Joseph, the one with the really colorful coat back in the Biblical day, got totally screwed by his brothers. They betrayed him because they were tired of hearing Jacob, their dad, chirp about how great a kid he was. So, while working beside him one day out in the field, they betrayed him. His very own brothers sold him into slavery, faked his death for dear old dad, and, smugly, satisfied their need for some kinda crazy justice. Yup, they got even.
Joseph got screwed. He was just getting started too. After the dusty drive deep into Egypt he slaved away in obscruity for years. After years of this toil, it took a turn for the worse. Joseph was the slave of a man named Potiphar and one day Potiphar’s wife made a pass at poor Joseph. He politely said no and she screamed rape. Joseph gets screwed again and lands locked up in prison.
While in prison his character continues to become more virtuous instead of more bitter. He somehow continues to trust God and gives more and more of his pain over to Him. He becomes more compassionate and his heart becomes more whole. He has an ability to interpret dreams and one day the Pharaoh catches wind of it. Summoned before the big guy doesn’t even phase slave Joseph. He tunes in like an animal being stalked and calmly tells him what his dream means…
Famine is a coming, he says. Yikes.
Pharaoh prepares. Famine comes. Egypt is ready. Joseph, finally, has his big break. He’s promoted to V.P. of Grain and before you know it his brothers show up asking for food. Justice is coming. Sweet revenge. Finally, payback.
His brothers don’t recognize him so he plays with them a bit before revealing who he is. Instead of getting his justice thread back in line from some major tweakage by giving them what they deserve, he shocks them and all of us that follow the story in Genesis 50. He forgives them. He lets them off the hook. I think it’s kinda cool this is the first place in the Bible where the word forgive is written.
Joseph’s family was a mess, just like yours and mine. Joseph allowed God to straighten him out so he didn’t have to go around straightening everyting up himself. Joseph forgave. Joseph restored his brothers. Joseph repaired relationship with his family. Joseph was a leader worth learning from.
Remember, all leaders are master repairmen and women. What relationships, in your family, are in need of repair, my friend? Tell me more…
BUILT TO LEAD 
I have just completed a Sunday school lesson that I lead in which it was about Joseph and his dreams. I stressed during my teaching that the dreams we have for our life come from Jehovah God as He is speaking into our lives regarding the direction that is best. It is sad when we endeavor to pursue our own plans and disregard the plans that God has prepared for us. True freedom comes when we seek His will and not our own.