Title: Joseph's Leadership
Contents
Bible Text: Genesis 47:23-26
Joseph's Leadership
In October 1960, President Park Chung-hee appointed Sogang University professor Nam Duk-woo as the finance minister. The public officials were in the mood to wait for a few months as they would be thrown out of the pool, wondering how long a professor who didn't know the administration would endure. However, Minister Nam Duk-woo continued for more than four years, and was immediately promoted to Deputy Prime Minister as he stepped down from his post. He contributed to the miracle of the Han River in the 1970s while leading the Ministry of Finance and the Economic Planning Board for 18 years until December 1978. Scholars from Sogang University called the Sogang School led Korea's rapid growth.
President Park Chung-hee is praised for his mercenary skills. He was good at writing characters according to his talent, so he made the chicken wake the dawn and the cat catch the mouse.
That was the case with Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He knew how to see people. When he first met Joseph, he immediately read about his humanity and power. Joseph was sworn in as Prime Minister. Joseph succeeded Pharaoh and demonstrated leadership trusted by the people.
Talent Recruitment
As soon as Joseph met Pharaoh, he offered to hire talented people. “Now Pharaoh chooses a man of understanding and wisdom to rule over the land of Egypt...” (Genesis 41:33).
The condition of the man Joseph proposed to the king was “a man of understanding and wisdom.” An intelligent person is a wise and intelligent person. A person with insight and discernment.
Joseph was “a man moved by the Spirit of God” (Genesis 41:38). Impression means that God has breathed it. Pharaoh named Joseph Sabnath Barnea. It means “God speaks and He lives”. God is a God who has no bounds in understanding and is a God of strength and strength (Isaiah 40:28,29).
Understanding is a gift from God. Joseph's intellectual and spiritual judgment that could see through the essence of things was a gift from God. God gives wisdom and understanding (Proverbs 2:6).
In 2005, during an interview with the monthly Chosun, Chairman Lee Kun-hee said, “I am still hungry to find talent.” His biggest concern was finding the best talent in the world. It was that Samsung had to discover talented people to become a superhuman company.
A national leader must be an intelligent person. In Israel, a man of understanding could be the leader of the nation (Ezra 8:16). “How much better to find wisdom than gold, and better to obtain understanding than silver” (Proverbs 16:16).
Wisdom is the ability to make the most of knowledge. Wisdom is spiritual discernment beyond knowledge. Wisdom is the ability to see through the reality of things. He is a person who applies a method that can solve no matter how complicated a problem or even a messed up human relationship.
As Robert Murray Metschin said, “Workers used by God are terrible weapons in the hand of God.”
Joseph, chosen by Pharaoh, was a capable worker in God's hand. He was truly a man that God pleased with, and he was exactly what Pharaoh needed.
“Behold my servant whom I hold, my chosen one in whom I am well pleased… He will not fade, he will not be discouraged, he will bring justice to the world, and the islands will wait for his teaching” (Isaiah 42:1,4).
A person who is not discouraged or discouraged is not shaken in the face of difficult situations or difficult people. A person who is willing to fight those difficulties when necessary. Those who are willing to do anything to bring good to God's work are those who please God.
Joseph was a leader who established justice so that everyone trusted and willing to follow the counsel that came from his mouth. The conditions for the talent that Joseph suggested were that he had it, so Joseph self-confessed.
Strengthening the royal power
The prime minister is the post of assisting the king and overseeing the affairs of the country. Joseph knew it was his job to secure the kingship.
“You shall rule over my house, and all my people will obey your commandments, and the only thing I am above you is my throne” (Genesis 41:40).
Joseph knew that he was in a position to serve Pharaoh who sat on the throne, and that in order for the kingdom to stand firm, the position of the supreme leader must be firm. “Joseph said to the people, “Today I have bought your body and your furnishings for Pharaoh…” (verse 24) Joseph strengthened Pharaoh’s kingship.
“Lee Kuan Yew, who made Singapore a world-class developed country, learned how important real power is from his Japanese colonial life. During World War II, Singapore was under Japanese rule for three and a half years.
The powerless people were completely submissive to its power. But with the Japanese military's strong rule, I saw crime disappear. What Lee Kuan Yew realized at that time was that strong governance is essential for maintaining order and developing a country.
As we know, Singapore pays a lot of fines for spitting gum or throwing away cigarette butts on the streets. Possession or use of drugs is punishable by death. Singapore's motto is “Clean and Green Garden City”. Singapore is the number one country that I would like to immigrate to and live in, and Korea is number 50. As clean city-states, their GNP is $40,000. All come from strong leadership.
“Let each one be in subjection to the superior authorities. There is no authority but from God, and all authority is ordained of God” (Romans 13:1). A person grows and matures when he puts his soul under a higher authority. It becomes rich. Joseph was moved by the Spirit of God and was able to serve Pharaoh above and be served by the people below.
Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-yeon took office in 1981 at the age of 29. Daehan Life Insurance was listed and Daewoo Shipbuilding was acquired. We have grown from a company with 1 trillion won in sales to 29 trillion won at the time of taking office. Although young, this was possible thanks to the strong leadership of the president and active support of his staff.
When Israel fought Amalek, when Moses raised his hand, Israel prevailed, and when Moses was tired and his hand lowered, Amalek prevailed. When Aaron and Hur learned of this, they placed Moses in a comfortable seat and supported the leader so that Moses' arm did not go down until the sun went down. As a result, Israel was victorious (Exodus 17:12).
Joseph established the kingship of Pharaoh firmly and made a civilized nation through the people who enjoy freedom without indulgence and the rule of a king with authority. Have God as your king and enjoy that blessing.
Economy first
“Seek ye therefore first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:334). When Joseph became prime minister, he first put the economy first. We have established an economic policy to prepare for 7 years of good harvest and 7 years of famine.
August is a meaningful month in Korea. 100 years ago August became a Japanese colony, and 65 years ago August was liberation.
August is also a historic month in India. India gained independence from the British Empire on August 15, 1947. In 1950, India and South Korea had the same national income, but now our country is 15.2 times higher than India. Comparing India and Korea today, you can clearly see the difference in priorities. The modern history of Korea has become a success story of economic development that is unprecedented in the world since 1945.
Joseph was moved by the Spirit of God (Genesis 41:38). It means a person who has breathed in the breath of God. Joseph sold the grain he had bought in a time of abundance and sold it in a time of famine. They took livestock and sold grain. The people had to sell the land to get grain. The land in Egypt was private property, but after 7 years of famine, it became state property through Joseph's economic policy.
“Joseph said to the people, “Today I have bought your body and your land for Pharaoh, and here is your seed, sow it in the land. You give Pharaoh a fifth of the harvest, and you who buy a fifth take the seed of the land. Let it be your bread and your food” (verses 23-24).
Joseph enacted the land law. In a state where all the land became state property, the people were given the right to cultivate, but a fifth of the harvest was paid back to the state.
The greatest resource for economic development is people. The economy is governing the country and making the people prosperous.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).
“Blessed are the one who finds wisdom and the one who finds understanding… Long life is in his right hand, and riches in his left hand” (Proverbs 3:13,16).
Wisdom is said to bring longevity, wealth, and honor. Solomon's wisdom brought him glory and wealth. King Solomon's time was the most prosperous and prosperous than any other monarchy. Solomon asked for wisdom, and wisdom honored and made him rich. “Remember the Lord your God, for he has given you the ability to obtain wealth...” (Deuteronomy 8:18) May you overcome material hardships with God's wisdom and enjoy long life and wealth.
Joseph's leadership saved the country from a long famine, when the entire nation would move to an economy-first policy.
Leadership refers to the ability of one person to influence others. A leader must be willing to accept the views of a leader greater than himself and carry out his orders. You must be able to inspire the people to fully trust their leaders. Joseph had it. As Prime Minister serving Pharaoh, he did a very good job of managing the middle.
Joseph was trusted by the king and respected by the people. “Pharaoh said to his servants, “How can we find a man who is so moved by the Spirit of God?” (Genesis 41:38) The people said, “You have made us alive, and we have found favor with you, and Pharaoh’s servant. It will be done” (verse 25).
Joseph proposed to Pharaoh the principle of talent selection. A policy of establishing the monarchy was implemented. He has shown leadership in managing crises and building the country with an economy-first policy.