Shared Failure Means Opportunity

“In that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.” (Eze 29:21 AV)

The context here is the judgment of Egypt by the Babylonians.  This occurs just before and after Judah is taken to Babylon.  Because God judges Egypt, somehow this elevates the influence of Israel.  This is the meaning of the horn.  A horn is a symbol of authority and influence.  Egypt was used to judge Israel more than once.  Towards to fall of Judah to Babylon, Egypt had caused problems for God’s people.  They did not target Judah, necessarily.  However, when Judah got in the way of their ambitions, they did wreak a bit of havoc.  Now that Babylon has invaded Judah and Egypt, the enemies of Judah have been humbled, and Israel once again becomes a nation of influence.  What we need to consider this morning is the open door of utterance now given Judah because their enemies are humbled.  What precedes this opening is of equal or more importance.  That is, Judah is humbled for their sin first.  It is the willingness to be humbled that opens the door of utterance.

Let’s face it.  Sometimes our failures impact how well we can help others.  However, when others fail along with you, then the impact of that failure is erased and the ability to help is opened up again.  Sports has a way of teaching us this principle.  I didn’t play a whole lot of sports when I was younger.  One of the sports I did play, recreationally, was volleyball.  I was OK.  Not the worst.  But not the best either.  At my last church, we had enough people to have a volleyball night.  Once a month, we would get together and play volleyball in the gym.  When it comes to sports, there is always that annoying person who is not as good as he thinks he is but feels he can coach everyone else.  He cannot set or spike, but he knows what I might be doing wrong in receiving a serve.  Invariably, this know-it-all will get a ball in the face.  He will miss receiving a serve.  He will try to set up for a spike and send it out of bounds.  Or he will get a ball in the face when he jumps up to spike it.  He does these things enough, he will be humbled with the rest of us.  When he is, he becomes silent.  After a few games, his words change to words of encouragement.  It took humility for his words to mean anything.

We should not feel as though our failures have forever removed all opportunities to help others who need our help.  Humility is a good thing.  We can make choices that temporarily close the mouth of exhortation.  We can do something that those around us use as a means to ignore the truth which we represent.  They can point fingers and wonder why someone who would name the name of Christ would do such a thing.  The devil will try to convince us that all other doors of opportunity have been lost and there is no future for us in serving the LORD.  But this is not true.  As Israel and Judah will blossom into influence even after the LORD judged them for their idolatry, the believer can be placed in a place of service when the LORD restores him or her.  There is a second chance.  The missing link is the humbling of those who have humbled us.  Only God can and will do this.  However, when we see the humility of the enemy, it is not time to rejoice.  It is time to welcome them into the fellowship of sinners and share with them the grace of God.  Sometimes, this is a far stronger message to preach.  If I share the need of a Savior to those who are lost in their sin, it is far easier if I include myself in that number.  The message has far more credibility.  So, be encouraged.  Your failures have not shut every door.  They have opened others.  Be ready.  Those who will join you on the heap of failure and humility may just join you with a ready ear.