JOSEPH #64 | JOSEPH IN EGYPT #46 | LAST WORDS OF JACOB #35
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3660
JOSEPH #64
JOSEPH IN EGYPT #46
LAST WORDS OF JACOB #35
11. JOSEPH #11
PRINCIPLES OF GODLY LEADERSHIP FROM THE LIFE OF JOSEPH #5
5. HUMILITY
This hard-earned virtue was learned by a once proud Joseph when he became a slave in Egypt.
Some of the key features of his pride are a sense of entitlement; a sense of specialness; and a sense of superiority over others.
Joseph actually expressed these both implicitly and explicitly in the text.
His other attributes associated with pride included: presumption; ambition, vainglory, and boasting.
The most striking feature of pride and the one that is often the most destructive is the lack of awareness of how one’s actions affect others ( lack of empathy ). He did not suspect his brothers were seething with hatred and resentment towards him.
It was also Jacob's favouritism at fault. Joseph was exalted by Jacob which resulted in the destruction of family relationships among his overlooked siblings. This pattern of exultation resulted in jealousy and hatred by his brothers and Joseph’s isolation from them.
Classically, the spiritual remedy is found in Humility - by correcting this distorted sense of self and bringing it into balance with a realistic understanding of self, God, and others.
This was accomplished naturally or supernaturally by God’s providence; in the case of Joseph, he experienced actual humiliation and divine providence.
But Joseph was resilient and able enough to adapt through all his sufferings and continue to succeed. It was clear through it all that “the Lord was with him” (Gen 39:23), which made all of his work and success possible.
To recap, there is a profound reversal of fortune for Joseph; he is humiliated and humbled by being sold into slavery. The sense of entitlement and superiority are radically challenged for Joseph, forcing him to see himself not only as of the highly favored son but also, now, as a slave.
Such humbling experiences, although very painful, can result in the gift of growth in realigning one’s priorities, and refocusing one’s attention to the truth of who one is.
What spiritual lesson can we learn from Joseph's pride and subsequent humility?
He climbed his ladder of humility by “keeping the fear of God always before his eyes.” One beneficial aspect of his setback from hero to zero was to recognize one's need for God and one’s utter dependence on Him.
When one, like Joseph, is having the experience of getting all that one wants, it is often difficult to recognize one’s need for God or one’s utter dependence on Him.
Yes, without this critical realization, further growth in humility and in relationship with self, others, and God will not be possible.
Indeed the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom ( Proverbs 9:10 ).
For if we are truly humble, nothing would change us — neither praise nor discouragement. If someone were to criticize us, we would not feel discouraged. If someone was to praise us, we would not be proud.
True humility leads us to die to the kingdom of self.
True humility is the hallmark of a leader who has conquered his self-life to serve the more pressing needs of others.
