Leadership: Joseph as a Leader – SS2 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

Leadership is the act of guiding, directing and influencing people to achieve set goals. Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachel, was sold into Egypt by his brothers and later became prime minister there. He stored food for the years of famine, forgave his brothers and gave God the credit for his wisdom.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. state the meaning of leadership;
2. narrate how Joseph rose from slave and prisoner to prime minister of Egypt;
3. list the major talents and qualities of Joseph as a leader;
4. explain the lessons Christians can learn from Joseph’s life.

What is leadership?

To lead means to guide, conduct, persuade and direct affairs to achieve set goals.

• Leader: a person who guides others towards a goal, such as a head of state, a pastor or a class prefect.
• Follower: a person who is guided by the leader.
• Goal: the result the leader and followers work towards.

Who was Joseph? (Genesis 37:1-28; 41:1-57; 45:1-15)

Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob and the first son of Rachel.

• Father: Jacob, also called Israel.
• Mother: Rachel.
• Age at the start of the story: seventeen years, keeping his father’s flock with his brothers.
• Later position: prime minister of Egypt under Pharaoh.

Why did Joseph’s brothers hate him?

His brothers hated him because of their father’s favour and because of his dreams.

• Favouritism: Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons because he was the son of his old age.
• The coat of many colours: Jacob made it for Joseph, and it showed the brothers that he was the favourite.
• The first dream: Joseph dreamt that his brothers’ sheaves of grain bowed down to his sheaf.
• The second dream: Joseph dreamt that the sun, the moon and eleven stars bowed down to him.
• The result: the brothers looked for an opportunity to kill him.

How was Joseph sold into Egypt?

Joseph’s brothers sold him to Ishmaelite traders for 20 shekels of silver, and he was taken to Egypt.

1. The brothers were pasturing the flock at Shechem, and Jacob sent Joseph to see how they were faring.
2. The brothers saw him coming and conspired to kill him.
3. Reuben said no and asked that he be cast into a pit.
4. Reuben planned to rescue Joseph later and send him back to their father.
5. Judah suggested selling Joseph instead of killing him.
6. The brothers sold Joseph to Ishmaelite traders for 20 shekels of silver.
7. The traders took Joseph to Egypt.

How did Joseph rise to power in Egypt?

Joseph rose from slave to prisoner to prime minister because God was with him and he served faithfully.

1. Potiphar’s house: Joseph was sold to Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh. He found favour in the sight of God and man, and Potiphar made him head of the other servants in the house.
2. The false accusation: Potiphar’s wife lied that Joseph wanted to sleep with her, after he had refused her. Joseph was sent to prison.
3. In prison: Joseph interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s chief butler and chief baker. The butler was restored to his office, as Joseph had said.
4. Two years of waiting: the butler forgot Joseph until Pharaoh had troubling dreams two years later.
5. Pharaoh’s dreams: the butler recommended Joseph. Joseph explained that God would give seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.
6. Joseph’s advice: Pharaoh should appoint a wise man to store food during the years of plenty.
7. The appointment: Pharaoh made Joseph prime minister of Egypt.

What were the stages of Joseph’s rise?

How did Joseph meet his brothers again?

Joseph met his brothers when famine drove them to Egypt to buy food.

1. Joseph stored enough food during the seven years of plenty.
2. The famine came, and neighbouring countries came to Egypt to buy food.
3. On one of these visits, Joseph met the brothers who had sold him years before.
4. He forgave them and told them not to be angry with themselves.
5. He reconciled with them, and the whole family was united again in Egypt.

What were the major talents and qualities of Joseph?

Joseph’s major talents and qualities were wisdom, good administration, forgiveness, fear of God and humility.

1. Intelligence and spiritual gift: Joseph was a man of immense intelligence with a special gift of interpreting dreams.
2. Good administration: he stored and distributed grain, as Pharaoh assigned him, so well that other nations benefited.
3. Forgiveness: despite his brothers’ wickedness, he forgave them instead of taking vengeance. He saw their action as part of God’s plan for his destiny (Gen. 45:5).
4. Fear of God: he respected God in all his actions. This was why he refused to commit adultery with Potiphar’s wife.
5. Humility: he acknowledged God as the owner of the divine wisdom in him (Gen. 41:16).

What lessons can we learn from Joseph’s life?

Joseph’s life teaches Christians to trust God, forgive others and live at peace with everybody.

• God turns misfortune into blessing: disappointment, frustration and misfortune become a blessing when one trusts and believes in God. Joseph told his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Gen. 50:20).
• Live at peace: Christians should humble themselves and be at peace with everybody, because they do not know whom God will use to bless them.
• Good relationships matter: the chief butler recommended Joseph to Pharaoh because they had a good relationship in prison.
• Forgive those who wrong you: Joseph chose reconciliation instead of revenge.
• Stay faithful in hardship: Joseph remained honest as a slave and as a prisoner, and God lifted him up.
• Give God the glory: a good leader credits God for his or her gifts.
• Plan ahead: storing food in the years of plenty saved many lives in the years of famine.

Evaluation

1. What does it mean to lead?
2. Give two reasons why Joseph’s brothers hated him.
3. Why did Reuben ask that Joseph be cast into a pit?
4. State three qualities that made Joseph a good leader.
5. Why did the chief butler recommend Joseph to Pharaoh?

Assignment

Answer the five questions below in your exercise book, choosing the correct option for each.

1. Joseph was sold to the Ishmaelites for _____ pieces of silver. (A) Forty (B) Thirty (C) Twenty-five (D) Twenty
2. Reuben advised his brothers not to kill Joseph but to cast him into a pit because he _____ (A) did not want them to shed the blood of an innocent person (B) wanted to rescue him afterwards and bring him safely to their father (C) loved his brother dearly (D) wanted to bury him alive in the pit
3. The Ishmaelites sold Joseph to _____ (A) Potiphar (B) Pharaoh (C) Ramses (D) Achan
4. The years of plenty in Egypt lasted for _____ years. (A) six (B) eight (C) seven (D) five
5. The official who was restored to his office by Pharaoh from prison was the _____ (A) baker (B) cupbearer (C) warden (D) housekeeper