WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.259 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch. 00:00:05.259 --> 00:00:15.419 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christchurch. 00:00:15.419 --> 00:00:22.640 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristchurchEastBay.org. 00:00:25.399 --> 00:00:30.759 Good morning, Christchurch. My name is Carrie Moulton, and I'm a member of the Welcome Team. 00:00:31.660 --> 00:00:42.380 And today's reading is from the book of Genesis, chapter 18, verses 1 through 15, and chapter 21, verses 1 through 7. 00:00:43.520 --> 00:00:45.380 A reading from the book of Genesis. 00:00:45.420 --> 00:00:57.200 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 00:00:58.939 --> 00:01:02.120 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. 00:01:03.560 --> 00:01:09.740 When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. 00:01:09.739 --> 00:01:11.619 He said, 00:01:11.739 --> 00:01:16.039 If I have found favor in your eyes, my Lord, do not pass by your servant. 00:01:16.939 --> 00:01:22.780 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 00:01:23.739 --> 00:01:30.659 Let me get you something to eat so you can be refreshed and go on your way, now that you have come to your servant. 00:01:30.659 --> 00:01:33.659 Very well, they answered. 00:01:33.659 --> 00:01:34.959 Do as you say. 00:01:36.359 --> 00:01:39.319 So Abraham hurried to the tent to Sarah. 00:01:40.259 --> 00:01:45.459 Quick, he said, get three sias of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread. 00:01:45.459 --> 00:01:53.939 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice tender calf and gave it to a servant who hurried to prepare it. 00:01:55.059 --> 00:02:01.079 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared and set these before them. 00:02:01.079 --> 00:02:06.359 While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. 00:02:07.259 --> 00:02:09.280 Where is your wife Sarah, they asked him. 00:02:10.020 --> 00:02:11.680 There in the tent, he said. 00:02:12.500 --> 00:02:13.780 Then one of them said, 00:02:14.079 --> 00:02:20.199 I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah, your wife, will have a son. 00:02:21.879 --> 00:02:26.139 Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 00:02:26.139 --> 00:02:32.579 Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 00:02:33.479 --> 00:02:35.919 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, 00:02:36.759 --> 00:02:41.019 After I am worn out and my Lord is old, will I now have this pleasure? 00:02:42.379 --> 00:02:44.039 Then the Lord said to Abraham, 00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:46.279 Why did Sarah laugh and say, 00:02:46.659 --> 00:02:48.859 Will I really have a child now that I am old? 00:02:49.279 --> 00:02:51.379 Is anything too hard for the Lord? 00:02:51.379 --> 00:02:57.560 I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son. 00:02:58.740 --> 00:03:01.199 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, 00:03:01.400 --> 00:03:02.439 I did not laugh. 00:03:02.759 --> 00:03:03.560 But he said, 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:05.039 Yes, you did laugh. 00:03:06.180 --> 00:03:09.500 Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah, as he had said, 00:03:09.859 --> 00:03:12.039 and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. 00:03:13.259 --> 00:03:17.000 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, 00:03:17.319 --> 00:03:19.699 at the very time God had promised him. 00:03:19.699 --> 00:03:24.599 Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. 00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:27.959 When his son Isaac was eight days old, 00:03:28.339 --> 00:03:30.959 Abraham circumcised him as God commanded him. 00:03:32.019 --> 00:03:35.379 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 00:03:36.459 --> 00:03:37.159 Sarah said, 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:39.019 God has brought me laughter, 00:03:39.500 --> 00:03:42.399 and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me. 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:43.839 And she added, 00:03:44.179 --> 00:03:47.399 Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? 00:03:47.400 --> 00:03:51.039 Yet I have born him a son in his old age. 00:03:51.539 --> 00:03:53.819 The grass withers and the flowers fade, 00:03:54.200 --> 00:03:56.620 but the word of our God stands forever. 00:03:57.900 --> 00:03:59.560 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:04:01.159 --> 00:04:07.500 When we first moved here about 20 years ago to Berkeley to start this church, 00:04:07.500 --> 00:04:11.840 I read a book by Bill Bryson. 00:04:11.979 --> 00:04:13.139 Anybody read Bill Bryson? 00:04:13.319 --> 00:04:14.039 Phenomenal writer. 00:04:14.939 --> 00:04:18.639 He wrote a book around that time called A Short History of Nearly Everything. 00:04:19.620 --> 00:04:23.259 And I thought maybe this will help me as I'm preparing to be a pastor here in Berkeley. 00:04:24.259 --> 00:04:25.360 And he said this. 00:04:25.399 --> 00:04:25.779 He said, 00:04:25.779 --> 00:04:29.599 It appears that if you wish to have a planet suitable for life, 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:32.679 you have to be just awfully lucky. 00:04:33.799 --> 00:04:36.759 And the more advanced the life, the luckier you have to be. 00:04:37.719 --> 00:04:40.319 We are to an almost uncanny degree, 00:04:41.159 --> 00:04:43.679 the right distance from the right sort of star. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:47.180 One that is big enough to radiate lots of energy, 00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:50.180 but not so big as to burn itself out swiftly. 00:04:51.300 --> 00:04:53.819 We are also fortunate to orbit where we do. 00:04:53.959 --> 00:04:57.579 Too much nearer and everything on earth would have boiled away, 00:04:57.680 --> 00:04:58.780 much farther away, 00:04:59.379 --> 00:05:01.259 and everything would have frozen. 00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:06.680 And what he's talking about there is that we live in a Goldilocks universe. 00:05:07.399 --> 00:05:09.120 We live in a Goldilocks solar system. 00:05:09.840 --> 00:05:10.759 It's not too big. 00:05:10.840 --> 00:05:11.540 It's not too small. 00:05:11.959 --> 00:05:12.920 Not too hot. 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:13.660 Not too cold. 00:05:14.280 --> 00:05:16.379 Everything is just right. 00:05:17.459 --> 00:05:20.560 And the Christian interpretation of that data 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:24.899 is that we're neither lucky nor fortunate, 00:05:25.899 --> 00:05:29.360 but rather that we have someone above us to thank. 00:05:30.699 --> 00:05:35.939 And, you know, when we explore this first and foundational book of the Bible, 00:05:35.939 --> 00:05:40.319 and we meet this God in Genesis 1 and 2, 00:05:40.519 --> 00:05:41.300 this God who said, 00:05:41.480 --> 00:05:42.120 Fiat Lux. 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:43.759 Go Bears. 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:44.699 Fiat Lux. 00:05:45.639 --> 00:05:47.899 Let there be light and bang. 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:48.720 There was light. 00:05:50.100 --> 00:05:51.300 And this God who said, 00:05:51.500 --> 00:05:53.300 let there be a fine-tuned universe 00:05:53.300 --> 00:05:57.399 with physical constants that are precisely calibrated 00:05:57.399 --> 00:06:00.199 within an incredibly narrow range 00:06:00.199 --> 00:06:02.939 so as to make the existence of life possible. 00:06:02.939 --> 00:06:05.300 Let there be DNA. 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:08.939 Let there be this double helix structure 00:06:08.939 --> 00:06:10.939 that encodes the biological information 00:06:11.459 --> 00:06:13.819 and instructions for making you, you. 00:06:14.740 --> 00:06:16.600 And let there be within that DNA 00:06:16.600 --> 00:06:21.579 all the incredible things that would make for the human eye 00:06:21.579 --> 00:06:23.100 and all of its brilliant complexity 00:06:23.100 --> 00:06:25.019 and all the human hand 00:06:25.019 --> 00:06:27.019 and its functional sophistication. 00:06:27.019 --> 00:06:31.639 You see, the creator God of Genesis 1 and 2 00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:34.799 who made this massive universe we live in 00:06:34.799 --> 00:06:37.719 and these marvelous bodies that we inhabit 00:06:37.719 --> 00:06:40.379 and who formed us in His image 00:06:40.379 --> 00:06:42.339 and breathed life into us, 00:06:43.240 --> 00:06:44.560 as Andrew prayed a minute ago, 00:06:44.620 --> 00:06:46.719 He's the same Redeemer God 00:06:46.719 --> 00:06:48.500 of the rest of Genesis, 00:06:48.620 --> 00:06:50.060 from Genesis to Revelation, 00:06:50.279 --> 00:06:51.459 that, in other words, 00:06:51.539 --> 00:06:52.740 the maker of heaven and earth 00:06:52.740 --> 00:06:55.379 is the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. 00:06:56.699 --> 00:06:59.500 And from these people 00:06:59.500 --> 00:07:02.139 that God has put Himself in a relationship with 00:07:02.139 --> 00:07:04.860 will come Israel's Messiah 00:07:04.860 --> 00:07:06.439 and the world's true Lord 00:07:06.439 --> 00:07:10.819 through whom salvation will come into the world 00:07:10.819 --> 00:07:13.100 and He'll remake reality 00:07:13.100 --> 00:07:16.000 into a new heavens and a new earth. 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:17.240 He'll resurrect our bodies. 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:20.500 He'll grant us new and everlasting life 00:07:20.500 --> 00:07:24.379 in this new space, time, and matter universe. 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:29.280 And we need to hold on to that big picture 00:07:29.280 --> 00:07:33.180 and this sweeping grand metanarrative 00:07:33.180 --> 00:07:35.879 when we, anytime we dive into the details 00:07:35.879 --> 00:07:37.139 of a text like this, 00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:39.220 the details of Abraham and Sarah 00:07:39.220 --> 00:07:41.079 and this life of faith 00:07:41.079 --> 00:07:44.100 that God is inviting them to journey into today. 00:07:45.139 --> 00:07:46.840 And as we dive into this, 00:07:46.839 --> 00:07:49.439 I want us to think about a couple things, 00:07:49.519 --> 00:07:50.839 three things, as always. 00:07:51.779 --> 00:07:53.459 I want us to think about God's power 00:07:53.459 --> 00:07:56.179 and God's grace and God's Son. 00:07:56.899 --> 00:07:58.879 God's power, God's grace, and God's Son. 00:07:58.939 --> 00:08:00.719 Now, I need your help today 00:08:00.719 --> 00:08:02.620 because I didn't get my day off this week 00:08:02.620 --> 00:08:05.599 and had to spend it all day Friday 00:08:05.599 --> 00:08:06.759 with a bunch of Presbyterians. 00:08:06.959 --> 00:08:10.839 So, I'm sort of riding on your enthusiasm 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:12.339 and your intentiveness today. 00:08:12.819 --> 00:08:14.019 This will rise and fall 00:08:14.019 --> 00:08:15.500 on what you bring to the sermon. 00:08:16.839 --> 00:08:18.299 So, we're going to talk, first of all, 00:08:18.339 --> 00:08:19.339 about God's power. 00:08:19.639 --> 00:08:19.779 Okay? 00:08:19.959 --> 00:08:21.899 And in verse, chapter 18, 00:08:22.719 --> 00:08:23.939 we can see here that Abraham 00:08:23.939 --> 00:08:27.000 is a typical ancient Near Eastern Bedouin. 00:08:27.139 --> 00:08:28.839 He's living in a intense, 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:30.899 this semi-nomadic life 00:08:30.899 --> 00:08:32.439 with his family and his flocks 00:08:32.439 --> 00:08:35.559 in this harsh desert conditions. 00:08:35.559 --> 00:08:37.599 There's no police force. 00:08:37.719 --> 00:08:38.779 There's no justice system. 00:08:38.899 --> 00:08:40.959 There's no hospital or urgent care. 00:08:41.059 --> 00:08:42.239 There's no Trader Joe's. 00:08:43.439 --> 00:08:45.199 And these three visitors, 00:08:45.439 --> 00:08:47.119 these three travelers come to Abraham 00:08:47.119 --> 00:08:49.879 and he has no idea who they are. 00:08:50.119 --> 00:08:51.039 We do as readers. 00:08:51.279 --> 00:08:52.279 We're told in verse 1, 00:08:52.699 --> 00:08:54.199 but Abraham doesn't have a clue. 00:08:55.059 --> 00:08:56.779 The only thing he knows 00:08:56.779 --> 00:08:58.399 is that these are three guests 00:08:58.399 --> 00:09:01.359 in these same harsh desert conditions 00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:02.899 who are in need of welcome 00:09:02.899 --> 00:09:04.279 and in need of hospitality. 00:09:05.240 --> 00:09:07.720 Now, we all know that xenophobia, 00:09:08.779 --> 00:09:10.519 the definition of xenophobia 00:09:10.519 --> 00:09:12.000 is the fear of strangers 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:14.460 and that it's opposite. 00:09:14.700 --> 00:09:18.740 Xenophilia is the love of strangers. 00:09:19.740 --> 00:09:21.180 And in Abraham's day, 00:09:21.560 --> 00:09:24.100 it was your highest duty. 00:09:24.860 --> 00:09:27.540 It was a sacred virtue 00:09:27.540 --> 00:09:30.600 to practice xenophilia, 00:09:30.820 --> 00:09:32.639 to lavish hospitality 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:34.139 on guests and strangers, 00:09:34.279 --> 00:09:35.540 to roll out the red carpet 00:09:35.540 --> 00:09:37.639 for people you didn't know 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:40.100 to make them feel at home and at rest. 00:09:41.019 --> 00:09:42.659 And these guests received from Abraham 00:09:42.659 --> 00:09:45.659 this warm, gracious, royal welcome. 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:47.700 Now, just pause as an aside right here 00:09:47.700 --> 00:09:49.180 to say that part of the mission 00:09:49.180 --> 00:09:51.279 of God's church 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:54.399 in the midst of this epidemic 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:55.120 of loneliness 00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:57.159 that we're living through 00:09:57.159 --> 00:09:58.980 and the erosion 00:09:58.980 --> 00:10:01.279 of all of our communities of trust. 00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:05.299 What we want to do 00:10:05.299 --> 00:10:06.639 and what we want to be 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:08.000 is like Abraham 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:09.759 where when guests arrive, 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:11.779 we hurry over to them 00:10:11.779 --> 00:10:13.519 and we speak with them. 00:10:14.659 --> 00:10:14.899 Right? 00:10:14.980 --> 00:10:16.319 And you don't have to do like Abraham. 00:10:16.459 --> 00:10:18.100 You don't have to bow down on the ground. 00:10:18.539 --> 00:10:18.720 You know, 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:20.759 a warm smile, 00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:22.060 a friendly handshake will do. 00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:23.480 But Abraham 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:26.240 assesses the needs of these guests 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:26.759 and he says, 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:26.960 you know, 00:10:27.019 --> 00:10:27.800 what would honor them? 00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:29.720 What would make them feel refreshed? 00:10:30.759 --> 00:10:31.340 And again, 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:32.580 you don't have to go bake bread 00:10:32.580 --> 00:10:33.759 or wash their feet 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:35.800 or barbecue some choice meat. 00:10:35.920 --> 00:10:36.600 You just have to say, 00:10:36.660 --> 00:10:36.740 hey, 00:10:36.759 --> 00:10:37.800 what are you doing for lunch today? 00:10:38.779 --> 00:10:38.940 Hey, 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:40.139 you want to come to our coffee hour? 00:10:41.060 --> 00:10:42.180 I want to invite you 00:10:42.180 --> 00:10:43.300 to my table 00:10:43.300 --> 00:10:44.080 and I want to invite you 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:45.399 into my life. 00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:48.600 Again, 00:10:48.959 --> 00:10:50.159 Abraham has no idea 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:51.759 who this is. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:52.919 He just gives them a welcome 00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:53.519 that's fit 00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:55.220 for God himself. 00:10:56.500 --> 00:10:58.120 And the book of Hebrews 00:10:58.120 --> 00:10:59.120 in the New Testament says, 00:10:59.259 --> 00:11:00.059 do not forget to show 00:11:00.059 --> 00:11:01.740 hospitality to strangers 00:11:01.740 --> 00:11:03.079 for by so doing, 00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:04.319 some people have shown 00:11:04.319 --> 00:11:05.600 hospitality to angels 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:06.860 without knowing it. 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:07.579 A direct reference 00:11:07.579 --> 00:11:09.220 to our text today. 00:11:10.500 --> 00:11:12.139 So it's not immediately apparent 00:11:12.139 --> 00:11:14.179 who this is, 00:11:14.179 --> 00:11:15.339 but we're told in verse 1 00:11:15.339 --> 00:11:16.039 it's the Lord 00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:17.419 and we're told in verse 13 00:11:17.419 --> 00:11:18.439 that the Lord is the one 00:11:18.439 --> 00:11:19.379 who's speaking. 00:11:19.639 --> 00:11:21.819 So it's clear that this is Yahweh 00:11:21.819 --> 00:11:23.519 and these are his two 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:25.159 angelic messengers 00:11:25.159 --> 00:11:26.219 that he's brought with him 00:11:26.219 --> 00:11:27.599 and why has he come? 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:27.819 Well, 00:11:28.319 --> 00:11:29.159 look at verse 9. 00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:29.579 It says, 00:11:30.419 --> 00:11:32.419 where is your wife Sarah? 00:11:33.819 --> 00:11:34.639 There in the tent, 00:11:34.699 --> 00:11:35.019 he said. 00:11:35.059 --> 00:11:35.719 And then the Lord said, 00:11:35.799 --> 00:11:36.939 I will surely return to you 00:11:36.939 --> 00:11:37.899 about this time next year 00:11:37.899 --> 00:11:38.699 and Sarah your wife 00:11:38.699 --> 00:11:39.959 will have a son. 00:11:40.019 --> 00:11:40.899 Now Sarah was listening 00:11:40.899 --> 00:11:42.059 at the entrance to the tent 00:11:42.059 --> 00:11:43.500 which was behind him. 00:11:43.500 --> 00:11:44.299 Abraham and Sarah 00:11:44.299 --> 00:11:45.600 were already very old 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:47.039 and Sarah was past 00:11:47.039 --> 00:11:47.980 the age of childbearing 00:11:47.980 --> 00:11:49.519 so Sarah laughed to herself 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:50.340 as she thought, 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:51.940 after I am worn out 00:11:51.940 --> 00:11:53.059 and my Lord is old 00:11:53.059 --> 00:11:55.440 will I now have this pleasure? 00:11:58.360 --> 00:11:59.659 We've seen the Lord 00:11:59.659 --> 00:12:00.899 come for Abraham 00:12:00.899 --> 00:12:02.559 the past few weeks. 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:04.580 But in this text, 00:12:04.820 --> 00:12:05.600 the Lord doesn't come 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:06.159 for Abraham, 00:12:06.340 --> 00:12:08.019 he comes for Sarah. 00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:10.320 And we said last week, 00:12:10.379 --> 00:12:11.039 this is remarkable 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:11.959 because in ancient 00:12:11.959 --> 00:12:12.759 Near Eastern literature, 00:12:13.419 --> 00:12:14.819 women hardly exist. 00:12:14.959 --> 00:12:15.959 But in the Bible, 00:12:16.039 --> 00:12:17.099 the first book of the Bible, 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:18.579 they're part of the main 00:12:18.579 --> 00:12:19.519 cast of characters 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:20.799 from Eve to Hagar 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:22.159 to Sarah to Rebecca 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:23.120 and Rachel and Leah. 00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:24.419 You get into Exodus, 00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:25.740 Shipra, Puah, Miriam. 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:26.939 It's astounding. 00:12:28.599 --> 00:12:31.059 And the Lord doesn't come 00:12:31.059 --> 00:12:32.439 to talk to Abraham. 00:12:32.620 --> 00:12:33.219 He's sort of talking 00:12:33.219 --> 00:12:34.620 through Abraham at points 00:12:34.620 --> 00:12:36.560 because he wants 00:12:36.560 --> 00:12:37.580 a personal relationship 00:12:37.580 --> 00:12:38.580 with Sarah. 00:12:38.700 --> 00:12:39.120 Verse 9, 00:12:39.220 --> 00:12:40.340 where's Sarah? 00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:42.179 Verse 10, 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:43.320 he knows that Sarah's 00:12:43.320 --> 00:12:45.320 listening at the entrance 00:12:45.320 --> 00:12:45.720 of the tent 00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:46.779 so he speaks a word 00:12:46.779 --> 00:12:47.139 to her 00:12:47.139 --> 00:12:48.100 and she becomes 00:12:48.100 --> 00:12:48.980 the focus 00:12:48.980 --> 00:12:49.899 of his attention 00:12:49.899 --> 00:12:51.360 for the rest 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:51.940 of the text. 00:12:53.320 --> 00:12:54.620 What we know so far 00:12:54.620 --> 00:12:55.120 is that God 00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:56.279 has called Abraham, 00:12:56.460 --> 00:12:57.240 he's made promises 00:12:57.240 --> 00:12:57.960 to Abraham, 00:12:58.539 --> 00:12:59.320 Genesis 12, 00:12:59.460 --> 00:13:00.639 Genesis 15. 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:01.560 Sarah knows 00:13:01.560 --> 00:13:02.200 this information 00:13:02.200 --> 00:13:03.160 but the question is 00:13:03.160 --> 00:13:04.340 where is she 00:13:04.340 --> 00:13:05.520 with the Lord? 00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:07.500 Does she know 00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:07.879 the Lord? 00:13:09.379 --> 00:13:10.180 Has she come 00:13:10.180 --> 00:13:11.680 to lean the full weight 00:13:11.680 --> 00:13:12.440 of her trust 00:13:12.440 --> 00:13:13.879 on the Lord? 00:13:15.160 --> 00:13:15.960 Because the scriptures 00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:16.820 tell us it's not 00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:17.420 good enough 00:13:17.420 --> 00:13:18.340 to just know 00:13:18.340 --> 00:13:18.660 the Lord 00:13:18.660 --> 00:13:19.860 through other people 00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:22.000 and everything 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:22.940 she knows so far 00:13:22.940 --> 00:13:23.879 is through her husband 00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:24.800 Abraham. 00:13:24.980 --> 00:13:25.879 The question here is 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:26.660 Sarah knows 00:13:26.660 --> 00:13:27.580 about the Lord 00:13:27.580 --> 00:13:28.540 but does she know 00:13:28.540 --> 00:13:29.200 the Lord? 00:13:31.040 --> 00:13:31.580 Has she had 00:13:31.580 --> 00:13:32.300 her own personal 00:13:32.300 --> 00:13:33.320 encounter and experience 00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:33.840 with the Lord? 00:13:33.900 --> 00:13:34.980 Now I've been a pastor 00:13:34.980 --> 00:13:35.520 long enough 00:13:35.520 --> 00:13:37.280 to see many girlfriends 00:13:37.280 --> 00:13:38.700 and wives drag guys 00:13:38.700 --> 00:13:39.240 to church 00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:41.639 and many parents 00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:42.440 drag their kids 00:13:42.440 --> 00:13:42.940 to church 00:13:42.940 --> 00:13:43.620 and I've seen it 00:13:43.620 --> 00:13:44.639 work in the opposite 00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:45.139 direction. 00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:46.720 Kids sometimes drag 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:47.740 their parents to church 00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:49.340 and guys sometimes 00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:50.759 drag their significant 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:51.580 others to church 00:13:51.580 --> 00:13:52.780 but what matters 00:13:52.780 --> 00:13:54.580 is have you met 00:13:54.580 --> 00:13:55.080 the Lord? 00:13:57.220 --> 00:13:58.240 Do you realize 00:13:58.240 --> 00:13:59.379 that he's seeking you? 00:13:59.440 --> 00:13:59.879 Do you realize 00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:00.640 that he knows 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:01.080 your name? 00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:02.000 Where's Sarah? 00:14:04.199 --> 00:14:04.819 The Lord 00:14:04.819 --> 00:14:05.439 it's interesting 00:14:05.439 --> 00:14:06.759 he comes into her life 00:14:06.759 --> 00:14:07.860 in such a different way 00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:08.500 than he came into 00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:10.139 Abraham's life 00:14:10.139 --> 00:14:10.899 because if you remember 00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:12.139 back to Genesis 15 00:14:12.139 --> 00:14:12.580 the Lord 00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:13.840 appeared to Abraham 00:14:13.840 --> 00:14:15.840 in this super dramatic way 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:16.899 in the darkness 00:14:16.899 --> 00:14:18.259 God is this 00:14:18.259 --> 00:14:18.919 you know 00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:20.139 this smoking pot 00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:21.580 and fiery torch 00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:23.059 sort of image of God 00:14:23.059 --> 00:14:23.819 and he's walking 00:14:23.819 --> 00:14:24.980 through these broken bodies 00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:26.519 and all this shed blood 00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:27.519 and you know 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:27.899 how does 00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:28.879 how does God come 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:30.199 to Sarah here? 00:14:31.319 --> 00:14:32.159 Totally different 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:34.220 he comes in the middle 00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:34.840 of the day 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:37.079 he comes in 00:14:37.079 --> 00:14:38.199 in such a personal 00:14:38.199 --> 00:14:39.100 such a familiar 00:14:39.100 --> 00:14:40.439 such an accessible 00:14:40.439 --> 00:14:41.340 and approachable 00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:42.179 way 00:14:42.179 --> 00:14:43.299 that they don't even know 00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:43.819 it's him 00:14:43.819 --> 00:14:45.539 for like most of the time 00:14:45.539 --> 00:14:47.679 and if you compare 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:48.600 Genesis 15 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:49.639 with Genesis 18 00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:50.240 you can see 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:50.819 that the Lord 00:14:50.819 --> 00:14:52.379 comes into our lives 00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:53.120 in a variety 00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:54.399 of different ways 00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:55.459 sometimes dramatic 00:14:55.459 --> 00:14:56.779 and sometimes 00:14:56.779 --> 00:14:57.799 just natural 00:14:57.799 --> 00:14:58.319 and normal 00:14:58.319 --> 00:14:59.699 sometimes suddenly 00:14:59.699 --> 00:15:01.319 and a lot of times 00:15:01.319 --> 00:15:02.019 gradually 00:15:02.019 --> 00:15:04.579 sometimes it's super obvious 00:15:04.579 --> 00:15:05.639 sometimes it's just 00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:06.840 so subtle 00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:08.840 but he's a 00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:09.439 he's a God 00:15:09.439 --> 00:15:10.500 of both infinity 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:12.079 and intimacy 00:15:12.079 --> 00:15:13.039 right 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:13.879 and we've got to be careful 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:15.480 we don't make one 00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:16.199 of those two 00:15:16.199 --> 00:15:17.240 more normative 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:18.799 than the other 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:19.720 we've got to be careful 00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:20.899 not to try to emulate 00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:22.659 someone else's experience 00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:23.219 of God 00:15:23.219 --> 00:15:24.539 or not to project 00:15:24.539 --> 00:15:25.519 our own experience 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:25.879 of God 00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:26.480 onto other people 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:26.759 and say 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:27.319 well you're not 00:15:27.319 --> 00:15:27.779 a real 00:15:27.779 --> 00:15:30.039 spiritual person 00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:30.639 you're not a real 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:31.059 Christian 00:15:31.059 --> 00:15:32.120 unless you've encountered 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:32.899 God in the way 00:15:32.899 --> 00:15:33.519 that I have 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:36.919 it's clear that 00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:38.259 the Lord wants 00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:38.799 a personal 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:39.860 and direct relationship 00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:41.100 with Sarah 00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:42.939 and notice how 00:15:42.939 --> 00:15:43.659 he gets her attention 00:15:43.659 --> 00:15:44.139 he says 00:15:44.139 --> 00:15:45.500 where's Sarah 00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:47.639 and she must be 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:48.459 thinking to herself 00:15:48.459 --> 00:15:49.740 okay how does 00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:50.419 this stranger 00:15:50.419 --> 00:15:51.539 whom I've never met 00:15:51.539 --> 00:15:52.319 know my name 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:54.580 and then 00:15:54.580 --> 00:15:56.000 verse 10 says 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:57.100 the Lord said 00:15:57.100 --> 00:15:58.220 I will surely return 00:15:58.220 --> 00:15:59.020 to you about this time 00:15:59.020 --> 00:15:59.560 next year 00:15:59.560 --> 00:16:00.600 and Sarah your wife 00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:01.820 will have a son 00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:02.780 now the Lord knows 00:16:02.780 --> 00:16:03.520 Sarah's listening 00:16:03.520 --> 00:16:05.680 and the Lord also knows 00:16:05.680 --> 00:16:06.760 that Sarah's had a lifetime 00:16:06.760 --> 00:16:08.620 of infertility 00:16:08.620 --> 00:16:09.420 and barrenness 00:16:09.420 --> 00:16:11.080 the Lord knows 00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:12.860 that now she's 90 years old 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:13.840 she's well past 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:15.060 the age of menopause 00:16:15.060 --> 00:16:16.660 Abraham's 100 years old 00:16:16.660 --> 00:16:18.240 the Lord knows 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:18.960 that conception 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:20.600 is impossible 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:21.520 for this couple 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:22.740 that's well beyond 00:16:22.740 --> 00:16:24.179 childbearing age 00:16:24.179 --> 00:16:25.059 the Lord knows 00:16:25.059 --> 00:16:26.439 that even if 00:16:26.439 --> 00:16:27.899 conception were possible 00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:29.299 a safe delivery 00:16:29.299 --> 00:16:30.860 a healthy birth 00:16:30.860 --> 00:16:32.059 would be out of the question 00:16:32.059 --> 00:16:34.519 the Lord knows 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:35.500 that this couple 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:37.159 is procreatively dead 00:16:37.159 --> 00:16:39.340 and that it would take 00:16:39.340 --> 00:16:40.720 a divine intervention 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:41.179 it would take 00:16:41.179 --> 00:16:43.000 a supernatural work 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:44.279 of almighty God 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:45.980 for them to have 00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:46.840 a child 00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:48.899 and so the Lord 00:16:48.899 --> 00:16:49.639 reiterates 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:50.940 his word 00:16:50.940 --> 00:16:51.680 and his promise 00:16:51.680 --> 00:16:52.860 knowing how ridiculous 00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:53.480 it sounds 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:54.600 knowing how impossible 00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:55.759 it seems 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:56.399 to see 00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:57.920 how she'll respond 00:16:57.920 --> 00:17:00.220 and verse 12 00:17:00.220 --> 00:17:00.899 says that 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:02.740 Sarah laughed 00:17:02.740 --> 00:17:03.300 to herself 00:17:03.300 --> 00:17:04.140 as she thought 00:17:04.140 --> 00:17:05.539 after I'm worn out 00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:06.500 and my Lord is old 00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:07.440 will I now have 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:08.500 this pleasure 00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:11.539 have any of you 00:17:11.539 --> 00:17:12.559 ever laughed 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:13.000 at God 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:15.579 you ever laughed 00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:16.199 at his word 00:17:16.199 --> 00:17:16.819 you ever laughed 00:17:16.819 --> 00:17:18.319 at the promises 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:19.039 that he's made 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:21.460 Sarah was not 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.039 the first person 00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:22.839 to laugh at God 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:24.619 if you go back 00:17:24.619 --> 00:17:25.799 to Genesis 17 00:17:25.799 --> 00:17:28.500 God tells Abraham 00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:29.079 he says 00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:29.919 your wife Sarah 00:17:29.919 --> 00:17:31.339 will be the mother 00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:32.000 of nations 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:34.819 and kings of peoples 00:17:34.819 --> 00:17:35.460 will come 00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:36.159 from her 00:17:36.159 --> 00:17:38.379 and the text says 00:17:38.379 --> 00:17:38.839 that Abraham 00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:39.939 fell face down 00:17:39.939 --> 00:17:40.460 laughing 00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:41.619 with incredulous 00:17:41.619 --> 00:17:42.459 laughter 00:17:42.459 --> 00:17:45.659 Abraham laughed 00:17:45.659 --> 00:17:46.099 but the Lord 00:17:46.099 --> 00:17:46.939 transformed 00:17:46.939 --> 00:17:48.419 his unbelief 00:17:48.419 --> 00:17:50.079 into belief 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:51.319 but Sarah's laugh 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:52.419 is an indicator 00:17:52.419 --> 00:17:54.159 that Abraham's 00:17:54.159 --> 00:17:54.799 not been able 00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:56.099 to persuade her 00:17:56.099 --> 00:17:56.599 not been able 00:17:56.599 --> 00:17:57.159 to convince her 00:17:57.159 --> 00:17:57.599 not been able 00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:58.579 to win her 00:17:58.579 --> 00:17:59.099 over the way 00:17:59.099 --> 00:18:00.139 the Lord won him over 00:18:00.139 --> 00:18:01.919 her laughter 00:18:01.919 --> 00:18:02.619 means that 00:18:02.619 --> 00:18:03.939 her interest 00:18:03.939 --> 00:18:04.879 in the Lord's promise 00:18:04.879 --> 00:18:05.679 the Lord's covenant 00:18:05.679 --> 00:18:07.199 is not very deep 00:18:07.199 --> 00:18:09.699 that her belief 00:18:09.699 --> 00:18:10.659 in the Lord's power 00:18:10.659 --> 00:18:11.500 the Lord's ability 00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:13.339 is not very strong 00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:14.039 and secure 00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:15.000 at all 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:16.740 and that's why 00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:18.579 he comes seeking her 00:18:18.579 --> 00:18:19.299 where's Sarah 00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:21.740 because he wants 00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:22.279 to draw her 00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:22.779 into this 00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:24.140 relationship 00:18:24.140 --> 00:18:24.960 of believing 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:25.819 participation 00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:27.819 and establish her 00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:29.200 in his promises 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:31.559 so how does this 00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:32.259 apply 00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:33.039 how do we apply 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:33.859 this to our lives 00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:36.019 what does God 00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:36.579 say to Sarah 00:18:36.579 --> 00:18:36.980 listen 00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:38.220 you little mortal 00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:41.160 how dare you laugh 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:41.800 at me 00:18:41.800 --> 00:18:42.720 the Lord 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:43.380 of the universe 00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:45.560 no he says 00:18:45.560 --> 00:18:46.240 in verse 14 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:46.680 he says 00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:48.040 is anything too 00:18:48.040 --> 00:18:48.480 hard 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:49.580 for the Lord 00:18:49.580 --> 00:18:51.360 it's one of the 00:18:51.360 --> 00:18:52.380 great verses 00:18:52.380 --> 00:18:53.140 in the whole Bible 00:18:53.140 --> 00:18:53.680 it's repeated 00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:54.519 over and over 00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:57.000 and that word 00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:57.580 hard 00:18:57.580 --> 00:18:58.040 that word 00:18:58.040 --> 00:18:58.519 difficult 00:18:58.519 --> 00:18:59.620 can also be 00:18:59.620 --> 00:19:00.060 translated 00:19:00.060 --> 00:19:01.120 wonderful 00:19:01.120 --> 00:19:01.740 is there anything 00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:02.660 too wonderful 00:19:02.660 --> 00:19:04.500 for the Lord 00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.160 the Psalms 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:05.640 use this 00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:07.000 word all the time 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.519 if you read 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:08.060 the prayer book 00:19:08.060 --> 00:19:08.460 of the Bible 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.180 you'll see 00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:09.519 it says 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:10.340 it talks about 00:19:10.340 --> 00:19:10.740 the God 00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:11.600 who works wonders 00:19:11.600 --> 00:19:12.140 and it says 00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:12.819 be filled 00:19:12.819 --> 00:19:13.759 with awe 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:14.640 at his wonders 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:15.319 tell of all 00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:16.480 his wonders 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:17.299 praise his 00:19:17.299 --> 00:19:18.180 wonderful person 00:19:18.180 --> 00:19:18.779 praise his 00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:20.240 wonderful works 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:22.340 and the question 00:19:22.340 --> 00:19:22.880 is anything 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:24.340 too wonderful 00:19:24.340 --> 00:19:25.759 for the Lord 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:27.039 reveals Sarah's 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:28.180 basic problem 00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:28.720 it reveals 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:30.720 our basic problem 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:32.559 because her laughter 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:33.720 is a laughter 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:35.079 of incredulity 00:19:35.079 --> 00:19:36.259 and skepticism 00:19:36.259 --> 00:19:38.299 it's a laughter 00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:39.140 that's devoid 00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:40.579 of wonder 00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:42.119 a laughter 00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:42.700 that's devoid 00:19:42.700 --> 00:19:43.359 of awe 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:44.400 and astonishment 00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:46.119 and adoration 00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:46.839 at the almighty 00:19:46.839 --> 00:19:47.460 power 00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:49.140 of the living 00:19:49.140 --> 00:19:49.559 God 00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:52.859 another place 00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:54.740 this text 00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:55.579 is repeated 00:19:55.579 --> 00:19:56.099 is in the 00:19:56.099 --> 00:19:56.900 prophet Jeremiah 00:19:56.900 --> 00:19:57.299 the prophet 00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:58.279 Jeremiah says 00:19:58.279 --> 00:19:59.720 in Jeremiah 32 00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:00.799 ah sovereign 00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:01.220 Lord 00:20:01.220 --> 00:20:02.900 you have made 00:20:02.900 --> 00:20:03.500 the heavens 00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:04.240 and the earth 00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:05.299 by your great 00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:05.900 power 00:20:05.900 --> 00:20:06.259 and your 00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:07.160 outstretched arm 00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:08.599 nothing is too 00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:09.099 hard 00:20:09.099 --> 00:20:10.559 for you 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:12.880 now one of the 00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:13.440 things I'm 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:14.279 fascinated by 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:14.779 and maybe 00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:15.620 some of you 00:20:15.620 --> 00:20:16.079 can come and 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:16.620 help me with this 00:20:16.620 --> 00:20:17.299 after the service 00:20:17.299 --> 00:20:17.920 but the James 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:18.759 Webb telescope 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:21.559 is sending back 00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:22.099 information 00:20:22.099 --> 00:20:23.000 and it's telling 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:23.920 us that there 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:24.720 are either 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:27.180 100 billion 00:20:27.180 --> 00:20:28.660 or 400 billion 00:20:28.660 --> 00:20:29.259 stars 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:30.339 in the Milky Way 00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:31.200 galaxy alone 00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:33.259 which is a big 00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:33.720 difference 00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:34.319 and a lot 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:34.779 of stars 00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:36.559 and then it 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:37.019 says that 00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:37.839 there's either 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:39.160 100 billion 00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:40.859 or 200 trillion 00:20:40.859 --> 00:20:41.720 galaxies 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.559 out there 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:44.759 and we know 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:45.440 that just our 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:45.920 star 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:47.299 our sun's 00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:48.240 energy output 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:49.079 every second 00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:49.700 is equivalent 00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:51.099 to the explosion 00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:52.240 of 91 billion 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:53.720 hydrogen bombs 00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:55.559 right 00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:55.960 we know 00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:56.519 so much 00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:56.920 more 00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:58.799 about 00:20:58.799 --> 00:20:59.940 the wonders 00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:00.759 of God's 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.200 creation 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:03.180 and the 00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:03.779 point here 00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.120 is this 00:21:04.120 --> 00:21:04.740 that if God 00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:05.840 can create 00:21:05.840 --> 00:21:06.559 all of this 00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:08.480 if God 00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:08.960 can make 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:09.640 this massive 00:21:09.640 --> 00:21:10.080 universe 00:21:10.080 --> 00:21:10.519 and these 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:10.920 marvelous 00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:11.440 bodies 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:13.519 then he 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:13.960 obviously 00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:14.460 does not 00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:15.259 find things 00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:16.160 difficult 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:18.680 or stressful 00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:20.799 or overwhelming 00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:22.740 or exhausting 00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:23.240 the way 00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:23.740 that you 00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:24.000 and I 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.299 might 00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:27.619 giving life 00:21:27.619 --> 00:21:28.480 to the 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:29.319 procreatively 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:29.720 dead 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:31.799 becoming 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.659 incarnate 00:21:32.659 --> 00:21:33.639 in the 00:21:33.639 --> 00:21:33.899 womb 00:21:33.899 --> 00:21:34.220 of a 00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:34.500 virgin 00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:36.539 dying 00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:36.839 on a 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:37.139 cross 00:21:37.139 --> 00:21:37.480 for the 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:37.740 sins 00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:38.059 of the 00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:38.379 whole 00:21:38.379 --> 00:21:38.919 world 00:21:38.919 --> 00:21:40.720 defeating 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:41.139 death 00:21:41.139 --> 00:21:41.440 on the 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:41.720 third 00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:42.119 day 00:21:42.119 --> 00:21:44.379 regenerating 00:21:44.379 --> 00:21:44.899 a sinner 00:21:44.899 --> 00:21:46.000 like me 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:48.379 glorifying 00:21:48.379 --> 00:21:48.819 a sinner 00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:49.480 like you 00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:52.680 it's not 00:21:52.680 --> 00:21:54.279 a problem 00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:54.720 for him 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:57.279 there are 00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:57.880 no difficulties 00:21:57.880 --> 00:21:58.380 there's no 00:21:58.380 --> 00:21:58.860 barriers 00:21:58.860 --> 00:21:59.299 there's no 00:21:59.299 --> 00:21:59.900 opposition 00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:01.099 that would 00:22:01.099 --> 00:22:01.599 render him 00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:02.240 impotent 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:02.720 or unable 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:03.319 to keep 00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:04.720 his promises 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:06.360 and so what 00:22:06.360 --> 00:22:06.819 the Lord is 00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:07.519 doing is he's 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:08.299 seeking Sarah 00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:09.079 and he's 00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:10.339 challenging Sarah 00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:11.200 and he's 00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:11.839 converting 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:12.779 Sarah 00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:13.960 from unbelief 00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:14.799 to belief 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:16.000 in his 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:16.539 wonderful 00:22:16.539 --> 00:22:17.660 power 00:22:17.660 --> 00:22:18.319 and perhaps 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:18.799 he's asking 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:19.359 you the same 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:19.700 question 00:22:19.700 --> 00:22:19.980 is there 00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:20.319 anything 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:20.759 too 00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:21.659 wonderful 00:22:21.659 --> 00:22:22.079 for the 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:22.339 Lord 00:22:22.339 --> 00:22:24.279 some of 00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:24.940 you are 00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:25.319 facing 00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:26.039 big 00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:26.680 things 00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:27.559 difficult 00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:28.180 things 00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:31.940 but is 00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:32.319 your God 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:33.019 too small 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:35.279 have you 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:35.819 put God 00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:36.480 in a box 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:38.279 are you 00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:38.839 imposing 00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:39.619 unnecessary 00:22:39.619 --> 00:22:40.700 limitations 00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:42.000 on God's 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:42.299 power 00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:42.879 is God 00:22:42.879 --> 00:22:43.359 able to 00:22:43.359 --> 00:22:43.720 do 00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:44.379 beyond 00:22:44.379 --> 00:22:44.980 what all 00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:45.559 all that 00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:45.839 you can 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:46.319 ask or 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:46.720 imagine 00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:48.599 and where 00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:49.699 is your 00:22:49.699 --> 00:22:50.039 wonder 00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:50.439 where 00:22:50.439 --> 00:22:50.980 where's 00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:51.119 your 00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:51.539 awe 00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:53.219 where's 00:22:53.219 --> 00:22:53.339 your 00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:54.219 astonishment 00:22:54.219 --> 00:22:56.000 and adoration 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:57.339 of the 00:22:57.339 --> 00:22:57.740 almighty 00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:58.219 power 00:22:58.219 --> 00:22:58.480 of the 00:22:58.480 --> 00:22:58.740 living 00:22:58.740 --> 00:22:59.500 God 00:22:59.500 --> 00:23:01.639 he delights 00:23:01.639 --> 00:23:02.359 in exercising 00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:02.799 his power 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:03.179 to do 00:23:03.179 --> 00:23:03.699 things that 00:23:03.699 --> 00:23:04.240 are hard 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:04.500 and to 00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:04.859 do things 00:23:04.859 --> 00:23:05.059 that are 00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:05.519 wonderful 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:07.319 and not 00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:07.699 only can 00:23:07.699 --> 00:23:07.980 he bring 00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:08.399 about the 00:23:08.399 --> 00:23:08.839 supernatural 00:23:08.839 --> 00:23:09.459 birth 00:23:09.459 --> 00:23:10.259 of this 00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:10.619 promised 00:23:10.619 --> 00:23:10.980 son 00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:11.419 Isaac 00:23:11.419 --> 00:23:11.740 but 00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.719 he's 00:23:12.719 --> 00:23:13.000 also 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:13.259 able 00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:13.740 to affect 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.000 the 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:14.519 supernatural 00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:15.380 rebirth 00:23:15.380 --> 00:23:17.380 and conversion 00:23:17.380 --> 00:23:17.980 of Sarah's 00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:18.299 heart 00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:18.700 and if he 00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.019 did that 00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:19.559 for her 00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:19.980 man 00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:21.039 he can 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:21.339 do it 00:23:21.339 --> 00:23:22.940 for anyone 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:24.480 he can 00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:24.700 do it 00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:25.059 for you 00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:25.380 he can 00:23:25.380 --> 00:23:25.579 do it 00:23:25.579 --> 00:23:25.819 for all 00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:26.140 the people 00:23:26.140 --> 00:23:26.380 in your 00:23:26.380 --> 00:23:26.759 life 00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:29.200 so 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:30.420 God's 00:23:30.420 --> 00:23:31.579 God's 00:23:31.579 --> 00:23:32.019 power 00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:33.480 again 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:33.779 I was 00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:33.960 with 00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:34.620 Presbyterians 00:23:34.620 --> 00:23:35.319 all day 00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:37.400 on Friday 00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:39.000 so 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.980 help 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:40.460 help a 00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:40.620 brother 00:23:40.620 --> 00:23:41.000 out 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:44.240 let's 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:44.599 talk about 00:23:44.599 --> 00:23:44.940 God's 00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:45.359 grace 00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:48.119 the 00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:48.420 Hebrew 00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:48.799 name 00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:49.160 that 00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:50.500 Abraham 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:51.059 and Sarah 00:23:51.059 --> 00:23:51.539 gave 00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.339 to their 00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:52.680 son 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:53.019 means 00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:53.480 laughter 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:54.019 Isaac 00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:55.059 laughter 00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:56.799 and 00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:58.180 if you 00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:58.799 look at 00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:00.079 chapter 21 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:00.640 verse 6 00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:01.019 it says 00:24:01.019 --> 00:24:01.660 Sarah said 00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:02.099 God has 00:24:02.099 --> 00:24:02.500 brought me 00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:02.920 laughter 00:24:02.920 --> 00:24:03.319 and everyone 00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:03.720 who hears 00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:04.160 about this 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:04.640 will laugh 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:04.920 with me 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:05.299 well wasn't 00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:05.640 she already 00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:06.000 laughing 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:06.259 well 00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:08.140 I want 00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:08.279 to 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:09.160 more closely 00:24:09.160 --> 00:24:09.559 examine 00:24:09.559 --> 00:24:10.220 the different 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:10.660 kinds 00:24:10.660 --> 00:24:11.080 of laughter 00:24:11.080 --> 00:24:11.279 here 00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:11.560 because 00:24:11.560 --> 00:24:11.820 in the 00:24:11.820 --> 00:24:12.000 first 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:12.259 part 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:12.480 of the 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:12.880 story 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:14.420 Sarah's 00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:15.360 laughing 00:24:15.360 --> 00:24:15.720 with a 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.019 laughter 00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:16.220 of 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:16.860 incredulity 00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:17.640 and skepticism 00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:18.019 but it's 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:18.580 clear by the 00:24:18.580 --> 00:24:19.140 second part 00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:19.360 of the 00:24:19.360 --> 00:24:19.740 story 00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:20.560 God has 00:24:20.560 --> 00:24:21.160 transformed 00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:21.480 her 00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:21.860 laughter 00:24:21.860 --> 00:24:22.320 into a 00:24:22.320 --> 00:24:22.540 laughter 00:24:22.540 --> 00:24:23.160 of belief 00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:23.440 and a 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:23.700 laughter 00:24:23.700 --> 00:24:24.660 of wonder 00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:26.500 and how 00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:26.720 do we 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:27.000 move 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.540 from one 00:24:27.540 --> 00:24:27.960 kind of 00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:28.320 laughter 00:24:28.320 --> 00:24:29.400 to the 00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:29.580 other 00:24:29.580 --> 00:24:29.840 how did 00:24:29.840 --> 00:24:30.160 that work 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:30.560 for Sarah 00:24:30.560 --> 00:24:30.900 how 00:24:30.900 --> 00:24:31.540 might it 00:24:31.540 --> 00:24:31.820 work 00:24:31.820 --> 00:24:33.080 for you 00:24:33.080 --> 00:24:35.300 again 00:24:35.300 --> 00:24:36.400 chapter 18 00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:37.080 verse 12 00:24:37.080 --> 00:24:37.880 so Sarah 00:24:37.880 --> 00:24:38.340 laughed 00:24:38.340 --> 00:24:39.300 and she 00:24:39.300 --> 00:24:39.840 laughed to 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:40.319 herself 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:40.679 and she 00:24:40.679 --> 00:24:41.000 thought 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:41.220 this 00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:41.359 to 00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:41.599 herself 00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:41.799 she 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:42.039 thought 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:42.859 after I 00:24:42.859 --> 00:24:43.419 am worn 00:24:43.419 --> 00:24:43.679 out 00:24:43.679 --> 00:24:44.480 and my 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:44.939 Lord is 00:24:44.939 --> 00:24:45.319 old 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:45.679 will I 00:24:45.679 --> 00:24:46.220 now have 00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:46.539 this 00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:47.220 pleasure 00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:48.699 now what 00:24:48.699 --> 00:24:48.980 is she 00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:49.779 laughingly 00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:50.899 thinking 00:24:50.899 --> 00:24:51.619 to herself 00:24:51.619 --> 00:24:54.199 she says 00:24:54.199 --> 00:24:54.679 I am 00:24:54.679 --> 00:24:55.099 worn 00:24:55.099 --> 00:24:55.619 out 00:24:55.619 --> 00:24:56.939 and that 00:24:56.939 --> 00:24:57.179 word 00:24:57.179 --> 00:24:57.579 means 00:24:57.579 --> 00:24:58.879 I am 00:24:58.879 --> 00:24:59.279 useless 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:01.939 I am 00:25:01.939 --> 00:25:03.259 worthless 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:05.700 I am 00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.519 good for 00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:06.839 nothing 00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:07.319 I am 00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:08.079 a nobody 00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:11.200 perhaps 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:11.579 you've 00:25:11.579 --> 00:25:12.720 had that 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:13.099 thought 00:25:13.099 --> 00:25:13.579 run through 00:25:13.579 --> 00:25:14.000 your head 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:16.619 she says 00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:16.980 will I 00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:17.379 have 00:25:17.379 --> 00:25:18.759 pleasure 00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:19.119 will I 00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:19.299 have 00:25:19.299 --> 00:25:19.519 the 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:19.960 blessings 00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:20.240 of 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:20.779 motherhood 00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:23.119 see 00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:23.500 after a 00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:23.819 lifetime 00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.140 of 00:25:24.140 --> 00:25:24.940 barrenness 00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:25.079 and 00:25:25.079 --> 00:25:25.660 infertility 00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:26.980 this 00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:27.240 has 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:27.759 become 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:28.920 her 00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:30.420 identity 00:25:30.420 --> 00:25:32.400 her 00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:32.759 core 00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:33.140 self 00:25:33.140 --> 00:25:33.320 is 00:25:33.320 --> 00:25:33.820 defined 00:25:33.820 --> 00:25:34.060 by 00:25:34.060 --> 00:25:34.340 what 00:25:34.340 --> 00:25:34.519 she 00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:34.660 is 00:25:34.660 --> 00:25:35.060 not 00:25:35.060 --> 00:25:35.380 rather 00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:35.600 than 00:25:35.600 --> 00:25:35.779 by 00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:36.080 what 00:25:36.080 --> 00:25:36.720 she 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.160 is 00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:38.740 and 00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:38.860 a 00:25:38.860 --> 00:25:39.120 life 00:25:39.120 --> 00:25:39.279 of 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:39.620 long 00:25:39.620 --> 00:25:40.200 disappointment 00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:40.440 has 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:40.759 taught 00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:41.000 her 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:41.320 this 00:25:41.320 --> 00:25:42.519 unbelieving 00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:43.380 hopelessness 00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:43.560 and 00:25:43.560 --> 00:25:44.320 despair 00:25:44.320 --> 00:25:45.880 which 00:25:45.880 --> 00:25:46.259 of course 00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:46.560 she 00:25:46.560 --> 00:25:46.940 doesn't 00:25:46.940 --> 00:25:47.180 share 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:47.360 with 00:25:47.360 --> 00:25:47.660 anyone 00:25:47.660 --> 00:25:47.900 she 00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.100 just 00:25:48.100 --> 00:25:48.420 keeps 00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:49.080 all 00:25:49.080 --> 00:25:49.200 of 00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:49.360 these 00:25:49.360 --> 00:25:49.779 emotions 00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:50.200 hidden 00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:50.460 and 00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:50.740 buried 00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:50.980 in 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.140 her 00:25:51.140 --> 00:25:51.500 head 00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:52.060 and 00:25:52.060 --> 00:25:52.200 in 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:52.360 her 00:25:52.360 --> 00:25:52.759 heart 00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:53.100 she 00:25:53.100 --> 00:25:53.380 dares 00:25:53.380 --> 00:25:53.640 not 00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:53.960 laugh 00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:54.220 out 00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:54.580 loud 00:25:54.580 --> 00:25:55.700 she 00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:56.080 laughs 00:25:56.080 --> 00:25:56.759 on 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:56.880 the 00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:57.279 inside 00:25:57.279 --> 00:25:57.519 to 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:58.019 herself 00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:58.300 and 00:25:58.300 --> 00:25:58.460 she 00:25:58.460 --> 00:25:58.720 laughs 00:25:58.720 --> 00:25:58.720 00:25:58.720 --> 00:25:59.140 not only 00:25:59.140 --> 00:25:59.440 because 00:25:59.440 --> 00:25:59.820 God 00:25:59.820 --> 00:26:00.000 is 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:00.400 unable 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:00.700 she 00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:01.000 laughs 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:01.320 because 00:26:01.320 --> 00:26:01.780 she 00:26:01.780 --> 00:26:02.340 is 00:26:02.340 --> 00:26:02.780 useless 00:26:02.780 --> 00:26:05.280 and 00:26:05.280 --> 00:26:05.420 she 00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:05.560 has 00:26:05.560 --> 00:26:05.720 this 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.200 strong 00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:06.500 inner 00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:06.900 critic 00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:07.140 this 00:26:07.140 --> 00:26:07.460 inner 00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:08.020 voice 00:26:08.020 --> 00:26:08.720 of 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:09.420 devastating 00:26:09.420 --> 00:26:09.920 self 00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:10.340 hatred 00:26:10.340 --> 00:26:10.740 I'm 00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:11.060 worthless 00:26:11.060 --> 00:26:14.220 not only 00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:14.740 disdaining 00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.020 God 00:26:15.020 --> 00:26:15.680 but deriding 00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.620 herself 00:26:16.620 --> 00:26:17.180 and too 00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:17.600 many of 00:26:17.600 --> 00:26:17.800 us 00:26:17.800 --> 00:26:18.120 know 00:26:18.120 --> 00:26:18.880 what 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:19.140 that 00:26:19.140 --> 00:26:19.800 is 00:26:19.800 --> 00:26:20.120 like 00:26:20.120 --> 00:26:24.600 can 00:26:24.600 --> 00:26:24.759 any 00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:24.980 of you 00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:25.360 relate 00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:26.940 to 00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:27.280 the 00:26:27.280 --> 00:26:27.680 complexity 00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:28.000 of 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:28.580 Sarah's 00:26:28.579 --> 00:26:29.480 story 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:29.480 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:29.899 world 00:26:29.899 --> 00:26:31.359 I 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:31.359 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:31.480 we 00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:31.599 had 00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:31.919 time 00:26:31.919 --> 00:26:32.279 to 00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:32.819 explore 00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:32.980 it 00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:33.339 together 00:26:33.339 --> 00:26:35.240 but 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:35.399 how 00:26:35.399 --> 00:26:35.559 does 00:26:35.559 --> 00:26:35.679 the 00:26:35.679 --> 00:26:35.819 Lord 00:26:35.819 --> 00:26:36.220 respond 00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:36.399 how 00:26:36.399 --> 00:26:36.559 does 00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:36.699 the 00:26:36.699 --> 00:26:36.859 Lord 00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:37.079 look 00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:37.460 upon 00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:37.980 us 00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:38.079 and 00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:38.399 relate 00:26:38.399 --> 00:26:38.659 to 00:26:38.659 --> 00:26:38.919 us 00:26:38.919 --> 00:26:39.059 does 00:26:39.059 --> 00:26:39.179 he 00:26:39.179 --> 00:26:39.460 say 00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:40.639 Sarah 00:26:40.639 --> 00:26:41.500 great 00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:41.919 point 00:26:41.919 --> 00:26:44.059 you 00:26:44.059 --> 00:26:44.199 are 00:26:44.199 --> 00:26:44.399 you 00:26:44.399 --> 00:26:44.539 are 00:26:44.539 --> 00:26:44.839 spot 00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:45.099 on 00:26:45.099 --> 00:26:45.359 you 00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:45.939 absolutely 00:26:45.939 --> 00:26:46.299 are 00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:46.639 nothing 00:26:46.639 --> 00:26:46.980 you 00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:47.139 are 00:26:47.139 --> 00:26:47.519 worthless 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.139 you 00:26:48.139 --> 00:26:48.460 are 00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:49.559 useless 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:51.579 no 00:26:51.579 --> 00:26:51.740 he 00:26:51.740 --> 00:26:52.099 says 00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:52.319 in 00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:52.519 verse 00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:53.079 13 00:26:53.079 --> 00:26:54.679 the 00:26:54.679 --> 00:26:54.759 Lord 00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:54.960 said 00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:55.039 to 00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:55.279 Abraham 00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:55.480 why 00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:55.639 did 00:26:55.639 --> 00:26:55.919 Sarah 00:26:55.919 --> 00:26:56.259 laugh 00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:56.379 and 00:26:56.379 --> 00:26:56.519 say 00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:56.659 well 00:26:56.659 --> 00:26:56.779 I 00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:57.500 have 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.500 00:26:58.579 --> 00:27:03.539 old is anything too hard for the Lord. I will return to you at the appointed time next year 00:27:03.539 --> 00:27:09.559 and Sarah will have a son. Now there's a mild rebuke in there because the Lord is astonished 00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:14.679 at her unbelief and he's astonished when we fail to believe in him. 00:27:16.099 --> 00:27:23.299 But it's a gentle rebuke because he knows he's asking us to believe big things and wonderful 00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:29.259 things. And so he gives her this reassurance. He says, I'm going to come back to you because I'm 00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:35.419 the Lord. I'm the Lord who's chosen you. I'm the Lord who has a plan for you. I'm the Lord who's 00:27:35.419 --> 00:27:48.359 planned an entire timeline for your life. And so did Sarah respond and say, well, wow, what a relief. 00:27:48.359 --> 00:27:57.659 Now I see myself as you see me. Now I trust in your trustworthiness. No. Verse 15 says, 00:27:57.919 --> 00:28:03.979 Sarah was afraid so she lied and said, I did not laugh but he said, yes, you did laugh. And it's 00:28:03.979 --> 00:28:11.059 like one of the most awkward, uncomfortable scenes in the whole Bible. Like the nervous laughter when 00:28:11.059 --> 00:28:22.079 it was read is just telling. Somehow this mysterious stranger outside whom she cannot see is powerful 00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:33.299 enough to read her mind and verbalize her innermost secret thoughts. And this means that whether you 00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:44.819 like it or not, you're known. You're known. And does the Lord explode at her when she lies? 00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:53.619 When she denies the truth and deceives? No, it's, the scriptures say that God's a wonderful counselor. 00:28:54.759 --> 00:29:00.259 And he comes in this gentle way. I imagine him kind of smiling and putting his arm around 00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:08.099 Sarah and saying, yeah, you did laugh. And he's not just speaking the truth and love to her as we 00:29:08.099 --> 00:29:14.079 must do. Not just trying to hold her accountable for her words. Not just wanting his people to be 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:20.480 truth tellers. No, he's saying, I want you to acknowledge the wonderlessness of your laugh. 00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:30.140 And somehow over the next 12 months, between Genesis 18 and Genesis 21, the Lord amazingly 00:29:30.140 --> 00:29:36.519 transforms Sarah's laugh from that laughter of incredulity and bitterness and cynicism and despair 00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:45.180 and hopelessness into a laughter of joy, a laughter of grace, a laughter of faith and wonder and hope. 00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:54.480 And you can see it in chapter 21. In verse 1, it says, now the Lord was gracious. The Lord was 00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:59.820 gracious to Sarah. And he said, and the Lord, the Lord did for Sarah what he'd promised. And Sarah 00:29:59.820 --> 00:30:05.400 became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, the very time God had promised. And Abraham 00:30:05.400 --> 00:30:14.600 gave the name Yitzhak. He laughs to the son that Sarah bore him. He's a God of grace. 00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:21.639 He graciously gives the son of laughter to show Sarah that he's sovereignly in control. 00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:29.259 And that his word is reliable. He does not make empty promises, but he makes gracious promises. And 00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:39.119 then he faithfully fulfills those promises precisely as he said he would. And Sarah's response to this is 00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:47.659 she breaks out into poetry to express her wonder and to express her joy at the grace of God, the grace 00:30:47.659 --> 00:30:54.239 of what God has done for her. She says in verse 6, God has brought me laughter and everyone who hears 00:30:54.239 --> 00:30:58.979 about this will laugh with me. And she added, who would have said that to Abraham that Sarah would 00:30:58.980 --> 00:31:09.120 nurse children? Yet I have born him a son in his old age. She says, who would have said that Sarah would 00:31:09.120 --> 00:31:21.819 nurse children? She's looking beyond this singular child, Isaac, to children, to Isaac's children, 00:31:21.819 --> 00:31:29.439 and to their children's children, and to the great nation that God had promised, and to the kings of 00:31:29.439 --> 00:31:34.460 nations, the peoples that would come from her womb that would bless the whole world. 00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:44.720 And she's inviting everyone who hears this story to contemplate the power and the grace of God. 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:54.039 God causes the laughter of incredulity to give way to the laughter of grace. And that God causes Sarah's 00:31:54.039 --> 00:32:00.700 hopeless despair to be transformed into joyous praise. Now friends, again, how do we apply this to 00:32:00.700 --> 00:32:08.200 our lives? Well, first of all, it's kind of a picture of when you become a Christian, right? When you become 00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:14.299 a Christian, you get a new identity. You get a new self-image in the way that Sarah does here. She gets this 00:32:14.299 --> 00:32:20.259 new joyful relationship with God. She says, God has brought me laughter. God has been so gracious to me. 00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:26.960 But you also get this new joyful relationship with others. She says, when people hear the story of God's 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:33.859 gracious intervention and God's salvation in my life, they're going to laugh with me. I'm going to be part of a 00:32:33.859 --> 00:32:42.899 community of laughter. And then she gets a new joyful relationship with herself. She who called herself 00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:51.880 worthless? She says, who would have thought that my story would have turned out this way? And that's how 00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:57.780 you feel when you become a Christian. You say, who would have thought that me, of all people, would be a 00:32:57.780 --> 00:33:08.320 Christian? Amazing love. How can it be that thou, my God, should die for me? Joyful, joyful, we adore thee. 00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:18.200 God of glory. God of glory, Lord of love. It's a new identity. But secondly, the second application is that 00:33:18.200 --> 00:33:25.019 when you become a Christian, you get a new relationship with your failures. Right? Because the one time God 00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:34.019 comes to Sarah, she laughs in his face. And it's like her one moment. It's her one moment. And she, it's 00:33:34.019 --> 00:33:43.059 probably the greatest failure of her life. Right? And yet her son's name is what? Laughter. Right? From 00:33:43.059 --> 00:33:47.980 now on, every time Abraham and Sarah say Isaac's name, they're going to remember that they laughed at God 00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:55.500 in disbelief. But they're also going to remember that God always has the last laugh. That we do not live in 00:33:55.500 --> 00:34:04.680 a tragedy. We live in a comedy. The child's name is a memorial to remind Sarah and Abraham both of 00:34:04.680 --> 00:34:12.800 their faithlessness and of God's faithfulness. And you see, grace enables you to look upon your past 00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:20.599 failures. It enables you to look at your bitter laughter in the face of God's promises and to realize 00:34:20.599 --> 00:34:28.819 that he loves you. And that he accepts you in spite of all your failures. And then that the memory of 00:34:28.819 --> 00:34:37.420 all of your past faithlessness shows you just how good and how gracious God really is. And that only 00:34:37.420 --> 00:34:44.299 increases your gratitude to praise him more and more for his faithfulness. And then it in turn makes you 00:34:44.300 --> 00:34:52.039 into a person who's humble and compassionate toward the failures of others. That's God's grace. 00:34:54.760 --> 00:35:04.440 So, I'm running out of time. Blame the Presbyterians on Friday. But I do want to talk not only about 00:35:04.440 --> 00:35:11.460 God's power and God's grace, but just close with a word on God's Son. And as we close, I want to caution 00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:19.599 you against a particular way of interpreting the Bible. Because we can read this and we can say, 00:35:19.740 --> 00:35:29.360 oh, okay, I got it. Sarah was old. She wanted something. She wanted a child. She believed. And 00:35:29.360 --> 00:35:37.480 she got what she wanted. Therefore, if we really believe, if we pray, if we trust God who says, 00:35:37.480 --> 00:35:43.199 is anything too hard or too wonderful for me, then we should expect all the impossible things to become 00:35:43.199 --> 00:35:48.920 possible. And we should stop settling for less. We should have greater visions, greater, bigger goals. 00:35:49.099 --> 00:35:55.480 We should ask God for amazing things. We should trust God for physical health and material wealth 00:35:55.480 --> 00:36:01.260 and unbroken prosperity and happiness and success in a life that just goes up and to the right. 00:36:01.260 --> 00:36:11.720 Anybody ever heard Christians suggest this? Well, I want to point out two things. First of all, that this text 00:36:11.720 --> 00:36:17.280 does not teach us if we believe like Sarah, then God will do incredible things. Because the whole point of the 00:36:17.280 --> 00:36:25.300 story is that Sarah didn't believe. She's not seeking God. She's not on her knees. She laughs in God's face. 00:36:25.300 --> 00:36:34.480 And when God comes down to bless her and do incredible things for her, he does it in spite of her unbelief. 00:36:35.740 --> 00:36:42.260 She does eventually believe, but my goodness. And the second thing I want to point out is that this text is 00:36:42.260 --> 00:36:50.700 wanting us to look at what happened to the son of promise. And of course, in this story, the son of promise is Isaac. 00:36:50.699 --> 00:36:57.659 But who's the real son of promise? Who's the true and better Isaac? That son of promise that was born 00:36:57.659 --> 00:37:06.659 in a ridiculous and laughable situation? Who was born to that woman who wasn't just infertile. She had no husband. 00:37:08.419 --> 00:37:14.319 In the Gospel of Luke says that the Lord came to her and through his angel, he said to her, 00:37:14.419 --> 00:37:19.719 the Lord is with you and you will conceive in your womb and you'll bear a son. And Mary said to the angel, 00:37:19.719 --> 00:37:25.899 she said, how can this be since I'm a virgin? And the angel answered her, nothing will be impossible 00:37:25.899 --> 00:37:34.519 with God. Nothing's too wonderful for God. And what happened to this promised child? Did he get physical 00:37:34.519 --> 00:37:42.659 health? Did he get material wealth? Did he get unbroken prosperity and happiness and success and a 00:37:42.659 --> 00:37:49.579 life that goes up and to the right? No, the greatest person who ever lived in the history of planet earth 00:37:49.579 --> 00:38:03.779 this man who had more faith than all of us combined, this man whose prayer life was a trillion times 00:38:03.779 --> 00:38:06.719 greater than any of our prayer lives, 00:38:06.719 --> 00:38:19.839 this man who trusted that nothing's too wonderful for God. What happened to him? He died on a cross, 00:38:21.219 --> 00:38:30.199 abandoned by his friends, mocked by his enemies, forsaken by his God. And why does God, 00:38:30.199 --> 00:38:42.839 in his wisdom, put the cross at the center of history and the center of reality? Why does he want us to keep 00:38:42.839 --> 00:38:52.819 our eyes fixed there? Because he wants us to see that the ultimate Isaac, the ultimate son of laughter, 00:38:52.820 --> 00:39:01.660 the one in whom we hear the laughter of God, the one who lived in a world of heavenly laughter, the one 00:39:01.660 --> 00:39:06.900 that says he was at the father's side, he was in the father's bosom from all eternity. They were 00:39:06.900 --> 00:39:15.840 infinitely laughing and rejoicing in each other. That he came into this world to become a man of sorrows, 00:39:15.840 --> 00:39:22.420 to become acquainted with grief, to be overcome with weeping at the tomb of his friend Lazarus, 00:39:22.420 --> 00:39:30.960 to be torn apart by the hypocrisy of the religious leaders, to be crushed under the agony of 00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:35.920 Gethsemane and to cry out on his cross, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:44.059 And the whole point is that Jesus lost the divine laughter so that you and I could get it. 00:39:46.059 --> 00:39:48.559 And he took our place of misery and condemnation 00:39:48.559 --> 00:39:55.500 to deal with sin and death so that we could live forever with him in laughter. 00:39:57.799 --> 00:40:04.699 Friends, God and Jesus Christ has trampled down all the impossibilities of our situation 00:40:04.699 --> 00:40:09.440 so that we can say like Sarah, who would have thought? 00:40:09.440 --> 00:40:17.000 Who would have thought? Who would have said that we who were trapped forever in sin and death 00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:20.119 would be liberated to live with God everlastingly? 00:40:22.119 --> 00:40:26.539 Who would have thought? Who would have said that in spite of all the ways that we have lived, 00:40:26.619 --> 00:40:29.679 we'd be adopted into the very family of God? 00:40:31.599 --> 00:40:34.619 See, friends, God has done the ridiculous. 00:40:34.619 --> 00:40:35.960 God has done the laughable. 00:40:37.779 --> 00:40:40.259 He's welcomed us strangers. 00:40:42.079 --> 00:40:47.440 Indeed, he's welcomed us enemies to his feast at his table. 00:40:49.519 --> 00:40:53.480 And so I want to encourage you with Paul's words in Romans 8, 32. 00:40:53.639 --> 00:40:53.980 He says, 00:40:53.980 --> 00:41:09.460 In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:41:10.179 --> 00:41:10.400 Amen.