Jacob: A Man of Influence

Jacob said to his father, “…please arise, sit, and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” Genesis 27:19 Influence can be either positive or negative. The Bible tells us that Jacob “influenced” the birthright away from his brother, Esau, the oldest son. A little later, his mother Rebekah helped Jacob to “influence” the firstborn blessing out of his father. It took influence to bring both events to pass. A person can wield influence in many ways. Consider the following seven methods, beginning with the worst: (1) Force – the use of physical strength to influence others. (2) Intimidation – bullying others verbally or emotionally to get them to act against their will. (3) Manipulation – coercing others to act, sometimes against their will, for selfish motives and/or personal gain. (4) Exchange – giving something in order to receive from others – I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine. (5) Persuasion – the use of verbal skills to move someone to action. (6) Motivation – energizing others so they want to act. (6) Honor – communicating esteem to others by serving them, thus inspiring them to act. When you want to “influence” someone, what method(s) do you use? Please comment below or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com