We have all served with good leaders and leaders that left a lot to be desired. Read Genesis 25:29-34 and 27:1-30.

Jacob stole the birthright from Esau. Later, with the help of his mother, Jacob stole the blessing of his father. Leaders can use several methods to bring their influence to bear. The following methods of leadership (influence) go from worst to first:

Leaders cannot do anything of significance in the kingdom of God until they humble themselves before God and seek His face. When a leader is broken of self they can be blessed by God. Read Genesis 32:24-32.

Jacob turned a corner as a leader the night he wrestled the Angel of God. He not only broke physically when the Angel dislocated his hip but he broke emotionally. After this night Jacob’s name was changed from “deceiver” to “Israel” meaning “prince with God.”

True leaders learn from their failure. Adam and Eve were a perfect compliment for each other and were co-leaders over creation. Eve was a leader who learned from her failure. Read Genesis 4:1-5:5.

Eve lived in a world that was free of pain, heartache and sin. Her choice to follow Satan rather than God brought devastating consequences to earth that we still suffer with today. Eve exchanged her life without pain for a hostile world with a brutal environment and even became the first mother to endure the heartache of a murdered child. Yet Eve demonstrated an ability to recover from failure and move forward.