WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.200 Good morning. It's good to see you guys. Good to worship with you. Please turn your Bibles to Exodus chapter 23. 00:00:08.660 --> 00:00:17.100 For those of you who don't know me, my name is Sean. I'm one of the pastors of Trinity Cambridge Church, and it is my joy and honor to preach God's word to you. 00:00:17.480 --> 00:00:20.440 This morning, we've been going through a series in the book of Exodus. 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:25.699 If you don't have a Bible, if you raise your hand, we'll be happy to bring one over to you that you can use while you're here. 00:00:30.899 --> 00:00:34.799 Exodus chapter 23. We'll be looking at verses 20 to 33. 00:00:43.960 --> 00:00:46.379 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's word. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:02.640 Father, we love your word. 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:07.640 Because in your word, we hear your voice. 00:01:09.700 --> 00:01:13.640 Because in your word, we meet Jesus, our Savior. 00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:23.700 Because in your word, we are sharpened and equipped, complete for every good work. 00:01:25.859 --> 00:01:30.400 And so we pay attention to your word again this morning. 00:01:32.019 --> 00:01:33.599 Address us as you always do. 00:01:37.340 --> 00:01:38.439 Glorify your name. 00:01:38.439 --> 00:01:42.719 Exalt your son, Jesus. 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:53.900 Bring sinners who are dead in their trespasses to life through the proclamation of your word. 00:01:53.900 --> 00:02:11.680 And fill us with an awareness, an intense awareness of your care and your love toward us, 00:02:12.379 --> 00:02:13.580 as revealed in this passage. 00:02:15.980 --> 00:02:17.960 In Jesus' name we ask. 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:18.840 Amen. 00:02:18.840 --> 00:02:25.159 If you are able, please stand for the reading of God's word from Exodus 23, 20 to 33. 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:41.280 Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:48.699 Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice. 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:56.580 Do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him. 00:02:57.800 --> 00:03:03.280 But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:09.140 then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. 00:03:10.620 --> 00:03:17.020 When my angel goes before you and brings you to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites, 00:03:17.420 --> 00:03:20.580 the Hivites and the Jebusites, and I blot them out, 00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:27.139 you shall not bow down to their gods nor serve them, nor do as they do, 00:03:27.420 --> 00:03:31.300 but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their pillars in pieces. 00:03:31.300 --> 00:03:38.680 You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, 00:03:38.939 --> 00:03:42.360 and I will take sickness away from among you. 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:46.000 None shall miscarry or be barren in your land. 00:03:46.380 --> 00:03:48.680 I will fulfill the number of your days. 00:03:49.100 --> 00:03:55.740 I will send my terror before you and will throw into confusion all the people against whom you shall come, 00:03:56.180 --> 00:03:59.800 and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you, 00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:07.620 and I will send hornets before you which shall drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from before you. 00:04:08.240 --> 00:04:10.860 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, 00:04:11.380 --> 00:04:15.060 lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. 00:04:15.700 --> 00:04:18.540 Little by little I will drive them out from before you, 00:04:18.860 --> 00:04:22.220 until you have increased and possessed the land. 00:04:22.220 --> 00:04:27.440 And I will set your border from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, 00:04:27.760 --> 00:04:29.880 and from the wilderness to the Euphrates. 00:04:30.600 --> 00:04:34.140 For I will give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, 00:04:34.360 --> 00:04:36.620 and you shall drive them out before you. 00:04:37.500 --> 00:04:40.580 You shall make no covenant with them and their gods. 00:04:41.100 --> 00:04:45.040 They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against me. 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:49.800 For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you. 00:04:50.420 --> 00:04:52.860 This is God's holy and authoritative word. 00:04:52.980 --> 00:04:53.600 Please be seated. 00:04:53.600 --> 00:05:04.820 Many of you are familiar with the announcement that the flight attendant makes 00:05:04.820 --> 00:05:07.379 after everyone has boarded a plane. 00:05:08.200 --> 00:05:13.020 Say, please direct your attention to the flight attendant in the cabin 00:05:13.020 --> 00:05:17.500 when we review important safety information. 00:05:17.500 --> 00:05:27.079 If you're like me, I rarely see anyone paying attention to the flight attendant. 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:30.259 Some people are looking out the window. 00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:32.819 Some people are sleeping already. 00:05:33.220 --> 00:05:36.959 Some people are, many, most of them, looking at their phones. 00:05:37.579 --> 00:05:39.300 That may or may not be in airplane mode. 00:05:40.420 --> 00:05:41.939 And some people are listening to music. 00:05:42.060 --> 00:05:42.800 They're reading books. 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:45.600 Very few people are actually looking at the flight attendant. 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:48.780 Sometimes I've wondered what it would feel like to be the flight attendant. 00:05:49.540 --> 00:05:53.340 Telling passengers important safety information and nobody's paying attention. 00:05:53.620 --> 00:05:54.760 You know, why am I even doing this? 00:05:55.520 --> 00:05:59.040 And there are several reasons why people don't pay attention. 00:06:00.180 --> 00:06:01.879 One reason is that it's familiar. 00:06:02.860 --> 00:06:03.900 You've heard it before. 00:06:05.500 --> 00:06:11.460 Second reason is that people don't expect any mishap to happen on the flight. 00:06:11.459 --> 00:06:16.659 So they dismiss the safety instructions as a mere formality. 00:06:17.479 --> 00:06:19.519 Something that they have to do for legal reasons. 00:06:20.779 --> 00:06:25.240 I just spoke with a friend this past week who told me that when he was younger, 00:06:25.399 --> 00:06:29.279 he was on a plane, and as the plane was flying, one of the engines blew out. 00:06:29.659 --> 00:06:33.139 And they could see out the window one of the engines on fire. 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:36.259 And the pilot had to make an emergency landing. 00:06:36.579 --> 00:06:39.719 And panic obviously gripped the entire plane. 00:06:40.479 --> 00:06:46.639 And I can assure you that not a few people on that plane in that very moment regretted 00:06:46.639 --> 00:06:50.699 not paying any attention to the flight attendant's safety instructions. 00:06:53.180 --> 00:06:56.039 The word of God is familiar to many of us. 00:06:56.040 --> 00:07:02.460 And frankly, there are some people out there who don't think that obedience to God's word 00:07:02.460 --> 00:07:03.520 makes much of a difference. 00:07:04.740 --> 00:07:09.720 So they gloss over it when they read the Bible, or don't read it at all, 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:12.780 or hardly pay any attention. 00:07:13.800 --> 00:07:17.960 But what if we really believe that the obedience to the word, 00:07:18.200 --> 00:07:20.540 to God's word, is a matter of life and death? 00:07:22.960 --> 00:07:25.460 Something that determines our eternal destiny. 00:07:26.040 --> 00:07:27.400 Would we pay attention then? 00:07:29.280 --> 00:07:32.120 We should pay attention to the voice of the Lord 00:07:32.120 --> 00:07:36.420 as he leads us attentively into the promised land. 00:07:36.500 --> 00:07:38.320 That's the main point of this passage. 00:07:38.420 --> 00:07:40.820 We're going to first look at the precept, what God commands, 00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:43.780 and then the promise, what God assures us will happen, 00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:45.040 and then the pardon. 00:07:46.259 --> 00:07:49.040 I mentioned to you last week that verse 13 is the crux, 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:51.040 the center point of the preceding passage. 00:07:51.040 --> 00:07:51.439 It said, 00:07:51.439 --> 00:08:05.759 The main function of all the laws that we have seen in the book of Exodus 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:10.319 is to keep the covenant relationship between God and his people intact, 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:13.219 to help the Israelites be faithful, 00:08:13.219 --> 00:08:16.920 and to keep their allegiance to Yahweh. 00:08:17.659 --> 00:08:21.819 And the main exhortation to pay attention from that preceding passage 00:08:21.819 --> 00:08:24.899 is repeated again and again in this passage. 00:08:25.259 --> 00:08:27.279 God promises to send an angel, 00:08:27.719 --> 00:08:29.779 which in Hebrew simply means messenger, 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:33.439 to before the Israelites, to go before them into the promised land. 00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:35.120 And then he says in verse 21, 00:08:35.780 --> 00:08:39.160 Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice. 00:08:39.580 --> 00:08:40.980 Do not rebel against him, 00:08:41.040 --> 00:08:42.640 for he will not pardon your transgression, 00:08:42.780 --> 00:08:44.480 for my name is in him. 00:08:45.220 --> 00:08:48.300 I will circle back to the idea of pardoning transgression later on. 00:08:49.080 --> 00:08:51.880 But verse 22 repeats that main command to pay attention. 00:08:52.260 --> 00:08:56.780 But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, 00:08:57.420 --> 00:08:59.220 then I will be an enemy to your enemies 00:08:59.220 --> 00:09:00.780 and an adversary to your adversaries. 00:09:00.779 --> 00:09:04.519 The word obey is a translation of the Hebrew word 00:09:04.519 --> 00:09:05.679 that means to listen. 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:09.100 Just as in English, the word listen can have the nuance 00:09:09.100 --> 00:09:12.639 of hearing something as well as obeying something, 00:09:12.919 --> 00:09:15.659 listen to me, for example, when parents say to their kids. 00:09:16.279 --> 00:09:19.139 These two verses are emphasizing listening, 00:09:19.879 --> 00:09:22.559 paying attention to the voice of the Lord, 00:09:22.819 --> 00:09:24.579 the word of the Lord. 00:09:25.319 --> 00:09:27.139 And there's a reciprocal relationship 00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:29.600 between God's guarding of Israel, 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:31.659 which we saw in verse 21, 00:09:31.980 --> 00:09:34.540 and Israel's paying attention to him. 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:38.899 So it says, in verse 20, 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:43.100 it says that the Lord guards them into the promised land. 00:09:43.379 --> 00:09:45.860 That's the same word that's translated in verse 21 00:09:45.860 --> 00:09:47.440 as pay attention. 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:51.960 As God sends his angel to guard them on the way, 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:55.360 we are to guard the word of God in our hearts 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:58.419 because, as Psalm 119 says, 00:09:58.519 --> 00:10:00.580 we keep our way pure by guarding it 00:10:00.580 --> 00:10:01.980 according to his word. 00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:05.539 If we want to be guarded on the way to the promised land, 00:10:05.659 --> 00:10:07.879 then we must guard the way of the Lord 00:10:07.879 --> 00:10:09.240 and not stray from it. 00:10:09.800 --> 00:10:13.820 That's because God's word keeps us and guards us. 00:10:14.580 --> 00:10:16.700 If you keep to the path, in other words, 00:10:17.220 --> 00:10:18.680 the path will keep you. 00:10:18.679 --> 00:10:21.419 But if you stray from the path, 00:10:21.899 --> 00:10:23.419 you stray into harm's way. 00:10:24.579 --> 00:10:26.659 This is more than a quid pro quo. 00:10:27.179 --> 00:10:28.159 God is not saying, 00:10:28.939 --> 00:10:31.279 you do me a favor and I will do you a favor. 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:33.899 God doesn't need any favors from his people. 00:10:34.479 --> 00:10:35.099 God is saying, 00:10:35.319 --> 00:10:37.479 listen to my voice and obey my word 00:10:37.479 --> 00:10:40.319 because my word alone leads you to salvation. 00:10:41.319 --> 00:10:44.639 This word is what keeps you and saves you. 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:48.240 Do you guard the word of God 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:50.259 like a precious treasure in your life? 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:53.840 Do you pay attention to the word of God 00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:55.799 like your life depends on it? 00:10:57.500 --> 00:11:00.220 God drives this point home still further 00:11:00.220 --> 00:11:01.679 in verses 23 to 25. 00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:03.799 When my angel goes before you 00:11:03.799 --> 00:11:05.120 and brings you to the Amorites 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:06.539 and the Hittites and the Perizzites 00:11:06.539 --> 00:11:07.299 and the Canaanites, 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:08.500 the Hivites and the Jebusites 00:11:08.500 --> 00:11:09.460 and I blot them out, 00:11:09.919 --> 00:11:12.659 you shall not bow down to their gods 00:11:12.659 --> 00:11:14.179 nor serve them, 00:11:14.179 --> 00:11:15.899 nor do as they do, 00:11:15.979 --> 00:11:17.919 but you shall utterly overthrow them 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:19.239 and break their pillars in pieces. 00:11:19.819 --> 00:11:22.559 You shall serve the Lord your God. 00:11:23.339 --> 00:11:25.599 There are three specific prohibitions here. 00:11:25.959 --> 00:11:27.399 After God drives out the nations 00:11:27.399 --> 00:11:28.719 and brings Israel into the possession 00:11:28.719 --> 00:11:29.579 of the promised land, 00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:30.519 they shall not, 00:11:30.599 --> 00:11:33.419 one, bow down to the foreign gods 00:11:33.419 --> 00:11:34.219 and two, 00:11:34.299 --> 00:11:35.559 they shall not serve them 00:11:35.559 --> 00:11:36.279 and three, 00:11:36.359 --> 00:11:37.919 they shall not do as they do, 00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:39.519 meaning they are not to follow the customs 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:41.240 of the people who worship these idols. 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:42.560 Instead, 00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:44.580 they must serve Yahweh, 00:11:45.019 --> 00:11:46.620 the Lord their God. 00:11:47.340 --> 00:11:49.240 And a severe warning is attached to this 00:11:49.240 --> 00:11:50.340 at the end of this passage 00:11:50.340 --> 00:11:51.759 in verses 32 to 33. 00:11:52.340 --> 00:11:54.120 You shall make no covenant with them 00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:54.860 and their gods. 00:11:55.139 --> 00:11:56.899 They shall not dwell in your land 00:11:56.899 --> 00:12:00.299 lest they make you sin against me. 00:12:00.860 --> 00:12:02.379 For if you serve their gods, 00:12:02.460 --> 00:12:04.879 it will surely be a snare to you. 00:12:06.700 --> 00:12:09.320 Compromise leads to apostasy. 00:12:09.320 --> 00:12:11.900 If the idol worshipers 00:12:11.900 --> 00:12:13.680 are allowed to remain in the land, 00:12:13.900 --> 00:12:16.080 they will lead God's people into sin 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:17.620 and into idolatry. 00:12:18.260 --> 00:12:19.560 If they make a covenant 00:12:19.560 --> 00:12:22.180 with the false gods of the Canaanites, 00:12:22.379 --> 00:12:25.520 they are breaking their covenant with Yahweh. 00:12:27.080 --> 00:12:28.879 We know from the later books 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:30.420 in the Old Testament 00:12:30.420 --> 00:12:31.720 that the Israelites, in fact, 00:12:31.820 --> 00:12:34.060 do not keep this warning, 00:12:34.140 --> 00:12:34.860 heed this warning. 00:12:35.500 --> 00:12:37.880 They do let the Canaanites dwell among them. 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:40.600 You know, there might be several reasons 00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:42.159 why they let that happen. 00:12:42.259 --> 00:12:43.279 They might have said to themselves, 00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:45.179 oh, what harm can they do? 00:12:46.519 --> 00:12:47.799 They're a conquered people. 00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:49.279 We've already defeated them. 00:12:49.779 --> 00:12:51.019 We can assimilate them 00:12:51.019 --> 00:12:52.500 into our culture and religion. 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:55.799 We know one reason for sure 00:12:55.799 --> 00:12:57.120 is that they thought the Canaanites 00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:58.080 could be useful to them 00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:01.059 because they reduced them to forced labor. 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:03.159 They used them as a resource, 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:05.220 even though God told them 00:13:05.220 --> 00:13:07.040 not to keep them in the land. 00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:10.100 They thought that they were strong enough 00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:12.680 to resist the pull of idolatry, 00:13:12.860 --> 00:13:14.879 but they ended up falling into it. 00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:18.460 The same fate befalls those of us 00:13:18.460 --> 00:13:21.180 who make light of sin and temptation. 00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:24.940 Don't overestimate your strength 00:13:24.940 --> 00:13:26.279 and self-control. 00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:29.059 Jesus teaches us to pray, 00:13:29.179 --> 00:13:31.600 lead us not into temptation for a reason. 00:13:32.199 --> 00:13:34.299 Don't flirt with temptations. 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:35.679 Flee from them. 00:13:36.579 --> 00:13:37.699 Cast them away. 00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:40.259 Don't go near the idols. 00:13:42.019 --> 00:13:44.299 Christian author Johnny Erickson Tata 00:13:44.299 --> 00:13:47.939 has said this in one of her writings. 00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:50.659 She said that sin spreads this way. 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:52.559 Though gradually, 00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:55.399 though no one remembers exactly how it happened, 00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:58.459 the unthinkable becomes tolerable 00:13:58.459 --> 00:14:00.079 and then acceptable 00:14:00.079 --> 00:14:01.919 and then legal 00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:04.539 and then applaudable. 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:10.559 Sin makes an imperceptible progress 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:11.620 into your heart. 00:14:13.079 --> 00:14:14.360 So flee from it. 00:14:15.439 --> 00:14:16.259 Cast it away. 00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:20.559 Worship is a zero-sum game. 00:14:22.179 --> 00:14:23.819 Jesus says in Matthew 6, 24, 00:14:23.820 --> 00:14:25.940 no one can serve two masters. 00:14:26.580 --> 00:14:28.160 For either he will hate the one 00:14:28.160 --> 00:14:28.900 and love the other 00:14:28.900 --> 00:14:30.420 or he will be devoted to the one 00:14:30.420 --> 00:14:31.460 and despise the other. 00:14:32.520 --> 00:14:34.520 If a wife cheats on her husband, 00:14:34.660 --> 00:14:36.900 a sensible man is not going to let his wife 00:14:36.900 --> 00:14:38.640 keep doing that. 00:14:39.940 --> 00:14:41.440 He's going to confront her 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:42.820 and issue an ultimatum 00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:44.780 and say you must make a choice. 00:14:45.640 --> 00:14:47.280 It's either going to be me 00:14:47.280 --> 00:14:48.220 or it's going to be him. 00:14:48.220 --> 00:14:56.259 There is a cosmic spiritual battle being waged 00:14:56.259 --> 00:14:59.899 and to deprive God of the glory 00:14:59.899 --> 00:15:01.500 and worship that he alone deserves 00:15:01.500 --> 00:15:03.420 is idolatry. 00:15:04.460 --> 00:15:06.639 There's no such thing as neutral ground. 00:15:06.740 --> 00:15:08.340 That's why God says in the second commandment 00:15:08.340 --> 00:15:10.120 that he is a jealous God. 00:15:10.540 --> 00:15:11.980 He says in Isaiah 42, 8, 00:15:11.980 --> 00:15:12.860 I am the Lord. 00:15:12.860 --> 00:15:13.680 That is my name 00:15:13.680 --> 00:15:16.080 and I will not give my glory to another 00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:18.440 or my praise to idols. 00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:21.720 There is no neutral ground 00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:23.039 when it comes to worship. 00:15:23.680 --> 00:15:25.019 To be an agnostic 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:28.440 is to not serve the Lord. 00:15:29.399 --> 00:15:30.759 You've made your choice. 00:15:32.700 --> 00:15:34.560 And it means that you have thrown your lot 00:15:34.560 --> 00:15:36.139 with the false gods of this world. 00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:38.939 But the Lord says, 00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:41.419 if you carefully obey his voice 00:15:41.419 --> 00:15:42.779 and do all that I say, 00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:44.539 then I will be an enemy to your enemies 00:15:44.539 --> 00:15:46.439 and an adversary to your adversaries. 00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:48.620 If you choose the Lord's side, 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:50.319 then he will fight for you. 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:54.059 If you choose the idols of the pagan nations, 00:15:54.199 --> 00:15:55.860 then you will find yourself 00:15:55.860 --> 00:15:57.819 fighting against the Lord. 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:00.840 Because there are only two sides 00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:01.740 in this spiritual war. 00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:04.259 Jesus says in Luke 11, 23, 00:16:04.259 --> 00:16:05.620 whoever is not with me 00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:07.440 is against me. 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:11.080 Andrew Murray in his book, 00:16:11.179 --> 00:16:11.960 Absolute Surrender, 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:12.919 makes the connection 00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:14.060 that in the book of Matthew, 00:16:14.220 --> 00:16:15.259 there are two occasions 00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:17.440 when Jesus uses the word deny. 00:16:17.620 --> 00:16:21.399 He says in Matthew 16, 24, 00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:24.080 he tells Peter and the other disciples, 00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:26.419 deny yourself and take up your cross 00:16:26.419 --> 00:16:27.080 and follow me. 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:30.399 And then later in Matthew 26, 34, 00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:31.159 he tells Peter, 00:16:31.159 --> 00:16:33.759 you will deny me three times. 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:37.539 Those are the two options 00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:39.639 presented to all of humanity. 00:16:39.779 --> 00:16:41.220 Either we deny ourselves 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:42.519 to follow Christ 00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:44.580 or we deny Christ 00:16:44.580 --> 00:16:45.939 to serve ourselves. 00:16:48.220 --> 00:16:49.319 Which will it be? 00:16:50.460 --> 00:16:52.559 Are you trying to have it both ways? 00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:55.399 Are you trying to live for God 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:57.139 and live for yourself? 00:16:58.039 --> 00:16:59.539 Are you trying to please God 00:16:59.539 --> 00:17:01.120 and enjoy the pleasures 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:02.200 of this sinful world? 00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:04.740 Are you trying to serve the Lord 00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:06.160 while also serving 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:07.819 the idols of other religions? 00:17:09.620 --> 00:17:10.740 God's word teaches us 00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:11.940 that that is impossible. 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:14.920 We must make a choice. 00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:16.380 That's the precept. 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:18.920 Now let's get the promise. 00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:20.720 If you look at the promises 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:22.480 of verses 25 to 33, 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:24.580 the choice is a no-brainer. 00:17:25.860 --> 00:17:27.380 Look at the wonderful promises 00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:29.259 of God in verses 25 to 26. 00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:31.420 You shall serve the Lord your God 00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:33.779 and he will bless your bread 00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:35.200 and your water 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:36.960 and I will take sickness away 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:37.799 from among you. 00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:39.420 None shall miscarry 00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:41.059 or be barren in your land. 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:42.960 I will fulfill the number 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:44.079 of your days. 00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:46.420 These are beautiful verses 00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:49.339 because they reveal God's heart 00:17:49.339 --> 00:17:50.480 toward us. 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:54.180 Some of you have been homeless 00:17:54.180 --> 00:17:56.080 and have known hunger 00:17:56.080 --> 00:17:56.740 in your life. 00:17:58.539 --> 00:18:00.299 Some of you know 00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:01.380 what it's like to be sick 00:18:01.380 --> 00:18:02.279 and hurting, 00:18:03.100 --> 00:18:07.320 whether that's with cancer 00:18:07.320 --> 00:18:09.420 or a stroke 00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:10.460 or COVID 00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:11.740 or depression 00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:13.160 or arthritis 00:18:13.160 --> 00:18:14.799 or a pinched nerve. 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:18.379 some of you know 00:18:18.379 --> 00:18:19.019 the grief 00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:20.659 of miscarriage 00:18:20.659 --> 00:18:22.500 to experience 00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:23.419 the joy 00:18:23.419 --> 00:18:25.700 of expecting a child 00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:27.419 only to meet 00:18:27.419 --> 00:18:28.259 crushing 00:18:28.259 --> 00:18:29.779 disappointment. 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:34.480 Some of you know 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:36.119 the pain of barrenness. 00:18:36.119 --> 00:18:39.439 to so wish 00:18:39.439 --> 00:18:40.879 to have a child 00:18:40.879 --> 00:18:41.939 to hold 00:18:41.939 --> 00:18:43.239 in your own arms 00:18:43.239 --> 00:18:44.559 and to love 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:46.859 and yet 00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:47.519 year 00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:48.539 after year 00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:49.479 goes by 00:18:49.479 --> 00:18:52.659 without even 00:18:52.659 --> 00:18:53.500 a sign of pregnancy. 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:59.339 some of you 00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:00.599 have lost loved ones 00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:02.279 to untimely deaths. 00:19:03.579 --> 00:19:04.720 Those who did not 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:05.640 fulfill the number 00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:06.339 of their days. 00:19:08.599 --> 00:19:10.180 All of these pains 00:19:10.180 --> 00:19:11.319 are marks 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:12.440 of a sinful 00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:14.079 and fallen world. 00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:16.180 They reflect 00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:18.220 our alienation 00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:19.119 from God 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:20.140 our creator 00:19:20.140 --> 00:19:21.539 but they 00:19:21.539 --> 00:19:22.680 do not 00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:23.359 reflect 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:24.539 God's heart 00:19:24.539 --> 00:19:25.179 for you. 00:19:28.639 --> 00:19:29.799 God promised 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:30.459 the Israelites 00:19:30.459 --> 00:19:31.179 that should they 00:19:31.179 --> 00:19:31.859 faithfully keep 00:19:31.859 --> 00:19:32.359 the covenant 00:19:32.359 --> 00:19:32.879 that they have 00:19:32.879 --> 00:19:33.779 made with him 00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:34.799 they should have 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:35.979 his unfailing 00:19:35.979 --> 00:19:36.559 provision 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:37.559 and protection 00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:38.159 over them 00:19:38.159 --> 00:19:39.059 and that 00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:40.099 was his heart. 00:19:41.139 --> 00:19:42.399 He wanted 00:19:42.399 --> 00:19:43.199 to lavish 00:19:43.199 --> 00:19:43.679 his people 00:19:43.679 --> 00:19:44.379 with these blessings. 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.039 He wanted 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:45.740 to protect 00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:46.379 his people. 00:19:46.459 --> 00:19:46.919 He wanted 00:19:46.919 --> 00:19:47.579 to provide 00:19:47.579 --> 00:19:48.339 for his people. 00:19:48.479 --> 00:19:49.019 That's why 00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:49.459 he says 00:19:49.459 --> 00:19:50.519 again and again 00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:51.919 pay attention 00:19:51.919 --> 00:19:53.039 to my word. 00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:54.599 listen to my word 00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:55.700 obey my word 00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:56.619 so that I can 00:19:56.619 --> 00:19:57.639 lavish these blessings 00:19:57.639 --> 00:19:58.099 on you. 00:19:58.200 --> 00:19:59.420 That's the heart 00:19:59.420 --> 00:20:00.399 of the Lord. 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:05.759 So if you are 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:06.220 in the midst 00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:07.120 of suffering 00:20:07.120 --> 00:20:08.400 and affliction 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:09.960 you may go to God 00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:10.720 with your honest 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:11.220 questions 00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:12.280 and you can groan 00:20:12.280 --> 00:20:13.000 before him 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.980 and you can lay 00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:14.620 your complaints 00:20:14.620 --> 00:20:15.280 before him 00:20:15.280 --> 00:20:16.400 but as you do 00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:17.160 that remember 00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:18.180 his heart 00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:18.759 toward you. 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:21.060 Lamentations 00:20:21.060 --> 00:20:22.460 32-33 00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:23.120 teaches us 00:20:23.120 --> 00:20:24.100 that though God 00:20:24.100 --> 00:20:25.140 does cause 00:20:25.140 --> 00:20:25.680 grief 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:26.460 at times 00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:28.040 he will again 00:20:28.040 --> 00:20:29.060 have compassion 00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:29.940 according to 00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:30.419 the abundance 00:20:30.419 --> 00:20:31.259 of his steadfast 00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:31.579 love. 00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:33.460 The same 00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:34.720 verses say 00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:35.179 also that 00:20:35.179 --> 00:20:35.619 when God 00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:36.759 afflicts us 00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:38.000 and grieves 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:38.500 us 00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:40.079 he does not 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:40.759 do so 00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:41.200 quote 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:42.799 from his 00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:43.220 heart. 00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:48.299 Though we 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:48.599 may not 00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:49.659 always understand 00:20:49.659 --> 00:20:50.139 the sovereign 00:20:50.139 --> 00:20:51.099 purposes of God 00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:51.759 behind our 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.139 suffering 00:20:52.139 --> 00:20:53.599 we can always 00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:54.200 be assured 00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:55.159 of his heart 00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:56.240 toward his 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:56.580 people. 00:20:59.080 --> 00:21:00.120 And if God 00:21:00.120 --> 00:21:01.019 is protecting 00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:01.900 his people 00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:02.640 it necessarily 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:03.460 means that 00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:04.480 he fights 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.140 against their 00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:05.540 enemies. 00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:06.860 So he says 00:21:06.860 --> 00:21:07.279 in verses 00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:08.300 27-28 00:21:08.300 --> 00:21:09.040 I will send 00:21:09.040 --> 00:21:09.880 my terror 00:21:09.880 --> 00:21:10.580 before you 00:21:10.580 --> 00:21:11.200 and will 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:11.580 throw into 00:21:11.580 --> 00:21:12.000 confusion 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:12.720 all the people 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:13.320 against whom 00:21:13.320 --> 00:21:13.740 you shall 00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:14.100 come 00:21:14.100 --> 00:21:14.700 and I will 00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:15.200 make all 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:15.700 your enemies 00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:16.180 turn their 00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:17.120 backs to you 00:21:17.120 --> 00:21:17.660 and I will 00:21:17.660 --> 00:21:18.600 send hornets 00:21:18.600 --> 00:21:19.100 before you 00:21:19.100 --> 00:21:19.519 which shall 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:19.980 drive out 00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:20.500 the Hivites 00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.420 the Canaanites 00:21:21.420 --> 00:21:22.080 and the Hittites 00:21:22.080 --> 00:21:23.180 from before you. 00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:24.259 The word 00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:25.000 drive out 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:25.640 is a key word 00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:25.920 here that 00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:26.560 occurs four 00:21:26.560 --> 00:21:27.140 times in 00:21:27.140 --> 00:21:28.240 verses 28-31 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:29.920 and the goal 00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:31.400 is complete 00:21:31.400 --> 00:21:32.480 expulsion of 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:32.920 the idol 00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:33.420 worshippers 00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:33.799 from the 00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:34.160 land of 00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:34.519 Canaan 00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.600 lest they 00:21:35.600 --> 00:21:36.140 be a snare 00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:36.460 to the 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:36.880 Israelites 00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:37.480 and lead 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.080 them astray 00:21:38.080 --> 00:21:38.779 to sin. 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:40.039 God's 00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:40.620 cleansing 00:21:40.620 --> 00:21:41.380 the land 00:21:41.380 --> 00:21:41.920 of its 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:42.240 sin 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:43.259 and idolatry. 00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:44.539 That's why 00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:44.900 he says 00:21:44.900 --> 00:21:45.299 earlier in 00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:45.779 verse 23 00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:46.100 he will 00:21:46.100 --> 00:21:46.740 blot them 00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:47.019 out 00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:47.759 efface them 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:48.160 from 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:48.759 Canaan 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.100 land. 00:21:50.140 --> 00:21:50.920 But God 00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:51.500 is not going 00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:52.180 to drive out 00:21:52.180 --> 00:21:52.759 the nations 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.279 in one 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:53.980 fell swoop. 00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:54.879 It says 00:21:54.879 --> 00:21:55.200 in verses 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:56.039 29-30 00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:56.579 I will 00:21:56.579 --> 00:21:57.440 not drive 00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:58.059 them out 00:21:58.059 --> 00:21:58.680 from before 00:21:58.680 --> 00:21:58.980 you in 00:21:58.980 --> 00:21:59.559 one year 00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:01.039 lest the 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:01.819 land become 00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:02.279 desolate 00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:03.299 and the 00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:04.059 wild beasts 00:22:04.059 --> 00:22:04.480 multiply 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.140 against you. 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:06.339 Little by 00:22:06.339 --> 00:22:07.039 little I 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:07.420 will drive 00:22:07.420 --> 00:22:07.700 them out 00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:08.140 from before 00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:08.500 you until 00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:08.720 you have 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:09.200 increased 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:09.799 and possessed 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:10.299 the land. 00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:11.079 It's a very 00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:11.539 interesting 00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:12.900 statement. 00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:13.680 Even the 00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:15.160 pace at 00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:15.980 which God 00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:16.700 drives out 00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:17.200 the nations 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:19.379 is very 00:22:19.379 --> 00:22:19.799 deliberate. 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:21.940 he demonstrates 00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:23.079 his wisdom 00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:24.119 and care 00:22:24.119 --> 00:22:24.879 for his 00:22:24.879 --> 00:22:25.220 people. 00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:27.139 According to 00:22:27.139 --> 00:22:27.720 verse 31 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:28.480 the promised 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:29.000 land that 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:29.299 God is 00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:29.700 giving them 00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:30.059 will have 00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:30.639 as its 00:22:30.639 --> 00:22:31.000 border 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.000 from the 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:32.639 Red Sea 00:22:32.639 --> 00:22:33.180 to the 00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:33.500 north 00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:34.299 and the 00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:36.099 Sea of 00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:36.639 the Philistines 00:22:36.639 --> 00:22:37.019 which is the 00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:37.659 Mediterranean Sea 00:22:37.659 --> 00:22:37.940 to the 00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:38.200 north. 00:22:38.899 --> 00:22:39.180 And then 00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:39.579 it's going 00:22:39.579 --> 00:22:40.180 to stretch 00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:40.799 all the way 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:41.240 to the 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:41.659 Euphrates 00:22:41.659 --> 00:22:42.240 River 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:43.000 in the 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:43.339 east 00:22:43.339 --> 00:22:44.220 and from 00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:44.799 the Sinai 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:45.779 Peninsula 00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.319 the Sinai 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:46.700 wilderness 00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:47.519 in the 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:47.819 west. 00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:48.700 That's a 00:22:48.700 --> 00:22:49.259 sprawling 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:49.740 territory 00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:50.179 that 00:22:50.179 --> 00:22:51.039 encompasses 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:52.099 part or 00:22:52.099 --> 00:22:52.779 all of 00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.539 modern day 00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:54.119 Egypt, 00:22:54.659 --> 00:22:54.980 Israel, 00:22:55.559 --> 00:22:55.839 Lebanon, 00:22:56.359 --> 00:22:56.679 Syria, 00:22:57.139 --> 00:22:57.759 Saudi Arabia, 00:22:58.119 --> 00:22:58.619 and Iraq. 00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:01.659 So if 00:23:01.659 --> 00:23:02.519 all the 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:03.379 idolatry 00:23:03.379 --> 00:23:03.879 nations 00:23:03.879 --> 00:23:04.679 occupying 00:23:04.679 --> 00:23:05.679 these lands 00:23:05.679 --> 00:23:06.079 are driven 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:06.419 out all 00:23:06.419 --> 00:23:06.879 at once, 00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:08.159 vast swaths 00:23:08.159 --> 00:23:08.559 of the 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:08.919 land will 00:23:08.919 --> 00:23:09.200 remain 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:09.899 unoccupied 00:23:09.899 --> 00:23:10.619 for generations 00:23:10.619 --> 00:23:12.039 because Israel 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:12.539 is not 00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:13.539 numerous enough 00:23:13.539 --> 00:23:14.019 to fill 00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:14.519 the land. 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:16.500 During 00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:16.980 that time 00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:17.319 the land 00:23:17.319 --> 00:23:17.839 will become 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:18.240 desolate 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:18.519 and the 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.000 wild beasts 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:19.620 will multiply 00:23:19.620 --> 00:23:20.240 making it 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:20.620 perhaps 00:23:20.620 --> 00:23:21.539 uninhabitable. 00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:24.579 So even 00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:26.220 our perceived 00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:27.380 slowness 00:23:27.380 --> 00:23:28.420 on God's 00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:28.940 part to 00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:29.500 fulfill his 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.019 promise 00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:31.039 is an 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:31.680 expression 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:33.319 of God's 00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:34.059 patience 00:23:34.059 --> 00:23:35.579 and God's 00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:35.920 care. 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:38.839 Does God 00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:39.720 seem slow 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.720 in answering 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:41.279 your prayers? 00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:43.759 Does God 00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:44.500 seem slow 00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:45.620 in fulfilling 00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:46.779 the promises 00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:47.279 he's made 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:47.739 to you? 00:23:50.239 --> 00:23:50.879 Is your 00:23:50.879 --> 00:23:51.299 business 00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:52.079 not growing 00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:52.539 as quickly 00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:52.899 as you'd 00:23:52.899 --> 00:23:53.239 like it 00:23:53.239 --> 00:23:53.399 to? 00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:55.839 Is your 00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:56.419 career not 00:23:56.419 --> 00:23:57.000 taking off 00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:57.439 as quickly 00:23:57.439 --> 00:23:57.859 as you 00:23:57.859 --> 00:23:58.119 had 00:23:58.119 --> 00:23:58.879 envisioned? 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:00.859 Are you 00:24:00.859 --> 00:24:01.299 not getting 00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:01.959 married or 00:24:01.959 --> 00:24:02.719 having children 00:24:02.719 --> 00:24:03.259 as quickly 00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:03.619 as you 00:24:03.619 --> 00:24:04.039 had hoped? 00:24:06.679 --> 00:24:07.259 Did you 00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:07.659 think that 00:24:07.659 --> 00:24:08.079 you'd be in 00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:08.659 full-time 00:24:08.659 --> 00:24:09.279 vocational 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:09.879 ministry by 00:24:09.879 --> 00:24:10.359 this stage 00:24:10.359 --> 00:24:10.579 of your 00:24:10.579 --> 00:24:10.899 life? 00:24:10.900 --> 00:24:12.960 God knows 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:13.280 our 00:24:13.280 --> 00:24:14.160 God's 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:17.140 reasons for 00:24:17.140 --> 00:24:17.820 these seeming 00:24:17.820 --> 00:24:18.480 delays in 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.000 our lives 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:19.800 but these 00:24:19.800 --> 00:24:20.500 verses are 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.060 a helpful 00:24:21.060 --> 00:24:22.620 reminder to 00:24:22.620 --> 00:24:23.400 trust in 00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:23.800 God's 00:24:23.800 --> 00:24:24.180 wisdom. 00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.080 The Lord 00:24:25.080 --> 00:24:25.600 is not 00:24:25.600 --> 00:24:26.480 slow to 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:27.220 fulfill his 00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:27.920 promise as 00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:28.540 some count 00:24:28.540 --> 00:24:29.860 slowness but 00:24:29.860 --> 00:24:30.800 is patient 00:24:30.800 --> 00:24:31.860 toward you. 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:35.620 God knows 00:24:35.620 --> 00:24:36.860 exactly what 00:24:36.860 --> 00:24:37.580 we can handle. 00:24:38.280 --> 00:24:39.080 God knows 00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:39.839 our weaknesses 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:41.339 and limitations. 00:24:43.679 --> 00:24:44.500 It's important 00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:44.960 to notice 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:45.599 here who 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:46.419 the primary 00:24:46.419 --> 00:24:47.519 agent of 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:48.279 the driving 00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:48.859 out of 00:24:48.859 --> 00:24:49.379 the nations 00:24:49.379 --> 00:24:50.179 is. 00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:51.099 Look at 00:24:51.099 --> 00:24:51.779 verses 29 00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:52.240 to 30 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:52.559 again. 00:24:52.699 --> 00:24:53.220 Twice it 00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:53.539 says, 00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:54.759 I will 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.480 drive them 00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:55.720 out. 00:24:56.659 --> 00:24:57.220 Of the 00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:57.960 four instances 00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:58.339 of the 00:24:58.339 --> 00:24:58.939 verb drive 00:24:58.939 --> 00:24:59.299 out, 00:24:59.679 --> 00:25:00.619 only one 00:25:00.619 --> 00:25:00.980 of them, 00:25:01.099 --> 00:25:01.639 verse 31, 00:25:01.919 --> 00:25:02.740 has as its 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.659 subject the 00:25:03.659 --> 00:25:04.639 word you, 00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:05.579 the Israelites. 00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:06.799 So that does 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:07.359 tell us that 00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:08.279 Israelites have a 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:08.879 role to play. 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:09.680 They do have a 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:10.300 responsibility. 00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:11.840 They do have to 00:25:11.840 --> 00:25:12.520 go to war and 00:25:12.520 --> 00:25:13.300 be a part of 00:25:13.300 --> 00:25:14.260 the driving out 00:25:14.260 --> 00:25:14.800 of the nations. 00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:16.360 But three out 00:25:16.360 --> 00:25:16.800 of the four 00:25:16.800 --> 00:25:17.860 times, the 00:25:17.860 --> 00:25:18.600 subject of the 00:25:18.600 --> 00:25:19.420 verb is the 00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:21.180 Lord himself or 00:25:21.180 --> 00:25:21.980 the thing that 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:22.660 the Lord is 00:25:22.660 --> 00:25:23.180 sending. 00:25:24.340 --> 00:25:25.040 And that's 00:25:25.040 --> 00:25:25.600 where the 00:25:25.600 --> 00:25:26.080 theological 00:25:26.080 --> 00:25:27.020 weight of 00:25:27.020 --> 00:25:27.560 this passage 00:25:27.560 --> 00:25:27.880 is. 00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:28.360 It's the 00:25:28.360 --> 00:25:29.600 Lord who 00:25:29.600 --> 00:25:30.460 will ultimately 00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:31.420 drive out 00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:31.920 these pagan 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:32.860 nations out 00:25:32.860 --> 00:25:33.040 of the 00:25:33.040 --> 00:25:33.680 promised land. 00:25:35.080 --> 00:25:36.000 In particular, 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:36.620 there are two 00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:37.600 things that the 00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:38.879 Lord will 00:25:38.879 --> 00:25:40.399 send in order 00:25:40.399 --> 00:25:40.919 to drive out 00:25:40.919 --> 00:25:41.399 these nations. 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:42.039 First, verse 00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:42.740 27 says, I 00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:44.179 will send my 00:25:44.179 --> 00:25:45.259 terror before 00:25:45.259 --> 00:25:45.579 you. 00:25:45.959 --> 00:25:46.539 And verse 28 00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:47.059 says, I will 00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:48.399 send hornets 00:25:48.399 --> 00:25:49.279 before you. 00:25:49.659 --> 00:25:50.539 The terror that 00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:51.259 the Lord sends 00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:52.339 likely refers to 00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:53.480 the dread and 00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:54.759 panic that 00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.859 overtake the 00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:56.799 enemies of God 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:57.519 as they hear 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:58.779 Israel approaching 00:25:58.779 --> 00:25:59.599 and learn of 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:00.179 how the Lord 00:26:00.179 --> 00:26:01.000 has previously 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:01.779 delivered them 00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:02.399 and fought on 00:26:02.399 --> 00:26:02.939 their behalf in 00:26:02.939 --> 00:26:03.379 the past. 00:26:03.380 --> 00:26:04.920 the result of 00:26:04.920 --> 00:26:05.600 this terror that 00:26:05.600 --> 00:26:06.280 God sends ahead 00:26:06.280 --> 00:26:06.740 of the Israelites 00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:07.440 is that it 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:08.400 throws them into 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:09.240 confusion, it 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:10.260 says, and all 00:26:10.260 --> 00:26:11.280 the people against 00:26:11.280 --> 00:26:11.840 whom they shall 00:26:11.840 --> 00:26:12.140 come. 00:26:13.080 --> 00:26:13.620 And the Lord, 00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:14.180 it says, will 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:14.920 make all their 00:26:14.920 --> 00:26:15.660 enemies turn 00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:17.040 their backs to 00:26:17.040 --> 00:26:17.260 them. 00:26:17.820 --> 00:26:18.760 So that expression 00:26:18.760 --> 00:26:19.500 to turn their 00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:20.700 backs to them is 00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:22.140 more literally, I 00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:23.240 will give all 00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:24.140 your enemies to 00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:25.400 you by the 00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:25.720 neck. 00:26:26.060 --> 00:26:26.580 That's the 00:26:26.580 --> 00:26:27.520 literal expression. 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:28.780 Since the word 00:26:28.780 --> 00:26:29.740 neck is often 00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.460 associated in 00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:30.960 Hebrew with the 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:31.560 back of the 00:26:31.560 --> 00:26:33.180 head, to turn 00:26:33.180 --> 00:26:33.840 the neck is to 00:26:33.840 --> 00:26:34.480 turn your head 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:34.840 away from 00:26:34.840 --> 00:26:35.120 someone. 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:35.560 So the 00:26:35.560 --> 00:26:36.480 translators assume 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:37.180 that it means 00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:37.860 them turning 00:26:37.860 --> 00:26:38.680 their backs and 00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:39.580 running away is 00:26:39.580 --> 00:26:40.779 what they assumed. 00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:42.400 But I think it's 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:43.560 more likely that 00:26:43.560 --> 00:26:44.860 the expression is 00:26:44.860 --> 00:26:45.580 closer to the 00:26:45.580 --> 00:26:46.360 English idiom, 00:26:46.840 --> 00:26:47.940 having someone by 00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:48.480 the throat. 00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:50.820 Because the verb 00:26:50.820 --> 00:26:51.500 used here is not 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.299 turn, it doesn't 00:26:52.299 --> 00:26:53.100 say turn your 00:26:53.100 --> 00:26:54.060 neck, it says I 00:26:54.060 --> 00:26:55.779 will give them 00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.759 to you by the 00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:57.019 neck. 00:26:58.180 --> 00:26:59.160 So it's not a 00:26:59.160 --> 00:27:00.039 picture of flight, 00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:00.940 but it's a picture 00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:02.400 of subjugation. 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:03.660 And surrender. 00:27:04.940 --> 00:27:05.820 Similar to how 00:27:05.820 --> 00:27:07.060 Jacob blesses his 00:27:07.060 --> 00:27:07.759 son Judah in 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.759 Genesis 49, 8, 00:27:09.060 --> 00:27:10.259 saying your hands 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:10.960 shall be on the 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:12.019 neck of your 00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:12.480 enemies. 00:27:13.080 --> 00:27:14.220 God is going to 00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:15.080 hand over their 00:27:15.080 --> 00:27:16.200 enemies to the 00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:16.540 Israelites. 00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:18.759 It's the second 00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.460 expression in verse 00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:20.360 28 that paints a 00:27:20.360 --> 00:27:21.120 picture of flight, 00:27:21.320 --> 00:27:21.780 of the enemies 00:27:21.780 --> 00:27:22.220 fleeing. 00:27:22.840 --> 00:27:23.420 It says, and I 00:27:23.420 --> 00:27:24.320 will send hornets 00:27:24.320 --> 00:27:24.980 before you which 00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:26.920 shall drive out the 00:27:26.920 --> 00:27:27.500 Hivites, the 00:27:27.500 --> 00:27:28.080 Canaanites and the 00:27:28.080 --> 00:27:28.800 Hittites from before 00:27:28.800 --> 00:27:28.900 you. 00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:29.500 That's when they 00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:29.820 flee. 00:27:30.600 --> 00:27:31.420 If you look at the 00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:31.980 footnote in your 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:33.180 ESV Bibles after 00:27:33.180 --> 00:27:34.400 the word hornets, 00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:35.640 it tells you that 00:27:35.640 --> 00:27:36.279 it can also be 00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:37.400 translated the 00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:39.519 hornet in the 00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:39.800 singular. 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:42.200 In Hebrew, the 00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:43.279 word is singular. 00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:45.360 But because the 00:27:45.360 --> 00:27:45.980 translators couldn't 00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:47.460 make sense of a 00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:49.160 single hornet driving 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:50.460 out the nations, they 00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:51.400 assumed it must be 00:27:51.400 --> 00:27:52.779 hornets, must be 00:27:52.779 --> 00:27:53.200 collective. 00:27:53.620 --> 00:27:54.320 So that's how they 00:27:54.320 --> 00:27:55.100 translated it. 00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:56.140 However, I don't 00:27:56.140 --> 00:27:57.360 think it's referring to 00:27:57.360 --> 00:27:59.100 literal hornets for a 00:27:59.100 --> 00:27:59.700 couple reasons. 00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:01.279 One, because the 00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:02.360 word hornet is 00:28:02.360 --> 00:28:04.180 singular here and 00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:04.680 not plural. 00:28:05.400 --> 00:28:06.220 And the two other 00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:07.279 times this promise is 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:08.519 repeated in Deuteronomy 00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:10.440 7.20 and Joshua 24.12, 00:28:10.600 --> 00:28:11.539 in both of those 00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:12.259 places the word 00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:13.460 hornet is also 00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:13.980 singular. 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:16.860 Two, later, when the 00:28:16.860 --> 00:28:17.620 Israelites actually 00:28:17.620 --> 00:28:18.380 drive out the 00:28:18.380 --> 00:28:19.059 Hivites and the 00:28:19.059 --> 00:28:20.059 Canaanites and the 00:28:20.059 --> 00:28:20.840 Hittites, there is no 00:28:20.840 --> 00:28:21.980 mention of God ever 00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:23.380 sending hornets. 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:25.180 And then three, 00:28:25.340 --> 00:28:26.840 verses 27 and 28 00:28:26.840 --> 00:28:28.019 structurally parallel 00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:28.559 each other. 00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:30.339 I will send my 00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:32.220 terror before you, and 00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:33.099 then I will send the 00:28:33.099 --> 00:28:34.559 hornet before you. 00:28:35.159 --> 00:28:36.079 Since the expression 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:37.779 sending my terror 00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:38.899 employs figurative 00:28:38.899 --> 00:28:40.480 language, you can't 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:41.799 literally send terror 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:43.039 like a messenger. 00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:45.019 I think it's likely 00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:45.579 that the parallel 00:28:45.579 --> 00:28:46.619 phrase, send the 00:28:46.619 --> 00:28:47.859 hornet, is also 00:28:47.859 --> 00:28:48.559 figurative. 00:28:50.339 --> 00:28:52.059 Just as when a 00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:53.240 person is chased by a 00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:55.019 hornet, the person 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:56.759 flees, the hornet of 00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:58.200 the Lord will drive 00:28:58.200 --> 00:28:59.519 out the idolatrous 00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:00.640 nation from Canaan. 00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:03.339 But that still begs 00:29:03.339 --> 00:29:04.099 the question, what 00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:05.000 exactly is the 00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:08.799 hornet who terrorizes 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:09.759 the enemies of God? 00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:12.480 There's only one other 00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:13.640 word in this passage 00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:15.200 that is also the object 00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:18.779 of the verb send, and 00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:20.900 that's in verse 20. 00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:24.840 behold, I send an 00:29:24.840 --> 00:29:26.680 angel before you. 00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:28.940 Which parallels, I will 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:30.680 send my terror before 00:29:31.280 --> 00:29:31.540 you. 00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:32.980 Which parallels, I will 00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:34.680 send the hornet before 00:29:35.420 --> 00:29:35.780 you. 00:29:36.560 --> 00:29:38.220 It's the angel of the 00:29:38.220 --> 00:29:40.240 Lord, the messenger of the 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:42.280 Lord, who goes before the 00:29:42.280 --> 00:29:44.220 Israelites to strike fear 00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:45.600 into the hearts of all of 00:29:45.600 --> 00:29:46.100 God's enemies. 00:29:46.099 --> 00:29:46.240 enemies. 00:29:46.779 --> 00:29:48.159 It's the angel of the 00:29:48.159 --> 00:29:49.339 Lord himself who goes 00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:50.899 before them to make them 00:29:50.899 --> 00:29:52.240 flee and to drive them 00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:53.379 out before the Israelites. 00:29:55.219 --> 00:29:57.539 Later on, in Joshua 24, 00:29:57.639 --> 00:29:58.559 12, as the Israelites 00:29:58.559 --> 00:30:00.719 reflect on how God has 00:30:00.719 --> 00:30:02.019 fulfilled this promise, 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:04.099 the Lord says this, and I 00:30:04.099 --> 00:30:06.839 sent the hornet before 00:30:06.839 --> 00:30:08.719 you, which drove them out 00:30:08.719 --> 00:30:10.159 before you, the two kings 00:30:10.159 --> 00:30:10.919 of the Amorites. 00:30:11.219 --> 00:30:13.679 It was not by your sword 00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:15.779 or by your bow. 00:30:17.340 --> 00:30:19.279 Again, the emphasis here 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:21.380 is that as long as Israel 00:30:21.380 --> 00:30:23.019 remains loyally aligned 00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:24.560 to the Lord, this is the 00:30:24.560 --> 00:30:27.360 Lord's battle, and he will 00:30:27.360 --> 00:30:29.380 fight on their behalf and 00:30:29.380 --> 00:30:29.740 win. 00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:32.640 Yes, the Israelites will use 00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:34.100 their swords and bows, but 00:30:34.100 --> 00:30:36.440 God makes it unmistakably 00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:38.600 clear the battle was not won 00:30:38.600 --> 00:30:40.279 by your bow and your sword. 00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:43.360 It was my hornet. 00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:44.839 It was my terror. 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:46.919 It was my messenger. 00:30:47.959 --> 00:30:49.359 The decisive agent here is 00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:50.659 the angel of the Lord, not 00:30:50.659 --> 00:30:51.219 the Israelites. 00:30:52.279 --> 00:30:53.719 That brings us to my final 00:30:53.719 --> 00:30:55.459 point, the pardon and the 00:30:55.459 --> 00:30:56.619 mysterious identity of this 00:30:56.619 --> 00:30:57.399 angel of the Lord. 00:30:57.819 --> 00:30:59.599 As I've said before, when we 00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:01.339 come across the word angel in 00:31:01.339 --> 00:31:03.579 the Bible, we should not 00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:05.259 immediately think of images 00:31:05.259 --> 00:31:06.339 of Cupid. 00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:07.679 Valentine's Day is coming 00:31:07.679 --> 00:31:07.899 up. 00:31:07.939 --> 00:31:08.679 You know that picture of 00:31:08.679 --> 00:31:09.839 Cupid, the little baby 00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:11.719 angel with the wings and an 00:31:11.719 --> 00:31:11.899 arrow. 00:31:11.900 --> 00:31:13.080 You should not think of 00:31:13.080 --> 00:31:14.280 that or think of this 00:31:14.280 --> 00:31:15.220 winged cherub. 00:31:15.300 --> 00:31:17.420 That's not what an angel is 00:31:17.420 --> 00:31:17.820 like. 00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:20.160 The word angel simply means 00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:20.800 messenger. 00:31:20.980 --> 00:31:22.160 It could refer to all kinds 00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:23.000 of messengers. 00:31:23.120 --> 00:31:23.960 It could refer to human 00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:24.340 messenger. 00:31:24.460 --> 00:31:25.600 It could refer to angelic 00:31:25.600 --> 00:31:26.360 messengers. 00:31:27.360 --> 00:31:28.680 But often it is a spiritual 00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:29.920 being sent by God. 00:31:30.040 --> 00:31:31.480 But in this passage, we see 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:32.960 evidence that this angel of 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:36.500 the Lord is no mere angel. 00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:39.880 For example, in verse 22, the 00:31:39.880 --> 00:31:41.799 voice of the angel of the 00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:43.160 Lord and what the Lord 00:31:43.160 --> 00:31:45.359 himself says are conflated. 00:31:46.359 --> 00:31:47.819 He says, if you carefully 00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:50.519 obey his voice and do all 00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:51.940 that I say. 00:31:53.460 --> 00:31:55.279 What the angel of the Lord 00:31:55.279 --> 00:31:57.140 says is what the Lord says. 00:31:58.460 --> 00:32:00.160 And in verse 21, warns 00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:01.420 Israelites about rebelling 00:32:01.420 --> 00:32:02.440 against the angel of the 00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:03.039 Lord this way. 00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:05.420 for he will not pardon your 00:32:05.420 --> 00:32:08.779 transgression for my name is 00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:10.059 in him. 00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:12.319 It does not say that the 00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:14.200 messenger speaks in the name 00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:14.680 of God. 00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:18.599 It says that Yahweh's name is 00:32:18.599 --> 00:32:19.559 in him. 00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:22.259 For that reason, this angel of 00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:23.460 the Lord has the authority and 00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:25.359 the power to pardon transgression. 00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:27.899 And we know from the gospels, 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:30.139 Mark 2, 7 and Luke 5, 21, that 00:32:30.139 --> 00:32:32.039 no one can forgive sins. 00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:34.879 But God alone. 00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:38.740 So we've seen this blurring of 00:32:38.740 --> 00:32:40.339 the lines between Yahweh and 00:32:40.339 --> 00:32:41.759 the angel of Yahweh before. 00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:43.220 If you remember from Exodus 00:32:43.220 --> 00:32:44.779 chapter 3, verse 2, it said 00:32:44.779 --> 00:32:46.119 that the angel of the Lord 00:32:46.119 --> 00:32:48.200 appeared to Moses in a flame of 00:32:48.200 --> 00:32:49.480 fire and out of a mist of a 00:32:49.480 --> 00:32:49.659 bush. 00:32:49.740 --> 00:32:50.740 That's the angel of the Lord. 00:32:51.139 --> 00:32:52.539 But in that very same passage, 00:32:52.639 --> 00:32:53.899 just a couple lines down, it 00:32:53.899 --> 00:32:56.720 says that the Lord saw and God 00:32:56.720 --> 00:32:58.279 called to Moses out of the 00:32:58.279 --> 00:32:58.559 bush. 00:32:59.440 --> 00:33:01.039 And he says, do not come near. 00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:02.700 Take your sandals off your feet 00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:03.819 for the place on which you are 00:33:03.819 --> 00:33:05.159 standing is holy ground. 00:33:05.659 --> 00:33:08.200 I am, says the angel of 00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:08.700 Yahweh. 00:33:08.859 --> 00:33:11.139 I am the God of your father, 00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:12.680 the God of Abraham, the God of 00:33:12.680 --> 00:33:13.960 Isaac, the God of Jacob. 00:33:14.920 --> 00:33:16.659 The angel of the Lord is here 00:33:16.659 --> 00:33:18.240 very closely identified with 00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:19.200 Yahweh himself. 00:33:20.279 --> 00:33:23.059 Similarly, later in Joshua 5, 13 00:33:23.059 --> 00:33:25.000 to 15, as Israelites are 00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:26.259 readying themselves for the 00:33:26.259 --> 00:33:27.559 conquest of the land of Canaan, 00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:29.679 we actually see this angel of 00:33:29.679 --> 00:33:30.819 the Lord that God has sent. 00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:32.720 And this is what it says. 00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:34.359 When Joshua was by Jericho, he 00:33:34.359 --> 00:33:35.619 lifted up his eyes and looked 00:33:35.619 --> 00:33:37.039 and behold, a man was standing 00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:39.240 before him with his drawn sword 00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:39.839 in his hand. 00:33:40.339 --> 00:33:42.740 And Joshua went to him and said 00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:45.139 to him, are you for us or for 00:33:45.139 --> 00:33:46.039 our adversaries? 00:33:46.519 --> 00:33:50.059 And he said, no, but I am the 00:33:50.059 --> 00:33:51.879 commander of the army of the 00:33:51.879 --> 00:33:52.119 Lord. 00:33:52.299 --> 00:33:53.599 Now I have come. 00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:56.099 And Joshua fell on his face to 00:33:56.099 --> 00:33:57.579 the earth and worshiped and said 00:33:57.579 --> 00:33:59.399 to him, what does my Lord say to 00:33:59.399 --> 00:34:00.019 his servant? 00:34:00.459 --> 00:34:01.139 And get this. 00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:02.919 And the commander of the Lord's 00:34:02.919 --> 00:34:05.799 army said to Joshua, take off 00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:09.119 your sandals from your feet for 00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:11.179 the place where you are standing 00:34:11.179 --> 00:34:12.519 is holy. 00:34:14.839 --> 00:34:16.059 And Joshua did so. 00:34:16.779 --> 00:34:18.019 There's a fascinating parallel 00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:20.440 between the burning bush and this 00:34:20.440 --> 00:34:22.119 commander of the Lord's army. 00:34:22.599 --> 00:34:24.179 In both places, the angel of the 00:34:24.179 --> 00:34:26.919 Lord tells the man to take off the 00:34:26.919 --> 00:34:28.819 sandals because it's holy ground 00:34:28.819 --> 00:34:30.679 and they do it. 00:34:31.759 --> 00:34:33.799 In Joshua passage, the Joshua 00:34:33.799 --> 00:34:36.399 actually worships the angel. 00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:39.279 In other places in the Bible, 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:41.500 whenever men try to worship an 00:34:41.500 --> 00:34:42.960 angel, the angel stops them. 00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:45.399 Like in Revelation 22, 8, 9, he 00:34:45.399 --> 00:34:47.319 says to John, you must not worship 00:34:47.319 --> 00:34:49.159 me because I'm a fellow servant with 00:34:49.159 --> 00:34:50.500 you and your brother, the prophets. 00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:52.280 Worship God. 00:34:53.420 --> 00:34:54.900 But why does this angel of the 00:34:54.900 --> 00:34:55.719 Lord not say that? 00:34:56.420 --> 00:34:58.400 Because he's not just an angel. 00:35:04.360 --> 00:35:08.460 This angel is a manifestation of 00:35:08.460 --> 00:35:09.559 Yahweh himself. 00:35:11.159 --> 00:35:12.940 Both the Old and New Testaments are 00:35:12.940 --> 00:35:15.559 clear that man cannot see Yahweh and 00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:15.920 live. 00:35:16.679 --> 00:35:19.380 And yet, Yahweh reveals himself and 00:35:19.380 --> 00:35:21.920 appears as the angel of the Lord so 00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:23.240 people can see him. 00:35:24.340 --> 00:35:26.099 The angel of the Lord is in this 00:35:26.099 --> 00:35:28.780 sense a visible manifestation of the 00:35:28.780 --> 00:35:30.480 invisible God. 00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:33.440 Distinct from Yahweh himself and yet 00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:34.380 one and the same. 00:35:35.680 --> 00:35:37.380 This is why many pastors and 00:35:37.380 --> 00:35:38.880 theologians make the connection that 00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:40.119 the angel of the Lord in the Old 00:35:40.119 --> 00:35:42.380 Testament is in fact the pre- 00:35:42.380 --> 00:35:44.960 incarnate form of Jesus. 00:35:44.960 --> 00:35:48.960 Jesus appeared before he took on human 00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:49.400 flesh. 00:35:51.980 --> 00:35:54.900 Jesus appearing with the sword in his 00:35:54.900 --> 00:35:58.300 hand to go before his people to drive 00:35:58.300 --> 00:35:58.920 out the enemies. 00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:04.659 It's an appearance of God. 00:36:05.500 --> 00:36:06.860 Appearance of the Son of God. 00:36:06.860 --> 00:36:10.920 It's Jesus, the eternal word of God, who 00:36:10.920 --> 00:36:13.180 goes before the Israelites to fight their 00:36:13.180 --> 00:36:15.559 battles ahead of them and drive out the 00:36:15.559 --> 00:36:16.460 nations before them. 00:36:17.960 --> 00:36:19.220 Imagine being in their shoes. 00:36:19.320 --> 00:36:21.200 We know from Deuteronomy 7, 7 that when 00:36:21.200 --> 00:36:23.380 God first chose the Israelites, they were 00:36:23.380 --> 00:36:25.320 quote, the fewest of all peoples. 00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:27.280 They were not a mighty throng. 00:36:27.960 --> 00:36:30.680 And they were nomads and wanderers in the 00:36:30.680 --> 00:36:31.840 wilderness for 40 years. 00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:34.200 What kind of weapons do they have? 00:36:34.199 --> 00:36:37.219 Their enemies have chariots of iron, it 00:36:37.219 --> 00:36:38.460 says in Judges 119. 00:36:39.359 --> 00:36:41.799 When Sinatra, king of Assyria, invades 00:36:41.799 --> 00:36:43.599 Judah, he mocks God's people this way. 00:36:43.659 --> 00:36:47.219 In Isaiah 36, 8, I will give you 2,000 00:36:47.219 --> 00:36:49.799 horses if you are able on your part to 00:36:49.799 --> 00:36:51.339 set riders on them. 00:36:52.059 --> 00:36:55.379 You can't even put trained riders on the 00:36:55.379 --> 00:36:57.839 horses I give you for free. 00:36:58.480 --> 00:37:00.899 What power do you have to oppose me? 00:37:00.900 --> 00:37:06.160 In their own strength, the Israelites are a 00:37:06.160 --> 00:37:07.460 feeble army. 00:37:09.940 --> 00:37:12.099 Who are they to stand against all the 00:37:12.099 --> 00:37:12.860 nations of Canaan? 00:37:13.840 --> 00:37:16.740 The key to their victory is not their own 00:37:16.740 --> 00:37:24.960 might, but the Lord Jesus who fights for 00:37:24.960 --> 00:37:25.180 them. 00:37:25.179 --> 00:37:31.259 And the same is true for us believers in the 00:37:31.259 --> 00:37:31.739 new covenant. 00:37:32.339 --> 00:37:34.719 Despite all the promises and warnings of this 00:37:34.719 --> 00:37:37.759 passage, the Israelites failed to pay attention 00:37:37.759 --> 00:37:39.019 to the voice of the Lord. 00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:42.639 In Judges 1, we are told over and over again 00:37:42.639 --> 00:37:44.699 that the Israelites did not drive out the 00:37:44.699 --> 00:37:45.079 Canaanites. 00:37:45.159 --> 00:37:47.059 Israelites did not drive out the Canaanites. 00:37:47.119 --> 00:37:49.279 Israelites did not drive out the Canaanites. 00:37:49.440 --> 00:37:51.440 Again and again and again. 00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:53.840 And this is the verdict of the angel of the 00:37:53.840 --> 00:37:55.400 Lord in Judges 2, 1 to 3. 00:37:55.840 --> 00:37:58.440 I brought you up from Egypt and brought you 00:37:58.440 --> 00:38:00.240 into the land that I swore to give to your 00:38:00.240 --> 00:38:00.599 fathers. 00:38:00.880 --> 00:38:03.519 I said I will never break my covenant with you 00:38:03.519 --> 00:38:05.700 and you shall make no covenant with the 00:38:05.700 --> 00:38:07.500 inhabitants of this land and you shall break 00:38:07.500 --> 00:38:08.340 down their altars. 00:38:09.019 --> 00:38:10.960 But you have not obeyed my voice. 00:38:12.019 --> 00:38:13.400 What is this you have done? 00:38:14.380 --> 00:38:18.200 So now I say I will not drive them out before 00:38:18.199 --> 00:38:21.579 you, but they shall become thorns in your 00:38:21.579 --> 00:38:24.960 sides and their gods shall be a snare to you. 00:38:25.939 --> 00:38:27.980 This is in fact what happens. 00:38:28.579 --> 00:38:30.019 God does fulfill his promise. 00:38:30.139 --> 00:38:32.419 He does bring them into the promised land. 00:38:32.599 --> 00:38:35.139 However, because they let the Canaanites dwell 00:38:35.139 --> 00:38:37.439 with them instead of driving them out, they 00:38:37.439 --> 00:38:38.899 become a thorn in their side. 00:38:39.039 --> 00:38:41.099 They ensnare them with their idolatry and 00:38:41.099 --> 00:38:44.119 eventually their apostasy leads to their exile 00:38:44.119 --> 00:38:48.719 and dispossession of the land from the land. 00:38:51.739 --> 00:38:53.980 Sin was the root. 00:38:54.619 --> 00:38:57.039 Sin had separated Israel from God. 00:38:57.500 --> 00:39:00.319 Sin had kept them from the protections and 00:39:00.319 --> 00:39:01.839 provisions of the covenant. 00:39:03.099 --> 00:39:05.980 And it's for that reason that God sends Jesus 00:39:05.980 --> 00:39:11.239 once more to go before his people, this time in 00:39:11.239 --> 00:39:15.500 human flesh to defeat sin and death once and for 00:39:15.500 --> 00:39:17.539 all and bring us forever into a covenant 00:39:17.539 --> 00:39:19.019 relationship with God. 00:39:20.699 --> 00:39:24.879 Sin and Satan are too powerful of an enemy for 00:39:24.879 --> 00:39:26.859 us to fight in our own strength. 00:39:26.939 --> 00:39:31.339 Can you imagine being faced with the fortress of 00:39:31.339 --> 00:39:32.699 the enemy, the gates of Hades? 00:39:32.699 --> 00:39:38.539 He has all the dirt on you. 00:39:40.299 --> 00:39:44.159 He knows everything you have done, all the ways in 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:45.980 which you have sinned, all the ways in which you have 00:39:45.980 --> 00:39:50.579 broken the covenant with God who has given you only 00:39:50.579 --> 00:39:51.980 good things. 00:39:51.980 --> 00:40:02.360 And he bars your way and says, no, you may not enter into 00:40:02.360 --> 00:40:03.400 God's promised land. 00:40:09.039 --> 00:40:11.440 But we have a champion. 00:40:12.539 --> 00:40:17.320 We have the Lord, the angel of Yahweh. 00:40:17.320 --> 00:40:25.539 Jesus Christ with the sword in his hand goes before us and 00:40:25.539 --> 00:40:27.680 fights that battle for us. 00:40:27.760 --> 00:40:32.660 And he defeats sin and death once and for all on the 00:40:32.660 --> 00:40:33.160 cross. 00:40:33.500 --> 00:40:39.160 He crushes the serpent's head underneath his feet so that he 00:40:39.160 --> 00:40:43.019 can give us the right to be children of God so that he can 00:40:43.019 --> 00:40:46.460 lead us in to the promised land. 00:40:47.320 --> 00:40:57.420 That's why in Mark 2, 5, Jesus pronounces to the 00:40:57.420 --> 00:41:02.760 paralytic, son, your sins are forgiven. 00:41:05.480 --> 00:41:08.340 It said here, the angel of the Lord will not pardon your 00:41:08.340 --> 00:41:10.920 transgression because my name is in him. 00:41:12.200 --> 00:41:13.340 What's the difference? 00:41:13.340 --> 00:41:19.340 The Lord who is just and holy cannot pardon transgression 00:41:19.340 --> 00:41:20.960 without payment. 00:41:22.260 --> 00:41:26.940 But Jesus pardons our transgressions because he has 00:41:26.940 --> 00:41:28.980 made satisfaction. 00:41:29.380 --> 00:41:31.320 Because he has made atonement. 00:41:31.519 --> 00:41:33.360 Because he has paid for it on the cross. 00:41:34.500 --> 00:41:36.840 And he has won that battle decisively. 00:41:36.840 --> 00:41:43.559 And that's the promised land that we have to look forward to. 00:41:44.420 --> 00:41:47.720 The author of Hebrews in chapter 11 makes the connection that the 00:41:47.720 --> 00:41:51.740 promised land that Abraham and Isaac and Jacob look forward to is 00:41:51.740 --> 00:41:55.500 not the literal promised land, the physical land of Israel in the 00:41:55.500 --> 00:41:56.059 Middle East. 00:41:56.400 --> 00:41:59.840 But rather it's a city that has foundations whose designer and 00:41:59.840 --> 00:42:00.920 builder is God. 00:42:00.920 --> 00:42:05.860 The promised land of the Old Testament was merely a type, a 00:42:05.860 --> 00:42:10.900 foreshadowing of the ultimate promised land, our heavenly inheritance, 00:42:11.039 --> 00:42:13.539 the kingdom that we inherit as God's people. 00:42:13.680 --> 00:42:18.480 And we are right now pilgrims journeying toward that promised land. 00:42:19.000 --> 00:42:20.760 Right now we feel like aliens. 00:42:20.980 --> 00:42:23.659 Right now we feel away from home. 00:42:23.659 --> 00:42:27.940 But one day we will be home. 00:42:32.980 --> 00:42:35.699 And it says when that day comes, 00:42:36.579 --> 00:42:42.359 Revelation 21, for he will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death 00:42:42.359 --> 00:42:43.440 shall be no more. 00:42:44.519 --> 00:42:49.579 Neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore for the 00:42:49.579 --> 00:42:51.420 former things have passed away. 00:42:53.659 --> 00:42:59.440 All these wonderful promises of God in his past fulfilled eternally. 00:43:00.239 --> 00:43:02.679 That's what we are headed to. 00:43:06.879 --> 00:43:12.500 So brothers and sisters, let's lay aside every weight and sin, 00:43:12.659 --> 00:43:19.199 which so clings so closely and let's run with endurance the race that is set 00:43:19.199 --> 00:43:19.859 before us. 00:43:19.860 --> 00:43:25.480 Our heavenly father waits us in our home. 00:43:26.220 --> 00:43:31.680 So let's pay attention to his voice and follow his guidance all the way. 00:43:32.460 --> 00:43:33.480 Let's pray together. 00:43:33.480 --> 00:43:33.539 Let's pray together. 00:43:33.539 --> 00:43:54.860 Father, we desire nothing more than to be home with you, Lord. 00:43:54.860 --> 00:43:54.920 Lord. 00:43:59.019 --> 00:44:01.940 To know your eternal love perfectly. 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:07.880 To rest in your arms. 00:44:10.079 --> 00:44:11.800 To hear you say, 00:44:12.820 --> 00:44:15.579 well done, good and faithful servant. 00:44:16.700 --> 00:44:19.539 Enter into the joy of your master. 00:44:19.539 --> 00:44:26.320 But Lord, we know that the race is not over. 00:44:27.519 --> 00:44:28.960 We need to press on. 00:44:30.199 --> 00:44:31.219 And to that end, 00:44:31.259 --> 00:44:33.599 we must pay attention to your voice. 00:44:34.440 --> 00:44:36.000 And follow your voice. 00:44:37.619 --> 00:44:38.259 So Lord, 00:44:38.360 --> 00:44:41.400 incline our ears and our hearts toward your word. 00:44:41.400 --> 00:44:41.500 Lord, 00:44:42.320 --> 00:44:45.039 make us a people, 00:44:45.260 --> 00:44:49.500 a church that cherishes and guards your word in our hearts. 00:44:57.500 --> 00:44:58.380 Thank you, 00:44:58.940 --> 00:44:59.200 Father, 00:44:59.680 --> 00:45:01.019 for sending Jesus, 00:45:02.860 --> 00:45:03.700 our champion, 00:45:05.700 --> 00:45:07.099 our representative, 00:45:07.920 --> 00:45:08.760 our warrior, 00:45:08.760 --> 00:45:10.440 our king, 00:45:11.880 --> 00:45:14.480 who fights for us. 00:45:16.720 --> 00:45:17.660 We love you. 00:45:20.180 --> 00:45:21.180 We worship you. 00:45:22.120 --> 00:45:23.360 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:45:24.020 --> 00:45:24.300 Amen.