From Problems To Greatness And Remaining Very Great

Introduction:

It is a good thing to desire to be great and to wax very great. It must be realized however that the road to greatness is not always an easy one and remaining there is a bigger challenge. How we move from problem to greatness and remaining very great shall be the object of today’s message.

1. Problem will always come, Gen 8:22

Gen 8: 22 "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."

Job 14: 1 "Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.

It is a fact of life that problems will always come to man whether we like it or not. How we react to the problem will determine whether or not we will succeed or sink in it. Let’s see how Isaac responded to his problem;

Isaac’s problem

Famine- absence of water, therefore no grass for his cattle, no food for him, his wife and also his servants

There is a danger or threat of losing his investment and even his own life that of his wife and servants.

Like Isaac you are in danger of losing your precious things, e. g, marriage, life, loved ones, a child, relationship, business, etc. Listen to what God is telling you this morning. You can get out of that problem and become very great.

2. Do not go down to Egypt, Gen 26: 2

The logical solution to Isaac’s problem is to go down to Egypt. Why? There is river Nile in Egypt therefore there is grass, food and assured comfort. But Egypt means slavery, oppression, etc, and the Lord kicks against this,

Gen 26: 2 The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live.

Isa 31: 1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD.

Gal 4: 8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

As Isaac of today, if we are not to go down to Egypt, what then do we do?

3. Trust and Obey the Lord,

• Be attentive and alert to hear God says about your problem, John 8:47

John 8: 47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."

• Obey what he says, at times He may ask you to do something that appears stupid, e.g. Naaman

2 Kings 5: 10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed." 11 But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage.

• Recognize that you have ability or potential to solve your problem and to be great,

Deut 8: 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

• Diligently use your ability.

Even though God promised Isaac to remain in Gerar, yet he did not remain idle, he planted and caused his servants to dig wells.

Gen 26: 12 Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him.

Gen 26: 19 Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there.

• Don’t be tired or weary in using your ability, continue digging, verse 18-22

Gen 26: 19 Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there. 20 But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen and said, "The water is ours!" So he named the well Esek,b because they disputed with him. 21 Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah.c