Leadership Lessons from the Life of Joseph

Bible scholars have listed up to 100 details in the story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50 that parallel the life and personal character of Jesus Christ. This makes him one of the greatest 'types' of Christ in the Bible.

Certainly Joseph demonstrated one of the most godly attitudes towards life's circumstances. Like Jesus, Joseph was the beloved son of his father, a good shepherd, sent on a mission with a message for his brothers. He was carefully instructed by His father and had the revelatory insight of God-inspired dreams. He confronted the sins of his brothers, and reported their disobedience to his father. "He came unto his own, but his own received him not." (John 1:11). His brothers were resentful of Joseph's abilities and his special place in their father's affections and plans. His brothers mocked and abused him, tore his coat from him, threw him into a pit, delivered him unto death and sold him for twenty pieces of silver. His brothers did this out of envy and spite. While Joseph was crying out in suffering, his brothers stained his coat with blood and casually sat down to lunch, even as the Roman guards gambled for the seamless garment of Jesus while he hung from the cross.

Like Jesus, Joseph was delivered into the hands of the Gentiles. There he was falsely accused, sentenced to prison where he was numbered among the transgressors. This suffering servant prophesied men's salvation and judgment (interpreting the dreams of the butler and baker in Genesis 39). But Joseph came out of the prison of death and was exalted to the right hand of the throne of Egypt's god (Pharaoh). There he was given a new name that was above every other name (See Genesis 41:45; Revelation 19:12; Philippians 2:9-10).

His brothers were unaware of what God had done for Joseph. During this time Joseph takes a Gentile bride who produces offspring - Manasseh (meaning, He has made me forget all my toil) and Ephraim (He has made me fruitful in my affliction). Because of famine, Joseph's brothers, the house of Israel, seek favor from the throne (of Egypt). Joseph recognizes his brothers, but they do not recognize him. They are shown favor because their brother is on the throne. Joseph makes himself known to them the second time he appears before them, even as Jesus will make himself known to the house of Israel when he comes a second time (Zechariah 12:10, Romans 11:25-26) . Soon Joseph's dreams are fulfilled as his brothers bow before him in humility and repentance. Joseph extends mercy and forgiveness to them.

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you." (Genesis 50:20. Genesis 45:5 NIV).

Because Joseph regularly aligned his heart and mind to what he knew to be true about God, He was able to trust Him for the outworking of His purpose. Therefore he could see the good emerging from all of the sorrow. He was determined to become better rather than bitter. Paul Billheimer once pointed out that the only difference between these two words was that one possessed an 'I' instead of an 'E'. When we cancel out the 'I' the self-centered sin nature, and replace it with 'E', standing for 'Emmanuel- God with us', we are able to adopt divine viewpoint and work together with Him for the advancement of His purposes.

Let us trust the verdict and the inner working of the cross of Christ in our lives that substitutes the 'E' for the 'I'. May we ever be conscious of the truth of God's claims as revealed in Scripture and the reality of His presence and purposes being manifested in our lives.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28 NIV).