Question: How can we wisely lead when we are tempted to think we are actually failing?

Text & Context: You are likely familiar with the person of Joseph in the book of Genesis. Joseph was one of the 12 sons of Jacob/Israel. Joseph was a favored/favorite son of Jacob/Israel. Joseph was chosen by God to become a leader. But that role of leader brought with it a lot of heartache and hard times. Joseph was sold by his 11 brothers (Gen 37:27). Joseph was lied about by his brothers and they even told their father that Joseph had been killed (Gen 37:31). Later, Joseph was framed by Potiphar’s wife as if he had slept with her, but he had not (Gen 39). Joseph was incarcerated due to the ruse Potiphar’s wife concocted about him (Gen 39:19ff).

But here’s the good news and how Joseph’s experiences can help us in leadership:

• Gen 39:2 says, “The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.”
• Gen 39:9 records where Joseph remembered his life was always visible before the eyes of holy God; “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” he asked. In other words, he refused to sin in that way because he kept short accounts with God.
• Gen 39:21 says, “But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him his steadfast love . . .”
• Gen 39:23 says, “ . . . the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed.”

Takeaways of Encouragement re Leadership:

• Struggle is inextricable from leadership, but remember God is most exalted by triumphing over and through tragedy.
• Keep short accounts with God.
• Remember that God delights to exalt the humble and humble the proud.
• Focus on what’s right, not what’s easy.