So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the droves before me and that of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir." (Genesis 33:14).

Business often determines that we move at a pace that can put incredible stresses upon people and relationships. Jacob was a man who learned his whole life to manipulate and control outcomes. He stole the birthright of his brother Esau through trickery. The Bible speaks of Jacob as a man who strived with God. He knew how to force situations to his advantage. It took years for God to break down all the rough edges of Jacob so that he could be worthy of becoming the patriarch of the 12 tribes of Israel, but God saw something in Jacob that he could use.

Robert Hicks, in his book Masculine Journey, describes five biblical stages of manhood that must be passed through before a man becomes a mature man of God. One of those early stages is known as the "warrior stage." In this stage of manhood the man is known by what he does, what he accomplishes, and is totally defined by his performance. It can be a tumultuous time for the man and those close to him. It is often signified by broken relationships because the goal is often more important than the way the goal is accomplished. When I meet with a man, I can easily determine what stage of life he is in by hearing him talk.

Jacob had successfully passed through these five stages based on the verse above. It takes someone mature to be able to "move along slowly at the pace of the droves before me and that of the children." Leaders who never come to understand this may be successful materially but fail at the most important aspect of leadership -- leading at a pace that his followers can walk. The roads are full of wives, children, and workers who could not keep up with the pace of the leader and were left behind with broken dreams, broken hearts, and unfulfilled promises.

Are you a person who is more concerned with outcome than how you achieve the outcome? Can the people around you describe you as someone who leads at the pace that insures respect and admiration? Ask the Lord for the ability to be a Godly leader who understands the condition of his flock and the pace in which you can lead without alienating.