Leading Like A Warrior Chief Or A Shephard, A Sermonette On Balance Series

The time I spent praying about this short message brought this to mind.

In the weekend I had the opportunity to preach on Genesis 33, which is about when Jacob and Esau catch up after a good time apart, the main theme of that sermon was about reconciliation and that “Mighty is the God of the one who struggles with God.” There's a good number of sermon themes and separate messages that can come out of the one passage.

However, there are some verses about pastoral care in this chapter also. The pastoral care of two groups. Now Jacob hears Esau is on his way to him and Esau is not alone, oh no he has 400 men with him, his own private army. Jacob panics before his prayers are answered and his relationship with Esau, the brother whose inheritance he stole is restored. The first group is Esau and his army.

We also have Jacob, his wives, maidservants and the children that he’s had with them and all of Jacobs flock’s and their young. The second group.

After the reconciliation the two brothers were talking about what next. [There's possibly another message in here also about why Jacob was responding the way he did but that's for another time.] Esau says to Jacob, “Let us journey on our way and I will go ahead of you.” Jacob's reply was along the lines of “the children are frail and I’m also caring for lots of young livestock and their mothers. If I push them hard even for one day they will die. You go on ahead and we will travel after you at the pace of the children and the young livestock.” Esau even offers to leave some men with Jacob to protect his small tribe which Jacob turns down.

So, we have two groups the first, a man and his army, plus some hardy animals his repentant brother has given him. The second, a man, his wives, servants and their frail children, plus livestock with young, again frail young.

Esau, was a man of means but an army of 400 men is no small thing to provide for, an army marches on its stomach. Esau and his men parted the same day Esau and Jacob were reconciled. Esau was aware that these 400 men had needs, required supplies, had he brought enough food and drink, provided enough shelter? There are no terms of employment written down in the scriptures for this group but to ensure a good outcome for all they would require some form of payment, He was keen I would guess to get them home, to have that arrangement settled, and keep some silver for himself. They would push on ahead.

Jacob was aware of his small tribe's needs, his children were vulnerable, his livestock were an investment, literally his bank account he was travelling with, and they needed to be cared for. To push them hard would kill them.

So, the two brothers went their own ways at their own pace, the pace that was best for each of their groups. They understood their needs and what their group required and what the other group required.

The two brothers, Esau and Jacob were in the in the lead of each group also had to be aware of their own needs. Jacob’s developing relationship with God had been foremost in their reconciliation, however they both still held their own personal welfare in their own hands. Four-hundred men's and their families' livelihoods were dependent on Esau’s leadership as was his own future. Jacob’s small tribe, his livestock and his own well-being were balanced on his decision making.

The word regarding Pastoral care that I want to bring is balance, and sometimes that balance point must be flexible, for the leader and those who are following.