, having this promise as a result: ‘And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you,’ signifying that the blood of Christ, which should fall as drops in Gethsemane and flow in a stream from a pierced side as he hung on the cross, would cleanse and save the faithful; and that, as those in Israel were saved temporally because the blood of a sacrificial lamb was sprinkled on the doorposts of their houses, so the faithful of all ages would wash their garments in the blood of the Eternal Lamb and from him receive an eternal salvation.” (OT Commentary)	The whole purpose of the sacrifice he made was to fulfill the requirement of justice for all my mistakes and incapability’s. I am made perfect in Him. The blood was shed to atone for the sins of all that would accept the covenant. I enter into that covenant as I am baptized and make the promise to always remember him and willingly do all that He asks me to do, to the very best of my ability.
And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. (Exodus 12:8)		The bitter herbs represent the bitterness and pain in bondage. When we sin we feel that same pain to help remind us to return to the Lord and find peace. Other peoples sins can also cause pain for us, but as we turn to the Lord for comfort we will be healed and find that comfort.
Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. (Exodus 12:9)	The lamb was thus “‘undivided or whole, so that neither head nor thighs were cut off, and not a bone was broken. It was to be roasted, in order that it might be placed upon the table undivided and essentially unchanged. ‘Through the unity and integrity of the lamb given them to eat, the participants were to be joined into an undivided unity and fellowship with the Lord, who had provided them with the meal.’” (OT Commentary)	We can have that undivided unity and fellowship with the Lord as we continually seek to know Him and be united in purpose with Him.
Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. (Exodus 12:19-20)	Leaven, or yeast, was seen anciently as a symbol of corruption because it so easily spoiled and turned moldy. In the law of Moses no leaven could be offered with the trespass offering (see Leviticus 6:17), suggesting that the offering must be without any corruption. For the Israelites, eating the unleavened bread symbolized that they were partaking of the bread which had no corruption or impurity, namely, the Bread of Life, who is Jesus Christ (see John 6:35). The careful purging of the household of all leaven (see Exodus 12:19) was a beautiful symbol of putting away all uncleanliness from the family. (OT Commentary)	We need to do everything in our power to remove all corruption from our lives. Christ does not leave us alone in this task. He will be there every step of the way and more noticeably when we are not trying to push Him away.
There shall no stranger eat thereof: But every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. (Exodus 12:43-44) And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. (Exodus 12:48)	“As to the eating the flesh of the sacrificial lamb, the divine word was, ‘No uncircumcised person shall eat thereof,’ signifying that the blessings of the gospel are reserved for those who come into the fold of Israel, who join the Church, who carry their part of the burden in bearing off the kingdom; signifying also that those who eat his flesh and drink his blood, as he said, shall have eternal life and he will raise them up at the last day. (John 6:54.)” (OT Commentary)	Our requirement is a circumcism of the heart or in other words, we are willing to make whatever sacrifices the Lord requires of us in order to become clean in our actions, heart, and soul.
In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. (Exodus 12:46)	“As to the sacrifice of the lamb, the decree was, ‘Neither shall ye break a bone thereof,’ signifying that when the Lamb of God was sacrificed on the cross, though they broke the legs of the two thieves to induce death, yet they brake not the bones of the Crucified One ‘that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.’ (John 19:31–36.)” (OT Commentary)	The Savior never was broken. Many of us are broken emotionally. We have deep holes in our heart that we seek to fill with many addictions. Our Savior is capable of making us whole again.
Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. (Exodus 12:14-15)	“On the first and seventh days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Israelites were commanded to hold holy convocations in which no work might be done except the preparation of their food. These were occasions for preaching and explaining and exhorting and testifying. We go to sacrament meetings to be built up in faith and in testimony. Ancient Israel attended holy convocations for the same purposes. Knowing that all things operate by faith, would it be amiss to draw the conclusion that it is as easy for us to look to Christ and his spilt blood for eternal salvation as it was for them of old to look to the blood of the sacrificed lamb, sprinkled on doorposts, to give temporal salvation, when the angel of death swept through the land of Egypt?” (OT Commentary)	The number seven is symbolic of perfect. After we have accepted the original covenant through baptism, we have an opportunity to renew it once every seven days as we attend church and partake of the sacrament. The sacrament symbolically represents our Saviors sacrifice for us by giving his body and blood. His body is symbolically represented in the bread and His blood is represented in the water. By meeting with others who have taken the same commitment we can lift and strengthen and learn from each other. This once a week renewal becomes a vital part of our healing and gives us opportunities to serve.

Here is a link to a short video about  The-Passover

Exodus 12:29-32

29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

 31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said.

 32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also

   As the final plague in Egypt, the lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt (people and cattle)

“As ‘the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt’ because they believed not the word of the Lord delivered to them by Moses and Aaron, even so should the Firstborn of the Father, who brings life to all who believe in his holy name, destroy worldly people at the last day, destroy all those who are in the Egypt of darkness, whose hearts are hardened as were those of Pharaoh and his minions.” (OT Commentary)

Joseph Endured His Trials: Genesis 29-30, 35, 37, 39-41

Joseph’s choice to continue to turn to the Lord, in spite of the trials in his life, was the reason why every trial was turned into a blessing for both him and his family.

12 Tribes of Israel (Jacobs sons):

Jacob’s name was changed to Israel so his sons are known as the 12 tribes of Israel.

The birth order of Jacob’s 12 sons:

From Leah (the first wife):

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah

From Bilah (the handmaid of Rachel- considered Rachel’s children):

Dan, Naphtali

From Zilpah (the handmaid of Leah - considered Leah’s children):

Gad, Asher

From Leah:

Issachar, Zebulun, (Dinah- a daughter)

From Rachel (the most loved wife):

Joseph, Benjamin

Birthright:

Under the patriarchal order, the right or inheritance of the firstborn is known as birthright. This generally included a land inheritance as well as the authority to preside. From time to time certain prerogatives, opportunities, and blessings have attended those who were born of a particular lineage. Lineage alone does not guarantee the blessings or spiritual power of the office, but the opportunities are offered to the firstborn of the selected lineage. There are several instances in the scriptures of the one who was the firstborn losing his birthright because of unrighteousness and his office being given to another; such is the case with Esau (Gen. 25:24–34; 27) and Reuben (1 Chr. 5:1–2; Jer. 31:9)

For four generations, we see the birthright not being passed to the eldest son with resulting conflict.

The eldest son of Abraham is Ishmael (born of Sarah’s handmaid). The birthright went to Isaac as the firstborn son of Sarah.

Isaac had twin sons born of his wife Rebekah. Esau was born first but traded his birthright to Jacob as second born.

Jacob’s eldest son was Reuben (born of Leah) Reuben forfeited his birthright and so it was passed to the firstborn son of the second, but most loved, wife Rachel. Joseph was born 11^th of the 12 sons, yet he received the birthright. Reubens portion of the inheritance was also given to Joseph and so he received double portion which in turn went to Joseph’s two sons (adopted by Jacob/Israel as his own) Manasseh was the eldest son of Joseph, but Jacob blessed Ephraim with the birthright. Judah as forth born overcame his older brothers and became the ruler of Israel.

When we read of Jacob giving the coat (of many colours) to Joseph in the scriptures, it is signifying the passing of the birthright to Joseph.

Genesis 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

The Coat of Many Colours:

There is some question as to what Joseph’s coat actually was. The Hebrew word denotes “a long coat with sleeves … i.e. an upper coat reaching to the wrists and ankles, such as noblemen and kings’ daughters wore” (Keil and Delitzsch,Commentary, 1:1:335) The coat may have been of different colors, but its significance seems to have been far more than its brightness and beauty. One noted scholar suggested that it was “a tunic reaching to the palms of the hands and soles of the feet; the long tunic with sleeves worn by young men and maidens of the better class; in the case of Joseph,  to have been the badge of the birthright which has been forfeited by Reuben and transferred to Joseph” (Wilson, Old Testament Word Studies,s.v. “colour,” p. 82).

Question of the birthright:

"The birthright may have been in question among the brothers because there were four firstborn sons in Jacob’s family. The following brothers could easily have thought that they should have had the birthright.

Reuben. He was the firstborn of all the sons. Although he had lost the right (Genesis 35:22), he may not have accepted that fact.

Simeon. Since he was the second son of Leah and next in line following Reuben, he could have assumed the birthright would come to him after Reuben lost his right to it.

Judah. He could have argued that not only Reuben had lost the right, but so had Simeon and Levi, through the massacre of the Shechemites (see Genesis 34). The disqualification of these sons would make him the rightful legal heir.

Dan. Because his mother, Bilhah, was considered Rachel’s property, he could argue that he was Rachel’s firstborn, not Joseph, and therefore should have received the birthright when Reuben lost it.

Gad. He was the firstborn son of Zilpah and therefore could easily have thought he should have taken the birthright after Reuben forfeited it."

This fact would explain the intense hostility and jealousy the coat provoked among the other sons of Jacob.

Joseph’s dreams confirming his birthright angered his brothers even more. We find later that these dreams came to pass as a direct result of his brothers jealous actions.

 Genesis 37:5-11 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: 7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. 8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. 9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? 11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers, sold to Midianites and taken to Egypt. He was sold to Potiphar, pharaoh’s captain of the guard. Joseph worked hard and found favor with Potiphar and was made overseer of his house. Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him and he ran leaving his cloak in her hands. She used the cloak to accuse him and he was throw into prison ( a light sentence- normally a person found in his position would have been killed) In prison he was put in charge of the other prisoners, interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s butler and baker who were in prison for a short time. When Pharaoh had a dream, the butler remembered and told Pharaoh about Joseph. Pharaoh was pleased with Joseph and put him as second in command over all the land. In his position he was able to save the lives of his father and brothers and all their families. The dream he had earlier was fulfilled and every unjust trial he endured ended up working for his good and the good of his family. If he had chosen to be bitter in those trials, he might have missed the opportunities to end up in the position where he could help.

What can I learn from Joseph?

I think the biggest message is to not give up when things seem to be going against you. Trust that Heavenly Father loves us and all these things will be used for good. Joseph could have easily gotten discouraged when he once again found himself unjustly in a prison. He had worked hard to turn being sold into slavery around and then he has to start all over again as he is thrown in prison. I can add my own personal experience to this message. Just today, I had an opportunity to use things I learned in some of my darkest challenges to bless the life of another person and give hope. It was a powerful experience that I never could have had, if I hadn’t gone through the trials of the past. Heavenly Father does love us and guides our lives to make the most out of even those darkest unjust situations we may find ourselves in. Not only will our life be blessed as we turn to him and allow it, but others lives will also be blessed.

The Family of Abraham

The Abrahamic Covenant: Genesis 12-13, 15-17, 22

Covenant:

The bible dictionary defines covenant to sometimes be an agreement between two people but most often it is between God and man. When our covenant is with God it is NOT a relationship of equal contractors. God sets the terms and we decide if we want to accept them. With acceptance there are powerful blessings, but we are under strong obligation and responsibility to honor our part of the commitment. The gospel is arranged so that principles and ordinances are received by covenant.

Why was the choice of Abram to marry Hagar righteous?

In Genesis 16:1-3 Sarai gave her handmaiden to Abram to be his wife so they could obtain children. D&C 132:34,65 clarifies these verses by giving us additional information. It was custom of the time and lawful for the wife’s handmaiden to be given as a wife to bear children. Because Sarai was barren this helped to fulfill the covenant promises to Abraham of being the father of many nations. It was also a commandment from God that Abram take Hagar to wife. This shows us that Abram was being righteous and keeping the commandments of God.

Names: Genesis 17

In this blog, I refer to Abraham as both Abram and Abraham. His wife is both Sarai and Sarah. God came to Abram when he was age 99 and made a covenant with him. As a token of that covenant, all males were to be circumcised. He told him that his wife Sarai would bear a son (she was 90) God also changed their names to reflect this covenant. These are the meanings of the names:
Abraham - Father of multitudes

Abram – Exalted father

Sarah – Princess

Sarai - Contentions

Genesis 17:17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

Genesis 18:10-14 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo,  Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and  Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Abrahamic Covenant

What Abraham Promised to do:

Walk uprightly before God and become perfect

Accept baptism 

Take on Priesthood responsibility

Enter into celestial marriage

What the Lords promised:

Baptism brings salvation

Higher priesthood and celestial marriage brings exaltation

Eternal increase

Blessings offered to all of mortal posterity (D&C 132:29–50; Abr. 2:6–11)

Christ would come through his lineage (Gen. 17; 22:15–18; Gal. 3;Abr. 2)

His posterity would receive certain choice promised lands as eternal inheritance

Exaltation and eternal increase renewed with each member of House of Israel who enter the order of celestial marriage (D&C 132:29–33)

Details of Land Promise:

Temporal: Land of Canaan (Palestine) promised to Abrahams descendants. The land would spread forth as far as necessary for them to receive and inheritance. 

Eternal: Righteous descendants will inherit the celestial earth

Details of Posterity Promise:

Temporal: Numberless posterity

Posterity of Isaac the covenant son - the nation of Israel

Posterity of Ishmael - the Arabs

Posterity of 6 sons born through Keturah – Midianites and others

Population of Arab, Moslem, and Israeli world with all their deceased ancestors and future posterity

Past, present and future members of the Nephite/Lamanite cultures

Lost ten tribes

Latter-day saints (Gal. 3:26–29).

Eternal: Posterity will have no end because righteous descendants will go through eternity bringing forth eternal increase

Details of Priesthood Promise:

Temporal: Abraham received the priesthood

The mission of the covenant people is to serve the Lord by blessing others with the gospel.

In Abraham and his seed all the families of the earth should be blessed.

Prophets were descendants of Abraham

Christ came through his line

The 12 apostles were descendants

Lehi and his family

Joseph Smith 

Eternal:

Descendants who remain true and faithful bless their own family and others with the blessings of the gospel and will continue throughout eternity

They will be heirs to all the Father has through Christ

Why is the Abrahamic Covenant important to me?

Through the power and authority of the priesthood passed down through righteous prophets and priesthood holders through the generations of time since Abraham, I am counted as one of Abrahams covenant posterity because of my choice to take on the same commitments that Abraham did. I have taken on the commitment of baptism and of celestial marriage. Because of that same covenant made with Abraham that applies to his posterity, I can also receive the same blessings. Those opportunities apply to my children as well. Because of my covenants the Lord will seek after my children and multiple opportunities will be provided to them to take upon themselves these same covenants. With the blessings and covenants comes responsibility. I have committed my life to serve the Lord, to walk in righteousness to the best of my understanding and ability, and to continually work on becoming perfect. I receive multiple blessings from the Lord in this life. One of the most important things is having His spirit with me to guide me, teach me, comfort me, warn me, strengthen me and give me confidence in my daily walk with Him. He gives me multiple opportunities to serve and bless the lives of others and inspires me continuously. In the next life he has promised that I will inherit all that He hath and my family will continue forever.

These same blessings and opportunities are available to anyone willing to take upon themselves these covenants under the direction of the proper priesthood channels.

Scriptures for further study:

Genesis 12:1-3; 13:14-16; 15:4-7,18; 17:1-10, 15-19

Abraham 1:18-19; 2:9-11

Doctrine &Covenants 38:9 

D&C 132:29-33

1 Nephi 15:14-18 ;17:40 ; 19: 15 

3 Nephi 20: 25-27 

Genesis 22:17