The making of a leader
*Illustration- What can a person accomplish with a 4th grade education? Depends on how they handle the adversity of limitations and personal failures. The man I speak of failed in his first two attempts in building a business. Finally, he succeeded in perfecting the process of making caramel with milk in Lancaster County, PA. He sold that business for $1M and used the proceeds to start a chocolate company. Yes, I am speaking of Milton S. Hershey.
We often celebrate successful people for what they accomplish and fail to appreciate the journey that molded them into the success we have come to know. Such a journey can be said of many of us here in this room. We may not have fully accomplished what we set out towards, but we would not be where we are at if it weren’t for the lessons learned from failure, hardship, and yes successes.
Judah’s life exemplifies such a journey. Today, we know that Judah becomes the chosen one of the 12 tribes of Israel. Through him the hope of the coming Messiah would be fulfilled. The name Judah means more than just “praise” it means to us promise kept.
Read Genesis 37:12-35
Lessons from failure.
- Letting anger and jealousy define any relationship will lead to poor decision making. (18-19)
- Self-awareness is compromised.
- Susceptible to getting caught up in the “mob mentality” of losing any just boundary.
- Choosing to pacify other people verses taking a courageous stand. (26-27)
- Clarity of conviction affords us the opportunity to correct a bad path.
- Deception may win the day, but it will haunt you going forward. (33-35)
- There are consequences to sin, even hidden sin. Reuben and Judah.
- You see the effects of the deception has on others—both Jacob and Joseph.
- You cannot walk with a clear conscience—guilt grows.
- A true accounting grows your self-awareness.
How do you change course when amid a failed situation?
What do you do with the consequences of your failures?
Rising out of failure. Genesis 43:1-10
- Become an advocate by leveraging your standing for the good of all. (8)
- For the benefit of the family’s survival. (8)
- Hold me personally responsible in blame and standing. (9)
- Speak truth even if it is uncomfortable. (10)
- Repenting of sin verses justifying it. Genesis 38:26
- Public confession and ownership of your failure turns the page for something better. Genesis 44:16
- Now you can begin to operate in the light of truth.
- Freedom to change the path has now come.
Unexpected blessing. Genesis 49:8-12
- Judah is the lion’s cub—strength, predator not prey, leader. (9)
- Within the family, the scepter and staff will be with Judah until the One comes who it belongs to—Royal caretaker. (10a)
- Joseph will receive the first born double portion, but headship will be with Judah.
- When the One comes all the nations obedience will be his. (10b)
- Foreshadowing of the Great Commission.
“I am he.” Jesus declared in John 4:26
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his. Genesis 49:10
The making of person who leads their life to reflect Christ more and more is one who…
- Learns from failure to avoid repeating it.
- Embraces the liberty of truth and rejects a pattern of hiding their sin.
- Chooses obedience to the character and person of Christ.
Prayer
Song: Graves into Gardens
Benediction:
Invitation cards for Easter.
Revelation 5:1-5 “Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”