March 11, 2026

I woke up to a thought about Jacob and Esau and the symbolism in their story, but it was not the normal symbolism. We're supposed to learn from positive and negative examples what to do and what not to do, but the thought I had was about positive symbolism from a poor example. Not sure what to call it, flipped symbolism, maybe something else will come to me, but here it goes.

Esau was in the field and became very hungry. In a previous thought, I pointed out that the field meant the world and the tent that Jacob dwelt in represented the temple. However, we are all in the world but we strive to not be _of_ the world. The world can leave us famished, starved for truth and good. Esau gave up his birthright for a mess of pottage. We know this represents selling your covenant for nothing (reminds me of a temple phrase), but what if we flip it and say we're in the world, starved for truth and good, and come across something we know can give sustenance (the gospel).

Matthew 13

45 ¶ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

We are all in the world. We will each find ourselves hungry. The question that matters is what do we set our hearts on? What do we choose to sell and what do we choose to receive. The pattern is the same for everyone, but the outcome varies greatly.

Genesis 39

22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

The footnote for "doer" has a Joseph Smith translation that says overseer. This is the second time in this chapter that Joseph has been made an overseer and the very next verse repeats what happens when we make the implementation of the type (Christ) the overseer of our affairs

23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.

The message?

Proverbs 3

5 ¶ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Genesis 40

4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.

Servant leadership, King Benjamin.

Symbolism linking Joseph to Christ as a type:

First born - Reuben was the first born of Jacob, but because of his infidelity with one of Jacob's wives, he list the birthright. Tradition does not pass the birthright onto the second born, but the firstborn of the second wife -Joseph.

Joseph's dreams - prophesy that every knee shall bow

Joseph spent time in the tent as a youth - Christ thought in the temple as a youth

His family, who should have loved him,despised him - "He was despised and rejected of man. A man of sorrow and aquatinted with grief. Surely he did bear or stripes and we hid our faces from Him"

Judah sold Joseph - Judas sold Christ

Joseph was taken to Egypt, which would eventually save his life and his family's lives - Christ was taken to Egypt as a child to save His life and eventually, all of His families lives.

Ishmeelites, a second branch of Abraham grafted out Joseph to restore life to the covenant branch - the gentiles restored the BOM, Another Testament of Christ, to the Jews to save them

Potiphar's wife tempted Joseph and his response was similar to Christ's when tempted after fasting.

The wife bore false witness to imprison Joseph, just as the Sanhedrin did to Christ.

While imprisoned, Joseph acted kingly and kindly, just as Christ while interrogated.

Butler and Baker - two thieves next to Christ on the cross.

Three days in their dreams, death and restoration, wine pressed into the cup - the death and resurrection of Christ.

The butler forgot Joseph - while Christ received comfort from an angel in the Garden of Gethsemane, at the end of His Atonement, upon the cross, He was left completely alone so He could know how we feel at times when we've removed ourselves from God and are suffering.

Joseph is freed and his works save all of Israel - Christ overcame physical and spiritual death to save all of Israel, and through them, all nations of the earth.

Joseph forgave his brothers - Christ forgave His executioners.

Joseph's coat was stripped and rent - Christ's clothes were rent.