This past Wednesday, in our mid-week Bible Study, we focused on Genesis 26. This particular chapter contains a record of the Patriarch Isaac and his everyday struggles in life. Most of what he faced in this period of his life are little more than the typical problems we all face daily - ones that arise from the ordinary circumstances of life, and that we might rightfully call “the little foxes that spoil the vine” (Song of Solomon 2:15).
Isaac faced the consequences of both his own shortcomings and his own successes. He also faced struggles without against his neighbors and within among his own family. Of course, in having done so, Isaac is not alone. Each and every one of us are destined to face similar struggles in life.
Moreover, being a follower of Jesus Christ does not make us immune to such problems. In fact, it may only intensify their presence in our lives. Remember, it was Jesus Himself Who said (in John 16:33), “In this world you will have trouble.” However, He immediately completed that thought by adding, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
In the words of Annie J. Flint...
God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
So, the next time you feel as though your world is crashing in, remember this great truth from I John 4:4: “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome … because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
Besides, no matter what you are facing, things could always be worse. Witness the poor fellow who received insult on top of injury when he was forced to compose the following letter to an insurance company as part of an ongoing correspondence regarding a worker’s compensation claim.
(According to information posted on the source website [http://www.sweenytod.com/funny/joke11.html], the names of the injured party, his employer, and the insurance company have all been omitted “for obvious reasons”.) Please read on for a good laugh (and perhaps a momentary distraction from the burden of your own struggles in life)…
Dear Sir,
I'm writing in response to your request for additional information. In block #3 of the accident report form I put "Trying to do the job alone" as the cause of the accident. In your letter you said that I should explain more fully and I trust that the following details should be sufficient.
I'm a bricklayer by trade. On the date of the accident I was
working alone on the roof of a new 3 story building. When I
completed my work I discovered I had about 300 pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley that was attached to the side of the building at the 3rd floor.
Securing the rope at ground level I went to to the roof swung the barrel out and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope while holding it tightly to insure a slow descent of the three hundred pounds of bricks.
You will note in block #2 of the accident report form that I
stated I weighed 165 pounds. Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly I lost my presence of mind and did not let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up the side of the building. In the middle of the second floor I met the barrel coming down. This explains the fractured skull and broken collar bone.
Slowed down only slightly by the barrel I continued my rapid
ascent, not stopping until my right hand was two knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, I retained conciseness and was able to hold tightly to the rope in spite of my pain and injuries.
At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground and the bottom of the barrel broke out. Devoid of the weight of the bricks the barrel weighed approximately 50 pounds. I refer you again to my weight in box #2. As you might imagine, I began a rather rapid descent down the side of the building.
In the middle of the second floor, I again met the barrel coming up. This accounts for my two fractured ankles and lacerations of my legs and lower body. This encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen injuries when I fell onto the pile of bricks. Fortunately only three vertebrate were cracked.
I'm sorry to report however as I lay there on the bricks, in
pain, unable to stand or move, I lost my presence of mind and let go of the rope. The empty barrel, weighing more than the rope, came back down and broke both of my legs.
I hope I furnished the information that you need to complete the processing of my claim and that you understand how the accident occurred by trying to do the job alone.
NOTE: The historical durability of this humorous piece has been well documented by www.snopes.com. It is worth the time to trace this item in its many incarnations in print. Cf.: http://www.snopes.com/humor/letters/bricks.asp.
Isaac faced the consequences of both his own shortcomings and his own successes. He also faced struggles without against his neighbors and within among his own family. Of course, in having done so, Isaac is not alone. Each and every one of us are destined to face similar struggles in life.
Moreover, being a follower of Jesus Christ does not make us immune to such problems. In fact, it may only intensify their presence in our lives. Remember, it was Jesus Himself Who said (in John 16:33), “In this world you will have trouble.” However, He immediately completed that thought by adding, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
In the words of Annie J. Flint...
God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
So, the next time you feel as though your world is crashing in, remember this great truth from I John 4:4: “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome … because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
Besides, no matter what you are facing, things could always be worse. Witness the poor fellow who received insult on top of injury when he was forced to compose the following letter to an insurance company as part of an ongoing correspondence regarding a worker’s compensation claim.
(According to information posted on the source website [http://www.sweenytod.com/funny/joke11.html], the names of the injured party, his employer, and the insurance company have all been omitted “for obvious reasons”.) Please read on for a good laugh (and perhaps a momentary distraction from the burden of your own struggles in life)…
Dear Sir,
I'm writing in response to your request for additional information. In block #3 of the accident report form I put "Trying to do the job alone" as the cause of the accident. In your letter you said that I should explain more fully and I trust that the following details should be sufficient.
I'm a bricklayer by trade. On the date of the accident I was
working alone on the roof of a new 3 story building. When I
completed my work I discovered I had about 300 pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley that was attached to the side of the building at the 3rd floor.
Securing the rope at ground level I went to to the roof swung the barrel out and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope while holding it tightly to insure a slow descent of the three hundred pounds of bricks.
You will note in block #2 of the accident report form that I
stated I weighed 165 pounds. Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly I lost my presence of mind and did not let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up the side of the building. In the middle of the second floor I met the barrel coming down. This explains the fractured skull and broken collar bone.
Slowed down only slightly by the barrel I continued my rapid
ascent, not stopping until my right hand was two knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, I retained conciseness and was able to hold tightly to the rope in spite of my pain and injuries.
At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground and the bottom of the barrel broke out. Devoid of the weight of the bricks the barrel weighed approximately 50 pounds. I refer you again to my weight in box #2. As you might imagine, I began a rather rapid descent down the side of the building.
In the middle of the second floor, I again met the barrel coming up. This accounts for my two fractured ankles and lacerations of my legs and lower body. This encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen injuries when I fell onto the pile of bricks. Fortunately only three vertebrate were cracked.
I'm sorry to report however as I lay there on the bricks, in
pain, unable to stand or move, I lost my presence of mind and let go of the rope. The empty barrel, weighing more than the rope, came back down and broke both of my legs.
I hope I furnished the information that you need to complete the processing of my claim and that you understand how the accident occurred by trying to do the job alone.
NOTE: The historical durability of this humorous piece has been well documented by www.snopes.com. It is worth the time to trace this item in its many incarnations in print. Cf.: http://www.snopes.com/humor/letters/bricks.asp.