WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.540 Last week, we began a new series of messages, and we're looking at the story of Abraham. 00:00:12.880 --> 00:00:17.000 And Abraham is known best for... 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:20.519 Anyone? 00:00:21.800 --> 00:00:22.839 His faith. 00:00:23.140 --> 00:00:23.420 Yes. 00:00:24.100 --> 00:00:24.760 His faith. 00:00:24.760 --> 00:00:31.740 And I think because of that, sometimes we can put him up on a bit of a pedestal. 00:00:32.160 --> 00:00:35.740 We think of him as, wow, Abraham, the man of faith. 00:00:36.840 --> 00:00:42.600 And then we kind of see ourselves as down here, kind of a lower level. 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:46.880 You know, should we do that? 00:00:48.340 --> 00:00:53.520 Well, we're going to find out this morning as we continue along with Abraham's story. 00:00:55.199 --> 00:00:58.879 Perhaps we are more like Abraham than not like him. 00:00:59.059 --> 00:01:03.140 So if you have your Bible with you, please open it up to Genesis chapter 12. 00:01:05.560 --> 00:01:08.939 Or on your smartphone or however you have it here this morning. 00:01:09.159 --> 00:01:10.459 Genesis chapter 12. 00:01:10.459 --> 00:01:25.000 We heard last Sunday about how God appeared to Abraham. 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:35.819 How he told him to go, leave his hometown of Ur and travel all the way to the land he would show him, which was the land of Canaan. 00:01:36.579 --> 00:01:39.379 And he packed up all his possessions. 00:01:39.900 --> 00:01:46.420 He obeyed the Lord's call and he went in faith, trusting that the Lord would show him, provide for him. 00:01:46.420 --> 00:01:54.400 He accumulated some possessions, I guess, and servants and things like that along the way. 00:01:54.400 --> 00:02:03.660 And so this morning we find him in Canaan, this land that God has promised to give to him and his descendants. 00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:11.860 And here he is living in a tent with his wife, who we know from last Sunday is barren. 00:02:11.960 --> 00:02:13.140 She's unable to conceive. 00:02:13.139 --> 00:02:17.679 And with his nephew Lot and with all their servants. 00:02:18.219 --> 00:02:20.119 They're living as foreigners here. 00:02:21.299 --> 00:02:25.899 And this is the land that God said, I will give it to your offspring. 00:02:26.799 --> 00:02:27.899 Quite a promise. 00:02:27.900 --> 00:02:36.060 So things seem to be going well for Abraham until all of a sudden things take a turn for the worst. 00:02:37.560 --> 00:02:38.300 Verse 10. 00:02:39.460 --> 00:02:41.180 Now there was a famine in the land. 00:02:42.300 --> 00:02:48.200 And Abraham went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. 00:02:50.340 --> 00:02:53.000 Now this is a little bit hard for us to relate to maybe. 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:58.759 I mean, when we're hungry, when we need more food in the fridge, we go to the co-op. 00:02:59.580 --> 00:03:00.439 Right over there. 00:03:00.740 --> 00:03:02.000 We get some groceries. 00:03:02.180 --> 00:03:03.340 We take them back to the house. 00:03:04.979 --> 00:03:07.259 Not something that we easily relate to. 00:03:08.500 --> 00:03:09.560 Scarcity of food. 00:03:10.599 --> 00:03:15.120 It's headlines when there's no tomatoes at the co-op for a whole week. 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:23.560 I mean, I imagine that at this point, Abraham has probably sold off some of his livestock and his cattle. 00:03:24.280 --> 00:03:28.460 You know, he's doing the best as he can to keep food on the table for his family. 00:03:28.939 --> 00:03:35.140 And then eventually things get to the point where this is, you know, we got to do something here. 00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:42.420 And he packs everything up and journeys down to the fertile regions around the Nile to Egypt. 00:03:42.419 --> 00:03:49.919 And he decides to live there for a while because of how severe the famine was, this food shortage. 00:03:52.659 --> 00:03:59.039 So it's here that we find out a little bit more about Abraham. 00:03:59.839 --> 00:04:00.839 Verse 11. 00:04:01.359 --> 00:04:05.699 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, 00:04:06.060 --> 00:04:08.739 I know what a beautiful woman you are. 00:04:08.740 --> 00:04:14.360 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, this is his wife. 00:04:15.180 --> 00:04:18.420 Then they will kill me, but will let you live. 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:23.879 Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:27.120 And my life will be spared because of you. 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:34.360 So here Abraham is with his family, this whole company of people that's with him. 00:04:34.780 --> 00:04:37.120 And they're headed down to Egypt. 00:04:37.300 --> 00:04:44.360 And as they get close to this, which at the time was a great empire, 00:04:44.840 --> 00:04:48.060 one of the greatest in the ancient world, 00:04:48.060 --> 00:04:51.019 Abraham looks at his wife. 00:04:51.879 --> 00:04:53.160 And then he looks ahead. 00:04:53.339 --> 00:04:54.780 And he looks back at his wife. 00:04:54.839 --> 00:04:55.660 And he looks ahead. 00:04:56.160 --> 00:04:58.839 And fear starts to rise in his heart. 00:04:59.699 --> 00:05:02.340 He realizes, I'm going to Egypt. 00:05:02.519 --> 00:05:06.699 I'm going to the place where the most powerful man in the land, 00:05:07.259 --> 00:05:08.480 in the region, lives. 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:09.519 Pharaoh. 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:09.599 Pharaoh. 00:05:12.019 --> 00:05:16.740 And Abraham's wife, I mean, his logic is very simple here. 00:05:17.060 --> 00:05:18.939 He knows that his wife is beautiful. 00:05:19.139 --> 00:05:21.839 She's a supermodel. 00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:27.120 They've probably had other men express their interest in her at times. 00:05:28.199 --> 00:05:30.859 And, you know, he's kind of thinking, 00:05:31.139 --> 00:05:35.180 as soon as they see her, they're going to desire her. 00:05:35.639 --> 00:05:37.720 They'll find out that she's married to me. 00:05:37.860 --> 00:05:39.920 She's not available. 00:05:40.500 --> 00:05:42.420 And so they're going to kill me. 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:45.560 I mean, this is, these guys are powerful. 00:05:45.699 --> 00:05:48.759 There's nothing I can really do to stop this from happening. 00:05:49.980 --> 00:05:51.600 And so he comes up with a plan. 00:05:53.399 --> 00:05:54.980 Say you are my sister. 00:05:57.840 --> 00:06:02.600 We won't tell him about, you know, us being husband and wife. 00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:05.740 And then when we get there, we'll see what happens. 00:06:05.820 --> 00:06:06.840 Hopefully nothing bad. 00:06:06.980 --> 00:06:13.460 But just in case, if I'll be treated well and not killed. 00:06:14.220 --> 00:06:18.420 And, you know, I'm not sure how Abraham was thinking this was going to end. 00:06:18.920 --> 00:06:22.300 You know, was he planning to kind of steal Sarai away in the middle of the night 00:06:22.300 --> 00:06:26.000 from the palace at some point in case she did get captured? 00:06:26.100 --> 00:06:28.400 I mean, let's, let's just acknowledge for a minute what kind, 00:06:28.399 --> 00:06:34.259 and this is, this is, to me, this is a pretty disgusting thing to do to your, 00:06:34.379 --> 00:06:34.899 to your wife. 00:06:34.979 --> 00:06:37.060 I mean, it's kind of self-serving for Abraham. 00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:42.379 How would you feel, women, if your husband did that to you? 00:06:42.579 --> 00:06:45.079 You know, say that you're my sister, you know. 00:06:46.799 --> 00:06:50.539 Kind of feel like you, you know, she's being thrown under the bus a little bit here. 00:06:50.540 --> 00:06:55.819 You know, and what happened, we don't know, like what, what if they treat her poorly? 00:06:55.980 --> 00:06:57.020 What if they abuse her? 00:06:57.100 --> 00:06:59.920 What if they, you know, what about me, Abraham? 00:07:00.140 --> 00:07:01.560 That's kind of what I'm thinking here. 00:07:04.660 --> 00:07:10.020 Yeah, this is, this is, and we have to remember, this is ancient times. 00:07:10.580 --> 00:07:16.360 I mean, women's rights are not the same back then as they, they are now. 00:07:16.360 --> 00:07:21.660 But in some senses, there, there are similarities. 00:07:21.960 --> 00:07:29.960 I mean, today even we see men who are powerful, wealthy, using their power and wealth to use women 00:07:29.960 --> 00:07:34.020 and, and to go after them and to satisfy the lusts of their hearts. 00:07:35.900 --> 00:07:44.379 Interestingly enough, even way back then, we see almost more respect for the institution of marriage. 00:07:44.379 --> 00:07:46.319 You know, it's kind of a backwards way of thinking. 00:07:46.819 --> 00:07:53.699 Well, if she's married, we'll have to kill Abraham because marriage is a big deal back then. 00:07:54.159 --> 00:08:02.259 You know, whereas today, you know, men will just take sexually from you in our culture, in our world, 00:08:02.379 --> 00:08:04.620 regardless of the commitment that you've made. 00:08:05.740 --> 00:08:10.120 And so there's some big differences, but there's also similarities. 00:08:10.120 --> 00:08:15.379 And Abraham, he does what many of us would do in a situation like this. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:17.120 This seems dangerous. 00:08:17.259 --> 00:08:18.180 This seems tricky. 00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:22.959 I guess we'll just come up with, with a bit of a plan. 00:08:23.860 --> 00:08:26.300 And this is the outcome we hope to achieve. 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:27.800 So, so let's go with that. 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:33.279 Um, I mean, we could be quick to, to, to jump on Abraham and say, what are you doing? 00:08:33.299 --> 00:08:35.100 Like, how could you treat your wife like that? 00:08:35.100 --> 00:08:39.399 It's certainly not the way that Jesus, I imagine, would treat his bride. 00:08:40.279 --> 00:08:43.420 You know, he would lay down his life to protect her. 00:08:43.540 --> 00:08:47.460 He would stand up to Pharaoh and say, don't you dare touch her. 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:48.320 She's my wife. 00:08:48.460 --> 00:08:53.960 You know, that's, and so we definitely, I, I look at Abraham and this decision here as a failure, 00:08:54.340 --> 00:08:58.680 you know, as a, as an act of fear, an act of unbelief, an act of cowardice, 00:08:58.679 --> 00:09:02.719 not protecting his, his wife who God has given him. 00:09:04.099 --> 00:09:09.859 Um, but how often do we do the same kind of thing? 00:09:10.979 --> 00:09:15.579 When we're faced with a difficult situation, we're not quite sure how things are going to work out. 00:09:18.179 --> 00:09:20.799 Well, let's come up with a plan here. 00:09:20.859 --> 00:09:21.899 You know, what are the factors? 00:09:22.079 --> 00:09:23.439 What am I hoping to achieve here? 00:09:23.539 --> 00:09:25.500 What, let's just figure this out. 00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:33.419 The only problem with Abraham's plan is that it's missing the most important part. 00:09:34.679 --> 00:09:36.059 God's not in it at all. 00:09:37.860 --> 00:09:44.159 We just heard last Sunday that God had made these, these promises to Abraham. 00:09:45.460 --> 00:09:46.700 I will bless you. 00:09:46.820 --> 00:09:48.399 I will make your name great. 00:09:48.500 --> 00:09:50.340 I will make you into a great nation. 00:09:52.460 --> 00:09:53.940 And what's Abraham thinking? 00:09:55.500 --> 00:09:59.700 Well, as soon as they see you and find out if I tell the truth that I'm your husband, 00:09:59.799 --> 00:10:00.539 they're going to kill me. 00:10:02.620 --> 00:10:07.860 Well, how is the Lord going to make you into a great nation, Abraham, if you're dead 00:10:07.860 --> 00:10:10.720 and have no offspring? 00:10:10.860 --> 00:10:15.639 How is he going to make your name great if you're only remembered as, as the guy who had 00:10:15.639 --> 00:10:17.820 a really beautiful wife and, and was killed? 00:10:17.820 --> 00:10:24.200 How is he going to bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you? 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:27.960 If the first sign of trouble, somebody comes, you know, threatens, threatens you. 00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:33.800 And like Abraham has lost sight of the promises that God has made to him. 00:10:34.760 --> 00:10:39.140 God specifically promised, I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse 00:10:39.140 --> 00:10:39.260 you. 00:10:39.340 --> 00:10:42.420 I will protect you is the general meaning of that. 00:10:42.419 --> 00:10:46.079 If somebody comes against you, I will be against them. 00:10:47.799 --> 00:10:50.219 And Abraham has lost sight of that completely. 00:10:50.419 --> 00:10:51.919 He's worried that they're going to kill him. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:11:01.599 He acts in, at best, forgetfulness of, of God's promise. 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:09.600 Or perhaps if he remembered God's promise, at worst, simply doubts or, or doesn't believe 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:13.940 that the Lord will take care of him in this situation. 00:11:15.940 --> 00:11:17.519 And so what happens next? 00:11:17.980 --> 00:11:23.759 When Abraham comes to Egypt, when Abraham came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:24.820 very beautiful woman. 00:11:25.500 --> 00:11:29.759 And when Pharaoh's officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh and she was taken into 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:30.420 his palace. 00:11:30.419 --> 00:11:33.919 He treated Abram well for her sake. 00:11:34.479 --> 00:11:39.500 And Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants 00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:40.219 and camels. 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:42.679 So Abram was right. 00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:45.740 He was right that they would desire his wife. 00:11:46.599 --> 00:11:49.000 He was right that they would try to take her. 00:11:52.139 --> 00:11:56.779 And he seems to have got a lot of good stuff given to him. 00:11:57.059 --> 00:12:00.019 But we got to wonder how Abram's feeling at the end of all this. 00:12:00.019 --> 00:12:04.480 I just basically traded my wife for a bunch of animals and some servants. 00:12:05.439 --> 00:12:07.720 And, you know, now what? 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:12.720 I lost my wife, you know, like my beautiful wife. 00:12:14.039 --> 00:12:15.139 What's going to happen now? 00:12:15.179 --> 00:12:16.220 Am I going to see her again? 00:12:16.419 --> 00:12:18.360 And will we ever... 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:19.680 What's going to happen here? 00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:22.860 And an even bigger question. 00:12:23.159 --> 00:12:25.860 What's going to happen to the promise that the Lord has made here? 00:12:26.980 --> 00:12:30.320 Because without this marriage, there is no great nation. 00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:34.480 There is no blessing all the families of the earth through you. 00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:40.759 And so it's at this moment that we're kind of looking for the Lord to intervene. 00:12:42.440 --> 00:12:48.360 But the question that I kept thinking about is, what do we expect the Lord to do here? 00:12:50.519 --> 00:12:52.139 I mean, look at what Abraham has done. 00:12:52.259 --> 00:12:53.720 He's doubted God. 00:12:53.720 --> 00:12:59.740 He's basically made his decision without regard for the promise that God has given him. 00:13:01.580 --> 00:13:05.980 He's been a selfish jerk, really, to his wife and basically said, 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:09.399 Here, I don't want to die, so here you go. 00:13:10.540 --> 00:13:12.500 Nuts to our love, to our marriage. 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:14.259 I'm not sure what he's really thinking. 00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:16.000 He probably wouldn't have admitted all that. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:21.220 So what's God going to do when he intervenes in the story in this next moment? 00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:24.659 What are we expecting from him? 00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:31.200 Well, Abraham, I mean, you kind of got what you deserved. 00:13:32.139 --> 00:13:33.700 Like, look at what you did. 00:13:34.460 --> 00:13:35.700 Look at what you did to your wife. 00:13:35.779 --> 00:13:36.620 You didn't trust me. 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:39.740 I gave you a promise, and you didn't believe me. 00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:40.639 So here you go. 00:13:43.460 --> 00:13:44.820 That's kind of what I expect. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:56.840 But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram's wife, Sarai. 00:13:57.720 --> 00:13:59.340 So Pharaoh summoned Abram. 00:13:59.820 --> 00:14:01.120 What have you done to me? 00:14:01.320 --> 00:14:01.840 He said. 00:14:02.059 --> 00:14:03.940 Why didn't you tell me she was your wife? 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:08.000 Why did you say she is my sister so that I took her to be my wife? 00:14:08.980 --> 00:14:10.399 Now then, here is your wife. 00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:11.580 Take her and go. 00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:15.519 Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men. 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:21.000 And they sent him on his way with his wife and everything he had. 00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:27.139 So the Lord does intervene. 00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:29.879 But maybe not the way that we would have expected. 00:14:30.819 --> 00:14:34.460 He is against Pharaoh and his household. 00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:36.699 He afflicts them with a disease. 00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:48.120 And even though Abram is really the one who has blown it here, the Lord allows Abram to essentially go free. 00:14:48.340 --> 00:14:52.800 And the sense there is that he also could take all the stuff that he had got from Pharaoh. 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:58.439 He plunders the most powerful man in the known region. 00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:07.519 And there is no consequence seemingly for what he did to his wife, for the fact that he lied. 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:10.919 It is not really what we expected. 00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:22.720 At this point, we have to admit, this is a surprising act of mercy on the Lord's part. 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:27.500 But we hope that Abraham learns his lesson, right? 00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:30.920 That next time he'll trust the Lord. 00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:32.500 He'll take him at his word. 00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:35.019 He'll make his plans and decisions with God in view. 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:37.180 Does he? 00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:40.000 Not even close. 00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:44.620 In fact, he does the very same thing again only eight chapters later. 00:15:44.620 --> 00:15:46.879 In chapter 20, I'm going to read it for you. 00:15:47.379 --> 00:15:48.840 It's a different person. 00:15:49.299 --> 00:15:54.500 Now he's moved down into the Negev, the southern regions of the land of Canaan. 00:15:55.220 --> 00:15:58.779 And there's a guy there, a local king named Abimelech. 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:00.299 It says, 00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:04.139 For a while he stayed in Gerar, and there Abram said of his wife Sarah, 00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:05.899 She is my sister. 00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:10.580 Then Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her. 00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:15.520 But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, 00:16:15.960 --> 00:16:19.560 You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken. 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:21.400 She is a married woman. 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:24.520 Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he said, 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:26.700 Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? 00:16:27.400 --> 00:16:29.259 Did he not say to me she is my sister? 00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:31.759 And didn't she also say he's my brother? 00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:35.020 I've done this with a clear conscience and clean hands. 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:38.080 Then God said to him in the dream, 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:41.520 Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, 00:16:41.520 --> 00:16:45.139 and so I have kept you from sinning against me. 00:16:45.940 --> 00:16:47.920 That is why I did not let you touch her. 00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:50.720 Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:53.400 and he will pray for you and you will live. 00:16:54.040 --> 00:16:55.400 But if you do not return her, 00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:58.460 you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die. 00:16:59.660 --> 00:17:02.440 Early the next morning, Abimelech summoned all his officials, 00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:04.079 and when he told them all that had happened, 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:05.279 they were very much afraid. 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:08.519 Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said, 00:17:08.879 --> 00:17:09.920 What have you done to us? 00:17:10.399 --> 00:17:15.259 How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:17.460 You have done things to me that should never be done. 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:19.839 And Abimelech asked Abraham, 00:17:20.139 --> 00:17:21.700 What was your reason for doing this? 00:17:22.579 --> 00:17:23.420 Abraham replied, 00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:24.460 I said to myself, 00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:27.759 There is surely no fear of God in this place, 00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:30.859 and they will kill me because of my wife. 00:17:30.859 --> 00:17:33.919 Besides, she really is my sister, 00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:35.199 the daughter of my father, 00:17:35.459 --> 00:17:36.479 though not of my mother, 00:17:36.599 --> 00:17:37.699 and she became my wife. 00:17:38.419 --> 00:17:40.719 And when God had me wander from my father's household, 00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:41.339 I said to her, 00:17:41.439 --> 00:17:42.939 This is how you can show your love to me. 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:43.779 Everywhere we go, 00:17:44.179 --> 00:17:44.639 say of me, 00:17:44.699 --> 00:17:45.419 He is my brother. 00:17:46.419 --> 00:17:47.759 Then Abimelech brought sheep, 00:17:48.199 --> 00:17:48.740 and cattle, 00:17:49.179 --> 00:17:50.579 and male and female slaves, 00:17:50.659 --> 00:17:51.639 and gave them to Abraham, 00:17:51.819 --> 00:17:52.819 and he returned Sarah, 00:17:52.939 --> 00:17:53.379 his wife, 00:17:53.459 --> 00:17:53.859 to him. 00:17:54.199 --> 00:17:55.099 And Abimelech said, 00:17:55.439 --> 00:17:56.740 My land is before you. 00:17:57.139 --> 00:17:58.159 Live wherever you like. 00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:59.600 To Sarah he said, 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:01.779 I'm giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. 00:18:01.900 --> 00:18:03.740 This is to cover the offense against you 00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:05.040 before all who are with you. 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:06.779 You are completely vindicated. 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:09.180 Then Abraham prayed to God, 00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:10.160 and God healed Abimelech, 00:18:10.840 --> 00:18:11.380 his wife, 00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:12.480 and his female slaves, 00:18:12.560 --> 00:18:14.040 so that they could have children again. 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:16.960 For the Lord had kept all the women in Abimelech's household 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:20.940 from conceiving because of Abraham's wife, Sarah. 00:18:24.340 --> 00:18:27.100 So here we go around the second time. 00:18:27.099 --> 00:18:29.179 Abraham does the exact same thing. 00:18:30.139 --> 00:18:31.559 Powerful man in the land. 00:18:32.859 --> 00:18:34.279 Say you are my sister. 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:38.359 He didn't apparently learn his lesson, 00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:40.619 and his thinking was the exact same as well. 00:18:41.079 --> 00:18:43.259 There's surely no fear of God in this place, 00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:44.099 and they'll kill me. 00:18:44.679 --> 00:18:45.599 They're going to kill me. 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:50.119 He lost sight of the promises of God. 00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:51.119 Again, 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.559 to protect him, 00:18:54.159 --> 00:18:54.959 to bless him, 00:18:55.199 --> 00:18:56.179 to make his name great, 00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:58.840 to make a great nation out of him. 00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:01.340 He acted in unbelief. 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:02.340 He acted in doubt. 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:06.240 And what happens? 00:19:09.820 --> 00:19:11.060 Same thing as before. 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:12.840 Abimelech takes his wife. 00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:17.259 Now he's in a bad situation. 00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:19.359 And again, 00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:21.000 the Lord intervenes. 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:23.700 He visits Abimelech in a dream. 00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:25.059 He tells him he's a dead man. 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:30.079 If he doesn't return Sarah to Abraham, 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:34.579 Abimelech actually pleads his case with God. 00:19:34.579 --> 00:19:38.079 God kind of accepts that plea, 00:19:38.179 --> 00:19:38.599 but says, 00:19:38.839 --> 00:19:40.699 you return his wife. 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:41.879 Go to Abraham. 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:42.720 He'll pray for you. 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:43.419 You'll be healed. 00:19:44.639 --> 00:19:46.119 Abimelech calls Abraham in, 00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:47.980 goes through the interrogation, 00:19:48.059 --> 00:19:48.980 just like with Pharaoh. 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:50.319 Why did you do this to me? 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:52.859 And the reason is the same. 00:19:54.179 --> 00:19:55.339 A second time. 00:19:57.960 --> 00:19:59.220 At the end of this, 00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:01.539 Abraham walks out of there 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:03.079 with kind of a blank check 00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:04.500 on where he can live 00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:05.779 in this area, 00:20:06.159 --> 00:20:07.139 in this kingdom 00:20:07.139 --> 00:20:08.899 that this king is in charge of, 00:20:09.099 --> 00:20:11.059 and with a whole bunch of animals 00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:11.799 and servants, 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:14.659 and with a thousand shekels of silver. 00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:18.040 I don't know about you, 00:20:18.100 --> 00:20:19.340 but that's not really the end 00:20:19.340 --> 00:20:20.960 that I expected to read there. 00:20:22.040 --> 00:20:25.540 Again, we see God's unexpected mercy 00:20:25.540 --> 00:20:28.860 and kindness to Abraham. 00:20:29.080 --> 00:20:30.920 I mean, here Abraham blows it. 00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:35.360 He forgets what God has promised to do for him. 00:20:35.700 --> 00:20:37.580 He throws his wife under the bus. 00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:38.840 He blows it with her. 00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.680 He lies, 00:20:41.320 --> 00:20:43.540 and God blesses him. 00:20:44.660 --> 00:20:46.400 He blesses his socks off. 00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:46.960 He gives them, 00:20:47.800 --> 00:20:48.160 in fact, 00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:49.720 he even establishes Abraham 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:53.840 as a prophet to Abimelech. 00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:55.000 I don't know if you notice that, 00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:56.320 but it's like, 00:20:56.380 --> 00:20:57.720 you want to be healed, Abimelech? 00:20:57.800 --> 00:20:58.700 Well, go to Abraham. 00:20:59.300 --> 00:21:00.120 He is a prophet. 00:21:00.320 --> 00:21:01.180 He will pray for you. 00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:03.400 He humbles this king 00:21:03.400 --> 00:21:05.480 before this foreigner 00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:07.860 who lives in the tent over there. 00:21:10.300 --> 00:21:12.980 What an unexpected response 00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:14.240 from the Lord. 00:21:14.660 --> 00:21:18.700 What an amazing gift of grace, 00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:20.460 and it's here that we start to see 00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:24.240 how the Lord intends to keep 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:26.560 the promises that he's made to Abraham. 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:30.619 we go back to those promises again, 00:21:31.399 --> 00:21:36.099 and we have to take a second look. 00:21:36.099 --> 00:21:41.379 I will make you into a great nation 00:21:41.379 --> 00:21:43.399 if, 00:21:43.899 --> 00:21:45.439 no, 00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:46.519 it doesn't say if. 00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:48.439 I will bless you if. 00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:50.579 I will make your name great if. 00:21:52.579 --> 00:21:52.980 No, 00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:54.199 it doesn't say that. 00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.579 I will bless those who bless you, 00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:56.699 and whoever curses you, 00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:57.779 I will curse if. 00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:59.240 We're expecting there to be 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:00.539 some kind of a condition there, 00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:00.959 aren't we? 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:04.319 Especially if Abraham goes 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:05.340 and does what he does, 00:22:05.400 --> 00:22:06.360 and he doesn't trust 00:22:06.360 --> 00:22:07.200 the Lord's promise, 00:22:07.340 --> 00:22:09.120 and he does this to his wife, 00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:10.120 and he lies, 00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:12.100 and all these things. 00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:13.840 And all of a sudden, 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:14.700 we realize that 00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:16.279 that's not what the Lord said. 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:18.380 His promise was, 00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:20.160 can be summed up with, 00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:21.460 I will bless you, 00:22:21.620 --> 00:22:21.960 Abraham. 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:24.480 I will put my special favor upon you. 00:22:25.180 --> 00:22:25.620 Period. 00:22:25.619 --> 00:22:25.859 Period. 00:22:29.139 --> 00:22:30.719 Doesn't matter if you blow it. 00:22:31.899 --> 00:22:32.339 If you, 00:22:32.399 --> 00:22:33.179 if you sin, 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:35.079 if you don't hold fast 00:22:35.079 --> 00:22:36.039 to that promise, 00:22:36.339 --> 00:22:37.819 I will hold fast to you. 00:22:39.199 --> 00:22:40.579 I will bless you. 00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:44.019 What an amazing, 00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:46.099 unexpected gift of grace 00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:47.479 and mercy. 00:22:52.639 --> 00:22:54.239 What kind of God is this? 00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:57.559 Who makes promises 00:22:57.559 --> 00:23:00.339 like this 00:23:00.339 --> 00:23:01.919 and then keeps them 00:23:01.919 --> 00:23:03.319 even when the people 00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:04.299 that he's made them to 00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:05.479 blow it 00:23:05.479 --> 00:23:07.000 and don't believe them. 00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:11.919 The question is, 00:23:12.399 --> 00:23:13.979 will Abraham learn 00:23:13.979 --> 00:23:15.699 to trust the Lord's promises? 00:23:16.639 --> 00:23:18.239 This is twice that he's done this. 00:23:18.659 --> 00:23:20.339 As more difficulties 00:23:20.339 --> 00:23:21.959 come into his life, 00:23:21.959 --> 00:23:23.199 will he learn 00:23:23.199 --> 00:23:24.539 to take the Lord 00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.219 at his word? 00:23:25.619 --> 00:23:27.419 To look at those difficulties 00:23:27.419 --> 00:23:28.819 and then look up 00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:30.659 and consider 00:23:30.659 --> 00:23:32.619 what God has said to him. 00:23:33.239 --> 00:23:34.519 That he really will 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:36.039 honor his word 00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:37.259 and keep his promises. 00:23:38.679 --> 00:23:40.079 And that's really the question 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:41.159 that hits us as well. 00:23:42.679 --> 00:23:43.039 I mean, 00:23:43.179 --> 00:23:44.339 our stories are different 00:23:44.339 --> 00:23:45.639 than Abraham's, 00:23:45.699 --> 00:23:46.299 but we too 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:47.359 face difficulties. 00:23:48.859 --> 00:23:50.019 We face troubles. 00:23:51.219 --> 00:23:52.500 Things happen in our lives 00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:53.500 that were unexpected. 00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:55.799 Not a famine, 00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:58.039 but other things. 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:01.519 What will we do 00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:02.380 in those situations? 00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:06.079 Will we do like Abraham 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:08.460 and just come up 00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:09.000 with a plan 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:10.039 to make the best of it 00:24:10.039 --> 00:24:11.220 and hope to get this outcome? 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:13.559 Or will we make our plans? 00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:14.839 Will we make our decisions 00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:16.279 in full view 00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:17.319 of what the Lord 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:18.259 has said to us? 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.480 The promises 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:20.319 that he's made. 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:21.259 Will we trust him? 00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:24.899 And if we do, 00:24:25.619 --> 00:24:27.399 we'll make different decisions. 00:24:28.599 --> 00:24:29.619 Abraham failed here. 00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:31.039 He did. 00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:31.939 Twice. 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:34.419 And we failed too. 00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:36.119 But we can learn 00:24:36.119 --> 00:24:37.700 from Abraham's 00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:39.599 lack of faith 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:40.759 in this situation, 00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:41.939 even though he was 00:24:41.939 --> 00:24:42.960 the great hero 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:43.679 of our faith. 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:46.039 perhaps we're more 00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:46.820 like him 00:24:46.820 --> 00:24:48.100 than unlike him. 00:24:50.060 --> 00:24:51.360 But at the end of this, 00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:52.720 this story is, 00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:54.100 it is about faith, 00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:54.820 and we can learn 00:24:54.820 --> 00:24:56.100 from Abraham about that, 00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:57.140 but it's about 00:24:57.140 --> 00:24:58.660 something even bigger 00:24:58.660 --> 00:24:59.740 and better than that. 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:02.080 It's about a God 00:25:02.080 --> 00:25:04.200 who has 00:25:04.200 --> 00:25:06.279 this incredible, 00:25:06.600 --> 00:25:07.320 amazing, 00:25:07.840 --> 00:25:08.680 huge 00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:10.560 grace 00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:11.779 and compassion 00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:13.359 and kindness 00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:14.139 and mercy 00:25:14.139 --> 00:25:16.539 to a sinner 00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:18.200 who didn't deserve it. 00:25:21.879 --> 00:25:22.980 That's the same 00:25:22.980 --> 00:25:23.399 kindness 00:25:23.399 --> 00:25:24.240 and compassion 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:25.539 and mercy 00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:28.480 that would later 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.799 send his own son 00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:30.799 into the world 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:33.759 for sinners like us 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:34.740 who don't deserve it. 00:25:36.859 --> 00:25:38.379 Abraham didn't do anything 00:25:38.380 --> 00:25:39.960 to deserve this special 00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:40.960 favor from God, 00:25:41.320 --> 00:25:42.180 these promises 00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:43.260 that were made to him. 00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:44.920 In the same way, 00:25:45.020 --> 00:25:46.120 we haven't done anything 00:25:46.120 --> 00:25:47.800 worthy of God's favor 00:25:47.800 --> 00:25:49.460 or we could never 00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:50.400 earn our way 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:52.420 into a right standing 00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:53.060 with God. 00:25:55.060 --> 00:25:56.160 God didn't sweep 00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:57.280 Abraham off the table 00:25:57.280 --> 00:25:57.660 and say, 00:25:57.780 --> 00:25:58.520 oh, you blew it. 00:25:58.940 --> 00:25:59.560 I'll start over 00:25:59.560 --> 00:26:00.340 with someone else. 00:26:01.460 --> 00:26:02.720 He intervened. 00:26:02.800 --> 00:26:03.440 He stepped into 00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:04.220 the situation. 00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:05.520 He maintained 00:26:05.520 --> 00:26:06.940 his promise. 00:26:06.940 --> 00:26:08.720 He gave grace 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:11.200 and he did 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:12.299 the same thing again 00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:14.940 thousands of years later 00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:15.820 through his son, 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.240 Jesus. 00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:22.500 Even Abimelech 00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:23.240 has something 00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:23.940 to teach us 00:26:23.940 --> 00:26:24.660 in this story 00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:26.779 about the grace 00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:27.320 of God. 00:26:28.600 --> 00:26:29.120 Abraham 00:26:29.120 --> 00:26:30.299 was the chosen one. 00:26:30.820 --> 00:26:31.480 He's the one 00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:32.600 that was going 00:26:32.600 --> 00:26:33.320 to get God's 00:26:33.320 --> 00:26:34.019 special favor 00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:34.600 and blessing. 00:26:34.599 --> 00:26:37.319 Did you notice 00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:37.919 that little bit 00:26:37.919 --> 00:26:38.699 about the prophet? 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:39.179 You know, 00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:40.179 Abraham's a prophet. 00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:40.919 You go to him. 00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:42.919 That's weird. 00:26:43.639 --> 00:26:43.919 I mean, 00:26:44.419 --> 00:26:45.480 Abimelech's talking 00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:46.039 to the Lord 00:26:46.039 --> 00:26:46.779 in his dream. 00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:48.119 Why doesn't the Lord 00:26:48.119 --> 00:26:48.599 just say, 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:49.579 well, 00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:52.219 give his wife back 00:26:52.219 --> 00:26:53.159 and I'll heal you. 00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:54.199 He says, 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:54.659 no, 00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:56.000 give his wife back 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:57.699 and then go to Abraham 00:26:57.699 --> 00:26:58.779 for he is a prophet 00:26:58.779 --> 00:27:00.299 and he will pray for you. 00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.819 Then you'll be healed. 00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:03.700 Why does he do it 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:04.139 that way? 00:27:05.939 --> 00:27:06.419 Yes, 00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.259 it's partly, 00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:07.679 I think, 00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:09.419 to kind of lift 00:27:09.419 --> 00:27:10.439 Abraham up 00:27:10.439 --> 00:27:12.159 in relation 00:27:12.159 --> 00:27:13.019 to Abimelech. 00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:14.119 But as I got 00:27:14.119 --> 00:27:14.980 thinking about it, 00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:17.119 the normal way 00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:18.159 that God 00:27:18.159 --> 00:27:19.899 speaks to people 00:27:19.899 --> 00:27:20.339 at least 00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:20.899 through this 00:27:20.899 --> 00:27:22.099 time 00:27:22.099 --> 00:27:23.299 is through 00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:24.379 his appointed man, 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:26.019 through his prophet, 00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:28.460 which makes 00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:29.220 what he did 00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:29.960 for Abimelech 00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:31.180 all the more special. 00:27:31.900 --> 00:27:32.539 He went out 00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:33.640 of the ordinary way 00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:34.220 and appeared 00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:35.140 to the guy 00:27:35.140 --> 00:27:36.200 who was not chosen 00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:37.420 in a dream 00:27:37.420 --> 00:27:39.980 and warned him. 00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:41.660 A gift of grace. 00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:44.059 I don't want you 00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:44.819 to be guilty 00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:46.860 for the sin 00:27:46.860 --> 00:27:47.480 of this guy. 00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:48.259 I've made a promise 00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:48.840 to this guy 00:27:48.840 --> 00:27:49.819 to protect him, 00:27:49.940 --> 00:27:52.140 which you're going 00:27:52.140 --> 00:27:53.200 to be in trouble 00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:53.940 because of that, 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:55.000 but I don't want you 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.640 to be guilty 00:27:55.640 --> 00:27:56.240 for something 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:57.319 that you didn't even 00:27:57.319 --> 00:27:58.420 realize you were 00:27:58.420 --> 00:27:59.079 stepping into. 00:27:59.079 --> 00:28:00.480 Even that, 00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:01.679 a surprising, 00:28:01.879 --> 00:28:02.799 unexpected gift 00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:03.379 of grace 00:28:03.379 --> 00:28:04.899 to this king 00:28:04.899 --> 00:28:06.819 that's not even, 00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:07.980 he's not even 00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:08.799 the chosen guy. 00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:14.759 This is the kind 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.099 of God 00:28:15.099 --> 00:28:16.279 that we serve. 00:28:17.559 --> 00:28:18.899 The Lord is gracious 00:28:18.899 --> 00:28:20.619 and compassionate. 00:28:23.419 --> 00:28:25.039 And I want to end 00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:26.240 this morning 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:27.480 with a reminder 00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:28.779 from Paul 00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:30.500 in his letter 00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:31.279 to the Romans, 00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:32.380 Roman church, 00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:36.000 that makes 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:37.980 this clear. 00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:47.120 Just like Abraham, 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:48.539 we have all sinned 00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.640 and fallen short 00:28:49.640 --> 00:28:50.819 of the glory of God. 00:28:50.819 --> 00:28:53.379 but we all 00:28:53.379 --> 00:28:54.599 may be justified 00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:55.500 freely 00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:57.259 by his grace 00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:58.700 through the redemption 00:28:58.700 --> 00:28:59.480 that came 00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:00.819 by Christ Jesus. 00:29:02.740 --> 00:29:04.220 And it doesn't seem fair, 00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:04.679 does it? 00:29:05.899 --> 00:29:07.419 It doesn't seem right. 00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:10.279 But that's the point 00:29:10.279 --> 00:29:10.679 of this. 00:29:11.779 --> 00:29:13.879 God sees the world 00:29:13.879 --> 00:29:15.079 in its brokenness, 00:29:15.179 --> 00:29:15.759 in its sin, 00:29:15.879 --> 00:29:16.599 in its rebellion 00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:17.379 against him. 00:29:17.380 --> 00:29:19.080 he's not waiting 00:29:19.080 --> 00:29:20.140 around for the world 00:29:20.140 --> 00:29:21.360 to get its act together, 00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:23.900 to become good enough. 00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:27.680 He steps in. 00:29:27.880 --> 00:29:28.900 He intervenes. 00:29:29.360 --> 00:29:30.400 He gives a gift 00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:30.920 of grace. 00:29:31.040 --> 00:29:32.120 He sets his favor 00:29:32.120 --> 00:29:33.720 upon his people. 00:29:34.540 --> 00:29:35.100 Period. 00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:39.580 And Christ 00:29:39.580 --> 00:29:40.340 is the ultimate 00:29:40.340 --> 00:29:41.360 example of that. 00:29:42.420 --> 00:29:43.440 A little later 00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:44.040 in Romans, 00:29:44.520 --> 00:29:45.300 Paul says this, 00:29:45.299 --> 00:29:46.819 at just the right time 00:29:46.819 --> 00:29:48.559 when we were still powerless, 00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:50.139 we couldn't do it. 00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:53.099 We couldn't be good enough. 00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:54.399 We couldn't earn our way 00:29:54.399 --> 00:29:55.379 into his favor. 00:29:56.879 --> 00:29:58.240 At just the right time 00:29:58.240 --> 00:29:59.519 when we were still powerless, 00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:01.019 Christ died 00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:02.319 for the ungodly. 00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:04.259 Very rarely 00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.279 will anyone die 00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:07.139 for a righteous person. 00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:09.559 Though for a good man 00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:10.500 someone might 00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:12.019 possibly dare to die, 00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:13.759 but God demonstrates 00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:14.779 his own love 00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:15.379 for us 00:30:15.379 --> 00:30:16.079 in this. 00:30:16.200 --> 00:30:17.740 While we were still 00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:18.900 sinners, 00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:20.879 Christ died 00:30:20.879 --> 00:30:21.539 for us. 00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:25.500 An unexpected gift. 00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:27.339 An undeserved gift. 00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:29.339 The Lord 00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:30.139 is gracious 00:30:30.139 --> 00:30:31.339 and compassionate. 00:30:32.139 --> 00:30:33.299 Slow to anger 00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:34.960 and rich in love. 00:30:35.960 --> 00:30:36.720 Let's pray. 00:30:36.720 --> 00:30:36.819 Amen. 00:30:36.819 --> 00:30:44.599 Father, 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:45.079 as we read 00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:46.379 this old story 00:30:46.379 --> 00:30:46.919 of Abraham, 00:30:47.259 --> 00:30:48.480 we are kind of surprised. 00:30:50.079 --> 00:30:50.639 Oftentimes, 00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:51.659 we think that 00:30:51.659 --> 00:30:54.159 we have to be good 00:30:54.159 --> 00:30:55.559 to receive 00:30:55.559 --> 00:30:56.559 good from you, 00:30:56.939 --> 00:30:58.259 to get your blessing. 00:30:59.339 --> 00:31:00.579 But we thank you 00:31:00.579 --> 00:31:01.099 that it's 00:31:01.099 --> 00:31:02.559 not the way 00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:03.000 it works. 00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:04.500 We thank you 00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:05.039 that you 00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:06.399 have come 00:31:06.399 --> 00:31:07.099 to us 00:31:07.099 --> 00:31:08.460 with a gift. 00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:11.139 We thank you 00:31:11.139 --> 00:31:11.740 for Jesus. 00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:12.559 We thank you 00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:14.079 for his blood 00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:16.460 which has made 00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:17.139 us right 00:31:17.139 --> 00:31:17.799 with you, 00:31:19.079 --> 00:31:20.420 which has put us 00:31:20.420 --> 00:31:20.920 into 00:31:20.920 --> 00:31:22.480 this amazing 00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:23.079 connection 00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:24.180 with Jesus 00:31:24.180 --> 00:31:28.019 so that we 00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:29.000 have become 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:29.779 heirs to 00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:30.779 with Abraham. 00:31:31.779 --> 00:31:32.500 Not just 00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:33.420 of some promises, 00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:34.279 but of all 00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:34.980 your promises. 00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:35.180 Jesus, 00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:38.379 you are amazing, 00:31:38.599 --> 00:31:38.740 Lord. 00:31:39.619 --> 00:31:40.420 And we give you 00:31:40.420 --> 00:31:40.779 glory. 00:31:41.159 --> 00:31:41.579 We give you 00:31:41.579 --> 00:31:42.059 praise. 00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:44.159 In Christ's name, 00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:45.039 Amen.