WEBVTT 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:09.540 Well, last Sunday we left off the story of Abraham, and as we left him, he was, we imagine, 00:00:09.960 --> 00:00:16.820 lying on his back in the field, looking up into the night sky, counting the stars. 00:00:18.240 --> 00:00:22.219 God had made a wonderful promise to him that he would have numerous descendants. 00:00:22.420 --> 00:00:28.140 He made a covenant with him that day, and Moses tells us in Genesis, back in chapter 00:00:28.140 --> 00:00:30.199 15, that Abraham believed. 00:00:33.560 --> 00:00:40.260 But the passage of time has a way of doing a number on our faith. 00:00:41.960 --> 00:00:47.620 And even though Abraham has been given new details about how these promises will be fulfilled 00:00:47.620 --> 00:00:55.240 and tangible symbols of God's assurance, doubt begins to creep in again. 00:00:55.240 --> 00:01:01.260 This time, through the back door of his own household. 00:01:01.259 --> 00:01:09.159 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. 00:01:10.299 --> 00:01:13.099 But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar. 00:01:14.439 --> 00:01:16.099 So she said to Abram, 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:19.680 The Lord has kept me from having children. 00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:23.359 Go, sleep with my slave. 00:01:24.680 --> 00:01:27.640 Perhaps I can build a family through her. 00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:31.500 Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 00:01:32.579 --> 00:01:38.159 So after Abram had been living in Canaan 10 years, Sarai, his wife, took her Egyptian slave 00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:41.280 Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:44.200 He slept with Hagar. 00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:46.480 And she conceived. 00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:50.980 When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 00:01:50.980 --> 00:01:54.120 Then Sarai said to Abraham, 00:01:54.359 --> 00:01:56.880 You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. 00:01:57.000 --> 00:02:01.280 I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she's pregnant, she despises me. 00:02:02.200 --> 00:02:05.219 May the Lord judge between you and me. 00:02:06.500 --> 00:02:09.719 Your slave is in your hands, Abram said. 00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:11.580 Do with her whatever you think best. 00:02:12.699 --> 00:02:15.360 Then Sarai mistreated Hagar. 00:02:16.759 --> 00:02:18.840 And the story goes on from there. 00:02:18.840 --> 00:02:24.780 It's been 10 years now since Abraham has entered the promised land. 00:02:26.319 --> 00:02:32.500 On three different occasions, the Lord has said that he would give Abraham offspring. 00:02:32.699 --> 00:02:34.900 And the last time, which we heard about last Sunday, 00:02:35.819 --> 00:02:39.680 he said that it will be a son of your own flesh and blood. 00:02:42.980 --> 00:02:44.920 But the time has passed by. 00:02:44.919 --> 00:02:47.379 And a little bit more time. 00:02:47.780 --> 00:02:49.039 And a little bit more time. 00:02:49.179 --> 00:02:53.279 And still, no sign of this promised child. 00:02:53.399 --> 00:02:54.239 This son. 00:02:55.719 --> 00:02:58.979 It's been 10 years now since they first arrived in Canaan. 00:03:00.179 --> 00:03:03.439 And they've tried and tried and tried. 00:03:04.060 --> 00:03:06.159 Sarai is now 75 years old. 00:03:07.279 --> 00:03:10.179 Menopause is long come and gone. 00:03:10.180 --> 00:03:13.960 And still, no children. 00:03:16.219 --> 00:03:20.360 Finally, we get the sense here that Sarah just can't take it anymore. 00:03:22.379 --> 00:03:27.560 She's done with hoping in this impossible situation. 00:03:27.760 --> 00:03:33.500 And so she comes up with a plan to kind of help God's promise come true. 00:03:33.500 --> 00:03:38.560 But even as she first speaks of her plan to her husband, Abraham, 00:03:38.659 --> 00:03:41.800 we can already tell that this is not a good thing. 00:03:42.659 --> 00:03:46.219 Notice the words that she uses as she speaks to Abraham. 00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:48.699 She says, 00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:52.860 The Lord has kept me from having children. 00:03:52.860 --> 00:03:58.720 Perhaps a little bit of frustration and bitterness there. 00:03:58.820 --> 00:04:05.420 She gives the Lord the credit or perhaps the blame for why she has not yet conceived. 00:04:08.920 --> 00:04:13.320 She gives Hagar, her maidservant, to Abraham. 00:04:15.720 --> 00:04:21.639 Notice those words she says right at the end there, verse 2. 00:04:22.860 --> 00:04:26.460 Perhaps I can build a family through her. 00:04:28.520 --> 00:04:35.439 It seems as though Sarah is done with anticipating and waiting for what God has promised to do. 00:04:35.540 --> 00:04:39.139 God has promised to build a family for Abraham. 00:04:39.139 --> 00:04:47.099 But the Lord, he's the one who has kept me from having children. 00:04:47.959 --> 00:04:56.379 Perhaps I can get the family that I desire for myself through this other way. 00:04:56.379 --> 00:05:03.740 And to all of our disappointment, Abraham agrees with her. 00:05:04.420 --> 00:05:07.699 This is the moment where we were hoping that Abraham would say, 00:05:08.259 --> 00:05:09.279 No, Sarah. 00:05:09.779 --> 00:05:12.540 I am yours and yours alone. 00:05:13.500 --> 00:05:16.439 God made a promise and he's going to keep it. 00:05:16.500 --> 00:05:18.879 And so we just need to keep waiting patiently. 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:22.680 But unfortunately, he doesn't say that. 00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:27.519 He agrees to go along with the plan. 00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:35.199 This whole episode is just dripping in how it's written with parallels to the Garden of Eden. 00:05:35.620 --> 00:05:39.319 To that moment when Adam and Eve blew it together. 00:05:39.319 --> 00:05:48.120 The writer, Moses, is signaling that what is happening here is not good. 00:05:49.699 --> 00:05:51.360 This was a bad decision. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:56.539 And we're not going to read the rest of the chapter, but we read a little bit of it there. 00:05:57.980 --> 00:05:59.860 The results of this decision? 00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:06.719 Heartache, pain, suffering, abuse, marital conflict. 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:10.940 The family, the sense we get is nearly torn apart. 00:06:14.620 --> 00:06:16.520 This was not a decision of faith. 00:06:18.440 --> 00:06:23.180 And at the end of it all, Hagar does bear a son for Abram. 00:06:23.400 --> 00:06:27.600 And technically, he is Abram's flesh and blood. 00:06:29.080 --> 00:06:31.520 But is this how the Lord meant for it to go? 00:06:31.519 --> 00:06:36.699 The way that this whole story is framed by Moses tells us no. 00:06:39.699 --> 00:06:41.459 Chapter 17. 00:06:43.859 --> 00:06:50.819 When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him. 00:06:53.259 --> 00:06:55.579 13 years later. 00:06:55.579 --> 00:07:02.719 Ishmael now is just entering into his teenage years. 00:07:04.719 --> 00:07:09.240 We can only imagine what this has been like for Abram. 00:07:09.919 --> 00:07:12.000 As a 99-year-old man. 00:07:13.399 --> 00:07:15.139 80 to 90-year-old man. 00:07:16.139 --> 00:07:18.060 And the Lord appears to him again. 00:07:18.060 --> 00:07:25.540 When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, 00:07:26.040 --> 00:07:27.620 I am God Almighty. 00:07:28.420 --> 00:07:30.319 Walk before me faithfully. 00:07:31.180 --> 00:07:32.399 And be blameless. 00:07:33.399 --> 00:07:36.720 Then I will make my covenant between me and you. 00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:39.439 And will greatly increase your numbers. 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:44.939 So the Lord appears to him again. 00:07:45.540 --> 00:07:49.519 And there's probably two things in there that I think, at least to me, 00:07:49.660 --> 00:07:50.860 kind of strike me as odd. 00:07:52.060 --> 00:07:54.379 With what the Lord says to him. 00:07:56.339 --> 00:08:00.259 For the first time in all of this, since the very beginning, 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:04.300 God is giving Abraham something to do. 00:08:04.300 --> 00:08:07.139 A command to obey. 00:08:09.220 --> 00:08:09.660 Requirements. 00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:13.340 Up until now, it's been, I will bless you. 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:13.980 Period. 00:08:14.139 --> 00:08:15.720 I will do all this for you. 00:08:16.020 --> 00:08:16.300 Period. 00:08:16.960 --> 00:08:19.720 He walked through the animal halves himself. 00:08:19.900 --> 00:08:22.680 I'm going to make sure I keep all of my promises to you. 00:08:22.980 --> 00:08:23.259 Period. 00:08:25.460 --> 00:08:28.660 And now suddenly, it seems that there's conditions. 00:08:29.379 --> 00:08:32.980 That the Lord expects something of Abraham. 00:08:32.980 --> 00:08:35.340 Walk before me faithfully. 00:08:35.620 --> 00:08:36.420 And be blameless. 00:08:37.940 --> 00:08:38.920 That's interesting. 00:08:39.159 --> 00:08:40.080 We'll come back to that. 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:44.779 The second thing that we notice is that the Lord seems to command these two things 00:08:44.779 --> 00:08:48.519 as a condition for making his covenant with Abraham. 00:08:48.860 --> 00:08:52.519 And then I will make my covenant with you. 00:08:52.800 --> 00:08:55.120 And right about now, we're probably all thinking, 00:08:55.279 --> 00:08:58.500 well, wasn't the covenant already made with Abraham over a decade ago? 00:08:59.620 --> 00:09:01.860 That's what we talked about last Sunday. 00:09:01.860 --> 00:09:07.200 How can the Lord now suddenly put conditions into it? 00:09:09.500 --> 00:09:13.639 The simple answer is, and it's going to come out as we read on, 00:09:13.700 --> 00:09:15.480 is that this is not a second covenant. 00:09:15.800 --> 00:09:17.060 This is an expansion. 00:09:17.539 --> 00:09:22.340 This is an official confirmation of that same covenant that's already been made. 00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:23.519 And we'll see that in a moment. 00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:26.799 So the Lord appears. 00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:33.600 He kind of gives these introductory statements, these commands, this promise. 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:34.720 He sets it up. 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:36.179 And then in verse 3, 00:09:36.179 --> 00:09:38.579 Abram fell face down. 00:09:39.620 --> 00:09:41.259 And God said to him, 00:09:42.219 --> 00:09:46.000 As for me, this is my covenant with you. 00:09:46.719 --> 00:09:49.539 You will be the father of many nations. 00:09:50.239 --> 00:09:52.739 No longer will you be called Abram. 00:09:53.139 --> 00:09:54.500 Your name will be Abraham, 00:09:54.899 --> 00:09:57.539 for I have made you a father of many nations. 00:09:57.539 --> 00:10:00.419 I will make you very fruitful. 00:10:01.019 --> 00:10:04.000 I will make nations of you. 00:10:04.659 --> 00:10:06.219 And kings will come from you. 00:10:06.860 --> 00:10:12.219 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you 00:10:12.219 --> 00:10:14.579 and your descendants after you. 00:10:14.679 --> 00:10:16.139 For the generations to come, 00:10:16.719 --> 00:10:20.419 to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:22.240 The whole land of Canaan, 00:10:22.379 --> 00:10:23.860 where you now reside as a foreigner, 00:10:23.860 --> 00:10:28.659 I will give you as an everlasting possession to you 00:10:28.659 --> 00:10:31.320 and your descendants after you. 00:10:31.960 --> 00:10:33.879 And I will be their God. 00:10:38.840 --> 00:10:42.240 So again, the Lord makes promises to Abraham. 00:10:43.060 --> 00:10:46.120 One of the first orders of business with this covenant, 00:10:46.300 --> 00:10:47.539 we're going to change your name. 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:50.279 No longer will you be called Abram. 00:10:50.340 --> 00:10:51.600 Now you're going to be called Abraham, 00:10:51.600 --> 00:10:54.200 which means father of a multitude. 00:10:56.060 --> 00:10:58.860 And here's the first of the big promises. 00:11:00.820 --> 00:11:04.639 I'm going to make you a father of nations, 00:11:04.940 --> 00:11:06.120 of many nations. 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:10.300 Way back when the Lord first spoke to Abraham, 00:11:10.440 --> 00:11:10.659 it was, 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:13.180 I will make you into a great nation. 00:11:13.300 --> 00:11:15.379 But now the Lord enlarges the promise. 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:18.620 I'm going to make you the father of nations, plural. 00:11:18.620 --> 00:11:21.500 Not just some, 00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:22.340 not just a few, 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:24.480 but a multitude of nations, 00:11:24.659 --> 00:11:25.820 many nations. 00:11:28.139 --> 00:11:28.580 Wow. 00:11:30.899 --> 00:11:32.120 The Lord goes on. 00:11:32.440 --> 00:11:35.039 I will make you very fruitful. 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:38.200 Kings will come from you. 00:11:39.580 --> 00:11:42.200 You see a lot of kings in the land right now? 00:11:42.980 --> 00:11:44.220 Just wait and see. 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:46.080 Kings will come from you. 00:11:46.200 --> 00:11:48.120 Some of your descendants will be them. 00:11:48.620 --> 00:11:51.120 And there's more. 00:11:52.259 --> 00:11:54.419 This covenant that I'm establishing with you, 00:11:54.840 --> 00:11:58.120 it will be an everlasting covenant, 00:11:58.620 --> 00:11:59.519 says the Lord, 00:11:59.659 --> 00:12:01.259 between me and you, 00:12:01.659 --> 00:12:04.700 and between me and your descendants after you. 00:12:05.980 --> 00:12:07.200 And speaking of everlasting, 00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:11.200 this land in which you're still living as a foreigner, 00:12:11.779 --> 00:12:12.980 23 years later, 00:12:12.980 --> 00:12:17.980 this land will be your everlasting possession. 00:12:17.980 --> 00:12:18.940 This land will be your everlasting possession. 00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:20.420 Permanent. 00:12:23.800 --> 00:12:26.420 And then after all these great promises, 00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:28.259 God makes the ultimate promise. 00:12:28.259 --> 00:12:31.759 He says in verse seven, 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:37.240 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you. 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:38.240 to be your God. 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:39.240 I will be your God. 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:41.080 To be your God. 00:12:42.200 --> 00:12:45.100 And the God of your descendants after you. 00:12:47.639 --> 00:12:49.500 And I will be their God. 00:12:49.560 --> 00:12:51.659 He says again in verse eight. 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:57.379 If all that God has promised up until now to Abraham isn't amazing and wonderful enough, 00:12:57.860 --> 00:13:02.519 God now promises this incredible thing, 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:04.659 to be their God. 00:13:04.659 --> 00:13:04.699 God. 00:13:06.579 --> 00:13:07.819 And it's here that we, 00:13:08.059 --> 00:13:12.740 the promises that have been made kind of come into focus and we start to see. 00:13:14.459 --> 00:13:18.659 God is not interested in just giving Abraham the ultimate sweepstakes, 00:13:19.779 --> 00:13:23.419 a huge contract for a generous portion of land and a, 00:13:23.419 --> 00:13:25.659 and a huge family tree. 00:13:25.779 --> 00:13:27.459 That's not what this is all about. 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:27.879 Those, 00:13:27.939 --> 00:13:28.259 those are, 00:13:28.379 --> 00:13:29.299 those are part of it. 00:13:29.819 --> 00:13:34.459 But with this is all about this covenant that I'm establishing with you is so 00:13:34.460 --> 00:13:37.560 that I will be your God and you will be my people. 00:13:38.820 --> 00:13:42.940 This is about a relationship between God and Abraham. 00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:46.480 A covenant relationship. 00:13:48.420 --> 00:13:50.980 The closest picture that we have of this, 00:13:51.139 --> 00:13:54.259 we don't really have covenant relationship that we, 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:54.960 you know, 00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:57.100 that's like this today except marriage. 00:13:57.220 --> 00:13:58.960 That's kind of the closest picture we have. 00:13:59.060 --> 00:13:59.200 It's, 00:13:59.320 --> 00:14:03.460 it's a relationship covenant where both people exchange promises. 00:14:04.460 --> 00:14:06.060 And make vows to one another, 00:14:06.060 --> 00:14:08.120 to be loyal to each other, 00:14:08.180 --> 00:14:11.620 to be devoted to one another exclusively and permanently. 00:14:13.160 --> 00:14:19.060 This is kind of a beginning of a picture of what God is envisioning, 00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:22.060 what God desires with Abraham and with his descendants, 00:14:22.740 --> 00:14:23.620 a permanent, 00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:26.460 deeply committed, 00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:28.360 devoted, 00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:31.060 loyal relationship between me. 00:14:31.059 --> 00:14:34.099 as God and you, 00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:37.699 Abraham and your descendants. 00:14:38.219 --> 00:14:40.179 It's to be a two way relationship. 00:14:40.439 --> 00:14:44.379 And suddenly as we go back to the beginning comment where the Lord said, 00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:48.419 walk before me faithfully and be blameless, 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:49.699 that it makes sense. 00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:52.839 This is what the Lord has been after all along. 00:14:53.539 --> 00:14:54.779 It's not just been about, 00:14:54.899 --> 00:14:58.019 I'm just going to give you a bunch of stuff so you can be happy. 00:14:58.019 --> 00:15:00.139 And then we'll go our separate ways. 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:00.379 No, 00:15:00.460 --> 00:15:04.019 this has been about forging a relationship, 00:15:05.579 --> 00:15:07.019 a deep relationship, 00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:08.980 a committed relationship. 00:15:11.659 --> 00:15:18.199 And so of course there's the expectation on Abraham's side of things, 00:15:18.299 --> 00:15:21.279 that he will live in submission to God. 00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:22.600 This is not a human, 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:23.500 human covenant. 00:15:23.740 --> 00:15:26.199 This is a God and human covenant. 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:34.240 So we should expect that obedience is part of the overall picture. 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:40.860 That walking faithfully devoted to the Lord is part of this for Abraham. 00:15:40.860 --> 00:15:46.620 I will establish this with you to be your God. 00:15:48.980 --> 00:15:54.720 This is the ultimate promise in this whole covenant package. 00:15:55.680 --> 00:15:59.560 This is really the goal and the direction of this covenant. 00:16:02.259 --> 00:16:03.220 Verse nine. 00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:05.639 Then God said to Abraham, 00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:07.559 as for you, 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:09.919 you must keep my covenant, 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:13.220 you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. 00:16:13.860 --> 00:16:17.360 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, 00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:18.639 the covenant you are to keep. 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:22.639 Every male among you shall be circumcised. 00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:32.179 The Lord goes on to lay out what is going to be both a condition and a sign 00:16:32.179 --> 00:16:34.639 of this covenant relationship. 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:36.419 relationship and it's circumcision. 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:39.580 Abraham is to be circumcised. 00:16:39.779 --> 00:16:42.419 Every male in his household is to be circumcised. 00:16:42.819 --> 00:16:43.980 And from now on, 00:16:44.059 --> 00:16:50.139 every male born into the household is to be circumcised at eight days old or a 00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:50.659 week old. 00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:55.860 Choosing not to be circumcised is choosing to break the covenant and will result in 00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:57.899 being cut off from the people, 00:16:58.179 --> 00:16:59.279 from the promises. 00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:06.579 The Lord makes this circumcision a part of the covenant. 00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:10.119 But he also says very clearly in here, 00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:12.279 it is to be a sign of the covenant. 00:17:13.139 --> 00:17:16.220 And so the question I want to answer this morning is how does that work? 00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:19.539 And why circumcision of all things? 00:17:19.619 --> 00:17:19.839 I mean, 00:17:19.899 --> 00:17:21.720 probably most of us are wondering that. 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:22.519 Why that? 00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:31.180 This is another example of God taking a human custom or tradition that was already 00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:37.139 around and happening in the ancient world and setting it apart for his own 00:17:37.139 --> 00:17:37.619 purposes. 00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:41.059 So what's the symbolism here? 00:17:41.059 --> 00:17:44.399 I don't want to be too graphic, 00:17:44.659 --> 00:17:45.940 but first of all, 00:17:46.379 --> 00:17:49.539 circumcision involves cutting off the foreskin. 00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:55.159 It points back to the covenant that was cut with Abraham. 00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:57.299 That's the language that was used last Sunday. 00:17:57.859 --> 00:17:59.799 The animals that were cut in two. 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:03.059 Cutting is how this covenant is formed. 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:04.659 And so the symbol, 00:18:04.819 --> 00:18:07.039 the sign of it involves cutting. 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:07.480 Second, 00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:11.119 circumcision is permanent. 00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:14.240 There's no going back from that. 00:18:14.359 --> 00:18:17.460 There's apparently some kind of surgery today that they do, 00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:20.740 but it doesn't sound like it really does a whole lot to, 00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:22.379 to really reverse it. 00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:23.440 It's irreversible. 00:18:23.579 --> 00:18:24.680 It's a permanent thing. 00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:27.000 Just as this covenant is permanent, 00:18:27.399 --> 00:18:29.720 it's an everlasting covenant. 00:18:30.399 --> 00:18:33.000 There's no going back on the words, 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:35.000 the promises that I've made to you. 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:43.160 And so the sign of it is permanent and it will serve as a constant reminder to 00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:44.500 those who bear it. 00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:46.359 Third, 00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:47.740 the organ, 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:49.480 we call it that, 00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:56.140 which undergoes the procedure is the organ for sexual reproduction. 00:18:56.140 --> 00:19:00.600 And that corresponds to the promises that have been made. 00:19:01.800 --> 00:19:04.560 That he would have seed, 00:19:04.860 --> 00:19:05.259 offspring, 00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:08.620 and be very fruitful. 00:19:09.780 --> 00:19:12.900 They're directly related to one another. 00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:15.000 And fourth, 00:19:15.520 --> 00:19:18.900 it's a way for God to have his mark on his people. 00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:20.940 But it's not like branding. 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:23.440 Something that you would do for cattle, 00:19:23.580 --> 00:19:25.360 just to help other people distinguish 00:19:25.360 --> 00:19:26.060 whose, 00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:27.860 whose is your, 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:28.740 which ones are yours, 00:19:28.840 --> 00:19:30.560 and which ones belong to someone else. 00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:36.200 This mark is upon the most intimate and private part, 00:19:36.300 --> 00:19:37.600 where God alone sees it. 00:19:38.860 --> 00:19:40.360 And this points to the sacred, 00:19:40.800 --> 00:19:41.540 and close, 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:45.780 and exclusive relationship that this covenant is all about. 00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:50.579 This was a requirement that God gave to Abraham. 00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:53.700 It was also a sign of the covenant. 00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:55.379 And I want to stress this, 00:19:55.799 --> 00:20:00.559 that this sign right from the get-go was always intended to go with, 00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:04.660 walk before me faithfully and be blameless. 00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:08.039 The relationship aspect. 00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:12.559 Just because you were circumcised in the ancient world, 00:20:12.619 --> 00:20:15.019 didn't automatically make you the Lord's. 00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.899 In fact, 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:19.359 there's a couple instances later on in the Old Testament, 00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:23.539 where some people missed that circumcision moment, 00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:26.139 and later were circumcised, 00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:28.599 and kind of brought back into the covenant. 00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:31.259 And the Lord allowed that. 00:20:33.079 --> 00:20:35.460 And as we'll find out with Ishmael in a moment here, 00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:38.799 merely being circumcised is not enough to claim this covenant, 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:40.960 and the promises that were made in it, 00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:41.839 for yourself. 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:46.740 The Lord is not interested in just giving another religious duty, 00:20:47.459 --> 00:20:50.819 another empty ritual for his people to do. 00:20:52.379 --> 00:21:02.139 His intention right from the get-go is that this goes along with a full-hearted devotion to him, 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:05.720 to this relationship that's being established by the covenant. 00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:07.039 They're meant to go together. 00:21:08.100 --> 00:21:10.759 And we can see this as early as Deuteronomy, 00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:16.559 when the Lord is already talking about the need for his people to have their hearts circumcised. 00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:21.880 He wants to see the covenant relationship lived out in here, 00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:25.980 and not just on the outside in the body. 00:21:29.380 --> 00:21:32.600 After spelling out the details of this sign of the covenant, 00:21:33.800 --> 00:21:42.200 we hear a little bit more of what the Lord has promised in verse 15. 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:44.380 God also said to Abraham, 00:21:44.380 --> 00:21:48.319 As for Sarai, your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai. 00:21:49.080 --> 00:21:51.039 Her name will be Sarah. 00:21:51.840 --> 00:21:55.660 I will bless her, and will surely give you a son by her. 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:59.940 I will bless her so that she will become the mother of nations. 00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:02.819 Kings of peoples will come from her. 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:05.080 Verse 17. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:07.980 Abraham fell face down. 00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:11.819 He laughed and said to himself, 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:16.180 Will a son be born to a man 100 years old? 00:22:17.339 --> 00:22:20.360 Will Sarah bear a child at the age of 90? 00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:23.759 This is one of my favorite moments. 00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:29.740 Carl's not here today, but I want you to picture him. 00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:31.220 He's 91. 00:22:31.900 --> 00:22:33.299 Add eight years to that. 00:22:34.099 --> 00:22:34.860 Here's Abraham. 00:22:34.859 --> 00:22:38.240 He's already fallen down once on his face before the Lord, 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:40.719 and so you imagine that he's kind of on his knees, 00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:45.459 and the Lord tells him that he's going to bless Sarah 00:22:45.459 --> 00:22:50.240 and give him a son by Sarah, his 90-year-old wife. 00:22:51.159 --> 00:22:52.639 And this is his response. 00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:55.939 He falls down on his face, and he laughs. 00:23:01.219 --> 00:23:02.419 Look at what it says. 00:23:02.419 --> 00:23:02.459 Look at what it says. 00:23:04.859 --> 00:23:05.639 Note that it says, 00:23:05.879 --> 00:23:07.000 He said to himself, 00:23:07.459 --> 00:23:09.399 not to God. 00:23:09.919 --> 00:23:11.159 He said to himself, 00:23:12.659 --> 00:23:16.240 Will a son be born to a man 100 years old? 00:23:18.159 --> 00:23:21.319 Will Sarah bear a child at the age of 90? 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:26.599 We don't really know exactly what he means by this. 00:23:26.719 --> 00:23:29.699 I mean, some would say maybe he's got doubt and unbelief. 00:23:29.919 --> 00:23:31.299 This is, that's ridiculous. 00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:36.500 Others would just say, maybe he thought the Lord was joking with him. 00:23:36.639 --> 00:23:39.259 Maybe he, maybe he just thought it was funny that, 00:23:39.659 --> 00:23:43.419 what this would mean if the Lord really did this. 00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:45.779 I mean, here I am 100 years old, 00:23:45.899 --> 00:23:49.460 and I'm going to have a child, 00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:52.599 a two-year-old that I'll be chasing around. 00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:54.019 People are going to laugh at me. 00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:54.500 This is, 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:57.700 we don't know exactly what he was thinking, 00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:59.140 but he thought it was funny. 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:00.799 And he laughed. 00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:05.220 The next thing that he says, 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:12.080 if only Ishmael might live under your blessing. 00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:15.419 Lord, I'm 100 years old. 00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:19.339 Let Ishmael, the son I've already got, 00:24:20.199 --> 00:24:21.399 have the blessings. 00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:23.740 That's good enough for me. 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:29.319 You don't have to do it this way. 00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:31.139 This is, this is crazy. 00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:32.139 I mean, look at us. 00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:33.779 We're senior citizens here. 00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:38.660 Then God said, 00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:40.279 yes, 00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:43.000 but your wife, Sarah, 00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:45.119 will bear you a son, 00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:47.720 and you will call him Isaac, 00:24:48.119 --> 00:24:50.740 which means he laughed. 00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:54.700 I will establish my covenant with him 00:24:54.700 --> 00:24:56.740 as an everlasting covenant 00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:58.940 for his descendants after him. 00:24:59.059 --> 00:25:00.399 And as for Ishmael, 00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:02.259 I have heard you. 00:25:02.259 --> 00:25:05.220 I will surely bless him. 00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:06.700 I will make him fruitful 00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:08.839 and will greatly increase his numbers. 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:10.799 He will be the father of 12 rulers, 00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:13.579 and I will make him into a great nation. 00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:15.379 But my covenant, 00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:17.879 I will establish with Isaac, 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:20.539 whom Sarah will bear to you 00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:22.440 by this time next year. 00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:26.039 When he had finished speaking with Abraham, 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:28.740 God went up from him. 00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:33.039 So what's the Lord's answer? 00:25:34.140 --> 00:25:38.359 Abraham asks if Ishmael might bear the blessing, 00:25:38.620 --> 00:25:40.880 might inherit the blessings and the promises. 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:43.759 The Lord's answer is, 00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:46.480 well, yes, I will bless Ishmael, 00:25:46.900 --> 00:25:50.480 but my promise is this covenant 00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:54.339 will be for Isaac and his descendants 00:25:54.339 --> 00:25:55.959 and not for Ishmael. 00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:58.099 There's no reason given here. 00:25:58.819 --> 00:26:01.079 It just seems that the Lord has his plan. 00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:04.119 One guy looking at this 00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:05.599 said it seems the Lord is stubborn. 00:26:05.819 --> 00:26:06.799 I won't use that word. 00:26:06.899 --> 00:26:08.599 I think it seems the Lord is committed 00:26:08.599 --> 00:26:10.399 to his plan. 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:14.299 Not through Ishmael, 00:26:14.699 --> 00:26:15.559 but through Isaac. 00:26:15.679 --> 00:26:16.279 The promises, 00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:18.179 the land, 00:26:18.180 --> 00:26:20.820 it'll be for Isaac 00:26:20.820 --> 00:26:22.799 and not Ishmael. 00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:24.860 But notice how the Lord does 00:26:24.860 --> 00:26:27.000 listen to Abraham in this moment, 00:26:27.320 --> 00:26:28.279 which is amazing. 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:32.180 May Ishmael live under your blessing. 00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.180 Yes, 00:26:33.580 --> 00:26:34.779 I have heard you. 00:26:36.299 --> 00:26:38.320 I know that you love your son. 00:26:38.820 --> 00:26:40.259 He's precious to you. 00:26:40.340 --> 00:26:40.860 And yes, 00:26:41.100 --> 00:26:42.440 I will bless him. 00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:45.360 And the Lord is not stingy 00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:46.279 by any means 00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:47.720 with how he promises 00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:48.920 to bless Ishmael. 00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:49.660 I mean, 00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:50.940 many of these promises 00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:51.680 are things that 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:53.160 the Lord has already said 00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:53.779 to Abraham. 00:26:54.299 --> 00:26:55.319 I will make him 00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:56.660 into a great nation too. 00:26:57.899 --> 00:26:58.559 You'll be the father 00:26:58.559 --> 00:26:59.899 of a multitude of nations, 00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:00.899 but I will make him 00:27:00.899 --> 00:27:01.940 into a great nation. 00:27:02.599 --> 00:27:04.119 I will greatly increase 00:27:04.119 --> 00:27:04.680 his descendants, 00:27:04.859 --> 00:27:05.579 just as I said 00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:06.819 I would do for you. 00:27:07.819 --> 00:27:08.680 But there's also 00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:09.379 some differences. 00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:12.359 He'll be the father 00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:13.660 of 12 rulers, 00:27:14.639 --> 00:27:16.259 12 tribal leaders. 00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:18.000 not kings. 00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:22.099 And that bit about 00:27:22.099 --> 00:27:23.059 the land 00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:24.339 and I will be 00:27:24.339 --> 00:27:25.299 your God 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:25.879 and you will be 00:27:25.879 --> 00:27:26.539 my people. 00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:28.519 That's not there. 00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:33.079 My covenant, 00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:34.940 the greater promises, 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:35.639 the covenant 00:27:35.639 --> 00:27:36.639 through which 00:27:36.639 --> 00:27:37.759 I will be your God 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.259 and you will be 00:27:38.259 --> 00:27:38.819 my people 00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:40.680 is for Isaac 00:27:40.680 --> 00:27:41.980 and his descendants 00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:43.779 and not for Ishmael. 00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:46.299 finally, 00:27:46.399 --> 00:27:46.759 the Lord 00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:48.019 gives Abraham 00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:49.379 the specific promise 00:27:49.379 --> 00:27:50.619 that long ago 00:27:50.619 --> 00:27:52.099 he was waiting for. 00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:54.059 By this time next year, 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.980 Sarah will bear you 00:27:55.980 --> 00:27:56.660 a son. 00:27:58.160 --> 00:27:59.839 A definite time frame. 00:28:00.920 --> 00:28:02.500 Something to look forward to. 00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:03.759 And so what does Abraham do 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:05.000 in response to all this? 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:06.240 Verse 23. 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:08.660 On that very day, 00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:10.420 Abraham took his son Ishmael 00:28:10.420 --> 00:28:11.099 and all those 00:28:11.099 --> 00:28:12.200 born in his household 00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:13.720 or bought with his money, 00:28:14.059 --> 00:28:15.519 every male in his household 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:17.339 and circumcised them 00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:19.019 as God told him. 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:23.319 Abraham 00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:26.700 acted in faith. 00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:30.319 He took the Lord's word seriously. 00:28:30.839 --> 00:28:32.420 He did what the Lord 00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:33.339 told him to do. 00:28:33.339 --> 00:28:37.639 Notice those little words 00:28:37.639 --> 00:28:38.500 in 23. 00:28:40.199 --> 00:28:42.039 On that very day. 00:28:42.419 --> 00:28:43.439 It's actually twice 00:28:43.439 --> 00:28:44.699 in that little paragraph there. 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.720 On that very day, 00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:47.319 he obeyed God 00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:48.399 immediately. 00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:50.859 And he didn't just go halfway. 00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:52.419 He did the whole household. 00:28:52.619 --> 00:28:53.539 He went the full way 00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:54.480 just as God 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:55.419 told him to do. 00:28:55.459 --> 00:28:56.819 And this was no small thing. 00:28:58.359 --> 00:29:00.139 Just a few chapters back, 00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:01.240 we know that Abraham 00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:03.740 has 318 trained 00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:04.460 fighting men 00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:05.220 in his household, 00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:05.819 servants. 00:29:06.359 --> 00:29:06.980 By now, 00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:08.680 probably up to 400. 00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:09.460 We're talking 00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:10.920 setting up a tent 00:29:10.920 --> 00:29:11.960 and getting 00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:15.160 potentially 400 guys 00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:16.720 to go through this. 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:19.299 And yet he does it 00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:19.980 right away, 00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:22.220 exactly as the Lord 00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:23.420 told him to do. 00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:27.180 Full-hearted faith 00:29:27.180 --> 00:29:28.559 and full-hearted obedience. 00:29:29.620 --> 00:29:30.339 Well, what do we learn 00:29:30.339 --> 00:29:31.000 from all this? 00:29:34.679 --> 00:29:35.699 What does Abraham 00:29:35.699 --> 00:29:36.720 learn about God 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.559 through all this? 00:29:37.659 --> 00:29:38.799 There's a lot here. 00:29:39.899 --> 00:29:40.759 We see 00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:42.500 back towards 00:29:42.500 --> 00:29:43.379 the beginning here 00:29:43.379 --> 00:29:43.720 that 00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:46.059 while God 00:29:46.059 --> 00:29:46.980 promises 00:29:46.980 --> 00:29:47.619 to bless 00:29:47.619 --> 00:29:48.259 the socks 00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:49.079 off his people, 00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:50.220 he doesn't just 00:29:50.220 --> 00:29:51.359 give them a free pass 00:29:51.359 --> 00:29:51.559 to, 00:29:51.799 --> 00:29:51.919 oh, 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:52.559 you can live 00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:53.399 however you want. 00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:55.159 No, 00:29:55.259 --> 00:29:56.079 there are good 00:29:56.079 --> 00:29:57.220 and right expectations 00:29:57.220 --> 00:29:58.159 that come along 00:29:58.159 --> 00:29:58.500 with this. 00:29:58.500 --> 00:29:59.099 This is about 00:29:59.099 --> 00:30:00.359 a covenant relationship. 00:30:00.579 --> 00:30:01.500 This is not just about 00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:02.960 me giving you 00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:03.900 a bunch of stuff. 00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:07.720 It's the same for us 00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:08.700 in the new covenant 00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:09.539 with Christ. 00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:10.740 As the apostle 00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:12.119 Peter said 00:30:12.119 --> 00:30:12.740 in his letter 00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:13.400 to the churches, 00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:14.619 he said, 00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:16.059 be holy in all you do 00:30:16.059 --> 00:30:17.359 just as the Lord 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.880 is holy. 00:30:17.880 --> 00:30:19.460 Paul said it 00:30:19.460 --> 00:30:19.960 in his letter 00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:20.900 to the Philippians. 00:30:21.280 --> 00:30:22.400 As you've always 00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:23.200 obeyed, 00:30:23.620 --> 00:30:25.200 continue to work 00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:26.200 out your salvation 00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:27.200 with fear and trembling. 00:30:29.180 --> 00:30:29.640 Yes, 00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:31.520 submission to God, 00:30:31.640 --> 00:30:32.200 to the Lord, 00:30:32.340 --> 00:30:32.660 obedience 00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:33.760 is part 00:30:33.760 --> 00:30:34.940 of the relationship. 00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:36.400 It's not the basis 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:37.380 for the relationship. 00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:39.300 That's grace. 00:30:39.420 --> 00:30:40.160 That's the gift 00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:40.720 of God. 00:30:42.220 --> 00:30:43.280 But it's a part. 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:47.579 And speaking of relationship, 00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:49.160 that's another thing 00:30:49.160 --> 00:30:50.099 that we really see here. 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:51.119 The Lord is not just 00:30:51.119 --> 00:30:51.799 interested 00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:53.859 in giving us 00:30:53.859 --> 00:30:55.180 all this stuff 00:30:55.180 --> 00:30:57.019 and then having us 00:30:57.019 --> 00:30:58.079 go our separate ways. 00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:01.359 All along, 00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:02.559 this has been about 00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:03.500 establishing 00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:04.660 a relationship 00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:05.879 with a people. 00:31:06.420 --> 00:31:07.059 And not just 00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:08.099 any relationship, 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:09.139 not just a friendship, 00:31:09.339 --> 00:31:10.099 but a deeply 00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:10.279 committed 00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:12.579 relationship 00:31:12.579 --> 00:31:14.259 in which 00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:15.339 he is fully 00:31:15.339 --> 00:31:16.039 devoted to 00:31:16.039 --> 00:31:16.720 his people 00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:17.720 and his people 00:31:17.720 --> 00:31:18.559 are fully devoted 00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:19.079 to him. 00:31:19.399 --> 00:31:20.599 The kind of relationship 00:31:20.599 --> 00:31:21.359 that can only 00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:22.319 really be 00:31:22.319 --> 00:31:23.819 described by the word 00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:24.599 covenant. 00:31:26.059 --> 00:31:27.619 And even beyond that, 00:31:28.399 --> 00:31:29.539 blood covenant. 00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:32.220 The act of circumcision 00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:34.279 was fitting 00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:35.359 to describe 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:35.980 just how 00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:37.099 sacred, 00:31:37.379 --> 00:31:38.139 how close 00:31:38.139 --> 00:31:40.180 this relationship 00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:41.600 is to be. 00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:43.180 How permanent. 00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:45.960 We see again here 00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:46.600 in this passage 00:31:46.600 --> 00:31:47.539 that God is ever 00:31:47.539 --> 00:31:48.200 so gracious. 00:31:48.500 --> 00:31:48.660 I mean, 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:49.960 think of all the things 00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:50.700 that God promised 00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:51.299 to Abraham. 00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:52.860 Father of multitude 00:31:52.860 --> 00:31:53.700 of nations. 00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:55.400 All this land, 00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:56.200 I'm going to give it 00:31:56.200 --> 00:31:56.720 to you. 00:31:58.140 --> 00:31:58.600 Why? 00:31:59.019 --> 00:32:00.000 What has Abraham 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:01.420 done to deserve this? 00:32:01.820 --> 00:32:02.039 I mean, 00:32:02.100 --> 00:32:02.840 look at how he 00:32:02.840 --> 00:32:04.460 responded to Sarai 00:32:04.460 --> 00:32:05.940 just a moment earlier 00:32:05.940 --> 00:32:06.799 with this whole 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:07.640 Hagar 00:32:07.640 --> 00:32:08.700 incident. 00:32:08.700 --> 00:32:10.819 we're reminded 00:32:10.819 --> 00:32:11.740 from last Sunday 00:32:11.740 --> 00:32:14.240 that the Lord 00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:15.299 did not see 00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:15.819 Abraham 00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:17.360 as righteous. 00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:19.980 So why is he 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:21.059 getting all of this 00:32:21.059 --> 00:32:22.580 grace, 00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:23.160 this gift, 00:32:23.279 --> 00:32:23.860 this promise, 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:24.680 this blessing? 00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:27.799 Not because he 00:32:27.799 --> 00:32:28.480 deserves it, 00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:29.740 but because God 00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:30.299 is gracious 00:32:30.299 --> 00:32:31.000 and merciful 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:31.840 and wants to 00:32:31.840 --> 00:32:32.580 give it to him. 00:32:32.579 --> 00:32:36.399 to the sinner 00:32:36.399 --> 00:32:37.000 from Ur. 00:32:38.939 --> 00:32:39.939 We also see 00:32:39.939 --> 00:32:40.379 the Lord's 00:32:40.379 --> 00:32:41.000 graciousness 00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:42.139 in how he 00:32:42.139 --> 00:32:43.119 responds to 00:32:43.119 --> 00:32:43.500 Abraham. 00:32:43.699 --> 00:32:43.939 I mean, 00:32:44.359 --> 00:32:45.079 here Abraham 00:32:45.079 --> 00:32:46.460 is on his face 00:32:46.460 --> 00:32:47.759 and he laughs. 00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:48.439 God makes 00:32:48.439 --> 00:32:49.079 one of the most 00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:50.099 incredible promises 00:32:50.099 --> 00:32:50.639 to him 00:32:50.639 --> 00:32:51.379 and he laughs 00:32:51.379 --> 00:32:51.980 in the face 00:32:51.980 --> 00:32:52.839 of God's promise. 00:32:53.960 --> 00:32:54.439 And the Lord 00:32:54.439 --> 00:32:55.819 doesn't strike him 00:32:55.819 --> 00:32:56.220 down. 00:32:56.220 --> 00:33:00.019 he's gracious 00:33:00.019 --> 00:33:00.579 to him. 00:33:01.799 --> 00:33:02.600 He even 00:33:02.600 --> 00:33:03.299 listens to 00:33:03.299 --> 00:33:04.259 his request 00:33:04.259 --> 00:33:05.500 that Ishmael 00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.519 would be blessed 00:33:06.519 --> 00:33:06.860 to. 00:33:06.980 --> 00:33:07.240 He says, 00:33:07.339 --> 00:33:07.579 yes, 00:33:07.900 --> 00:33:08.440 I will. 00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:12.799 We learn 00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:13.299 from Abraham 00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:13.900 that living 00:33:13.900 --> 00:33:14.420 by faith 00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:15.019 means taking 00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:15.960 God seriously. 00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:16.940 It means 00:33:16.940 --> 00:33:17.640 obeying 00:33:17.640 --> 00:33:19.860 immediately 00:33:19.860 --> 00:33:21.319 and fully. 00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:22.740 But if there's 00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:23.140 one thing 00:33:23.140 --> 00:33:23.539 that really 00:33:23.539 --> 00:33:24.120 stands out 00:33:24.120 --> 00:33:24.420 to me 00:33:24.420 --> 00:33:25.079 in all this, 00:33:25.079 --> 00:33:27.139 it's how 00:33:27.139 --> 00:33:28.319 Abraham learns 00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:28.779 here that 00:33:28.779 --> 00:33:29.519 God will 00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:30.179 keep his 00:33:30.179 --> 00:33:30.699 promises 00:33:30.699 --> 00:33:33.099 but that 00:33:33.099 --> 00:33:33.619 he will do 00:33:33.619 --> 00:33:34.279 it in his 00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:34.639 way 00:33:34.639 --> 00:33:36.259 and in his 00:33:36.259 --> 00:33:36.619 time. 00:33:38.599 --> 00:33:39.379 We sure 00:33:39.379 --> 00:33:39.879 see that 00:33:39.879 --> 00:33:40.220 here, 00:33:40.480 --> 00:33:40.919 don't we? 00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:42.819 God will 00:33:42.819 --> 00:33:43.299 keep his 00:33:43.299 --> 00:33:43.720 promises 00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:44.419 in his 00:33:44.419 --> 00:33:44.879 time. 00:33:45.299 --> 00:33:45.839 The initial 00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:46.500 promise was 00:33:46.500 --> 00:33:47.159 made 25 00:33:47.159 --> 00:33:47.980 years ago. 00:33:49.159 --> 00:33:49.799 We've been 00:33:49.799 --> 00:33:50.359 here for 10 00:33:50.359 --> 00:33:50.639 years, 00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:51.199 still no 00:33:51.199 --> 00:33:51.619 progress, 00:33:51.779 --> 00:33:52.179 still no 00:33:52.179 --> 00:33:52.779 sign of a 00:33:52.779 --> 00:33:53.039 son. 00:33:53.879 --> 00:33:54.199 So we'll 00:33:54.199 --> 00:33:54.980 try to help 00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:55.559 God along 00:33:55.559 --> 00:33:56.000 with it. 00:33:56.900 --> 00:33:57.339 And even 00:33:57.339 --> 00:33:57.680 then, 00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:58.019 the Lord 00:33:58.019 --> 00:33:58.620 waits another 00:33:58.620 --> 00:33:59.940 14 years 00:33:59.940 --> 00:34:01.900 till Abraham 00:34:01.900 --> 00:34:02.460 is nearly 00:34:02.460 --> 00:34:03.740 100 and 00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:05.059 Sarah 90 00:34:05.059 --> 00:34:05.660 before he 00:34:05.660 --> 00:34:06.059 lets them 00:34:06.059 --> 00:34:06.400 know that 00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:06.880 it will be 00:34:06.880 --> 00:34:07.960 yet one 00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:08.579 more year 00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:10.000 until the 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:10.460 promised 00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:11.880 son is 00:34:11.880 --> 00:34:12.240 born. 00:34:13.599 --> 00:34:13.940 If there's 00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:14.300 one thing 00:34:14.300 --> 00:34:14.719 that we see 00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:14.960 here, 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:15.240 it's that 00:34:15.240 --> 00:34:15.639 God is 00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:16.320 not in a 00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:16.579 hurry. 00:34:18.199 --> 00:34:18.699 He's 00:34:18.699 --> 00:34:19.240 patient. 00:34:20.659 --> 00:34:20.940 Abraham 00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:21.480 and Sarah, 00:34:21.619 --> 00:34:21.940 they think 00:34:21.940 --> 00:34:22.480 he's late. 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:23.699 they think 00:34:23.699 --> 00:34:24.300 he's slow. 00:34:25.659 --> 00:34:26.300 But the 00:34:26.300 --> 00:34:26.820 Lord has 00:34:26.820 --> 00:34:27.380 his appointed 00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:28.300 time and 00:34:28.300 --> 00:34:28.780 he will 00:34:28.780 --> 00:34:29.280 keep his 00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:30.880 promise in 00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:31.460 his time. 00:34:33.019 --> 00:34:33.500 Perhaps 00:34:33.500 --> 00:34:34.360 there's things 00:34:34.360 --> 00:34:34.860 in your life 00:34:34.860 --> 00:34:35.480 right now for 00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:35.860 which you've 00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:36.300 been waiting 00:34:36.300 --> 00:34:37.340 for God 00:34:37.340 --> 00:34:38.820 to act, 00:34:38.980 --> 00:34:39.679 to intervene, 00:34:39.820 --> 00:34:40.219 to do 00:34:40.219 --> 00:34:40.719 something. 00:34:41.599 --> 00:34:41.900 Prayer, 00:34:42.440 --> 00:34:43.820 prayers that 00:34:43.820 --> 00:34:44.059 you've 00:34:44.059 --> 00:34:44.480 prayed. 00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:45.840 Maybe you 00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:46.219 feel like 00:34:46.219 --> 00:34:46.599 God is 00:34:46.599 --> 00:34:48.179 slow or 00:34:48.179 --> 00:34:48.579 late. 00:34:48.579 --> 00:34:50.559 maybe like 00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:50.860 Sarah, 00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:51.420 you're just 00:34:51.420 --> 00:34:51.940 about ready 00:34:51.940 --> 00:34:52.759 to take 00:34:52.759 --> 00:34:53.299 things into 00:34:53.299 --> 00:34:53.659 your own 00:34:53.659 --> 00:34:54.139 hand and 00:34:54.139 --> 00:34:54.719 find a 00:34:54.719 --> 00:34:55.000 way to 00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:55.259 get it 00:34:55.259 --> 00:34:55.440 done 00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:55.940 yourself. 00:34:58.380 --> 00:34:59.199 But know 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.579 this, 00:35:00.599 --> 00:35:01.960 our time 00:35:01.960 --> 00:35:02.659 and the 00:35:02.659 --> 00:35:03.360 brevity of 00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:03.900 our lives 00:35:03.900 --> 00:35:04.599 poses no 00:35:04.599 --> 00:35:05.719 threat to 00:35:05.719 --> 00:35:06.279 the promises 00:35:06.279 --> 00:35:06.880 of God. 00:35:07.900 --> 00:35:08.319 He is 00:35:08.319 --> 00:35:08.860 able to 00:35:08.860 --> 00:35:09.420 keep his 00:35:09.420 --> 00:35:10.019 promise 00:35:10.019 --> 00:35:12.239 no matter 00:35:12.239 --> 00:35:12.599 what. 00:35:12.599 --> 00:35:20.059 how Abraham 00:35:20.059 --> 00:35:21.559 and Sarah 00:35:21.559 --> 00:35:21.940 would have 00:35:21.940 --> 00:35:22.500 been spared 00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:22.960 all that 00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:23.639 heartache and 00:35:23.639 --> 00:35:24.119 pain and 00:35:24.119 --> 00:35:24.500 suffering, 00:35:24.940 --> 00:35:25.400 their family 00:35:25.400 --> 00:35:26.019 nearly being 00:35:26.019 --> 00:35:26.739 torn apart, 00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:28.159 had they 00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:28.799 only waited 00:35:28.799 --> 00:35:29.779 for the 00:35:29.779 --> 00:35:30.119 promised 00:35:30.119 --> 00:35:30.440 son. 00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:33.960 Secondly, 00:35:34.119 --> 00:35:34.599 we see that 00:35:34.599 --> 00:35:35.039 God will 00:35:35.039 --> 00:35:35.539 keep his 00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:36.480 promises in 00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:37.619 his way. 00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:39.159 He will 00:35:39.159 --> 00:35:39.539 keep them 00:35:39.539 --> 00:35:39.920 in his 00:35:39.920 --> 00:35:40.920 time and 00:35:40.920 --> 00:35:41.179 he will 00:35:41.179 --> 00:35:41.599 keep them 00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:42.079 in his 00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:42.739 way. 00:35:44.539 --> 00:35:45.179 God's 00:35:45.179 --> 00:35:45.619 way didn't 00:35:45.619 --> 00:35:46.059 seem to 00:35:46.059 --> 00:35:46.599 be working 00:35:46.599 --> 00:35:48.179 and so 00:35:48.179 --> 00:35:49.319 Abraham and 00:35:49.319 --> 00:35:49.960 Sarah 00:35:49.960 --> 00:35:51.079 cooked up 00:35:51.079 --> 00:35:51.659 a plan, 00:35:52.119 --> 00:35:53.440 a different 00:35:53.440 --> 00:35:53.819 way. 00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:54.860 And for 00:35:54.860 --> 00:35:55.860 13 years 00:35:55.860 --> 00:35:56.639 Abraham has 00:35:56.639 --> 00:35:57.299 been holding 00:35:57.299 --> 00:35:57.920 this baby 00:35:57.920 --> 00:35:58.319 boy, 00:35:58.920 --> 00:35:59.559 he's been 00:35:59.559 --> 00:36:00.279 chasing around 00:36:00.279 --> 00:36:00.779 this little 00:36:00.779 --> 00:36:01.179 boy, 00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:03.059 now this 00:36:03.059 --> 00:36:03.980 boy is 00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:05.019 13 years 00:36:05.019 --> 00:36:05.400 old, 00:36:06.239 --> 00:36:06.980 he's been 00:36:06.980 --> 00:36:07.559 looking at 00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:08.380 Ishmael 00:36:08.380 --> 00:36:09.980 as the 00:36:09.980 --> 00:36:10.539 one through 00:36:10.539 --> 00:36:11.139 whom God's 00:36:11.139 --> 00:36:11.579 promises 00:36:11.579 --> 00:36:12.159 would come 00:36:12.159 --> 00:36:14.719 true for 00:36:14.719 --> 00:36:15.980 13 years 00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:16.360 and then 00:36:16.360 --> 00:36:17.279 God appears 00:36:17.279 --> 00:36:17.699 to him 00:36:17.699 --> 00:36:18.199 and says, 00:36:18.420 --> 00:36:19.199 no, 00:36:19.960 --> 00:36:22.380 it won't 00:36:22.380 --> 00:36:22.759 be through 00:36:22.759 --> 00:36:23.239 Ishmael. 00:36:23.860 --> 00:36:24.659 It'll be 00:36:24.659 --> 00:36:25.719 a different 00:36:25.719 --> 00:36:26.059 way. 00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:27.199 It'll be 00:36:27.199 --> 00:36:27.920 through Isaac. 00:36:28.059 --> 00:36:28.380 I'm going 00:36:28.380 --> 00:36:28.719 to do it 00:36:28.719 --> 00:36:29.219 a different 00:36:29.219 --> 00:36:29.519 way. 00:36:30.239 --> 00:36:30.900 I'm going 00:36:30.900 --> 00:36:31.299 to do it 00:36:31.299 --> 00:36:32.659 the impossible 00:36:32.659 --> 00:36:33.059 way. 00:36:33.159 --> 00:36:33.360 I'm going 00:36:33.360 --> 00:36:33.779 to reverse 00:36:33.779 --> 00:36:34.400 menopause 00:36:34.400 --> 00:36:34.779 for your 00:36:34.779 --> 00:36:35.480 90-year-old 00:36:35.480 --> 00:36:36.699 wife and 00:36:36.699 --> 00:36:37.119 have her 00:36:37.119 --> 00:36:37.519 bear a 00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:37.980 son and 00:36:37.980 --> 00:36:38.259 do it 00:36:38.259 --> 00:36:38.779 that way. 00:36:38.780 --> 00:36:40.620 And even 00:36:40.620 --> 00:36:41.200 though Abraham 00:36:41.200 --> 00:36:41.900 asks, 00:36:42.800 --> 00:36:44.100 do it 00:36:44.100 --> 00:36:44.600 this way, 00:36:44.960 --> 00:36:45.220 the Lord 00:36:45.220 --> 00:36:45.500 says, 00:36:45.620 --> 00:36:45.820 no, 00:36:46.780 --> 00:36:47.980 this is 00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:48.360 the way 00:36:48.360 --> 00:36:48.880 that I 00:36:48.880 --> 00:36:49.440 will fulfill 00:36:49.440 --> 00:36:50.620 my promise 00:36:50.620 --> 00:36:51.420 to you. 00:36:53.940 --> 00:36:54.560 This is 00:36:54.560 --> 00:36:54.820 what you're 00:36:54.820 --> 00:36:55.019 going to 00:36:55.019 --> 00:36:55.500 name him. 00:36:56.500 --> 00:36:57.360 The promises 00:36:57.360 --> 00:36:57.840 of this 00:36:57.840 --> 00:36:58.140 covenant 00:36:58.140 --> 00:36:58.540 will be 00:36:58.540 --> 00:36:58.880 his, 00:36:59.000 --> 00:36:59.280 they will 00:36:59.280 --> 00:36:59.740 not be 00:36:59.740 --> 00:37:00.400 Ishmael's. 00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:02.500 God will 00:37:02.500 --> 00:37:03.000 keep his 00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:03.519 promise, 00:37:03.800 --> 00:37:04.260 but he 00:37:04.260 --> 00:37:04.599 will do 00:37:04.599 --> 00:37:04.940 it in 00:37:04.940 --> 00:37:05.220 his 00:37:05.220 --> 00:37:05.599 way. 00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:08.480 Perhaps 00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:08.760 there's 00:37:08.760 --> 00:37:09.160 things in 00:37:09.160 --> 00:37:09.500 your life 00:37:09.500 --> 00:37:09.960 right now 00:37:09.960 --> 00:37:10.740 that you 00:37:10.740 --> 00:37:11.280 feel are 00:37:11.280 --> 00:37:12.059 not going 00:37:12.059 --> 00:37:12.880 the way 00:37:12.880 --> 00:37:13.900 that you 00:37:13.900 --> 00:37:14.340 want them 00:37:14.340 --> 00:37:14.579 to. 00:37:15.780 --> 00:37:16.400 Things in 00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:16.700 which you're 00:37:16.700 --> 00:37:17.000 wondering, 00:37:17.200 --> 00:37:17.559 how can 00:37:17.559 --> 00:37:18.619 you allow 00:37:18.619 --> 00:37:19.039 this to 00:37:19.039 --> 00:37:19.400 happen, 00:37:19.599 --> 00:37:19.740 Lord, 00:37:20.380 --> 00:37:20.960 when you 00:37:20.960 --> 00:37:21.220 said, 00:37:21.680 --> 00:37:22.920 fill in 00:37:22.920 --> 00:37:23.360 the blank 00:37:23.360 --> 00:37:23.900 in your 00:37:23.900 --> 00:37:24.240 word. 00:37:27.240 --> 00:37:27.800 If you 00:37:27.800 --> 00:37:28.360 really love 00:37:28.360 --> 00:37:28.519 me, 00:37:28.579 --> 00:37:28.800 if you 00:37:28.800 --> 00:37:29.320 really care 00:37:29.320 --> 00:37:29.780 about me, 00:37:29.780 --> 00:37:30.200 why is 00:37:30.200 --> 00:37:30.920 my story 00:37:30.920 --> 00:37:31.540 going like 00:37:31.540 --> 00:37:31.960 this? 00:37:34.380 --> 00:37:35.060 But it's 00:37:35.060 --> 00:37:35.360 here we 00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:35.740 see that 00:37:35.740 --> 00:37:36.380 God doesn't 00:37:36.380 --> 00:37:37.180 always do 00:37:37.180 --> 00:37:38.740 things our 00:37:38.740 --> 00:37:40.360 way or 00:37:40.360 --> 00:37:40.900 according to 00:37:40.900 --> 00:37:41.660 our plan. 00:37:42.700 --> 00:37:43.080 Does it 00:37:43.080 --> 00:37:43.440 mean he's 00:37:43.440 --> 00:37:44.060 unfaithful, 00:37:44.260 --> 00:37:44.780 unkind, 00:37:45.300 --> 00:37:45.820 unloving, 00:37:46.440 --> 00:37:46.880 distant, 00:37:47.640 --> 00:37:48.220 uncaring? 00:37:48.680 --> 00:37:49.060 No. 00:37:50.980 --> 00:37:51.720 We must 00:37:51.720 --> 00:37:52.440 remember as 00:37:52.440 --> 00:37:54.019 Abraham saw 00:37:54.019 --> 00:37:54.720 very clearly 00:37:54.720 --> 00:37:55.300 that day 00:37:55.300 --> 00:37:56.500 that he, 00:37:57.880 --> 00:37:58.480 Yahweh, 00:37:58.900 --> 00:37:59.760 is the 00:37:59.760 --> 00:38:00.140 God. 00:38:00.140 --> 00:38:00.200 God. 00:38:01.640 --> 00:38:02.280 And we 00:38:02.280 --> 00:38:02.740 are not. 00:38:04.600 --> 00:38:05.280 He is 00:38:05.280 --> 00:38:05.700 able to 00:38:05.700 --> 00:38:06.100 keep his 00:38:06.100 --> 00:38:06.540 promises, 00:38:07.080 --> 00:38:07.420 but he 00:38:07.420 --> 00:38:07.740 will do 00:38:07.740 --> 00:38:08.100 it in 00:38:08.100 --> 00:38:08.560 his 00:38:08.560 --> 00:38:09.200 way. 00:38:12.020 --> 00:38:12.560 This 00:38:12.560 --> 00:38:12.820 kind of 00:38:12.820 --> 00:38:13.200 makes us 00:38:13.200 --> 00:38:13.660 uncomfortable 00:38:13.660 --> 00:38:14.360 sometimes, 00:38:14.480 --> 00:38:14.860 I think. 00:38:15.940 --> 00:38:16.800 We want a 00:38:16.800 --> 00:38:17.200 God that 00:38:17.200 --> 00:38:17.560 we can 00:38:17.560 --> 00:38:17.980 control. 00:38:18.600 --> 00:38:19.160 We want a 00:38:19.160 --> 00:38:19.660 God that 00:38:19.660 --> 00:38:20.900 will at 00:38:20.900 --> 00:38:21.760 least give 00:38:21.760 --> 00:38:22.140 us a 00:38:22.140 --> 00:38:22.760 sense that 00:38:22.760 --> 00:38:23.240 we're in 00:38:23.240 --> 00:38:23.860 control. 00:38:23.860 --> 00:38:23.940 people. 00:38:25.140 --> 00:38:26.059 But the 00:38:26.059 --> 00:38:26.420 Lord, 00:38:26.940 --> 00:38:27.460 Yahweh, 00:38:27.740 --> 00:38:28.940 is free. 00:38:30.260 --> 00:38:30.920 He's not 00:38:30.920 --> 00:38:31.500 bound by 00:38:31.500 --> 00:38:31.840 our 00:38:31.840 --> 00:38:32.700 expectations 00:38:32.700 --> 00:38:33.280 of him. 00:38:34.599 --> 00:38:35.480 He's not 00:38:35.480 --> 00:38:36.099 bound by 00:38:36.099 --> 00:38:36.539 our 00:38:36.539 --> 00:38:37.240 limited 00:38:37.240 --> 00:38:37.820 point of 00:38:37.820 --> 00:38:37.960 view. 00:38:38.099 --> 00:38:38.559 He will 00:38:38.559 --> 00:38:39.160 keep his 00:38:39.160 --> 00:38:39.700 promises, 00:38:40.700 --> 00:38:41.820 but the 00:38:41.820 --> 00:38:42.720 horizons of 00:38:42.720 --> 00:38:43.460 his promises 00:38:43.460 --> 00:38:44.360 often stretch 00:38:44.360 --> 00:38:45.180 far beyond 00:38:45.180 --> 00:38:45.760 what we can 00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:47.559 see or 00:38:47.559 --> 00:38:48.059 expect. 00:38:48.059 --> 00:38:50.139 and he 00:38:50.139 --> 00:38:50.659 will keep 00:38:50.659 --> 00:38:52.500 them in 00:38:52.500 --> 00:38:53.079 his way. 00:38:54.880 --> 00:38:55.119 And so 00:38:55.119 --> 00:38:55.639 the question 00:38:55.639 --> 00:38:56.079 this kind 00:38:56.079 --> 00:38:57.259 of drives 00:38:57.259 --> 00:38:57.639 us to 00:38:57.639 --> 00:38:58.199 words is 00:38:58.199 --> 00:38:58.579 this. 00:38:59.500 --> 00:38:59.980 Will we 00:38:59.980 --> 00:39:00.500 learn to 00:39:00.500 --> 00:39:01.159 trust him 00:39:01.159 --> 00:39:01.960 and walk 00:39:01.960 --> 00:39:02.619 before him 00:39:02.619 --> 00:39:03.239 faithfully 00:39:03.239 --> 00:39:04.679 no matter 00:39:04.679 --> 00:39:05.039 what? 00:39:06.880 --> 00:39:07.659 No matter 00:39:07.659 --> 00:39:08.099 what we 00:39:08.099 --> 00:39:08.759 see or 00:39:08.759 --> 00:39:09.320 don't see. 00:39:09.779 --> 00:39:10.259 No matter 00:39:10.259 --> 00:39:10.759 what we 00:39:10.759 --> 00:39:11.420 feel or 00:39:11.420 --> 00:39:12.039 don't feel. 00:39:12.980 --> 00:39:13.559 No matter 00:39:13.559 --> 00:39:14.079 whether the 00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:15.440 situation is 00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:17.440 improving in 00:39:17.440 --> 00:39:17.940 the present 00:39:17.940 --> 00:39:18.599 or not. 00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:20.179 Will we 00:39:20.179 --> 00:39:20.579 learn to 00:39:20.579 --> 00:39:21.159 trust him 00:39:21.159 --> 00:39:22.019 no matter 00:39:22.019 --> 00:39:22.400 what? 00:39:31.280 --> 00:39:31.940 And so 00:39:31.940 --> 00:39:32.420 this morning 00:39:32.420 --> 00:39:32.760 as we 00:39:32.760 --> 00:39:33.179 close, 00:39:34.200 --> 00:39:34.679 where do we 00:39:34.679 --> 00:39:35.260 find Abraham? 00:39:37.360 --> 00:39:37.920 Again, 00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:38.440 we find him 00:39:38.440 --> 00:39:38.900 lying on 00:39:38.900 --> 00:39:39.400 his back, 00:39:40.700 --> 00:39:41.619 this time 00:39:41.619 --> 00:39:43.059 staring up 00:39:43.059 --> 00:39:44.079 at the 00:39:44.079 --> 00:39:44.539 ceiling of 00:39:44.539 --> 00:39:45.039 his tent 00:39:45.039 --> 00:39:45.880 with the 00:39:45.880 --> 00:39:46.639 searing pain 00:39:46.639 --> 00:39:47.079 in his 00:39:47.079 --> 00:39:47.500 loins. 00:39:47.940 --> 00:39:50.500 but confident 00:39:50.500 --> 00:39:52.320 and rejoicing, 00:39:53.539 --> 00:39:54.280 expecting 00:39:54.280 --> 00:39:55.720 with great 00:39:55.720 --> 00:39:56.579 anticipation 00:39:56.579 --> 00:39:58.500 the miracle, 00:39:59.159 --> 00:39:59.940 the impossible 00:39:59.940 --> 00:40:00.400 that the 00:40:00.400 --> 00:40:00.940 Lord is about 00:40:00.940 --> 00:40:01.440 to do in 00:40:01.440 --> 00:40:01.780 just a 00:40:01.780 --> 00:40:02.340 year's time. 00:40:03.599 --> 00:40:04.519 And that 00:40:04.519 --> 00:40:05.119 is just the 00:40:05.119 --> 00:40:05.619 prelude 00:40:05.619 --> 00:40:06.980 of the 00:40:06.980 --> 00:40:07.539 bigger and 00:40:07.539 --> 00:40:08.340 greater promises 00:40:08.340 --> 00:40:09.360 that God 00:40:09.360 --> 00:40:10.619 has made. 00:40:10.619 --> 00:40:14.299 all of this 00:40:14.299 --> 00:40:15.139 part of this 00:40:15.139 --> 00:40:15.599 wonderful 00:40:15.599 --> 00:40:16.339 relationship 00:40:16.339 --> 00:40:18.319 that God 00:40:18.319 --> 00:40:19.119 has initiated 00:40:19.119 --> 00:40:19.679 with him 00:40:19.679 --> 00:40:20.239 and brought 00:40:20.239 --> 00:40:20.759 him into 00:40:20.759 --> 00:40:21.679 and confirmed 00:40:21.679 --> 00:40:22.759 today 00:40:22.759 --> 00:40:24.279 through this 00:40:24.279 --> 00:40:24.599 covenant. 00:40:24.599 --> 00:40:27.639 let's pray. 00:40:33.159 --> 00:40:34.000 Thank you for 00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:34.440 your word, 00:40:34.599 --> 00:40:34.739 Lord. 00:40:35.559 --> 00:40:36.440 It speaks 00:40:36.440 --> 00:40:36.980 of a time 00:40:36.980 --> 00:40:37.539 long ago, 00:40:37.779 --> 00:40:38.119 but in 00:40:38.119 --> 00:40:38.719 many ways 00:40:38.719 --> 00:40:39.699 we go 00:40:39.699 --> 00:40:40.259 through similar 00:40:40.259 --> 00:40:40.779 things in 00:40:40.779 --> 00:40:41.219 our lives 00:40:41.219 --> 00:40:41.599 today. 00:40:42.599 --> 00:40:43.239 Thank you 00:40:43.239 --> 00:40:43.559 for the 00:40:43.559 --> 00:40:44.039 encouragement 00:40:44.039 --> 00:40:44.519 of your 00:40:44.519 --> 00:40:44.839 word. 00:40:45.940 --> 00:40:46.619 Teach us 00:40:46.619 --> 00:40:47.000 to walk 00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:47.500 by faith, 00:40:47.579 --> 00:40:47.860 to live 00:40:47.860 --> 00:40:48.319 by faith, 00:40:48.380 --> 00:40:48.659 to make 00:40:48.659 --> 00:40:49.219 our decisions 00:40:49.219 --> 00:40:49.960 by faith, 00:40:49.960 --> 00:40:53.440 not based 00:40:53.440 --> 00:40:53.860 on what 00:40:53.860 --> 00:40:54.260 we can 00:40:54.260 --> 00:40:54.519 see, 00:40:54.679 --> 00:40:54.780 Lord, 00:40:54.840 --> 00:40:55.300 but based 00:40:55.300 --> 00:40:55.740 on what 00:40:55.740 --> 00:40:56.300 your word 00:40:56.300 --> 00:40:56.880 tells us, 00:40:56.940 --> 00:40:57.460 the promises 00:40:57.460 --> 00:40:57.920 that you 00:40:57.920 --> 00:40:58.300 have made 00:40:58.300 --> 00:40:58.740 to us. 00:40:58.860 --> 00:40:59.220 We thank 00:40:59.220 --> 00:40:59.460 you that 00:40:59.460 --> 00:40:59.679 you have 00:40:59.679 --> 00:41:00.300 made great 00:41:00.300 --> 00:41:00.740 promises 00:41:00.740 --> 00:41:01.380 to us. 00:41:03.340 --> 00:41:03.820 You've 00:41:03.820 --> 00:41:04.460 spoken about 00:41:04.460 --> 00:41:05.179 your return, 00:41:05.300 --> 00:41:05.820 about a 00:41:05.820 --> 00:41:06.599 great kingdom 00:41:06.599 --> 00:41:07.039 that we 00:41:07.039 --> 00:41:07.519 will be 00:41:07.519 --> 00:41:08.420 a part 00:41:08.420 --> 00:41:08.720 of 00:41:08.720 --> 00:41:09.559 someday. 00:41:10.480 --> 00:41:10.960 Lord, 00:41:11.039 --> 00:41:11.400 by our 00:41:11.400 --> 00:41:11.699 own 00:41:11.699 --> 00:41:12.599 evaluation 00:41:12.599 --> 00:41:13.420 of things 00:41:13.420 --> 00:41:14.260 and time, 00:41:14.780 --> 00:41:15.920 it's a 00:41:15.920 --> 00:41:16.480 long time 00:41:16.480 --> 00:41:16.940 in coming. 00:41:17.300 --> 00:41:17.619 It's been 00:41:17.619 --> 00:41:18.199 2,000 00:41:18.199 --> 00:41:18.639 years. 00:41:19.960 --> 00:41:21.380 But we 00:41:21.380 --> 00:41:22.159 choose to 00:41:22.159 --> 00:41:22.800 trust that 00:41:22.800 --> 00:41:23.539 you will 00:41:23.539 --> 00:41:24.199 keep your 00:41:24.199 --> 00:41:24.659 promises, 00:41:25.260 --> 00:41:26.220 not only to 00:41:26.220 --> 00:41:26.579 Abraham, 00:41:26.699 --> 00:41:27.300 but also to 00:41:27.300 --> 00:41:27.639 us, 00:41:27.920 --> 00:41:28.380 no matter 00:41:28.380 --> 00:41:28.699 what. 00:41:30.019 --> 00:41:30.519 It's in 00:41:30.519 --> 00:41:31.099 Christ's name 00:41:31.099 --> 00:41:32.220 that we 00:41:32.220 --> 00:41:32.519 pray. 00:41:33.280 --> 00:41:33.579 Amen.