Scripture
“When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, ‘Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.’ When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.”
GENESIS 41:55-57
Quotes/Color
“A leader takes in chaos and returns calm.”
Gordon Hall
Context
Joseph is one of my favorite people in the Bible, truly. He experienced high highs (high standing in the government) and low lows (being sold into slavery by his brothers) and responded beautifully to both. His story is, I think, one of the richest with good lessons in all of scripture.
One lesson in particular to takeaway from Joseph’s story is his preparedness, good leadership, and mercy displayed when famine struck Egypt.
Joseph, burdened with the incredible gift of leadership and visions from God, one day had a vision that a famine would strike Egypt and the surrounding areas. First 7 years of abundance, then followed by 7 years of famine.
In this story we see Joseph in a prominent position of power. He holds a great deal of influence. But is also burdened with a great weight of responsibility, as all good leaders are. In Genesis we see that amidst the chaos and fear of a famine, Pharaoh is sending everyone he can to Joseph, because he has proven he is the man with the plan.
Picture that.
Do you think that these people coming to Joseph during the famine were level-headed? Do you think they were waiting in line and taking turns to speak? Do you think they were patient for the right answer?
Heck no.
These people were hungry, scared and angry. They demanded answers from the man in charge (in name only) Pharaoh. And he promptly directed every person who asked, “Can I please speak to the manager” directly to Joseph. These were not mild-mannered, easy to get along with people in an easy situation. This was chaos. This was life or death. The stakes were high, and everyone was coming to Joseph.
Application
Car Filters
Everyone loves the idea of being a leader… Until you’re burdened with the responsibility of leadership. Actual leadership. Not the idea of leadership – everyone adoring you, thanking you, elevating you… That’s not leadership. That’s sometimes a fun result of leadership if you do it well… But that isn’t leadership.
Leadership is like a car filter. Look below…
A car filter takes in all of the bad stuff from the outside world. Bad air, smog, gunk, leaves, mud… All the bad stuff. The job of the air filter is to absorb and take in all of that junk… and put out something else entirely – clear air!
Be A Car Filter
The responsibility of a leader is to do the same. See below…
The responsibility of a leader is to absorb the madness around him (selfishness, chaos, fears, uncertainty)… To take all of that it… Let it run through him… And return calm and hope for the future instead.
That is the responsibility of a leader.
Things don’t come out the same way they came in. They go through you. And they’re better for it for having done so.
The Right Perspective
It will be a temptation to want to become a leader for the wrong reasons. To gain the respect of your peers, to attract attention, to make yourself feel important… If these are the heart of your intentions of leadership, you’re going to be awfully surprised when the real stuff comes.
One way or another, leaders absorb things around them…
They either absorb the attention, compliments and status around them – and return an inflated ego in the process (the wrong perspective).
Or they absorb the madness around them, like Joseph in the famine, because they know that is what they signed up for and the responsibility that they have been burdened with… And they return calm and a hope for the future to the people around them.
Good leaders do not dread craziness and uncertainty. They expect it. They absorb it with broad shoulders and preparation (like Joseph) and return a different thing entirely. Things look different coming from them than going in.
Something To Chew On:
- What did Joseph do that made him such a perfect leader for this moment in time in the famine in Egypt?
- If you’re a leader, do you dread absorbing chaos/uncertainty/fear? What can you do to better expect taking in these things as responsibilities of leading rather than dreading them?
- Who is someone you know that steadies the waters when things go through them? What do they do that you admire/makes things better?
GreatValue Proverb:
Leaders absorb chaos and return calm.