“I define a leader as anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people.” (Brené Brown)

“And Jacob called his sons and said: Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the end of days.” (Genesis 49:1)

The closing chapter of Jacob’s life is a climax of Genesis. Abraham’s journey, which began with a single individual who shattered paradigms and founded a new faith, has matured into the blueprint of a nation. In his final address, Jacob sees more than twelve sons. He sees the first seeds of a people.

As patriarch and leader, he understands the weight of his task: to consolidate belonging, commitment, and unity, and to shape the principles that will guide his descendants through history. A nation is not sustained by bloodlines alone, but by a shared destiny. By a “we” that must be deliberately built.

“Gather yourselves”: empowerment is formation for something larger

The greatest challenge of any collective is forging the bond that unites without erasing difference. The danger of tribalism, where each person protects only their own interests and agenda, is confronted with a single word: “Gather yourselves.”

This is the premise of a common and intentional story. Jacob does not deny individuality. He honors it, naming each son’s distinctive traits and contributions. Yet he states, without ambiguity, that the prerequisite for the journey ahead is the willingness of each to become part of something greater than himself.

Here is a crucial leadership lesson: empowerment is not ego inflation. Empowerment is the formation of people with identity, direction, and responsibility, capable of contributing to a mission that transcends them.

We explored diversity in earlier essays. Diversity is the richness of perspectives, approaches, experiences, and expectations. But without shared purpose and common objectives, diversity becomes fragmentation. When properly orchestrated, it amplifies the whole and dignifies the individual at the same time.

Each son receives an individual blessing. Jacob highlights each tribe’s unique gifts, strengths, and role. But he anchors everything in a non-negotiable foundation: unity.

His blessings also serve another purpose: setting high standards. Jacob articulates the potential he sees in each son so they themselves carry a directive of what they can become over time. It is not merely, “This is who you are.” It is, “This is who you can grow into.”

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