WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.140 You may be seated. Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone and I'm one of the pastors here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church and it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. 00:00:13.140 --> 00:00:24.280 We're continuing our series in the book of Genesis. You'll remember that Genesis is the first book in the Bible. It is the origin story of God's people Israel. 00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:32.620 And this summer we've been in the story of Jacob found in chapters 25 through 36 and we are now coming to the end of the Jacob story. 00:00:32.799 --> 00:00:43.540 We're tying up loose ends. We only have this week and next week left. Then we're going to return to Romans, pick back up where we left off starting chapter 9. 00:00:44.540 --> 00:00:50.159 Now last week you'll remember God calls Jacob away from sin and back towards true worship. 00:00:50.159 --> 00:01:01.359 This week we look at a problem that comes afterwards. That is even when we return from failure there are still ripple effects. 00:01:02.239 --> 00:01:07.659 Even when we come back and return to God there are still consequences that face us. 00:01:08.019 --> 00:01:15.039 And so our question this week is what is our hope as we face the enduring effects of sin? 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:23.260 What's our hope even after we've returned when the dividends are still being paid out? 00:01:23.620 --> 00:01:31.120 Now we have two points this morning which you'll see on page 8 of your worship guide is our sermon title which is Real Grief and Real Grace. 00:01:31.439 --> 00:01:35.300 Now these are not going to be linear. We're not going to talk about real grief and then real grace. 00:01:35.300 --> 00:01:38.640 But it's going to be sort of back and forth throughout this entire passage. 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:49.980 And we are also going to spend a lot of time on Reuben's sin in verse 22 even though it's only one verse because it takes a lot of explanation for it to begin to make sense. 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:50.579 Okay. 00:01:51.560 --> 00:02:00.579 With that I invite you to turn with me to Genesis chapter 35 starting at verse 16 which you will find on page 7 of your worship guide. 00:02:00.579 --> 00:02:11.060 Remember that this is God's word and Isaiah chapter 40 tells us the grass withers and the flower fades but the word of our God will stand forever. 00:02:11.939 --> 00:02:17.360 And so that's why we read now Genesis chapter 35 starting at verse 16. 00:02:18.360 --> 00:02:20.039 Then they journeyed from Bethel. 00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:26.879 When they were still some distance from Ephrath Rachel went into labor and she had hard labor. 00:02:26.879 --> 00:02:34.599 And when her labor was at its hardest the midwife said to her do not fear for you have another son. 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:43.919 And as soon as her soul was departing for she was dying she called his name Ben-Oni but his father called him Benjamin. 00:02:44.819 --> 00:02:52.539 So Rachel died and she was buried on the way to Ephrath that is Bethlehem and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. 00:02:52.539 --> 00:02:56.979 It is the pillar of Rachel's tomb which is there to this day. 00:02:57.919 --> 00:03:01.719 Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Edir. 00:03:02.919 --> 00:03:03.759 Verse 22. 00:03:04.859 --> 00:03:10.539 While Israel lived in that land Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine. 00:03:11.159 --> 00:03:12.899 And Israel heard of it. 00:03:13.899 --> 00:03:15.919 Now the sons of Jacob were 12. 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:23.899 The sons of Leah, Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 00:03:24.419 --> 00:03:27.319 The sons of Rachel, Joseph, and Benjamin. 00:03:27.959 --> 00:03:31.560 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's servant, Dan, and Naphtali. 00:03:32.060 --> 00:03:35.659 The sons of Zilpah, Leah's servant, Gad, and Asher. 00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:39.919 These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan Aram. 00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:48.119 And Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre or Kiriath Arba, that is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. 00:03:48.719 --> 00:03:52.119 Now the days of Isaac were 180 years. 00:03:52.839 --> 00:03:59.799 And Isaac breathed his last and he died and was gathered to his people old and full of days. 00:04:00.399 --> 00:04:03.919 And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. 00:04:05.359 --> 00:04:08.859 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:04:08.860 --> 00:04:16.699 Our Father in heaven, we do thank you and we praise you again for calling us together. 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:19.540 For speaking to us in your word. 00:04:20.060 --> 00:04:22.040 We come asking for your help. 00:04:22.540 --> 00:04:28.540 That you would send your Holy Spirit in a powerful and extra special way here and now. 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:32.740 That you'd speak to us clearly in your word. 00:04:32.939 --> 00:04:34.720 That we'd be able to understand it. 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:36.980 We'd have the faith to believe it. 00:04:36.980 --> 00:04:41.400 We'd have the tenderness of heart to receive it and act on it. 00:04:42.140 --> 00:04:43.879 And most of all, that you would show us Jesus. 00:04:44.120 --> 00:04:49.720 That you'd grow our love and our affection for him as we see his great mercy and his grace. 00:04:50.900 --> 00:04:54.860 We thank you that we don't need to earn or deserve these things. 00:04:54.939 --> 00:04:56.180 In fact, we know that we haven't. 00:04:56.360 --> 00:05:00.259 And so instead we ask for them in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:05:00.920 --> 00:05:01.180 Amen. 00:05:01.180 --> 00:05:13.420 There is one phrase that I've heard people say throughout my life that maybe baffles me more than most. 00:05:14.060 --> 00:05:19.980 And it's when someone will say to you, especially as they're getting on in life, they'll say, you know, as I look back on my life, I have no regrets. 00:05:19.980 --> 00:05:24.460 And especially when Christians say that, I think, what does that mean? 00:05:25.200 --> 00:05:26.980 Does that mean that you think that you've never sinned? 00:05:27.580 --> 00:05:29.980 Does that mean that you're glad that you sinned? 00:05:30.860 --> 00:05:31.980 That you don't think you've made any mistakes? 00:05:32.700 --> 00:05:38.340 Does it mean you've never had a reflective or self-aware moment in your life? 00:05:38.339 --> 00:05:46.919 Because true honesty, especially as you progress in life, as you get closer to the end, is being able to say a couple things. 00:05:47.019 --> 00:05:49.859 First, you're able to say, look, this is where I had success. 00:05:50.579 --> 00:05:52.099 This is where God honored my obedience. 00:05:52.259 --> 00:05:54.479 This is where God used me, on the one hand. 00:05:55.259 --> 00:05:58.359 And then on the other hand, this is where I really messed things up. 00:05:59.039 --> 00:06:01.579 This is where my sin got in the way. 00:06:01.719 --> 00:06:03.639 This is where I failed. 00:06:03.639 --> 00:06:07.300 And so when people say, I have no regrets, I think, what is this? 00:06:07.339 --> 00:06:09.919 Is this a strategy for avoiding grief? 00:06:10.039 --> 00:06:13.120 Is it a refusal to look in the mirror? 00:06:14.300 --> 00:06:18.599 Because as we live life, if we're honest as humans, of course, we make mistakes constantly, right? 00:06:18.620 --> 00:06:22.500 We sin every day in many ways. 00:06:23.300 --> 00:06:28.839 So it makes me think of this quote you'll see on page 7 of your worship guide from East of Eden by John Steinbeck. 00:06:28.839 --> 00:06:37.839 He says, a man, after he has brushed off the dust and chips of his life, will have left only the hard, clean questions. 00:06:38.839 --> 00:06:41.339 Was it good or was it evil? 00:06:42.500 --> 00:06:45.519 Have I done well or ill? 00:06:46.559 --> 00:06:48.479 And of course, it's not one or the other. 00:06:48.679 --> 00:06:50.059 It's both, right? 00:06:50.919 --> 00:06:54.699 There's places where we've honored God, places where we haven't. 00:06:54.699 --> 00:06:59.800 All of us, the longer we live our lives, the more the rent comes due. 00:07:00.539 --> 00:07:04.519 The longer we live our lives, the more the dividends get paid out. 00:07:04.579 --> 00:07:09.439 The dividends of our decisions, whether it's decisions in our finances, our health, our relationships, our family. 00:07:09.980 --> 00:07:12.000 We can think of a thousand examples, right? 00:07:12.060 --> 00:07:14.199 You ignore your kids when they're young. 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:18.120 And then you realize they ignore you when you're old. 00:07:18.120 --> 00:07:24.459 You abuse your body for years and it works until the moment that it doesn't. 00:07:25.420 --> 00:07:28.120 You cheat and you lie and you get away with it. 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:32.759 It works for a time until no one trusts you. 00:07:33.780 --> 00:07:40.120 If you were with us years ago in 2020, you'll remember during the summer we went through the book of Proverbs together. 00:07:40.519 --> 00:07:45.560 And there's these consequences of foolishness that take time to appear. 00:07:45.560 --> 00:07:47.519 You can be foolish for a while. 00:07:48.459 --> 00:07:50.939 You just can't be foolish forever. 00:07:52.120 --> 00:07:56.319 That's what Jacob comes up against here in this passage. 00:07:57.699 --> 00:08:05.139 Yes, God's been gracious all along and he's not going to outrun his bad decisions. 00:08:05.139 --> 00:08:15.800 For Jacob, it is the way he has led his family and the dysfunction that that leadership has introduced. 00:08:16.599 --> 00:08:21.019 Now, the death of Rachel that we see at the beginning obviously is not a consequence of Jacob's sin. 00:08:21.159 --> 00:08:26.060 Everyone dies no matter what, but it does set us up for what's going to happen with Reuben. 00:08:26.159 --> 00:08:27.159 These things are connected. 00:08:27.419 --> 00:08:29.159 So we're going to get into the story here. 00:08:29.219 --> 00:08:32.720 We have at the beginning the birth of Benjamin and the death of Rachel. 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:35.540 Verse 16, Rachel goes into labor. 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:37.500 When we find out this is challenging labor. 00:08:38.040 --> 00:08:43.720 Verse 17, the midwife encourages her to keep going with the news that it's a son that she's giving birth to. 00:08:44.200 --> 00:08:50.800 And that's an encouragement because you may remember back from chapter 30, a son is what Rachel wants. 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:59.519 But then, no matter how much encouraged she may be, this is for Rachel the end. 00:08:59.719 --> 00:09:05.019 And so verse 18, as her soul was departing, she calls this son Ben-Oni. 00:09:05.219 --> 00:09:11.399 If you look at the footnote in your Bible, if you have an ESV, it means son of my sorrow or son of my strength. 00:09:12.359 --> 00:09:17.759 And so his name is going along with her lament that this is the end for her. 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:23.139 Jacob wants something a little bit more positive, so instead he goes with Benjamin. 00:09:24.120 --> 00:09:27.379 You notice that same word Ben appears in both, which is son. 00:09:27.720 --> 00:09:30.939 But Benjamin, if you see the note, is son of the right hand. 00:09:31.019 --> 00:09:32.720 In other words, this is the son of my strength. 00:09:33.340 --> 00:09:37.220 This is the son who's going to accomplish things, the son I rely in. 00:09:38.759 --> 00:09:42.960 And as we talk about the consequences that play out in Jacob's life, 00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:47.000 which is the real grief that's throughout this passage, we of course don't want to miss the real grace, 00:09:47.139 --> 00:09:51.720 which is God's faithfulness over and over again. 00:09:52.519 --> 00:09:55.500 There's God's faithfulness in this in that he answers Rachel's prayer. 00:09:56.480 --> 00:10:00.759 When Rachel gave birth to Joseph in Genesis chapter 30, 00:10:01.620 --> 00:10:04.060 it tells us she called him Joseph saying, 00:10:04.300 --> 00:10:06.340 May the Lord add to me another son. 00:10:06.340 --> 00:10:09.519 So she prayed for it, chapter 30. 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:13.100 She receives it, chapter 35. 00:10:14.060 --> 00:10:16.759 God is still faithful. 00:10:17.820 --> 00:10:22.019 It's the faithfulness of God not just to Rachel, but remember his promises to Abraham. 00:10:22.519 --> 00:10:23.759 He came to Abraham and said, 00:10:23.860 --> 00:10:29.700 Your offspring will be as the stars of the sky in the dust of the earth and the sand on the seashore. 00:10:29.700 --> 00:10:37.180 So there's this real time grief in the death of Rachel, 00:10:37.680 --> 00:10:41.520 and there's the faithfulness of God. 00:10:42.259 --> 00:10:45.300 Real grief, real grace. 00:10:45.860 --> 00:10:47.600 All of these things intermixed, right? 00:10:47.660 --> 00:10:51.960 This is the human life as we live east of Eden. 00:10:52.780 --> 00:10:57.180 That takes us to the scandal of Reuben in verse 22, 00:10:57.179 --> 00:10:59.399 and although it's not obvious, 00:10:59.979 --> 00:11:04.839 the death of Rachel is directly connected to Reuben's action here. 00:11:05.359 --> 00:11:09.339 It's directly connected to him deciding he's going to seduce Bilhah. 00:11:09.459 --> 00:11:10.639 In fact, even more than that, 00:11:10.939 --> 00:11:15.599 Rachel's death is the reason he decides to seduce Bilhah. 00:11:16.079 --> 00:11:17.219 That may not make any sense. 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:18.439 In fact, I don't expect it to, 00:11:18.539 --> 00:11:21.599 so I'm going to walk you through it step by step. 00:11:22.019 --> 00:11:23.399 The bottom line is this, 00:11:23.399 --> 00:11:29.519 that there is a game of power politics that is being played between four women. 00:11:30.919 --> 00:11:35.679 Okay, there's this power game being played between Rachel, Leah, Bilhah, and Zilpah. 00:11:35.899 --> 00:11:39.179 And I need to explain to you the power game that's going on here. 00:11:39.259 --> 00:11:41.860 Otherwise, Reuben's actions are not going to make any sense. 00:11:42.019 --> 00:11:44.100 And they don't make any sense in part, 00:11:44.340 --> 00:11:46.199 because if you're tracking with the story, 00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:49.939 Bilhah is old enough to be Reuben's mom. 00:11:49.940 --> 00:11:54.120 So for this to make sense, we have to go back all the way to Genesis chapter 29. 00:11:54.740 --> 00:11:56.160 In Genesis chapter 29, 00:11:56.460 --> 00:12:02.480 Laban gives to Jacob two wives, his two daughters, Leah and Rachel. 00:12:03.100 --> 00:12:06.740 But he also gives to each daughter a servant. 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:10.860 So Leah gets Zilpah, Rachel gets Bilhah. 00:12:11.640 --> 00:12:13.920 Two wives, two servants. 00:12:14.900 --> 00:12:16.780 That then takes us to chapter 30. 00:12:16.779 --> 00:12:20.980 Remember, Rachel realizes in chapter 30 she can't have children, 00:12:21.100 --> 00:12:23.259 but Leah is having children left and right. 00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:25.579 And so to try to solve that, 00:12:25.699 --> 00:12:29.259 she gives her servant Bilhah as a surrogate, 00:12:29.379 --> 00:12:31.539 who then gives birth to Dan and Naphtali. 00:12:31.980 --> 00:12:33.059 So there's this battle. 00:12:33.139 --> 00:12:35.220 There's four women, but two teams. 00:12:35.819 --> 00:12:40.419 There's a battle being fought out between Team Rachel and Team Leah. 00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:46.559 Rachel's death upsets the balance of power. 00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:52.019 Rachel was number one because Jacob loved her more than anyone else. 00:12:53.100 --> 00:12:56.079 And so while she was alive, she was the first wife. 00:12:56.679 --> 00:12:58.620 Nothing would change that. 00:12:59.500 --> 00:13:01.759 What's going to happen though now that she's dead? 00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:04.179 Power's been shaken up. 00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:05.720 Who's going to be in charge? 00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:07.699 Is Team Leah going to come out on top? 00:13:07.799 --> 00:13:10.399 Or is Team Rachel going to win? 00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:13.939 Is Leah going to come up and be number one wife? 00:13:14.620 --> 00:13:20.519 Or is Bilhah, Rachel's servant, going to fill Rachel's place? 00:13:21.699 --> 00:13:23.860 Okay, you may have experienced this in your own family. 00:13:23.939 --> 00:13:27.819 When someone dies, suddenly all the dynamics get shaken 00:13:27.819 --> 00:13:30.319 because we are all interconnected. 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:32.860 Who will win? 00:13:34.060 --> 00:13:36.300 Which team is going to come out on top? 00:13:37.140 --> 00:13:44.080 By the way, this is not the first time that Reuben has gotten pulled into the drama of his parents. 00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:47.000 Remember, he is Leah's firstborn son. 00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:55.500 And he wants his mom, he wants Leah, to be number one. 00:13:56.500 --> 00:14:00.040 Which means he also wants him and his brothers to be number one. 00:14:00.100 --> 00:14:02.160 He wants to be top of the pecking order. 00:14:03.160 --> 00:14:05.820 And what does he need to do to be top of the pecking order? 00:14:05.940 --> 00:14:08.800 What has to happen for Team Leah to win? 00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:12.039 Well, you got to neutralize the threat. 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:18.319 So Bilhah needs to be ruined once and for all. 00:14:19.559 --> 00:14:30.279 In other words, the seduction of Bilhah is a political maneuver meant to remove her as a threat to Leah. 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:39.439 If he seduces Bilhah, she is disgraced and disqualified from the game. 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:42.259 She can't be the top wife. 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:44.480 So what happens? 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:46.919 That means Team Leah wins. 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:50.259 Reuben will have secured his position. 00:14:51.159 --> 00:14:56.399 Now, if you've been tracking with the story, you know this is not the first time that Reuben has involved himself 00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:58.220 in the battle between Leah and Rachel. 00:14:58.220 --> 00:15:02.200 So chapter 30, Reuben was the one who found the mandrakes. 00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:08.580 The mandrakes that Leah, his mom, uses to buy time with Jacob from Rachel. 00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:11.660 It's all connected. 00:15:12.920 --> 00:15:20.779 And it is always dysfunctional to involve children in the conflicts of adults. 00:15:22.779 --> 00:15:27.960 Always dysfunctional to bring adult problems and have them solved by children. 00:15:28.220 --> 00:15:31.259 In fact, it's dysfunctional even that there was a competition. 00:15:31.560 --> 00:15:34.399 Dysfunctional that there was a Team Leah and a Team Rachel. 00:15:34.820 --> 00:15:36.040 And so the point is this. 00:15:37.680 --> 00:15:42.840 Family dysfunction breeds family dysfunction. 00:15:44.940 --> 00:15:48.620 Reuben grew up in a family of power politics. 00:15:49.800 --> 00:15:54.540 Reuben grew up in a household of sexuality that does not reflect God's ideal. 00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:56.339 That's the polygamy that's going on. 00:15:56.719 --> 00:16:00.659 This polygamy then resulted in favoritism between different wives. 00:16:01.079 --> 00:16:08.000 Jacob's favoritism sets his own family against each other when they should be for each other. 00:16:08.939 --> 00:16:13.759 Polygamy is a sexual perversion that then breeds sexual perversion. 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:22.559 Great literature, if you're an English major, you know this, it doesn't tell, it shows. 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:27.899 And there's this question that comes up sometimes when people study the Old Testament and they say, 00:16:28.340 --> 00:16:30.639 well, we see the patriarchs, they were polygamists. 00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:33.000 Why can't we be polygamists? 00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:35.939 Doesn't that mean that God approves of polygamy? 00:16:35.940 --> 00:16:36.380 No. 00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:42.340 The book of Genesis shows rather than tells. 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:50.660 And what it shows is that polygamy leads to dysfunction upon dysfunction upon dysfunction. 00:16:52.020 --> 00:16:53.580 Now, don't hear what I'm not saying. 00:16:54.420 --> 00:16:57.260 Reuben is responsible for Reuben's sin. 00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:01.800 But Jacob's sin made it possible. 00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:08.039 Reuben is going to have to answer for what he did. 00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:12.759 Jacob set up the environment for this to happen. 00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:19.659 And then we can add on to that, not just what we've said before, but Jacob's incredible passivity. 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:24.180 The end of verse 22 tells us this, and Israel heard of it. 00:17:24.379 --> 00:17:25.740 Now, it doesn't mean Israel the nation. 00:17:25.859 --> 00:17:27.299 There is no nation of Israel yet. 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:29.919 It's saying Israel, Jacob's new name. 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:36.480 In other words, Jacob, Israel, heard that his son had slept with one of his concubines. 00:17:37.080 --> 00:17:38.320 And what does he do? 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:41.200 Nothing. 00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:46.800 Which should remind us of chapter 34. 00:17:48.259 --> 00:17:53.539 Remember, we were told he heard what happened with Dinah. 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:55.980 What did Jacob do? 00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:57.960 Nothing. 00:17:57.960 --> 00:17:58.200 Nothing. 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:02.539 Jacob doesn't do anything. 00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:07.019 He doesn't protect his children when they're the victim, Dinah. 00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:12.120 He doesn't intervene with his children when they're the perpetrator, Reuben. 00:18:12.900 --> 00:18:17.400 And Reuben's actions, not a coincidence, are a direct threat to Jacob's leadership. 00:18:17.600 --> 00:18:19.720 Why would he feel like he can threaten Jacob's leadership? 00:18:20.560 --> 00:18:22.220 Because Jacob doesn't lead. 00:18:22.220 --> 00:18:26.759 There's almost no leadership to threaten. 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:31.220 Of course, he creates more problems inside the family, right? 00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:32.559 Who's Bilhah? 00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:35.860 Bilhah's the mom of some of his brothers. 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:40.000 Jacob's favoritism. 00:18:41.140 --> 00:18:45.220 Jacob's own sexual dysfunction in being a polygamist. 00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:52.539 Jacob's passivity sets the stage for Reuben's sin. 00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:53.539 It's all connected. 00:18:53.539 --> 00:18:55.639 It's all connected. 00:18:55.639 --> 00:19:07.059 There are real consequences playing out in real time because of everything that Jacob has done, 00:19:07.059 --> 00:19:12.639 his dysfunctional, passive, perverted leadership of his family. 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:17.080 We don't escape that in the next scene either. 00:19:18.060 --> 00:19:25.080 Jacob's sons are listed, starting in verse 23, really the end of verse 22. 00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:27.360 And how are they listed? 00:19:28.840 --> 00:19:31.140 They're listed by their moms. 00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:36.440 In other words, they are grouped by teams. 00:19:37.320 --> 00:19:40.360 Team Rachel, team Leah. 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:44.259 And this is not disconnected from what's going to come in the Joseph story. 00:19:45.179 --> 00:19:51.439 Because part of the dynamic of the Joseph story, which we'll come back to hopefully after Romans 9-11, 00:19:51.939 --> 00:19:56.319 is the different teams of sons fighting it out. 00:19:57.119 --> 00:19:58.439 And it's not an accident. 00:19:59.719 --> 00:20:00.659 Joseph receives what? 00:20:00.719 --> 00:20:03.719 The coat of many colors because he's his father's favorite. 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:06.519 Then in the Joseph story, we run into this problem with Benjamin, 00:20:06.659 --> 00:20:09.039 who his father also has a special love for. 00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:14.819 Or, no coincidence, Joseph and Benjamin, Rachel's sons. 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:22.000 Because Jacob is on team Rachel, not team Leah. 00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:27.539 But God's grace is still there. 00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:32.519 The listing of the sons reminds us of the dysfunction of the family 00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:38.720 and reminds us again of God's promise to Abraham. 00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:43.920 Promise that his children will be as the dust of the earth, 00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:46.259 as the stars of the sky, 00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:48.920 as the sand on the seashore. 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:52.940 No matter how dysfunctional, 00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:55.080 no matter how problematic, 00:20:55.820 --> 00:20:58.460 no matter how much sin is in the picture, 00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:02.560 God is moving forward 00:21:02.560 --> 00:21:05.759 and nothing will stop it. 00:21:07.080 --> 00:21:09.580 God is honoring his promises 00:21:09.580 --> 00:21:11.640 no matter what. 00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:15.940 Yes, we face consequences, 00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:18.820 real consequences for the sin of our lives. 00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:21.680 Things that we can't outrun and escape, 00:21:21.840 --> 00:21:23.360 things that cause us real grief. 00:21:25.040 --> 00:21:27.980 But God's mercy and his grace 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:30.080 are more real. 00:21:31.860 --> 00:21:34.140 God's mercy and his grace 00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:38.000 get the last word. 00:21:42.140 --> 00:21:42.940 Jordan Peterson, 00:21:43.580 --> 00:21:47.259 the famous figure on the right, 00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:47.960 says, 00:21:48.360 --> 00:21:51.460 no one gets away with anything ever. 00:21:52.900 --> 00:21:54.580 No one gets away with anything ever, 00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:56.140 which is his way of sort of saying this, 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:57.540 hey, all these things that we do, 00:21:57.600 --> 00:21:58.900 they're going to catch up with you eventually. 00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:00.520 And I'm here to tell you that 00:22:00.520 --> 00:22:02.920 Jordan Peterson is both very correct 00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:04.259 and very incorrect. 00:22:05.600 --> 00:22:07.560 He's correct in the sense 00:22:07.560 --> 00:22:08.400 that at some point 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:10.600 your choices do catch up with you. 00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:11.860 That's what we're seeing for Jacob. 00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:15.019 Yes, he's coming from God's chosen family. 00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:16.279 He's a descendant of Abraham. 00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:17.740 He carries the promise. 00:22:19.660 --> 00:22:21.680 Doesn't protect him from his foolishness. 00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:22.500 Right? 00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:25.400 So Jordan Peterson's right at some point. 00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:27.100 Your choices do catch up with you. 00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:28.800 God's discipline does mean 00:22:28.800 --> 00:22:30.580 we face painful consequences. 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:34.660 But Jordan Peterson's also totally wrong. 00:22:36.080 --> 00:22:37.500 Because God's grace 00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:40.259 is also at work. 00:22:41.840 --> 00:22:42.800 Christians actually 00:22:42.800 --> 00:22:47.180 only face a small slice, 00:22:48.100 --> 00:22:49.279 the smallest slice, 00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:51.220 of what we deserve. 00:22:52.360 --> 00:22:54.060 Jacob actually deserves 00:22:54.060 --> 00:22:55.779 to be dead in a ditch somewhere. 00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:59.099 after Reuben's sin 00:22:59.099 --> 00:23:01.379 and Simeon and Levi's sin 00:23:01.379 --> 00:23:02.399 in chapter 34, 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:04.139 the Abraham family 00:23:04.139 --> 00:23:05.160 should be over. 00:23:06.899 --> 00:23:08.599 Not just in a sense of justice, 00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:09.819 but in a sense of reality. 00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.339 Remember, Jacob's fear 00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:12.700 at the end of chapter 34 00:23:12.700 --> 00:23:13.819 is that the Canaanites 00:23:13.819 --> 00:23:14.920 are going to wipe him out. 00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:16.399 And we find out 00:23:16.399 --> 00:23:17.779 at the beginning of chapter 35 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:19.279 that that's a realistic fear. 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:20.660 What does God have to do? 00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:23.779 He supernaturally intervenes 00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:25.000 to protect Jacob 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:25.960 and his family 00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:27.140 from the vengeance 00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:28.060 of the Canaanites. 00:23:30.840 --> 00:23:32.380 God protects him. 00:23:33.120 --> 00:23:34.080 God's grace 00:23:34.080 --> 00:23:35.800 is operating. 00:23:37.380 --> 00:23:37.840 If 00:23:37.840 --> 00:23:40.220 if no one gets away 00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:41.200 with anything ever, 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:43.180 then the line of Abraham 00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:45.080 should end here. 00:23:45.079 --> 00:23:49.599 Foolishness, 00:23:50.619 --> 00:23:51.299 mistakes, 00:23:52.679 --> 00:23:53.019 sin, 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:55.659 create consequences 00:23:55.659 --> 00:23:56.720 in our lives 00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:59.179 that we cannot 00:23:59.179 --> 00:24:00.899 outrun. 00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:04.439 And, 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.599 but, 00:24:06.879 --> 00:24:08.619 they will not stand 00:24:08.619 --> 00:24:09.480 in the way 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.359 of God's promises. 00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:14.439 They will not 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:15.440 block 00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:16.840 God's 00:24:16.840 --> 00:24:17.880 purposes. 00:24:19.100 --> 00:24:20.720 They will not 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:22.380 let the curtain 00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:23.000 fall 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:23.920 or end 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:25.200 the story. 00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:27.299 God's grace 00:24:27.299 --> 00:24:29.620 is more powerful 00:24:29.620 --> 00:24:31.220 than your mistakes. 00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:33.700 And God's mercy 00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:35.720 will outrun 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:36.940 your failure. 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:39.080 Real 00:24:39.080 --> 00:24:40.140 grief, 00:24:41.080 --> 00:24:41.539 real 00:24:41.539 --> 00:24:42.820 grace. 00:24:42.819 --> 00:24:45.700 Reuben's sin 00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:48.200 reminds us 00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:49.460 that God 00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:50.500 did not choose 00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:51.059 Abraham, 00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.059 Isaac, 00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:52.919 and Jacob 00:24:52.919 --> 00:24:53.700 because they were 00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:54.619 good and perfect. 00:24:55.919 --> 00:24:56.179 In fact, 00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:56.919 quite the opposite. 00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:58.980 They're dysfunctional 00:24:58.980 --> 00:24:59.700 and flawed 00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:00.599 and perverse. 00:25:03.179 --> 00:25:04.099 But God 00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:04.759 has mercy 00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:05.519 and grace. 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:10.759 your sins 00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:11.660 and mistakes, 00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:12.920 my sins 00:25:12.920 --> 00:25:13.579 and mistakes, 00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:15.079 they will 00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:15.500 catch up 00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:15.920 with us. 00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:19.920 But they 00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:20.900 cannot thwart, 00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:22.019 they cannot 00:25:22.019 --> 00:25:22.639 stop 00:25:22.639 --> 00:25:24.200 the living 00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:24.920 God. 00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.440 Our sin 00:25:28.440 --> 00:25:29.019 is great. 00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:32.819 God's 00:25:32.819 --> 00:25:33.420 mercy 00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:34.400 is 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:35.160 greater 00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:36.319 still. 00:25:39.900 --> 00:25:40.500 Our 00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:41.059 consequences 00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:41.819 will be painful. 00:25:42.879 --> 00:25:43.379 Being a 00:25:43.379 --> 00:25:44.000 Christian does 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:44.579 not mean we 00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:45.299 get to escape 00:25:45.299 --> 00:25:45.539 them, 00:25:45.619 --> 00:25:45.900 we get to 00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:46.460 get out of 00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:46.980 jail free 00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:47.379 card, 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:47.779 at least 00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:48.619 not fully. 00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:50.299 And 00:25:50.299 --> 00:25:51.059 God's 00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:51.480 mercy 00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.180 always 00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:52.900 gets 00:25:52.900 --> 00:25:53.819 the last 00:25:53.819 --> 00:25:54.839 word. 00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:57.159 no matter 00:25:57.159 --> 00:25:57.740 what the 00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:58.779 failure is, 00:25:59.399 --> 00:26:00.279 if you 00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:00.959 still have 00:26:00.959 --> 00:26:01.579 breath, 00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:02.779 as we 00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.259 talked about 00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:03.919 last week, 00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:05.139 your story 00:26:05.139 --> 00:26:06.099 isn't 00:26:06.099 --> 00:26:06.839 over. 00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:10.899 You can 00:26:10.899 --> 00:26:11.439 still, 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:12.139 no matter 00:26:12.139 --> 00:26:12.839 what mess 00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:13.079 you've 00:26:13.079 --> 00:26:13.459 made, 00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:15.119 you can 00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:15.480 still 00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:16.139 apologize 00:26:16.139 --> 00:26:17.399 and reconcile 00:26:17.399 --> 00:26:18.059 with your 00:26:18.059 --> 00:26:18.419 family. 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:20.059 And you 00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:20.480 can expect 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:20.799 the Holy 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:21.359 Spirit to 00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:21.639 be at 00:26:21.639 --> 00:26:21.839 work, 00:26:21.899 --> 00:26:22.199 at least 00:26:22.199 --> 00:26:22.679 in you, 00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:23.039 if you're 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.459 a Christian. 00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:25.319 No matter 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:25.899 what mess 00:26:25.899 --> 00:26:26.139 you've 00:26:26.139 --> 00:26:26.519 made of 00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:27.139 your life, 00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:27.500 you can 00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:28.159 still, 00:26:28.419 --> 00:26:28.839 now, 00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:30.500 turn away 00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.159 from addiction 00:26:31.159 --> 00:26:32.699 and embrace 00:26:32.699 --> 00:26:33.740 new patterns. 00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:35.079 Knowing that 00:26:35.079 --> 00:26:35.559 God's with 00:26:35.559 --> 00:26:35.819 you, 00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:37.240 He hasn't 00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:37.539 abandoned 00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:37.839 you. 00:26:38.659 --> 00:26:39.399 No matter 00:26:39.399 --> 00:26:39.959 what has 00:26:39.959 --> 00:26:40.759 happened up 00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:41.240 to this 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:41.799 point in 00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:42.519 the timeline 00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:43.019 of your 00:26:43.019 --> 00:26:43.539 existence, 00:26:43.959 --> 00:26:44.339 you can 00:26:44.339 --> 00:26:46.220 now still 00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:46.939 use your 00:26:46.939 --> 00:26:47.439 energy, 00:26:47.619 --> 00:26:48.279 your life, 00:26:48.359 --> 00:26:48.819 for God's 00:26:48.819 --> 00:26:49.439 kingdom and 00:26:49.439 --> 00:26:50.079 honor and 00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:50.439 glory. 00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.519 Ephesians 2 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.079 is still 00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:52.659 true for 00:26:52.659 --> 00:26:53.199 you that 00:26:53.199 --> 00:26:53.639 God has 00:26:53.639 --> 00:26:54.240 prepared good 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:54.619 works, 00:26:54.839 --> 00:26:55.500 for you 00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.359 beforehand. 00:26:58.319 --> 00:26:58.980 Joel 2 00:26:58.980 --> 00:27:00.119 from the 00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:00.699 Old Testament 00:27:00.699 --> 00:27:01.379 reminds us 00:27:01.379 --> 00:27:01.639 of the 00:27:01.639 --> 00:27:02.139 nature of 00:27:02.139 --> 00:27:02.720 how God's 00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:03.379 grace works, 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.059 that God 00:27:04.059 --> 00:27:04.379 says He 00:27:04.379 --> 00:27:04.980 can still 00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:05.939 redeem the 00:27:05.939 --> 00:27:07.079 years the 00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:08.240 locusts have 00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:08.519 eaten. 00:27:11.099 --> 00:27:11.859 No one 00:27:11.859 --> 00:27:12.480 gets away 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.299 with anything 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:13.740 ever. 00:27:15.439 --> 00:27:16.039 No. 00:27:18.119 --> 00:27:18.720 God's 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:19.399 grace 00:27:19.399 --> 00:27:20.859 has the 00:27:20.859 --> 00:27:21.379 last 00:27:21.379 --> 00:27:22.220 word. 00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:24.460 God's 00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:25.480 grace and 00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:26.180 faithfulness 00:27:26.180 --> 00:27:26.579 that take 00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:26.880 us to 00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:27.240 the final 00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:27.640 section 00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:28.120 here of 00:27:28.120 --> 00:27:28.319 this 00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:28.660 chapter, 00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:28.880 the 00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:29.200 death 00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:30.079 of 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:30.600 Isaac 00:27:30.600 --> 00:27:31.019 verses 00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:31.700 27 00:27:31.700 --> 00:27:31.960 through 00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:32.500 29. 00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:34.120 I told 00:27:34.120 --> 00:27:34.339 you we 00:27:34.339 --> 00:27:34.539 were going 00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:34.740 to go 00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:35.220 back and 00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:35.940 forth between 00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:37.160 real grief 00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:37.480 and real 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:37.860 grace. 00:27:37.860 --> 00:27:38.600 This last 00:27:38.600 --> 00:27:39.019 section 00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:41.220 is only 00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:42.279 real 00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:43.259 grace. 00:27:44.600 --> 00:27:45.059 Verse 00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:45.599 27, 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:47.079 Isaac 00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:47.519 comes to 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:47.799 Hebron 00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:48.000 where 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.519 Abraham 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.019 and 00:27:49.019 --> 00:27:49.619 Isaac 00:27:49.619 --> 00:27:50.119 had 00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:51.099 sojourned. 00:27:53.119 --> 00:27:53.799 He's 00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:54.079 back in 00:27:54.079 --> 00:27:54.179 the 00:27:54.179 --> 00:27:54.460 promised 00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:54.700 land. 00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:57.440 God's 00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:57.779 kept his 00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:58.159 promise 00:27:58.159 --> 00:27:58.639 fully 00:27:58.639 --> 00:27:59.039 from 00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.339 chapter 00:27:59.339 --> 00:27:59.819 28 00:27:59.819 --> 00:28:00.119 that he 00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:00.259 would 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:00.659 bring 00:28:00.659 --> 00:28:01.299 him 00:28:01.299 --> 00:28:01.919 back. 00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:03.559 Hebron 00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:03.899 is just 00:28:03.899 --> 00:28:04.879 20 miles 00:28:04.879 --> 00:28:05.519 south of 00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:05.960 Jerusalem. 00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:08.179 Jerusalem 00:28:08.179 --> 00:28:08.740 where Jesus 00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:09.279 is going 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:09.899 to go 00:28:09.899 --> 00:28:11.019 and be 00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:11.419 crucified. 00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:13.039 One of 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:13.579 the major 00:28:13.579 --> 00:28:14.139 points, 00:28:14.140 --> 00:28:14.640 if not 00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:15.300 the major 00:28:15.300 --> 00:28:15.940 point of 00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:16.200 the book 00:28:16.200 --> 00:28:16.660 of Genesis 00:28:16.660 --> 00:28:17.520 is that 00:28:17.520 --> 00:28:18.320 God keeps 00:28:18.320 --> 00:28:19.100 his promises. 00:28:21.040 --> 00:28:21.440 And now 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:21.960 at the end 00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:23.120 God has 00:28:23.120 --> 00:28:23.700 done just 00:28:23.700 --> 00:28:24.080 that. 00:28:25.620 --> 00:28:26.120 Despite 00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:26.759 Reuben's 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:27.020 sin, 00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:27.460 despite 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:28.880 Jacob's 00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:29.660 passivity, 00:28:29.860 --> 00:28:30.360 despite the 00:28:30.360 --> 00:28:31.080 failure of 00:28:31.080 --> 00:28:31.900 his sons, 00:28:32.660 --> 00:28:33.120 God's 00:28:33.120 --> 00:28:33.560 promise 00:28:33.560 --> 00:28:34.660 stands. 00:28:35.860 --> 00:28:36.280 God's 00:28:36.280 --> 00:28:36.680 promise not 00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:36.980 just to 00:28:36.980 --> 00:28:37.200 Jacob, 00:28:37.300 --> 00:28:37.640 but as I've 00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:38.340 said twice 00:28:38.340 --> 00:28:38.660 now, 00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:39.040 God's 00:28:39.040 --> 00:28:39.620 promise to 00:28:39.620 --> 00:28:40.120 Abraham 00:28:40.120 --> 00:28:41.480 that he's 00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:41.600 going to 00:28:41.600 --> 00:28:41.860 be the 00:28:41.860 --> 00:28:42.520 father of 00:28:42.520 --> 00:28:43.440 many nations. 00:28:44.140 --> 00:28:44.580 Now 00:28:44.580 --> 00:28:44.800 what do 00:28:44.800 --> 00:28:45.240 we have? 00:28:46.400 --> 00:28:47.120 Twelve 00:28:47.120 --> 00:28:48.920 grandsons. 00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:51.500 Really 00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:51.759 twelve 00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.020 great 00:28:52.020 --> 00:28:52.600 grandsons 00:28:52.600 --> 00:28:53.080 for 00:28:53.080 --> 00:28:53.420 Abraham. 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:55.380 And the 00:28:55.380 --> 00:28:55.920 final note 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:56.560 of grace, 00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:57.300 verse 29, 00:28:58.259 --> 00:28:58.620 and his 00:28:58.620 --> 00:28:59.320 sons, 00:28:59.940 --> 00:29:00.440 Esau 00:29:00.440 --> 00:29:01.420 and Jacob 00:29:01.420 --> 00:29:02.720 buried him. 00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:04.880 Same 00:29:04.880 --> 00:29:05.400 thing Isaac 00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:06.020 and Ishmael 00:29:06.020 --> 00:29:06.800 did many 00:29:06.800 --> 00:29:07.520 chapters ago. 00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:09.420 In other 00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:09.560 words, 00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:10.180 the driving 00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:10.759 conflict, 00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:12.300 the driving 00:29:12.300 --> 00:29:13.259 tension of 00:29:13.259 --> 00:29:13.720 the Jacob 00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:14.240 story, 00:29:14.339 --> 00:29:14.879 the tension 00:29:14.879 --> 00:29:15.599 with Esau 00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:17.319 is over. 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:19.039 They 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:19.839 reconciled. 00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:22.140 Reconciled 00:29:22.140 --> 00:29:22.619 after the 00:29:22.619 --> 00:29:23.559 twenty hard 00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:24.460 years that 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.220 Jacob spent 00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:26.779 with Laban. 00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:28.660 And so 00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:28.960 in the 00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:29.259 end, 00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:31.039 in the 00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:31.359 midst of 00:29:31.359 --> 00:29:31.619 human 00:29:31.619 --> 00:29:32.079 failure, 00:29:33.379 --> 00:29:34.200 God's 00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:35.259 grace 00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:36.140 wins. 00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:38.019 Brings the 00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:38.839 two warring 00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:39.920 sons together 00:29:39.920 --> 00:29:39.960 father, 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:41.640 the death 00:29:41.640 --> 00:29:41.960 of their 00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:42.460 father, 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:43.779 to whom 00:29:43.779 --> 00:29:45.180 God has 00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:45.500 kept 00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:46.259 his 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:46.640 promises. 00:29:51.820 --> 00:29:52.460 God 00:29:52.460 --> 00:29:52.840 kept his 00:29:52.840 --> 00:29:53.620 promises to 00:29:53.620 --> 00:29:53.920 Abraham, 00:29:54.320 --> 00:29:54.600 Isaac, 00:29:54.820 --> 00:29:55.440 and Jacob. 00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:57.000 God's 00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.380 kept even 00:29:57.380 --> 00:29:57.700 greater 00:29:57.700 --> 00:29:58.460 promises for 00:29:58.460 --> 00:29:58.700 us, 00:29:58.759 --> 00:29:59.360 especially 00:29:59.360 --> 00:30:00.420 his promise 00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:01.519 to Satan 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:02.259 himself in 00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:02.519 Genesis 00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:03.259 chapter 3. 00:30:03.420 --> 00:30:03.700 Remember 00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:04.200 God said 00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:04.580 this, 00:30:04.579 --> 00:30:18.000 Satan can 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:18.699 bruise your 00:30:18.699 --> 00:30:19.240 heel. 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:21.599 That's the 00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:22.220 real grief. 00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:24.439 God will 00:30:24.439 --> 00:30:25.599 crush Satan's 00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:26.259 head. 00:30:27.220 --> 00:30:27.619 That's the 00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:28.099 real grace. 00:30:29.419 --> 00:30:30.299 Which is 00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:31.019 more significant, 00:30:31.199 --> 00:30:31.619 hurting a 00:30:31.619 --> 00:30:32.559 heel or 00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:33.079 crushing 00:30:33.079 --> 00:30:34.240 a head? 00:30:34.579 --> 00:30:36.859 all of 00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:37.019 this, 00:30:37.159 --> 00:30:37.299 by the 00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:37.579 way, 00:30:37.879 --> 00:30:38.419 because of 00:30:38.419 --> 00:30:38.960 God's 00:30:38.960 --> 00:30:40.019 great mercy 00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:40.899 and grace. 00:30:41.579 --> 00:30:42.059 His mercy 00:30:42.059 --> 00:30:42.419 and grace 00:30:42.419 --> 00:30:42.759 for you 00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:43.019 and me, 00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:43.579 most of 00:30:43.579 --> 00:30:44.039 all in 00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:44.359 Jesus 00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:44.859 Christ, 00:30:44.939 --> 00:30:45.539 the one 00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:46.460 who defeats 00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:47.259 Satan and 00:30:47.259 --> 00:30:48.480 death once 00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:49.279 and for 00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:49.599 all. 00:30:50.619 --> 00:30:51.199 So that in 00:30:51.199 --> 00:30:51.559 the midst 00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:51.960 of real 00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:52.339 grief, 00:30:52.899 --> 00:30:53.819 we know 00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:54.199 that the 00:30:54.199 --> 00:30:55.199 grace is 00:30:55.199 --> 00:30:56.679 more real. 00:30:57.220 --> 00:30:57.659 Let's 00:30:57.659 --> 00:30:57.859 pray. 00:30:58.839 --> 00:30:59.220 Our 00:30:59.220 --> 00:30:59.639 Father in 00:30:59.639 --> 00:30:59.819 heaven, 00:30:59.919 --> 00:31:00.299 we do 00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:01.500 praise you 00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:01.960 and thank 00:31:01.960 --> 00:31:02.460 you again 00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:02.919 for your 00:31:02.919 --> 00:31:03.500 mercy that 00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:03.879 we do 00:31:03.879 --> 00:31:04.099 not 00:31:04.099 --> 00:31:04.500 deserve. 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:05.839 We ask 00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:06.220 that you 00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:06.879 would remind 00:31:06.879 --> 00:31:07.559 us again 00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:08.059 and again 00:31:08.059 --> 00:31:08.359 of your 00:31:08.359 --> 00:31:09.039 faithfulness 00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:09.359 to your 00:31:09.359 --> 00:31:09.879 promises. 00:31:11.079 --> 00:31:11.539 Remind us 00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:11.899 of what you 00:31:11.899 --> 00:31:12.259 tell us 00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:12.559 through the 00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:13.339 apostle Paul. 00:31:13.659 --> 00:31:14.119 Even if 00:31:14.119 --> 00:31:14.379 we are 00:31:14.379 --> 00:31:15.639 faithless, 00:31:15.779 --> 00:31:16.199 you remain 00:31:16.199 --> 00:31:16.899 faithful for 00:31:16.899 --> 00:31:17.599 you cannot 00:31:17.599 --> 00:31:18.579 deny 00:31:18.579 --> 00:31:19.519 yourself. 00:31:20.879 --> 00:31:21.460 We ask 00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:21.639 that you 00:31:21.639 --> 00:31:22.779 continue to 00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:23.419 grow us 00:31:23.419 --> 00:31:23.919 and teach 00:31:23.919 --> 00:31:24.259 us, 00:31:24.679 --> 00:31:25.059 help us 00:31:25.059 --> 00:31:25.639 follow after 00:31:25.639 --> 00:31:25.980 Jesus, 00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:26.639 and we ask 00:31:26.639 --> 00:31:27.099 all of these 00:31:27.099 --> 00:31:27.519 things in 00:31:27.519 --> 00:31:27.939 his mighty 00:31:27.939 --> 00:31:28.259 name. 00:31:28.659 --> 00:31:28.879 Amen.