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
• Greatness will come by virtue of your obedience and your relationship with Abraham,
Deut 28: 1 If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: 3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. 4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock--the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. 5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. 6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.
Gal 3: 7 Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.
Isaac not only obeyed the Lord, he recognized his God given ability/capability, he planted and also made his servants to dig and continue digging wells. Therefore use your God given ability to move from problem to greatness.
4. Moving to very great
In order to become very great either of two things or both are going to happen to you
• Tests/trials from God, Job ‘s example, Job1: 8, when it comes follow James 1:2-4, this will lead to your promotion
Job1: 8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
Job 42: 12 The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. 13 And he also had seven sons and three daughters.
James1: 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
• Enemy’s attack/envy will come, Gen 26: 14-16, 20, when this comes follow Rom 12:17-21
Gen 26: 14 He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. 15 So all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth. 16 Then Abimelech said to Isaac, "Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us."...........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.
Rom 12: 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"d says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."e 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
5. Never forget God when you become very great, Deut 8:19-20
When you become very great never forget God
• Build an altar for the Lord, Gen 26:25
Gen 26: 25 Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.
• Remember your obligations, Mal 3: 10
Malachi 3: 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.
• Recognize that you are not the owner of the greatness, you are mere custodian of it, Haggai 2:8, Psalm 24:1
Haggai 2: 8 ’The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty
Psalm 24: 1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
Conclusion:
If we are to wax great, go forward and remain very great, we must be ready to pay the price – be ready to trust and obey God and never keep him out of our life/business. The Lord helps us in Jesus’ name.
Trust and obey, there is other way to be happy but to trust and obey.
