Faith & Family Business
Jacob, Esau, and our Differences (Genesis 25:27)
Welcome to my weekly Faith and Family Business reflections, where I (briefly) probe important questions that arise in family business – questions relating to behavior, relationships and legacy – from the angle of a Biblical story. For this series, I use the powerful narrative of the brothers Jacob and Esau, beginning in Genesis 25, to help us learn not only about that family, but also about our families. In the story we see everything from sibling rivalry, parental favoritism, and acts of deception, to diligence in work, honoring tradition, and family reconciliation. Told by Jews and Christians for millennia, the chronicle of Jacob and Esau will now be our guide as we navigate the challenging but often satisfying journey of caring both for family and business at the same time. (To be removed from this list, click “unsubscribe” below.)
Jacob, Esau and our Differences (Genesis 25:27)
The story about Jacob and Esau begins with a description of their birth, a foreshadowing of their rivalry, and an explanation of their differences.
“When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents.” (Gen. 25:27)
The twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah, their differences pronounced. One with an outside skill set, another with what we might recognize as “book smarts.”
So it is with siblings in family business today. One manages production and another manages the office. One works with tools, another works with people. One is outgoing, another is quiet. Detailed or big picture. Structured or flexible. Risk-taking or status quo. The contrast is often quite clear.
What differences among siblings do you see in your family business? How do you honor, respect, and reward each person for the unique contribution they make to the enterprise?
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