Genesis 33:12-20: a reflection

12Esau said, “Let’s take our journey, and let’s go, and I will go before you.” 13Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are tender, and that the flocks and herds with me have their young, and if they overdrive them one day, all the flocks will die. 14Please let my lord pass over before his servant, and I will lead on gently, according to the pace of the livestock that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord to Seir.” 15Esau said, “Let me now leave with you some of the people who are with me.” He said, “Why? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” 16So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17Jacob traveled to Succoth, built himself a house, and made shelters for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. 18Jacob came in peace to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan Aram; and encamped before the city. 19He bought the parcel of ground where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money. 20He erected an altar there, and called it El Elohe Israel.

As Jacob and Esau part after their reconciliation, Esau offers to travel with Jacob; but Jacob declines, and gives a telling reason. My lord knows that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds are nursing their young; if they are driven hard even one day, they will die. Let me lead on gently, he says, at the pace of the livestock and the children. Jacob would not overdrive the weak; he would lead gently, at the pace of the most vulnerable in his care.

Notice Jacob's gentle, considerate leading. He was responsible for tender children, nursing flocks, the vulnerable and the weak; and he would not overdrive them, forcing them to a pace they could not bear. He led gently, at the pace of the weakest, considerate of their limits, unwilling to push the vulnerable beyond what they could endure. His leading was shaped by care for the weak, not by his own haste or convenience.

That gentle, considerate leading is a model for how we care for and lead others, especially the weak and vulnerable. We can be tempted to drive others at our own pace, pushing them beyond their limits, impatient with the weak or slow, forcing them to keep up regardless of their capacity. But Jacob led gently, at the pace of the most vulnerable in his care, considerate of their limits. When you lead or care for others, especially the weak, the young, the struggling, do not overdrive them at your own pace, pushing them beyond what they can bear; lead gently, as Jacob led, at the pace of the most vulnerable, considerate of their limits and needs. Care for the weak in your charge with the gentleness Jacob showed, not driving them hard, but leading gently at a pace they can bear, mindful of their tenderness. Gentle, considerate leading that goes at the pace of the weak, rather than overdriving them, is the care that reflects God's own gentle shepherding of us.

Lord, as Jacob and Esau parted, Jacob declined to travel at Esau's pace, giving a telling reason: the children are tender, and the flocks are nursing their young; if driven hard even one day, they will die; let me lead on gently, at the pace of the livestock and the children. He would not overdrive the weak, but led gently, at the pace of the most vulnerable in his care. Show me his gentle, considerate leading. He was responsible for the tender and the weak, and would not push them beyond what they could bear; his leading was shaped by care for the weak, not by his own haste. Let that be a model for how I care for and lead others, especially the weak and vulnerable. I can be tempted to drive others at my own pace, pushing them beyond their limits, impatient with the weak or slow. But Jacob led gently, considerate of their limits. When I lead or care for others, especially the weak, the young, the struggling, keep me from overdriving them at my own pace, pushing them beyond what they can bear; help me lead gently, as Jacob led, at the pace of the most vulnerable, considerate of their limits and needs. Help me care for the weak in my charge with the gentleness Jacob showed, Lord, leading gently at a pace they can bear, as you gently shepherd me.