Leadership: God’s Plan of Success for Managers Muestra

Joseph: from Slave to General Manager

One of the more interesting stories of career success in the Bible is the story of Joseph. Sold into slavery by jealous brothers while a teenager, Joseph shows a track record of integrity and doing his best in whatever situation he finds himself in, leading to significant career success.

Starting as slave in the household of an Egyptian businessman, Joseph works his way up to General Manager in charge of all household & business affairs. The business owner, Potiphar, has turned it all over to Joseph to manage, leaving himself to concern himself only with what he ate.

Eventually, Potiphar’s wife comes after Joseph to start an affair with him. Joseph refuses, but she continues her pursuit day after day. One day, she grabs him by the coat, but he runs off leaving the coat in her hands. In her frustration, she accuses Joseph of attempted rape, landing him in jail.

That management career that started so well meets a sudden end. Or does it?

In jail, Joseph continues with his practices of integrity and doing his best – and soon it is obvious to all (including the jailhouse manager) that God is with him.

You likely know the rest of the story… Joseph meets some former government officials, interprets their dreams, and is brought out of jail to interpret a dream for Pharaoh himself.  Joseph’s tradition of doing his best and trusting God for the rest continues, and he ends up as second-in-command over all Egypt.

So why did God choose to bless Joseph and his career? And, how does that apply for your work today? 

Look at what the Bible says:

The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.  – Genesis 39:2-4

But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.  – Genesis 39:20b-22

The Bible says that Joseph’s promotions came about because God was with him. The Bible does NOT say that Joseph was blessed because of his working style, his honesty, his integrity or prayer life. It just says that “the Lord was with him.”

Would God have been with Joseph and blessed him, had Joseph not made the right choices? Likely not, since the Bible frequently shows punishment as a consequence of dishonesty and disobedience.

So what does this mean for you today? Will a life of honesty, integrity and doing your best help bring about God’s blessing of success to your career?

To answer this question, we need to dig deeper. Next, we’ll look at Daniel – another management success story – to see why God blessed him. 

Reflection / Application 

1. Would you say that God is with you at your work? How do others see this?  
2. Joseph exhibited a long list of what we might label as “good” characteristics and work behaviors. Do you think those were the reason God was with him, or the result of God being with him? 
3. Doing the right thing in all circumstances like Joseph did can be difficult. Reflect on the last time you missed the mark, and then ask God to come into that area of your work also. Be sure to seek forgiveness through Jesus also.