The Righteous will be Blessed

In the study of the Old Testament, we read of the young Joseph who saw visions offensive to his family. His father Jacob ultimately recognized these visions as an outcome of righteousness and, instead of taking further offense, blessed his son with the coat of patriarchy and made him beloved above all his other children. The story goes that Joseph's brothers, consumed with resentment for the blessings of righteousness that they neither merited nor deserved, threw him first in a pit and then sold him into slavery and let their father believe he had been killed by wild beasts (close to the mark as the brothers behaved as animals to Joseph).

I have heard Joseph described as a braggart and deserving of his treatment at the hands of his brothers, as if their deeds were somewhat justified, which they were not. Joseph was a righteous lad and worthy of the privileges he enjoyed, in gifts, favor, and inspired, prophetic dreams.

I have seen similar behavior in our day and in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is common for scripture stories to be watered down so that supposed blessings are given to all, even to the unrighteous in the name of "love" and "fairness". I remember a good man, made rich is his faithfulness, who was often castigated in Church for sharing "prideful" stories of his blessings and counseled to be "humble" and not speak such things. For many, it is unseemly to speak of experiences that everyone, wicked and righteous, do not enjoy.

Was this not the same justification used by the offended sons of Jacob? Did no all of them deserve a fine coat and the favor of their father and of God? The axiom today is often that the Lord doesn't play favorites, when the stories of Joseph, and Job, and Nephi, and many others show plainly that God favors the righteous and justice demands such favor.

If any of us feel offended by the blessed state of another, we would do well to examine ourselves and our commitment to the Savior and his will for us.