Sermon Nuggets Monday Dec 17 Handling Problems
Gen 43
Handling Problems.
Since I recycle older sermons in my “Nuggets” I made 10 practical points illustrated by the lives Jacob, Judah and Joseph and the different ways they faced problems. Let them serve as examples to us.
I also apologize for two things. First had this devotional ready on Monday but just forgot to it the send button. Secondly, I admit I have a problem with alliterations. I think there must be help for me, but maybe it is too late. All 10 points begin with the letter P. I promised I would give this up last New Years in my resolutions, but old habits don’t die very well.
Remember, Joseph was a slave in Egypt, but by God’s work in his life Joseph now became the second ruler in Egypt. He used his God given leadership and organizational skills to save his country from starvation during a famine, as well as reuniting and saving his own family. When the brothers came from Canaan seeking food Joseph recognized them and because of the accusation of being spies he said they should return with the youngest brother, Benjamin. While in jail they thought about their crime against Joseph many years earlier and wondered if God wasn't punishing them. Simeon was taken into prison.
After they returned home and told their story to their father, Jacob, there was no way was he going to let Benjamin return with his brothers to Egypt. He was content to eat the food and leave Simeon in jail. But now there was a problem. They were running out of food again and had no place else to turn. Jacob did not want Benjamin to go and Judah could see no other alternative but to obey this Egyptian ruler and bring Benjamin out.
1. One way some people handle problems is PROCRASTINATION.
Some people don’t handle problems they just keep putting off facing them. Maybe they will hope it will go away. Jacob’s first response to the problem was to “put it off,” to delay in taking action until the matter had finally reached crisis proportions.
Joseph had made an agreement with his brothers that they would take the desperately needed grain home and then return with Benjamin. But Jacob hoped for a better crop. Nothing more is said about going to get Simeon. Judah put his finger on Jacob’s procrastination when he said, “For if we had not delayed, surely by now we could have returned twice” (Genesis 43:10).
I usually put off decisions and facing problems when my actions are uncomfortable. Confronting some people is not fun. Rather than face it squarely I have a tendency to procrastinate and not get around to doing what is uncomfortable to do.
Many students know they have a paper or test due and keep putting it off until the last minute when they can no longer let it go. I talked to one person who was delaying telling his parents some news because it would cause angry feelings. He said, “Well maybe the Lord will come and solve all our problems.” If you wait long enough the Lord will come, but most of the problems will be solved after as well, but this isn’t the will of God. Procrastinator find not only the problem facing them they also find they have usually made matters worse by letting it go. Sometimes problems with personnel or kids, or neighbors, until things just keep getting worse and you have to face it.
The brothers purposed to go back to Egypt with Benjamin, pick up Simeon and get for grain, but they were prohibited by Jacob, who refused to let Benjamin leave his side. Not until their grain had virtually run out did Jacob face up to the matter.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Tues Dec 18 Pretending
Gen 43:2b their father said to them. “Go back and buy us a little more food.
“ But Judah said to him, The man warned us solemnly. “You will not see your face again unless your brother is with you.”
6 Israel asked, “why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had another brother”
2. Another way of handing problems is PRETENDING.
Pretending that the problem doesn't really exist or isn't as important as it really is. Some people like to ignore the problem thinking it would go away.
Jacob minimized this matter of the famine, Simeon’s captivity, and the inevitable fact that all his sons would have to return to Egypt. I find a clue to this in verse 2 where Jacob said, “Go back, buy us a little food.” Why would he possibly tell his sons to buy only a little food? Why would they not buy all the grain they could carry? Naturally, he did not know that the famine was to last another five years, but he was aware that the famine was severe. Rather than face the problem head on, Jacob wanted to dabble with it a piece at a time. More than anything, perhaps he hoped that if only a little grain were sought, perhaps the governor (Joseph) would not hold to his original demand that Benjamin accompany his brothers on their next trip.
Judah, however, was unwilling to accept the minimizing of his father. After all, it was not Jacob who would have to stand before that Egyptian governor and explain Benjamin’s absence. Joseph had insisted that he would not see these men again unless their youngest brother was with them. Judah had to face dear old Dad with reality. They would not return for more grain unless Benjamin accompanied them.
Pretending there isn't a problem is a common occurrence. Psychologists call this denial. Doctors see this a lot in patients who have had a persistent health symptom that they ignored and pretended it didn’t exit until they were finally confronted with it’s severity. It reminds us of the ostrich that sticks it’s head in the sand.
One of the tragedies of World War 2 was that many of the Christians in Germany found it easy to ignore the plight of the Jews and pretended they were just in a camp or relocation ghetto instead of facing the obvious problem that required intervention.
Think about your problems. Have you been tempted just to pretend it isn't there? Sometimes waiting can solve situations. But pretending you don’t have a problem doesn't change the situation. To admit a problem is the first step to resolving a problem. To admit you need help is a solution. To keep pretending everything is okay can make matters worse. Facing situations as soon as possible will often allow us to deal with it while it is still small instead of growing.
What problem are you ignoring when you can be doing something about it?
3. Some seek to face their problems by PERJURY.
That is the fancy word for lying.
I know I have a problem and I am unable to control it. Every time I preach a sermon I try hard not to make my points start with the same letter. This outline really must be given to a therapist to show how bad I am. 10 points all starting with the letter P. Sorry about that.
. Perjury means lying. If you can’t procrastinate, and can’t pretend it isn’t there, then perjure yourself by making up a story. That’s the way some people handle problems.
Jacob rebukes his sons for telling the truth. In other words, why didn't they lie about having anymore family at home? It was not just a matter of telling family secrets out of school—it was an issue of being truthful. The information they gave to Joseph was in response to very direct questioning. Of course, Joseph would know they were lying if they didn’t admit to another brother at home. He knew the answers, but was testing them. Good thing they didn’t lie.
Sometimes we are tested as well if we are going to tell the truth or lie. The old ways of deception were still there, and in times of adversity Jacob did not hesitate to employ them. Jacob is saying why did you tell him you had another brother? Why not lie about it for protection?
Kids are very good at that? Something it broken, what happened? I don’t know what happened. Or, “I found it that way when I came into the room.” (That is perjury- that’s an outright lie). Folks tell some very interesting stories to try to get out of trouble only to find they have to keep telling bigger lies to cover up the previous lies. It’s easy to remember the truth, it’s much harder to keep straight stories that aren't true.
The Bible says be sure your sins will find you out and lying about something doesn't do any good. It is letting you solve the problem your own way vs. God’s way.
Is there something you are covering up or lying about so that you will not have to face a problem?
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds Dec 19 Passing Blame and Priorities
Gen 43: 6 Israel asked, “Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had another brother?”
7 They replied, “The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family. ‘Is your father still living?’ he asked us. ‘Do you have another brother?’ We simply answered his questions. How were we to know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?”
4. PASSING Blame is another way many will seek to solve problems.
Hoping to alter the course of history, Jacob sought to change the minds of his sons by placing the responsibility for their circumstances solely on them. In effect, Jacob said to his sons, “It’s your entire fault. None of this would have happened if you hadn't told the Egyptian about your youngest brother.” If it were their entire fault, then why should they be belligerent about trying to solve the matter on their own without jeopardizing the life of Benjamin and the happiness of their father?
They will come up with all kinds of excuses as to why it isn’t their fault and really someone else’s fault.
I really get upset in our society when all the problems are someone else’s fault no one will admit they were wrong. No one will take ownership of the problem. I like the fact that Waddle commander of the ship is taking some responsibility for the sinking of the sub, but even there he was blaming some inexperienced personnel and one of the admirals said, “But that is your ship. If he didn't want an inexperienced person running it then get someone else.”
We are a society that is especially skilled at rationalizing and blaming. When someone is caught in wrong you might hear, “I come from a dysfunctional home (I'm not responsible . . .blame my upbringing); This is just the way I am (I'm not responsible . . . blame my genes . . . or God!); They started it (I'm not responsible . . they are)
I didn't know that was against the law (I'm not responsible . . . you didn't tell me);
I have been oppressed (I'm not responsible . . . society is) ;
There is an old story about the time Emperor Frederick the Great visited Potsdam Prison. He spoke with the prisoners, and each man claimed to be innocent, a victim of the system. One man, however, sat silently in the corner.
The ruler asked him, "And you, sir, who do you blame for your sentence?"
His response was, "Your majesty, I am guilty and richly deserve my punishment." Surprised, the emperor shouted for the prison warden: "Come and get this man out of here before he corrupts all these innocent people.”
We are experts at passing the blame and not facing problems that need to be faced
5. A good way to solve problems is to Sort out the PRIORITIES.
Judah looks at the options open to them. One you can ignore the problem and die, or you can pretend it isn't serious and die; You can pass the blame but that isn’t going to solve the problem. Lying isn’t going to do any good.
When you have a problem a very important place to begin is to think about the priorities and ask yourselves the probably consequences of each option you can think of. What is the worse thing that can happen and what is the best thing that can happen. Is it really a priority matter or not?
Judah presents the problem with the priority in the right place. If the boy doesn't go back with us all our children will die, including Benjamin, so let’s take emotions out of this and look at the facts. The most important thing is getting food and the way to get food is to obey the ruler. So as far as he was concerned the matter had to be broken down to the simplest solution. Life or death. He’s going to die this way, but he won’t die with that option, so now we eliminate plan A.
Now let’s look at alternatives as to what might happen and make a proposal. I will guarantee his safety. I will personally see to it that nothing happens to him. Reuben made a similar claim in 42:37 put both my sons to death if I don’t bring Ben back. Now it seems Reuben isn't in the picture as the leader of the brothers, but Judah is.
When you are trying to decide on problems to the best of your abilities based on the information that you have write down all the possibilities and make priorities as to which is the best plan second best and back up plans and evaluate them That helps you prioritize your plan.
As they discuss the priorities of the plan Jacob finally is confronted with the situation and must do something. He suggests the option of giving gifts. That worked for him when he met his brother Esau a number of years earlier when he feared for his life. He made retribution and gave him many fine presents to show his desire for peace and for reconciliation. Jacob instructs his sons to bring a few of the choicest products of the land of Canaan. Certainly these delicacies would not offend the governor of Egypt and might even win his favor.
If the family had faulted Joseph in any way he know it would be wise to give the ruler gifts and double portion of the silver so he knows they didn‘t try stealing anything.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thurs Dec 20 Plan Proceed and Perspective
Sermon Nuggets Thurs Dec 20 Plan Proceed and Perspective
Gen 23: 11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift—a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.12 Take double the amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake. 13 Take your brother also and go back to the man at once. 14 And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”
15 So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver, and Benjamin also. They hurried down to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare dinner; they are to eat with me at noon.”
17 The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph’s house. 18 Now the men were frightened when they were taken to his house. They thought, “We were brought here because of the silver that was put back into our sacks the first time. He wants to attack us and overpower us and seize us as slaves and take our donkeys.”
19 So they went up to Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20 “Please, sir,” they said, “we came down here the first time to buy food. 21 But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver—the exact weight—in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us. 22 We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food. We don’t know who put our silver in our sacks.”
23 “It’s all right,” he said. “Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.
6. Pray about the PLAN. V. 14
Now you might call the blessing, but it is a reminder that God is in charge. Turn your plans over to the Lord. We do that by a commitment of prayer, or dedication of humility. Lord this is what we have planned. Change it. Demonstrate your glory or mercy or love, or discipline. What is it that God has in mind? How does the Lord want to use it?
Proverb 3:5,6 says it clearly and plainly. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.”
After Jacob had a chance to think through all his options and confrontation by his sons and the matter before his was to turn his family over to the Lord. The daughters-in-law and the children stayed behind with Jacob, but now the desire was the God go with them to the land that everything goes well.
Jacob had been in this place before in his own life. He wrestled with an angel before he met Esau again. He had a dream with angels up and down ladders before he went into a foreign land. He had meetings with God and God had given to him a promise of offspring greater than sand and stars in the heavens. So this idea of all being killed was not going to happen if he had faith in the prophecies of God to Abraham, Isaac and to himself. They generation wasn’t going to end there. They would continue in ways that only God knows.
When you are faced with a problem put your confidence in God and let him lead you. Pray about all the matters and if he directs you clearly and directly, praise God, obey him. If however you do not get any direct leading by the Holy Spirit through the word or prayer objective or subjective then go to the next point, Proceed with the plan.
7. PROCEED with the plan.
Plan the work, and work the plan. They proceeded to do what they planned to do and put feet and action to their plans.
Joseph’s brothers came with a plan of action previously outlined by their father. Now it was important to do what they planned to do. Some people have great plans, but never do anything about it. I usually set up goals and then steps to achieve those goals and find that some I work at and a lot I don’t. When I was at study break I came up with some priorities and set for a vision and a plan and then wrote down some steps to accomplish some of those plans. I dare say some of those things are working and some of them aren't Some had to be changed because of circumstances that one didn't know at the time, so you change them.
Whenever you proceed with a plan let me add that you are making decisions based on the information that you have at the present. Only God knows the future. We are going to talk about Gods’ will in a minute, but after you pray and think and plan, then don’t second guess yourself. Proceed. Move on. If it is a mistake then corrected, but do something. There are some plans that are sitting there. I read them on my goals for the year and say, “Well that is not my number one priority at this time so I’ll have to let that one go for now.” Some are a priority and need the discipline to address it, not ignore it..
As I read on in the chapter I think Joseph also had a plan. His plan was to reunite his family and allow the brothers to repent of their sin. He had a plan and worked out steps of mercy as well as allow for conviction of their own spirits. Joseph instructed his servant to take these men into his house and to prepare a meal for them in a way that parallels the reception of the prodigal son in the New Testament (Luke 15:11-32).
8. Another way to handle problems is to gain PERSPECTIVE from others.
The brothers were afraid for their lives when they were taken to Joseph’s house. The dungeons were also part of the house of the rulers and this is no doubt where Simeon was being kept, and now they feared that was what would happen to them.
They talked to Joseph’s steward and got another perspective. They plead their case to the servant who told them they were not in trouble. He saw things they didn't see. He saw what was going on to some extent and was able to calm their fears.
In our lives it is good to get the perspective of others in advice, counsel or prayer.
The steward sought to calm their fears by assuring them that he had received the money for their grain. Indeed he had, but he did not mention to them that it was he, under Joseph’s orders, who also returned it. The steward informed these men that it was their God and the God of their father who had provided this money. To further assure them, he brought out Simeon and returned him to them.
It is good to talk with other people and get different perspectives for best solutions
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri Dec 21 Perseverance and Providence.
Gen 43 26 When Joseph came home, they presented to him the gifts they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground. 27 He asked them how they were, and then he said, “How is your aged father you told me about? Is he still living?”
28 They replied, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.” And they bowed low to pay him honor.
29 As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there.
31 After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, “Serve the food.”
32 They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, for that is detestable to Egyptians. 33 The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment. 34 When portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as anyone else’s. So they feasted and drank freely with him.
9. PERSEVERANCE
Someone sent me an email. On the bottom it read, “If at first you don’t succeed, don’t try sky diving.”
I look at the extent of Joseph’s plan as it is played out. He made a deal out of sitting a different table so as to keep his disguise to bring them to repentance, to found out as much as he can about his family. He demonstrated love to his brother.
Joseph’s whole life in looking at problems is characterized by perseverance. One poem Cork and the Whale
A little brown cork
Fell in the path of a whale
Who lashed it down
With his angry tail.
But, in spite of the blows,
It quickly arose,
And floated serenely
Before his nose.
Said the cork to the whale,
"You may flap and sputter and frown,
But you never, never can keep me down:
For I'm made of the stuff
That is buoyant enough
To float instead of to drown."
Joseph was made of the stuff that would continue and not drown.
10. PROVIDENCE -God’s good grace.
I don’t know how many have seen Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor coat with Donnie Osman. Weber and Rice took Joseph’s story and turned into a musical but missed the whole point of the story. Through entertaining and upbeat music they present the story line that if you dream dreams and pursue them they will come true.
Joseph had nothing to do with his dreams, God did. Joseph had nothing to do with becoming the leader of Egypt God did. Joseph was the tool God used to bring about Gods’ will and for God’s glory. God is taken completely out of the picture of Broadway And unfortunately God is taken out of the picture for many who seek to solve their problems man’s way.
Interestingly the providence of God is reminded by an Egyptian servant. Has he been around Joseph so long that he now too believes in God. He reminds these Hebrews that it is their God who has provided. They are under the care of the Lord.
The predominant theme exemplified by Josephs brothers were “fear” and “works.” The brothers’ fears, like their father’s, are completely unfounded. They sought by the works of their hands to win Joseph’s acceptance and favor. When Joseph brought them to his house for a feast, they feared that it was designed to be an opportunity to take them as slaves. Joseph, however, wished only to shower them with blessings.
Joseph brought them into his home and gave them a magnificent meal. If Jacob and his sons were filled with fears, Joseph’s eyes were filled with tears, tears of love and compassion. His only desire was to see a change of heart in his brothers and to once again see his father.
To Joseph’s brothers nothing was more important than those pistachio nuts and almonds. These nuts, along with the other products of the land of Canaan, were expected to win Joseph’s favor. He never gave them a glance. He did not ask how they were grown or what year they were produced. He didn’t care. Joseph was only concerned with people, not pistachio nuts; he cared about his brother Benjamin, his father Jacob, and the rest of his brethren. His first utterance sought information on the health of his aged father. Next he turned his attention to Benjamin, who he had not seen for over twenty years. Joseph pronounced upon Benjamin a blessing which should have sounded strange coming from an Egyptian. Seeing his full brother, the only other son of his mother was too much for Joseph to contain. Quickly he left the presence of his brothers to weep and to regain control of his emotions. He saw the providence of God demonstrated in that his family was before him bowing just like God said would happen. He was not filled with revenge, but mercy and grace.
What a beautiful picture this chapter provides us of the discipline which God exercises in the lives of His children. Only Joseph fully recognized all of these things as coming from the hand of a loving and caring God which he speaks of later.
When some did realize that their trials were from God, it would appear that they perceived an angry God who was only seeking vengeance. This is just the way they viewed Joseph, as a harsh and angry man But whatever discipline which comes from God is from a heart filled with grief and injured love. Its desired end is not revenge, but restoration. It seeks to bring us to the place where His blessings may once again flow freely into our lives.
Joseph’s brothers provide us with an excellent illustration of salvation. In their current spiritual state they faced Joseph with the greatest fear. They perceived their only “salvation” to be in their “works” of returning the money they found in their sacks and in the pistachio nuts and other presents they brought from Canaan. The first was refused by the steward, and the second was ignored by Joseph. It was not their works that endeared these brothers to Joseph; it was their relationship to him. That is what they did not yet realize.
In the same way today sinful men dread the thought of standing before a righteous and holy God. The future must be faced with great fear. Frantically men and women seek to gain God’s favor and acceptance by their “pistachio nuts” of good works. Such things as trying to live by the Golden Rule or the Sermon on the Mount, joining the church, and being baptized, are unacceptable to God as a basis for salvation. What saves a man or a woman is a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. When we stand before the throne of God, the only thing God will be interested in is our relationship to His Son, Jesus Christ. If you stand today as one who does not have the assurance of going to heaven you have a big problem. It is provided for by the grace of God giving given to us Jesus to be your savior. Will you deal first with that problem?
What can we learn about problems.
1. Procrastination- Face them soon so they don’t turn into bigger Problems.
2. Pretending- Be realistic and objective.
3. Perjury- Be honest with yourself and others.
4. Passing blame- Be responsible for your issues (not others)
5. Priorities- What needs to be done first what is most important how do you get there?
6. Pray- Lay it out before God for wisdom and direction.
7. Proceed- Work the Plan to the best of your ability.
8. Perspective- Get advice from others who know, or have wisdom.
9. Preserve- Don’t quit
10. Providence- Realize that in all things God is ultimately in charge and can change your plans for his purposes.
Matthew 6:33 puts everything else in a nice package. “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be given to you as well.”
Pastor Dale
