Among the most important qualifiers for leadership is personal sacrifice. Leaders show their sacrificial lead measures before asking others to join them. 

Judah was the one of Joseph’s brothers who came up with the idea of selling him into slavery when his other brothers wanted to kill him and his brother Reuben tried to save him. (See Genesis 37:17-27.)

Then we have Genesis 38. This is an uncomfortable story. Judah would agree. Evidently, something shifted in his life during this season. Verse 26 gives us insight into what was happening in his heart and mind.

Judah recognized them immediately and said,
“She is more righteous than I am, because I didn’t arrange for her to marry my son Shelah.”
And Judah never slept with Tamar again.

The evidence of his turn away from who he had been to who he became is found in 43:8, 9. The rest of the story is found in 44:33. (Both verses can be found above.) 

Judah’s full speech in verses 18-34 is a masterclass in humility and personal sacrifice. This is what led Joseph to reveal himself to his brothers (45:1 and following). 

The last time Joseph and Judah looked one another in the eye, they were waving a not-so-fond goodbye. Judah had some spending money and had rid his brothers of a lordly little dreamer who thought he was better than everyone else. Now Judah was on his knees, on his face, and completely bankrupt before his little brother who had become bigger than life and everything he had ever dreamed. 

Judah’s humility and personal sacrifice unlocked something inside Joseph. Something clicked. His whole life suddenly made sense. And so we hear words we need to take to heart when we find ourselves in a season of wondering, a season of loss, a season where the past is gone forever, and a new life has begun.

“Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer.
And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt.
But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place.
It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.”
Genesis 45:4, 5

Humility and personal sacrifice are indispensable leadership characteristics in every age, in every situation, in every endeavor. There is one other ultimate expression of this truth. We find it in Philippians 2:1-11:

“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ?Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

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I will humble myself and live sacrificially.

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Our Father, thank you for showing us that the way up begins by stepping down. Empower us to humble ourselves. Empower us to give without reserve. Empower us to live and work for the best interests of others. Amen.