We have many leaders, both in our nation and within the Church. Not all leaders act with godly intent. Some have been exposed as evil people. But while that evil is being revealed and takes the headlines, there are godly leaders we should affirm and recognize, or we will lose hope for the future. Joseph was a person who demonstrated those qualities.
Joseph, who was cruelly sold into slavery by his brothers in Egypt, was the very person the Lord would use to save his brothers and their families in a time of severe famine. Under Pharaoh, Joseph was placed as second in command in Egypt. In his high position of leadership, Joseph was afforded all the authority of Egypt to carry out his plans to prepare the nation for the coming famine. He did not use his authority to punish his brothers.
A GODLY LEADER WILL DISPEL PEOPLE’S FEARS OF RETRIBUTION
When Jacob, the father of Joseph and his brothers, died and was buried, the brothers became fearful: “Now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. ‘Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him’” (Genesis 50:15).
A GODLY LEADER WILL LOOK PAST PEOPLE’S FAILURES TO SEE GOD’S HIGHER PURPOSE.
The brothers spoke in a message they sent to Joseph, “Before your father died, he instructed us to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.’ When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept” (vs. 16-17).
A GODLY LEADER WILL NOT PUNISH, BUT INSTEAD, WILL REDEEM
A Godly leader will express the heart of God, not bring vengeance to those who betrayed them. A true leader will become emotionally affected by people’s inability to see God’s heart when they have been blinded by the shame of their betrayal and abandonment.
A GODLY LEADER DOES NOT LEAD BY FEAR
“Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So, he reassured them by speaking kindly to them” (vs. 19-21).
A Godly leader doesn’t lead by creating fear in the lives of those who have wronged them. They see God’s higher purpose at work and allow that higher purpose to lead their actions. They are large enough in spirit to care for those who did them wrong.
If a leader is more concerned with their position of power and the execution of vengeance against their oppressors, and not with the process of redemption, they will take a dark turn that will take them and the people they are leading into places of great personal peril.
We need Godly leaders who will express the heart of God when the hearts of the people have grown progressively hardened to God’s truth, seeking vengeance, not redemption.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Garris Elkins
Featured Image by Erika Fletcher on Unsplash
