Issue #206, May 3, 2017
We often think the best leaders are strong and powerful, walking with bold confidence in their abilities and working hard for success. Jacob walked like this for many years and in the previous issue, we saw how he limped towards leadership. But as Jacob fled from his father-in-law to return home, he had a life-changing experience the night before he met his brother Esau. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered. Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared." The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip (Genesis 32:24-31). From this point forward, Jacob was a different man. He walked, and led, with a limp.
Jacob led with a limp by acknowledging God’s power.
Jacob had lived his life in his own strength but now he must acknowledge God’s power. Jacob was accustomed to finding a way to get what he wanted. Now for the first time in his life, he could not control the outcome. He seemed to win the physical battle, but the man touched Jacob’s hip and produced a limp. The man had the power of blessing him and giving him a new name. He had to acknowledge God’s power and learn to lead with a limp. Servant leaders learn to lead with a limp by relying on God’s power instead of their own. They acknowledge that they are not as powerful as their position implies. They do not focus on their titles and degrees; instead, they acknowledge that God is the source of their power.
Jacob led with a limp by admitting his limitations.
Jacob struggled and overcame, but at the same time, he had to face his own limitations. He was not able to bless himself. He could not protect himself from the expected meeting with his brother. He could no longer pretend to be someone else; he had to give his real name. He could not stop the wrenching of his hip. He could no longer walk with a confident stride. He came to the end of himself. His life would forever be marked with a limp, a sign of his own weakness. Servant leaders lead with a limp when they admit their own weaknesses and inadequacies. They are not afraid to admit mistakes. They admit that without God’s strength they would fail.
Jacob led with a limp by accepting God’s blessings.
Jacob had been seeking a blessing for years. He deceitfully asked for and received his father’s blessings. He had worked night and day for material blessings. Now he still cries out to be blessed but this time by God. As he received God’s blessing, he moved forward and found reconciliation with his brother and was able to again embrace his father. He was able to enjoy genuine blessings as he walked with a limp. Servant leaders lead with a limp by joyfully accepting any blessing that comes from God. They enjoy genuine relationships with family and friends. If God adds material blessings, they are also grateful.
Jacob’s limp was physical but is a symbol of how God wants us to lead as servant leaders. When we truly meet God our leadership will change. Most of us will not change overnight as Jacob did, but we all need to learn to lead with a limp.
For further reflection and discussion:
- In what ways do I acknowledge God’s power in my leadership? Can I give an example from the past week in which I clearly relied on God’s power instead of my own?
- When is the last time I admitted my own limitations to myself or others?
- Am I still striving to get blessings by my own strength or have I learned to accept God’s blessings? What blessings do I experience in my leadership as I lead with a limp?
- A friend said to me, “Never follow a leader without a limp.” Do I agree or disagree with this statement? What happens to followers when the leader has not had an experience of breaking as Jacob did? What kind of experience do those under my leadership have?