WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.460 Well, this morning we're bringing this series that we've been doing on Abraham to a close. 00:00:11.880 --> 00:00:18.740 And it's been quite the journey to look at Abraham's life and to see all that he has been through. 00:00:19.359 --> 00:00:25.060 And as we've gone through his story, we've seen that this is about so much more than just Abraham. 00:00:25.580 --> 00:00:27.080 This is really God's story. 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:29.379 This is the story of our world. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.560 This is the story of how God is going to fix the big problem with our world. 00:00:36.299 --> 00:00:55.579 The story began with the big events that really have shaped our world, with God's creating the world, with the rebellion of humanity against God, the fall of man, with the flood, with the confusion of languages at Babel. 00:00:55.579 --> 00:01:02.199 And in all of this, we see a good world that became broken because of sin. 00:01:02.200 --> 00:01:14.020 We see how humanity, despite even a fresh start, having a fresh start at a couple points, is spiraling downward, away from God. 00:01:14.019 --> 00:01:18.560 What is God going to do to fix this? 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:19.560 And we see a good start at a couple points, with the flood, with the flood, with the flood, with the flood. 00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:31.040 And we've seen that the start of his plan, of his solution, involves this guy named Abraham in Ur of the Chaldeans. 00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:36.440 God, seemingly out of nowhere, speaks to him. 00:01:36.440 --> 00:01:43.360 He, with his family, they worshipped other so-called gods over there in Ur. 00:01:43.500 --> 00:01:55.000 And one day, God simply revealed himself to Abraham and called him to leave his homeland and to make the journey to the land that he would show him. 00:01:55.000 --> 00:02:09.800 And at that time, God made some amazing promises to him, promises to bless him, promises to protect him, and the big promise to bless all the families of the earth through him. 00:02:11.560 --> 00:02:20.139 Abraham, by faith, obeyed, and he went to the land that he would later receive as his inheritance. 00:02:20.139 --> 00:02:29.819 When he entered Canaan, we saw how God, very, very, very soon after he entered, gave him this promise, 00:02:30.199 --> 00:02:33.599 To your offspring, I will give this land. 00:02:35.579 --> 00:02:45.739 And as Abraham began to settle and live in the land of Canaan, we saw very quickly that Abraham is a man just like us. 00:02:45.740 --> 00:02:48.360 He blew it. 00:02:48.860 --> 00:02:50.939 He sinned, just like us. 00:02:51.100 --> 00:02:55.159 He wrestled with unbelief and doubt, just like we do. 00:02:55.260 --> 00:03:06.840 He tried to take situations into his own hand and deal with it, rather than trusting God's promises at different points, just like we do. 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:16.680 And yet in the midst of all of that, we watched as God was gracious to him and blessed him again and again and again. 00:03:17.340 --> 00:03:20.099 And Abraham plundered kings. 00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:23.420 His household grew. 00:03:24.020 --> 00:03:25.439 His possessions grew. 00:03:27.140 --> 00:03:32.620 He, in one sense, came to this moment where he has all of this stuff. 00:03:32.699 --> 00:03:33.520 He's got servants. 00:03:33.659 --> 00:03:34.580 He's got livestock. 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:36.099 Everything's going well. 00:03:36.099 --> 00:03:38.699 Except for one thing. 00:03:40.439 --> 00:03:42.699 He has no children. 00:03:43.819 --> 00:03:45.620 Sarah has been barren. 00:03:45.959 --> 00:03:49.379 And as long as they've been married, she's been unable to conceive. 00:03:50.799 --> 00:03:52.159 And so he's got all of this. 00:03:52.459 --> 00:03:56.379 But who will it go to when he dies? 00:03:57.659 --> 00:03:58.659 No son. 00:03:58.659 --> 00:04:03.919 We watched as Abraham wrestled with this. 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:06.419 And God made a covenant with him. 00:04:07.039 --> 00:04:09.500 He made promises to him. 00:04:09.719 --> 00:04:14.300 Your offspring will be as beyond numbering as the stars in the sky. 00:04:14.300 --> 00:04:19.319 And we saw how Abraham in that moment believed God. 00:04:19.319 --> 00:04:28.420 And on account of his faith, God gave to him or treated him as righteous, though he was a sinner. 00:04:28.420 --> 00:04:37.460 Finally, this whole thing about the son and the offspring. 00:04:37.819 --> 00:04:42.040 This was really the key issue in Abraham and Sarah's lives. 00:04:42.040 --> 00:04:43.040 God's made all of this. 00:04:43.040 --> 00:04:44.220 God's made all of these promises. 00:04:44.640 --> 00:04:47.420 But almost all of them are connected to this. 00:04:48.260 --> 00:04:49.319 Having a child. 00:04:49.520 --> 00:04:50.200 Having a son. 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:52.780 How can all of this come true without that? 00:04:53.260 --> 00:04:59.480 We watched as Abraham and Sarah tried to help God out and did the surrogate motherhood thing. 00:04:59.480 --> 00:05:03.620 Heartache and division came into the family. 00:05:03.900 --> 00:05:06.759 He got a son, Ishmael. 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:13.180 And then we watched as 13 years later, God said, no, it's not going to be Ishmael. 00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:16.879 Sarah is going to bear a son, Isaac. 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:22.060 And he will be the one to whom this covenant and all these promises will be kept. 00:05:22.060 --> 00:05:31.100 We watched as God reaffirmed his covenant again and again. 00:05:31.899 --> 00:05:39.660 And finally, as this child of promise was born in Abraham and Sarah's old age. 00:05:39.899 --> 00:05:40.920 A miracle child. 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:42.399 A gift of God. 00:05:43.500 --> 00:05:49.199 And then we watched as well as it came to the moment of ultimate testing for Abraham 00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:52.040 when God asked him to sacrifice this son. 00:05:52.060 --> 00:05:54.319 And he passed the test. 00:05:54.759 --> 00:05:55.860 He was willing. 00:05:56.579 --> 00:06:00.100 And God did not have him go through with it at the end. 00:06:00.180 --> 00:06:07.000 And in all of this, we've seen how Abraham has been learning little by little to trust the Lord. 00:06:07.819 --> 00:06:10.240 And a little more and a little more. 00:06:11.139 --> 00:06:13.220 To take God at his word. 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:16.620 And to live according to those promises. 00:06:16.620 --> 00:06:23.160 And we've watched at the same time as Abraham is growing in his faith and trust. 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:26.100 God seems to be promising more and more. 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:30.360 And the promises of what God will do for Abraham and his offspring are growing. 00:06:30.360 --> 00:06:37.040 Finally, we come today to the last chapter of Abraham's story. 00:06:37.840 --> 00:06:41.600 If you have your Bible with you, please open it to Genesis chapter 23. 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:47.280 Genesis chapter 23. 00:06:50.280 --> 00:06:53.740 And we're going to read this whole chapter. 00:06:56.180 --> 00:06:58.200 Genesis chapter 23. 00:06:58.199 --> 00:07:04.339 Sarah lived to be 127 years old. 00:07:04.579 --> 00:07:08.399 She died at Kiriath Arba, that is Hebron, in the land of Canaan. 00:07:08.839 --> 00:07:11.920 And Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her. 00:07:12.779 --> 00:07:18.259 Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. 00:07:18.259 --> 00:07:19.659 He said, 00:07:19.659 --> 00:07:22.800 I am a foreigner and stranger among you. 00:07:23.480 --> 00:07:28.719 Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead. 00:07:29.639 --> 00:07:31.620 The Hittites replied to Abraham, 00:07:32.159 --> 00:07:33.920 Sir, listen to us. 00:07:34.620 --> 00:07:36.659 You are a mighty prince among us. 00:07:37.599 --> 00:07:39.860 Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. 00:07:40.699 --> 00:07:44.139 None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead. 00:07:44.139 --> 00:07:49.879 Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. 00:07:50.419 --> 00:07:51.219 He said to them, 00:07:51.899 --> 00:07:53.879 If you are willing to let me bury my dead, 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:58.939 then listen to me and intercede with Ephron, son of Zohar, on my behalf. 00:07:59.159 --> 00:08:02.519 So he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him 00:08:02.519 --> 00:08:04.219 and is at the end of his field. 00:08:04.860 --> 00:08:09.019 Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you. 00:08:09.979 --> 00:08:12.120 Ephron the Hittite was sitting among his people 00:08:12.120 --> 00:08:15.300 and he replied to Abraham in the hearing of all the Hittites 00:08:15.300 --> 00:08:16.939 who had come to the gate of his city. 00:08:17.660 --> 00:08:19.280 No, my lord, he said, 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:20.560 Listen to me. 00:08:20.939 --> 00:08:22.379 I give you the field 00:08:22.379 --> 00:08:24.699 and I give you the cave that is in it. 00:08:25.220 --> 00:08:27.360 I give it to you in the presence of my people. 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:28.300 Bury your dead. 00:08:29.480 --> 00:08:32.460 Again, Abraham bowed down before the people of the land 00:08:32.460 --> 00:08:34.019 and he said to Ephron in their hearing, 00:08:34.659 --> 00:08:36.399 Listen to me, if you will. 00:08:36.899 --> 00:08:38.659 I will pay the price of the field. 00:08:39.419 --> 00:08:41.840 Accept it from me so I can bury my dead there. 00:08:42.840 --> 00:08:44.000 Ephron answered Abraham, 00:08:44.560 --> 00:08:46.259 Listen to me, my lord. 00:08:46.600 --> 00:08:48.980 The land is worth 400 shekels of silver. 00:08:49.379 --> 00:08:51.259 But what is that between you and me? 00:08:52.060 --> 00:08:52.800 Bury your dead. 00:08:54.160 --> 00:08:56.019 Abraham agreed to Ephron's terms 00:08:56.019 --> 00:08:58.060 and weighed out for him the price he had named 00:08:58.060 --> 00:08:59.580 in the hearing of the Hittites, 00:08:59.700 --> 00:09:01.100 400 shekels of silver, 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:03.480 according to the weight current among the merchants. 00:09:04.220 --> 00:09:06.940 So Ephron's field in Machpelah near Mamre, 00:09:07.220 --> 00:09:08.920 both the field and the cave in it 00:09:08.919 --> 00:09:10.899 and all the trees within the borders of the field 00:09:10.899 --> 00:09:13.699 was deeded to Abraham as his property 00:09:13.699 --> 00:09:15.579 in the presence of all the Hittites 00:09:15.579 --> 00:09:16.979 who had come to the gate of the city. 00:09:18.079 --> 00:09:21.199 Afterward, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave 00:09:21.199 --> 00:09:23.199 in the field of Machpelah near Mamre 00:09:23.199 --> 00:09:24.699 in the land of Canaan. 00:09:24.700 --> 00:09:26.660 So the field and the cave in it 00:09:26.660 --> 00:09:29.220 were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites 00:09:29.220 --> 00:09:30.700 as a burial site. 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:36.980 After this, it talks about Isaac and Rebekah 00:09:36.980 --> 00:09:39.440 and Abraham finding a wife for Isaac. 00:09:39.700 --> 00:09:41.140 We're going to skip over that 00:09:41.140 --> 00:09:42.780 and go to chapter 25 00:09:42.780 --> 00:09:45.800 and read there starting in verse 7. 00:09:45.799 --> 00:09:51.259 Abraham lived 175 years. 00:09:51.959 --> 00:09:54.159 Then Abraham breathed his last 00:09:54.159 --> 00:09:56.059 and died at a good old age, 00:09:56.359 --> 00:09:58.779 an old man and full of years. 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:00.799 And he was gathered to his people. 00:10:01.379 --> 00:10:03.359 His sons Isaac and Ishmael 00:10:03.359 --> 00:10:05.799 buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre 00:10:05.799 --> 00:10:07.219 in the field of Ephron, 00:10:07.659 --> 00:10:08.839 son of Zohar the Hittite, 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:11.740 the field Abraham had bought from the Hittites. 00:10:12.419 --> 00:10:14.719 There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:20.320 And the story goes on to focus on Isaac after this. 00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:25.320 This is the last chapter in Genesis of Abraham's life. 00:10:25.960 --> 00:10:28.560 And even as we see at the end, 00:10:28.740 --> 00:10:31.540 there's a lot here that really speaks 00:10:31.540 --> 00:10:35.800 about what the Lord is doing in this situation. 00:10:36.180 --> 00:10:39.940 It all starts with Sarah's death back in chapter 23. 00:10:39.940 --> 00:10:45.560 And it's quite telling what Abraham says 00:10:45.560 --> 00:10:48.260 when his wife passes away. 00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:49.520 He speaks to the Hittites 00:10:49.520 --> 00:10:51.360 and in verse 4 of chapter 23, 00:10:51.680 --> 00:10:52.940 he says, 00:10:53.060 --> 00:10:55.640 I'm a foreigner and stranger among you. 00:10:56.620 --> 00:10:57.640 Sell me some property 00:10:57.640 --> 00:11:00.280 so that I can bury my wife. 00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:05.139 It says a lot about Abraham 00:11:05.139 --> 00:11:08.159 and where things have come to 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:10.980 until now in the story. 00:11:11.199 --> 00:11:12.360 I mean, by this point, 00:11:12.419 --> 00:11:13.959 we're kind of expecting that Abraham 00:11:13.959 --> 00:11:16.860 will have already bought a lot of land. 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:19.539 And yet up until this point, 00:11:19.659 --> 00:11:22.740 he doesn't actually own any of it yet. 00:11:22.740 --> 00:11:25.620 And he freely admits, 00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:26.960 I'm still a stranger. 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:29.399 I'm still a foreigner among you. 00:11:30.419 --> 00:11:31.680 Sell me a piece of land 00:11:31.680 --> 00:11:34.659 so I can bury my dead. 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:37.759 And the response of the Hittites 00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:40.700 is wonderful. 00:11:42.560 --> 00:11:43.759 They are the people 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:45.659 who would consider it their native land 00:11:45.659 --> 00:11:46.419 or their homeland. 00:11:47.700 --> 00:11:48.480 And in here, 00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:50.039 we see the blessing of God 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:51.539 on Abraham's life again. 00:11:51.539 --> 00:11:53.120 They respond very favorably. 00:11:53.559 --> 00:11:55.079 You're a mighty prince among us. 00:11:56.240 --> 00:11:57.000 Take your pick. 00:11:58.459 --> 00:12:01.939 Take your pick of the choicest of tombs 00:12:01.939 --> 00:12:04.039 and bury her there. 00:12:05.079 --> 00:12:06.480 None of us will refuse you. 00:12:09.319 --> 00:12:11.240 So Abraham takes his pick. 00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:15.419 The field of Ephron, the Hittite. 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:17.699 That's the one that I would like. 00:12:18.179 --> 00:12:19.539 I'll pay the full price. 00:12:19.539 --> 00:12:22.339 And again, we see the favor 00:12:22.339 --> 00:12:24.839 that God has upon Abraham 00:12:24.839 --> 00:12:25.679 that he's given him 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:27.019 in the eyes of the Hittites. 00:12:28.199 --> 00:12:31.240 They're ready to just give the land to him. 00:12:31.699 --> 00:12:33.919 Three times Ephron says it. 00:12:34.360 --> 00:12:35.379 I give you the field. 00:12:35.459 --> 00:12:36.659 I give you the cave in it. 00:12:36.699 --> 00:12:37.599 I give it to you. 00:12:38.860 --> 00:12:39.500 Take it. 00:12:40.500 --> 00:12:41.379 Bury your dead. 00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:47.340 Even after Abraham offers again to pay 00:12:47.340 --> 00:12:50.700 400 shekels of silver. 00:12:51.100 --> 00:12:52.700 What's that between you and me? 00:12:52.779 --> 00:12:54.059 Just take the field. 00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:56.899 Again, we see God blessing Abraham. 00:12:57.159 --> 00:12:58.220 He's given him favor 00:12:58.220 --> 00:13:00.059 in the eyes of the people 00:13:00.059 --> 00:13:02.240 that this land really belongs to. 00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:06.580 So Ephron's field 00:13:06.580 --> 00:13:09.080 is given to Abraham. 00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:11.039 So he buys it. 00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:15.720 And he gets his first piece of property 00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:18.240 that he owns in the promised land 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:20.360 towards the end of his life here. 00:13:21.539 --> 00:13:24.620 Three times the author makes it clear 00:13:24.620 --> 00:13:27.120 it was deeded to him as his property. 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:30.440 And right about now 00:13:30.440 --> 00:13:33.320 if we've been really following closely this story 00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:34.460 we're thinking, yes! 00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:35.799 Finally! 00:13:36.539 --> 00:13:39.580 This promise about the land is coming true. 00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:41.879 That's what the Lord said. 00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:43.179 I give this land to you 00:13:43.179 --> 00:13:45.259 and now Abraham has his name 00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:47.200 on some of it. 00:13:48.980 --> 00:13:50.320 But it's at this point 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:53.519 that we start to realize and consider 00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:56.620 that Abraham is near the end of his life. 00:13:57.120 --> 00:14:02.460 In fact, not long after this 00:14:02.460 --> 00:14:05.299 he dies. 00:14:07.399 --> 00:14:08.759 And when he does 00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:11.100 we start to look back over this story 00:14:11.100 --> 00:14:12.320 and wonder 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:15.799 just how has God kept his promises? 00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:19.519 He's made some big promises. 00:14:20.039 --> 00:14:22.399 How has he kept them to Abraham? 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:22.600 Abraham. 00:14:25.399 --> 00:14:27.500 One of the first things God said 00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:29.459 was that he would bless Abraham. 00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:32.079 He certainly has kept that. 00:14:32.259 --> 00:14:33.840 Abraham's household has grown. 00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:36.399 His servants have increased in number. 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:37.159 His animals. 00:14:37.379 --> 00:14:39.079 His material possessions. 00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:39.919 His wealth. 00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:41.159 Lots. 00:14:41.819 --> 00:14:43.939 He's plundered kings at different times. 00:14:45.620 --> 00:14:47.279 God has blessed him in that way. 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:50.419 We read about how God credited righteousness to him. 00:14:50.579 --> 00:14:51.659 Not a physical blessing 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:52.959 but a spiritual blessing. 00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:55.279 God is dealing with him favorably 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:56.799 even though he doesn't deserve it. 00:14:57.860 --> 00:14:59.919 Yes, God has kept this promise. 00:15:00.059 --> 00:15:02.500 He has blessed Abraham the whole way along 00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:03.539 and we see that clearly. 00:15:04.980 --> 00:15:07.480 God promised also to protect Abraham. 00:15:07.959 --> 00:15:08.500 He said, 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:09.939 I will bless those who bless you 00:15:09.939 --> 00:15:11.919 and I will curse those who curse you. 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:14.319 And God has done that too. 00:15:14.899 --> 00:15:17.399 We saw that when Abraham went down to Egypt 00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:18.779 and Sarah was taken. 00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:22.379 We saw that when King Abimelech took Sarah. 00:15:23.139 --> 00:15:24.679 In both situations, 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:28.199 God came to Abraham and Sarah's defense 00:15:28.199 --> 00:15:31.159 and turned the situation around. 00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:35.439 We saw that when Abraham went to rescue Lot, 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:36.919 he ended up going into battle. 00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:39.980 God, as he had promised, 00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:41.399 was Abraham's shield 00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:42.659 and protected him 00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:44.159 throughout his whole life. 00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:48.980 God promised to make Abraham's name great. 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:51.340 Has he done that? 00:15:51.680 --> 00:15:54.300 Well, it certainly seems as though he has. 00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:55.500 I mean, 00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:58.879 Pharaoh had to give his wife back 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:00.639 and give all this stuff to him. 00:16:00.980 --> 00:16:02.580 Some of the kings of the land 00:16:02.580 --> 00:16:04.740 revered him and respected him. 00:16:04.800 --> 00:16:06.240 The king of Sodom and Gomorrah 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:08.500 who he rescued and bailed out 00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:10.679 of the situation that they were in. 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:15.080 Yes, God has increased him in fame 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:16.799 and made him well known 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:19.059 and revered and respected in the land. 00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:21.019 And we see that again here with the Hittites. 00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:24.100 God promised that Abraham 00:16:24.100 --> 00:16:25.679 would be a blessing to others. 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:27.940 And if the attitude and treatment 00:16:27.940 --> 00:16:29.960 of the Hittites is evidenced, 00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:32.620 then we see that he has done that as well. 00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:34.820 He was a blessing to Lot 00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:36.659 who he went and rescued 00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:39.060 from the hands of those kings 00:16:39.060 --> 00:16:41.639 that came to attack Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:45.480 And then there was the promise of a son 00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:46.919 through Sarah, 00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:49.320 which God absolutely kept. 00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:51.179 And he didn't just, 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:52.840 this wasn't a small thing. 00:16:52.940 --> 00:16:54.460 This was a miracle child 00:16:54.460 --> 00:16:56.899 born in old age 00:16:56.899 --> 00:16:59.080 and kept at the exact time 00:16:59.080 --> 00:17:01.560 that God said he would. 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:04.900 All of these promises 00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:06.200 were kept. 00:17:08.200 --> 00:17:09.680 But what of the other promises? 00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:14.259 God promised that he would make Abraham 00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:15.620 into a great nation. 00:17:15.619 --> 00:17:18.619 Not yet. 00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:21.500 Not something that we could say 00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:22.659 is true yet. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:24.919 At this point, 00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:26.699 Abraham has Isaac. 00:17:27.299 --> 00:17:27.859 That's it. 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:28.859 He's, 00:17:29.419 --> 00:17:31.199 this is a promise 00:17:31.199 --> 00:17:33.759 that isn't fulfilled yet. 00:17:33.879 --> 00:17:35.139 There's still more to come. 00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:37.939 And it's dependent on Isaac. 00:17:38.899 --> 00:17:41.219 He promised that Abraham's offspring 00:17:41.219 --> 00:17:43.519 would be beyond numbering, 00:17:43.559 --> 00:17:45.059 like the stars in the sky, 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:46.779 like the sand on the seashore. 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:48.559 Another, 00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:49.879 not yet. 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:52.200 It's just Isaac. 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:54.200 It's pretty easy to number. 00:17:54.899 --> 00:17:55.519 He's married, 00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:56.940 but they don't have any kids yet 00:17:56.940 --> 00:17:58.399 at the time that Abraham dies. 00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:00.779 There's the big promise. 00:18:00.919 --> 00:18:02.919 All families or nations on the earth 00:18:02.919 --> 00:18:04.519 will be blessed through you. 00:18:06.679 --> 00:18:07.440 Not even, 00:18:07.579 --> 00:18:08.599 not even a hint 00:18:08.599 --> 00:18:09.819 of how that's going to happen. 00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:10.940 I mean, 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:12.359 that's quite the thing to say 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:13.319 to Abraham, 00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:15.779 the guy who at the time 00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:18.399 was married to a barren woman 00:18:18.399 --> 00:18:21.259 and was living in a foreign land. 00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:24.639 All the families of the earth. 00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:26.119 How was that going to happen? 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:28.779 We don't know yet. 00:18:29.419 --> 00:18:30.619 Abraham didn't know yet. 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:32.500 God promised that he would be 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:34.139 the father of many nations 00:18:34.139 --> 00:18:35.480 or a multitude of nations. 00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:35.879 Again, 00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:37.760 not yet. 00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:39.620 Not something that, 00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:40.980 that has happened yet. 00:18:41.060 --> 00:18:42.260 And all of these promises, 00:18:42.260 --> 00:18:43.440 they, 00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:45.220 they really seem to pertain to 00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:46.780 Abraham's offspring, 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:48.220 to Isaac. 00:18:48.820 --> 00:18:49.800 And so, 00:18:50.020 --> 00:18:50.640 there is, 00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:52.000 there is still much to 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.040 anticipate 00:18:53.040 --> 00:18:54.500 or look forward to 00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:56.460 from Abraham's perspective 00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:58.160 if God is to 00:18:58.160 --> 00:18:59.060 be faithful 00:18:59.060 --> 00:19:00.460 and keep his promise. 00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:02.579 And then finally, 00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:03.360 there's the promise 00:19:03.360 --> 00:19:04.079 of the land. 00:19:05.259 --> 00:19:06.340 The promise 00:19:06.340 --> 00:19:07.360 of the land. 00:19:10.600 --> 00:19:11.799 This one seems 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:12.720 pretty obvious. 00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:14.400 Has God 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:15.559 kept this promise? 00:19:17.840 --> 00:19:18.380 Well, 00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:20.340 it remains to be seen. 00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:20.759 I mean, 00:19:20.840 --> 00:19:21.860 the land is supposed 00:19:21.860 --> 00:19:22.700 to be an everlasting 00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:23.940 possession for, 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:25.019 for Abraham 00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:26.140 and his offspring. 00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:28.420 They're in it right now. 00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:30.620 But if we're honest, 00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:32.300 all they've got 00:19:32.300 --> 00:19:33.160 is this little 00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:34.060 burial plot. 00:19:35.300 --> 00:19:36.320 That's a start. 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:37.180 That's something. 00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.440 But it's 00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:39.539 not even close 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:40.259 to the whole 00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:41.900 of what was promised. 00:19:44.220 --> 00:19:45.259 When Abraham 00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:46.340 initially arrived 00:19:46.340 --> 00:19:46.920 in the land, 00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:48.600 this is what 00:19:48.600 --> 00:19:49.300 God said, 00:19:49.400 --> 00:19:50.300 to your offspring 00:19:50.300 --> 00:19:51.460 I will give this land. 00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:52.680 And so in one sense, 00:19:53.320 --> 00:19:53.600 yeah, 00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:54.340 this remains 00:19:54.340 --> 00:19:55.519 to be seen. 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.340 How will God 00:19:56.340 --> 00:19:56.940 do this? 00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:58.700 But then in all, 00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:00.519 most of the other times 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:01.279 that God speaks 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:01.960 of this promise, 00:20:02.080 --> 00:20:03.019 this is what he says 00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:04.400 in Genesis 13, 00:20:04.460 --> 00:20:05.160 verse 15. 00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:06.299 All the land 00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:07.039 that you see, 00:20:07.140 --> 00:20:08.120 talking to Abraham, 00:20:08.299 --> 00:20:09.440 I will give to you 00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:12.320 and your offspring 00:20:12.320 --> 00:20:13.700 forever. 00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:15.880 Verse 17 00:20:15.880 --> 00:20:16.799 of the same chapter, 00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:17.740 walk through the length 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.460 and breadth of the land 00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:19.299 for I am giving it 00:20:19.299 --> 00:20:20.039 to you. 00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:22.519 Referring to Abraham. 00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:24.180 Again, 00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:25.279 in chapter 15, 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:26.420 verse 7, 00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:27.519 I am the Lord 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:28.160 who brought you 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:28.779 out of Ur 00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:29.579 of the Chaldeans 00:20:29.579 --> 00:20:30.599 to give you, 00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:32.139 referring to Abraham, 00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:33.139 this land, 00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:34.339 to take possession 00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:34.859 of it. 00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:38.019 And again, 00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:39.660 in chapter 17, 00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.299 verse 8, 00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:41.259 the whole land 00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:41.720 of Canaan 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.619 where you now reside 00:20:42.619 --> 00:20:43.139 as a foreigner, 00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:43.819 I will give 00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:44.660 as an everlasting 00:20:44.660 --> 00:20:45.279 possession 00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:46.660 to you, 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:49.220 Abraham, 00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:51.779 and your descendants 00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:53.039 after you. 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:55.559 So you've got to 00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:56.079 wonder, 00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:58.379 Abraham has got 00:20:58.379 --> 00:20:59.099 to be wondering, 00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:01.680 to me 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:03.279 or just 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:04.799 to my descendants? 00:21:05.339 --> 00:21:06.259 How does this 00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:07.319 work here? 00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:08.200 In fact, 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:08.819 we know he was 00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:09.480 thinking about it 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:10.279 because he says 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:11.700 that he was. 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.599 He asks the Lord 00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:13.159 about this 00:21:13.159 --> 00:21:14.079 in chapter 15, 00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:14.740 verse 8. 00:21:15.539 --> 00:21:16.399 This was the time 00:21:16.399 --> 00:21:18.079 when God made 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:18.460 a covenant 00:21:18.460 --> 00:21:19.139 with Abraham. 00:21:19.140 --> 00:21:19.220 Abraham. 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:20.640 He said, 00:21:20.780 --> 00:21:21.360 Sovereign Lord, 00:21:21.560 --> 00:21:23.120 how can I know 00:21:23.120 --> 00:21:25.020 that I will 00:21:25.020 --> 00:21:25.900 gain possession 00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:26.380 of it? 00:21:28.660 --> 00:21:29.259 I mean, 00:21:29.300 --> 00:21:30.240 think about this. 00:21:30.520 --> 00:21:31.160 I'm going to 00:21:31.160 --> 00:21:31.820 give this land 00:21:31.820 --> 00:21:32.360 to you. 00:21:32.580 --> 00:21:33.420 And he looks 00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:34.080 around and he 00:21:34.080 --> 00:21:34.860 sees this land 00:21:34.860 --> 00:21:35.480 is occupied. 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:37.500 It's full of 00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:37.940 people. 00:21:38.520 --> 00:21:39.440 And they've been 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:40.200 here for a long 00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:40.580 time. 00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:41.040 They've got 00:21:41.040 --> 00:21:42.340 fortified cities. 00:21:42.520 --> 00:21:43.360 There's kings 00:21:43.360 --> 00:21:44.000 in this land. 00:21:44.080 --> 00:21:45.020 They have armies, 00:21:45.560 --> 00:21:46.020 militia. 00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:48.819 How is God 00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:49.400 going to do 00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:52.240 this to me? 00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:56.000 What does the 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:56.980 Lord say in 00:21:56.980 --> 00:21:57.480 response? 00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:58.279 Well, he says, 00:21:58.359 --> 00:21:58.920 let's make a 00:21:58.920 --> 00:21:59.220 covenant. 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.379 There's your 00:22:00.379 --> 00:22:00.799 proof. 00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:01.279 There's your 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:01.960 guarantee that 00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:02.639 it will happen. 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:03.960 And then the 00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:04.660 Lord gives this 00:22:04.660 --> 00:22:05.460 word in the 00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:06.019 midst of this 00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:06.839 covenant ceremony, 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:08.160 which we read 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:08.879 earlier, but I'll 00:22:08.879 --> 00:22:09.539 read it again. 00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:10.980 He says, 00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:11.819 Know for certain 00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:12.920 that for 400 00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:14.180 years your 00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:14.859 descendants will 00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:15.500 be strangers 00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:16.599 in a country 00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:17.400 not their own 00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:17.839 and that they 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:18.839 will be enslaved 00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:19.880 and mistreated 00:22:19.880 --> 00:22:20.259 there. 00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:21.740 But I will 00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.339 punish the 00:22:22.339 --> 00:22:22.880 nation they 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:23.339 serve as 00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:24.460 slaves and 00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:25.180 afterward they 00:22:25.180 --> 00:22:25.680 will come out 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.140 with great 00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:26.619 possessions. 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:28.339 You, however, 00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:28.940 will go to 00:22:28.940 --> 00:22:29.660 your ancestors 00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:31.279 in peace and 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:31.960 be buried at 00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:32.460 a good old 00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:32.859 age. 00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:34.200 In the fourth 00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:34.819 generation, 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:35.819 your descendants 00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:36.660 will come back 00:22:36.660 --> 00:22:38.220 here for the 00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:39.039 sin of the 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:40.200 Amorites has 00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:41.279 not yet reached 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.279 its full 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:42.660 measure. 00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:45.300 And we 00:22:45.300 --> 00:22:45.980 imagine that 00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:46.660 Abraham is 00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:47.480 probably wondering, 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:49.460 so what is 00:22:49.460 --> 00:22:49.740 it? 00:22:50.580 --> 00:22:51.779 Am I going to 00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.660 possess this 00:22:52.660 --> 00:22:54.460 land myself? 00:22:54.800 --> 00:22:55.860 It doesn't seem 00:22:55.860 --> 00:22:56.840 like it from this. 00:22:56.920 --> 00:22:57.860 It seems that it's 00:22:57.860 --> 00:22:58.480 going to be my 00:22:58.480 --> 00:22:59.400 descendants that 00:22:59.400 --> 00:23:00.279 will possess it 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:01.600 and not for quite 00:23:01.600 --> 00:23:02.080 a while. 00:23:02.860 --> 00:23:03.759 400 years. 00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:04.480 The Amorites are 00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:05.360 going to stay in 00:23:05.360 --> 00:23:06.220 the land until 00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:07.920 their sins pile up 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:08.640 to the measure 00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:10.780 and it'll be 00:23:10.780 --> 00:23:11.860 400 years. 00:23:12.060 --> 00:23:15.300 But Lord, you 00:23:15.300 --> 00:23:17.920 said to me, you 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:18.460 would give this 00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:18.820 land. 00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:20.280 Did you only 00:23:20.280 --> 00:23:21.120 really mean to 00:23:21.120 --> 00:23:22.620 my descendants, to 00:23:22.620 --> 00:23:23.220 my offspring? 00:23:23.560 --> 00:23:24.300 Are they going to 00:23:24.300 --> 00:23:25.220 kind of receive it 00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:26.360 on my behalf? 00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:31.560 Did God keep this 00:23:31.560 --> 00:23:32.300 promise? 00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:34.680 it seems like he 00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.879 started to by the 00:23:35.879 --> 00:23:36.119 end. 00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:36.779 He's got this 00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:38.359 field now, this 00:23:38.359 --> 00:23:39.099 burial plot. 00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:42.119 But is that it? 00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:45.119 We're kind of 00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:47.279 left to wonder, did 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:48.419 God fail to keep 00:23:48.419 --> 00:23:49.500 this promise to 00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:49.899 Abraham? 00:23:52.159 --> 00:23:52.919 It's at this 00:23:52.919 --> 00:23:53.559 point that we're 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:54.139 going to flip to 00:23:54.139 --> 00:23:54.899 the New Testament, 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.879 book of Hebrews, 00:23:57.720 --> 00:23:58.740 chapter 11. 00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:00.919 Thankfully, we're 00:24:00.919 --> 00:24:01.680 not left to just 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:02.180 try to figure 00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:02.759 this out for 00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:03.140 ourselves. 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:03.840 We actually have 00:24:03.840 --> 00:24:04.820 inspired commentary 00:24:04.820 --> 00:24:06.480 that points back 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.779 and helps us see a 00:24:07.779 --> 00:24:09.080 little bit of what's 00:24:09.080 --> 00:24:09.840 going on here. 00:24:11.120 --> 00:24:11.920 Hebrews, chapter 00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:12.380 11. 00:24:17.560 --> 00:24:18.420 The author of 00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:20.100 Hebrews is 00:24:20.100 --> 00:24:21.560 writing to Jewish 00:24:21.560 --> 00:24:22.299 believers to 00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:23.220 encourage them 00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:24.480 in their faith. 00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:25.380 And he's giving 00:24:25.380 --> 00:24:26.640 examples of people 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:27.160 who have 00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:28.740 demonstrated faith. 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:30.039 And Abraham is 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:30.580 one of them. 00:24:30.579 --> 00:24:32.119 And it's here that 00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:32.740 we learn some 00:24:32.740 --> 00:24:33.279 things about 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:34.579 Abraham and what 00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:35.139 we're meant to 00:24:35.139 --> 00:24:36.559 really take from 00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:38.099 Abraham and his 00:24:38.099 --> 00:24:38.759 life. 00:24:40.399 --> 00:24:40.740 Verse 8. 00:24:41.399 --> 00:24:43.159 By faith, Abraham, 00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:44.960 when called to go to 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:45.639 a place he would 00:24:45.639 --> 00:24:46.799 later receive as his 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:47.299 inheritance, 00:24:48.179 --> 00:24:49.659 obeyed and went, 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:51.000 even though he did 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:52.419 not know where he 00:24:52.419 --> 00:24:52.939 was going. 00:24:52.940 --> 00:24:55.820 that's interesting. 00:24:56.360 --> 00:24:56.860 You hear those 00:24:56.860 --> 00:24:57.259 words? 00:24:58.420 --> 00:24:59.240 A place he would 00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:00.440 later receive as his 00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:00.920 inheritance. 00:25:03.100 --> 00:25:04.220 Was that a mistake? 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:06.740 You mean he didn't 00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:07.360 receive it? 00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:08.320 He died. 00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:09.980 He got the burial 00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:10.380 plot. 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:11.019 What do you mean a 00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:11.820 place he would later 00:25:11.820 --> 00:25:12.660 receive as his 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:13.080 inheritance? 00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:16.019 Let's keep going. 00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:17.700 Verse 9. 00:25:17.700 --> 00:25:20.660 By faith, Abraham 00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:22.940 made his home in 00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:23.920 the promised land 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:25.940 like a stranger in 00:25:25.940 --> 00:25:26.819 a foreign country. 00:25:27.559 --> 00:25:28.799 He lived in tents 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:31.059 as did Isaac and 00:25:31.059 --> 00:25:32.539 Jacob who were 00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:33.360 heirs with him of 00:25:33.360 --> 00:25:34.360 the same promise. 00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:35.680 For he was looking 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:36.900 forward to the city 00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:38.059 with foundations 00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:40.559 whose architect and 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:42.019 builder is God. 00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:43.940 the author of 00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:44.960 Hebrews is putting 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:45.960 the emphasis here 00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:47.559 on faith. 00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.680 That's what he 00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:49.619 wants us to see 00:25:49.619 --> 00:25:50.700 of Abraham. 00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:51.879 His faith. 00:25:52.660 --> 00:25:54.299 By faith, he did 00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:54.920 this. 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:57.139 And what did he do? 00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:59.099 He made his home 00:25:59.099 --> 00:26:00.160 in the promised 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:00.519 land. 00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:01.660 Literally, he lived 00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:03.379 among the people 00:26:03.379 --> 00:26:04.160 of the promised 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:05.720 land and he did 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.700 it as a stranger 00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:08.099 in a foreign 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:08.579 country. 00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:11.240 He lived in 00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:11.700 tents. 00:26:12.019 --> 00:26:14.819 But he was 00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:15.460 looking forward 00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:16.319 to the city 00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:17.539 with foundations 00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:18.619 whose architect 00:26:18.619 --> 00:26:19.799 and builder 00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:20.619 is God. 00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:21.480 What is the 00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.259 author of Hebrews 00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:23.559 saying here? 00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:25.180 He seems to be 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:26.099 contrasting the 00:26:26.099 --> 00:26:27.200 whole tents 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:28.960 and foreigner 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:30.879 with city. 00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:32.379 And if you think 00:26:32.379 --> 00:26:33.019 about it, it 00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:33.700 makes sense. 00:26:33.799 --> 00:26:34.339 A tent is 00:26:34.339 --> 00:26:36.279 a temporary 00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:36.879 thing. 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:38.639 It's not a 00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:39.079 permanent 00:26:39.079 --> 00:26:40.440 dwelling. 00:26:40.440 --> 00:26:42.600 I mean, Abraham, 00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:43.680 this is not a 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:44.580 perfect analogy, 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:46.320 but Abraham is 00:26:46.320 --> 00:26:47.200 like a guy who 00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:48.299 brought his camper 00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:49.160 into the Davidson 00:26:49.160 --> 00:26:50.240 campground and has 00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:50.960 been living there 00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:53.220 for half a 00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:53.700 lifetime. 00:26:54.860 --> 00:26:55.920 There's a sense 00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:56.840 of this is 00:26:56.840 --> 00:26:57.299 temporary. 00:26:57.600 --> 00:26:58.320 This is not a 00:26:58.320 --> 00:26:59.340 permanent kind 00:26:59.340 --> 00:26:59.920 of dwelling. 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:00.019 thing. 00:27:02.320 --> 00:27:03.700 Why did Abraham 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:04.820 pitch his tent 00:27:04.820 --> 00:27:06.380 in this country 00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:07.259 in which he was a 00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:07.880 foreigner and a 00:27:07.880 --> 00:27:08.279 stranger? 00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:10.759 That's the author 00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:11.740 of Hebrews point 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:14.240 by faith because he 00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:15.700 believed the promise 00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:17.600 of God, which was I 00:27:17.600 --> 00:27:18.740 will give this land to 00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:20.220 you and to your 00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:20.640 offspring. 00:27:20.640 --> 00:27:23.200 God said it. 00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:24.660 I believe it. 00:27:24.720 --> 00:27:25.500 And so I'm going to 00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:27.160 pitch my tent here. 00:27:28.920 --> 00:27:30.180 It's not comfortable 00:27:30.180 --> 00:27:31.520 to be a foreigner, 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:33.960 a stranger, to be the 00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:35.160 one that doesn't speak 00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:37.220 the native tongue, all 00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:38.080 that's involved with 00:27:38.080 --> 00:27:39.320 that, to be the guy who 00:27:39.320 --> 00:27:40.920 worships Yahweh and not 00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:42.340 Baal and these other 00:27:42.340 --> 00:27:44.420 gods who stands out like 00:27:44.420 --> 00:27:45.259 a sore thumb. 00:27:46.540 --> 00:27:47.920 But he pitched his tent 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:49.660 there because God gave 00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:51.540 him that promise and 00:27:51.540 --> 00:27:52.440 he believed it that 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:55.180 one day this will be 00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:56.500 my everlasting 00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:58.740 possession, this land. 00:28:00.860 --> 00:28:02.040 The author of Hebrews 00:28:02.040 --> 00:28:03.060 says he was looking 00:28:03.060 --> 00:28:05.000 forward to the city 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:07.320 who's a city with 00:28:07.320 --> 00:28:09.580 foundations, whose 00:28:09.580 --> 00:28:10.700 architect and builder 00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:11.300 is God. 00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:12.259 And I think what we're 00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:13.440 meant to take from 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:14.940 that is that Abraham 00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:16.519 was in faith. 00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:17.880 He heard the promise 00:28:17.880 --> 00:28:18.840 of God and he looked 00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:19.659 at the land around 00:28:19.659 --> 00:28:20.279 him and thought, 00:28:20.379 --> 00:28:21.539 look at all those 00:28:21.539 --> 00:28:21.939 cities. 00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:25.899 One day I'm going to 00:28:25.899 --> 00:28:27.419 live in the city. 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:29.919 I'm going to be the 00:28:29.919 --> 00:28:30.699 one who has the 00:28:30.699 --> 00:28:32.019 permanent dwelling 00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:33.299 situation here. 00:28:33.379 --> 00:28:34.119 This will be my 00:28:34.119 --> 00:28:36.159 homeland and the 00:28:36.159 --> 00:28:37.019 homeland of my 00:28:37.019 --> 00:28:37.539 descendants. 00:28:40.139 --> 00:28:41.079 But how is this 00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:41.699 going to happen? 00:28:43.679 --> 00:28:44.919 These cities are 00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:46.500 already occupied by 00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.240 other people. 00:28:48.800 --> 00:28:50.039 I think it was very 00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:51.360 clear to Abraham that 00:28:51.360 --> 00:28:52.240 this was not something 00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:52.960 he could just bring 00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:53.920 about for himself. 00:28:55.080 --> 00:28:56.440 No, if he was to 00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:58.120 live in a city, a 00:28:58.120 --> 00:28:59.360 permanent established 00:28:59.360 --> 00:29:01.720 dwelling place in this 00:29:01.720 --> 00:29:03.660 good land, it would be 00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:04.620 God who would have to 00:29:04.620 --> 00:29:05.300 bring that about. 00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:08.539 That's what I think is 00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:09.680 meant when he says he 00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:10.860 was looking forward to 00:29:10.860 --> 00:29:12.380 the city with foundations 00:29:12.380 --> 00:29:13.720 whose architect and 00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:15.060 builder is God. 00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:16.120 He was looking for God 00:29:16.120 --> 00:29:16.680 to do it. 00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:18.860 He couldn't do that for 00:29:18.860 --> 00:29:19.340 himself. 00:29:21.840 --> 00:29:22.940 The author of Hebrews 00:29:22.940 --> 00:29:24.100 continues on in verse 00:29:24.100 --> 00:29:24.660 13. 00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:27.700 After talking about 00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:30.340 Abraham and Sarah and 00:29:30.340 --> 00:29:32.020 the son, the 00:29:32.020 --> 00:29:33.340 offspring, he comes 00:29:33.340 --> 00:29:34.400 down in verse 13. 00:29:34.520 --> 00:29:35.480 He says, all these 00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:37.740 people were still 00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:39.460 living by faith when 00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:40.019 they died. 00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:42.120 All these people 00:29:42.120 --> 00:29:43.660 refers to Abraham, 00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:44.819 Isaac, and Jacob, who 00:29:44.819 --> 00:29:45.620 he mentioned in verse 00:29:45.620 --> 00:29:47.420 nine, and perhaps more, 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:48.319 but at the very least 00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:49.319 those ones, they were 00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:50.799 still living by faith 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:51.840 when they died. 00:29:51.840 --> 00:29:52.920 Right up to the day 00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:55.400 that Abraham died, he 00:29:55.400 --> 00:29:56.620 was trusting that the 00:29:56.620 --> 00:29:57.980 Lord would do the very 00:29:57.980 --> 00:29:59.740 things that he had 00:29:59.740 --> 00:30:00.220 promised. 00:30:00.600 --> 00:30:01.860 And here's the amazing 00:30:01.860 --> 00:30:03.079 statement which follows. 00:30:03.980 --> 00:30:05.860 They did not receive 00:30:05.860 --> 00:30:07.819 the things promised. 00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:10.439 You hear that? 00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:13.879 Abraham did not receive 00:30:13.879 --> 00:30:14.839 the things promised. 00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:15.700 Well, we looked at the 00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:16.639 promises and we saw 00:30:16.639 --> 00:30:17.439 that some of the things 00:30:17.439 --> 00:30:18.579 he already did receive. 00:30:19.419 --> 00:30:20.279 And so he's not 00:30:20.279 --> 00:30:21.159 talking about that. 00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:22.039 He's talking about the 00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:23.039 things that he didn't. 00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:25.240 And in this context, 00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:26.139 he's talking very 00:30:26.139 --> 00:30:27.220 specifically about the 00:30:27.220 --> 00:30:27.659 land. 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:30.299 Back up in verse 00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:32.299 eight, a place that he 00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:33.379 would later receive as 00:30:33.379 --> 00:30:34.079 his inheritance. 00:30:34.399 --> 00:30:35.079 There's been all this 00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:37.419 reference to him as a 00:30:37.420 --> 00:30:38.860 stranger in the 00:30:38.860 --> 00:30:40.519 promised land, living 00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:41.700 in a tent rather than 00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:43.960 in a city, a permanent 00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:44.500 dwelling. 00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:48.360 He did not receive the 00:30:48.360 --> 00:30:48.660 land. 00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:49.840 And that's what we saw 00:30:49.840 --> 00:30:50.460 as we looked at 00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:50.860 Genesis. 00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:52.500 I'm going to give you 00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:53.580 this land, Abraham. 00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:56.640 Did he receive it? 00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:57.640 Abraham. 00:30:57.640 --> 00:30:59.240 The author of Hebrews 00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:01.220 helps us to just admit, 00:31:01.800 --> 00:31:04.060 no, he didn't. 00:31:04.360 --> 00:31:05.580 He got a little piece. 00:31:06.640 --> 00:31:07.680 And that's it. 00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:12.259 But even though he 00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:13.680 acknowledges that Abraham 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:15.820 did not receive the things 00:31:15.820 --> 00:31:18.560 promised, at the same 00:31:18.560 --> 00:31:19.600 time, and back up in 00:31:19.600 --> 00:31:21.060 verse eight, he says a land, 00:31:21.180 --> 00:31:22.380 a place he would later 00:31:22.380 --> 00:31:23.320 receive as his 00:31:23.320 --> 00:31:23.780 inheritance. 00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:26.519 How does that work? 00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:29.639 How can you not receive 00:31:29.639 --> 00:31:31.460 it and yet later receive 00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:31.720 it? 00:31:33.180 --> 00:31:34.319 What's going on here? 00:31:37.319 --> 00:31:38.440 Let's continue on in 00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:39.740 verse 13 and see what the 00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:40.779 author of Hebrews says. 00:31:40.839 --> 00:31:42.980 He says, they did not 00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:43.779 receive the things 00:31:43.779 --> 00:31:44.299 promised. 00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:46.899 They only saw them and 00:31:46.899 --> 00:31:48.259 welcomed them from a 00:31:48.259 --> 00:31:48.779 distance. 00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:51.579 Admitting that they were 00:31:51.579 --> 00:31:53.740 foreigners and strangers on 00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.019 earth. 00:31:56.120 --> 00:31:58.000 Again here, the author of 00:31:58.000 --> 00:31:59.039 Hebrews is making the 00:31:59.039 --> 00:32:00.579 point that they had 00:32:00.579 --> 00:32:01.160 faith. 00:32:01.859 --> 00:32:03.000 Even though they didn't 00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:05.279 see in the physical sense 00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:06.359 how this would all come 00:32:06.359 --> 00:32:08.240 about, how this land would 00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:10.180 be theirs, they saw 00:32:10.180 --> 00:32:11.640 through the eyes of faith 00:32:11.640 --> 00:32:12.940 that this would be the 00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:13.440 reality. 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:14.740 They trusted that the Lord 00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:16.000 would do exactly what he 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:16.480 promised. 00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:19.000 They welcomed it from a 00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:19.480 distance. 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:21.259 They knew it was for a 00:32:21.259 --> 00:32:22.619 future time. 00:32:24.299 --> 00:32:26.559 For the present, in verse 00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:28.920 13, it says, admitting 00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:30.140 that they were foreigners 00:32:30.140 --> 00:32:31.519 and strangers. 00:32:32.640 --> 00:32:34.440 We just read that back in 00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:37.279 Abraham said to the Hittites, 00:32:37.420 --> 00:32:38.099 I'm a foreigner. 00:32:38.980 --> 00:32:41.119 I'm a stranger among you. 00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:43.059 He admitted that. 00:32:43.059 --> 00:32:46.960 What does all this mean? 00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:49.940 Verse 14, the author of 00:32:49.940 --> 00:32:50.839 Hebrews is going to make 00:32:50.839 --> 00:32:51.319 the point. 00:32:51.559 --> 00:32:52.480 He's going to draw the 00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:53.319 parallel. 00:32:54.379 --> 00:32:55.740 He says, people who say 00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:58.200 such things show that 00:32:58.200 --> 00:32:59.919 they are looking for a 00:32:59.919 --> 00:33:01.139 country of their own. 00:33:02.339 --> 00:33:03.619 If they had been thinking 00:33:03.619 --> 00:33:04.539 of the country they had 00:33:04.539 --> 00:33:05.379 left, they would have had 00:33:05.379 --> 00:33:06.859 opportunity to return. 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:09.619 Instead, they were longing 00:33:09.619 --> 00:33:11.639 for a better country. 00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:14.979 So what's the lesson in 00:33:14.979 --> 00:33:15.339 all this? 00:33:15.419 --> 00:33:16.339 What's the principle? 00:33:17.779 --> 00:33:19.719 And I think that the author 00:33:19.719 --> 00:33:20.959 of Hebrews is trying to 00:33:20.959 --> 00:33:22.379 draw it out and make it 00:33:22.379 --> 00:33:22.659 clear. 00:33:23.659 --> 00:33:25.279 People who say such things, 00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:27.579 who admit that they are 00:33:27.579 --> 00:33:29.739 foreigners and stranger in 00:33:29.739 --> 00:33:32.539 the land, when God has 00:33:32.539 --> 00:33:33.799 promised that it will be 00:33:33.799 --> 00:33:36.799 their land, they show that 00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:38.059 they are looking for a 00:33:38.059 --> 00:33:39.039 country of their own. 00:33:40.679 --> 00:33:42.019 Literally, the word there 00:33:42.019 --> 00:33:43.339 in the original language is 00:33:43.339 --> 00:33:44.039 a homeland. 00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:46.339 A homeland. 00:33:46.980 --> 00:33:48.559 That's why Abraham stayed 00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:48.819 there. 00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:50.919 That's why he pitched his 00:33:50.919 --> 00:33:52.039 tent there, because he 00:33:52.039 --> 00:33:55.159 believed God's promise that 00:33:55.159 --> 00:33:58.480 this would be his homeland. 00:33:59.700 --> 00:34:01.159 That's what God promised. 00:34:01.500 --> 00:34:02.899 This land for an 00:34:02.899 --> 00:34:05.500 everlasting possession for 00:34:05.500 --> 00:34:06.639 you and your descendants. 00:34:08.059 --> 00:34:09.619 The author of Hebrews makes 00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:10.079 the point. 00:34:10.279 --> 00:34:11.980 If he was thinking of the 00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:13.460 homeland that he came from, 00:34:13.679 --> 00:34:16.360 Ur of the Chaldeans, he had 00:34:16.360 --> 00:34:17.880 opportunity to go back. 00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:20.420 But he didn't. 00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:23.000 And it was evidence of his 00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:23.440 faith. 00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:26.279 He pitched his tent here 00:34:26.279 --> 00:34:28.539 because God said, this is 00:34:28.539 --> 00:34:30.559 going to be your homeland 00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:31.400 someday. 00:34:31.400 --> 00:34:40.980 But notice how, let's maybe 00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:42.119 just finish that thought in 00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:42.840 verse 16. 00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:44.700 It says, instead of going 00:34:44.700 --> 00:34:47.539 back home to Ur of the 00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:50.119 Chaldeans, they were longing 00:34:50.119 --> 00:34:52.519 for a better homeland, a 00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:53.200 better country. 00:34:55.500 --> 00:34:56.900 That's why Abraham didn't 00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:57.260 leave. 00:34:57.260 --> 00:35:00.240 He knew what was back in Ur, 00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:01.920 but it didn't compare to 00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:04.260 what God had promised he 00:35:04.260 --> 00:35:06.920 would have here in this land. 00:35:08.080 --> 00:35:10.240 And so in faith, he stayed, 00:35:10.900 --> 00:35:12.640 even though he was a 00:35:12.640 --> 00:35:13.620 foreigner and a stranger. 00:35:17.700 --> 00:35:19.260 But as we read through this, we 00:35:19.260 --> 00:35:20.280 notice that there's a few 00:35:20.280 --> 00:35:21.560 things in here that kind of 00:35:21.560 --> 00:35:22.860 might maybe strike us as 00:35:22.860 --> 00:35:24.720 interesting here. 00:35:24.719 --> 00:35:26.399 verse 16. 00:35:26.480 --> 00:35:27.459 Instead, they were longing 00:35:27.459 --> 00:35:30.439 for a better homeland, a 00:35:30.439 --> 00:35:31.219 heavenly one. 00:35:33.159 --> 00:35:33.359 Hmm. 00:35:35.459 --> 00:35:37.239 Admitting in verse 13 that 00:35:37.239 --> 00:35:38.219 they were foreigners and 00:35:38.219 --> 00:35:39.480 strangers on earth. 00:35:41.659 --> 00:35:43.139 He was looking forward to the 00:35:43.139 --> 00:35:44.639 city with foundations whose 00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:46.319 architect and builder is God. 00:35:46.399 --> 00:35:47.480 And at this point, we almost 00:35:47.480 --> 00:35:49.079 wonder, is the author of 00:35:49.079 --> 00:35:51.179 Hebrews saying that Abraham was 00:35:51.179 --> 00:35:53.339 actually heavenly minded, that 00:35:53.340 --> 00:35:55.039 he was looking not for the 00:35:55.039 --> 00:35:57.079 land, but for heaven. 00:35:58.260 --> 00:36:00.180 Some people see that here. 00:36:00.220 --> 00:36:02.559 And if you see that here, I 00:36:02.559 --> 00:36:04.340 bless you in seeing it that 00:36:04.340 --> 00:36:04.620 way. 00:36:05.760 --> 00:36:06.900 That's a, it's a valid 00:36:06.900 --> 00:36:07.640 interpretation. 00:36:09.680 --> 00:36:11.039 It's tough when we go back to 00:36:11.039 --> 00:36:11.840 the story of Abraham. 00:36:12.019 --> 00:36:13.340 Is that what he was thinking? 00:36:14.240 --> 00:36:16.220 I mean, everlasting possession. 00:36:17.039 --> 00:36:19.039 He believed that Isaac could be 00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:20.079 raised from the dead. 00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:22.340 So, I mean, he, he, he believed 00:36:22.340 --> 00:36:23.639 that these kinds of things were 00:36:23.639 --> 00:36:25.380 possible, but was he thinking 00:36:25.380 --> 00:36:28.420 about heaven even back then? 00:36:31.299 --> 00:36:32.840 I think there's another way to 00:36:32.840 --> 00:36:33.420 read this. 00:36:35.219 --> 00:36:36.860 And I think it's really through the 00:36:36.860 --> 00:36:38.960 lens of the author of Hebrews, the 00:36:38.960 --> 00:36:40.420 point that he's trying to make. 00:36:40.420 --> 00:36:42.519 He's, he's drawing on Abraham's 00:36:42.519 --> 00:36:45.119 life as a, as an example for 00:36:45.119 --> 00:36:45.559 us. 00:36:46.599 --> 00:36:49.820 He's a model for us, not just 00:36:49.820 --> 00:36:51.579 him, but, but, but all the saints 00:36:51.579 --> 00:36:54.619 of old, Isaac and Jacob. 00:36:57.119 --> 00:36:58.400 They admitted that they were 00:36:58.400 --> 00:37:01.420 foreigners and strangers on earth. 00:37:02.639 --> 00:37:04.200 As it pertains to them, they 00:37:04.200 --> 00:37:05.340 admitted they were foreigners and 00:37:05.340 --> 00:37:08.280 strangers in the land, but he's 00:37:08.280 --> 00:37:09.460 drawing out the principle. 00:37:10.820 --> 00:37:13.560 People who say such things show 00:37:14.440 --> 00:37:16.420 that they are looking for a 00:37:16.420 --> 00:37:18.980 homeland of their own, a heavenly 00:37:18.980 --> 00:37:19.260 one. 00:37:19.320 --> 00:37:21.340 As it pertains to Abraham, he was 00:37:21.340 --> 00:37:23.580 looking for, for a homeland of his 00:37:23.580 --> 00:37:26.240 own here in Canaan, where he 00:37:26.240 --> 00:37:27.000 pitched his tent. 00:37:27.140 --> 00:37:28.800 That's the promise that God gave. 00:37:30.580 --> 00:37:32.740 And it was a heavenly one, I think, 00:37:32.800 --> 00:37:34.200 in the sense, not that it's, it's 00:37:34.200 --> 00:37:36.120 up in the stars, it's in the place 00:37:36.119 --> 00:37:38.199 of heaven, but that the only way 00:37:38.199 --> 00:37:39.940 this homeland would come to pass is 00:37:39.940 --> 00:37:42.900 by the promise and, and the work 00:37:42.900 --> 00:37:44.119 of the God of heaven. 00:37:46.239 --> 00:37:49.119 It was God's work to, to give him 00:37:49.119 --> 00:37:49.799 this home. 00:37:50.839 --> 00:37:53.019 Not that this place came from, from 00:37:53.019 --> 00:37:53.339 heaven. 00:37:55.579 --> 00:37:58.159 If he was to have this land, God 00:37:58.159 --> 00:37:59.359 would have to establish it. 00:37:59.400 --> 00:38:00.119 The God of heaven. 00:38:00.199 --> 00:38:01.420 I think that's what's meant by a 00:38:01.420 --> 00:38:02.099 heavenly one. 00:38:02.099 --> 00:38:04.039 As it pertains to Abraham. 00:38:04.519 --> 00:38:06.099 Did he admit that he was a 00:38:06.099 --> 00:38:07.219 stranger on earth? 00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:10.559 That heaven was actually his real 00:38:10.559 --> 00:38:10.860 home? 00:38:10.960 --> 00:38:13.039 I think that he admitted he was a 00:38:13.039 --> 00:38:15.599 stranger in the land that he was. 00:38:16.460 --> 00:38:19.279 But as the author of Hebrews kind of 00:38:19.279 --> 00:38:22.139 weaves this letter and points us to 00:38:22.139 --> 00:38:25.039 how we should think today and how 00:38:25.039 --> 00:38:27.579 generations of his people should 00:38:27.579 --> 00:38:30.779 think, I think he's steering us in a 00:38:30.780 --> 00:38:31.940 bit of a different direction. 00:38:32.080 --> 00:38:33.920 Abraham, he trusted the Lord's 00:38:33.920 --> 00:38:37.300 promise about the land, the land of 00:38:37.300 --> 00:38:37.680 Canaan. 00:38:39.420 --> 00:38:42.680 But as it pertains to us, there is 00:38:42.680 --> 00:38:45.240 something far greater that God is 00:38:45.240 --> 00:38:45.860 doing here. 00:38:48.120 --> 00:38:51.260 If we flip over on some, you might 00:38:51.260 --> 00:38:53.160 not, it might be on the same page to 00:38:53.160 --> 00:38:55.560 verse 39 and 40, we see some, some 00:38:55.560 --> 00:38:56.860 confirmation of this. 00:38:56.860 --> 00:38:59.880 These were all commended for their 00:38:59.880 --> 00:39:00.300 faith. 00:39:00.820 --> 00:39:02.840 He goes through the whole, picks up 00:39:02.840 --> 00:39:03.460 the whole list. 00:39:03.559 --> 00:39:04.680 All of these people, they were 00:39:04.680 --> 00:39:06.920 commended for their faith, yet none 00:39:06.920 --> 00:39:09.000 of them received what had been 00:39:09.000 --> 00:39:09.500 promised. 00:39:11.000 --> 00:39:12.760 Since God had planned something 00:39:12.760 --> 00:39:15.440 better for us, so that only together 00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:18.800 with us would they be made perfect. 00:39:18.800 --> 00:39:22.180 So Abraham was promised the land. 00:39:22.980 --> 00:39:24.240 The author of Hebrews tells us he 00:39:24.240 --> 00:39:28.900 didn't receive it before he died, but 00:39:28.900 --> 00:39:30.060 he will receive it. 00:39:31.460 --> 00:39:34.680 Only together with us, with the 00:39:34.680 --> 00:39:38.120 larger people of God throughout the 00:39:38.120 --> 00:39:38.580 ages. 00:39:38.740 --> 00:39:41.900 God has had a bigger plan right from 00:39:41.900 --> 00:39:42.500 the beginning. 00:39:42.740 --> 00:39:45.740 He's going to bring it all together for 00:39:45.740 --> 00:39:47.280 all the children of Abraham. 00:39:47.280 --> 00:39:49.900 And I think that's why the author 00:39:49.900 --> 00:39:51.740 Hebrews puts in these words, admitting 00:39:51.740 --> 00:39:52.880 that they were foreigners and 00:39:52.880 --> 00:39:56.019 strangers on earth, longing for a 00:39:56.019 --> 00:39:57.820 better country, a heavenly one. 00:39:58.880 --> 00:40:01.140 At the end of 16, God is not ashamed 00:40:01.140 --> 00:40:03.060 to be called their God for he has 00:40:03.060 --> 00:40:04.460 prepared a city for them. 00:40:04.660 --> 00:40:07.380 They're not going to miss out because 00:40:07.380 --> 00:40:08.040 they died. 00:40:09.580 --> 00:40:12.500 Abraham will receive his inheritance. 00:40:12.500 --> 00:40:17.260 He will receive a city, a permanent 00:40:17.260 --> 00:40:19.019 dwelling to live in as an everlasting 00:40:19.019 --> 00:40:19.860 possession. 00:40:20.440 --> 00:40:21.679 He and his descendants. 00:40:23.719 --> 00:40:25.840 But God's plan was that it would come 00:40:25.840 --> 00:40:28.900 at the end, that it would come later 00:40:28.900 --> 00:40:32.119 together when all of the children of 00:40:32.119 --> 00:40:34.800 Abraham together would receive it. 00:40:34.800 --> 00:40:40.620 It will be a heavenly homeland, a 00:40:40.620 --> 00:40:42.700 homeland that God establishes for all 00:40:42.700 --> 00:40:43.340 his people. 00:40:44.039 --> 00:40:46.100 The God of heaven brings it. 00:40:46.140 --> 00:40:47.720 It will be the city, the permanent 00:40:47.720 --> 00:40:50.620 dwelling that God builds and establishes 00:40:50.620 --> 00:40:51.480 for his people. 00:40:51.740 --> 00:40:53.760 And the author of Hebrews goes on in 00:40:53.760 --> 00:40:55.539 this book to really steer us in that 00:40:55.539 --> 00:40:56.019 direction. 00:40:56.600 --> 00:40:58.260 Chapter 12, verse 22. 00:40:58.800 --> 00:41:00.920 You have come to Mount Zion, to the 00:41:00.920 --> 00:41:04.000 city of the living God, the heavenly 00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:04.800 Jerusalem. 00:41:07.300 --> 00:41:10.860 Not the city of the earth that comes 00:41:10.860 --> 00:41:12.900 from earth, but the city that comes 00:41:12.900 --> 00:41:14.340 from heaven. 00:41:14.820 --> 00:41:17.400 You can picture that that moment that 00:41:17.400 --> 00:41:20.739 John sees in his revelation, the new 00:41:20.739 --> 00:41:23.039 Jerusalem descending down from heaven. 00:41:25.039 --> 00:41:27.480 What is what is the author of Hebrews 00:41:27.480 --> 00:41:28.780 saying here? 00:41:29.659 --> 00:41:32.579 His point is this to the Hebrews 00:41:32.579 --> 00:41:34.079 specifically who are going through 00:41:34.079 --> 00:41:35.480 persecution and suffering. 00:41:36.619 --> 00:41:40.579 He's saying, hold on to the promises 00:41:40.579 --> 00:41:43.679 that God has given by faith. 00:41:44.059 --> 00:41:46.799 Hang on to them just like Abraham hung 00:41:46.799 --> 00:41:48.519 on to them to the day he died. 00:41:48.519 --> 00:41:51.000 Even though he didn't get what was 00:41:51.000 --> 00:41:54.880 promised, all of it in his lifetime, he 00:41:54.880 --> 00:41:55.219 will. 00:41:55.719 --> 00:41:56.739 We all will. 00:41:57.440 --> 00:41:59.300 God is going to bring that day. 00:42:00.599 --> 00:42:03.840 When he, when, when he will build this, 00:42:03.960 --> 00:42:07.320 this homeland, this place for all of his 00:42:07.320 --> 00:42:08.179 people to dwell. 00:42:08.380 --> 00:42:09.219 It's coming. 00:42:12.619 --> 00:42:15.280 Abraham had troubles, difficulties that he 00:42:15.280 --> 00:42:16.480 went through in his life. 00:42:16.480 --> 00:42:19.840 We have troubles and difficulties that we 00:42:19.840 --> 00:42:21.039 go through in our life. 00:42:23.320 --> 00:42:26.500 And yet Abraham chose to stick, stick it 00:42:26.500 --> 00:42:28.940 out, to plant his, to pitch his tent here 00:42:28.940 --> 00:42:31.159 because this is what the Lord promised. 00:42:32.740 --> 00:42:34.360 We have promises too. 00:42:34.900 --> 00:42:37.360 In fact, we have the same promises as we've 00:42:37.360 --> 00:42:38.519 talked about in this series. 00:42:39.519 --> 00:42:41.780 Who are the children of the promise? 00:42:41.780 --> 00:42:43.420 The children of Abraham. 00:42:43.920 --> 00:42:46.720 They are those who have faith in Jesus 00:42:46.720 --> 00:42:49.480 Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, slave or 00:42:49.480 --> 00:42:51.800 free, male or female. 00:42:53.320 --> 00:42:54.600 Hold on to them. 00:42:55.420 --> 00:42:57.400 Don't give up on them. 00:42:57.740 --> 00:42:59.000 Hold them right to the end. 00:43:00.220 --> 00:43:01.880 God is planning something wonderful. 00:43:02.580 --> 00:43:06.000 A time in which he will keep all of the 00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:06.460 promises. 00:43:06.460 --> 00:43:10.300 From the very beginning to the very end. 00:43:11.019 --> 00:43:13.240 He has something prepared for us. 00:43:13.300 --> 00:43:14.079 Something special. 00:43:14.240 --> 00:43:14.760 A city. 00:43:15.519 --> 00:43:17.159 A permanent dwelling. 00:43:19.639 --> 00:43:23.220 For now, we live in a world that just like 00:43:23.220 --> 00:43:25.320 Abraham doesn't feel like home. 00:43:25.320 --> 00:43:29.900 We feel at times as though we're strangers. 00:43:29.900 --> 00:43:30.780 We're foreigners. 00:43:30.960 --> 00:43:32.500 We stick out like a sore thumb. 00:43:33.440 --> 00:43:36.320 People may ridicule us or mock us for our 00:43:36.320 --> 00:43:36.700 faith. 00:43:38.400 --> 00:43:40.860 Things may not be prospering along as well 00:43:40.860 --> 00:43:41.580 as we hoped. 00:43:41.960 --> 00:43:42.960 There's brokenness. 00:43:43.059 --> 00:43:45.280 There's all kinds of problems in our world. 00:43:46.180 --> 00:43:49.780 But one day when Jesus returns, it won't 00:43:49.780 --> 00:43:50.440 be that way. 00:43:51.620 --> 00:43:53.400 He will make all things new. 00:43:53.400 --> 00:43:56.700 He will make the world that we live in new. 00:43:58.519 --> 00:43:59.880 And it will be our home. 00:44:03.000 --> 00:44:05.800 Where righteousness will dwell forever. 00:44:08.160 --> 00:44:09.740 We look forward to that day. 00:44:11.160 --> 00:44:11.860 Let's pray. 00:44:16.860 --> 00:44:18.539 Lord Jesus, we thank you. 00:44:18.539 --> 00:44:33.420 Lord, you're coming soon. 00:44:33.420 --> 00:44:34.139 Lord, you're coming soon. 00:44:34.139 --> 00:44:36.139 Lord, you're coming soon. 00:44:36.139 --> 00:44:37.880 We ask that you would strengthen us in our 00:44:37.880 --> 00:44:41.440 faith in you and help us to hold on to those 00:44:41.440 --> 00:44:42.940 promises that you've given us. 00:44:43.079 --> 00:44:45.400 Lord, you're coming soon. 00:44:45.400 --> 00:44:47.340 We trust that. 00:44:47.480 --> 00:44:48.260 We believe that. 00:44:49.780 --> 00:44:54.139 We want to make that known, that hope that we 00:44:54.139 --> 00:44:56.039 have to the people in this community here in 00:44:56.039 --> 00:44:56.420 Davidson. 00:44:57.619 --> 00:44:58.760 And so help us. 00:44:59.000 --> 00:44:59.680 Strengthen us. 00:44:59.860 --> 00:45:02.480 Teach us to trust you just as you taught Abraham 00:45:02.480 --> 00:45:03.300 to trust you. 00:45:04.760 --> 00:45:06.240 Teach us to live by faith. 00:45:08.119 --> 00:45:09.559 We ask this in Christ's name. 00:45:10.220 --> 00:45:10.440 Amen. 00:45:10.440 --> 00:45:10.579 Amen. 00:45:10.579 --> 00:45:10.619 Amen. 00:45:10.619 --> 00:45:10.660 Amen. 00:45:10.660 --> 00:45:10.700 Amen. 00:45:15.400 --> 00:45:16.400 Amen.