WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.400 Thank you, Aaron. Good morning all. Thank you, Paul, for choosing songs and leading us in worship this morning. 00:00:08.339 --> 00:00:16.120 ! It's really been in line with what the Lord has been putting on my heart, or at least I've been remembering or seeing. 00:00:16.120 --> 00:00:26.460 I don't know about you guys, when you read the SCMP or when you check out the news and you just see all the darkness, the injustice, the corruption in the world. 00:00:26.460 --> 00:00:36.079 And it makes you think, what hope is there? And I think you read from the book of Isaiah, and I just opened it up and reminded of our Lord in chapter 53. 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:40.719 He had no form or majesty that we should look at him and no beauty that we should desire him. 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:45.439 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. 00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:51.900 And later it says, all we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way. 00:00:51.899 --> 00:00:56.619 I look at where the state of mankind is. I look at the state of where the world is. 00:00:56.859 --> 00:01:00.839 Isn't that just us, that we are like sheep who have gone astray? 00:01:01.600 --> 00:01:05.719 Our life group, a couple of weeks back, we were going through the book of John, chapter 2. 00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:12.799 And it was that Jesus did not entrust himself to man because he knew what was in the heart of man. 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:19.680 Jeremiah 17 says, the heart above all is just deceitful. It is sick. 00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:26.000 And I sit here worshiping this morning and just reminded of that, that we live in a dark place. 00:01:26.060 --> 00:01:35.620 And if you keep pulling that thread as to why are we in this place, you go back and it's a, we've lost the fear of God. 00:01:36.460 --> 00:01:42.040 We've lost the trust of God. Oswald Chambers was the one who said, if you don't fear God, you'll fear everything else. 00:01:42.040 --> 00:01:45.540 But if you fear God, then you won't fear anything else. 00:01:45.580 --> 00:01:50.680 And how many of our actions can we trace back to the fact that we have not, we're not fearing God in the same way anymore. 00:01:50.740 --> 00:01:52.580 We're not filled with the same reverence and awe anymore. 00:01:52.860 --> 00:01:56.860 We've stopped fearing him and we've stopped trusting in him. 00:01:57.480 --> 00:02:02.360 It's been discouraging for me sometimes as I just meet people and see people and hear stories. 00:02:02.420 --> 00:02:04.420 And I'm just like, we are just so hopeless. 00:02:04.420 --> 00:02:09.340 We're flaky, we're inconsistent, we're unreliable. 00:02:11.060 --> 00:02:15.520 But if there's anything the book of Genesis has been showing us is that that's always been the case. 00:02:17.219 --> 00:02:21.979 But that's not the point of the Bible, just that humans are unreliable and deceitful. 00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:29.099 But there is a God who is not, that there is a God who is faithful, even when we are faithless. 00:02:29.099 --> 00:02:35.819 And I find encouragement in that, I find comfort in that, because I look at the world and I go, what are we doing? 00:02:37.639 --> 00:02:43.840 I'm just reminded of the words that God said in Isaiah that, hey, your thoughts and your ways are not my ways. 00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:45.759 My thoughts and ways are way higher than yours. 00:02:46.680 --> 00:02:47.759 This is not my first rodeo. 00:02:47.819 --> 00:02:48.579 I know what's going on. 00:02:48.620 --> 00:02:50.199 I know how to deal with this. 00:02:50.259 --> 00:02:51.780 I have dealt with this. 00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:54.479 You just have to trust me. 00:02:54.479 --> 00:03:00.519 We can make our plans, is what Proverbs 16 says, but it is the Lord who establishes every step. 00:03:01.659 --> 00:03:06.060 As humans, can we live in that place that there is no fear? 00:03:06.539 --> 00:03:16.560 That we can just trust him and live every day, have every decision that we make based out of love and trust in God, as opposed to fear of man. 00:03:18.179 --> 00:03:22.280 This next chapter that we're going to go through now, it just gets worse. 00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:29.020 It just gets worse because now the deceiver is pitched up against another deceiver. 00:03:29.879 --> 00:03:31.560 And these two have a battle. 00:03:32.219 --> 00:03:38.960 And we're going to actually cover two chapters today, almost, which is going to be the end of chapter 30 and into chapter 31. 00:03:39.900 --> 00:03:43.620 And we're going to look at how Jacob has this showdown against Laban. 00:03:44.099 --> 00:03:45.960 And we're going to see man versus man. 00:03:46.300 --> 00:03:50.240 And we're going to see how both lose, that humanity just loses in general. 00:03:50.240 --> 00:03:59.939 So just on that fear and reverence and awe of God and his word, can I invite you to stand for the word of God as Natalie ministers to us by reading the word to us. 00:04:04.060 --> 00:04:08.400 Genesis chapter 31, verse 4 to 16. 00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:16.560 So Jacob went, sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the fields where his flocks were. 00:04:17.300 --> 00:04:22.439 He said to them, I see that your father's attitude toward me is not what it was before. 00:04:23.139 --> 00:04:26.120 But the God of my father has been with me. 00:04:26.500 --> 00:04:30.500 You know that I have worked for your father with all my strength. 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:34.540 Yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages 10 times. 00:04:34.540 --> 00:04:37.680 However, God has not allowed him to harm me. 00:04:38.080 --> 00:04:44.960 If he said, the speckled ones will be your wages, then all the flocks gave birth to the speckled young. 00:04:45.400 --> 00:04:52.120 And if he said, the streaked ones will be your wages, then all the flocks bore streaked young. 00:04:52.520 --> 00:04:57.100 So God has taken away your father's livestock and has given them to me. 00:04:57.100 --> 00:05:08.220 In breeding season, I once had a dream in which I look up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled, or spod. 00:05:10.080 --> 00:05:15.300 The angel of God said to me in the dream, Jacob, I answered, here I am. 00:05:15.300 --> 00:05:23.340 And he said, look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flocks are streaked, speckled, or spod. 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:29.280 For I have seen that all that Laban has been doing to you. 00:05:29.580 --> 00:05:36.100 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. 00:05:36.740 --> 00:05:40.819 Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land. 00:05:40.819 --> 00:05:47.420 Then Rachel and Nia replied, do we still have any share in the inheritance of our father's estate? 00:05:48.060 --> 00:05:49.939 Does he not regard us as foreigners? 00:05:50.719 --> 00:05:55.319 Not only has he sold us, but he has used up what was paid for us. 00:05:56.019 --> 00:06:01.420 Surely all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children. 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:04.180 So do whatever God has told you. 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:06.639 This is the word of the Lord. 00:06:07.459 --> 00:06:08.339 Please take a seat. 00:06:08.339 --> 00:06:11.019 Thank you, Natalie, for reading the word to us. 00:06:12.199 --> 00:06:13.919 Actually, as she was reading, I was trying to pay attention. 00:06:14.019 --> 00:06:19.619 But I was also reminded, actually, I got to watch Natalie and my wife, Christina, and Sophie play hockey the other week. 00:06:19.739 --> 00:06:21.759 She is fierce on the hockey field. 00:06:22.199 --> 00:06:23.939 And it's really fun to watch. 00:06:23.979 --> 00:06:24.979 So it's good to have you here. 00:06:26.139 --> 00:06:26.799 It's interesting. 00:06:26.919 --> 00:06:29.479 Last week, we had this battle of the babies. 00:06:29.719 --> 00:06:35.559 We had the battle of the babies because Rachel and Leah, remember, Leah was the one who was unloved, who was not the pretty one. 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:39.040 And they had this battle, just having as many babies as they can. 00:06:39.100 --> 00:06:40.980 And that's how we get to the 12 tribes of Israel. 00:06:41.399 --> 00:06:46.199 So what is interesting here is now we see this scene where they're actually united. 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:50.600 They're actually agreeing on something, which is very interesting. 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:51.500 And why? 00:06:51.660 --> 00:06:53.699 It's because they now have a common enemy. 00:06:53.699 --> 00:06:56.399 Because now they have someone that they have to go against. 00:06:56.500 --> 00:06:57.699 And that's actually Laban. 00:06:58.500 --> 00:07:01.180 And it's going to be really interesting for us to unpack what this is. 00:07:01.259 --> 00:07:05.180 This is basically Jacob the deceiver versus Laban the scam artist. 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:11.060 And so it's a fascinating, somewhat befuddling story that we're going to go through here. 00:07:11.300 --> 00:07:15.159 But it made me think of talking about just mankind and deceitful and all those things. 00:07:15.419 --> 00:07:18.779 Put your hand up if you have ever been scammed before in your life. 00:07:18.919 --> 00:07:21.399 Has anyone ever been a victim of scamming? 00:07:21.399 --> 00:07:22.939 Oh, some, some. 00:07:23.359 --> 00:07:24.279 Ramon, can I pick on you? 00:07:24.539 --> 00:07:26.719 Would you mind sharing what that was? 00:07:27.859 --> 00:07:30.339 I was overseas and I was trying to get some money. 00:07:30.339 --> 00:07:30.979 I want to give you the mic. 00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:35.139 I was overseas trying to get some money from an ATM machine. 00:07:35.399 --> 00:07:37.560 It was all in a foreign language. 00:07:38.139 --> 00:07:43.060 So someone approached me, said they were going to help me do it. 00:07:43.579 --> 00:07:45.819 And I realized that I got actually scammed. 00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:48.099 And I think he may have transferred money to his account. 00:07:48.100 --> 00:07:50.439 But that was many, many years ago, though. 00:07:50.500 --> 00:07:50.800 Wow. 00:07:51.260 --> 00:07:52.320 I learned from my mistakes. 00:07:52.980 --> 00:07:53.640 I learned from my mistakes. 00:07:53.720 --> 00:07:54.040 Good, good, good. 00:07:54.080 --> 00:07:54.260 Sorry. 00:07:54.320 --> 00:07:54.840 Who else was there? 00:07:55.320 --> 00:07:58.379 Now everyone's not going to put their hands down because I want to ask you. 00:07:59.020 --> 00:08:00.460 Anyone else who got scammed on this side? 00:08:01.220 --> 00:08:02.060 Oh, Mark has been scammed. 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:02.720 Sam, I love it. 00:08:02.760 --> 00:08:03.840 Just a bit of loyalty right there. 00:08:04.340 --> 00:08:05.020 Sam put his hand up. 00:08:05.160 --> 00:08:05.760 Mark put his hand up. 00:08:05.800 --> 00:08:06.660 Mark, how did you get scammed? 00:08:07.660 --> 00:08:08.140 Japan. 00:08:08.520 --> 00:08:08.740 Yeah. 00:08:08.740 --> 00:08:18.400 Oh, okay. 00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:22.079 So walking in Japan, in the street, saw something that you liked, and then they dragged you in, 00:08:22.139 --> 00:08:23.379 and then you couldn't leave without buying something. 00:08:24.100 --> 00:08:26.699 That's happened before to me, too. 00:08:26.900 --> 00:08:27.960 I've also been scammed. 00:08:28.019 --> 00:08:30.740 I've been scammed by this company called Regain or Rogain. 00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:34.659 Demo just laughed straight away. 00:08:35.060 --> 00:08:36.299 You know what I'm talking about. 00:08:36.299 --> 00:08:42.319 There's the promise that if you put this foam on your head, and over a consistent... 00:08:42.319 --> 00:08:43.159 Now Benny's laughing. 00:08:44.219 --> 00:08:48.579 If you do it consistently, then you will have follicles that are strong. 00:08:49.539 --> 00:08:53.639 And so I did it for a whole year, and it was a scam. 00:08:53.719 --> 00:08:54.359 Do not believe it. 00:08:55.019 --> 00:08:55.899 Do not believe it. 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:56.479 It does not work. 00:08:58.459 --> 00:08:58.859 Scamming. 00:08:59.839 --> 00:09:02.199 My next question to you is, how do you feel when you've been scammed? 00:09:02.939 --> 00:09:05.179 What kind of emotions go on inside you? 00:09:05.179 --> 00:09:08.759 Is there a serious sense of injustice here? 00:09:08.819 --> 00:09:12.459 I can share on behalf of my wife, Christina, she has that strong sense of injustice. 00:09:12.620 --> 00:09:18.859 If something that she sees that isn't right, oh, she will tell you about it, whether it's in a restaurant or on the road. 00:09:19.539 --> 00:09:23.259 She will make sure that if you're not driving in the right lane, or if you just cut her up, 00:09:23.679 --> 00:09:28.179 she will overtake or undertake so she can get near you, so she can look at you, 00:09:28.179 --> 00:09:32.539 and point her finger at you, and tell you that there has been injustice here. 00:09:33.079 --> 00:09:34.120 She's that kind of person. 00:09:35.079 --> 00:09:36.159 I'm kind of just... 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:38.959 Sometimes maybe I'm not as sensitive as I should be to those kinds of things. 00:09:39.239 --> 00:09:43.379 But the question I have for you is, how do you feel when you have injustice happening to you? 00:09:44.459 --> 00:09:45.659 What's going on in your mind? 00:09:45.739 --> 00:09:47.239 What's going on in your heart? 00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:53.039 I happen to think a lot of the things that are happening in this world are because people have lost the fear of God 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:55.039 and have also lost the trust of God. 00:09:55.320 --> 00:09:58.560 And so they do many things, and they take matters into their own hands. 00:09:58.620 --> 00:10:05.740 And you can see a very confusing story here of two men trying to outwit one another, doing very different things. 00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:07.000 Okay, so chapter 30. 00:10:07.019 --> 00:10:10.960 We're going to try and fly through this because there's a lot, and this story is quite interesting, actually. 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:12.659 Chapter 30, verse 25. 00:10:13.539 --> 00:10:15.480 So, remember, they've had the babies. 00:10:15.620 --> 00:10:16.600 They've had 12 kids now. 00:10:17.100 --> 00:10:18.199 Benjamin is yet to come. 00:10:18.419 --> 00:10:21.000 So they've got 12 kids, 11 boys, and one daughter. 00:10:21.639 --> 00:10:25.379 And at this point, 14 years on, from the moment that he laid eyes on Rachel, 00:10:25.459 --> 00:10:28.279 where he said, let me marry your daughter, and then he got the wrong daughter, 00:10:28.459 --> 00:10:29.740 and then he had to do another seven years. 00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:35.379 14 years on, 12 kids later, Jacob is like, okay, I think I need to go home. 00:10:35.679 --> 00:10:36.819 I think I've got a lot of kids. 00:10:37.419 --> 00:10:38.360 I'm actually pretty wealthy. 00:10:38.659 --> 00:10:40.779 I don't think I need to stay here anymore. 00:10:40.779 --> 00:10:45.539 So he turns to his uncle Laban, and he says, send me away that I may go to my own home and country. 00:10:45.839 --> 00:10:48.279 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you that I may go, 00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:50.399 for you know the service that I have given you. 00:10:50.459 --> 00:10:52.459 But Laban said to him, if I have found favor in your sight, 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:55.519 I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you. 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:56.319 Interesting. 00:10:56.519 --> 00:10:59.059 Laban, at this point, is still not a follower of Jacob's God, 00:10:59.299 --> 00:11:01.899 but he looks and he goes, well, there's something special about your God. 00:11:02.139 --> 00:11:05.839 And in fact, because of his blessing on you, I have become rich as well. 00:11:05.939 --> 00:11:07.319 So I will let you leave. 00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:09.960 So name your wages and I will let you go. 00:11:10.060 --> 00:11:11.340 And so Jacob said to him, well, you know what? 00:11:12.040 --> 00:11:14.020 I didn't come with money, but I made you a lot of money. 00:11:14.300 --> 00:11:15.200 I don't really want money. 00:11:15.560 --> 00:11:19.080 All I want, though, is actually, because the Lord has blessed me. 00:11:19.340 --> 00:11:21.320 So what about we split up the flock? 00:11:22.460 --> 00:11:23.220 How about this? 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:28.600 You get all the pure ones, and I'll get the spotted and the speckled ones. 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:30.060 And then that's it. 00:11:30.379 --> 00:11:30.520 Okay? 00:11:30.760 --> 00:11:35.180 And actually, at that point, it's usually around 10% of the flock would be the spotted and the speckled ones. 00:11:35.179 --> 00:11:36.559 So he's like, look, just give me a small portion. 00:11:36.659 --> 00:11:37.479 I don't need that much. 00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:38.539 I came with nothing. 00:11:38.599 --> 00:11:39.279 I've got enough now. 00:11:39.620 --> 00:11:40.559 Why don't we just do that? 00:11:40.979 --> 00:11:43.439 Laban, ever the businessman, said, great. 00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:44.639 This is verse 34. 00:11:44.779 --> 00:11:45.359 Laban said, good. 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:46.759 Let it be as you have said. 00:11:48.219 --> 00:11:49.259 You know, that's pretty good. 00:11:49.419 --> 00:11:52.279 That went way easier than Jacob thought. 00:11:53.379 --> 00:11:57.859 But little did he know, straight after that, can you see how much of a scoundrel Laban is? 00:11:58.279 --> 00:11:59.100 He says, good. 00:11:59.460 --> 00:12:00.500 Let it be as you said. 00:12:00.899 --> 00:12:04.720 But that day, so he didn't even go home and think about it and go, wait. 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:07.460 Now, if I do that, then we'll lose a lot of money. 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:08.060 None of that. 00:12:08.500 --> 00:12:10.560 Straight away, he knew what he wanted to do. 00:12:10.899 --> 00:12:13.600 That day, Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted, 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:15.759 and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:18.120 everyone that had white on it, and every lamb that was black, 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:19.360 and put them in charge of his sons. 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:22.039 And he set a distance of three days' journey between himself and Jacob, 00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:24.100 and Jacob pastured the rest of Laban's flock. 00:12:24.800 --> 00:12:26.060 So he's like, great, deal. 00:12:27.059 --> 00:12:30.359 You have the spotted and speckled ones, and I'll keep all the other ones. 00:12:30.619 --> 00:12:33.839 And then the next thing he does is he sends all the spotted and speckled ones away, 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:35.699 three days away, so Jacob doesn't see them. 00:12:37.359 --> 00:12:37.759 Injustice. 00:12:38.479 --> 00:12:38.839 Scamming. 00:12:39.619 --> 00:12:39.979 Deceit. 00:12:40.959 --> 00:12:42.899 But then Jacob does something really interesting. 00:12:43.239 --> 00:12:43.899 Verse 37. 00:12:44.319 --> 00:12:47.019 Then Jacob took fresh sticks of poplar and almond and plain trees 00:12:47.019 --> 00:12:49.659 and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white of the sticks. 00:12:49.979 --> 00:12:52.679 Basically what he did was he got a lot of these sticks, 00:12:52.679 --> 00:12:57.199 and then he made them stripy, and then he put them in front of the flock, 00:12:57.419 --> 00:13:05.000 because they had this belief that whatever the animals were looking at during mating season, 00:13:05.419 --> 00:13:08.039 it would impact the offspring that would come out. 00:13:09.839 --> 00:13:10.059 Okay? 00:13:11.179 --> 00:13:13.879 So those of you who know our story a little bit, 00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:15.659 Christine and I, we grew up in England, 00:13:15.659 --> 00:13:19.480 and I was a secondary school biology teacher for seven years. 00:13:19.539 --> 00:13:21.360 So this deeply offends me. 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:25.799 Why does this offend me? 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:26.620 Any biologists? 00:13:26.779 --> 00:13:28.679 Anyone whose favorite subject was biology? 00:13:30.079 --> 00:13:31.819 No one is saved here. 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:32.339 No one. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:36.839 Well, then GCSE biology, here we come. 00:13:37.419 --> 00:13:40.839 There's something called alleles, dominant and recessive ones. 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:43.960 People are getting PTSD as they think about this. 00:13:44.019 --> 00:13:44.639 It's all coming back. 00:13:47.160 --> 00:13:47.379 So. 00:13:49.019 --> 00:13:50.660 And I feel deeply with this as well, 00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:53.399 because at the young age of nine, 00:13:53.540 --> 00:13:58.040 when my mother realized that I wasn't as tall as my white friends at school, 00:13:58.500 --> 00:13:59.820 she said, well, let's get you taller. 00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:00.740 How do we get you taller? 00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:03.340 How about we introduce you to this sport called basketball? 00:14:04.280 --> 00:14:07.000 And let me buy you a skipping rope and go do some skipping, 00:14:07.300 --> 00:14:08.900 and hopefully you'll catch up with the white boys. 00:14:08.899 --> 00:14:11.019 Because that did not, actually, no, 00:14:11.059 --> 00:14:12.860 we don't know whether that did happen or worked or not, 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:14.279 because I might even be shorter than I am now. 00:14:15.419 --> 00:14:20.959 But my mother also did not have an acute knowledge of genes, 00:14:21.439 --> 00:14:25.000 because what she didn't realize is that nothing that you can do 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:28.179 can affect how your body is, 00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:30.379 at least in the height perspective. 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:35.120 Interestingly, Jacob, there was this ancient folklore 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:39.179 that basically believed that if you put some things in front of certain animals 00:14:39.179 --> 00:14:40.299 whilst they were mating, 00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:42.779 the animals that come out would be that. 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:45.399 So he would put striped sticks in front of the sheep 00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:48.139 and then hope that the sheep would come out. 00:14:48.220 --> 00:14:51.980 So actually, he, calling out Laban's deceit, 00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:53.799 then made up his own plan. 00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:56.600 It all sounds pretty silly right now 00:14:56.600 --> 00:14:58.500 to even see this story, right? 00:14:58.500 --> 00:15:00.320 But I paused for a second and go, 00:15:00.500 --> 00:15:03.700 oh, I wonder whether there are some beliefs or myths 00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:05.299 that I grew up with 00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:09.299 that actually have been scientifically disproven over the years. 00:15:09.620 --> 00:15:12.840 I've also told you guys and joked with you in the past 00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:14.500 that I grew up in the late 1900s. 00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:17.159 Who else grew up in the late 1900s here? 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:18.019 There we go, Paul. 00:15:18.059 --> 00:15:18.639 Thank you very much. 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:19.379 Hands going to be right. 00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:23.139 The late 1900s, when dial-up internet was first invented, 00:15:23.580 --> 00:15:24.539 incredible thing, 00:15:24.539 --> 00:15:27.379 the only problem with it was you had to pull out the socket 00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:29.579 from your phone and drag it to your computer 00:15:29.579 --> 00:15:30.240 and plug it in, 00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:32.000 and then it would block the home phone line. 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:33.379 So no one would be able to call in. 00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:35.519 And then your parents would find out, 00:15:35.599 --> 00:15:36.620 and then you'd be in trouble. 00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:37.860 There were a couple other ones. 00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:40.579 And I realized, even growing up in the late 1900s, 00:15:40.599 --> 00:15:42.279 there were myths that I had believed in 00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:44.819 that have now been scientifically proven to be wrong. 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:49.139 Such as, especially maybe the Chinese context, 00:15:49.459 --> 00:15:51.179 don't sit too close in front of the TV 00:15:51.179 --> 00:15:53.219 when you're watching it, because why? 00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:58.259 Because your eyes will burst and implode. 00:15:59.139 --> 00:16:03.220 So I used a bit of help from my secretary here called Gemini 00:16:03.220 --> 00:16:05.220 just to find out a little bit more. 00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:07.879 So there was this myth that don't sit too close 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:09.500 because you'll burn your eyes out in front of the TV. 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:10.500 Why was that? 00:16:10.540 --> 00:16:12.100 Because in the late 1960s, 00:16:12.180 --> 00:16:14.180 there were a certain model of TVs 00:16:14.180 --> 00:16:15.879 that emitted tiny amounts of radiation 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:19.379 due to a manufacturing defect in the 60s. 00:16:19.820 --> 00:16:21.100 That's when the myth began. 00:16:21.100 --> 00:16:22.920 But by the 80s and 90s, 00:16:23.220 --> 00:16:25.220 the cathode ray tube TVs 00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:30.040 actually had no threat to eyesight whatsoever. 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:31.580 The only thing that you could get 00:16:31.580 --> 00:16:33.399 if you sat close to the TV for a long time 00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:36.659 was that you would get very tired eyes and dry eyes. 00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:38.800 Any doctors, you can come and talk to me afterwards 00:16:38.800 --> 00:16:39.420 if that is false. 00:16:39.680 --> 00:16:40.879 The other one that I was told is 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:43.279 if you're chewing gum, don't swallow it. 00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:45.460 Because what would happen if you swallow the gum? 00:16:45.460 --> 00:16:50.560 Seven years, it would stay in your digestive system 00:16:50.560 --> 00:16:51.940 is what I was told. 00:16:52.420 --> 00:16:54.780 But actually, especially Hubba Bubba, 00:16:54.860 --> 00:16:55.820 one of my personal favorites, 00:16:57.160 --> 00:16:59.060 actually through a very natural process 00:16:59.060 --> 00:16:59.940 called peristalsis, 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:02.840 where your body just kind of churns it out, 00:17:03.160 --> 00:17:04.759 it'll come out within one to two days. 00:17:04.840 --> 00:17:06.200 Not seven years, apparently. 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:08.500 Another thing that I grew up with 00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:10.299 was the term stranger danger. 00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:11.660 Have you heard of that? 00:17:11.660 --> 00:17:14.800 Training kids to basically look at a stranger 00:17:14.800 --> 00:17:16.720 and basically stay away and not talk to them. 00:17:17.060 --> 00:17:18.279 What they have now found, 00:17:18.820 --> 00:17:21.220 the majority of kidnappings 00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:23.000 are not by people who are strangers. 00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:24.740 It's by people who are known, 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:27.000 family or acquaintances and friends. 00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:30.019 So the stranger danger actually ended up 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:31.040 actually causing children 00:17:31.040 --> 00:17:33.220 to not even trust policemen or staff 00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:35.200 or people who they actually can call out to help for. 00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:37.420 So stranger danger has now been removed 00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:39.620 from the social dictionary. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:40.680 What's another one? 00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:42.240 Another one was when you have a nosebleed, 00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:43.039 what are you supposed to do? 00:17:43.580 --> 00:17:44.279 Doctors? Matthew? 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:45.980 Matthew? 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:49.320 You're a bone doctor, so you don't know. 00:17:49.700 --> 00:17:51.620 I was told in the late 1900s 00:17:51.620 --> 00:17:54.519 that you are supposed to put your head up like this, right? 00:17:55.460 --> 00:17:57.000 I've since found out that's not the case. 00:17:57.120 --> 00:17:58.120 That is not the right way. 00:17:58.240 --> 00:17:59.340 You're supposed to keep it down 00:17:59.340 --> 00:18:00.900 or even just a slightly angled here. 00:18:01.660 --> 00:18:02.720 Janice is just losing her mind. 00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:04.460 I know, wait, what? 00:18:05.560 --> 00:18:07.539 So please, when you have a nosebleed, 00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:08.900 let me see if I can tell you why. 00:18:08.900 --> 00:18:11.740 Tilting the head back causes blood to flow down the pharynx 00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:13.019 into the esophagus and stomach. 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:14.720 Blood irritates the gastric lining, 00:18:14.820 --> 00:18:16.380 frequently inducing nausea and vomiting, 00:18:16.540 --> 00:18:18.600 or can enter the airway in severe cases. 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:21.500 Medical consensus instructs leaning slightly forward 00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:23.420 and pinching the soft tissue of the nose 00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:24.400 for 10 to 15 minutes. 00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:27.940 Our minds unraveling as we speak. 00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:30.660 Again, growing up the era that I grew up in, 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:34.000 there was something that actually babies were told 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:35.360 to sleep frontside. 00:18:36.320 --> 00:18:37.120 Because why? 00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:39.900 Parents were frequently advised to place infants 00:18:39.900 --> 00:18:42.240 to sleep on their stomachs 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:44.180 under the assumption that it would prevent them from choking 00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:45.799 and that they would actually sleep better. 00:18:46.380 --> 00:18:48.539 But actually, that turns out to not be true now. 00:18:48.600 --> 00:18:50.440 So if you look at midwives and advisors now, 00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:52.940 it actually is, there was a back to sleep campaign 00:18:52.940 --> 00:18:55.880 in the 90s that reminded parents actually 00:18:55.880 --> 00:18:57.600 to put the babies to sleep on their back 00:18:57.600 --> 00:18:58.799 and that actually reduced 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:01.279 sudden infant death syndrome by 50%. 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:03.980 It's interesting, isn't it? 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:07.360 We put our faith in knowledge and science 00:19:07.360 --> 00:19:10.000 when, or just plain old myths, 00:19:10.320 --> 00:19:12.160 and we actually realize that often 00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:13.580 they might not be true. 00:19:14.340 --> 00:19:16.500 Sometimes we look at our lives 00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:18.080 and we think we are wise, 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:19.960 but the truth is we might not be. 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:22.440 Proverbs 3 says this, 00:19:22.539 --> 00:19:25.140 let's not be wise in our own eyes. 00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:28.180 Another one was putting AA batteries in the fridge 00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:29.420 because that supposedly would help. 00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:30.680 That does not help. 00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:35.420 And my final one for you is if you have a beer belly, 00:19:36.140 --> 00:19:38.059 it is not because you've drank too much beer, 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:40.660 because beer does not go straight down 00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:41.680 to your belly and stay there. 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:43.160 That's not how scientifically it works. 00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:44.700 It's just because you had a lot of calories. 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:49.100 And for men, it usually accumulates around this area. 00:19:49.099 --> 00:19:51.119 And doing sit-ups, which is in the 90s, 00:19:51.139 --> 00:19:51.679 what we were told, 00:19:51.859 --> 00:19:53.539 if you do sit-ups, you'll get rid of your beer belly. 00:19:53.679 --> 00:19:55.539 That does not work because that's not how, 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:57.819 that's just not scientifically true. 00:19:59.439 --> 00:20:02.319 So Jacob, by putting some striped sticks 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:03.519 in front of the sheep, 00:20:04.119 --> 00:20:06.599 it does not work. 00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:11.079 Yet for him, it did. 00:20:12.219 --> 00:20:13.459 That's the interesting thing. 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:14.399 So we carry on now. 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:17.919 Chapter 30, towards the end, 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:18.920 that's the scheme that he did. 00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:21.440 Thus, the man increased greatly 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:22.580 and had large flocks, 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:24.200 female servants and male servants 00:20:24.200 --> 00:20:25.700 and camels and donkeys. 00:20:25.900 --> 00:20:27.400 So here's my first point I want to make. 00:20:27.600 --> 00:20:30.180 Sometimes we have become so self-reliant 00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:31.340 on our own schemes. 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:34.120 And we think that we are where we're at 00:20:34.120 --> 00:20:34.900 because of us. 00:20:35.340 --> 00:20:36.240 But the truth is, 00:20:36.300 --> 00:20:38.960 we are not the architects of our own destiny. 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:40.779 We do, 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:42.700 the reason why we are sat here, 00:20:42.779 --> 00:20:44.820 you are sat here with whatever acclaim you have, 00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:46.539 or whatever influence you have, 00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:47.899 or whatever resource you have. 00:20:47.899 --> 00:20:49.339 Can you imagine just for a second 00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:51.279 that yes, you did work hard at school. 00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:53.599 Yes, you did prepare for that interview. 00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:55.839 But for a second, just stop here and go, 00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:57.299 well, was it really me? 00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:59.419 Or was it actually the faithfulness 00:20:59.419 --> 00:21:00.519 and the provision of God? 00:21:01.919 --> 00:21:03.419 Often, often for us, 00:21:03.659 --> 00:21:05.119 we think it's us. 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:06.419 And now there is this element 00:21:06.419 --> 00:21:07.960 where there is human agency, 00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:10.859 where God actually invites us 00:21:10.859 --> 00:21:12.919 to work as hard as we can 00:21:12.919 --> 00:21:13.879 to glorify him, 00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:15.279 to prepare as hard as we can 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:16.799 for exams to glorify him. 00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:20.000 And human agency is a thing, 00:21:20.719 --> 00:21:22.639 but it is not above divine sovereignty. 00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:25.019 Can you imagine Jacob's pride? 00:21:25.179 --> 00:21:25.959 Ha! Laban. 00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:27.740 Tried to take the spotted 00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:28.719 and speckled sheep away. 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:31.240 Look at me with my striped sticks 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:32.959 to combat that, 00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:34.259 and I win. 00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:38.699 It makes me think of the quote, 00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:39.699 let's see if I can find it here. 00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:44.380 Self-reliance is a subtle form of atheism. 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:45.420 It is the declaration 00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:46.660 that we do not need God 00:21:46.660 --> 00:21:47.539 to manage our lives, 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:48.539 secure our future, 00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:49.799 or establish our worth. 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:52.500 We might say we believe in God, 00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:53.620 but then we worry 00:21:53.620 --> 00:21:55.660 about getting the jobs that we want, 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:56.940 getting into the course that we want, 00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:57.980 getting the money that we want, 00:21:58.480 --> 00:22:00.100 and then we try and rely on ourselves 00:22:00.100 --> 00:22:00.799 to get there. 00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:01.900 And what Tozer, 00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:03.539 A.W. Tozer, is saying here, 00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.980 that kind of self-reliance 00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:07.700 is actually a subtle form of atheism, 00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:08.460 atheism, 00:22:08.539 --> 00:22:09.940 because you say you believe in God, 00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:10.600 but your actions 00:22:10.600 --> 00:22:12.779 don't actually match up with it. 00:22:14.420 --> 00:22:15.200 Augustine says this, 00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:15.980 God is always trying 00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:17.019 to give good things to us, 00:22:17.080 --> 00:22:18.420 but our hands are too full 00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:19.100 to receive them, 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:20.240 full of our own plans, 00:22:20.340 --> 00:22:21.039 our own control, 00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:23.259 and our own schemes. 00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:24.420 We always seek control 00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:26.759 because essentially 00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:28.840 we don't trust in God. 00:22:28.839 --> 00:22:30.959 even Laban, 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:32.000 why was he so welcoming 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:33.720 to Jacob when he first came? 00:22:34.139 --> 00:22:34.279 Why? 00:22:34.399 --> 00:22:35.699 Because he saw an opportunity. 00:22:35.919 --> 00:22:37.000 He got rich last time 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:38.000 that household came, 00:22:38.179 --> 00:22:39.319 and he's going to get rich again 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:40.139 this time, 00:22:40.179 --> 00:22:40.980 and he does. 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:43.199 Talks about the transactional relationships 00:22:43.199 --> 00:22:44.559 that maybe we try and have. 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:46.179 I mean, 00:22:46.339 --> 00:22:47.279 the Asian culture 00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:48.500 is all about guanhai. 00:22:48.879 --> 00:22:49.759 It's all about relationships, 00:22:49.959 --> 00:22:51.980 but if we think further into that, 00:22:52.139 --> 00:22:53.220 we're actually trying to trust 00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:54.159 in those relationships 00:22:54.159 --> 00:22:54.679 that we have 00:22:54.679 --> 00:22:56.159 to give us what we want. 00:22:56.399 --> 00:22:57.439 We've turned all of those 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:58.120 into functional 00:22:58.120 --> 00:23:00.120 and transactional relationships, 00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:01.000 and then we wonder 00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:02.100 why we don't trust 00:23:02.100 --> 00:23:03.539 in other people. 00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:06.380 So, 00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:07.860 chapter 31 now. 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:08.299 Now, 00:23:08.340 --> 00:23:09.600 Jacob heard that the sons of Laban 00:23:09.600 --> 00:23:09.960 were saying, 00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:11.039 Jacob has taken all that 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:12.180 was our father's, 00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:13.400 and from what was our father's, 00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:14.039 he has gained 00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:15.820 all this wealth. 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:16.799 It's interesting. 00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:18.019 We talked about envy last week. 00:23:18.080 --> 00:23:19.080 We talked about Rachel and Leah 00:23:19.080 --> 00:23:20.620 having this constant comparison 00:23:20.620 --> 00:23:21.340 with one another, 00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:23.640 and how we commented on the quote. 00:23:23.860 --> 00:23:24.600 Roosevelt said that 00:23:24.600 --> 00:23:25.580 comparison 00:23:25.579 --> 00:23:27.460 is actually 00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:28.399 the thief of joy. 00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:30.559 It's the assassin 00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:31.279 of contentment 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:32.139 is what John Tyson said, 00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:32.299 right? 00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:33.659 Envy is the enemy 00:23:33.659 --> 00:23:34.539 of peace, 00:23:34.639 --> 00:23:35.720 and you see here 00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:37.019 Laban's sons 00:23:37.019 --> 00:23:38.099 getting envious 00:23:38.099 --> 00:23:39.460 towards Jacob 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:41.000 to the point where 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:41.939 they start twisting the truth. 00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:42.159 They said, 00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:42.599 this guy, 00:23:42.939 --> 00:23:43.879 he's getting so rich. 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:44.639 Anyway, 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:45.619 everything that he has 00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:46.339 is from our dad anyway. 00:23:46.439 --> 00:23:46.879 No, actually, 00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:48.119 a lot of it comes from 00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:49.199 the blessing that was Jacob's 00:23:49.199 --> 00:23:49.759 to begin with, 00:23:49.859 --> 00:23:51.139 but the sons are getting envious. 00:23:51.399 --> 00:23:52.059 So what do they do? 00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:52.720 They start talking. 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:53.599 They start talking 00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:54.519 to all the people around them, 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:55.139 and they start talking 00:23:55.139 --> 00:23:55.619 to their dad, 00:23:55.819 --> 00:23:56.420 and from then, 00:23:56.759 --> 00:23:57.700 Jacob starts to hear 00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.480 that actually, 00:23:58.779 --> 00:24:00.819 the favor of the family 00:24:00.819 --> 00:24:02.299 is not now on him anymore. 00:24:02.980 --> 00:24:03.440 And so he's like, 00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:03.599 well, 00:24:03.639 --> 00:24:04.519 they're not treating me the same 00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:05.460 because they're getting very jealous, 00:24:05.539 --> 00:24:06.180 because they're envious. 00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:07.099 So what happens? 00:24:07.400 --> 00:24:07.680 Actually, 00:24:07.779 --> 00:24:08.440 God speaks up, 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:09.379 chapter 31, 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:09.799 verse 2, 00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:10.819 and Jacob saw that Laban 00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:11.680 did not regard him 00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:12.599 with favor as before. 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.940 Then the Lord said to Jacob, 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:14.980 return to the land 00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:15.519 of your fathers 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.319 and to your kindred, 00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:17.299 and I will be with you. 00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:19.660 What a poisonous thing 00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:20.200 envy is. 00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.839 Laban's getting really rich 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:23.039 because of Jacob. 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:26.359 But because he sees 00:24:26.359 --> 00:24:27.000 that Jacob is getting 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.500 even richer, 00:24:28.099 --> 00:24:29.319 he's not happy anymore. 00:24:29.879 --> 00:24:30.720 It's not the same as us. 00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:31.920 We have everything 00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:32.519 that we need, 00:24:32.579 --> 00:24:33.180 but we look across 00:24:33.180 --> 00:24:33.700 at someone else 00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:34.180 who has more 00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:34.799 than what we have, 00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:35.799 and we start thinking, 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:35.980 well, 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:36.659 that's not good either. 00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:38.819 The danger, 00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:41.599 the toxicity of envy. 00:24:42.639 --> 00:24:43.680 So Jacob sent 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:44.619 and called Rachel 00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:44.960 and Leah, 00:24:45.379 --> 00:24:46.819 and basically what he does 00:24:46.819 --> 00:24:47.500 is he speaks 00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:48.259 to his two wives 00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:48.700 who are now 00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:49.539 on the same page, 00:24:49.539 --> 00:24:50.680 and he says this, 00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.019 I see that your father 00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:53.659 doesn't regard me 00:24:53.659 --> 00:24:54.579 with favor as he did before, 00:24:54.839 --> 00:24:56.039 but the God of my father 00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:56.779 has been with me. 00:24:56.839 --> 00:24:57.680 You know that I have served 00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:58.039 your father 00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:58.740 with all my strength. 00:24:58.839 --> 00:24:59.859 The father has cheated me 00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:00.759 and changed my wages 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:01.319 ten times, 00:25:01.619 --> 00:25:03.119 but God did not permit him 00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:03.619 to harm me. 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:04.399 Interesting, 00:25:04.920 --> 00:25:06.079 Jacob's starting to get it. 00:25:07.099 --> 00:25:07.899 He's starting to get 00:25:07.899 --> 00:25:08.799 that it actually wasn't 00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:10.059 his own sticks and schemes 00:25:10.059 --> 00:25:10.639 that got him 00:25:10.639 --> 00:25:11.359 to where he is. 00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:13.180 He's starting to see 00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:14.440 that it's more than just that. 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:15.539 He's starting to see 00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:16.619 that it was actually God 00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:17.519 who gave him 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:18.339 all these things. 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:20.339 He said, 00:25:20.419 --> 00:25:21.339 the spotted shall be your wages, 00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:22.559 and basically what he's saying here, 00:25:22.599 --> 00:25:23.299 he's recounting 00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:24.699 the story of what's happening, 00:25:25.139 --> 00:25:26.039 and then, 00:25:26.699 --> 00:25:27.299 verse 11, 00:25:27.379 --> 00:25:28.019 then the angel of God 00:25:28.019 --> 00:25:28.819 said to me in the dream, 00:25:28.919 --> 00:25:29.159 Jacob, 00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:29.559 and I said, 00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:30.019 here I am, 00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:30.339 and he said, 00:25:30.419 --> 00:25:31.039 lift up your eyes 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:31.759 and see all the goats 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:32.539 that mate with the flock 00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:33.000 are striped, 00:25:33.079 --> 00:25:33.759 spotted and mottled, 00:25:34.099 --> 00:25:34.699 for I have seen 00:25:34.699 --> 00:25:35.379 all that Laban 00:25:35.379 --> 00:25:36.279 is doing to you. 00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:37.299 I am the God of Bethel 00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:38.199 where I met you before, 00:25:38.479 --> 00:25:39.319 where you anointed a pillar 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:40.139 and made a vow to me. 00:25:40.219 --> 00:25:40.759 Now arise, 00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:41.599 go out from this land 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:42.919 and return to the land 00:25:42.919 --> 00:25:45.059 of your kindred. 00:25:46.619 --> 00:25:48.979 Jacob's saying, 00:25:49.619 --> 00:25:50.959 wow, 00:25:51.199 --> 00:25:52.319 your dad was cheating me 00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:53.699 time and time again. 00:25:54.579 --> 00:25:55.519 Just pause there 00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:55.959 for a second. 00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:56.339 Of course, 00:25:56.379 --> 00:25:57.139 you've got a deceiver 00:25:57.139 --> 00:25:58.759 describing a scam artist, 00:25:58.959 --> 00:25:59.619 and you can see 00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:00.519 the deceiver here 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:01.399 is kind of like 00:26:01.399 --> 00:26:02.959 painting a rose-tinted picture 00:26:02.959 --> 00:26:03.519 of himself, 00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:04.919 that he was honest 00:26:04.919 --> 00:26:06.059 and that he's been cheated, 00:26:06.379 --> 00:26:07.239 which, of course, 00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:09.019 we know isn't fully true either. 00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:11.479 But isn't that what happens 00:26:11.479 --> 00:26:13.319 when there's deceit 00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:13.899 in our own hearts? 00:26:13.900 --> 00:26:14.820 We start believing 00:26:14.820 --> 00:26:15.560 in the lies 00:26:15.560 --> 00:26:16.080 that we create 00:26:16.080 --> 00:26:16.640 for ourselves. 00:26:16.860 --> 00:26:18.019 We start giving ourselves 00:26:18.019 --> 00:26:18.800 the benefit of the doubt. 00:26:18.860 --> 00:26:20.060 We start explaining away 00:26:20.060 --> 00:26:20.920 our own actions. 00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:21.880 We give ourselves 00:26:21.880 --> 00:26:22.600 the benefit of the doubt, 00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:23.140 and yet we look 00:26:23.140 --> 00:26:23.680 at someone else 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:24.740 and we say 00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:25.740 that actually we know 00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:27.180 their heart is corrupt 00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:27.880 and deceitful. 00:26:29.580 --> 00:26:30.420 And so he explains 00:26:30.420 --> 00:26:31.180 this to his wives, 00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:31.860 and he said, 00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:32.600 it's time to go. 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:34.120 Then, verse 14, 00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:34.680 Rachel and Leah 00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:35.600 answered and said to him, 00:26:35.820 --> 00:26:36.519 is there any portion 00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:37.560 of inheritance left to us 00:26:37.560 --> 00:26:38.320 in our father's house? 00:26:38.600 --> 00:26:39.440 Are we not regarded 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:40.280 by him as foreigners? 00:26:40.600 --> 00:26:41.800 So whilst Rachel and Leah 00:26:41.800 --> 00:26:42.920 were envious of each other, 00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:43.860 they also had 00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:44.900 serious daddy issues. 00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:45.620 Why? 00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:46.340 Because their dad 00:26:46.340 --> 00:26:46.940 sold them. 00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:49.740 Dad actually sold them 00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:50.680 to another man 00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:52.960 to gain 14 years worth 00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:53.300 of labor. 00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.720 So they're not close 00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:55.080 to dad. 00:26:55.640 --> 00:26:56.320 And so they're saying, 00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:57.140 well, you know what? 00:26:58.160 --> 00:26:59.039 Our dad doesn't really 00:26:59.039 --> 00:26:59.960 treat us as family anyway, 00:27:00.100 --> 00:27:00.800 treats us as foreigners, 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.680 so yes, 00:27:01.820 --> 00:27:02.820 why don't we follow you 00:27:02.820 --> 00:27:03.720 now then, 00:27:03.779 --> 00:27:04.680 whatever God has said 00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:05.820 to you, do. 00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:07.259 So what happens? 00:27:07.380 --> 00:27:07.800 They go. 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:10.240 But they don't go 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:11.279 in an upright kind of way. 00:27:11.639 --> 00:27:12.440 They sneak away. 00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:13.539 So verse 17, 00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:14.299 so Jacob arose 00:27:14.299 --> 00:27:14.940 and set his sons 00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:15.720 and his wives on camels. 00:27:15.940 --> 00:27:16.519 He drove away 00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:17.119 all his livestock, 00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:17.680 all his property 00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:18.259 that he had gained, 00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:19.539 the livestock in his possession 00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:22.399 that he had acquired 00:27:22.399 --> 00:27:23.079 in Paddan Aram 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:24.019 to go to the land of Canaan 00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:24.980 to his father Isaac. 00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:25.559 Laban had gone 00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:26.240 to shear his sheep 00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:27.160 and Rachel stole 00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:28.339 her father's household gods 00:27:28.339 --> 00:27:29.639 and Jacob tricked Laban 00:27:29.639 --> 00:27:30.200 the Aramean 00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:30.879 by not telling him 00:27:30.879 --> 00:27:31.700 that he intended to flee. 00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:32.779 It's interesting, 00:27:32.879 --> 00:27:34.119 sometimes we obey 00:27:34.119 --> 00:27:35.180 God's instructions 00:27:35.180 --> 00:27:36.259 and we do what God 00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:36.879 tells us to do, 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:37.799 but we don't do it 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.779 in a right godly way. 00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:40.819 So God tells him, 00:27:40.940 --> 00:27:41.700 you can go home now. 00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:42.799 So what do they do? 00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.639 Instead of going upright 00:27:43.639 --> 00:27:44.480 and confronting Laban 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:44.759 and saying, 00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:45.519 this is what we're doing, 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:46.480 they sneak away. 00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:48.019 And so he sends his wife 00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.839 and kids away first, 00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:51.240 but just before they go, 00:27:51.639 --> 00:27:53.000 Rachel does something sneaky. 00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:53.920 The deceiver 00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:55.299 has married a deceiver. 00:27:55.660 --> 00:27:57.720 So Rachel actually goes back 00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:58.720 into dad's house 00:27:58.720 --> 00:27:59.980 before they leave 00:27:59.980 --> 00:28:01.940 and she steals 00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:04.379 what we know to be, 00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:05.160 what it says here, 00:28:05.160 --> 00:28:05.920 I've just lost it. 00:28:06.800 --> 00:28:08.080 Rachel stole her father's 00:28:08.080 --> 00:28:08.820 household gods. 00:28:09.040 --> 00:28:10.120 These were little statues. 00:28:10.620 --> 00:28:12.160 These were called teraphims 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:13.660 and basically what they represented 00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:15.460 was actually family inheritance, 00:28:16.180 --> 00:28:16.620 authority, 00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:18.300 and actually protection 00:28:18.300 --> 00:28:19.580 from the little gods 00:28:19.580 --> 00:28:20.540 that those families 00:28:20.540 --> 00:28:21.759 would actually follow 00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:22.440 and worship. 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:25.800 Stop. 00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:26.580 Take a breather. 00:28:28.120 --> 00:28:29.460 There's the whole plan, 00:28:29.860 --> 00:28:30.200 deception, 00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:30.960 the spotted sheep 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:31.580 gets sent away. 00:28:31.880 --> 00:28:32.960 He then uses sticks 00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:33.960 and somehow it works, 00:28:34.059 --> 00:28:35.279 not because of the science, 00:28:35.360 --> 00:28:36.019 but because of God. 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:38.200 And then it's time to go. 00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:40.600 Rachel's seen all of this 00:28:40.600 --> 00:28:42.319 and seen that the God of Jacob, 00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:43.200 the God of her husband, 00:28:43.380 --> 00:28:43.980 can be trusted, 00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:45.019 that the God of Jacob 00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:46.620 can do incredible things. 00:28:47.640 --> 00:28:49.079 And yet just before she leaves, 00:28:49.160 --> 00:28:50.819 she cannot help herself. 00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:52.720 She goes into dad's house 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:54.000 and grabs his little statues. 00:28:57.400 --> 00:28:58.259 Reminds me a little bit 00:28:58.259 --> 00:28:59.200 of Lot and his wife 00:28:59.200 --> 00:28:59.880 when they leave 00:28:59.880 --> 00:29:02.180 the city of darkness. 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:03.720 And she looks back 00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:04.940 and turns into a pillar of salt. 00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:07.660 Makes me think when you, 00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:09.079 I mean, this is a question 00:29:09.079 --> 00:29:09.900 that sometimes is asked, 00:29:10.019 --> 00:29:11.160 if there was a fire in your house, 00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:12.160 what would you go in and grab? 00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.660 And what you go in and grab 00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:16.500 will show you 00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:17.779 that is the most important thing to you. 00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:20.980 What does she do? 00:29:21.180 --> 00:29:22.259 She goes in and grabs 00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:23.579 her dad's gods. 00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:26.000 A pocket god. 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:28.799 Though of course, 00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:30.279 we all know that pocket gods 00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:31.340 do not work 00:29:31.339 --> 00:29:32.419 because a God 00:29:32.419 --> 00:29:33.599 that can fit in your pocket 00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:35.500 is not really any good 00:29:35.500 --> 00:29:36.319 at all. 00:29:37.720 --> 00:29:38.699 But it makes me think, 00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:40.859 what pocket gods do we have? 00:29:42.199 --> 00:29:43.779 What things do you go back to 00:29:43.779 --> 00:29:44.439 to rely on? 00:29:44.659 --> 00:29:45.740 If your house was on fire, 00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:46.819 if your life was on fire, 00:29:47.379 --> 00:29:48.000 what are the things 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:48.839 that you would go back to? 00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:49.740 Of course, 00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:50.740 if you grew up in Sunday school, 00:29:50.819 --> 00:29:51.299 your answer would be, 00:29:51.379 --> 00:29:52.159 well, Pastor James, 00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:53.159 I'd take my Bible with me. 00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:54.759 That's cute. 00:29:54.819 --> 00:29:55.079 That's good. 00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:55.980 As long as it's a paper one. 00:29:56.099 --> 00:29:56.299 Remember, 00:29:56.299 --> 00:29:57.559 the digital one won't save you. 00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:01.899 But what pocket gods 00:30:01.899 --> 00:30:02.740 do we take with us? 00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:05.680 Maybe it's our own accolades. 00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:06.639 Maybe it's our achievements. 00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:08.799 Maybe it's the things 00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:09.619 that you go back to 00:30:09.619 --> 00:30:09.980 because you're like, 00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:11.359 oh, this is how I find my work. 00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:12.379 This is how my future 00:30:12.379 --> 00:30:13.000 can be secure. 00:30:14.220 --> 00:30:15.539 We laugh at it 00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:17.240 and it almost seems silly 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:18.599 that she goes back to get it, 00:30:18.859 --> 00:30:19.720 but I actually think 00:30:19.720 --> 00:30:20.379 we all go back 00:30:20.379 --> 00:30:21.899 to get our own little pocket gods. 00:30:21.900 --> 00:30:25.280 It's important 00:30:25.280 --> 00:30:26.120 as we look at 00:30:26.120 --> 00:30:27.240 the book of Genesis, 00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:28.220 as we look at the Bible, 00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:30.160 we realize 00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:31.780 we will always face 00:30:31.780 --> 00:30:33.460 the labans in our lives. 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:35.540 We go out into this world, 00:30:35.600 --> 00:30:36.660 we will see injustice. 00:30:37.040 --> 00:30:38.320 We will be in danger 00:30:38.320 --> 00:30:39.080 of getting scammed. 00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:40.440 The question is, 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:42.280 what god are we relying on? 00:30:42.560 --> 00:30:43.180 Or which god 00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:45.360 are we relying on? 00:30:46.280 --> 00:30:46.820 So anyway, 00:30:47.540 --> 00:30:48.460 they are self-reliant 00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:49.420 and then 00:30:49.420 --> 00:30:50.780 they are self-righteous 00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:52.139 because it's really interesting. 00:30:52.379 --> 00:30:53.879 Rachel does not tell her husband 00:30:53.879 --> 00:30:54.759 that she stole 00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:55.779 the little statues. 00:30:57.339 --> 00:30:58.399 What happens after that? 00:30:58.859 --> 00:30:59.639 Laban finds out. 00:30:59.700 --> 00:31:00.700 They always find out. 00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:01.279 Verse 22, 00:31:01.399 --> 00:31:02.139 when it was told Laban 00:31:02.139 --> 00:31:02.720 on the third day 00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:03.399 that Jacob had fled, 00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:04.740 he took his kinsmen with him 00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:05.440 and pursued them 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.180 for seven days 00:31:06.180 --> 00:31:07.599 and followed close after him 00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:08.899 into the hill country of Gilead. 00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:10.160 But God came to Laban, 00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:10.680 the Aramean, 00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:11.839 in a dream by night 00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:12.339 and said to him, 00:31:12.379 --> 00:31:13.379 be careful not to say anything 00:31:13.379 --> 00:31:13.839 to Jacob, 00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:15.339 either good or bad. 00:31:15.460 --> 00:31:16.879 So they have a three-day head start 00:31:16.879 --> 00:31:17.579 with their wife 00:31:17.579 --> 00:31:18.039 and their kids 00:31:18.039 --> 00:31:18.519 and the camels 00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:19.139 and the whole camp 00:31:19.139 --> 00:31:20.539 and Laban finds out 00:31:20.539 --> 00:31:21.279 three days later 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:22.220 and chases them 00:31:22.220 --> 00:31:23.039 for seven days 00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:23.940 and actually catches up 00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:24.859 and actually overtakes 00:31:24.859 --> 00:31:26.720 because he's angry. 00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:28.099 Because he's angry. 00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:28.920 Why did you do that? 00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:29.859 Why did you take away 00:31:29.859 --> 00:31:31.019 my daughters 00:31:31.019 --> 00:31:31.920 and my grandchildren 00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:33.000 and all the livestock 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:34.180 and you didn't even 00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:35.059 have the decency 00:31:35.059 --> 00:31:35.859 to tell me 00:31:35.859 --> 00:31:36.639 is what he's saying. 00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:40.180 But thankfully 00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:40.740 for Jacob, 00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:41.680 God intervenes 00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:42.139 and actually 00:31:42.139 --> 00:31:42.879 whilst he's chasing, 00:31:43.319 --> 00:31:43.980 even Laban 00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:45.659 gets to hear from God. 00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:48.160 How I yearn 00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:48.640 to have God 00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:49.180 speak to me 00:31:49.180 --> 00:31:49.640 in dreams 00:31:49.640 --> 00:31:50.500 and yet you have here 00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:50.880 Laban 00:31:50.880 --> 00:31:51.420 who doesn't even 00:31:51.420 --> 00:31:52.160 believe in God, 00:31:52.279 --> 00:31:53.040 a scam artist 00:31:53.040 --> 00:31:54.640 still hear from God 00:31:54.640 --> 00:31:55.519 and God tells him 00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:56.160 don't do anything 00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:57.220 to Jacob. 00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.360 So verse 25, 00:31:58.460 --> 00:31:59.400 Laban overtakes Jacob 00:31:59.400 --> 00:32:01.060 and then they have 00:32:01.060 --> 00:32:01.700 a confrontation 00:32:01.700 --> 00:32:03.240 and here's a confrontation 00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:03.900 and suddenly 00:32:03.900 --> 00:32:04.600 the scam artist 00:32:04.600 --> 00:32:05.779 sounds very self-righteous 00:32:05.779 --> 00:32:06.100 as well. 00:32:06.340 --> 00:32:07.060 Laban said to Jacob, 00:32:07.259 --> 00:32:07.980 what have you done 00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:08.800 that you have tricked me 00:32:08.800 --> 00:32:09.460 and driven away 00:32:09.460 --> 00:32:09.960 my daughters 00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:10.540 like captives 00:32:10.540 --> 00:32:10.980 with a sword? 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:11.980 Why did you flee 00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:12.940 secretly and trick me 00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:13.700 and did not tell me 00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:14.340 so that I might have 00:32:14.340 --> 00:32:14.860 sent you away 00:32:14.860 --> 00:32:15.860 with myrrh and songs 00:32:15.860 --> 00:32:17.000 with tambourine and lyre? 00:32:17.340 --> 00:32:17.700 Really? 00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:19.319 You think that's 00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:19.960 what you would have done 00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:21.440 if Jacob told you 00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:21.980 that he was leaving 00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:23.160 with your daughters 00:32:23.160 --> 00:32:24.059 and the grandchildren 00:32:24.059 --> 00:32:24.920 and all the livestock 00:32:24.920 --> 00:32:25.759 that you would have 00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:26.200 sent them away 00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:26.620 with a blessing? 00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:27.779 Isn't it interesting? 00:32:28.340 --> 00:32:29.180 There comes a point 00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:30.220 when you get so used 00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:30.880 to deception 00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:33.080 that you get so used 00:32:33.080 --> 00:32:34.059 to lying to other people 00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:34.720 you start lying 00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:35.640 to yourself as well. 00:32:35.880 --> 00:32:36.779 Can you see Jacob 00:32:36.779 --> 00:32:37.160 and Laban 00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:38.180 both giving themselves 00:32:38.180 --> 00:32:38.980 the benefit of the doubt? 00:32:39.600 --> 00:32:40.580 We sat on the outside 00:32:40.580 --> 00:32:41.220 and go gosh 00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:42.380 pass the popcorn. 00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:43.500 Both of you 00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:44.019 are scoundrels 00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:45.960 and yet can you see 00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:47.140 they both have developed 00:32:47.140 --> 00:32:48.279 this self-righteousness 00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:48.839 about them 00:32:48.839 --> 00:32:50.779 and so before we 00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:51.660 kind of point the finger 00:32:51.660 --> 00:32:52.180 and go whoa 00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:52.759 you guys 00:32:52.759 --> 00:32:53.920 you guys don't know 00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:54.700 how blind you are 00:32:54.700 --> 00:32:55.440 to your own sin 00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:57.819 it should also send 00:32:57.819 --> 00:32:58.900 shivers down your spine 00:32:58.900 --> 00:32:59.460 and my spine 00:32:59.460 --> 00:32:59.960 going whoa 00:32:59.960 --> 00:33:01.779 how often do I do that? 00:33:02.299 --> 00:33:03.380 How often do I 00:33:03.380 --> 00:33:04.920 choose to be selective 00:33:04.920 --> 00:33:05.519 with the truth 00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:06.819 to make myself 00:33:06.819 --> 00:33:07.440 feel better 00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:08.279 about myself? 00:33:08.279 --> 00:33:13.879 verse 28 00:33:13.879 --> 00:33:14.680 and why did you not 00:33:14.680 --> 00:33:15.779 permit me to kiss my sons 00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:16.639 and my daughters farewell? 00:33:16.859 --> 00:33:18.059 Now you have done foolishly 00:33:18.059 --> 00:33:19.180 it is in my power 00:33:19.180 --> 00:33:19.899 to do you harm 00:33:19.899 --> 00:33:20.539 but 00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:21.160 but 00:33:21.160 --> 00:33:22.200 the God of your father 00:33:22.200 --> 00:33:23.019 spoke to me last night 00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:23.680 saying be careful 00:33:23.680 --> 00:33:24.299 not to say anything 00:33:24.299 --> 00:33:24.720 to Jacob 00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:25.920 either good or bad 00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:27.160 and now you've gone away 00:33:27.160 --> 00:33:27.940 because you longed greatly 00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:28.660 for your father's house 00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:30.200 why did you steal my gods? 00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:31.379 Oh that is 00:33:31.379 --> 00:33:32.119 okay 00:33:32.119 --> 00:33:32.680 I don't know 00:33:32.680 --> 00:33:33.339 if many of you 00:33:33.339 --> 00:33:34.240 are sarcastic here 00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:35.619 growing up in England 00:33:35.619 --> 00:33:37.419 sarcasm is the highest form 00:33:37.419 --> 00:33:37.979 of humour 00:33:37.979 --> 00:33:39.839 and so 00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:41.619 how sarcastic 00:33:41.619 --> 00:33:42.739 is that? 00:33:44.179 --> 00:33:45.399 because you longed greatly 00:33:45.399 --> 00:33:46.199 for your father's house 00:33:46.199 --> 00:33:47.739 well why did you steal my gods? 00:33:49.379 --> 00:33:50.699 if you and your God 00:33:50.699 --> 00:33:51.319 are so good 00:33:51.319 --> 00:33:52.399 why are you taking 00:33:52.399 --> 00:33:53.139 my little ones? 00:33:53.959 --> 00:33:54.259 oof 00:33:54.259 --> 00:33:57.179 I think that should 00:33:57.179 --> 00:33:57.919 stab some of us 00:33:57.919 --> 00:33:58.419 in the heart 00:33:58.419 --> 00:34:00.119 because there are people 00:34:00.119 --> 00:34:01.119 out in the world 00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:02.099 that we live 00:34:02.099 --> 00:34:02.919 and where we work 00:34:02.919 --> 00:34:03.839 and where we study 00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:04.919 where there are people 00:34:04.920 --> 00:34:05.640 who don't follow 00:34:05.640 --> 00:34:05.940 the God 00:34:05.940 --> 00:34:06.820 that we say we follow 00:34:06.820 --> 00:34:09.320 and we tell them 00:34:09.320 --> 00:34:09.940 that we trust 00:34:09.940 --> 00:34:10.880 in the almighty God 00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:12.159 and yet we fall prey 00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:13.300 to the same temptations 00:34:13.300 --> 00:34:14.300 to the same deceit 00:34:14.300 --> 00:34:14.840 that they do 00:34:14.840 --> 00:34:16.079 and how easy 00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:16.440 would it be 00:34:16.440 --> 00:34:17.260 for them to look at us 00:34:17.260 --> 00:34:17.460 and go 00:34:17.460 --> 00:34:18.280 well you say 00:34:18.280 --> 00:34:19.500 you trust 00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:20.180 the God of Abraham 00:34:20.180 --> 00:34:21.000 the God of Isaac 00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:21.659 and the God of Jacob 00:34:21.659 --> 00:34:23.119 yet you're kind of relying 00:34:23.119 --> 00:34:23.980 on the same fixes 00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:25.240 that I'm relying on 00:34:25.240 --> 00:34:27.440 you're using my gods instead 00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:30.340 it's a little bit pathetic 00:34:30.340 --> 00:34:30.860 isn't it? 00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:33.539 you can see Laban 00:34:33.539 --> 00:34:33.960 saying that 00:34:33.960 --> 00:34:35.000 with a little grin 00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:36.920 why are you stealing my gods 00:34:36.920 --> 00:34:38.000 if your God is so great? 00:34:39.740 --> 00:34:41.380 and here is Jacob's answer 00:34:41.380 --> 00:34:42.059 verse 31 00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:44.420 because I was afraid 00:34:44.420 --> 00:34:46.840 how often 00:34:46.840 --> 00:34:49.480 are our decisions 00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:50.780 based on fear 00:34:50.780 --> 00:34:53.039 based on fear 00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:53.539 of man 00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:54.099 for I thought 00:34:54.099 --> 00:34:54.760 that you would take 00:34:54.760 --> 00:34:55.539 your daughters away 00:34:55.539 --> 00:34:56.820 from me by force 00:34:56.820 --> 00:34:57.860 this is the same guy 00:34:57.860 --> 00:34:59.300 who had God himself say 00:34:59.300 --> 00:35:00.480 I'm going to bless you 00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:01.659 I'm going to be with you 00:35:01.659 --> 00:35:02.639 yet you're scared 00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:03.519 of Laban 00:35:03.519 --> 00:35:07.440 that song that we sang 00:35:07.440 --> 00:35:08.099 the third song 00:35:08.099 --> 00:35:09.139 that we are no longer 00:35:09.139 --> 00:35:09.839 slaves to fear 00:35:09.839 --> 00:35:12.379 that we are children 00:35:12.379 --> 00:35:13.099 of God 00:35:13.099 --> 00:35:14.819 and yet we run around 00:35:14.819 --> 00:35:16.099 in our workplaces 00:35:16.099 --> 00:35:16.819 in our schools 00:35:16.819 --> 00:35:17.719 in our families 00:35:17.719 --> 00:35:18.579 terrified 00:35:18.579 --> 00:35:19.739 of what people 00:35:19.739 --> 00:35:20.480 can take away 00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:21.099 from us 00:35:21.099 --> 00:35:23.679 and we have to understand 00:35:23.679 --> 00:35:25.019 that if God is for us 00:35:25.019 --> 00:35:26.059 then none can be against 00:35:26.059 --> 00:35:27.039 that God is truly 00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:28.119 pleased and proud 00:35:28.119 --> 00:35:28.900 of us 00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:29.940 and loves us 00:35:29.940 --> 00:35:30.819 unconditionally 00:35:30.820 --> 00:35:32.220 imagine again 00:35:32.220 --> 00:35:32.780 for a second 00:35:32.780 --> 00:35:34.080 if we all were filled 00:35:34.080 --> 00:35:34.700 with that truth 00:35:34.700 --> 00:35:35.400 in our hearts 00:35:35.400 --> 00:35:36.800 then we wouldn't be afraid 00:35:36.800 --> 00:35:37.559 that other people 00:35:37.559 --> 00:35:38.300 could take things 00:35:38.300 --> 00:35:38.700 from them 00:35:38.700 --> 00:35:39.860 even if 00:35:39.860 --> 00:35:41.920 a suspicious person 00:35:41.920 --> 00:35:42.900 comes to offer help 00:35:42.900 --> 00:35:43.760 at an ATM machine 00:35:43.760 --> 00:35:45.039 we don't need to be 00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:45.640 afraid 00:35:45.640 --> 00:35:46.440 because we know 00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:47.480 we have a God 00:35:47.480 --> 00:35:48.519 who is for us 00:35:48.519 --> 00:35:49.460 and will protect us 00:35:49.460 --> 00:35:50.480 and that what the enemy 00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:51.600 means for evil 00:35:51.600 --> 00:35:52.840 he will still turn 00:35:52.840 --> 00:35:53.280 for good 00:35:53.280 --> 00:35:54.080 and for the 00:35:54.080 --> 00:35:55.180 good of those 00:35:55.180 --> 00:35:55.780 who love him 00:35:55.780 --> 00:35:56.880 God will still work 00:35:56.880 --> 00:36:02.160 I need to remind myself 00:36:02.160 --> 00:36:02.780 of that truth 00:36:02.780 --> 00:36:04.380 all the time 00:36:04.380 --> 00:36:05.519 yet I often 00:36:05.519 --> 00:36:06.000 fall back 00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:07.119 on my self-reliance 00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:07.780 I fall back 00:36:07.780 --> 00:36:09.780 on my self-righteousness 00:36:09.780 --> 00:36:10.820 interestingly 00:36:10.820 --> 00:36:11.579 remember Jacob 00:36:11.579 --> 00:36:12.260 doesn't know 00:36:12.260 --> 00:36:13.280 that his wife 00:36:13.280 --> 00:36:14.099 stole the little statue 00:36:14.099 --> 00:36:17.860 so then he gets angry 00:36:17.860 --> 00:36:18.840 anyone with whom 00:36:18.840 --> 00:36:19.579 you find your God 00:36:19.579 --> 00:36:20.160 shall not live 00:36:20.160 --> 00:36:20.619 in the presence 00:36:20.619 --> 00:36:21.140 of our kinsmen 00:36:21.140 --> 00:36:22.019 point out what I have 00:36:22.019 --> 00:36:22.500 that is yours 00:36:22.500 --> 00:36:23.220 and take it 00:36:23.220 --> 00:36:23.740 now Jacob 00:36:23.740 --> 00:36:24.320 did not know 00:36:24.320 --> 00:36:24.720 that Rachel 00:36:24.720 --> 00:36:25.480 had stolen them 00:36:25.480 --> 00:36:26.679 so he's saying 00:36:26.679 --> 00:36:26.880 hey 00:36:26.880 --> 00:36:28.240 you say we've 00:36:28.240 --> 00:36:28.760 stolen your gods 00:36:28.760 --> 00:36:29.639 search 00:36:29.639 --> 00:36:30.519 go everywhere 00:36:30.519 --> 00:36:31.039 and honestly 00:36:31.039 --> 00:36:32.000 if you find someone 00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:32.619 who's stolen it 00:36:32.619 --> 00:36:34.179 that person can die 00:36:34.179 --> 00:36:35.500 without knowing 00:36:35.500 --> 00:36:36.119 that his own wife 00:36:36.119 --> 00:36:36.940 his own beloved wife 00:36:36.940 --> 00:36:38.280 had actually been 00:36:38.280 --> 00:36:38.800 the culprit 00:36:38.800 --> 00:36:40.639 interesting 00:36:40.639 --> 00:36:42.380 this deceiver 00:36:42.380 --> 00:36:43.659 is self-reliant 00:36:43.659 --> 00:36:45.099 and is self-righteous 00:36:45.099 --> 00:36:47.059 and is also very ignorant 00:36:47.059 --> 00:36:48.000 of the sins 00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:49.000 that are in his own household 00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:51.159 so often 00:36:51.159 --> 00:36:51.719 do we 00:36:51.719 --> 00:36:52.280 have that 00:36:52.280 --> 00:36:53.880 we've deceived ourselves 00:36:53.880 --> 00:36:54.280 to the point 00:36:54.280 --> 00:36:55.159 that we are holy 00:36:55.159 --> 00:36:55.799 in God's sight 00:36:55.799 --> 00:36:56.759 that we are doing well 00:36:56.759 --> 00:36:57.960 because we do all these things 00:36:57.960 --> 00:37:01.019 we completely cover over 00:37:01.019 --> 00:37:01.440 the cracks 00:37:01.440 --> 00:37:02.619 and the moments of deceit 00:37:02.619 --> 00:37:03.279 in our own hearts 00:37:03.279 --> 00:37:04.519 and then we're defiant 00:37:04.519 --> 00:37:05.420 and then we lash out 00:37:05.420 --> 00:37:05.819 at others 00:37:05.819 --> 00:37:08.319 ignorant of the planks 00:37:08.319 --> 00:37:08.960 in our own eyes 00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:10.399 so anyway 00:37:10.399 --> 00:37:12.159 Laban goes into Jacob's tent 00:37:12.159 --> 00:37:12.779 and Leah's tent 00:37:12.779 --> 00:37:13.920 and they look around 00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:15.059 they can't find anything 00:37:15.059 --> 00:37:15.559 now 00:37:15.559 --> 00:37:16.379 verse 34 00:37:16.379 --> 00:37:17.379 now Rachel had taken 00:37:17.379 --> 00:37:17.980 the household gods 00:37:17.980 --> 00:37:19.039 and put them in the camel saddle 00:37:19.039 --> 00:37:19.819 and sat on them 00:37:19.819 --> 00:37:21.319 Laban fell all about the tent 00:37:21.319 --> 00:37:22.099 but did not find them 00:37:22.099 --> 00:37:22.819 and she said to her father 00:37:22.820 --> 00:37:24.500 let not my lord be angry 00:37:24.500 --> 00:37:25.660 that I cannot rise before you 00:37:25.660 --> 00:37:26.519 for the way of women 00:37:26.519 --> 00:37:27.260 is upon me 00:37:27.260 --> 00:37:28.500 she was in her time 00:37:28.500 --> 00:37:28.900 of the month 00:37:28.900 --> 00:37:31.140 and so you've got Rachel here 00:37:31.140 --> 00:37:32.240 who sat on a camel 00:37:32.240 --> 00:37:34.500 and the Laban 00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:35.460 and all the other servants 00:37:35.460 --> 00:37:36.600 are looking around 00:37:36.600 --> 00:37:37.840 and they go up to her 00:37:37.840 --> 00:37:38.820 and then she tells them 00:37:38.820 --> 00:37:40.059 oh it's my time of the month 00:37:40.059 --> 00:37:40.820 so I can't be moved 00:37:40.820 --> 00:37:42.000 and what does any guy do 00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:42.240 oh 00:37:42.240 --> 00:37:43.280 okay 00:37:43.280 --> 00:37:43.860 yeah sure 00:37:43.860 --> 00:37:44.440 so you do 00:37:44.440 --> 00:37:44.580 yeah 00:37:44.580 --> 00:37:45.240 I'm gonna stay away 00:37:45.240 --> 00:37:46.280 don't want anything to do with that 00:37:46.280 --> 00:37:49.160 and so she gets to hide it 00:37:49.160 --> 00:37:50.760 the deceiver 00:37:50.760 --> 00:37:51.860 has married a deceiver 00:37:51.860 --> 00:37:52.519 as well 00:37:52.519 --> 00:37:54.019 so anyway 00:37:54.019 --> 00:37:54.880 they get away with it 00:37:54.880 --> 00:37:56.000 Jacob gets very angry 00:37:56.000 --> 00:37:56.740 verse 36 00:37:56.740 --> 00:37:57.420 said to Laban 00:37:57.420 --> 00:37:58.080 what is my offense 00:37:58.080 --> 00:37:58.620 what is my sin 00:37:58.620 --> 00:37:59.640 that you have hotly pursued me 00:37:59.640 --> 00:38:00.580 for you have felt through 00:38:00.580 --> 00:38:01.180 all my goods 00:38:01.180 --> 00:38:01.880 what have you done 00:38:01.880 --> 00:38:02.980 what have you found 00:38:02.980 --> 00:38:04.140 of all your household goods 00:38:04.140 --> 00:38:05.519 send it before my kinsmen 00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:05.920 and your kinsmen 00:38:05.920 --> 00:38:06.720 that they may decide 00:38:06.720 --> 00:38:07.480 between us two 00:38:07.480 --> 00:38:08.820 he pleads to justice 00:38:08.820 --> 00:38:09.920 even though he is 00:38:09.920 --> 00:38:11.060 the culprit 00:38:11.060 --> 00:38:11.880 of injustice 00:38:11.880 --> 00:38:12.660 himself 00:38:12.660 --> 00:38:15.300 I don't know 00:38:15.300 --> 00:38:16.620 you see this self-reliance 00:38:16.620 --> 00:38:17.840 in the sticks 00:38:17.840 --> 00:38:18.420 and the schemes 00:38:18.420 --> 00:38:20.280 you see the self-righteousness 00:38:20.280 --> 00:38:21.480 that comes 00:38:21.480 --> 00:38:22.519 that is exposed 00:38:22.519 --> 00:38:23.380 even though his heart 00:38:23.380 --> 00:38:24.000 is deceitful 00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:25.500 and I just can't help 00:38:25.500 --> 00:38:25.880 but think 00:38:25.880 --> 00:38:26.820 how often 00:38:26.820 --> 00:38:27.440 how often 00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:28.539 am I the same 00:38:28.539 --> 00:38:31.960 how often 00:38:31.960 --> 00:38:32.980 do I fall prey 00:38:32.980 --> 00:38:33.900 to the same things 00:38:33.900 --> 00:38:35.060 that look so ridiculous 00:38:35.060 --> 00:38:35.740 on Jacob 00:38:35.740 --> 00:38:36.660 right here 00:38:36.660 --> 00:38:38.800 I'm gonna fast forward 00:38:38.800 --> 00:38:39.380 a little bit 00:38:39.380 --> 00:38:40.340 towards 00:38:40.340 --> 00:38:41.720 later in chapter 31 00:38:41.720 --> 00:38:43.160 and here's a key line 00:38:43.160 --> 00:38:45.000 I actually just 00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:45.980 before that 00:38:45.980 --> 00:38:46.659 these 20 years 00:38:46.659 --> 00:38:47.159 verse 38 00:38:47.159 --> 00:38:47.900 these 20 years 00:38:47.900 --> 00:38:48.539 I have been with you 00:38:48.539 --> 00:38:48.980 your ewes 00:38:48.980 --> 00:38:49.699 and your female goats 00:38:49.699 --> 00:38:50.340 have not miscarried 00:38:50.340 --> 00:38:50.940 and I have not eaten 00:38:50.940 --> 00:38:51.699 the rams of your flocks 00:38:51.699 --> 00:38:53.019 what was torn by wild beasts 00:38:53.019 --> 00:38:53.679 I did not bring to you 00:38:53.679 --> 00:38:54.860 I bore the loss of it myself 00:38:54.860 --> 00:38:55.780 remember 00:38:55.780 --> 00:38:56.840 back in those days 00:38:56.840 --> 00:38:57.400 if you were looking 00:38:57.400 --> 00:38:58.400 after someone else's flock 00:38:58.400 --> 00:38:59.659 and then one of the sheep 00:38:59.659 --> 00:39:00.260 were actually 00:39:00.260 --> 00:39:01.599 killed 00:39:01.599 --> 00:39:02.579 by an animal 00:39:02.579 --> 00:39:03.480 you would actually 00:39:03.480 --> 00:39:03.920 that shepherd 00:39:03.920 --> 00:39:04.440 would actually have to 00:39:04.440 --> 00:39:05.099 bear that cost 00:39:05.099 --> 00:39:05.739 themselves 00:39:05.739 --> 00:39:06.739 but he says 00:39:06.739 --> 00:39:07.659 I didn't even pass that 00:39:07.659 --> 00:39:08.099 on to you 00:39:08.099 --> 00:39:09.260 I bore the loss myself 00:39:09.260 --> 00:39:09.880 is what he's saying 00:39:09.880 --> 00:39:10.599 from my hand 00:39:10.599 --> 00:39:11.079 you required it 00:39:11.079 --> 00:39:11.900 whether stolen by day 00:39:11.900 --> 00:39:12.360 or by night 00:39:12.360 --> 00:39:13.380 there I was by day 00:39:13.380 --> 00:39:14.159 the heat consumed me 00:39:14.159 --> 00:39:14.960 and the cold by night 00:39:15.000 --> 00:39:15.960 and my sleep fled 00:39:15.960 --> 00:39:16.400 from my eyes 00:39:16.400 --> 00:39:17.360 do you know how many years 00:39:17.360 --> 00:39:18.579 I have slaved away for you 00:39:18.579 --> 00:39:21.119 without charging you anything 00:39:21.119 --> 00:39:23.159 again 00:39:23.159 --> 00:39:24.179 the self-righteousness 00:39:24.179 --> 00:39:24.760 that comes through 00:39:24.760 --> 00:39:26.179 can you 00:39:26.179 --> 00:39:28.179 how would you treat me 00:39:28.179 --> 00:39:28.739 this way 00:39:28.739 --> 00:39:30.099 and accuse me of this 00:39:30.099 --> 00:39:31.880 when I have done 00:39:31.880 --> 00:39:32.800 so much for you 00:39:32.800 --> 00:39:34.400 is what he's saying 00:39:34.400 --> 00:39:35.659 verse 41 00:39:35.659 --> 00:39:37.079 these 20 years 00:39:37.079 --> 00:39:37.760 I have been in your house 00:39:37.760 --> 00:39:38.260 I have served you 00:39:38.260 --> 00:39:39.300 14 years for your two daughters 00:39:39.300 --> 00:39:40.239 and 6 years for your flock 00:39:40.239 --> 00:39:41.019 and you have changed 00:39:41.019 --> 00:39:42.179 my wages 10 times 00:39:42.179 --> 00:39:43.980 which is just a figure of speech 00:39:43.980 --> 00:39:44.760 that he's just constantly 00:39:44.760 --> 00:39:46.160 moving the goalposts 00:39:46.160 --> 00:39:46.980 if the God of my father 00:39:46.980 --> 00:39:47.780 the God of Abraham 00:39:47.780 --> 00:39:48.580 and the fear of Isaac 00:39:48.580 --> 00:39:49.720 had not been on my side 00:39:49.720 --> 00:39:50.640 surely now you would have 00:39:50.640 --> 00:39:51.740 sent me away empty handed 00:39:51.740 --> 00:39:52.880 God saw my affliction 00:39:52.880 --> 00:39:53.800 in the labor of my hands 00:39:53.800 --> 00:39:54.940 and rebuked you last night 00:39:54.940 --> 00:39:55.820 oh 00:39:55.820 --> 00:39:57.200 he sees it 00:39:57.200 --> 00:39:57.600 again 00:39:57.600 --> 00:39:58.240 not fully 00:39:58.240 --> 00:39:59.280 because he's still got a wrestling 00:39:59.280 --> 00:40:00.120 match with God later 00:40:00.120 --> 00:40:00.820 next week 00:40:00.820 --> 00:40:01.780 but for now 00:40:01.780 --> 00:40:02.740 what he sees is that 00:40:02.740 --> 00:40:04.020 everything that has happened 00:40:04.020 --> 00:40:04.900 up until this point 00:40:04.900 --> 00:40:05.860 has been because God 00:40:05.860 --> 00:40:06.820 has been his defender 00:40:06.820 --> 00:40:10.160 it's encouraging to finally see 00:40:10.160 --> 00:40:11.160 that Jacob gets it 00:40:11.160 --> 00:40:11.840 that it wasn't because 00:40:11.840 --> 00:40:13.019 of his own deceptive schemes 00:40:13.019 --> 00:40:13.600 to survive 00:40:13.600 --> 00:40:15.900 it wasn't his shrewdness 00:40:15.900 --> 00:40:17.600 that got him rich 00:40:17.600 --> 00:40:18.840 it was because 00:40:18.840 --> 00:40:19.960 the God of Abraham 00:40:19.960 --> 00:40:21.220 and the fear of Isaac 00:40:21.220 --> 00:40:23.079 had been on his side 00:40:23.079 --> 00:40:25.740 how wonderful would it be 00:40:25.740 --> 00:40:26.920 that we can look across 00:40:26.920 --> 00:40:27.500 at our colleague 00:40:27.500 --> 00:40:28.519 look across at the people 00:40:28.519 --> 00:40:29.940 who we might fear 00:40:29.940 --> 00:40:31.260 might actually try to scam us 00:40:31.260 --> 00:40:32.480 and try to take advantage of us 00:40:32.480 --> 00:40:33.240 and we can say 00:40:33.240 --> 00:40:33.600 you know what 00:40:33.600 --> 00:40:34.800 you can do whatever you want to me 00:40:34.800 --> 00:40:36.120 because I have God on my side 00:40:36.120 --> 00:40:38.340 I'm not afraid of injustice 00:40:38.340 --> 00:40:39.820 I'm not afraid of being scamming 00:40:39.820 --> 00:40:41.460 because I know that my God 00:40:41.460 --> 00:40:42.980 will protect me 00:40:42.980 --> 00:40:45.400 and so hey 00:40:45.400 --> 00:40:46.300 by all means 00:40:46.300 --> 00:40:47.240 stab me behind the back 00:40:47.240 --> 00:40:48.240 try and get that promotion 00:40:48.240 --> 00:40:48.880 if you want to 00:40:48.880 --> 00:40:49.940 it doesn't matter 00:40:49.940 --> 00:40:51.559 if God wants me to have it 00:40:51.559 --> 00:40:52.420 I'll have it 00:40:52.420 --> 00:40:53.420 and if I don't get it 00:40:53.420 --> 00:40:54.360 it's because he doesn't want me 00:40:54.360 --> 00:40:54.940 to have it 00:40:54.940 --> 00:40:56.780 I mean it all sounds quite simple 00:40:56.780 --> 00:40:57.700 as I say it like that 00:40:57.700 --> 00:41:00.360 but how often do we struggle 00:41:00.360 --> 00:41:00.740 with that 00:41:00.740 --> 00:41:03.140 every time someone tries 00:41:03.140 --> 00:41:03.840 to overtake us 00:41:03.840 --> 00:41:04.559 we're like whoa 00:41:04.559 --> 00:41:07.100 but if we truly understood 00:41:07.100 --> 00:41:08.120 who we were in God 00:41:08.120 --> 00:41:08.940 how loved we were 00:41:08.940 --> 00:41:09.940 and that God was the one 00:41:09.940 --> 00:41:10.820 who provided for us 00:41:10.820 --> 00:41:12.900 then we would not worry 00:41:12.900 --> 00:41:16.539 we are back to the age old issue 00:41:16.539 --> 00:41:17.599 of trust 00:41:17.599 --> 00:41:20.260 from the very beginning 00:41:20.260 --> 00:41:22.119 when Eve did not trust 00:41:22.119 --> 00:41:23.079 in God 00:41:23.079 --> 00:41:26.059 did God really tell you about that 00:41:26.059 --> 00:41:28.139 is God really on your side 00:41:28.139 --> 00:41:30.099 will God really provide for you 00:41:30.099 --> 00:41:31.740 think about your worry 00:41:31.740 --> 00:41:32.619 and your anxiety 00:41:32.619 --> 00:41:33.720 right now 00:41:33.720 --> 00:41:36.059 the thing that you're most worried about 00:41:36.059 --> 00:41:37.840 whether it's your business 00:41:37.840 --> 00:41:39.640 whether it's your family 00:41:39.640 --> 00:41:40.519 whether it's your children 00:41:40.519 --> 00:41:41.640 whether it's your parents 00:41:41.640 --> 00:41:45.920 what is it that you worry about 00:41:45.920 --> 00:41:48.019 and can you trace it back 00:41:48.019 --> 00:41:49.760 to essentially a mistrust 00:41:49.760 --> 00:41:50.740 of God 00:41:50.740 --> 00:41:52.700 and the temptation 00:41:52.700 --> 00:41:53.640 to take matters 00:41:53.640 --> 00:41:55.420 into your own hands 00:41:55.420 --> 00:41:58.240 of course 00:41:58.240 --> 00:41:59.180 if you're a student here 00:41:59.180 --> 00:42:00.500 please don't be tempted 00:42:00.500 --> 00:42:00.800 to go 00:42:00.800 --> 00:42:01.780 well I'm just going to trust God 00:42:01.780 --> 00:42:02.380 with my studies 00:42:02.380 --> 00:42:03.500 and I'm not going to study 00:42:03.500 --> 00:42:04.880 because God is for me 00:42:04.880 --> 00:42:05.880 and none can be against me 00:42:05.880 --> 00:42:08.039 that will not work 00:42:08.039 --> 00:42:09.360 because God 00:42:09.360 --> 00:42:11.119 there is a human agency 00:42:11.119 --> 00:42:12.340 element involved in here 00:42:12.340 --> 00:42:13.280 where he does want us 00:42:13.280 --> 00:42:13.780 to work 00:42:13.780 --> 00:42:14.680 and keep the garden 00:42:14.680 --> 00:42:15.720 that he's placed us in 00:42:15.720 --> 00:42:18.680 but can you get to a point 00:42:18.680 --> 00:42:19.640 where you have worked 00:42:19.640 --> 00:42:20.920 in the best way that you can 00:42:20.920 --> 00:42:22.019 and still prioritized God 00:42:22.019 --> 00:42:22.720 and said 00:42:22.720 --> 00:42:23.460 God you know what 00:42:23.460 --> 00:42:25.480 whatever university 00:42:25.480 --> 00:42:26.160 I end up at 00:42:26.160 --> 00:42:27.519 is the university 00:42:27.519 --> 00:42:28.160 that you want 00:42:28.160 --> 00:42:29.400 for me 00:42:29.400 --> 00:42:30.680 whatever job 00:42:30.680 --> 00:42:31.480 I end up having 00:42:31.480 --> 00:42:32.860 is because that's the one 00:42:32.860 --> 00:42:33.640 that you have ordained 00:42:33.639 --> 00:42:34.039 for me 00:42:34.039 --> 00:42:36.639 whatever spouse 00:42:36.639 --> 00:42:37.460 you have prepared 00:42:37.460 --> 00:42:37.900 for me 00:42:37.900 --> 00:42:40.199 or not prepared 00:42:40.199 --> 00:42:42.420 is whatever you think 00:42:42.420 --> 00:42:42.960 is best 00:42:42.960 --> 00:42:44.079 for me 00:42:44.079 --> 00:42:47.460 again 00:42:47.460 --> 00:42:48.699 I cannot say this enough 00:42:48.699 --> 00:42:50.119 the heart is deceitful 00:42:50.119 --> 00:42:51.179 above all things 00:42:51.179 --> 00:42:51.940 it is sick 00:42:51.940 --> 00:42:53.319 who can understand it 00:42:53.319 --> 00:42:54.139 you and I 00:42:54.139 --> 00:42:55.079 we both have 00:42:55.079 --> 00:42:56.500 the same thing 00:42:56.500 --> 00:42:57.719 which is a disease 00:42:57.719 --> 00:42:58.500 of the heart 00:42:58.500 --> 00:42:59.440 because we have stopped 00:42:59.440 --> 00:43:00.779 trusting in God 00:43:00.779 --> 00:43:01.339 we have stopped 00:43:01.339 --> 00:43:02.659 fearing in God 00:43:02.659 --> 00:43:03.399 and we have started 00:43:03.399 --> 00:43:04.159 to take matters 00:43:04.159 --> 00:43:05.319 into our own hands 00:43:05.319 --> 00:43:06.980 but the beauty 00:43:06.980 --> 00:43:07.859 of the gospel comes 00:43:07.859 --> 00:43:08.579 when you realize 00:43:08.579 --> 00:43:09.119 there is a God 00:43:09.119 --> 00:43:10.779 who is sovereignly 00:43:10.779 --> 00:43:11.219 for you 00:43:11.219 --> 00:43:13.059 that you don't need 00:43:13.059 --> 00:43:13.899 shadow tactics 00:43:13.899 --> 00:43:15.440 you don't need 00:43:15.440 --> 00:43:16.099 to pull on those 00:43:16.099 --> 00:43:17.219 strings of relationships 00:43:17.219 --> 00:43:18.379 to get what you want 00:43:18.379 --> 00:43:20.039 because God 00:43:20.039 --> 00:43:20.819 is a loving father 00:43:20.819 --> 00:43:22.139 and that if you ask 00:43:22.139 --> 00:43:22.619 he will give 00:43:22.619 --> 00:43:23.179 if you knock 00:43:23.179 --> 00:43:24.099 the door will be opened 00:43:24.099 --> 00:43:24.679 if you seek 00:43:24.679 --> 00:43:26.139 you will find 00:43:26.139 --> 00:43:27.679 we look at the book 00:43:27.679 --> 00:43:28.099 of Genesis 00:43:28.099 --> 00:43:29.039 and what we see 00:43:29.039 --> 00:43:31.219 are not just words 00:43:31.219 --> 00:43:33.179 on a piece of paper 00:43:33.179 --> 00:43:34.860 but a mirror 00:43:34.860 --> 00:43:36.340 a mirror 00:43:36.340 --> 00:43:37.599 to our own sin 00:43:37.599 --> 00:43:38.579 a mirror 00:43:38.579 --> 00:43:39.119 a mirror 00:43:39.119 --> 00:43:40.159 to our own deception 00:43:40.159 --> 00:43:42.239 we are intent 00:43:42.239 --> 00:43:43.119 on deceiving others 00:43:43.119 --> 00:43:43.679 we are intent 00:43:43.679 --> 00:43:44.940 on deceiving ourselves 00:43:44.940 --> 00:43:45.539 we are trying 00:43:45.539 --> 00:43:46.059 to hide 00:43:46.059 --> 00:43:46.900 from God 00:43:46.900 --> 00:43:49.000 because we are Laban 00:43:49.000 --> 00:43:50.259 we are Rachel 00:43:50.259 --> 00:43:51.840 we are Leah 00:43:51.840 --> 00:43:53.960 we are Jacob 00:43:53.960 --> 00:43:57.519 and so 00:43:57.519 --> 00:43:59.280 I almost finished 00:43:59.280 --> 00:43:59.980 where I started 00:43:59.980 --> 00:44:01.220 what hope 00:44:01.220 --> 00:44:01.720 do we have 00:44:01.720 --> 00:44:03.880 this world is dark 00:44:03.880 --> 00:44:04.400 I 00:44:04.400 --> 00:44:05.699 am dark 00:44:05.699 --> 00:44:08.059 and yet 00:44:08.059 --> 00:44:10.460 the reason 00:44:10.460 --> 00:44:11.320 why we have this Bible 00:44:11.320 --> 00:44:11.960 the reason why 00:44:11.960 --> 00:44:12.460 we sit here 00:44:12.460 --> 00:44:13.360 is because there is a hope 00:44:13.360 --> 00:44:15.820 because whilst we do 00:44:15.820 --> 00:44:18.159 look a little bit 00:44:18.159 --> 00:44:18.820 like Jacob 00:44:18.820 --> 00:44:20.619 Jacob was also 00:44:20.619 --> 00:44:21.420 the archetype 00:44:21.420 --> 00:44:22.460 of something else 00:44:22.460 --> 00:44:24.760 Jacob of course 00:44:24.760 --> 00:44:25.539 was the archetype 00:44:25.539 --> 00:44:26.240 of someone else 00:44:26.240 --> 00:44:27.860 and that is Jesus Christ 00:44:27.860 --> 00:44:28.360 himself 00:44:28.360 --> 00:44:28.880 the son 00:44:28.880 --> 00:44:29.980 of God 00:44:29.980 --> 00:44:32.240 Jesus 00:44:32.240 --> 00:44:33.380 is the true 00:44:33.380 --> 00:44:33.880 Jacob 00:44:33.880 --> 00:44:34.240 Jesus 00:44:34.240 --> 00:44:35.240 was faced 00:44:35.240 --> 00:44:35.980 with injustice 00:44:35.980 --> 00:44:36.699 he was faced 00:44:36.699 --> 00:44:37.659 with scamming 00:44:37.659 --> 00:44:38.280 he stood 00:44:38.280 --> 00:44:39.320 in a court 00:44:39.320 --> 00:44:40.440 of Sanhedrin 00:44:40.440 --> 00:44:41.679 placing evidence 00:44:41.679 --> 00:44:42.119 on him 00:44:42.119 --> 00:44:42.960 that wasn't his 00:44:42.960 --> 00:44:43.900 accusing him 00:44:43.900 --> 00:44:44.780 and trying to 00:44:44.780 --> 00:44:45.519 kill him 00:44:45.519 --> 00:44:47.039 and yet 00:44:47.039 --> 00:44:47.699 what did he do 00:44:47.699 --> 00:44:48.720 he just stood there 00:44:48.720 --> 00:44:49.619 and he just 00:44:49.619 --> 00:44:50.480 trusted in God 00:44:50.480 --> 00:44:51.360 the same man 00:44:51.360 --> 00:44:52.019 in John 2 00:44:52.019 --> 00:44:52.579 who said 00:44:52.579 --> 00:44:54.019 what the Bible says 00:44:54.019 --> 00:44:55.179 did not trust 00:44:55.179 --> 00:44:55.800 in man 00:44:55.800 --> 00:44:56.420 because he knew 00:44:56.420 --> 00:44:57.239 the heart of man 00:44:57.239 --> 00:44:58.599 entrusted himself 00:44:58.599 --> 00:44:59.559 to the court of man 00:44:59.559 --> 00:45:00.239 and said yes 00:45:00.239 --> 00:45:01.960 I'm here 00:45:01.960 --> 00:45:02.880 why not 00:45:02.880 --> 00:45:03.780 because he trusts them 00:45:03.780 --> 00:45:05.119 he knew exactly 00:45:05.119 --> 00:45:05.920 what was in their hearts 00:45:05.920 --> 00:45:06.759 but what did he trust 00:45:06.759 --> 00:45:07.480 he trusted 00:45:07.480 --> 00:45:08.320 in God 00:45:08.320 --> 00:45:10.139 he subjected himself 00:45:10.139 --> 00:45:11.300 to a loving 00:45:11.300 --> 00:45:11.940 father 00:45:11.940 --> 00:45:13.340 not easily 00:45:13.340 --> 00:45:15.099 but very painfully 00:45:15.099 --> 00:45:16.079 and we see that 00:45:16.079 --> 00:45:16.840 in the garden of Eden 00:45:16.840 --> 00:45:17.239 when he said 00:45:17.239 --> 00:45:17.599 God 00:45:17.599 --> 00:45:18.239 dad 00:45:18.239 --> 00:45:19.619 if there's another way 00:45:19.619 --> 00:45:20.360 please if there is 00:45:20.360 --> 00:45:20.860 another way 00:45:20.860 --> 00:45:21.559 now is the time 00:45:21.559 --> 00:45:22.200 to pull the plug 00:45:22.200 --> 00:45:23.079 I've seen enough 00:45:23.079 --> 00:45:24.559 I've spent 33 years 00:45:24.559 --> 00:45:25.240 on this earth 00:45:25.240 --> 00:45:27.360 it is enough 00:45:27.360 --> 00:45:29.200 God if there's another way 00:45:29.200 --> 00:45:29.960 to save this group 00:45:29.960 --> 00:45:31.340 but he knew 00:45:31.340 --> 00:45:32.000 that there was no 00:45:32.000 --> 00:45:32.539 other way 00:45:32.539 --> 00:45:33.680 because no man 00:45:33.680 --> 00:45:34.599 can save themselves 00:45:34.599 --> 00:45:36.320 because every man 00:45:36.320 --> 00:45:37.039 is doomed 00:45:37.039 --> 00:45:38.500 for destruction 00:45:38.500 --> 00:45:39.500 the only way 00:45:39.500 --> 00:45:41.440 humanity can be saved 00:45:41.440 --> 00:45:42.559 is someone who is sinless 00:45:42.559 --> 00:45:43.740 steps into 00:45:43.740 --> 00:45:45.200 that world 00:45:45.200 --> 00:45:46.039 and Jesus 00:45:46.039 --> 00:45:46.860 willingly 00:45:46.860 --> 00:45:47.860 painfully 00:45:47.860 --> 00:45:48.980 entrusts himself 00:45:48.980 --> 00:45:49.720 to God 00:45:49.720 --> 00:45:50.720 he is the bridegroom 00:45:50.720 --> 00:45:51.780 who comes back 00:45:51.780 --> 00:45:52.500 for his bride 00:45:52.500 --> 00:45:54.260 he is the shepherd 00:45:54.260 --> 00:45:55.260 who takes every 00:45:55.260 --> 00:45:56.120 loss 00:45:56.120 --> 00:45:58.539 and puts it on himself 00:45:58.539 --> 00:46:01.539 he looks at our deception 00:46:01.539 --> 00:46:04.400 and sees that we're still sinners 00:46:04.400 --> 00:46:05.240 and yet loves us 00:46:05.240 --> 00:46:06.120 and dies for us 00:46:06.120 --> 00:46:06.960 anyway 00:46:06.960 --> 00:46:08.300 he sees Judas 00:46:08.300 --> 00:46:10.099 hiding 00:46:10.099 --> 00:46:11.019 and scheming 00:46:11.019 --> 00:46:12.620 but instead 00:46:12.620 --> 00:46:13.519 takes off his robe 00:46:13.519 --> 00:46:13.980 and washes 00:46:13.980 --> 00:46:15.360 his feet 00:46:15.360 --> 00:46:18.579 we as Christians 00:46:18.579 --> 00:46:19.800 can go out into the world 00:46:19.800 --> 00:46:21.140 and take any offense 00:46:21.140 --> 00:46:22.960 and any injustice 00:46:22.960 --> 00:46:24.180 done to us 00:46:24.180 --> 00:46:25.019 any persecution 00:46:25.019 --> 00:46:25.960 that can be done to us 00:46:25.960 --> 00:46:26.180 because 00:46:26.180 --> 00:46:27.900 this is nothing 00:46:27.900 --> 00:46:28.920 compared to what you did 00:46:28.920 --> 00:46:29.480 to our Lord 00:46:29.480 --> 00:46:32.860 Jesus has taken 00:46:32.860 --> 00:46:34.820 on the ultimate offense 00:46:34.820 --> 00:46:35.300 for us 00:46:35.300 --> 00:46:35.980 so that we 00:46:35.980 --> 00:46:37.480 no longer need to be 00:46:37.480 --> 00:46:37.820 offended 00:46:37.820 --> 00:46:39.039 by anyone 00:46:39.039 --> 00:46:42.740 so when you next 00:46:42.740 --> 00:46:43.440 meet that relative 00:46:43.440 --> 00:46:44.780 who is always rude 00:46:44.780 --> 00:46:45.500 and condescending 00:46:45.500 --> 00:46:46.040 and disrespectful 00:46:46.040 --> 00:46:46.580 to you 00:46:46.580 --> 00:46:47.640 that boss 00:46:47.640 --> 00:46:48.140 who just speaks 00:46:48.140 --> 00:46:48.900 down to you 00:46:48.900 --> 00:46:50.460 that colleague 00:46:50.460 --> 00:46:51.080 who constantly 00:46:51.080 --> 00:46:51.740 tries to cut 00:46:51.740 --> 00:46:52.740 in front of you 00:46:52.740 --> 00:46:54.080 you can say 00:46:54.080 --> 00:46:55.620 it is okay 00:46:55.620 --> 00:46:57.820 be my guest 00:46:57.820 --> 00:46:59.660 the God of Abraham 00:46:59.660 --> 00:47:01.180 the God of Isaac 00:47:01.180 --> 00:47:02.860 the God of Jacob 00:47:02.860 --> 00:47:04.600 is with me 00:47:04.600 --> 00:47:06.900 and there's nothing 00:47:06.900 --> 00:47:07.360 that you can do 00:47:07.360 --> 00:47:07.780 about it 00:47:07.780 --> 00:47:11.440 the fellowship 00:47:11.440 --> 00:47:12.040 we've been reading 00:47:12.040 --> 00:47:12.860 the book of Hebrews 00:47:12.860 --> 00:47:15.580 we've been contrasting 00:47:15.580 --> 00:47:16.040 the old way 00:47:16.040 --> 00:47:16.560 and the new way 00:47:16.560 --> 00:47:17.240 the old law 00:47:17.240 --> 00:47:18.019 and the new way 00:47:18.019 --> 00:47:19.940 and the old law 00:47:19.940 --> 00:47:20.740 weakened by the flesh 00:47:20.740 --> 00:47:21.760 is what Romans 8 says 00:47:21.760 --> 00:47:23.620 but Jesus came to fulfill 00:47:23.620 --> 00:47:25.420 what the law could not 00:47:25.420 --> 00:47:26.960 came to bring 00:47:26.960 --> 00:47:27.940 not just the law 00:47:27.940 --> 00:47:29.080 but to fulfill the law 00:47:29.080 --> 00:47:29.960 with grace 00:47:29.960 --> 00:47:30.820 and truth 00:47:30.820 --> 00:47:31.720 so we can stand 00:47:31.720 --> 00:47:32.640 in the face of injustice 00:47:32.639 --> 00:47:34.799 we can stand 00:47:34.799 --> 00:47:35.440 in the way 00:47:35.440 --> 00:47:36.139 of offense 00:47:36.139 --> 00:47:37.719 and be completely 00:47:37.719 --> 00:47:38.319 okay 00:47:38.319 --> 00:47:39.039 because we know 00:47:39.039 --> 00:47:39.519 that we have 00:47:39.519 --> 00:47:40.199 our high priest 00:47:40.199 --> 00:47:40.980 who sympathizes 00:47:40.980 --> 00:47:41.900 with every weakness 00:47:41.900 --> 00:47:43.159 but was not tempted 00:47:43.159 --> 00:47:44.900 or sorry 00:47:44.900 --> 00:47:45.420 was tempted 00:47:45.420 --> 00:47:46.179 but did not fall 00:47:46.179 --> 00:47:46.699 into sin 00:47:46.699 --> 00:47:49.699 we pray that we 00:47:49.699 --> 00:47:50.539 would have the same 00:47:50.539 --> 00:47:53.319 resilience 00:47:53.319 --> 00:47:55.500 application 00:47:55.500 --> 00:47:56.679 what do we do 00:47:56.679 --> 00:47:57.239 with this 00:47:57.239 --> 00:47:58.659 what do we do 00:47:58.659 --> 00:47:59.039 with seeing 00:47:59.039 --> 00:47:59.779 these two men 00:47:59.779 --> 00:48:01.079 deceiving one another 00:48:01.079 --> 00:48:02.079 self-reliant 00:48:02.079 --> 00:48:02.759 self-righteous 00:48:02.759 --> 00:48:03.860 the first thing is 00:48:03.860 --> 00:48:04.500 I think we just have to 00:48:04.500 --> 00:48:05.360 diagnose our own 00:48:05.360 --> 00:48:06.099 shadow tactics 00:48:06.099 --> 00:48:07.179 what are the things 00:48:07.179 --> 00:48:07.639 that you've been 00:48:07.639 --> 00:48:08.279 trying to do 00:48:08.279 --> 00:48:10.000 to climb your way up 00:48:10.000 --> 00:48:10.739 or to get out 00:48:10.739 --> 00:48:11.319 of your mess 00:48:11.319 --> 00:48:14.739 living on half-truths 00:48:14.739 --> 00:48:17.299 not standing upright 00:48:17.299 --> 00:48:18.119 for what you know 00:48:18.119 --> 00:48:19.079 the Lord is calling you to 00:48:19.079 --> 00:48:21.460 what are the things 00:48:21.460 --> 00:48:21.940 where you know 00:48:21.940 --> 00:48:22.619 you're not fully 00:48:22.619 --> 00:48:23.920 in the wrong 00:48:23.920 --> 00:48:24.420 but you're also 00:48:24.420 --> 00:48:25.539 not fully in the right 00:48:25.539 --> 00:48:27.159 diagnose our own 00:48:27.159 --> 00:48:28.400 shadow tactics 00:48:28.400 --> 00:48:29.380 confess them 00:48:29.380 --> 00:48:30.340 bring them out 00:48:30.340 --> 00:48:31.659 into the open 00:48:31.659 --> 00:48:32.239 where do we 00:48:32.239 --> 00:48:32.699 manipulate 00:48:32.699 --> 00:48:33.399 circumstances 00:48:33.399 --> 00:48:33.899 and people 00:48:33.899 --> 00:48:34.559 ourselves 00:48:34.559 --> 00:48:37.039 thereby exposing 00:48:37.039 --> 00:48:38.319 our reliance 00:48:38.319 --> 00:48:38.899 on ourselves 00:48:38.899 --> 00:48:39.859 and our mistrust 00:48:39.859 --> 00:48:40.719 of God 00:48:40.719 --> 00:48:43.719 diagnose them 00:48:43.719 --> 00:48:44.440 bring them out 00:48:44.440 --> 00:48:45.000 into the light 00:48:45.000 --> 00:48:46.599 where in our lives 00:48:46.599 --> 00:48:47.079 are we actually 00:48:47.079 --> 00:48:48.000 managing people 00:48:48.000 --> 00:48:48.879 and circumstances 00:48:48.879 --> 00:48:49.440 and not actually 00:48:49.440 --> 00:48:50.000 loving them 00:48:50.000 --> 00:48:51.500 we're just trying 00:48:51.500 --> 00:48:52.500 to control them 00:48:52.500 --> 00:48:54.119 we're trying to do 00:48:54.119 --> 00:48:55.239 what we want 00:48:55.239 --> 00:48:56.399 through these people 00:48:56.399 --> 00:48:56.960 and through these 00:48:56.960 --> 00:48:57.539 circumstances 00:48:57.539 --> 00:48:59.420 can we live 00:48:59.420 --> 00:49:00.239 with this surrender 00:49:00.239 --> 00:49:02.480 this trust 00:49:02.480 --> 00:49:04.960 this fear of God 00:49:04.960 --> 00:49:06.960 and not fearing 00:49:06.960 --> 00:49:07.539 anything else 00:49:07.539 --> 00:49:09.320 let's spend a moment 00:49:09.320 --> 00:49:09.579 now 00:49:09.579 --> 00:49:10.820 I want to ask you 00:49:10.820 --> 00:49:12.460 just to do business 00:49:12.460 --> 00:49:13.259 with God 00:49:13.259 --> 00:49:13.800 yourself 00:49:13.800 --> 00:49:14.739 the God who sees 00:49:14.739 --> 00:49:15.380 into your heart 00:49:15.380 --> 00:49:18.679 and to repent 00:49:18.679 --> 00:49:19.320 and to surrender 00:49:19.320 --> 00:49:20.380 any shadow tactics 00:49:20.380 --> 00:49:21.139 that you might have 00:49:21.139 --> 00:49:22.400 any mistrust 00:49:22.400 --> 00:49:23.199 that you might have 00:49:23.199 --> 00:49:26.359 here's another truth 00:49:26.359 --> 00:49:27.000 that can be really 00:49:27.000 --> 00:49:28.279 freeing to you 00:49:28.279 --> 00:49:31.559 you cannot do this 00:49:31.559 --> 00:49:32.759 by yourself 00:49:32.759 --> 00:49:35.099 what you're trying 00:49:35.099 --> 00:49:35.599 to do 00:49:35.599 --> 00:49:37.199 is equal to the 00:49:37.199 --> 00:49:38.679 sticks and schemes 00:49:38.679 --> 00:49:39.939 of Jacob 00:49:39.939 --> 00:49:43.379 only God 00:49:43.379 --> 00:49:45.879 only God 00:49:45.879 --> 00:49:48.379 spend a moment 00:49:48.379 --> 00:49:49.119 in silence now 00:49:49.119 --> 00:49:49.719 as we reflect 00:49:49.719 --> 00:49:50.839 on the word of God 00:49:50.839 --> 00:49:52.219 and I'll invite Paul 00:49:52.219 --> 00:49:53.000 and the team 00:49:53.000 --> 00:49:53.500 to come up 00:50:22.219 --> 00:50:33.919 Jesus we spend 00:50:33.919 --> 00:50:34.319 a moment 00:50:34.319 --> 00:50:35.119 now 00:50:35.119 --> 00:50:35.980 each of us 00:50:35.980 --> 00:50:38.980 coming to you 00:50:38.980 --> 00:50:42.839 with our sticks 00:50:42.839 --> 00:50:43.779 in one hand 00:50:43.779 --> 00:50:46.519 and our pocket gods 00:50:46.519 --> 00:50:47.099 in the other 00:50:47.099 --> 00:50:54.719 we've become so 00:50:54.719 --> 00:50:56.420 used to relying 00:50:56.420 --> 00:50:57.239 on ourselves 00:50:57.239 --> 00:51:01.619 tricked by the enemy 00:51:01.619 --> 00:51:04.539 in believing that 00:51:04.539 --> 00:51:05.759 we need to fight 00:51:05.759 --> 00:51:08.799 to get what's ours 00:51:08.799 --> 00:51:10.920 because we are 00:51:10.920 --> 00:51:11.400 unloved 00:51:11.400 --> 00:51:13.480 unprovided for 00:51:13.480 --> 00:51:14.699 abandoned 00:51:14.699 --> 00:51:19.039 but that is 00:51:19.039 --> 00:51:19.919 so so far 00:51:19.919 --> 00:51:20.619 from the truth 00:51:20.619 --> 00:51:26.239 we have a God 00:51:26.239 --> 00:51:27.399 who loves us 00:51:27.399 --> 00:51:31.960 to the point 00:51:31.960 --> 00:51:32.359 where he would 00:51:32.359 --> 00:51:33.259 give his only son 00:51:33.259 --> 00:51:34.739 to die for us 00:51:34.739 --> 00:51:35.779 and so that we 00:51:35.779 --> 00:51:36.639 could be called 00:51:36.639 --> 00:51:37.199 children 00:51:37.199 --> 00:51:38.839 of God 00:51:38.839 --> 00:51:40.339 so those sticks 00:51:40.340 --> 00:51:42.160 those schemes 00:51:42.160 --> 00:51:42.760 that we've put 00:51:42.760 --> 00:51:43.180 in place 00:51:43.180 --> 00:51:43.820 in our lives 00:51:43.820 --> 00:51:45.680 to get where 00:51:45.680 --> 00:51:46.480 we want to go 00:51:46.480 --> 00:51:47.880 or at least 00:51:47.880 --> 00:51:48.280 we think 00:51:48.280 --> 00:51:48.740 that's what's 00:51:48.740 --> 00:51:49.420 helping us 00:51:49.420 --> 00:51:54.480 they look just 00:51:54.480 --> 00:51:55.000 silly 00:51:55.000 --> 00:51:56.120 in front of you 00:51:56.120 --> 00:52:02.039 it's like a 00:52:02.039 --> 00:52:02.740 90s kid 00:52:02.740 --> 00:52:03.960 not knowing 00:52:03.960 --> 00:52:04.539 how the world 00:52:04.539 --> 00:52:04.920 works 00:52:04.920 --> 00:52:06.180 we sit here 00:52:06.180 --> 00:52:06.539 now 00:52:06.539 --> 00:52:08.679 not really 00:52:08.679 --> 00:52:09.079 knowing how 00:52:09.079 --> 00:52:09.539 you work 00:52:09.539 --> 00:52:09.940 but your 00:52:09.940 --> 00:52:10.320 thoughts 00:52:10.320 --> 00:52:10.639 and your 00:52:10.639 --> 00:52:10.980 ways 00:52:10.980 --> 00:52:11.380 are higher 00:52:11.380 --> 00:52:11.940 than ours 00:52:11.940 --> 00:52:12.679 and our 00:52:12.679 --> 00:52:13.099 job is 00:52:13.099 --> 00:52:13.539 to trust 00:52:13.539 --> 00:52:13.820 you 00:52:13.820 --> 00:52:14.519 so we 00:52:14.519 --> 00:52:15.179 give those 00:52:15.179 --> 00:52:15.639 sticks 00:52:15.639 --> 00:52:17.759 back to you 00:52:17.759 --> 00:52:22.279 and those 00:52:22.279 --> 00:52:22.880 pocket gods 00:52:22.880 --> 00:52:23.440 that we can't 00:52:23.440 --> 00:52:24.079 help but grab 00:52:24.079 --> 00:52:24.679 on our way 00:52:24.679 --> 00:52:24.960 out 00:52:24.960 --> 00:52:29.579 the inheritance 00:52:29.579 --> 00:52:32.720 the authority 00:52:32.720 --> 00:52:33.159 that comes 00:52:33.159 --> 00:52:33.420 from the 00:52:33.420 --> 00:52:33.820 world 00:52:33.820 --> 00:52:39.119 Lord we 00:52:39.119 --> 00:52:39.440 let go 00:52:39.440 --> 00:52:39.800 of those 00:52:39.800 --> 00:52:40.059 too 00:52:40.059 --> 00:52:45.780 they have 00:52:45.780 --> 00:52:46.260 no place 00:52:46.260 --> 00:52:46.720 here 00:52:46.720 --> 00:52:49.099 not in the 00:52:49.099 --> 00:52:49.539 presence of 00:52:49.539 --> 00:52:49.840 the most 00:52:49.840 --> 00:52:50.280 high God 00:52:50.280 --> 00:52:52.099 who is 00:52:52.099 --> 00:52:52.619 faithful in 00:52:52.619 --> 00:52:53.139 every way 00:52:53.139 --> 00:53:03.259 so 00:53:03.259 --> 00:53:04.219 regardless of 00:53:04.219 --> 00:53:04.599 where we 00:53:04.599 --> 00:53:04.900 are in 00:53:04.900 --> 00:53:05.239 our lives 00:53:05.239 --> 00:53:05.420 what 00:53:05.420 --> 00:53:06.099 circumstances 00:53:06.099 --> 00:53:06.639 we face 00:53:06.639 --> 00:53:06.819 what 00:53:06.819 --> 00:53:07.199 troubles 00:53:07.199 --> 00:53:10.059 we are 00:53:10.059 --> 00:53:10.400 trying to 00:53:10.400 --> 00:53:10.819 overcome 00:53:10.819 --> 00:53:15.639 would you 00:53:15.639 --> 00:53:15.960 give us 00:53:15.960 --> 00:53:16.420 the faith 00:53:16.420 --> 00:53:17.299 to declare 00:53:17.299 --> 00:53:22.359 it is 00:53:22.359 --> 00:53:22.619 well 00:53:22.619 --> 00:53:24.759 with our 00:53:24.759 --> 00:53:25.079 souls 00:53:25.079 --> 00:53:30.079 because our 00:53:30.079 --> 00:53:30.480 saviour 00:53:30.480 --> 00:53:31.039 lives 00:53:31.039 --> 00:53:33.659 and fights 00:53:33.659 --> 00:53:34.159 for us 00:53:34.159 --> 00:53:38.299 and walks 00:53:38.299 --> 00:53:38.759 with us 00:53:38.759 --> 00:53:40.639 and provides 00:53:40.639 --> 00:53:41.159 for us 00:53:41.159 --> 00:53:45.239 it is 00:53:45.239 --> 00:53:45.579 well 00:53:45.579 --> 00:53:49.259 let's 00:53:49.259 --> 00:53:49.519 stand 00:53:49.519 --> 00:53:49.639 and 00:53:49.639 --> 00:53:50.019 responding 00:53:50.019 --> 00:53:50.420 worship 00:53:50.420 --> 00:53:53.460 can 00:53:53.460 --> 00:53:54.320 at 00:53:54.320 --> 00:53:54.980 what 00:53:54.980 --> 00:53:55.880 are 00:53:55.880 --> 00:53:56.400 what 00:53:56.400 --> 00:53:56.740 what 00:53:56.740 --> 00:53:57.159 are 00:53:57.159 --> 00:53:57.880 going on 00:53:57.880 --> 00:53:58.260 with our 00:53:58.260 --> 00:53:59.240 aber 00:53:59.019 --> 00:53:59.840 we are 00:53:59.840 --> 00:54:00.200 going on 00:54:00.200 --> 00:54:00.440 as they're 00:54:00.440 --> 00:54:00.680 going on 00:54:00.680 --> 00:54:00.760 as they're 00:54:00.760 --> 00:54:00.880 they're 00:54:00.880 --> 00:54:01.159 going on