There is somebody I need to speak to this week, but I have been pushing off the conversation for a few days now. I am hoping that the issue will resolve itself, but in reality, I know it won’t. If that sounds like a situation you are in as well, then you should know that every conversation has its proper time and place.
When Joseph met up with his brother’s in last week’s Torah portion, they did not treat him very nicely. Some wished to kill him. While his oldest brother Reuben, suggested they throw him in a pit instead. Even though they did as Reuben had suggested, that did not stand too long. Soon after another suggestion was presented and followed. This time by Yehuda, to sell Joseph as a slave. That was the first time Reuven’s suggestion was not completely followed.
Later on, when Jacob’s children needed to go back to Egypt to purchase food, they reminded their father that the vice-king had ordered them only to return with Benjamin by their side. Reuven then approaches his elderly father and guarantees responsibility for Benjamin’s life. If G-d forbid, Reuven would not be successful, than his two children (that he believed would inherit a double portion in Israel) would lose out on their inheritance. However, even with such a promise, Jacob still does not permit Benjamin to travel.
It is only later when Jacob’s family were truly desperate for food that Yehudah approaches their father. Yehudah offers to take full responsibility for Benjamin, and with that promise alone, Jacob allows Benjamin to go with the rest of the brothers. This is the second time that Reuven’s suggestion has been overlooked by his younger brother Yehudah.
One of the reasons was their approach to the situations. Reuven did not take full control of the situation, but rather left it to the pit or to his children. “The pit will take care of Yosef for now. Perhaps later I will save him. My children will sacrifice for my brother,” he thought. Yehudah on the other hand, not only took responsibility, but put it into action. Yehudah knew that waiting for things to happen on their own with Yosef in the pit was not a good choice.
Yehudah acted like a true leader. He knew the right time for the big conversation and took action in leading it. May we all learn from Yehudah to take action. At the right time that big conversation needs to happen by you leading it. And when it does you will certainly succeed.
