Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/Sermons/zz20081221.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Genesis: Explaining The Foundations Of History
Part VII: Explaining God's Plan To Bless Men Regardless Of Apostasy
X. God's Christmas Triumphs Over The Genesis 35:16-21 Defeats
3. God's Christmas Triumph Over Sinful Defeat In Leadership
(Genesis 35:20-21, 22 et al.)
    Introduction: (To show the need . . . )

    Many people this Christmas stand in need of fulfilling joy due to the effects of sinful failure in all sorts of leadership roles:

    (1) A letter to the editor by Rich Unger of Sarasota, Florida ran in the December 15, 2008 issue of USA TODAY, p. 10A lamenting the corruption we have seen in our nation's government leaders. He named Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's effort to sell a U. S. Senate seat being vacated by President-elect Barak Obama to the highest bidder, and added: "I don't know how ethics, morals, character and integrity are instilled in public officials, but I do know that as an American, I am fed up with the constant lapses in judgment and lawbreaking actions that damage our democracy. Enough is enough."

    (2) The self-described "Ponzi scheme" by financial leader, Bernard L. Madoff that took $50 billion from investors has left a lot of people who trusted him very distraught this Christmas!

    (3) On the international scene, there is a lot of unhappiness amid similar aberrant selfish ambition in national leaders. In a report on a local radio talk show, the "Talk of Connecticut" December 16th, I heard how Latin American countries left out the leaders of the United States in a meeting that included leaders from China, Iran and Russia in an effort to embarrass America for the cause of selfish interests!

    (4) The "Talk of Connecticut" has also been deluged with complaints by parishioners at a St. Peter's Catholic Church in Hartford County over its Archdiocese's sudden removal of a beloved priest who has worked for decades in selfless devotion for the parish. The Church officials claim he was removed for a needed rest, but the parishioners believe politics were involved, and great distrust and anger has been vented as a result!

    (5) Many evangelicals also face a challenge finding fulfilling joy due this Christmas due to failure in Church leadership. This month's issue of Dave Hunt's newsletter, The Berean Call cited a letter that represents "many" such letters according to the newsletter, and it cited the letter as saying: "We can't seem to find a church in our area that has godly leadership and biblical preaching. We feel so alone . . ."



    Thus, we may be asking, "How may we find fulfilling joy this Christmas in view of the sinful failure of leadership?!"

    (We turn to the sermon "Need" section . . . )

    Need: "How may I experience great joy in light of sinful leadership defeat this Christmas Season?!"

  1. Jacob knew great sadness due to family leadership sin in dwelling south of the Tower of the Flock south of Bethlehem, Gen. 35:20-22:
    1. After burying Rachel north of Bethlehem due to sin that poor family leadership had precipitated, Jacob moved south of the Tower of the Flock that was south of Bethlehem to grieve her loss, Gen. 35:20-21:
      1. Rachel died north of Bethlehem as discipline for selfish ambition that had been initially precipitated by her father's heartless move to give her older sister to Jacob in her place, Gen. 35:19; 29:24-30:24.
      2. Jacob had buried Rachel there (Gen. 35:20) before moving south of Migdol Eder, the "Tower of the Flock" that is located south of Bethlehem, to grieve her loss, Genesis 35:21 NIV.
      3. So, after burying Rachel north of Bethlehem (Gen. 29:30f), Jacob had moved south to grieve a loss initially fueled by bad leadership.
    2. There, another tragic sin occurred as caused by bad family leadership:
      1. Jacob's son, Reuben there cohabited with Bilhah, the maid Rachel had given Jacob to bear him sons, Gen. 35:22; 30:1-5. It happened while Jacob grieved Rachel's death, so it only augmented his grief.
      2. Now, Reuben's sin was an effort by pagan practice prematurely to supplant Jacob as the patriarch (Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 85), and it arose due to the effects of more sin by family leaders:
        1. Reuben had seen Rachel and his mother coarsely strive about human intimacy with Jacob over his aphrodisiacs, 30:14-16.
        2. Thus, the failure of the family adults Jacob, Leah and Rachel to trust God versus resorting to such coarse strife before a young, impressionable Reuben had fomented his own vile sin!
  2. Yet, many centuries later near that location, God's angels heralded tidings that overcomes such sinful defeat by leaders, Luke 2:8-14:
    1. An ancient Jewish writing, Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, claimed Messiah's birth would be heralded from the Genesis 35:21 Migdal Eder near where Jacob dwelt, cf. Alfred Edersheim, The Life And Times of Jesus the Messiah, 1972, Part One, p. 186.
    2. Yet, later there was another Migdal Eder in the area -- one just north of Bethlehem on the road to Jerusalem, and the Hebrew Mishnah held that centuries later, the flocks kept there were destined for the temple sacrifices, so they were kept in those fields all year round unlike the fields south of the town that had no sheep in winter, Ibid., p. 186-187.
    3. Thus, God's angel who came to the shepherds north of Bethlehem at Christ's birth appeared near that northern Migdal Eder, but instead of heralding from the tower as the Jewish Targum had taught, he came down to ground level in grace to meet the shepherds, Luke 2:8-9!
    4. God's angel told these terrified shepherds not to fear (Luke 2:10a), for he offered news of great, joyful victory over sin in contrast to the sin by leaders in Jacob's family that affected them there centuries before:
      1. Instead of bad tidings of great sadness about Rachel's death and Reuben's sin, God's angel had good tidings of great joy , Lk. 2:10b.
      2. Instead of Jacob's humiliation at news of his son's self-exalting sin to claim to be the family patriarch, God's angel had good tidings of great joy that would be for ALL of the people, Luke 2:10c.
      3. Instead of Rachel's and Reuben's selfish ambitions and exaltation, God's angel noted Israel's Messiah had stooped to being wrapped in strips of cloth and laid in a feeding trough for animals, Luke 2:12.
      4. Instead of the leadership sin in Jacob's family that led to its sadness and defeat, God's angel announced the birth of a Savior from sin, a Savior Who was Christ the Lord, Luke 2:11; Matthew 1:21!
      5. [Instead of the coarse sins in Jacob's family, Jesus was born sinless of a virgin birth to save His people from their sin, Matt. 1:18-25!]
      6. Instead of the unrest from leadership sin in Jacob's family, God's angels noted that, to His glory, God would give peace and joy on earth through Christ to men with Whom He was pleased, Luke 2:14 NIV. This occurs when people trust in Christ for eternal life (John 3:16) and live as believers relying on the Spirit, Rom. 8:3-4.
      7. Instead of heralding at the tower south of Bethlehem, God's angel came to the one north of Bethlehem closest to Rachel's tomb , typifying God's triumph over the death and sadness caused by leadership failure sins that led Jacob to leave her tomb in grief!
Lesson Application: Since Christ offers fulfilling joy over the great sadness of defeat caused by leadership sin, (1) may we TRUST Him as Savior to be justified by God, Romans 3:21-24. (2) Then, may we rely on the Holy Spirit for (a) righteous living regardless what influence bad leadership has caused, Galatians 5:16. (b) This includes replacing selfish ambition for Jesus' humility and purity, resulting in great joy, Philippians 2:1-11; 1 Peter 5:5-6!

Conclusion: (To illustrate the sermon lesson . . . )

Over the years, God has provided illustrations of the truths He wants us to apply from His Word, and one of the avenues of that provision has been our Christmas Caroling Ministry efforts.

Last Sunday night's caroling ministry was no exception.

As my wife and I were driving to the Church for the ministry, and, the distance from the house and time constraints made turning back no option, she asked, "Did you remember to bring a flashlight?!"

Of course, amid all the other issues on my mind, I had forgotten to bring one, so we kept on driving to the Church. Still, I wondered how I was going to wear my reading glasses in the frigid night air to see the sheet music in leading the singing without chilling my face!

When we arrived at the Church, and all the Slate children were flocking around eager to go singing, one of them happened to ask very forthrightly, "Pastor, did you bring a flashlight?!"

I had to reply in unsettling embarrassment, "No, I forgot!"

Without hesitating, Jonathan Slate held out his hand with what appeared to be a flying saucer fit neatly in his small palm, and he said, "Here, Pastor, you can use mine!"

I thanked him, and sheepishly took it, for I not only felt awkward in having to use a young boy's flashlight, but was chagrined at not knowing how to turn it on! He saw my plight, and showed that by pressing on the saucer's top, little bright lights pierce the darkness!

Well, Jonathan's flashlight proved to be so effective my reading glasses could stay in their pocket all night long!

The provision of a young boy's unusual but very effective flashlight to function in my role in leading our singing in our caroling ministry recalled the way our Lord condescended to being born into the lowly stable environment in Bethlehem! God was indicating again my own need to follow our Lord's condescension and meekness, to minister in humility and purity in leadership in great contrast to leadership in a world that is aflame with selfish-ambition and pride. Only then will He use us to His glory as He used His Beloved Son.

May we trust in Christ for salvation, and then by His indwelling Holy Spirit, fulfill our leadership assignments in lowliness and meekness as did our Wonderful Lord, Philippians 2:1-11. Only then will we know His fulness of joy that overcomes the tragic sadness of sinful defeat in aberrant leadership!