Like many people, I have often battled with life’s challenges. I’ve struggled at times to embrace what I believe is God’s call and assignment – and I’ve often questioned my own abilities to handle the positions I’ve been entrusted. It’s been encouraging to study and understand how Joseph handled his Divine assignment.
In times of crisis, true leadership emerges not from titles or position, but from divine preparation and positioning. Perhaps no biblical account illustrates this more powerfully than Joseph’s rise to authority in Egypt. Here was a young Hebrew slave, suddenly elevated to become second only to Pharaoh himself. “You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage” (Genesis 41:40).
But what caught Pharaoh’s attention wasn’t just Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams – it was the spirit of divine wisdom that flowed through his leadership. “Then Pharaoh said to his servants, ‘Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?'” (Genesis 41:38). This reveals our first crucial insight: true authority flows from God’s presence in our lives, not from our own capabilities.
Consider the extraordinary transition. One day, Joseph was a prisoner; the next, he held the keys to Egypt’s survival. “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen” (Genesis 41:41-42). This wasn’t just a promotion – it was a divine positioning for purpose.
The Foundation of Divine Authority
Notice what preceded Joseph’s elevation. Through years of betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment, God was building character that could handle crisis-level authority. “Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him” (Psalm 105:19). Leadership capacity is forged in the furnace of trials.
Joseph’s response to his sudden authority reveals several crucial leadership principles:
- He immediately took action: “Then Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:46). True leaders don’t wait for perfect conditions – they move with purpose and urgency.
- He implemented systematic solutions: “Let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain” (Genesis 41:35). Vision without organization is just dreaming.
- He thought beyond the immediate crisis: “The food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine” (Genesis 41:36). Leaders must see beyond current circumstances to prepare for future challenges.
Embracing Full Authority
One of the most striking aspects of Joseph’s leadership was his complete embrace of the authority given to him. He didn’t shrink back with false humility or hesitate with self-doubt. When Pharaoh said, “Without your permission no one shall raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:44), Joseph accepted this authority as a divine responsibility.
This teaches us something profound about godly leadership: when God positions us for purpose, false humility can be as dangerous as pride. “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Leading Through Chaos
When the famine hit, Joseph’s leadership truly shined. “When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, ‘Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, you shall do'” (Genesis 41:55).
Notice several key qualities:
- He remained calm in crisis: There’s no record of Joseph panicking or wavering. His preparation gave him confidence.
- He administered with wisdom: “Joseph opened all the storehouses” (Genesis 41:56). He didn’t release everything at once but managed resources wisely.
- He maintained perspective: Even in managing a crisis, he never forgot that he was serving God’s larger purpose: “God sent me before you to preserve life” (Genesis 45:5).
The Divine Pattern of Authority
Joseph’s leadership reveals a pattern for those God calls to lead:
- Divine Preparation: “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord” (Proverbs 16:1). God prepares us through experiences we often don’t understand at the time.
- Divine Positioning: “And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). God positions us strategically for His purposes.
- Divine Purpose: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand” (Ephesians 2:10).
Taking Full Charge of Divine Assignments
When God gives us an assignment, He also gives us the authority to complete it. Like Joseph, we must:
- Accept the authority: Don’t minimize or shrink from what God has given you to do.
- Act decisively: “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” (Colossians 3:23).
- Administer wisely: Lead with both confidence and humility, knowing the authority comes from God.
The Heart of True Leadership
Joseph’s ultimate success wasn’t just in saving Egypt – it was in fulfilling God’s larger purpose of preserving His people. “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (Genesis 50:20).
This reveals the heart of true leadership: it’s not about our elevation but about God’s purpose. When we embrace divine authority with this perspective, we lead not from position but from purpose.
Let us pray: Father, like Joseph, help us to embrace the full authority You give us for Your purposes. Remove false humility and fear that would hold us back from fully stepping into Your assignments. Grant us wisdom to lead in times of crisis, keeping our eyes fixed on Your larger purpose. Help us to lead with both confidence and humility, knowing that all authority comes from You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Remember: When God gives you an assignment, He also gives you the authority to complete it. Don’t shrink back – step fully into what He has called you to do. Your leadership, like Joseph’s, might be the very means through which God preserves and protects His people in times of crisis.
