Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

            My Come, Follow Me studies for this week took me to Genesis 37-41 and the story of Joseph, the son of Jacob. The life of Joseph and life itself teach us that bad things sometimes happen to good people. Joseph was heir to the covenant that God had made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but he was hated by his brothers and sold into slavery. However, he refused to compromise his integrity when Potiphar’s wife made advances to him.

Joseph was thrown into prison, and he must have had some questions. The more faithful he was, the more hardship he faced. He must have known that the difficulties were not a sign of God’s disapproval, because “the Lord was with him” through all the adversity (Genesis 39:3). We can see this important truth through Joseph’s life: God will not forsake us.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught, “Following the Savior will not remove all of your trials. However, it will remove the barriers between you and the help your Heavenly Father wants to give you. God will be with you” (“A Yearning for Home,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 22).

            Time after time, good fortune abandoned Joseph. His brothers hated him and sold him into slavery to the Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt. However, he was purchased by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, and an Egyptian. Potiphar recognized that the Lord was with Joseph, and he saw that the Lord caused everything seemed to prosper with Joseph. Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household. (See Genesis 39:1-2.)

            When Joseph rejected the sexual advances of Potiphar’s wife, she charged him with sexual assault, and Potiphar put Joseph in prison. However, the keeper of the prison also saw that the Lord was with Joseph, and he put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners. The Lord made everything that Joseph did to prosper. (See 39:21-23.)

            The Pharaoh’s chief baker and chief butler did something that displeased Pharaoh, and he threw them in prison. While they were in prison, they each dreamed a dream, and Joseph interpreted the dreams. According to the interpretation, the chief butler was restored to his position, but the chief baker was hanged. (See Genesis 40.)

            Two years later, the Pharaoh dreamed a troubling dream, and none of his wise men could interpret the dream. Then, the chief butler remembered Joseph and how he had correctly interpreted the dreams of the chief baker and the chief butler. He told the Pharaoh, and Pharaoh ordered that Joseph be brought to him. The Pharaoh told Joseph his dream about seven fat cattle and seven lean cattle, and the lean cattle devouring the fat cattle. Joseph interpreted the dream as being seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. (See Genesis 41.)

            We see again that the Lord was blessing Joseph because the Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of storing grain during the seven good years to prepare for the seven years of famine. Joseph was the most powerful man in the kingdom, besides Pharaoh, and the Lord put him in a place where he would be blessing to many people.

            The chief baker, the chief butler, and the Pharaoh dreamed dreams that gave them valuable information, but they did not understand the meaning of the dreams. The Lord revealed the meaning of the dreams to Joseph. Elder David A. Bednar taught, “Revelations are conveyed in a variety of ways, including, for example, dreams, visions, conversations with heavenly messengers, and inspiration” (“The Spirit of Revelation,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 88).

            How does the Lord reveal information to you? For many years, I dreamed dreams that gave me information. For example, the night before my father died, I dreamed that he died. When I arose the next morning, I proceeded to prepare to make an airline trip even though I did not receive the telephone call until that evening. Because I had advance warning, I had time to prepare myself, my home, and my family.

            I have not had that time of dream for numerous years. I do not know why the dreams stopped, but I like to think that the change is because I now listen better for the Lord’s voice while I am awake. The Lord reveals to each of us what we need to know. It is up to us how we hear His voice and what we do with the information. I know that more revelation comes as I learn to hear it and to act upon it.