Are you an empowering leader? (69-4)

When Joseph’s brothers realized that the one they had betrayed could now do with them as he pleased, they feared payback. Instead of retaliating, Joseph did the unexpected; Joseph blessed them and empowered them to complete the task that had brought them to Egypt. Read Genesis 45:4-7.

Each of us can learn from Joseph traits that will empower our leadership to go to the next level. Joseph had several qualities that made him an empowering leader:

• Joseph had a strong sense of security. “Please come near to me” (v.4).
• Joseph had a strong sense of identity. “I am Joseph your brother” (v. 4).
• Joseph had a strong sense of empathy. “Do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves” (v. 4).
• Joseph had a strong sense of purpose. “For God sent me before you to preserve life” (v. 5).
• Joseph had a strong sense of perspective. “There are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth” (vs. 6, 7).

Effective leaders are lifelong developers of the life qualities of security, identity, empathy, purpose, and perspective.

Which of these life qualities is your strongest trait? Which is your weakest? Write a single sentence using a truth from God’s word that should govern your behavior in each of the five areas that empowered Joseph.