*Please note- the Patriarch Joseph is not actually the Patron Saint of Middle and Upper Management, but that would be funny if he was…

The concluding chapters of Genesis detail the life and trials of the Patriarch Joseph. As the eleventh son of Jacob (also called Israel), he is born to Jacob’s young wife Rachel and quickly rises to the position of his father’s favorite. This favoritism culminated with the well-known gift of a fancy coat, which stoked his brother’s jealousy into murderous rage. The more hot-headed brothers were talked off the ledge by those with cooler temperaments, and instead of killing their brother, they sold him as a slave. He ends up serving a high-ranking official in the government of the Pharaoh of Egypt.

His master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field. So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. (Genesis 39:3-6)

The slave Joseph shows a knack for management and good stewardship, and through some ups and downs in his career he leads a life devoted service in the halls of power marked by avoiding temptations, humble hustle in how he continuously blesses everyone around him, and a constant recognition of God’s power over the earth. His life has many parallels with the life of the Prophet Daniel, and it provides an interesting case for many of the same reasons. We seek to study how heroes of faith have been able to transform the institutions and systems of the world through faithful service to the Lord. Through Joseph we can learn about how we can devote our daily grind to bless our neighbors and love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind.

Avoid temptation, and be prepared for the wicked to attack you as a result. We must keep doing good.

Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.”

As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. (Genesis 39:16-20)

Faithful stewardship as a good and faithful servant for his earthly master was not enough to shield Joseph from false accusations of misconduct. When he spurns the advances of the wife of his master, she claims he attacked her. Joseph would be treated as guilty until proven innocent, so he is cast in prison.

But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed. (Genesis 39:21-23)

The defining aspect of Joseph’s years in prison is not how he changes, but how he stays the same. He is faithful to the Lord, and he is blessed with a talent for management. This, combined with a knack for prophecy, eventually earns him freedom, a wife and family, and a promotion to overseer of the Pharaoh’s household and the fortunes of a powerful kingdom.

As a steward, we must be ready for both bull markets and bear markets

Forgive the conversion to modern terminology, but the genius of Joseph which was revealed to him by God is this- recognize a good harvest (bull market) and use that to store value for the future, and seek opportunities to expand in a bad harvest (bear market). I want to acknowledge the danger of shoe-horning Biblical passages into modern interpretations, but there are some economic principles that are true and timeless. Read and test these for yourself.

And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.” (Genesis 41:35-36)

Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished by reason of the famine. And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought. And Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. And when the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone.” And Joseph answered, “Give your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.” So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. He supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year. (Genesis 47:13-17)

I would recommend reading all of chapter 47 of Genesis, as it is often overlooked in the story of Joseph. The drastic economic conditions lead to a massive centralizing of assets. This should make the crypto-believers amongst us perk up their ears, as it seems to set the stage for the slavery conditions of Exodus. But there is a message here:

For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. (Matthew 13:12)

How do we view this bear market, and the promise of future bull markets, as a chance to gather influence, invest resources, and grow the Kingdom of God?

Finally, life is hard, and being a manager is usually a drag, so try to have fun with it

Ending on a lighter note, Joseph is eventually reunited with his family. He does not use this as a chance for revenge or justified anger. He instead embarks on the longest practical joke of the Bible. Over the course of years he helps them, then frames them, then lets them go free, and eventually reveals himself.

So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. (Genesis 45:4-5)

I pray for that patience as a manager, and as a brother. Call the Pope and make this man a saint.

(cover image courtesy of oca.org)