Welcome back. This is our final segment for The Pillar of Influence, and I hope you are recognizing ways that you can increase your influence, and you can help others.

Too many people don't finish very well. For most people, there will come a time when we must deal with the obstacles that threaten to destroy our influence. Joe Jacobson experienced just that. The events of his life surfaced some unresolved personal issues. For years, he had harboured anger towards his brothers, but it was able to lay dormant in his heart. But this lethal issue of unforgiveness was there, and it could have destroyed him.

Every leader will need to deal with issues along the way. They could be financial. They could be sexual. They could have to do with substance abuse, dishonesty. But there will be issues that leaders will need to face.

Now, during a famine in North Africa, Joe Jacobson's leadership had reached its apex, really a global scale influence. He's now the prime minister of Egypt. He's in control of Egypt's massive food resources. But at that same time, his brothers, the same guys who earlier had bullied him and sold him into slavery in Egypt, showed up; and they stand before him, hoping to acquire some desperately needed food.

Now, when that happened, something rose up inside of Joseph, something that threatened his leadership and would harm his brothers.

Now, why should he show these guys mercy? Instead of resentment, he could have treated them kindly; but resentment inspired him to return to his former ways. Power magnified his emotions and offered him a taste of sweet revenge. And so, he turned away from his integrity for a moment. Joe knowingly made false charges against his brothers and said, "You're spies". He openly accused them of being dishonest, when he was fraudulent. He planted false evidence to condemn them. He unjustly imprisoned them. And after three days of incarceration in the worst of prisons, he releases only nine out of ten of the brothers. One will remain in prison, and the other brothers will be let return to their home. But Joe says "You can only leave Egypt if--and this would break his father's heart--if you bring your younger brother--not my younger brother, that was his. But "If you bring your younger brother along with you."

So, Joseph's actions didn't go unnoticed. The people under his command had honoured him as a great man. But now, Joe had changed. The ruler they respected had become unscrupulous, and he forced his workers to carry out unethical actions.

Why would this formerly good leader treat these men so badly? For a time, Joe Jacobson lost his focus. He seized a chance to hurt his brothers. And he found pleasure in abusing them. But his revenge did not bring a lasting satisfaction. Selfishness only brought more regret and ultimately isolation. Now thankfully, Joseph realized his mistake, and he dealt with his pain. And he relented from his evil plans and returned to his former ways and again embraced integrity.

Now, did his brothers deserve to be forgiven? Well, I don't know. Maybe. Maybe not. But Joe learned that he must not let his unresolved issues forfeit the future. Eventually, Joe Jacobson chose to do the right thing, even when it felt like it cost him.

What was the result? Well, relationships were healed; a family was restored. He regained the respect of those who were under his command. And Joe Jacobson was able to use his influence for the benefit of others.