Joseph as a leader

JOSEPH’S EARLY LIFE AND ARRIVAL IN EGYPT

Joseph was ordained by God to be a leader.  He dreamt twice about it but his brothers who were jealous of him sold him into slavery in the land of Egypt.  It was there in Egypt that he rose to become to the governor.  Joseph was a God-fearing man who also demonstrated leadership qualities of discipline, hardwork, accountability and responsibility.  He was a man of tender heart who reconciled with his brothers despite what they did to him when they came to Egypt to buy food during the time of famine

JOSEPH AS THE GOVERNOR OF EGYPT (Genesis 41:10-57)

Two years after Joseph had interpreted dreams in prison, Pharaoh himself had two dreams in his first dream, seven lean cows ate up seven fat cows.  In his second dream, seven ears of grain ate up seven plump ears of grains.  Pharaoh called all the magicians and wise men in Egypt, but none of them could interpret the dreams.  The butler then remembered Joseph who had interpreted his dream in prison.  Joseph was taken out of prison to interpret the dreams.  He interpreted that the seven fat cows and the seven plump grains represented seven years of plenty while the seven lean cows and the seven thin grains represented seven years of famine.

After the interpretation was done, Joseph recommended to Pharaoh that he should appoint a wise and discreet person to be govern in charge and store enough grains during the seven years of plenty which could be made use of during the seven years of famine.  Then Pharaoh appointed Joseph as governor of Egypt because Pharaoh could sense that the spirit of God was in him.  Joseph rose from slavery to the position of high authority and influence in Egypt.  Joseph was thirty years old when he became the governor of Egypt.  Joseph started work immediately he was appointed.  He was in his office directing affairs.  After his appointment, the travelled throughout the land of Egypt.

When directing seven years of famine began, people went to Pharaoh for food, But he directed them to Joseph.

Joseph wisely sold the food to the people so that everyone could have enough during the seven years period of famine.  People from other countries also came to Joseph to buy food.

JOSEPH RECONCILES WITH HIS BROTHERS (Genesis 45:1-15)

Joseph did not reveal himself to his brothers when they came for the first time to Egypt to buy food instead he said they were spies and threatened to put them in prison.

The second time Joseph asked all the officers and workers in his house to go out: when he was left alone, he wept loud and then forgave and reconciled with his brothers.  After he had wept, he said to his brother: “I am Joseph, is my father still alive?”

His brothers were shocked and surprised by what had happened.  They were speechless, because they fell guilty.  They did not expect that Joseph could become a governor in Egypt.  They thought he would punish them for what they did to him in the past.

Joseph could read their mind and then asked them to draw closer to him and said to them again:

“I am your brother Joseph whom you sold into Egypt”.  He told them not to be distressed for what they did to him was in accordance with the plan of God so that their lives could be preserved.  He said they should return and bring their father to Egypt because the famine remained five years.

He also told them to bring the entire family with their property so as to dwell in Egypt for the period of famine.  Joseph’s family settled in Goshen where they multiplied and prospered greatly.