WEBVTT

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 As confusing as some of the genealogies can be, this is the Word of the Lord.

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 And it's the Word that God has for us this morning.

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 And I thank you guys for doing your best to read that.

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 It amazes me sometimes when I listen to the audio Bible and they read that like anything else.

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 And it's pretty amazing the skill that they have.

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 Some people say that the world only has two types of people.

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 You guys have heard this, I'm sure.

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 However, they say that there's followers and leaders.

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 There's dreamers and doers.

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 The users, the creators.

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 And of course, all the people who say that and divide the world into these two categories think that they belong to the latter category.

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 The people who create, the entrepreneurs, the visionaries, the doers and go-getters of this world.

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 But Genesis 10-12 envisions a far more fundamental category that divides the world.

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 It teaches us that we're all city builders.

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 We're all building cities.

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 And we're building one of two cities.

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 Either the city of man or the city of God.

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 And which city we're living for changes everything about our lives.

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 And what this passage teaches us is that God calls us to be sojourners journeying toward the city of God.

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 Not settlers in the city of man.

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 We are called to be sojourners journeying toward the city of God.

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 Not settlers in the city of man.

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 So we're going to talk about it in those terms.

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 First, we'll talk about the city of man, chapters 10 and 11.

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 Then we'll talk about the city of God in chapter 12.

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 If you look at the list, the genealogy in chapter 10, verses 1 to 32,

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 if you count them up, the number 7 stands out as prominent.

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 There's a lot of number 7s in this list.

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 So Japheth has 7 sons, according to verse 2, as well as 7 grandsons.

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 Egypt is said to have 7 sons.

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 And more importantly, all the sons, all the nations here descended from Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

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 If you count them up, it adds up to 70.

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 And 70 is a traditional round number used by Jews and Jewish writers to refer to a large number of descendants.

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 You see that in Genesis 46, 27.

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 All the persons of the house of Jacob who came to Egypt were 70.

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 You see that in 2 Kings 10, 1, it says Ahab had 70 sons in Samaria.

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 So the fact that this is not supposed to be an exhaustive list,

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 but rather kind of a symbol, a representative number,

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 is seen in the fact that repeatedly it says that the nations spread from these people groups.

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 So all the nations of the world came from these groups.

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 So 70 is really the representative number.

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 It's not an exhaustive list, but it does represent the whole world.

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 All the nations of the world came from this group, descended from Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

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 And in the midst of this so-called table of the nations, there is this group that is particularly prominent.

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 It's the Hamites, the sons of Ham.

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 And the reason for that is because, as you remember from the end of chapter 9,

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 Noah blesses Shem.

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 And Shem, the descendants of Shem are what we know as the Jewish people.

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 It's Shemite is where we get the word Semite, right?

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 Semitic people.

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 And then the descendants of Ham, the most prominent of them is Canaan.

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 So Canaan is the son of Ham that Noah curses for dishonoring him

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 by making a spectacle of his nakedness.

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 When he was drunk, he got drunk and got naked.

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 His son Ham dishonored him by making a public spectacle of him.

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 And so he cursed Ham's son Canaan.

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 And that was included in that narrative to show us, to tell the Israelites

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 that it is their God-given destiny to go and conquer Canaan,

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 that that's the land that God has given to them.

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 And so that's why, because these nations descended from Ham

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 have a particularly close relationship with Israel,

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 they're given particular attention in this genealogy.

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 And that's why in verse 19 it tells you exactly what the boundaries of Canaan are.

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 So the territory of the Canaanites extended from Sidon in the direction of Gerar

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 as far as Gaza, and in the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Adma, and Zeboim

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 as far as Lasha.

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 These are the boundaries.

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 Why does the Bible include that?

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 That doesn't mean anything to us, it seems, as we read it.

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 Why is it there?

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 Because to the Israelites, the original audience who's hearing this, reading this,

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 for them, this is their instruction.

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 This is the land.

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 These are the boundaries.

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 It is your job to go and conquer it, because God has given it to you.

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 And even in the list of the Hamites, one particular individual stands out.

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 If you look at verses 8 to 10, it says,

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 Cush fathered Nimrod.

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 He was the first on earth to be a mighty man.

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 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord.

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 Therefore, it is said, like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.

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 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Iraq, Akat, Kalna, in the land of Shinar.

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 Now, the fact that Nimrod is described as a mighty man is not necessarily a compliment,

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 because if you remember, the last people who were described as mighty men, heroes, were the Nephilim, right?

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 The people who, the human daughters who intermarried with angelic beings, fallen angels,

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 and gave birth to Nephilim, who were known as heroes, warriors, men of renown.

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 Now, there isn't an explicit connection made here between them and Nimrod,

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 but the fact that he's described as mighty men, it does have nuances that are not good.

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 And he's described as a mighty hunter before the Lord.

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 The phrase before the Lord doesn't mean that he was a godly hunter, that he hunted before the Lord.

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 It's just a superlative.

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 It means that there's no one under heaven that was a hunter like him.

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 So he was the mighty hunter before the Lord.

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 And so it seems, I mean, that makes sense, right?

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 I mean, if someone is a warrior or a hero, it translates well to hunting, like game.

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 So he seems to have been there.

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 And these two characteristics, being a mighty warrior on the one hand and being a great hunter,

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 were the two traits that were most prized in Mesopotamian kings.

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 And so he's kind of being, Nimrod is here being described as kind of the ideal kind of pagan king,

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 the ancient Near Eastern king.

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 And it seems that he was quite an influential and powerful king,

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 because he says that he went on to found some of the major nations and kingdoms in the ancient Near East.

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 And the most relevant for us, of course, is Babel.

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 It says he's the one that started Babel in the land of Shinar.

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 Babylon is very possibly the earliest foundation of Mesopotamia

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 and certainly the most prestigious among all the kingdoms in the ancient Near East.

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 And the word Babel means the gate of the god.

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 You can see their human hubris in the way they named the city.

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 In other words, they're saying this is the closest you can get to heaven.

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 This is the gate of the gods.

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 This is where the gods dwell and come.

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 And so they're saying this is the mightiest civilization.

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 And so Babel in the land of Shinar is where we turn to in chapter 11.

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 Verses 1 to 2 begin this way.

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 Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.

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 And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.

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 They migrated from the east.

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 This expression actually means toward the east.

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 That's how it's translated in chapter 13, verse 11, about how Lot journeyed east.

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 And that makes more sense geographically as well.

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 So they're not coming from the east, but they're going toward the east.

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 And if you think about it that way, then you also, it makes connections to what happened earlier in chapter 3, 24, chapter 4, 16, where Adam and Eve are banished from the garden of Eden to go toward the east, further east.

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 And then Cain likewise is banished from the land to go east of Eden.

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 So the people, humanity is constantly traveling east, away from the presence of God, the garden of Eden.

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 And Babylon is another example of that.

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 And after they have settled, the people decide to build for themselves a city and a tower.

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 Verses 3 to 4.

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 And they said to one another, come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.

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 And they had brick for stone and vitamin for mortar.

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 Then they said, come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens.

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 And let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.

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 Now, this is well crafted, literally.

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 So if you read the words in Hebrew, a lot of the same consonants as the word babble,

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 so the B sounds, the L sounds, and the P sounds that sound like B, just all over this passage.

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 So it's almost like right when these guys start to talk, they start to babble.

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 Everything that they say, it sounds like babble.

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 And the babble, the word, it also sounds very much like the Hebrew word for folly.

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 So it's describing these literary devices that are being used to portray the Babylonians as full of folly and babbling, the hubris.

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 And so in the words, they're saying they're bringing a city and a tower.

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 That's an example of a hand diatist.

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 It's basically a literary device.

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 It's a figure of a speech when you use two different words connected by an and to convey a single concept.

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 So, for example, when we drink a cup of coffee and we say, oh, that's nice and hot.

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 So two separate words, nice and hot.

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 But we don't mean that the coffee is nice and that it's hot separately.

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 No, we mean that it's hot to the nice degree.

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 That's what we mean, right?

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 So two words form a single concept.

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 And that's what a city and a tower mean.

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 So we could better translate it as a city tower or maybe a towering city.

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 They're building an entire city.

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 This is an urbanizing enterprise.

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 And you can tell even just from the narrative that that's how those two words are being used.

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 Because if you look at verse 8, after God's punishment, it simply says that they left off building the city.

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 And the tower is not mentioned.

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 So they form the same idea, same concept.

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 They're building up a city that reaches to the heavens.

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 And they're saying that basically, you know what?

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 You think the gods only dwell in the heavens?

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 We can dwell there too.

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 We are the Babylonians and we dwell in the gate of the gods.

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 But it's kind of reminiscent of Cain, right?

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 Because Cain's the first one to build a city.

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 So he's exiled, banished by God to fruitless labor and wandering.

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 And in order to counteract that curse, he builds a city so that he could survive, right?

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 Now, just like Cain, then these Babylonians are also building this city, building this towering city.

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 Not for good reasons.

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 They're building it without any reference to God whatsoever.

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 In fact, their goal is just like Adam and Eve's when they reach out and eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that were forbidden to them.

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 Their goal is to become like God, right?

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 So that's what you see here.

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 It says, let's build a towering city with its top in the heavens, right?

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 So it's a sacrilege, really, what they're doing.

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 And then they say they want to make a name for themselves.

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 That's the goal.

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 And to protect themselves from being dispersed over the face of the whole earth.

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 So in other words, they want two things.

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 They want glory and they want security.

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 So humanity is once again seeking to usurp divine prerogative.

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 It's God who is glorious and it is God who is prerogative to provide and protect the people he created.

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 Yet they are taking things into their own hands.

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 And so God deliberates within the Godhead and then decides to intervene as he did with Adam and Eve.

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 And the story of Babel is structured chiastically, again, like the story of Noah.

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 So it has corresponding elements in the two halves that match each other.

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 And verse 5 is the centerfold of that structure.

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 It's the hinge where the story begins to turn and it says this,

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 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the children of man had built.

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 Now, it's easy to miss this.

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 But if you read that again, this is just dripping with humor and irony.

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 Right?

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 Because these guys are building this great towering city saying,

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 We'll reach the heavens.

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 The top will reach the heavens.

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 And then, but that towering city is so small and short and insignificant that it's barely visible to God that he must come down in order to see it.

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 That's what's going on.

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 He says,

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 The Lord came down to see the city and the tower.

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 That's the ultimate insult to what the Babylonians are doing.

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 And the Lord issues his verdict and meets out his punishment in verses 6 to 8.

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 And the Lord said,

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 Behold, they are one people and they all have one language.

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 And this is only the beginning of what they will do.

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 And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.

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 Come, let us go down.

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 And they confuse their language so that they may not understand one another's speech.

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 So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth.

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 And they left off building the city.

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 Now, at first glance, it might sound like God feels a little bit insecure.

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 Right?

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 Or threatened by what humanity's limitless potential.

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 But that's not at all what's going on.

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 And verse 5 should give us a hint that that's not what's going on.

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 Because the Lord God has to come down to see it.

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 Right?

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 What's going on instead is very similar to what happened to Adam and Eve in the garden.

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 Remember, they take of the tree of the knowledge, good and evil, eat.

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 But then God says,

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 Lest they also take from the tree of life and then live forever.

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 Right?

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 He banishes them.

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 God's concern is that they will live forever in that state of alienation from God.

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 Separation from God.

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 In that sin.

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 So he banishes them.

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 And their mortality lives as a perpetual reminder of the fact that something in the world is not right.

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 That they need to be reconciled to God.

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 Restored to him.

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 To have eternal life that they were created for.

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 So in the same way, that's what's happening here.

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 So God says,

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 Nothing is impossible for them.

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 They're going to build a heaven.

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 So God confuses our language.

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 Lest they, in their humanity and in their unity, accomplish all that they set their mind to.

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 And then decide, oh, we don't need God after all.

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 We can do everything on ourselves.

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 So again, the limit imposed on humanity is there as a perpetual reminder that something is not right in the world.

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 So all the divisions in the world, the cultural differences,

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 the things that prevent us from all uniting together to accomplish everything,

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 those are perpetual reminders for us.

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 Something is not right.

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 We need God.

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 We need to be reconciled to him.

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 That's the only way we can be reconciled to one another.

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 And God's punishment, of course, fits their sinful rebellion, as it always does.

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 So their goal was that they would not be scattered by building a city.

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 And God's punishment, of course, is to scatter them, to disperse them.

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 In verse 3, they said,

00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:08.480
 Let us make bricks.

00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:10.860
 And in verse 7, God says,

00:15:11.059 --> 00:15:13.340
 Let us confuse their language.

00:15:13.899 --> 00:15:18.579
 And the Hebrew words behind let us make and let us confuse are almost identical.

00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:20.579
 They look and sound almost identical.

00:15:20.779 --> 00:15:24.319
 So God's, again, giving a punishment that fits their crime.

00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:29.120
 And the Babylonians had named their city Babel, saying this is the gate of the gods.

00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:36.480
 But instead, Moses compares it to the Hebrew word balau, which means to babble, to be confused, to mix.

00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:38.020
 You think that's the gate of the gods?

00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:39.160
 No, it's confusion.

00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:40.340
 It's folly.

00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:42.720
 That's the end of your enterprise.

00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:54.180
 At this point, we have to ask ourselves the question, why does God care that humanity has decided to live together in a concentrated area?

00:15:54.179 --> 00:15:55.899
 What's wrong with that?

00:15:55.899 --> 00:15:56.299
 Right?

00:15:56.299 --> 00:15:56.859
 Right?

00:15:56.859 --> 00:15:58.359
 He created us for community.

00:15:58.360 --> 00:16:00.320
 What's wrong with cities?

00:16:00.460 --> 00:16:01.480
 What's wrong with urbanization?

00:16:01.580 --> 00:16:04.120
 What's wrong with these people staying in Babel?

00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:10.940
 The clue is given throughout verses 8 to 9 because the word earth is repeated three times.

00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:18.940
 And it highlights something because if you remember Genesis 2, 8, chapter 2, verse 8, God says to humanity, commands them,

00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:24.860
 Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it.

00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:26.480
 That's their call.

00:16:26.580 --> 00:16:32.720
 That's their God-given mandate to fill the earth, to go forth and fill the whole earth with the image of God.

00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:34.840
 And by doing so, bring glory to him.

00:16:35.019 --> 00:16:37.759
 And the Babylonians are saying, no, we're not going.

00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:42.600
 We're digging their heels and saying, we're staying right here and make glory for ourselves.

00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:45.560
 Not spread the image of God.

00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:49.560
 Spread our glory, our image, right here in this city.

00:16:51.220 --> 00:16:54.139
 But, of course, it's God's plan that ultimately prevails.

00:16:55.180 --> 00:16:57.600
 And it's really fascinating.

00:16:57.600 --> 00:17:05.440
 In Luke 10, 1 to 12, when Jesus sends out his missionaries, it says he sends them out two by two.

00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:08.440
 And it says that he sends out 72 disciples.

00:17:09.099 --> 00:17:10.860
 Have you ever wondered, why 72?

00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:12.740
 That seems like such an odd number, right?

00:17:14.120 --> 00:17:15.720
 It seems to be a pretty random number.

00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:17.660
 But there's a reason for that.

00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:27.220
 Because the Greek translation of the Old Testament in Genesis 10, actually, instead of 70 nations, it lists 72 nations.

00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:31.620
 The table of nations that had, it lists 72 nations.

00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:35.839
 And, in fact, there is a textual variant for the Luke passage as well.

00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:39.839
 And some of them say that Jesus sent out 70 disciples instead of 72.

00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:42.240
 So, I mean, which one was original?

00:17:42.439 --> 00:17:51.559
 I mean, that question is not as important as the fact that the biblical writers are intentionally making the connection between Genesis 10 and Luke 10.

00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:54.139
 Is that God created all these nations.

00:17:54.259 --> 00:17:56.199
 There are 70 nations in the whole world.

00:17:56.459 --> 00:18:01.279
 And that's why Jesus sends 70 disciples out to go to spread his gospel.

00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:10.240
 Because the goal of Jesus' mission is not to save one nation, one people group, one race, but to save every race and every people group and every nation.

00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:12.700
 That's why Jesus does that.

00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:16.740
 And that's our God-given calling.

00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:20.940
 To be part of that cosmic enterprise.

00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:25.019
 And let me ask you, what city are you building?

00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:32.059
 A city of happy marriage and a family.

00:18:34.220 --> 00:18:36.980
 A city of high-paying job and comfort.

00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:42.920
 A city of invention and innovation that will improve the human condition.

00:18:44.619 --> 00:18:50.599
 A city of scientific discovery that will improve the prognosis of certain diseases.

00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:55.699
 A city of social justice that will help the marginalized.

00:18:58.279 --> 00:19:00.199
 All of these things are well and good.

00:19:00.919 --> 00:19:03.879
 But what are you doing these things for?

00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:09.659
 Or better, whom are you doing these things for?

00:19:09.660 --> 00:19:20.259
 Because if the purpose for which you do these things is the same as the man of Babel, let us make a name for ourselves.

00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:26.100
 So that you might be praised as creative and innovative, just and compassionate.

00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:28.960
 So that you might be sought out by others for advice.

00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:31.720
 So that you might make a mark on history.

00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:35.200
 Then God's not impressed with what you're doing.

00:19:36.060 --> 00:19:39.340
 He'll have to come down to take a look at what you've done.

00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:47.299
 No matter how lofty your accomplishments, God will have to condescend to even witness it.

00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:50.419
 And his evaluation of your work will not be favorable.

00:19:54.019 --> 00:20:03.240
 Augustine, the esteemed 5th century Christian theologian, wrote his magnum opus, City of God, after the sack of Rome by the Visigoths in 410.

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:08.519
 And that sack of Rome left the Roman Empire reeling because they were in disbelief and shocked.

00:20:08.620 --> 00:20:10.680
 The fact that this sprawling empire could fall.

00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:12.099
 That Rome could fall.

00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:19.019
 And in that light, when Christians were confused because they were starting to identify kingdom of God with the Roman Empire.

00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:24.180
 And in that time, Augustine wrote that the city of God is not the same as the city of man.

00:20:24.660 --> 00:20:26.539
 The Roman Empire is not the kingdom of God.

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:31.639
 And in this writing, he says this about the virtues of pagan Rome.

00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:35.660
 He describes the virtues of pagan Rome as splendid vices.

00:20:36.639 --> 00:20:37.619
 Wonderful phrase.

00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:39.680
 Splendid vices.

00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:41.799
 They're not true virtue.

00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:45.039
 They're splendid because they're virtuous deeds.

00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:50.539
 But they are vices because they are carried out for non-virtuous reasons.

00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:56.480
 In a man-centered, man-glorifying rather than God-centered, God-glorifying way.

00:20:57.620 --> 00:20:59.160
 And that's not pleasing to him.

00:21:01.840 --> 00:21:03.140
 Think about it this way.

00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:06.160
 Imagine an ambassador for the United States of America.

00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:14.400
 Let's say he operates with all the pomp and glory and power that an ambassador is supposed to function with.

00:21:14.820 --> 00:21:19.540
 He confers with other heads of state and he makes decisions of national and international import.

00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:29.560
 And so what if this guy, this ambassador, he goes to Russia and he encourages Putin to take over Syria

00:21:29.560 --> 00:21:33.500
 so that he could open up business opportunities for himself in Russia.

00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:44.880
 What if this ambassador goes to North Korea and then he gets millions of dollars in exchange for giving away U.S. trade secrets, military secrets,

00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:49.200
 teaches them how to put nuclear warheads on a long-range ballistic missile?

00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:55.700
 I mean, he's functioning as an ambassador, all right?

00:21:56.140 --> 00:21:56.359
 Right?

00:21:56.759 --> 00:21:59.700
 He's got tremendous power and influence.

00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:01.819
 But is he doing his job?

00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:04.980
 He's a completely useless ambassador.

00:22:07.879 --> 00:22:12.399
 Likewise, we could accomplish all the great things in this world,

00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:16.319
 but if we are not representing the God who created us,

00:22:16.879 --> 00:22:21.019
 if we're not doing it for the glory of the one who made us,

00:22:21.679 --> 00:22:23.099
 we're being useless creatures.

00:22:24.679 --> 00:22:28.899
 We're not fulfilling the purpose for which God created us.

00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:33.800
 Are you building the city of God or the city of man?

00:22:36.600 --> 00:22:39.420
 And this is not a relevant message for non-Christians only.

00:22:40.060 --> 00:22:42.140
 Every Christian needs to hear this message also.

00:22:42.320 --> 00:22:42.460
 Check.

00:22:43.860 --> 00:22:48.180
 In chapter 11, verses 10 to 26, we get a fuller genealogy of Shem,

00:22:48.560 --> 00:22:50.580
 which transitions us to the story of Abram.

00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:54.939
 But before we get to Abram, we find this in verses 31 and 32.

00:22:54.939 --> 00:22:56.359
 It says,

00:22:56.359 --> 00:23:26.019
 Terah is from the chosen line,

00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:27.160
 and the line of Shem.

00:23:28.359 --> 00:23:31.119
 It seems that his family has, by this point,

00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:33.440
 likely strayed from worshiping the Lord God.

00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:35.740
 And you can see this from several clues,

00:23:35.859 --> 00:23:39.819
 but the name Terah is most likely related to the Hebrew word for moon.

00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:44.960
 And the names of his daughter-in-law, Sarai and Milka,

00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:49.259
 both come from lunar worship, moon worship.

00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:51.579
 So, for example, there was a moon god named Sin.

00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:55.480
 Saratu was his wife, and Malkitu was his daughter.

00:23:55.559 --> 00:23:57.379
 So it sounds very much like Sarai in Malkitu.

00:23:57.799 --> 00:24:01.640
 And this is all the more plausible because Ur of Chaldeans and Haran

00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:04.259
 were both areas where moon worship was prominent.

00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:06.240
 So it seems that they were involved in this,

00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:08.140
 and they are being kind of called out of that.

00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:09.940
 Maybe God called Terah out of that.

00:24:09.940 --> 00:24:14.660
 And that's why later God calls Abram specifically.

00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:19.140
 So Terah, it says that he started to journey toward Canaan,

00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:21.059
 to go into the land of Canaan.

00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:23.080
 But when they came to Haran,

00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:25.960
 it says they settled there.

00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:28.400
 The implication of the narrative is

00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:30.360
 they should have kept going to Canaan, the promised land,

00:24:30.420 --> 00:24:32.519
 but instead they settled in Haran.

00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:36.599
 And settling anywhere outside of Canaan,

00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.819
 the promised land,

00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:40.299
 is a bad thing in the book of Genesis.

00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:45.859
 It's always the people who are outside of God's chosen line,

00:24:45.980 --> 00:24:47.240
 the promised, His grace,

00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:49.440
 that settle outside of Canaan.

00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:51.200
 Let me give you some examples.

00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:55.339
 Cain settles in the land of Nod, Genesis 4.16.

00:24:56.099 --> 00:24:59.680
 It's the inhabitants of Babel that settled in Shinar,

00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:01.680
 chapter 11.2.

00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:04.500
 In Genesis 13.12, it says that

00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:07.180
 while Abram settled in the land of Canaan,

00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.160
 the promised land,

00:25:08.820 --> 00:25:11.019
 Lot settled among the cities of the valley

00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:13.200
 and moved his far tent as far as Sodom.

00:25:13.840 --> 00:25:15.180
 And we know what happens to Sodom,

00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:17.259
 judgment and death and destruction.

00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:21.039
 Ishmael, not Isaac,

00:25:21.840 --> 00:25:24.259
 Ishmael settles in the wilderness of Paran.

00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:27.500
 Genesis 36.78 says that

00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.380
 Jacob and Esau,

00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:30.460
 that the land of their sojournings

00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:31.519
 could not support them

00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.639
 because of their livestock

00:25:32.639 --> 00:25:33.500
 because it was so big.

00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:37.099
 So Esau settled in the hill country of Seir.

00:25:37.619 --> 00:25:38.619
 Esau is Edom.

00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:41.859
 This is contrasted intentionally with Jacob.

00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:43.859
 It says Genesis 37.1 of Jacob,

00:25:44.119 --> 00:25:47.039
 he lived in the land of his father's sojourning,

00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:49.400
 in the land of Canaan.

00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:52.860
 Unless you're in the land of Canaan,

00:25:52.860 --> 00:25:54.259
 you're not supposed to settle.

00:25:54.460 --> 00:25:55.259
 Until you're there,

00:25:55.360 --> 00:25:56.420
 you keep sojourning,

00:25:56.620 --> 00:25:57.580
 you keep going,

00:25:57.900 --> 00:25:58.920
 you keep journeying,

00:25:59.019 --> 00:26:00.700
 you're not supposed to settle.

00:26:01.800 --> 00:26:04.100
 The only time when the chosen people of God

00:26:04.100 --> 00:26:06.340
 are said to have settled outside of Canaan

00:26:06.340 --> 00:26:07.920
 is later in Egypt.

00:26:08.340 --> 00:26:09.600
 And you know what happens there?

00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:10.780
 Enslavement.

00:26:10.779 --> 00:26:14.500
 So that God must once again rescue them

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.700
 out of Egypt

00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:17.259
 to take them back to Canaan.

00:26:18.879 --> 00:26:21.220
 So settling in a land other than Canaan

00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:23.139
 is a sure way to exclude yourself

00:26:23.139 --> 00:26:24.940
 from God's promise and favor.

00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:28.099
 And it says Terah settled in Horan.

00:26:29.099 --> 00:26:30.359
 Who knows why he settled?

00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:32.160
 Maybe he just found a good community there.

00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:35.960
 Or maybe he was just wary

00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:37.300
 of living the pilgrim's life.

00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:41.080
 But we know this is not good

00:26:41.080 --> 00:26:41.840
 because immediately,

00:26:42.040 --> 00:26:43.540
 the next thing we learn about Terah

00:26:43.540 --> 00:26:46.480
 is that he died in Horan.

00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:50.000
 Where you settle is where you die.

00:26:52.680 --> 00:26:55.220
 The days of Terah were 205 years

00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:57.800
 and Terah died in Horan.

00:26:57.799 --> 00:27:02.839
 Genesis tells us 31 places,

00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:04.460
 31 people dying.

00:27:04.599 --> 00:27:05.419
 He says they died.

00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:07.180
 But only three times they tell you

00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:07.899
 where they died.

00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:08.899
 It's because it's important.

00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:11.639
 He says he died in Horan.

00:27:12.379 --> 00:27:13.779
 Now if you are a Christian,

00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:14.720
 let me ask you,

00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:16.399
 where have you settled?

00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:23.000
 Perhaps when you first gave your life to Jesus,

00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:24.039
 you were zealous

00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:26.220
 and you wanted to do everything for him.

00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.759
 But since then,

00:27:27.799 --> 00:27:28.639
 you have settled.

00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:33.480
 Perhaps God has called you to marriage,

00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:36.500
 but you have settled for living together.

00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:42.079
 Perhaps God has called you

00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:44.639
 to singleness and chastity,

00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:48.440
 but you have settled for serial dating and voyeurism.

00:27:50.899 --> 00:27:52.159
 Perhaps God has called you

00:27:52.159 --> 00:27:54.359
 to radical generosity toward the church

00:27:54.359 --> 00:27:56.079
 and toward those in need.

00:27:56.079 --> 00:28:01.099
 but you have settled for giving just 10%

00:28:01.099 --> 00:28:04.099
 or the spare change that happens to be in your wallet

00:28:04.099 --> 00:28:05.119
 at that moment.

00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:09.699
 Maybe God has called you to excellence in your workplace,

00:28:09.699 --> 00:28:11.960
 but you have settled for mediocrity,

00:28:11.960 --> 00:28:13.619
 for doing what is passable.

00:28:16.139 --> 00:28:20.240
 Perhaps God has called you to be an intercessory prayer warrior,

00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:24.500
 to daily bring before God the needs of his saints,

00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:27.759
 but instead you have settled for praying five minutes a day

00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:30.819
 or just for moments before your meals.

00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:32.700
 God has called you to be an intercessory prayer,

00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:36.980
 God has called every single one of us to be his missionaries,

00:28:37.159 --> 00:28:40.200
 to be his agents in seeking and saving the lost,

00:28:40.299 --> 00:28:41.639
 but maybe we have settled

00:28:41.639 --> 00:28:43.700
 for just

00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:49.079
 hanging out with our comfortable group of Christian friends.

00:28:49.079 --> 00:28:58.259
 God has called all of us to live every single moment of our lives

00:28:58.259 --> 00:29:00.019
 for him and for his glory.

00:29:00.579 --> 00:29:03.720
 But maybe we have settled for giving him few minutes a day

00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:05.639
 and a half day a week.

00:29:05.640 --> 00:29:17.240
 C.S. Lewis writes about this in his book,

00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:18.180
 Screwtape Letters.

00:29:19.120 --> 00:29:20.940
 The book is a series of imagined dialogues

00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:22.840
 between Wormwood and Screwtape.

00:29:22.900 --> 00:29:25.380
 Screwtape is the uncle who is advising Wormwood

00:29:25.380 --> 00:29:27.580
 on how to lure and seduce man to hell.

00:29:28.280 --> 00:29:31.920
 And he advises him in this particular insightful dialogue

00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:34.740
 to use small sins and pleasures

00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:36.539
 instead of big sins and pleasures.

00:29:37.099 --> 00:29:37.920
 And he writes this,

00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:40.960
 You will say that these are very small sins

00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:43.539
 and doubtless, like all young tempters,

00:29:43.880 --> 00:29:46.779
 you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness.

00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:48.319
 But do remember,

00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:50.339
 the only thing that matters

00:29:50.339 --> 00:29:53.460
 is the extent to which you separate the man from the enemy.

00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:56.559
 It does not matter how small the sins are,

00:29:56.640 --> 00:29:58.480
 provided that their cumulative effect

00:29:58.480 --> 00:30:01.019
 is to edge the man away from the light

00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:02.579
 and out into the nothing.

00:30:02.579 --> 00:30:05.399
 Murder is no better than cards

00:30:05.399 --> 00:30:07.179
 if cards can do the trick.

00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:11.119
 Indeed, the safest road to hell is the gradual one,

00:30:11.439 --> 00:30:14.000
 the gentle slope, soft underfoot,

00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:15.679
 without sudden turnings,

00:30:15.839 --> 00:30:16.740
 without milestones,

00:30:17.159 --> 00:30:18.439
 without signposts.

00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:23.059
 Where you settle is where you die.

00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:25.839
 Where have you settled?

00:30:26.059 --> 00:30:28.439
 As far as our personal spiritual state is concerned,

00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:31.180
 adultery is no worse than lust

00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:34.120
 if lust is enough to edge us away from God.

00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:39.400
 Murder is no worse than anger

00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:41.680
 if anger is enough to edge us away from God.

00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:47.080
 Voyeurism is no worse than Netflix

00:30:47.080 --> 00:30:50.320
 if Netflix is enough to edge us away from God.

00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:56.639
 Militant atheism is no worse than cynicism

00:30:56.639 --> 00:31:00.159
 if cynicism is enough to edge us away from God.

00:31:06.379 --> 00:31:07.879
 Don't ever settle down.

00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:11.119
 Regularly take inventory of your spiritual life.

00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:13.200
 Daily repent of your sins,

00:31:13.299 --> 00:31:14.559
 small and large,

00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:17.700
 and seek to give every ounce of your energy

00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:18.519
 to live for Him.

00:31:20.460 --> 00:31:22.919
 I love Jonathan Edwards' resolutions.

00:31:23.480 --> 00:31:24.619
 I don't know if you guys have read that.

00:31:24.859 --> 00:31:26.139
 When he was very young,

00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:27.480
 he wrote a series of resolutions

00:31:27.480 --> 00:31:30.619
 for how he has resolved to live for God.

00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:32.019
 And some of those say this,

00:31:32.019 --> 00:31:35.480
 Resolved, I will do whatsoever I think

00:31:35.480 --> 00:31:37.319
 to be most to God's glory

00:31:37.319 --> 00:31:39.779
 and my own good and profit and pleasure.

00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:42.279
 That go together.

00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:45.379
 Resolved never to do any matter of thing,

00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:46.819
 whether in soul or body,

00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:47.579
 less or more,

00:31:47.639 --> 00:31:49.359
 but what tends to the glory of God.

00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:52.160
 Resolved never to do anything

00:31:52.160 --> 00:31:53.680
 which I should be afraid to do

00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:56.059
 if it were the last hour of my life.

00:31:57.240 --> 00:32:00.079
 Resolved to live with all my might

00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:01.900
 while I do live.

00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:04.920
 Don't settle.

00:32:05.839 --> 00:32:08.099
 God has not called us to be settlers

00:32:08.099 --> 00:32:09.039
 in the city of man.

00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:13.700
 Instead, God has called us to be sojourners

00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:15.920
 journeying toward the city of God.

00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:18.079
 And we find a fine example of that in Abram

00:32:18.079 --> 00:32:19.339
 starting in chapter 12.

00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:22.879
 With Abram, we find a turning point in history

00:32:22.879 --> 00:32:25.639
 from primeval history to patriarchal history.

00:32:27.059 --> 00:32:28.879
 And so far, we've seen a recurring pattern

00:32:28.879 --> 00:32:29.660
 in the book of Genesis.

00:32:29.660 --> 00:32:30.880
 God creates.

00:32:31.100 --> 00:32:32.380
 He shows his grace

00:32:32.380 --> 00:32:33.680
 and he blesses creation.

00:32:34.120 --> 00:32:35.620
 And then creation mucks it up.

00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:37.180
 They sin and mess up.

00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:38.720
 So God punishes and judges

00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:40.600
 and then again continues his grace.

00:32:40.820 --> 00:32:41.759
 That's the pattern we've seen

00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:42.600
 over and over again.

00:32:42.680 --> 00:32:44.160
 That's what we see here again.

00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:46.700
 God blessed the line of Shem

00:32:46.700 --> 00:32:47.700
 to be prosperous

00:32:47.700 --> 00:32:49.140
 and to grow and to multiply.

00:32:49.560 --> 00:32:50.120
 And then after that,

00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:51.720
 we find the sin of Babel.

00:32:52.440 --> 00:32:54.180
 And then God once again shows grace.

00:32:54.259 --> 00:32:56.000
 And this time it's through Abram.

00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:57.539
 Verse 1 begins,

00:32:57.920 --> 00:33:00.079
 Now the Lord said to Abram,

00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:02.299
 Go from your country

00:33:02.299 --> 00:33:04.059
 and your kindred

00:33:04.059 --> 00:33:06.480
 and your father's house

00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:09.380
 to the land that I will show you.

00:33:10.059 --> 00:33:12.039
 Notice how God's call to Abram

00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:14.180
 becomes progressively more demanding

00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:14.880
 and narrow.

00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:16.880
 First he says,

00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:18.119
 Go from your country.

00:33:18.279 --> 00:33:19.700
 Okay, I mean, I could leave my country.

00:33:19.779 --> 00:33:20.380
 That's not that hard.

00:33:20.380 --> 00:33:22.160
 And then he says,

00:33:23.060 --> 00:33:24.440
 Leave your kindred,

00:33:25.320 --> 00:33:26.860
 the people who are like you,

00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:28.360
 your cultural group,

00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:29.280
 your ethnic group,

00:33:29.580 --> 00:33:31.500
 the people you are akin to.

00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:33.700
 And then it escalates further,

00:33:34.040 --> 00:33:35.600
 Leave your father's house,

00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:37.440
 your very own family.

00:33:37.960 --> 00:33:38.580
 Leave them.

00:33:40.340 --> 00:33:41.500
 Your closest relations.

00:33:43.360 --> 00:33:45.480
 Isn't this exactly what Jesus has in mind

00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:46.000
 when he says,

00:33:46.420 --> 00:33:47.720
 Whoever loves his father or mother

00:33:47.720 --> 00:33:49.540
 more than me is not worthy of me?

00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:54.740
 Our highest allegiance is to the Lord.

00:33:55.779 --> 00:33:57.500
 And anything that's in the way,

00:33:57.579 --> 00:33:58.480
 we have to forsake

00:33:58.480 --> 00:34:00.079
 to follow him.

00:34:02.879 --> 00:34:04.619
 And inversely parallel

00:34:04.619 --> 00:34:07.059
 to the progressively narrowing call of God

00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:07.619
 on Abram

00:34:07.619 --> 00:34:09.840
 is God's promise to bless him.

00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:11.119
 God's promise to bless him

00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:12.900
 is increasingly wider.

00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:15.079
 And you see that in verses 2 to 3.

00:34:15.079 --> 00:34:17.599
 And I will make of you a great nation.

00:34:17.599 --> 00:34:20.079
 And I will bless you

00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:21.860
 and make your name great

00:34:21.860 --> 00:34:24.079
 so that you will be a blessing.

00:34:24.579 --> 00:34:26.679
 I will bless those who bless you

00:34:26.679 --> 00:34:27.880
 and him who dishonors you

00:34:27.880 --> 00:34:28.460
 I will curse.

00:34:28.839 --> 00:34:29.460
 And in you,

00:34:29.759 --> 00:34:31.779
 all the families of the earth

00:34:31.779 --> 00:34:33.219
 shall be blessed.

00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:34.500
 The word blessed

00:34:34.500 --> 00:34:35.960
 is repeated five times here

00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:37.719
 and the consonants of the word blessed

00:34:37.719 --> 00:34:39.299
 sound like Abram.

00:34:39.679 --> 00:34:41.480
 So Abram is intricately tied

00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:43.539
 to all of God's blessings here.

00:34:43.539 --> 00:34:44.719
 And at first,

00:34:44.820 --> 00:34:45.300
 God says,

00:34:45.460 --> 00:34:46.579
 Abram alone is blessed.

00:34:46.699 --> 00:34:47.039
 Abram,

00:34:47.139 --> 00:34:48.019
 I will bless you.

00:34:48.340 --> 00:34:48.920
 And then second,

00:34:49.019 --> 00:34:49.460
 God says,

00:34:49.539 --> 00:34:50.759
 his name will become

00:34:50.759 --> 00:34:51.559
 a synonym,

00:34:51.739 --> 00:34:52.380
 an embodiment,

00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:53.679
 a byword for blessing

00:34:53.679 --> 00:34:54.659
 for others as well.

00:34:55.119 --> 00:34:55.739
 And then third,

00:34:55.820 --> 00:34:57.500
 he says that those who bless Abram

00:34:57.500 --> 00:34:58.699
 will themselves be blessed.

00:34:59.079 --> 00:35:00.259
 And then fourth and finally,

00:35:00.579 --> 00:35:02.199
 all the families of the earth

00:35:02.199 --> 00:35:03.840
 will be blessed through him.

00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:05.179
 It gets larger and larger,

00:35:05.320 --> 00:35:06.759
 expands God's blessing

00:35:06.759 --> 00:35:09.099
 as Abram obeys.

00:35:09.099 --> 00:35:14.000
 And in order to understand

00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:15.579
 God's promise to Abram well,

00:35:15.619 --> 00:35:16.880
 we have to compare it back

00:35:16.880 --> 00:35:18.699
 to what God did to Babel,

00:35:18.759 --> 00:35:19.500
 the people of Babel.

00:35:19.659 --> 00:35:20.559
 Because if you notice,

00:35:20.659 --> 00:35:21.639
 the very first word

00:35:21.639 --> 00:35:22.759
 that people of Babel say

00:35:22.759 --> 00:35:23.659
 is what?

00:35:24.239 --> 00:35:24.719
 Come.

00:35:26.119 --> 00:35:27.599
 And the very first word

00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:28.960
 that God says to Abram

00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:29.880
 is go.

00:35:32.559 --> 00:35:33.400
 At Babel,

00:35:33.480 --> 00:35:34.219
 it says that men wanted

00:35:34.219 --> 00:35:35.920
 to make a name for themselves.

00:35:36.679 --> 00:35:37.259
 And in here,

00:35:37.260 --> 00:35:39.200
 it is God who promises Abram,

00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:41.480
 I will make your name great.

00:35:43.000 --> 00:35:43.580
 At Babel,

00:35:43.620 --> 00:35:44.680
 the people did not want

00:35:44.680 --> 00:35:45.280
 to be dispersed

00:35:45.280 --> 00:35:46.560
 over the face of the earth.

00:35:46.800 --> 00:35:47.420
 But here,

00:35:47.520 --> 00:35:48.600
 God promised Abram

00:35:48.600 --> 00:35:49.360
 that he will be a blessing

00:35:49.360 --> 00:35:50.620
 to all the families

00:35:50.620 --> 00:35:51.500
 of the earth.

00:35:51.560 --> 00:35:52.640
 It's again a reversal

00:35:52.640 --> 00:35:55.240
 of all the things

00:35:55.240 --> 00:35:56.040
 that the people of Babel

00:35:56.040 --> 00:35:57.300
 were trying to do.

00:35:57.680 --> 00:35:58.380
 Abram is called

00:35:58.380 --> 00:35:59.620
 to do the opposite.

00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:01.500
 He's the model of obedience.

00:36:02.420 --> 00:36:03.360
 And we see this clearly

00:36:03.360 --> 00:36:04.320
 in his response

00:36:04.320 --> 00:36:05.340
 in verses 4 to 9

00:36:05.340 --> 00:36:06.100
 of chapter 12.

00:36:06.099 --> 00:36:07.779
 God's first word

00:36:07.779 --> 00:36:08.639
 to Abram was go.

00:36:09.319 --> 00:36:10.360
 And Abram's first,

00:36:10.519 --> 00:36:11.360
 the first verb

00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:12.199
 attributed to Abram

00:36:12.199 --> 00:36:13.339
 is that he went.

00:36:13.980 --> 00:36:15.000
 He obeys right away.

00:36:15.099 --> 00:36:16.239
 So Abram went

00:36:16.239 --> 00:36:17.599
 as the Lord

00:36:17.599 --> 00:36:18.599
 had told him.

00:36:19.159 --> 00:36:20.259
 And Lot went with him.

00:36:20.460 --> 00:36:21.719
 Abram was 75 years old

00:36:21.719 --> 00:36:22.279
 when he departed

00:36:22.279 --> 00:36:23.119
 from Haran.

00:36:23.619 --> 00:36:24.480
 So it seems like

00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:25.579
 since Lot's father

00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:26.900
 died,

00:36:27.079 --> 00:36:27.839
 his father's name

00:36:27.839 --> 00:36:28.339
 was Haran.

00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:29.799
 Lot's father died

00:36:29.799 --> 00:36:30.380
 prematurely.

00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:30.920
 He died before

00:36:30.920 --> 00:36:31.679
 his father did.

00:36:32.239 --> 00:36:32.839
 It seems that

00:36:32.839 --> 00:36:34.259
 he takes on his nephew

00:36:34.260 --> 00:36:35.080
 to take care of him.

00:36:35.220 --> 00:36:36.280
 That's why Lot

00:36:36.280 --> 00:36:37.560
 comes with Abram.

00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:39.260
 And it says

00:36:39.260 --> 00:36:40.280
 that he takes his family

00:36:40.280 --> 00:36:40.920
 and he journeys

00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:42.460
 to the land of Canaan.

00:36:42.780 --> 00:36:43.860
 And unlike Terah,

00:36:43.960 --> 00:36:44.820
 he gets there.

00:36:45.540 --> 00:36:46.220
 And he goes

00:36:46.220 --> 00:36:46.920
 from Shechem,

00:36:47.240 --> 00:36:48.000
 the northern part,

00:36:48.200 --> 00:36:49.000
 the northern boundary

00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:50.200
 of the promised land.

00:36:50.440 --> 00:36:50.980
 And he goes

00:36:50.980 --> 00:36:51.840
 to Bethel

00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:53.120
 and then to the Negev,

00:36:53.240 --> 00:36:54.300
 which is the southernmost

00:36:54.300 --> 00:36:54.740
 boundary

00:36:54.740 --> 00:36:56.140
 of the land of Canaan.

00:36:56.200 --> 00:36:56.880
 So this shows

00:36:56.880 --> 00:36:58.720
 that Abram

00:36:58.720 --> 00:36:59.480
 is obeying God

00:36:59.480 --> 00:37:00.360
 and actually traversing

00:37:00.360 --> 00:37:01.220
 the entire land

00:37:01.220 --> 00:37:02.260
 of Canaan.

00:37:02.260 --> 00:37:03.400
 And verse,

00:37:03.660 --> 00:37:04.180
 but however,

00:37:04.360 --> 00:37:05.140
 it's the promise

00:37:05.140 --> 00:37:06.540
 to Abram

00:37:06.540 --> 00:37:07.360
 that God made

00:37:07.360 --> 00:37:09.180
 doesn't seem

00:37:09.180 --> 00:37:10.200
 immediately to be fulfilled.

00:37:10.360 --> 00:37:11.200
 We don't know exactly

00:37:11.200 --> 00:37:11.720
 how it's going

00:37:11.720 --> 00:37:12.240
 to be fulfilled

00:37:12.240 --> 00:37:12.860
 because if you look

00:37:12.860 --> 00:37:13.460
 at verse 6,

00:37:13.520 --> 00:37:14.000
 it tells us

00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:14.940
 at that time

00:37:14.940 --> 00:37:15.800
 the Canaanites

00:37:15.800 --> 00:37:16.760
 were in the land.

00:37:19.240 --> 00:37:20.120
 This is the land

00:37:20.120 --> 00:37:20.940
 that God promised

00:37:20.940 --> 00:37:21.620
 Abram to show,

00:37:21.700 --> 00:37:22.640
 that he would show him,

00:37:23.080 --> 00:37:23.960
 but God,

00:37:24.040 --> 00:37:24.860
 it's already occupied.

00:37:29.060 --> 00:37:30.480
 So there doesn't seem

00:37:30.480 --> 00:37:31.220
 to be a prospect

00:37:31.219 --> 00:37:32.179
 for land there

00:37:32.179 --> 00:37:32.879
 for Abram.

00:37:33.079 --> 00:37:34.119
 And not only that,

00:37:34.239 --> 00:37:34.939
 what did God say

00:37:34.939 --> 00:37:35.480
 in verse 7?

00:37:35.539 --> 00:37:35.719
 He said,

00:37:35.819 --> 00:37:36.799
 to your offspring

00:37:36.799 --> 00:37:38.719
 I will give this land.

00:37:39.419 --> 00:37:40.099
 Now that's such

00:37:40.099 --> 00:37:41.379
 an outlandish prediction

00:37:41.379 --> 00:37:42.299
 because not only

00:37:42.299 --> 00:37:42.980
 does he not have

00:37:42.980 --> 00:37:43.579
 the land,

00:37:44.239 --> 00:37:45.359
 he told us earlier

00:37:45.359 --> 00:37:46.299
 in chapter 11,

00:37:46.359 --> 00:37:46.879
 verse 30,

00:37:46.959 --> 00:37:48.059
 that his wife Sarai

00:37:48.059 --> 00:37:49.039
 was barren.

00:37:49.659 --> 00:37:50.559
 She had no child.

00:37:51.939 --> 00:37:53.059
 So what God promises

00:37:53.059 --> 00:37:54.039
 Abram is basically

00:37:54.039 --> 00:37:54.739
 a pipe drink.

00:37:56.059 --> 00:37:56.539
 Offspring?

00:37:57.559 --> 00:37:58.239
 You want to give

00:37:58.239 --> 00:37:58.839
 this land

00:37:58.839 --> 00:37:59.599
 to my descendants?

00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:02.679
 But Abram lives

00:38:02.679 --> 00:38:03.400
 by faith

00:38:03.400 --> 00:38:05.319
 and not by sight.

00:38:06.579 --> 00:38:07.500
 And so at the end

00:38:07.500 --> 00:38:08.019
 of verse 7

00:38:08.019 --> 00:38:08.360
 it says,

00:38:08.839 --> 00:38:10.400
 so he built

00:38:10.400 --> 00:38:11.460
 there an altar

00:38:11.460 --> 00:38:12.219
 to the Lord

00:38:12.219 --> 00:38:13.279
 who had appeared

00:38:13.279 --> 00:38:14.139
 to him.

00:38:14.219 --> 00:38:14.839
 He builds

00:38:14.839 --> 00:38:15.539
 an altar

00:38:15.539 --> 00:38:16.239
 in the land

00:38:16.239 --> 00:38:16.639
 of Canaan

00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:17.420
 and worships

00:38:17.420 --> 00:38:18.039
 the Lord God

00:38:18.039 --> 00:38:18.400
 there.

00:38:18.619 --> 00:38:19.599
 He's spiritually

00:38:19.599 --> 00:38:20.559
 staking out

00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:20.940
 the land

00:38:20.940 --> 00:38:21.539
 for himself.

00:38:22.659 --> 00:38:22.980
 Yes,

00:38:23.159 --> 00:38:23.900
 I don't own this

00:38:23.900 --> 00:38:24.659
 right now physically,

00:38:24.659 --> 00:38:26.679
 but by building

00:38:26.679 --> 00:38:27.279
 the altar there

00:38:27.279 --> 00:38:28.440
 he essentially owns it.

00:38:28.500 --> 00:38:29.319
 He's taking possession

00:38:29.319 --> 00:38:29.659
 of it.

00:38:29.879 --> 00:38:30.799
 This is the land

00:38:30.799 --> 00:38:32.079
 God promised me

00:38:32.079 --> 00:38:33.059
 and I will build

00:38:33.059 --> 00:38:33.779
 an altar

00:38:33.779 --> 00:38:34.500
 here.

00:38:37.319 --> 00:38:38.119
 That's why

00:38:38.119 --> 00:38:39.460
 it says in Hebrews

00:38:39.460 --> 00:38:39.960
 11,

00:38:40.059 --> 00:38:40.619
 8 to 10,

00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:41.920
 by faith

00:38:41.920 --> 00:38:42.619
 Abraham

00:38:42.619 --> 00:38:43.579
 obeyed

00:38:43.579 --> 00:38:44.440
 when he was called

00:38:44.440 --> 00:38:44.980
 to go out

00:38:44.980 --> 00:38:45.460
 to a place

00:38:45.460 --> 00:38:45.899
 that he was

00:38:45.899 --> 00:38:46.759
 to receive

00:38:46.759 --> 00:38:47.460
 as an inheritance

00:38:47.460 --> 00:38:48.779
 and he went out

00:38:48.779 --> 00:38:49.859
 not knowing

00:38:49.859 --> 00:38:50.980
 where he was going.

00:38:51.500 --> 00:38:52.199
 By faith

00:38:52.199 --> 00:38:53.199
 he went to live

00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:53.739
 in the land

00:38:53.739 --> 00:38:54.279
 of promise

00:38:54.279 --> 00:38:55.919
 as in a foreign land

00:38:55.919 --> 00:38:57.000
 living in tents

00:38:57.000 --> 00:38:57.619
 with Isaac

00:38:57.619 --> 00:38:58.239
 and Jacob

00:38:58.239 --> 00:38:59.159
 heirs with him

00:38:59.159 --> 00:39:00.039
 of the same promise

00:39:00.039 --> 00:39:01.099
 for he was looking

00:39:01.099 --> 00:39:02.779
 forward to this city

00:39:02.779 --> 00:39:04.319
 that has foundations

00:39:04.319 --> 00:39:05.339
 whose designer

00:39:05.339 --> 00:39:06.359
 and builder

00:39:06.359 --> 00:39:07.659
 is God.

00:39:08.839 --> 00:39:09.960
 He was looking ahead.

00:39:10.059 --> 00:39:10.779
 He was sojourning

00:39:10.779 --> 00:39:11.539
 toward the city

00:39:11.539 --> 00:39:12.259
 of God

00:39:12.259 --> 00:39:14.179
 not settling

00:39:14.179 --> 00:39:15.259
 in the city

00:39:15.259 --> 00:39:16.419
 of man.

00:39:16.960 --> 00:39:17.419
 And the land

00:39:17.419 --> 00:39:17.859
 of Canaan

00:39:17.859 --> 00:39:18.239
 of course

00:39:18.239 --> 00:39:18.919
 it's a type

00:39:18.919 --> 00:39:20.119
 of the promised land

00:39:20.119 --> 00:39:20.699
 of heaven

00:39:20.699 --> 00:39:22.139
 of perfect communion

00:39:22.139 --> 00:39:22.739
 in relationship

00:39:22.739 --> 00:39:23.659
 with God

00:39:23.659 --> 00:39:24.559
 and so it's

00:39:24.559 --> 00:39:25.039
 pointing to

00:39:25.039 --> 00:39:26.079
 that ultimate reality

00:39:26.079 --> 00:39:26.579
 and Abraham

00:39:26.579 --> 00:39:27.359
 was in faith

00:39:27.359 --> 00:39:27.839
 even looking

00:39:27.839 --> 00:39:29.039
 forward to that

00:39:29.039 --> 00:39:31.219
 and that becomes

00:39:31.219 --> 00:39:31.619
 a paradigm

00:39:31.619 --> 00:39:32.559
 for all the future

00:39:32.559 --> 00:39:33.019
 followers

00:39:33.019 --> 00:39:33.579
 to walk

00:39:33.579 --> 00:39:34.699
 by faith

00:39:34.699 --> 00:39:35.339
 and not

00:39:35.339 --> 00:39:36.199
 by sight.

00:39:37.279 --> 00:39:38.479
 God calls

00:39:38.479 --> 00:39:39.379
 us to be

00:39:39.379 --> 00:39:39.979
 sojourners

00:39:39.979 --> 00:39:40.659
 journeying

00:39:40.659 --> 00:39:41.559
 toward the city

00:39:41.559 --> 00:39:42.019
 of God

00:39:42.019 --> 00:39:43.619
 not settlers

00:39:43.619 --> 00:39:44.319
 in the city

00:39:44.319 --> 00:39:44.779
 of man.

00:39:46.079 --> 00:39:47.299
 Are you living

00:39:47.299 --> 00:39:49.639
 as a settler

00:39:49.639 --> 00:39:51.699
 in the city

00:39:51.699 --> 00:39:52.099
 of man?

00:39:52.739 --> 00:39:53.639
 Or are you

00:39:53.639 --> 00:39:54.439
 still journeying

00:39:54.439 --> 00:39:56.019
 toward the city

00:39:56.019 --> 00:39:56.459
 of God?

00:39:58.559 --> 00:39:59.439
 The Bible

00:39:59.439 --> 00:40:00.519
 repeatedly tells us

00:40:00.519 --> 00:40:01.179
 our citizenship

00:40:01.179 --> 00:40:02.259
 is not here

00:40:02.259 --> 00:40:02.659
 on earth

00:40:02.659 --> 00:40:03.619
 it's in heaven.

00:40:04.959 --> 00:40:06.059
 1 Peter 2

00:40:06.059 --> 00:40:06.599
 11 says

00:40:06.599 --> 00:40:07.039
 Beloved

00:40:07.039 --> 00:40:07.819
 I urge you

00:40:07.819 --> 00:40:09.139
 as sojourners

00:40:09.139 --> 00:40:11.159
 and exiles

00:40:11.159 --> 00:40:12.019
 to abstain

00:40:12.019 --> 00:40:12.679
 from the passions

00:40:12.679 --> 00:40:13.239
 of the flesh

00:40:13.239 --> 00:40:14.059
 which wage war

00:40:14.059 --> 00:40:15.299
 against your soul.

00:40:15.619 --> 00:40:16.159
 It's because

00:40:16.159 --> 00:40:17.319
 we are sojourners

00:40:17.319 --> 00:40:18.559
 we're here on earth

00:40:18.559 --> 00:40:19.099
 as it is now

00:40:19.099 --> 00:40:19.659
 it's only

00:40:19.659 --> 00:40:20.939
 our temporary home

00:40:20.940 --> 00:40:21.800
 so if we begin

00:40:21.800 --> 00:40:22.360
 to feel

00:40:22.360 --> 00:40:23.380
 at home

00:40:23.380 --> 00:40:23.780
 here

00:40:23.780 --> 00:40:26.360
 then we're

00:40:26.360 --> 00:40:26.920
 beginning to

00:40:26.920 --> 00:40:27.720
 become aliens

00:40:27.720 --> 00:40:29.220
 in the promised

00:40:29.220 --> 00:40:29.619
 land.

00:40:34.360 --> 00:40:35.220
 And we have

00:40:35.220 --> 00:40:35.760
 no excuse

00:40:35.760 --> 00:40:37.539
 because Abraham

00:40:37.539 --> 00:40:38.940
 or Abram

00:40:38.940 --> 00:40:39.599
 at this point

00:40:39.599 --> 00:40:40.280
 he's still Abram

00:40:40.280 --> 00:40:41.179
 he lived

00:40:41.179 --> 00:40:42.700
 in the age

00:40:42.700 --> 00:40:43.280
 of promise

00:40:43.280 --> 00:40:43.820
 but not

00:40:43.820 --> 00:40:44.440
 in the age

00:40:44.440 --> 00:40:45.099
 of fulfillment.

00:40:45.099 --> 00:40:47.099
 he was promised

00:40:47.099 --> 00:40:47.739
 all these things

00:40:47.739 --> 00:40:48.239
 but he did not

00:40:48.239 --> 00:40:49.139
 yet see all

00:40:49.139 --> 00:40:49.699
 these promises

00:40:49.699 --> 00:40:50.940
 come to fruition.

00:40:52.259 --> 00:40:53.339
 So why is

00:40:53.339 --> 00:40:53.779
 the story

00:40:53.779 --> 00:40:54.799
 of this Jewish

00:40:54.799 --> 00:40:55.219
 man

00:40:55.219 --> 00:40:56.319
 from the third

00:40:56.319 --> 00:40:57.099
 millennium B.C.

00:40:57.139 --> 00:40:57.500
 important

00:40:57.500 --> 00:40:58.400
 to us?

00:40:59.179 --> 00:41:00.059
 Why do we read

00:41:00.059 --> 00:41:00.699
 about Abram?

00:41:00.839 --> 00:41:01.639
 We live in the

00:41:01.639 --> 00:41:02.559
 third millennium

00:41:02.559 --> 00:41:03.799
 A.D.

00:41:05.940 --> 00:41:06.880
 And most of us

00:41:06.880 --> 00:41:07.639
 are not even Jewish.

00:41:08.239 --> 00:41:09.099
 Why do we care

00:41:09.099 --> 00:41:09.619
 about Abram?

00:41:10.519 --> 00:41:11.039
 Because

00:41:11.039 --> 00:41:11.900
 it is through

00:41:11.900 --> 00:41:12.539
 Abram

00:41:12.539 --> 00:41:14.460
 his line

00:41:14.460 --> 00:41:15.340
 through his descendants

00:41:15.340 --> 00:41:16.480
 that Jesus Christ

00:41:16.480 --> 00:41:17.019
 the Savior

00:41:17.019 --> 00:41:17.900
 of the world

00:41:17.900 --> 00:41:18.480
 comes.

00:41:20.480 --> 00:41:21.059
 And that's

00:41:21.059 --> 00:41:21.699
 the genealogy

00:41:21.699 --> 00:41:22.380
 that Luke 3

00:41:22.380 --> 00:41:23.420
 23-28

00:41:23.420 --> 00:41:25.259
 makes.

00:41:25.340 --> 00:41:25.860
 He connects

00:41:25.860 --> 00:41:26.420
 Abram

00:41:26.420 --> 00:41:27.119
 to Adam

00:41:27.119 --> 00:41:27.779
 and he connects

00:41:27.779 --> 00:41:28.179
 Jesus

00:41:28.179 --> 00:41:29.599
 to Abraham.

00:41:29.940 --> 00:41:30.699
 So the promise

00:41:30.699 --> 00:41:31.400
 to Abram

00:41:31.400 --> 00:41:31.980
 that God made

00:41:31.980 --> 00:41:32.739
 that all the

00:41:32.739 --> 00:41:33.380
 families of the

00:41:33.380 --> 00:41:33.980
 earth will be

00:41:33.980 --> 00:41:34.340
 blessed

00:41:34.340 --> 00:41:35.460
 is fulfilled

00:41:35.460 --> 00:41:36.920
 in Jesus.

00:41:37.500 --> 00:41:38.340
 And that's why

00:41:38.340 --> 00:41:39.119
 even though

00:41:39.119 --> 00:41:39.699
 there's a very

00:41:39.699 --> 00:41:40.340
 persistent

00:41:40.340 --> 00:41:41.019
 misunderstanding

00:41:41.019 --> 00:41:41.579
 of the Old

00:41:41.579 --> 00:41:41.880
 Testament

00:41:41.880 --> 00:41:42.279
 when people

00:41:42.280 --> 00:41:42.640
 look at the

00:41:42.640 --> 00:41:43.019
 Old Testament

00:41:43.019 --> 00:41:43.500
 we think

00:41:43.500 --> 00:41:44.180
 oh man

00:41:44.180 --> 00:41:44.920
 God used

00:41:44.920 --> 00:41:45.320
 to be a

00:41:45.320 --> 00:41:45.820
 little bit

00:41:45.820 --> 00:41:47.300
 insecure,

00:41:47.580 --> 00:41:47.880
 narrow,

00:41:48.120 --> 00:41:48.940
 particularistic,

00:41:49.320 --> 00:41:50.120
 favored the

00:41:50.120 --> 00:41:50.580
 Jews and

00:41:50.580 --> 00:41:51.400
 rejected everybody

00:41:51.400 --> 00:41:51.880
 else.

00:41:52.440 --> 00:41:52.740
 And then

00:41:52.740 --> 00:41:53.340
 finally when

00:41:53.340 --> 00:41:53.820
 New Testament

00:41:53.820 --> 00:41:54.480
 came he was

00:41:54.480 --> 00:41:54.940
 a little bit

00:41:54.940 --> 00:41:55.540
 more enlightened

00:41:55.540 --> 00:41:56.360
 and compassionate

00:41:56.360 --> 00:41:56.860
 and gracious

00:41:56.860 --> 00:41:57.260
 toward the

00:41:57.260 --> 00:41:57.780
 other nations.

00:41:58.060 --> 00:41:58.640
 That's not

00:41:58.640 --> 00:41:59.220
 what's going

00:41:59.220 --> 00:41:59.580
 on.

00:42:01.140 --> 00:42:01.960
 We think

00:42:01.960 --> 00:42:02.560
 that when

00:42:02.560 --> 00:42:03.620
 God chooses

00:42:03.620 --> 00:42:04.180
 Abram

00:42:04.180 --> 00:42:04.880
 and makes

00:42:04.880 --> 00:42:05.480
 these promises

00:42:05.480 --> 00:42:06.040
 to Abram

00:42:06.040 --> 00:42:07.180
 that it was

00:42:07.180 --> 00:42:08.000
 to the exclusion

00:42:08.000 --> 00:42:08.500
 of everybody

00:42:08.500 --> 00:42:08.900
 else.

00:42:09.160 --> 00:42:09.280
 No,

00:42:09.360 --> 00:42:09.740
 but in

00:42:09.740 --> 00:42:10.360
 reality what's

00:42:10.360 --> 00:42:10.760
 going on

00:42:10.760 --> 00:42:11.019
 is that

00:42:11.019 --> 00:42:11.540
 Abram

00:42:11.539 --> 00:42:12.079
 is the

00:42:12.079 --> 00:42:12.800
 means by

00:42:12.800 --> 00:42:13.340
 which all

00:42:13.340 --> 00:42:13.940
 the nations

00:42:13.940 --> 00:42:14.279
 will be

00:42:14.279 --> 00:42:14.679
 blessed.

00:42:15.880 --> 00:42:16.659
 The reason

00:42:16.659 --> 00:42:17.179
 why God

00:42:17.179 --> 00:42:17.960
 cares so

00:42:17.960 --> 00:42:18.779
 zealously for

00:42:18.779 --> 00:42:19.119
 the Jewish

00:42:19.119 --> 00:42:19.559
 people,

00:42:19.920 --> 00:42:20.320
 the reason

00:42:20.320 --> 00:42:20.619
 why he

00:42:20.619 --> 00:42:21.179
 cares and

00:42:21.179 --> 00:42:21.639
 protects

00:42:21.639 --> 00:42:22.380
 Abram

00:42:22.380 --> 00:42:24.639
 so compassionately

00:42:24.639 --> 00:42:25.599
 and tenderly

00:42:25.599 --> 00:42:26.159
 and intimately

00:42:26.159 --> 00:42:27.119
 is because he

00:42:27.119 --> 00:42:27.579
 knows that

00:42:27.579 --> 00:42:28.179
 that is the

00:42:28.179 --> 00:42:28.860
 line through

00:42:28.860 --> 00:42:29.259
 which the

00:42:29.259 --> 00:42:30.500
 salvation of

00:42:30.500 --> 00:42:30.840
 the world

00:42:30.840 --> 00:42:31.460
 will come.

00:42:31.860 --> 00:42:32.259
 It's because

00:42:32.259 --> 00:42:33.139
 on that line

00:42:33.139 --> 00:42:33.840
 hinges the

00:42:33.840 --> 00:42:34.519
 salvation of

00:42:34.519 --> 00:42:34.880
 the world.

00:42:35.360 --> 00:42:35.920
 So for that

00:42:35.920 --> 00:42:36.340
 reason,

00:42:36.579 --> 00:42:37.420
 with Jesus in

00:42:37.420 --> 00:42:37.860
 view at the

00:42:37.860 --> 00:42:38.199
 line,

00:42:38.539 --> 00:42:38.960
 at the end

00:42:38.960 --> 00:42:39.500
 of that line,

00:42:39.759 --> 00:42:40.420
 he protects

00:42:40.420 --> 00:42:41.380
 and preserves

00:42:41.380 --> 00:42:42.380
 the Jewish

00:42:42.380 --> 00:42:42.780
 people.

00:42:46.860 --> 00:42:47.579
 And it's

00:42:47.579 --> 00:42:48.180
 only he that

00:42:48.180 --> 00:42:48.800
 can save us

00:42:48.800 --> 00:42:49.700
 because Abram

00:42:49.700 --> 00:42:50.680
 will fail.

00:42:51.079 --> 00:42:51.720
 You'll see in

00:42:51.720 --> 00:42:52.380
 the ensuing

00:42:52.380 --> 00:42:52.880
 narratives,

00:42:53.260 --> 00:42:53.599
 he's not

00:42:53.599 --> 00:42:54.079
 perfect.

00:42:54.840 --> 00:42:55.720
 And Abram's

00:42:55.720 --> 00:42:56.159
 descendants

00:42:56.159 --> 00:42:57.340
 will fail.

00:42:57.800 --> 00:42:58.079
 In fact,

00:42:58.159 --> 00:42:59.159
 they're so bad.

00:42:59.300 --> 00:42:59.880
 In Exodus,

00:43:00.119 --> 00:43:00.619
 God says,

00:43:00.720 --> 00:43:01.159
 you know what?

00:43:01.599 --> 00:43:01.940
 Moses,

00:43:02.099 --> 00:43:02.680
 step aside.

00:43:03.200 --> 00:43:03.639
 I'm going to

00:43:03.639 --> 00:43:04.260
 wipe them out.

00:43:04.320 --> 00:43:04.599
 I'm going to

00:43:04.599 --> 00:43:05.280
 start over

00:43:05.280 --> 00:43:05.820
 with you.

00:43:07.019 --> 00:43:07.620
 The people,

00:43:07.720 --> 00:43:08.080
 the great

00:43:08.080 --> 00:43:08.760
 nation that

00:43:08.760 --> 00:43:09.380
 he promised,

00:43:10.200 --> 00:43:10.780
 he threatens

00:43:10.780 --> 00:43:11.400
 to wipe out.

00:43:11.540 --> 00:43:11.980
 And thankfully,

00:43:12.120 --> 00:43:13.000
 Moses intercedes.

00:43:14.200 --> 00:43:15.000
 So the Israel

00:43:15.000 --> 00:43:15.560
 is preserved.

00:43:15.920 --> 00:43:16.660
 But no one

00:43:16.660 --> 00:43:17.640
 can fulfill

00:43:17.640 --> 00:43:18.820
 what God

00:43:18.820 --> 00:43:19.860
 wants humanity

00:43:19.860 --> 00:43:20.600
 to fulfill,

00:43:20.780 --> 00:43:21.780
 to live for

00:43:21.780 --> 00:43:22.060
 him and

00:43:22.060 --> 00:43:22.620
 to represent

00:43:22.620 --> 00:43:23.060
 him,

00:43:23.240 --> 00:43:23.800
 to fill the

00:43:23.800 --> 00:43:24.120
 earth and

00:43:24.120 --> 00:43:24.519
 subdue it

00:43:24.519 --> 00:43:24.880
 for his

00:43:24.880 --> 00:43:25.240
 glory.

00:43:25.240 --> 00:43:25.880
 No one

00:43:25.880 --> 00:43:26.540
 can do that

00:43:26.540 --> 00:43:27.320
 except for

00:43:27.320 --> 00:43:28.000
 Jesus because

00:43:28.000 --> 00:43:28.540
 he's a son

00:43:28.540 --> 00:43:29.320
 of God and

00:43:29.320 --> 00:43:29.920
 son of man.

00:43:29.980 --> 00:43:30.440
 He fulfilled

00:43:30.440 --> 00:43:31.060
 it perfectly

00:43:31.060 --> 00:43:31.800
 for us.

00:43:32.440 --> 00:43:32.820
 And because

00:43:32.820 --> 00:43:33.420
 he's a son

00:43:33.420 --> 00:43:33.920
 of God,

00:43:34.019 --> 00:43:34.980
 he can represent

00:43:34.980 --> 00:43:36.380
 God and

00:43:36.380 --> 00:43:37.420
 vindicate us

00:43:37.420 --> 00:43:38.019
 from divine

00:43:38.019 --> 00:43:38.599
 judgment and

00:43:38.599 --> 00:43:38.900
 wrath.

00:43:39.139 --> 00:43:39.659
 But because

00:43:39.659 --> 00:43:40.199
 he's a son

00:43:40.199 --> 00:43:40.740
 of man,

00:43:40.860 --> 00:43:41.539
 he can represent

00:43:41.539 --> 00:43:43.059
 us and

00:43:43.059 --> 00:43:44.199
 die for our

00:43:44.199 --> 00:43:44.980
 sins.

00:43:45.240 --> 00:43:45.719
 And that's

00:43:45.719 --> 00:43:46.500
 what he does

00:43:46.500 --> 00:43:47.260
 on the cross

00:43:47.260 --> 00:43:48.280
 when he dies

00:43:48.280 --> 00:43:49.199
 as an atoning

00:43:49.199 --> 00:43:50.159
 sacrifice for our

00:43:50.159 --> 00:43:50.760
 sins and

00:43:50.760 --> 00:43:52.059
 rises again.

00:43:54.480 --> 00:43:55.280
 And our

00:43:55.280 --> 00:43:56.880
 default state

00:43:56.880 --> 00:43:57.420
 is to be like

00:43:57.420 --> 00:43:57.860
 the people of

00:43:57.860 --> 00:43:58.199
 Babel,

00:43:59.019 --> 00:43:59.500
 to lift,

00:43:59.659 --> 00:44:00.199
 to make a name

00:44:00.199 --> 00:44:00.920
 for ourselves.

00:44:01.139 --> 00:44:01.840
 And it's only

00:44:01.840 --> 00:44:02.559
 when we turn

00:44:02.559 --> 00:44:03.559
 from our own

00:44:03.559 --> 00:44:04.619
 ways to turn

00:44:04.619 --> 00:44:04.920
 toward

00:44:04.920 --> 00:44:05.360
 living for

00:44:05.360 --> 00:44:05.800
 God,

00:44:06.440 --> 00:44:06.960
 for his

00:44:06.960 --> 00:44:07.300
 glory,

00:44:07.619 --> 00:44:07.920
 and to

00:44:07.920 --> 00:44:08.460
 let him

00:44:08.460 --> 00:44:08.800
 make a

00:44:08.800 --> 00:44:09.059
 name for

00:44:09.059 --> 00:44:09.599
 himself.

00:44:12.320 --> 00:44:12.800
 That's

00:44:12.800 --> 00:44:13.760
 when we

00:44:13.760 --> 00:44:14.180
 enter the

00:44:14.180 --> 00:44:14.680
 promised land.

00:44:15.340 --> 00:44:15.940
 That's when

00:44:15.940 --> 00:44:16.260
 we become

00:44:16.260 --> 00:44:16.920
 recipients of

00:44:16.920 --> 00:44:17.480
 this promise

00:44:17.480 --> 00:44:17.800
 that was

00:44:17.800 --> 00:44:18.720
 given to

00:44:18.720 --> 00:44:19.180
 Abram.

00:44:19.380 --> 00:44:19.840
 And when

00:44:19.840 --> 00:44:20.340
 we do,

00:44:20.900 --> 00:44:21.539
 Jesus helps

00:44:21.539 --> 00:44:21.880
 us and he

00:44:21.880 --> 00:44:22.559
 fulfills it

00:44:22.559 --> 00:44:23.480
 in a wonderful

00:44:23.480 --> 00:44:23.800
 way.

00:44:23.900 --> 00:44:24.200
 We see an

00:44:24.200 --> 00:44:24.700
 example of

00:44:24.700 --> 00:44:25.240
 this in

00:44:25.240 --> 00:44:26.000
 Acts,

00:44:26.360 --> 00:44:27.340
 in chapter

00:44:27.340 --> 00:44:27.760
 2,

00:44:28.320 --> 00:44:29.300
 at Pentecost.

00:44:29.760 --> 00:44:30.019
 You guys

00:44:30.019 --> 00:44:30.460
 remember at

00:44:30.460 --> 00:44:31.059
 Babel,

00:44:31.519 --> 00:44:32.000
 people had

00:44:32.000 --> 00:44:32.800
 one language,

00:44:32.800 --> 00:44:33.280
 but it

00:44:33.280 --> 00:44:33.400
 was

00:44:33.400 --> 00:44:34.039
 confused

00:44:34.039 --> 00:44:34.480
 so that

00:44:34.480 --> 00:44:34.680
 they could

00:44:34.680 --> 00:44:35.080
 no longer

00:44:35.080 --> 00:44:35.880
 understand each

00:44:35.880 --> 00:44:36.100
 other.

00:44:36.720 --> 00:44:37.380
 When Jesus

00:44:37.380 --> 00:44:38.000
 ascends and

00:44:38.000 --> 00:44:38.300
 sends the

00:44:38.300 --> 00:44:38.820
 Holy Spirit,

00:44:39.060 --> 00:44:39.900
 at Pentecost,

00:44:40.300 --> 00:44:41.060
 everybody speaks

00:44:41.060 --> 00:44:41.760
 different languages,

00:44:42.080 --> 00:44:42.600
 come from all

00:44:42.600 --> 00:44:43.320
 different cultures,

00:44:43.740 --> 00:44:44.640
 but they're given

00:44:44.640 --> 00:44:45.420
 one language,

00:44:45.740 --> 00:44:46.140
 a tongue,

00:44:46.820 --> 00:44:47.780
 and now everybody

00:44:47.780 --> 00:44:48.620
 understands each

00:44:48.620 --> 00:44:48.840
 other.

00:44:49.720 --> 00:44:50.680
 It's a reversal

00:44:50.680 --> 00:44:52.060
 of the curse that

00:44:52.060 --> 00:44:52.820
 came on humanity

00:44:52.820 --> 00:44:53.860
 that happens in

00:44:53.860 --> 00:44:54.440
 Acts 2.

00:44:55.080 --> 00:44:55.460
 Jesus,

00:44:55.740 --> 00:44:56.380
 his ministry,

00:44:56.519 --> 00:44:57.160
 is the beginning

00:44:57.160 --> 00:44:57.920
 of the reversal

00:44:57.920 --> 00:44:58.780
 of all that

00:44:58.780 --> 00:44:59.340
 is wrong

00:44:59.340 --> 00:45:00.019
 and corrupt

00:45:00.019 --> 00:45:00.559
 about this

00:45:00.559 --> 00:45:01.240
 world and

00:45:01.240 --> 00:45:02.139
 about ourselves,

00:45:02.340 --> 00:45:03.380
 and we get

00:45:03.380 --> 00:45:04.300
 to be a part

00:45:04.300 --> 00:45:05.019
 of that

00:45:05.019 --> 00:45:05.539
 mission.

00:45:08.019 --> 00:45:08.619
 There's

00:45:08.619 --> 00:45:09.599
 nothing mundane

00:45:09.599 --> 00:45:10.920
 or boring

00:45:10.920 --> 00:45:11.659
 about the

00:45:11.659 --> 00:45:12.440
 Christian life.

00:45:14.460 --> 00:45:15.260
 We get

00:45:15.260 --> 00:45:15.880
 to be a part

00:45:15.880 --> 00:45:16.559
 of God's

00:45:16.559 --> 00:45:17.880
 world-reaching,

00:45:18.280 --> 00:45:19.820
 history-spanning,

00:45:20.760 --> 00:45:22.340
 eternity-shaping

00:45:22.340 --> 00:45:23.180
 mission.

00:45:24.039 --> 00:45:24.680
 That's

00:45:24.680 --> 00:45:25.539
 our calling.

00:45:27.920 --> 00:45:31.480
 God calls

00:45:31.480 --> 00:45:31.920
 us to be

00:45:31.920 --> 00:45:32.519
 sojourners

00:45:32.519 --> 00:45:33.000
 journeying

00:45:33.000 --> 00:45:33.360
 toward the

00:45:33.360 --> 00:45:34.019
 city of God,

00:45:34.159 --> 00:45:35.200
 not settlers

00:45:35.200 --> 00:45:36.280
 in the city

00:45:36.280 --> 00:45:36.720
 of man.

00:45:37.220 --> 00:45:37.619
 As your

00:45:37.619 --> 00:45:38.019
 pastor,

00:45:38.240 --> 00:45:38.760
 as I pray

00:45:38.760 --> 00:45:39.220
 for you,

00:45:39.539 --> 00:45:40.039
 my greatest

00:45:40.039 --> 00:45:40.740
 fear is not

00:45:40.740 --> 00:45:41.119
 that you'll

00:45:41.119 --> 00:45:41.519
 fall into

00:45:41.519 --> 00:45:41.980
 some kind

00:45:41.980 --> 00:45:42.700
 of spectacular

00:45:42.700 --> 00:45:43.460
 wickedness

00:45:43.460 --> 00:45:43.780
 or sin.

00:45:43.840 --> 00:45:44.180
 That's not

00:45:44.180 --> 00:45:44.700
 my fear.

00:45:45.220 --> 00:45:45.860
 My fear

00:45:45.860 --> 00:45:46.280
 is that

00:45:46.280 --> 00:45:46.720
 little by

00:45:46.720 --> 00:45:47.079
 little,

00:45:47.380 --> 00:45:48.079
 with small

00:45:48.079 --> 00:45:48.760
 compromises

00:45:48.760 --> 00:45:49.180
 and little

00:45:49.180 --> 00:45:49.579
 sins,

00:45:49.820 --> 00:45:50.260
 you're edged

00:45:50.260 --> 00:45:50.900
 away from

00:45:50.900 --> 00:45:51.260
 God,

00:45:52.740 --> 00:45:53.559
 that you

00:45:53.559 --> 00:45:53.980
 settle.

00:45:57.920 --> 00:45:58.720
 Let me

00:45:58.720 --> 00:45:59.659
 conclude by

00:45:59.659 --> 00:46:00.200
 reading just a

00:46:00.200 --> 00:46:01.019
 couple stanzas

00:46:01.019 --> 00:46:01.440
 from this

00:46:01.440 --> 00:46:02.240
 stirring poem

00:46:02.240 --> 00:46:03.579
 written by a

00:46:03.579 --> 00:46:04.159
 British missionary

00:46:04.159 --> 00:46:04.740
 to China.

00:46:04.840 --> 00:46:05.300
 His name is

00:46:05.300 --> 00:46:05.659
 C.T.

00:46:05.760 --> 00:46:06.019
 Studd,

00:46:06.119 --> 00:46:06.820
 Charles Thomas

00:46:06.820 --> 00:46:07.280
 Studd.

00:46:08.079 --> 00:46:08.639
 It goes

00:46:08.639 --> 00:46:09.000
 this way.

00:46:09.559 --> 00:46:10.639
 Only one

00:46:10.639 --> 00:46:11.079
 life,

00:46:11.579 --> 00:46:11.920
 the still

00:46:11.920 --> 00:46:12.680
 small voice,

00:46:13.200 --> 00:46:13.480
 gently

00:46:13.480 --> 00:46:14.519
 pleads for

00:46:14.519 --> 00:46:14.900
 a better

00:46:14.900 --> 00:46:15.440
 choice,

00:46:16.380 --> 00:46:17.079
 bidding my

00:46:17.079 --> 00:46:18.099
 selfish aims

00:46:18.099 --> 00:46:18.720
 to leave,

00:46:19.659 --> 00:46:20.460
 and to God's

00:46:20.460 --> 00:46:21.280
 holy will

00:46:21.280 --> 00:46:22.019
 to cleave.

00:46:22.940 --> 00:46:23.780
 Only one

00:46:23.780 --> 00:46:24.260
 life,

00:46:24.579 --> 00:46:25.180
 twill soon

00:46:25.180 --> 00:46:25.960
 be past,

00:46:25.960 --> 00:46:27.179
 only what's

00:46:27.179 --> 00:46:27.840
 done for

00:46:27.840 --> 00:46:28.619
 Christ will

00:46:28.619 --> 00:46:29.079
 last.

00:46:30.920 --> 00:46:31.980
 Only one

00:46:31.980 --> 00:46:32.380
 life,

00:46:32.460 --> 00:46:33.039
 twill soon

00:46:33.039 --> 00:46:33.699
 be past,

00:46:34.139 --> 00:46:35.000
 only what's

00:46:35.000 --> 00:46:35.579
 done for

00:46:35.579 --> 00:46:36.320
 Christ will

00:46:36.320 --> 00:46:36.820
 last,

00:46:37.019 --> 00:46:37.800
 and when I

00:46:37.800 --> 00:46:38.400
 am dying,

00:46:38.699 --> 00:46:39.300
 how happy

00:46:39.300 --> 00:46:39.900
 I'll be

00:46:39.900 --> 00:46:40.639
 if the

00:46:40.639 --> 00:46:41.079
 lamp of

00:46:41.079 --> 00:46:41.659
 my life

00:46:41.659 --> 00:46:42.260
 has been

00:46:42.260 --> 00:46:43.199
 burned out

00:46:43.199 --> 00:46:43.740
 for thee.

00:46:46.300 --> 00:46:47.220
 Let's pray

00:46:47.220 --> 00:46:47.579
 together.

00:46:55.960 --> 00:46:58.019
 O Father,

00:46:58.139 --> 00:46:58.500
 let your

00:46:58.500 --> 00:46:59.360
 word pierce

00:46:59.360 --> 00:46:59.800
 our hearts

00:46:59.800 --> 00:47:00.139
 today,

00:47:00.579 --> 00:47:02.059
 and let

00:47:02.059 --> 00:47:02.920
 your spirit,

00:47:03.480 --> 00:47:04.099
 the fire

00:47:04.099 --> 00:47:04.699
 of God,

00:47:05.360 --> 00:47:06.179
 so inflame

00:47:06.179 --> 00:47:06.860
 us and set

00:47:06.860 --> 00:47:07.659
 us on fire

00:47:07.659 --> 00:47:08.740
 so it burns

00:47:08.740 --> 00:47:09.360
 away the

00:47:09.360 --> 00:47:09.960
 dross,

00:47:10.579 --> 00:47:11.220
 the sin,

00:47:11.980 --> 00:47:12.559
 from our

00:47:12.559 --> 00:47:13.079
 lives,

00:47:13.360 --> 00:47:14.920
 so we can

00:47:14.920 --> 00:47:15.519
 persevere

00:47:15.519 --> 00:47:16.699
 to the end,

00:47:17.519 --> 00:47:18.099
 saying that

00:47:18.099 --> 00:47:18.559
 we have

00:47:18.559 --> 00:47:19.099
 burned

00:47:19.099 --> 00:47:20.059
 every

00:47:20.059 --> 00:47:21.039
 millimeter

00:47:21.039 --> 00:47:21.860
 of our

00:47:21.860 --> 00:47:22.220
 wick

00:47:22.220 --> 00:47:23.559
 to glorify

00:47:23.559 --> 00:47:23.980
 you,

00:47:25.579 --> 00:47:26.500
 serving

00:47:26.500 --> 00:47:26.900
 you,

00:47:27.739 --> 00:47:28.179
 loving

00:47:28.179 --> 00:47:28.679
 you with

00:47:28.679 --> 00:47:29.099
 all our

00:47:29.099 --> 00:47:29.340
 heart,

00:47:29.500 --> 00:47:29.739
 soul,

00:47:29.880 --> 00:47:30.079
 mind,

00:47:30.119 --> 00:47:30.500
 and strength.

00:47:30.739 --> 00:47:30.900
 Lord,

00:47:30.980 --> 00:47:31.320
 do that

00:47:31.320 --> 00:47:31.679
 for our

00:47:31.679 --> 00:47:32.059
 church.

00:47:32.759 --> 00:47:33.159
 Fill us,

00:47:33.239 --> 00:47:33.559
 O God.

00:47:34.440 --> 00:47:34.900
 In Jesus'

00:47:35.079 --> 00:47:35.320
 name we

00:47:35.320 --> 00:47:35.539
 pray.

00:47:36.259 --> 00:47:36.500
 Amen.