WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.839
 Yeah, I really love what Jay shared, especially at the end there of, hey, we're all Christian something.

00:00:05.540 --> 00:00:21.839
! As Jay was sharing about how Christian surfers started, it actually reminded me a lot about what Aaron shared about Young Life, or the history of Young Life, where the founder just saw kids across the street outside the church and wanted to go where the kids were.

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 So I think that's an encouragement for us. Not all of us are surfers, but we all have hobbies, we all have communities, and the question for us is, hey, where has God placed us?

00:00:34.600 --> 00:00:44.659
 And can we see the loss? Can we see that the harvest is plentiful and be one of those harvesters, one of the workers, and pray for God to send out more laborers into the field?

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 So yeah, where has God placed you? Let's go and make disciples there.

00:00:53.599 --> 00:01:04.679
 Okay? But yeah, speaking of Aaron, he's not just the director of Young Life. I learned recently that Aaron also is a coach for a personality test.

00:01:05.159 --> 00:01:13.500
 So Jojo got me a personality test for my birthday one year, and recently Aaron and I just sat down and went through that personality test.

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 And I'm generally not a fan of personality test, but I found actually this one was quite helpful, very insightful, so thanks Aaron for that.

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 There's some things that I found surprising and made me think, but there's some things that were really, that I already knew about myself, that were really obvious.

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 And one of those things is that I really like to do things, I like to take action.

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 I like to problem solve and find solutions.

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 I'm an engineer by training, I'm an engineer by heart, and I really like working on a DIY do-it-yourself project.

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 I really like those.

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 Like finding a scrappy, creative way to get something done.

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 I see a problem, I want to solve it.

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 So for example, you know, it's hot recently, we got a few new AC units,

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 and those, the exhaust vents, it wouldn't really fit in the window.

00:02:05.459 --> 00:02:06.879
 That was my DIY project.

00:02:07.019 --> 00:02:12.879
 I just cut out some cardboard, the cardboard box that the AC came in, and that's our exhaust vent.

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 So you'll see there's some cardboard around the corner there.

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 There's something satisfying about just doing it yourself.

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 And I can even appreciate Darren, he has like a 3D printer, and our, the lamp's upstairs on the 14th floor.

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 One time the bulb, like the lamp shape broke, and he just printed it out, and you couldn't even tell.

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 So I really like a good DIY project.

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 I can appreciate just getting it done.

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 And yeah, there's nothing bad about doing the work.

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 We read in Genesis 1-2 that work is a good thing created by God.

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 It is designed by God.

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 But it's a problem when we take the same do-it-yourself mindset, fix-it-myself mindset,

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 and apply it to taking hold of the promises of God.

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 When we listen, when we hear the promises of God,

00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:05.159
 and we have this mindset of, I'm going to do it myself.

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 I'm going to seize it for myself.

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 I'm going to take action and realize it, make the promises of God happen for myself.

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 To stress and scheme and strive by our own strength without fixing our eyes on God.

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 So last week, we read Genesis 15, where God made a covenant with Abram,

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 promised him that he would have his own son, born from his own flesh.

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 And we read that Abram had faith.

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 Abram believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.

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 We also read last week that Abram had questions in his waiting.

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 He had anxieties, doubts, gaps between his faith and how he feels in his circumstances.

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 And we read last week that the good news of our salvation is that it depends not on the strength of our faith,

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 but simply on the strength of the one who we put our faith in.

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 The strength of Christ.

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 His power to save us.

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 His blood.

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 That's what we read last week.

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 And now today, in Genesis 16, we see a bit more clearly these gaps in Abram's faith.

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 Because some time has passed since God's promise, since God made his covenant with Abram.

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 We don't know exactly how long.

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 Maybe several years has passed.

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 But now, Abram and his wife Sarai are getting a bit tired of waiting.

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 They have God's promises, but they're getting tired of waiting.

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 They begin to waver.

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 They look at Sarah's barrenness, that they have no child, and decide that it's time to take matters into their own hands,

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 to do it themselves, to DIY it, and realize God's promise by their own strength.

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 And this is what we'll see today.

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 That God doesn't need our striving to fulfill his promises.

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 He doesn't need us stressing out and scheming for him to keep his word.

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 And there's nothing about taking action and working with God in faith.

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 But when we anxiously try to do it ourselves, to take shortcuts in God's plan, seize God's promises on our own,

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 then we find it always leads to disaster.

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 And so we're going to read Genesis 16 together.

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 Let's please stand as we read the word of the Lord together from Genesis chapter 16.

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 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children.

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 She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar.

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 And Sarai said to Abram,

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 Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children.

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 Go into my servant.

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 It may be that I shall obtain children by her.

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 And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

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 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan,

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 Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram, her husband, as a wife.

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 And he went into Hagar, and she conceived.

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 And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.

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 And Sarai said to Abram,

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 May the wrong done to me be on you.

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 I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived,

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 she looked on me with contempt.

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 May the Lord judge between you and me.

00:06:08.540 --> 00:06:10.560
 But Abram said to Sarai,

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 Behold, your servant is in your power.

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 Do to her as you please.

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 Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.

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 The angel of the Lord found her by spring of water in the wilderness,

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 the spring on the way to Shur.

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 And he said,

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 Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?

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 She said,

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 I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.

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 The angel of the Lord said to her,

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 Return to your mistress and submit to her.

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 The angel of the Lord also said to her,

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 I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.

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 And the angel of the Lord said to her,

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 Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son.

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 You shall call his name Ishmael,

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 because the Lord has listened to your affliction.

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 He shall be a wild donkey of a man,

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 his hand against everyone and everyone's hand against him.

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 And he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.

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 So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her.

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 You are a God of seeing.

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 For she said,

00:07:06.939 --> 00:07:09.659
 Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.

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 Therefore the well was called Bir Lahai Roy.

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 It lies between Kadesh and Barad.

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 And Hagar bore Abram a son.

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 And Abram called the name of his son,

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 whom Hagar bore Ishmael.

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 And Abram was 86 years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 Please take a seat.

00:07:30.260 --> 00:07:31.920
 And so again, in the previous chapter,

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 the Lord promised Abram a child,

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 more descendants than he could count,

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 like counting the stars in the sky.

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 That's what God said.

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 If you can count the stars in the sky,

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 so shall your offspring be.

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 And we were reminded last week of the certainty

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 of the promises of God.

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 But here in verse one,

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 we snap back to reality,

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 or at least we snap back to our circumstances,

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 what we see about our reality.

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 Abram is promised a child,

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 but verse one reminds us here.

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 Now Sarai, Abram's wife,

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 had borne him no children.

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 On one hand, we have that promise,

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 but on the other hand, still no children.

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 Some time has passed since that promise,

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 but they're still waiting.

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 And who here loves to wait?

00:08:16.180 --> 00:08:17.939
 Who here likes waiting in line?

00:08:19.039 --> 00:08:19.980
 Who likes,

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 who hopes for their Taobao order

00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:24.500
 to come two weeks late?

00:08:25.319 --> 00:08:29.000
 Or who wants that dopamine hit six months later?

00:08:30.040 --> 00:08:31.980
 Waiting is not a new problem.

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 Abram had to wait.

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 But I think more and more recently,

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 we crave this instant gratification,

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 what we want to come now.

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 I feel that myself.

00:08:40.819 --> 00:08:41.980
 Every time I order something,

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 I'm always refreshing,

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 waiting for when I can ship the consolidation

00:08:45.819 --> 00:08:46.799
 from the warehouse.

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 And yeah,

00:08:48.860 --> 00:08:51.419
 tech companies are targeting our attention spans,

00:08:51.659 --> 00:08:52.580
 short foreign content,

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 to get us to keep scrolling endlessly.

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 It's getting harder and harder to wait.

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 But waiting is not a new problem.

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 And in the waiting and the delay,

00:09:02.600 --> 00:09:04.720
 that's when we're tempted often

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 to do it ourselves

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 and take control of the situation.

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 This is how Abram and Sarai felt.

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 They've been waiting for years,

00:09:14.460 --> 00:09:15.899
 heartbroken for years.

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 In verse one,

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 and Sarai said to Abram,

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 behold now,

00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:22.259
 the Lord has prevented me

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 from bearing children.

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 That's how Sarai felt in the wait.

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 Notice what Sarai says.

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 She doesn't say,

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 the Lord hasn't yet given me a child.

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 She says,

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 he prevented me from having a child.

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 And Sarai's not only stating

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 this theological truth about God's sovereignty,

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 that God is in control

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 and he hasn't given me a child.

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 She's in a way also filing a complaint

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 against the Lord,

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 against God's providence,

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 saying you promised us a son,

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 but where is he?

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 It's been years

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 and I don't see anything.

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 The Lord has prevented me

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 from having a child.

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 And I find that quite relatable

00:10:03.220 --> 00:10:05.040
 when there's something that I want,

00:10:05.160 --> 00:10:06.340
 that I've prayed for,

00:10:06.560 --> 00:10:09.120
 but God doesn't answer immediately

00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:11.580
 or in the timeline that I want

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 and I need to wait.

00:10:12.540 --> 00:10:13.700
 Or he says no to that.

00:10:14.259 --> 00:10:15.740
 It can lead to confusion

00:10:15.740 --> 00:10:17.360
 or disillusionment.

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 God, what are you doing

00:10:19.060 --> 00:10:19.920
 in this situation?

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 Or even bitterness.

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 God, why are you doing this to me?

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 And that's perhaps

00:10:25.180 --> 00:10:27.320
 what Abram and Sarai felt.

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 They're losing hope

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 in God's providence.

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 And they saw the wait,

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 they saw this delay

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 and they were tempted

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 to take action

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 and do something for themselves.

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 And this is what they're tempted to do.

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 Sarai had a female Egyptian servant

00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:44.000
 whose name was Hagar.

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 And verse two,

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 and Sarai said to Abram,

00:10:46.519 --> 00:10:47.179
 behold now,

00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:48.539
 the Lord has prevented me

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 from bearing children.

00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:51.000
 Go into my servant.

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 It may be that I shall obtain

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 children by her.

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 And Abram listened

00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:56.500
 to the voice of Sarai.

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 So after Abram had lived

00:10:58.519 --> 00:10:59.960
 ten years in the land of Canaan,

00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:01.240
 Sarai, Abram's wife,

00:11:01.320 --> 00:11:02.399
 took Hagar the Egyptian,

00:11:02.860 --> 00:11:03.340
 her servant,

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 and gave her to Abram,

00:11:04.860 --> 00:11:06.039
 her husband, as wife.

00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:07.080
 Okay.

00:11:07.899 --> 00:11:08.559
 Pause here.

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 Did you guys hear what she said?

00:11:10.460 --> 00:11:11.940
 Because I think this plan

00:11:11.940 --> 00:11:13.019
 is just insane to me.

00:11:13.059 --> 00:11:14.159
 It sounds crazy to me.

00:11:14.580 --> 00:11:15.259
 Because this is what

00:11:15.259 --> 00:11:16.100
 Sarai schemes up.

00:11:16.899 --> 00:11:17.679
 She says this.

00:11:17.940 --> 00:11:18.639
 She says,

00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:19.360
 Hi Abram,

00:11:19.960 --> 00:11:20.840
 my husband.

00:11:21.779 --> 00:11:22.259
 You know,

00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:23.259
 I can't have kids.

00:11:23.659 --> 00:11:25.039
 I'm 75 years old.

00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:26.679
 But I have this

00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:28.679
 young domestic helper,

00:11:28.819 --> 00:11:29.059
 Hagar.

00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:31.000
 She's younger,

00:11:31.539 --> 00:11:32.120
 more fertile.

00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:33.819
 So how about this tonight?

00:11:33.939 --> 00:11:34.480
 You take,

00:11:34.740 --> 00:11:35.799
 I'll take the couch,

00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:37.200
 I'll sleep on the couch,

00:11:37.700 --> 00:11:38.799
 you take her to bed,

00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:40.519
 you two do your thing.

00:11:40.899 --> 00:11:41.679
 And not just tonight,

00:11:42.539 --> 00:11:43.620
 but you can actually

00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:44.419
 take her as

00:11:44.419 --> 00:11:45.299
 your second wife.

00:11:46.179 --> 00:11:47.299
 And this is how

00:11:47.299 --> 00:11:48.580
 we'll have a child.

00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:50.659
 This is Sarai's plan

00:11:50.659 --> 00:11:51.740
 to have a child.

00:11:52.819 --> 00:11:54.399
 And to all the ladies

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 in the room,

00:11:55.259 --> 00:11:56.399
 for all the wives,

00:11:57.139 --> 00:11:58.199
 imagine saying that.

00:11:58.259 --> 00:11:59.079
 Imagine saying that

00:11:59.079 --> 00:11:59.600
 to your husband.

00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:01.439
 Imagine

00:12:01.439 --> 00:12:03.480
 the jealousy,

00:12:04.059 --> 00:12:04.959
 the competition

00:12:04.959 --> 00:12:05.719
 that would bring,

00:12:06.139 --> 00:12:06.939
 the heartbreak,

00:12:07.100 --> 00:12:07.719
 the brokenness,

00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:08.439
 the desperation.

00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:11.639
 Imagine saying that.

00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:13.079
 It sounds crazy to us.

00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:13.939
 It feels crazy.

00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:16.139
 We only,

00:12:16.139 --> 00:12:16.579
 we can,

00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:17.179
 we can know,

00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:18.120
 we know that this

00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:18.980
 will lead to trouble.

00:12:18.980 --> 00:12:20.639
 But,

00:12:21.320 --> 00:12:22.180
 to them,

00:12:22.460 --> 00:12:23.320
 in their culture,

00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:24.060
 in their time,

00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:25.879
 this was actually

00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:27.680
 a totally accepted custom.

00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:29.340
 In Abram's time,

00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:29.840
 this was actually

00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:30.800
 standard procedure

00:12:30.800 --> 00:12:31.879
 in a marriage.

00:12:32.820 --> 00:12:33.639
 Children are important

00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:34.220
 to us now.

00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:35.740
 Having children

00:12:35.740 --> 00:12:36.159
 are important.

00:12:36.279 --> 00:12:37.460
 And it can be heartbreaking.

00:12:38.420 --> 00:12:38.940
 Now,

00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:40.659
 waiting for a child,

00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:41.639
 wanting a child,

00:12:41.920 --> 00:12:43.080
 not getting a child.

00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:44.560
 That can be heartbreaking.

00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:46.580
 But in their time,

00:12:46.580 --> 00:12:48.360
 they value children

00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:48.960
 even more.

00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:49.800
 Having children

00:12:49.800 --> 00:12:51.660
 was absolutely essential.

00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:52.740
 More than anything,

00:12:52.900 --> 00:12:54.060
 their culture valued

00:12:54.060 --> 00:12:55.680
 continuing the family line.

00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:56.660
 That was also

00:12:56.660 --> 00:12:57.480
 a way of survival.

00:12:58.240 --> 00:12:58.960
 Having children

00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:00.200
 to carry on your name

00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:01.160
 was a non-negotiable.

00:13:01.920 --> 00:13:03.139
 And it was actually

00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:03.940
 the responsibility

00:13:03.940 --> 00:13:05.700
 for the wife

00:13:05.700 --> 00:13:06.460
 in a marriage

00:13:06.460 --> 00:13:07.580
 to bear children

00:13:07.580 --> 00:13:08.340
 for the husband.

00:13:09.180 --> 00:13:09.900
 And so much so

00:13:09.900 --> 00:13:10.759
 that what Sarai

00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:11.460
 is proposing

00:13:11.460 --> 00:13:12.540
 was actually

00:13:12.540 --> 00:13:13.240
 written

00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:15.200
 in some marriage contracts.

00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:16.300
 We have an example

00:13:16.300 --> 00:13:17.620
 of that in Mesopotamia

00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:18.120
 saying that

00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:20.200
 in one marriage contract

00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:21.500
 that if the wife

00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:23.000
 is able to bear children,

00:13:23.700 --> 00:13:24.360
 then the husband

00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:25.160
 is not allowed

00:13:25.160 --> 00:13:26.080
 to take another wife

00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:27.259
 if the wife

00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:27.920
 can bear children.

00:13:28.460 --> 00:13:28.780
 But

00:13:28.780 --> 00:13:30.480
 if the wife

00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:32.300
 fails to bear children,

00:13:32.400 --> 00:13:33.560
 she cannot bear children,

00:13:34.040 --> 00:13:35.440
 then in the marriage contract

00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:35.900
 it says

00:13:35.900 --> 00:13:36.540
 the husband

00:13:36.540 --> 00:13:37.700
 is allowed

00:13:37.700 --> 00:13:39.400
 to take another slave girl

00:13:39.400 --> 00:13:40.160
 like Hagar

00:13:40.160 --> 00:13:41.420
 as a concubine

00:13:41.420 --> 00:13:42.400
 as a second wife

00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:44.559
 and then that slave's children

00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:45.980
 will be considered

00:13:45.980 --> 00:13:47.120
 the first wife's children.

00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:48.139
 That was the custom

00:13:48.139 --> 00:13:48.579
 of the time.

00:13:48.659 --> 00:13:49.620
 That was the agreement

00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:51.419
 written in the marriage contract

00:13:51.419 --> 00:13:52.319
 in their culture.

00:13:53.179 --> 00:13:53.559
 So actually

00:13:53.559 --> 00:13:54.399
 Sarah's proposal

00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:55.439
 is crazy to us

00:13:55.439 --> 00:13:56.139
 but would be

00:13:56.139 --> 00:13:57.240
 commonplace

00:13:57.240 --> 00:13:57.879
 in their culture

00:13:57.879 --> 00:13:58.519
 for Abram

00:13:58.519 --> 00:13:59.539
 to take Hagar

00:13:59.539 --> 00:14:01.000
 to have children

00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:02.799
 and bear children

00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:03.620
 for both Abram

00:14:03.620 --> 00:14:04.159
 and Sarai.

00:14:05.459 --> 00:14:05.919
 And so

00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:07.220
 their do-it-yourself scheme

00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:07.819
 would have surprised

00:14:07.819 --> 00:14:08.679
 no one in their culture.

00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:11.000
 And that makes me think

00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:11.519
 for us

00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:13.279
 what do we find

00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:13.959
 acceptable

00:14:13.959 --> 00:14:15.120
 in our culture

00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:17.219
 that is actually

00:14:17.219 --> 00:14:18.219
 revolting,

00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:18.739
 disturbing

00:14:18.739 --> 00:14:19.599
 in the eyes of God?

00:14:20.439 --> 00:14:21.620
 What are some things

00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:23.179
 that are commonplace

00:14:23.179 --> 00:14:23.519
 to us

00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:24.219
 that we don't even

00:14:24.219 --> 00:14:25.179
 bat an eye at

00:14:25.179 --> 00:14:26.819
 but God knows

00:14:26.819 --> 00:14:28.459
 will surely kill us

00:14:28.459 --> 00:14:29.039
 that will lead

00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:29.839
 to destruction?

00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:31.519
 The problem

00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:32.359
 isn't as much

00:14:32.359 --> 00:14:33.039
 that Abram

00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:33.639
 and Sarai

00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:34.759
 took action here

00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:35.740
 but also

00:14:35.740 --> 00:14:37.019
 that they took action

00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:38.000
 contrary,

00:14:38.319 --> 00:14:39.259
 opposed to what

00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:40.100
 God has revealed.

00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:41.460
 They were following

00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:42.720
 the course of this world,

00:14:42.819 --> 00:14:43.299
 Ephesians 2,

00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:44.139
 following the prince

00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:45.079
 of the power of the air.

00:14:45.620 --> 00:14:46.279
 They're following,

00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:47.120
 carrying out

00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:48.539
 the passions of the flesh,

00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:49.559
 carrying out

00:14:49.559 --> 00:14:51.079
 the desires of the body

00:14:51.079 --> 00:14:51.559
 and the mind

00:14:51.559 --> 00:14:52.960
 by nature,

00:14:53.059 --> 00:14:53.799
 children of wrath

00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:54.779
 like the rest of mankind.

00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:55.539
 They were following

00:14:55.539 --> 00:14:56.059
 the culture,

00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:57.340
 following what the rest

00:14:57.340 --> 00:14:58.360
 of the world was doing.

00:14:59.679 --> 00:15:00.299
 Have we?

00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:01.899
 Because we're swimming

00:15:01.899 --> 00:15:02.559
 in our culture.

00:15:02.860 --> 00:15:03.559
 Are we following

00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:04.559
 the course of this world?

00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:06.939
 Are we looking

00:15:06.939 --> 00:15:09.119
 to our culture's way,

00:15:09.219 --> 00:15:09.959
 this world's way,

00:15:10.379 --> 00:15:11.439
 rather than God's way?

00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:12.000
 Our way,

00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:13.079
 not God's way.

00:15:14.019 --> 00:15:14.559
 Are we tempted,

00:15:14.739 --> 00:15:14.939
 maybe,

00:15:15.059 --> 00:15:15.699
 to compromise

00:15:15.699 --> 00:15:16.359
 our integrity

00:15:16.359 --> 00:15:17.479
 because everyone

00:15:17.479 --> 00:15:18.059
 around us

00:15:18.059 --> 00:15:18.979
 says half-truths?

00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:20.399
 Everyone cheats

00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:21.000
 on their exams.

00:15:21.859 --> 00:15:22.979
 Everyone exaggerates

00:15:22.979 --> 00:15:23.799
 on their CVs.

00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:24.719
 We're not lying.

00:15:24.959 --> 00:15:25.979
 I'm just embellishing

00:15:25.979 --> 00:15:26.379
 the truth.

00:15:26.479 --> 00:15:26.919
 That's what people

00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:27.500
 do in sales.

00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:28.959
 Everyone does it.

00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:29.799
 It's commonplace.

00:15:30.619 --> 00:15:31.219
 Or like Abram,

00:15:31.299 --> 00:15:33.000
 are we tempted

00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:33.759
 to compromise

00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:35.559
 on God's design

00:15:35.559 --> 00:15:36.100
 for marriage

00:15:36.100 --> 00:15:36.840
 and sexuality?

00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:39.820
 I've waited for so long.

00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:41.000
 I've tried following Jesus,

00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:42.120
 but the clock is ticking.

00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:43.879
 I'm going to date my way.

00:15:44.120 --> 00:15:44.700
 I'm going to build

00:15:44.700 --> 00:15:45.860
 my family my way.

00:15:46.340 --> 00:15:47.580
 Everyone sees sex this way.

00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:48.940
 Everyone sees marriage

00:15:48.940 --> 00:15:49.379
 this way.

00:15:50.419 --> 00:15:51.860
 So what right do we have

00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:52.539
 to say otherwise?

00:15:54.039 --> 00:15:54.960
 In Abram's culture,

00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:56.879
 this was totally accepted,

00:15:57.460 --> 00:15:58.419
 expected even

00:15:58.419 --> 00:15:59.379
 for him to take Hagar.

00:16:00.299 --> 00:16:01.419
 But Jesus says,

00:16:01.419 --> 00:16:02.259
 have you not read

00:16:02.259 --> 00:16:03.159
 that he who created

00:16:03.159 --> 00:16:04.539
 them made them male

00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:05.539
 and female and said,

00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:06.439
 therefore a man

00:16:06.439 --> 00:16:07.319
 shall leave his father

00:16:07.319 --> 00:16:08.639
 and mother and hold fast

00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:09.259
 to his wife,

00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:10.839
 and the two shall become

00:16:10.839 --> 00:16:11.399
 one flesh.

00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:13.599
 So we know what Abram

00:16:13.599 --> 00:16:14.779
 and Sarai did

00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:15.939
 is against God's design.

00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:18.059
 And we see this

00:16:18.059 --> 00:16:19.620
 in even how this chapter

00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:19.899
 is written.

00:16:19.959 --> 00:16:21.000
 Because in these verses

00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:21.899
 we see echoes

00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:23.059
 of Genesis 3.

00:16:23.459 --> 00:16:24.379
 It's echoing

00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:25.519
 the fall of man again.

00:16:25.599 --> 00:16:26.740
 They're falling again here.

00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:28.519
 Remember,

00:16:28.699 --> 00:16:30.199
 Eve in Genesis 3

00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:31.040
 saw that the fruit

00:16:31.040 --> 00:16:32.400
 was good to eat.

00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:33.860
 Sarai saw that

00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:34.379
 she was barren.

00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:36.020
 Eve took the fruit

00:16:36.020 --> 00:16:37.640
 and gave it to Abram,

00:16:37.700 --> 00:16:38.120
 her husband.

00:16:38.259 --> 00:16:38.940
 Here in verse 3,

00:16:39.060 --> 00:16:40.400
 Sarai took Hagar

00:16:40.400 --> 00:16:42.180
 and gave her to Abram.

00:16:42.900 --> 00:16:43.860
 Genesis 3.17,

00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:44.980
 God accused Adam,

00:16:45.560 --> 00:16:46.160
 you have listened

00:16:46.160 --> 00:16:47.759
 to the voice of your wife

00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:48.900
 and have eaten of the tree.

00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:50.480
 And here in verse 2,

00:16:50.920 --> 00:16:51.980
 Abram listened

00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:53.200
 to the voice of Sarai.

00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:54.120
 There's echoes

00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:55.140
 of Genesis 3.

00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:56.700
 That they are

00:16:56.700 --> 00:16:58.220
 transgressing,

00:16:58.400 --> 00:17:00.259
 disobeying God's word.

00:17:01.540 --> 00:17:02.480
 Abram and Sarai,

00:17:02.620 --> 00:17:03.759
 they had the promises

00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:04.319
 of God,

00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:06.380
 but they looked

00:17:06.380 --> 00:17:07.039
 at the weight,

00:17:07.120 --> 00:17:08.240
 they saw the delay,

00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:09.840
 and they took the bait.

00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:11.900
 They did it their own way.

00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:14.279
 And here's the problem

00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:15.299
 with doing it our own way.

00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:17.299
 Taking shortcuts

00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:18.759
 through God's plans

00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:21.259
 always leads to disaster,

00:17:21.420 --> 00:17:22.319
 always leaves

00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:22.980
 a bigger mess.

00:17:23.700 --> 00:17:24.819
 It doesn't end well

00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:25.680
 when we ignore

00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:26.559
 the designers,

00:17:27.059 --> 00:17:28.299
 the creators' instructions,

00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:29.759
 and use our own wisdom

00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.960
 doing it our way.

00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:32.720
 I learned this

00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:33.240
 the hard way

00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:34.220
 one time in university.

00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:36.059
 My roommates and I,

00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:37.019
 we had a dishwasher.

00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:38.579
 We don't have dishwashers

00:17:38.579 --> 00:17:39.099
 in Hong Kong,

00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:39.839
 but you guys know

00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:40.559
 what dishwashers are?

00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:42.700
 We loaded up

00:17:42.700 --> 00:17:43.299
 the dishwasher,

00:17:43.920 --> 00:17:45.920
 but then we realized

00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:46.519
 that we didn't have

00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:47.660
 any dishwasher soap.

00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:49.120
 We realized

00:17:49.120 --> 00:17:49.480
 we didn't have

00:17:49.480 --> 00:17:50.200
 any dishwasher soap.

00:17:50.839 --> 00:17:51.559
 So we could go

00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:51.940
 to the store,

00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:52.640
 walk to the store,

00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:53.380
 and buy some,

00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:53.860
 but it was like

00:17:53.860 --> 00:17:54.700
 a 10-minute walk away,

00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:55.340
 20-minute walk,

00:17:55.360 --> 00:17:55.680
 I don't know.

00:17:56.340 --> 00:17:56.860
 Then I thought,

00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:59.259
 we have regular dish soap,

00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:00.880
 the one you use

00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:02.100
 with the sponge.

00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:03.420
 So why don't I just

00:18:03.420 --> 00:18:04.380
 take this pump bottle

00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:05.520
 from beside the sink,

00:18:05.980 --> 00:18:06.620
 squeeze it into

00:18:06.620 --> 00:18:07.240
 the dishwasher?

00:18:07.360 --> 00:18:07.880
 What's the big deal?

00:18:08.020 --> 00:18:08.860
 Soap is soap.

00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:10.480
 Soap is soap, right?

00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:11.300
 It's just soap.

00:18:12.800 --> 00:18:13.840
 And the big deal is,

00:18:14.100 --> 00:18:15.120
 we turned it on for a bit,

00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:17.500
 and you would not believe

00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:19.380
 how many bubbles came out.

00:18:19.700 --> 00:18:21.800
 It was some turbocharged

00:18:21.800 --> 00:18:22.280
 bubble scene.

00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:22.940
 If you guys have

00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:23.759
 a dishwasher at home,

00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:25.879
 try it once for fun,

00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:28.859
 but it's so many bubbles.

00:18:29.099 --> 00:18:30.339
 I can't explain

00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:31.039
 how many bubbles there are.

00:18:31.099 --> 00:18:32.220
 There's bubbles everywhere,

00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:33.059
 foam everywhere.

00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:34.160
 It's all a mess.

00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:35.720
 And it turns out

00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:36.660
 that dishwashers

00:18:36.660 --> 00:18:37.660
 are designed,

00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:38.960
 they are created

00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:40.759
 to use dishwasher soap

00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:41.299
 for a reason.

00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.920
 When we neglect the design,

00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:44.399
 when we think we know better,

00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:46.899
 we substitute our own way.

00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:49.140
 the result is bubbles,

00:18:49.280 --> 00:18:50.120
 lots of bubbles.

00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:53.120
 And so it is with Abram here.

00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:55.580
 And because the disaster

00:18:55.580 --> 00:18:56.680
 also doesn't even begin

00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:57.280
 in this chapter.

00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:58.400
 Remember,

00:18:58.660 --> 00:19:00.980
 in Genesis chapter 12,

00:19:02.259 --> 00:19:02.700
 or here,

00:19:02.860 --> 00:19:03.380
 the passage emphasizes

00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:05.440
 Hagar was an Egyptian, right?

00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:06.180
 In verse 1,

00:19:06.180 --> 00:19:07.000
 we see,

00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:08.980
 it says that Sarai had

00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:10.500
 a female Egyptian servant

00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:12.140
 whose name was Hagar.

00:19:12.380 --> 00:19:13.059
 And in verse 3,

00:19:13.360 --> 00:19:13.759
 Sarai,

00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:14.500
 Abram's wife,

00:19:14.600 --> 00:19:15.279
 took Hagar,

00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:16.160
 the Egyptian,

00:19:16.360 --> 00:19:17.660
 her servant,

00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:18.660
 and gave her to Abram,

00:19:18.700 --> 00:19:19.039
 her husband,

00:19:19.100 --> 00:19:19.539
 as a wife.

00:19:19.900 --> 00:19:20.320
 And remember,

00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:21.460
 when did we hear about Egypt?

00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:22.880
 It was all the way back

00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:23.940
 in chapter 12,

00:19:24.120 --> 00:19:25.340
 when Abram and Sarai,

00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:27.079
 they decided to do it themselves

00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:29.319
 and take a detour to Egypt,

00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:30.779
 out of the promised land

00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:31.539
 to Egypt.

00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:32.600
 And remember,

00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:34.579
 they planned and schemed

00:19:34.579 --> 00:19:37.039
 that Abram would sell out

00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:37.860
 his wife, Sarai,

00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:38.319
 to Pharaoh.

00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.740
 Sarai would just tell Pharaoh,

00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:41.100
 I'm just his sister,

00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:44.140
 so that Pharaoh wouldn't kill Abram.

00:19:45.620 --> 00:19:46.420
 But God,

00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:47.259
 and that didn't work out,

00:19:47.340 --> 00:19:47.640
 of course,

00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:49.059
 but God redeemed the situation,

00:19:49.700 --> 00:19:51.340
 and Abram and Sarai,

00:19:51.339 --> 00:19:52.179
 they left Egypt

00:19:52.179 --> 00:19:53.220
 with many possessions.

00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:55.339
 Where do you think

00:19:55.339 --> 00:19:56.819
 they got an Egyptian servant?

00:19:57.439 --> 00:19:58.099
 Where do you think they,

00:19:58.799 --> 00:19:59.779
 when do you think Hagar

00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:01.439
 came along for the ride here?

00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:03.699
 Probably back in Genesis 12.

00:20:04.679 --> 00:20:05.599
 When their plans

00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:06.379
 to do it themselves,

00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:07.279
 do it their way,

00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:09.439
 one spiritual shortcut

00:20:09.439 --> 00:20:11.039
 leads to the next.

00:20:11.159 --> 00:20:12.139
 One thing led to another.

00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:14.039
 And so in verse 4 here,

00:20:14.139 --> 00:20:15.179
 Abram went into Hagar

00:20:15.179 --> 00:20:16.339
 and she conceived.

00:20:16.679 --> 00:20:17.359
 And when she saw

00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:18.179
 that she had conceived,

00:20:18.339 --> 00:20:19.419
 she looked with contempt

00:20:19.419 --> 00:20:20.359
 on her mistress.

00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:22.459
 To no one's surprise,

00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:23.659
 when you tell your husband

00:20:23.659 --> 00:20:25.319
 to marry another woman,

00:20:25.419 --> 00:20:26.759
 it will lead to jealousy

00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:27.859
 and comparison,

00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:29.399
 contempt and bitterness.

00:20:30.099 --> 00:20:30.799
 And that's because,

00:20:30.939 --> 00:20:31.139
 again,

00:20:31.479 --> 00:20:33.179
 God has a design for marriage,

00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:34.639
 a good purpose for marriage.

00:20:34.719 --> 00:20:35.240
 One man,

00:20:35.379 --> 00:20:36.559
 one woman for life.

00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:38.039
 And it never ends well

00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:38.579
 in the Bible

00:20:38.579 --> 00:20:39.779
 when people take

00:20:39.779 --> 00:20:41.219
 multiple wives.

00:20:41.459 --> 00:20:42.859
 This always leads

00:20:42.859 --> 00:20:43.559
 to conflict.

00:20:44.479 --> 00:20:45.359
 But Abram did it.

00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:47.079
 And Hagar looked

00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:47.659
 with contempt

00:20:47.659 --> 00:20:48.319
 on Sarai.

00:20:49.459 --> 00:20:50.179
 She looked down

00:20:50.179 --> 00:20:50.839
 upon Sarai.

00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:52.659
 Hagar antagonized Sarai.

00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:55.259
 It was Sarai's duty

00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:56.240
 and responsibility.

00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:58.159
 This was their culture.

00:20:58.879 --> 00:21:00.199
 Sarai had responsibility

00:21:00.199 --> 00:21:02.519
 to bear children

00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:03.259
 for Abram.

00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:05.099
 But she failed.

00:21:05.819 --> 00:21:07.139
 And now this pretty young thing

00:21:07.139 --> 00:21:08.859
 who was Sarai's servant.

00:21:10.059 --> 00:21:11.099
 Sheik is able

00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:12.519
 to give to Abram

00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:14.240
 what Sarai never could.

00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:16.120
 Imagine the jealousy

00:21:16.120 --> 00:21:17.180
 Sarai must have felt.

00:21:17.700 --> 00:21:18.519
 How it strikes

00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:19.980
 to her identity,

00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:21.200
 her self-worth

00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:21.720
 as a woman.

00:21:22.380 --> 00:21:23.279
 And especially so

00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:24.120
 if Hagar

00:21:24.120 --> 00:21:26.279
 is egging her on,

00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:27.279
 is rubbing it

00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:27.799
 in her face.

00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:29.799
 And so,

00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:31.180
 the result is that

00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:32.200
 Sarai lashes out

00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:33.079
 first at Abram

00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:33.799
 in verse 5.

00:21:34.359 --> 00:21:34.980
 May the wrong done

00:21:34.980 --> 00:21:36.640
 to me be on you.

00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:37.500
 I gave my servant

00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.039
 to your embrace,

00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:38.920
 but when she saw

00:21:38.920 --> 00:21:39.700
 that she had conceived,

00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:40.839
 she looked on me

00:21:40.839 --> 00:21:41.319
 with contempt.

00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:42.099
 May the Lord judge

00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:42.799
 between you and me.

00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:44.160
 Look at Sarai.

00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:44.540
 Sarai's shifting

00:21:44.540 --> 00:21:45.120
 the blame here.

00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.440
 Like in Genesis 3.

00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:47.960
 Eve shifts the blame.

00:21:48.040 --> 00:21:48.940
 The servant deceived me.

00:21:49.040 --> 00:21:49.420
 I ate.

00:21:50.120 --> 00:21:50.800
 Adam blames God.

00:21:50.860 --> 00:21:52.120
 The woman you gave to me.

00:21:53.080 --> 00:21:54.019
 She gave me the fruit

00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:54.600
 and I ate.

00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:56.140
 And here Sarai says,

00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:57.500
 I gave you Hagar.

00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:58.759
 This was my idea,

00:21:59.019 --> 00:22:00.000
 but this is your fault,

00:22:00.100 --> 00:22:00.380
 Abram.

00:22:01.540 --> 00:22:02.540
 Sarai's shifting the blame.

00:22:03.860 --> 00:22:04.920
 And Abram responds

00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:05.440
 in verse 6.

00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:05.840
 Behold,

00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:06.340
 your servant

00:22:06.340 --> 00:22:07.040
 is in your power.

00:22:07.040 --> 00:22:08.000
 Do to her

00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:08.740
 as you please.

00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:09.940
 Once again here,

00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:10.840
 Abram is passive.

00:22:11.300 --> 00:22:11.779
 He fails

00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.640
 in his responsibility

00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:13.980
 to lead Sarai

00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.920
 just like Adam

00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:16.320
 failed with Eve.

00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:17.700
 Remember here,

00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:19.660
 Hagar is his wife.

00:22:19.780 --> 00:22:20.360
 It says that

00:22:20.360 --> 00:22:22.900
 Sarai gave to Abram

00:22:22.900 --> 00:22:23.420
 her husband

00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:24.100
 as a wife.

00:22:25.340 --> 00:22:26.700
 Sarai gave Hagar

00:22:26.700 --> 00:22:28.020
 to Abram

00:22:28.020 --> 00:22:28.660
 as a wife.

00:22:30.100 --> 00:22:30.940
 Hagar is his wife

00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:32.040
 and not just his wife,

00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:33.360
 but his pregnant wife.

00:22:34.180 --> 00:22:35.380
 Carrying the child

00:22:35.380 --> 00:22:36.400
 that Abram

00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:37.759
 had been longing for

00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:38.540
 and waiting for.

00:22:38.539 --> 00:22:40.220
 But look how he refers

00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:40.659
 to Hagar.

00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:42.039
 He calls her

00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:43.379
 Sarai's servant.

00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:44.720
 Do with your servant

00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:45.539
 what you please.

00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:46.659
 Not his pregnant wife,

00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:47.980
 but Sarai's servant.

00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:48.759
 He shrugs

00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.519
 and just tells Sarah.

00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:51.200
 She's your problem.

00:22:51.619 --> 00:22:52.019
 Do with her

00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:53.180
 whatever you want.

00:22:54.139 --> 00:22:54.940
 And the result is

00:22:54.940 --> 00:22:55.839
 Sarai dealt

00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:56.819
 harshly with her

00:22:56.819 --> 00:22:58.220
 and Hagar

00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:59.000
 fled from her.

00:23:01.399 --> 00:23:02.180
 What a mess.

00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:03.500
 What a mess.

00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:05.740
 Sarai was barren

00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:07.779
 and we can empathize

00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:08.099
 with her.

00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:09.440
 She was understandably

00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:10.039
 heartbroken.

00:23:11.139 --> 00:23:11.619
 Understandably

00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:12.420
 impatient.

00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:14.259
 But we also see

00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:16.099
 the tragedy,

00:23:16.819 --> 00:23:17.519
 the futility

00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.399
 of her actions.

00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:20.379
 She wanted a kid,

00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:21.379
 but all she got

00:23:21.379 --> 00:23:22.000
 was contempt.

00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:23.440
 She wanted a child.

00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:25.339
 She just got conflict.

00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:27.399
 It's often the case.

00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:28.559
 Hurt people hurt people.

00:23:29.399 --> 00:23:30.019
 And Sarai

00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:31.099
 lashed out at Hagar.

00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:32.519
 The result was

00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:33.519
 Hagar running away.

00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:34.680
 Pregnant Hagar.

00:23:35.099 --> 00:23:35.660
 Caring who,

00:23:35.799 --> 00:23:36.599
 to their knowledge,

00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:38.659
 could be

00:23:38.659 --> 00:23:40.000
 the son promised

00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:40.519
 to Abram.

00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:41.740
 The child of promise.

00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:42.879
 That's what they

00:23:42.879 --> 00:23:43.619
 might have been thinking.

00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:44.879
 But now she's gone.

00:23:44.939 --> 00:23:45.759
 The child is gone.

00:23:47.459 --> 00:23:48.299
 The one they've been

00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:49.259
 waiting so long for.

00:23:50.199 --> 00:23:50.879
 None of this.

00:23:51.439 --> 00:23:51.939
 Their plans,

00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:53.240
 their do-it-yourself plans

00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:54.240
 weren't really

00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:54.980
 well thought out.

00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:55.959
 They saw the problem

00:23:55.959 --> 00:23:56.599
 but not really

00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:57.579
 the end to the solution.

00:23:58.259 --> 00:23:59.019
 Think about the times

00:23:59.019 --> 00:23:59.659
 that we're tempted

00:23:59.659 --> 00:24:00.459
 to do it ourselves.

00:24:00.879 --> 00:24:01.859
 To scheme according

00:24:01.859 --> 00:24:02.679
 to our own designs.

00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:04.720
 to substitute dish soap

00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:06.759
 for dishwasher soap.

00:24:08.080 --> 00:24:09.080
 Maybe stay on the topic

00:24:09.080 --> 00:24:09.880
 of marriage and dating.

00:24:10.120 --> 00:24:10.740
 Is there someone

00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.700
 that you're talking to

00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:12.259
 that you know

00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:13.140
 you have no business

00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:13.779
 talking to?

00:24:14.340 --> 00:24:15.279
 They make you feel good.

00:24:15.840 --> 00:24:17.000
 But what's the plan?

00:24:17.060 --> 00:24:17.620
 What's the end goal?

00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:19.799
 It might start with high

00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:22.060
 but maybe it ends

00:24:22.060 --> 00:24:22.480
 your marriage.

00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:24.299
 Or for those dating,

00:24:24.380 --> 00:24:25.200
 looking to marriage.

00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:27.880
 You're thinking maybe

00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:28.700
 it's true that there's

00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:30.039
 fewer and fewer people

00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:30.740
 to pick from

00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:31.480
 within the church.

00:24:31.899 --> 00:24:32.960
 And it seems like

00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:33.879
 there's fewer and fewer

00:24:33.879 --> 00:24:34.639
 the more you wait.

00:24:34.819 --> 00:24:35.899
 The more time goes by.

00:24:37.139 --> 00:24:38.420
 It's less and less likely.

00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:40.059
 But if we say

00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:41.139
 that Jesus is Lord

00:24:41.139 --> 00:24:43.319
 then what are we doing

00:24:43.319 --> 00:24:44.779
 with someone who says

00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:45.799
 Jesus is a myth?

00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:49.359
 How can we deny ourselves

00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:50.440
 pick up our cross

00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:51.240
 and follow him

00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:53.200
 while also following

00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:54.259
 someone in the opposite direction?

00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:56.339
 When we're tempted

00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:57.259
 to do it our way,

00:24:57.259 --> 00:25:00.379
 Genesis 16 reminds us

00:25:00.379 --> 00:25:02.460
 it always leaves a mess.

00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.700
 We also see later

00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.539
 in verse 16

00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:08.039
 Abram was 86 years old

00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:08.599
 when Hagar

00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:09.900
 bore Ishmael to Abram.

00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:11.319
 And spoiler alert,

00:25:11.379 --> 00:25:12.000
 if we skip forward

00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:12.940
 to chapter 21,

00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.900
 we see that God's plan

00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:16.759
 was not for the promise

00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:18.200
 to come through Ishmael.

00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:19.700
 But God's plan

00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:21.319
 was for Sarai

00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:22.599
 to bear a son

00:25:22.599 --> 00:25:23.259
 for Abram

00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:24.519
 whose name is Isaac.

00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:25.859
 And when that happens,

00:25:25.859 --> 00:25:28.139
 Abraham is at the ripe

00:25:28.139 --> 00:25:29.659
 old age of 100.

00:25:29.879 --> 00:25:30.939
 He's 86 now.

00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:33.099
 He's 100 years old later.

00:25:34.219 --> 00:25:35.240
 14 years later,

00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:36.339
 that's when Isaac comes.

00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:37.740
 And we don't know

00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:38.339
 when Isaac

00:25:38.339 --> 00:25:39.500
 would have come otherwise.

00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:41.319
 But one commentator says

00:25:41.319 --> 00:25:43.419
 that in the perspective

00:25:43.419 --> 00:25:44.159
 of Genesis,

00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:45.359
 it emerges that

00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:46.339
 Ishmael's birth

00:25:46.339 --> 00:25:47.219
 was a diversion.

00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:49.000
 Sarah's anxiety

00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:49.979
 to have a child

00:25:49.979 --> 00:25:51.179
 seems to have delayed

00:25:51.179 --> 00:25:52.359
 the promise's fulfillment

00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:53.839
 some 14 years.

00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:55.439
 So in the rush,

00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:56.659
 in their,

00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:58.319
 when they got tired

00:25:58.319 --> 00:25:58.720
 of waiting,

00:25:59.000 --> 00:25:59.839
 they took action.

00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:00.939
 And maybe

00:26:00.939 --> 00:26:02.379
 they actually delayed

00:26:02.379 --> 00:26:02.939
 the fulfillment

00:26:02.939 --> 00:26:03.720
 of God's promise

00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:04.500
 by 14 years.

00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:06.099
 It's hard to wait,

00:26:06.179 --> 00:26:06.879
 but it's even harder

00:26:06.879 --> 00:26:08.139
 to wait another 14 years.

00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:09.859
 Obedience to God

00:26:09.859 --> 00:26:11.220
 never means missing out.

00:26:12.199 --> 00:26:13.099
 Doing it ourself

00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:14.679
 just makes a mess.

00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:16.220
 We can trust by faith

00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:17.980
 that God's plan

00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:18.879
 for us is good.

00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:21.460
 And right now,

00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:22.840
 Hagar is caught

00:26:22.840 --> 00:26:23.560
 right in the middle

00:26:23.560 --> 00:26:24.120
 of that mess.

00:26:25.100 --> 00:26:26.100
 Abram and Sarah's shortcut

00:26:26.100 --> 00:26:27.320
 has left her pregnant

00:26:27.320 --> 00:26:28.260
 and mistreated

00:26:28.260 --> 00:26:29.620
 and she also takes matters

00:26:29.620 --> 00:26:30.580
 into her own hands too.

00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:31.600
 She flees

00:26:31.600 --> 00:26:32.400
 and she's running

00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:33.020
 for her life

00:26:33.020 --> 00:26:33.620
 into the wilderness.

00:26:34.460 --> 00:26:35.400
 And that is where

00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:36.320
 the Lord meets her.

00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:37.560
 We read in verse 7,

00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:38.760
 the angel of the Lord

00:26:38.760 --> 00:26:40.240
 found her by a spring of water

00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:41.120
 in the wilderness,

00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:42.280
 the spring on the way

00:26:42.280 --> 00:26:42.700
 to Shur.

00:26:43.080 --> 00:26:44.060
 The angel of the Lord,

00:26:44.340 --> 00:26:45.060
 who is either

00:26:45.060 --> 00:26:46.120
 the presence of the Lord

00:26:46.120 --> 00:26:46.760
 or a messenger

00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:47.680
 of the Lord,

00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:48.920
 appears to Hagar.

00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:50.259
 And now here,

00:26:50.359 --> 00:26:51.079
 we see that the Lord

00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:52.400
 both convicts Hagar

00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:54.420
 and also comforts her.

00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:57.119
 He calls to her,

00:26:57.359 --> 00:26:57.680
 Hagar,

00:26:58.019 --> 00:26:59.099
 the servant of Sarai.

00:26:59.640 --> 00:26:59.980
 The Lord,

00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:02.240
 he dignifies Hagar

00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:03.680
 by calling her her name.

00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:05.599
 But he also reminds her

00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:06.619
 of her responsibility.

00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:08.019
 She is Sarai's servant

00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:09.460
 and she's running away from her.

00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:10.859
 And he convicts her.

00:27:11.099 --> 00:27:11.359
 Hagar,

00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:12.559
 servant of Sarai,

00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:13.819
 return to your mistress

00:27:13.819 --> 00:27:14.940
 and submit to her.

00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:15.640
 Turn around,

00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:16.900
 return to Sarai.

00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:18.400
 This is a tough word.

00:27:18.540 --> 00:27:18.980
 This is tough

00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:20.300
 because Sarai had been

00:27:20.300 --> 00:27:21.660
 harsh with Hagar.

00:27:22.140 --> 00:27:22.980
 But God tells her,

00:27:23.040 --> 00:27:23.560
 turn around,

00:27:23.840 --> 00:27:24.180
 return.

00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:25.440
 That's what you're meant to do.

00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:26.759
 And now,

00:27:26.820 --> 00:27:27.620
 this might raise

00:27:27.620 --> 00:27:28.680
 some eyebrows for us.

00:27:29.340 --> 00:27:31.180
 Is God telling Hagar

00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:32.980
 to stay in a toxic environment?

00:27:33.360 --> 00:27:34.920
 Is that what God wants for us?

00:27:35.800 --> 00:27:38.040
 I think we shouldn't

00:27:38.040 --> 00:27:38.960
 over-apply

00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:40.360
 what God says to Hagar

00:27:40.360 --> 00:27:42.520
 into situations today.

00:27:42.600 --> 00:27:44.180
 Maybe situations of abuse today.

00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:46.980
 This is a historical account

00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:49.120
 of a specific household

00:27:49.120 --> 00:27:50.299
 in conflict.

00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:52.279
 God has a specific instruction

00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:52.700
 for them.

00:27:53.019 --> 00:27:54.400
 Hagar was a servant

00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:55.640
 who had contempt

00:27:55.640 --> 00:27:56.660
 for her mistress,

00:27:57.620 --> 00:27:58.600
 contempt for Sarai,

00:27:58.680 --> 00:27:59.620
 who tried to take

00:27:59.620 --> 00:28:00.840
 Sarai's position.

00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:03.360
 And Sarai retaliated

00:28:03.360 --> 00:28:04.320
 with discipline,

00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:05.380
 with being harsh,

00:28:05.600 --> 00:28:06.640
 maybe too harsh.

00:28:07.340 --> 00:28:08.460
 But Hagar is also

00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:09.240
 out in the wilderness

00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:09.880
 all alone.

00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:11.520
 And God is telling Hagar

00:28:11.520 --> 00:28:13.020
 to return to the safety

00:28:13.020 --> 00:28:14.480
 of Abram's household.

00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:15.760
 Abram,

00:28:15.840 --> 00:28:17.200
 who has the promises of God,

00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.060
 and to repent

00:28:18.060 --> 00:28:18.880
 of her contempt,

00:28:19.040 --> 00:28:19.980
 repent of her pride,

00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:21.360
 laid that down

00:28:21.360 --> 00:28:22.300
 and submit

00:28:22.300 --> 00:28:23.180
 to Sarai

00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:24.000
 as she should.

00:28:24.620 --> 00:28:25.180
 This is not

00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:26.000
 a blanket command

00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:26.940
 for people today

00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:28.360
 to remain in dangerous

00:28:28.360 --> 00:28:29.500
 or abusive situations.

00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:30.900
 The Lord

00:28:30.900 --> 00:28:31.940
 convicts

00:28:31.940 --> 00:28:33.100
 and commands Hagar

00:28:33.100 --> 00:28:34.160
 to return

00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:34.560
 and submit

00:28:34.560 --> 00:28:35.880
 to her mistress.

00:28:35.880 --> 00:28:38.280
 At the same time,

00:28:38.360 --> 00:28:39.600
 the Lord also comforts her.

00:28:40.100 --> 00:28:40.900
 He comforts her

00:28:40.900 --> 00:28:41.440
 with a promise.

00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:42.840
 He says to her,

00:28:42.940 --> 00:28:43.600
 I will surely

00:28:43.600 --> 00:28:44.760
 multiply your offspring

00:28:44.760 --> 00:28:45.560
 so that they cannot

00:28:45.560 --> 00:28:46.080
 be numbered

00:28:46.080 --> 00:28:46.640
 for multitude.

00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:48.460
 This sounds very similar

00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:49.720
 to God's promise

00:28:49.720 --> 00:28:50.180
 to Abraham

00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:50.660
 that we read

00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:51.200
 last chapter.

00:28:51.800 --> 00:28:52.320
 Your descendants

00:28:52.320 --> 00:28:52.760
 will be like

00:28:52.760 --> 00:28:53.640
 the stars of the sky.

00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.600
 Sounds very similar

00:28:55.600 --> 00:28:56.000
 to that.

00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:57.360
 And God continues to her.

00:28:57.440 --> 00:28:57.640
 He says,

00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.020
 Behold,

00:28:58.100 --> 00:28:58.560
 you are pregnant

00:28:58.560 --> 00:28:59.460
 and shall bear a son.

00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:00.440
 You shall call

00:29:00.440 --> 00:29:01.660
 his name Ishmael

00:29:01.660 --> 00:29:02.560
 because the Lord

00:29:02.560 --> 00:29:03.220
 has listened

00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:04.200
 to your affliction.

00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:05.720
 Ishmael,

00:29:06.319 --> 00:29:07.140
 the name Ishmael

00:29:07.140 --> 00:29:08.319
 means God hears.

00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:10.100
 That's the comfort

00:29:10.100 --> 00:29:12.460
 to Hagar.

00:29:12.860 --> 00:29:14.080
 That God hears us.

00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:15.039
 He listens to us.

00:29:15.120 --> 00:29:15.980
 He will hear us.

00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:18.180
 He hears your afflictions.

00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.460
 He sees what you've

00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:19.960
 been going through.

00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:21.400
 He sees the mistreatment

00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:22.900
 and he will look after you.

00:29:23.120 --> 00:29:23.880
 That's God's comfort

00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:24.340
 to Hagar.

00:29:25.120 --> 00:29:25.380
 Yet,

00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:26.420
 it's not all sunshines

00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:26.860
 and rainbows

00:29:26.860 --> 00:29:28.100
 because the next verse

00:29:28.100 --> 00:29:28.279
 says,

00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:28.759
 verse 12,

00:29:28.980 --> 00:29:30.720
 says that your son,

00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:32.539
 he shall be a wild donkey

00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:32.980
 of a man.

00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:34.900
 It's probably not a good sign

00:29:34.900 --> 00:29:35.620
 if you're called a donkey.

00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:37.140
 But also,

00:29:37.400 --> 00:29:38.539
 there's this promise

00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:39.160
 of conflict

00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:40.160
 that his hand

00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:42.140
 will be against everyone

00:29:42.140 --> 00:29:43.039
 and everyone's hand

00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:43.620
 against him.

00:29:43.900 --> 00:29:45.519
 He shall be in conflict

00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:47.339
 against all his kinsmen.

00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:49.680
 Despite Abram's

00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:50.400
 and Sarai's sin,

00:29:50.900 --> 00:29:52.160
 God redeemed the situation,

00:29:52.360 --> 00:29:53.319
 blesses Ishmael

00:29:53.319 --> 00:29:54.279
 with a multitude

00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:55.059
 of descendants.

00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:56.740
 But,

00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:58.360
 there's still a consequence.

00:29:58.980 --> 00:29:59.360
 Ishmael

00:29:59.360 --> 00:30:00.140
 and his descendants

00:30:00.140 --> 00:30:00.900
 will be marked

00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:01.880
 with conflict.

00:30:01.880 --> 00:30:03.200
 And we see in Genesis,

00:30:03.640 --> 00:30:04.240
 Ishmael later

00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:04.920
 will have conflict

00:30:04.920 --> 00:30:05.620
 with Isaac,

00:30:05.760 --> 00:30:06.520
 the child of promise.

00:30:07.340 --> 00:30:08.320
 Ishmaelites also

00:30:08.320 --> 00:30:09.320
 will be the ones

00:30:09.320 --> 00:30:12.540
 who buy Joseph

00:30:12.540 --> 00:30:13.400
 from his brothers

00:30:13.400 --> 00:30:14.320
 and bring him

00:30:14.320 --> 00:30:14.800
 to slavery

00:30:14.800 --> 00:30:15.420
 and to Egypt.

00:30:16.320 --> 00:30:17.100
 Sin can leave

00:30:17.100 --> 00:30:18.460
 generational consequences.

00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:20.460
 And so,

00:30:20.540 --> 00:30:20.860
 the Lord

00:30:20.860 --> 00:30:21.860
 redeemed the mess

00:30:21.860 --> 00:30:22.840
 that Abram

00:30:22.840 --> 00:30:23.380
 and Sarai

00:30:23.380 --> 00:30:24.960
 caused by their efforts,

00:30:25.020 --> 00:30:25.660
 but there are

00:30:25.660 --> 00:30:26.580
 some consequences

00:30:26.580 --> 00:30:27.500
 for their sin.

00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:28.980
 God both confronted

00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:30.059
 and comforted Hagar

00:30:30.059 --> 00:30:30.660
 with this.

00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:31.819
 And this is how

00:30:31.819 --> 00:30:32.519
 Hagar responds

00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:33.140
 in verse 13.

00:30:33.420 --> 00:30:34.180
 She called the name

00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:34.559
 of the Lord

00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:35.259
 who spoke to her.

00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:36.380
 You are a God

00:30:36.380 --> 00:30:36.839
 of seeing,

00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:37.720
 for she said,

00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:39.160
 truly here I've seen

00:30:39.160 --> 00:30:40.259
 him who looks after me.

00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:41.660
 And this verse

00:30:41.660 --> 00:30:42.140
 is significant

00:30:42.140 --> 00:30:43.279
 because she's actually

00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:44.120
 the only person

00:30:44.120 --> 00:30:44.759
 in the Bible

00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:46.480
 to give God

00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:46.940
 a name,

00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:48.220
 to give a name

00:30:48.220 --> 00:30:48.900
 for God,

00:30:49.579 --> 00:30:50.519
 to give God

00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:51.160
 a new name.

00:30:52.279 --> 00:30:53.019
 But also know

00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:53.960
 what Hagar says.

00:30:54.559 --> 00:30:54.720
 She,

00:30:55.160 --> 00:30:55.640
 God gave her

00:30:55.640 --> 00:30:56.120
 this promise.

00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:56.940
 But here,

00:30:57.299 --> 00:30:58.059
 she doesn't mention

00:30:58.059 --> 00:30:59.019
 anything about

00:30:59.019 --> 00:30:59.460
 the promise.

00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:00.100
 She doesn't mention

00:31:00.100 --> 00:31:00.720
 anything about

00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:01.319
 this multitude

00:31:01.319 --> 00:31:01.960
 of offspring.

00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:03.799
 She's actually

00:31:03.799 --> 00:31:04.700
 more concerned

00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:06.500
 about who God is

00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:07.960
 than in what

00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:08.700
 God promised her.

00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:10.720
 She has seen God.

00:31:10.840 --> 00:31:11.600
 God saw her.

00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:12.740
 God listened to her.

00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:14.420
 She has seen the Lord

00:31:14.420 --> 00:31:15.100
 and that's enough.

00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:16.299
 She was just

00:31:16.299 --> 00:31:17.200
 a slave to Sarai,

00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:18.579
 a tool that Sarai

00:31:18.579 --> 00:31:19.759
 could use for her purposes.

00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:21.220
 She was disposable

00:31:21.220 --> 00:31:21.840
 to Sarai.

00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:23.860
 But God saw

00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:24.959
 Hagar.

00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:26.939
 God listened to Hagar

00:31:26.939 --> 00:31:27.899
 and that was enough

00:31:27.899 --> 00:31:28.240
 for her.

00:31:29.159 --> 00:31:29.879
 Is that enough

00:31:29.879 --> 00:31:30.319
 for us?

00:31:30.779 --> 00:31:31.639
 To know that

00:31:31.639 --> 00:31:32.639
 the Lord sees us

00:31:32.639 --> 00:31:33.240
 in our waiting,

00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:34.799
 in our problems.

00:31:34.939 --> 00:31:36.219
 He hears our afflictions.

00:31:36.619 --> 00:31:37.619
 He is with us.

00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:38.740
 Is that enough

00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:39.159
 for us?

00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:41.219
 And so Hagar

00:31:41.219 --> 00:31:41.679
 obeys.

00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:42.919
 She returns to Abram

00:31:42.919 --> 00:31:44.199
 and notice this.

00:31:44.419 --> 00:31:45.519
 The whole journey,

00:31:45.719 --> 00:31:46.579
 this all thing started

00:31:46.579 --> 00:31:47.799
 because Sarai

00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:48.519
 had a plan.

00:31:48.619 --> 00:31:49.279
 She wanted to do

00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:49.779
 it herself,

00:31:49.939 --> 00:31:50.839
 to take action,

00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:52.159
 to fulfill God's promise,

00:31:52.399 --> 00:31:53.679
 to have a child

00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:54.279
 of her own.

00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:56.600
 But verse 15 says,

00:31:57.100 --> 00:31:57.539
 And Hagar

00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:58.759
 bore Abram

00:31:58.759 --> 00:31:59.340
 a son.

00:31:59.980 --> 00:32:00.460
 And Abram

00:32:00.460 --> 00:32:01.080
 called the name

00:32:01.080 --> 00:32:02.000
 of his son

00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:03.200
 whom Hagar

00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:03.539
 bore,

00:32:04.039 --> 00:32:04.460
 Ishmael.

00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:05.580
 And Abram

00:32:05.580 --> 00:32:06.860
 was 86 years old

00:32:06.860 --> 00:32:07.420
 when Hagar

00:32:07.420 --> 00:32:08.200
 bore Ishmael

00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:09.340
 to Abram.

00:32:10.680 --> 00:32:11.640
 It's Abram's son

00:32:11.640 --> 00:32:13.000
 whom Hagar

00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:13.299
 bore.

00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:14.180
 There's no mention

00:32:14.180 --> 00:32:14.700
 of Sarai.

00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:15.279
 Ishmael,

00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.799
 she wanted a son,

00:32:17.259 --> 00:32:17.860
 but Ishmael

00:32:17.860 --> 00:32:18.779
 isn't hers.

00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:20.740
 At the end of it,

00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:22.359
 he's Abram's son,

00:32:22.539 --> 00:32:23.180
 Hagar's son.

00:32:23.420 --> 00:32:24.160
 Her do-it-yourself

00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:25.160
 plan just led

00:32:25.160 --> 00:32:25.759
 to jealousy,

00:32:26.279 --> 00:32:26.640
 division,

00:32:26.779 --> 00:32:27.180
 and yes,

00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:27.819
 in the middle,

00:32:28.140 --> 00:32:28.880
 God redeemed it,

00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:29.980
 gave his blessing.

00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:31.720
 But there's also

00:32:31.720 --> 00:32:32.380
 conflict for

00:32:32.380 --> 00:32:33.279
 countless generations.

00:32:34.799 --> 00:32:35.480
 Sarai didn't get

00:32:35.480 --> 00:32:36.259
 what she wanted.

00:32:37.099 --> 00:32:38.700
 Her own attempts

00:32:38.700 --> 00:32:39.759
 to strive,

00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:40.680
 to stress,

00:32:40.920 --> 00:32:41.440
 to strain,

00:32:41.839 --> 00:32:42.960
 to obtain God's promise

00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:43.460
 at the end

00:32:43.460 --> 00:32:44.259
 amounted to nothing

00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:45.079
 and just led to

00:32:45.079 --> 00:32:46.000
 conflict down the line.

00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:47.759
 And the same

00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:48.500
 is true for us.

00:32:49.579 --> 00:32:50.599
 God doesn't need

00:32:50.599 --> 00:32:51.140
 our striving

00:32:51.140 --> 00:32:52.180
 to fulfill his promises.

00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:53.400
 He doesn't need

00:32:53.400 --> 00:32:54.119
 us to scheme

00:32:54.119 --> 00:32:54.900
 for him to keep

00:32:54.900 --> 00:32:55.640
 his word to us.

00:32:56.619 --> 00:32:57.539
 And so this is a call

00:32:57.539 --> 00:32:59.079
 for us to surrender

00:32:59.079 --> 00:33:00.359
 our anxieties to God,

00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:02.440
 to trust him,

00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:03.720
 to trust his providence,

00:33:03.980 --> 00:33:04.680
 to believe,

00:33:04.940 --> 00:33:05.460
 have faith

00:33:05.460 --> 00:33:06.640
 that following God

00:33:06.640 --> 00:33:08.319
 never means

00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:09.000
 missing out,

00:33:09.480 --> 00:33:10.200
 that his way

00:33:10.200 --> 00:33:11.119
 really is better

00:33:11.119 --> 00:33:12.220
 than our own design.

00:33:13.259 --> 00:33:14.519
 But that creates

00:33:14.519 --> 00:33:15.299
 a tension for us.

00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:17.799
 That if we aren't

00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:18.579
 supposed to strive,

00:33:18.680 --> 00:33:19.500
 then what's the balance

00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:21.039
 between taking action,

00:33:21.160 --> 00:33:22.259
 taking faithful action,

00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:23.819
 and also waiting on God?

00:33:24.059 --> 00:33:24.900
 Because on the one hand,

00:33:25.160 --> 00:33:26.339
 faith requires action.

00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:27.980
 Abram had to pack

00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:28.660
 his things up

00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:29.839
 in Genesis chapter 12

00:33:29.839 --> 00:33:31.380
 when God told him

00:33:31.380 --> 00:33:33.019
 to go leave his land,

00:33:33.460 --> 00:33:34.299
 go to another land

00:33:34.299 --> 00:33:35.819
 that God promised him.

00:33:36.259 --> 00:33:36.839
 And for us,

00:33:36.920 --> 00:33:37.799
 we still have

00:33:37.799 --> 00:33:39.200
 to study for exams.

00:33:39.539 --> 00:33:40.240
 We still have

00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:41.240
 to meet work deadlines.

00:33:41.960 --> 00:33:43.079
 How can we tell

00:33:43.079 --> 00:33:44.200
 that we're walking

00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:45.259
 in faithful action

00:33:45.259 --> 00:33:46.440
 or just trying

00:33:46.440 --> 00:33:47.119
 to do it ourselves,

00:33:47.259 --> 00:33:48.579
 scheme and do it ourselves?

00:33:49.619 --> 00:33:50.379
 Well, first,

00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:51.759
 we know that

00:33:51.759 --> 00:33:53.460
 whatever God calls us

00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:54.019
 to do

00:33:54.019 --> 00:33:55.740
 is going to align

00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:56.759
 with what he's revealed

00:33:56.759 --> 00:33:57.500
 in his word.

00:33:58.039 --> 00:34:00.579
 His plan aligns

00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:01.240
 with his word.

00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:03.099
 Abram taking another wife

00:34:03.099 --> 00:34:03.720
 was acceptable

00:34:03.720 --> 00:34:04.839
 in their culture,

00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:07.000
 but is against God's

00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:07.740
 revealed design

00:34:07.740 --> 00:34:08.239
 for marriage.

00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:09.559
 Obeying God

00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:10.820
 requires action,

00:34:10.940 --> 00:34:12.179
 but not by our own wisdom.

00:34:12.179 --> 00:34:13.940
 We can test our plans

00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:15.199
 against what's clear

00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:15.839
 in God's word.

00:34:17.019 --> 00:34:17.279
 And second,

00:34:17.359 --> 00:34:18.419
 we can check our hearts.

00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:20.419
 Are we acting out of faith

00:34:20.419 --> 00:34:21.699
 in reliance of God

00:34:21.699 --> 00:34:23.119
 or are we reacting

00:34:23.119 --> 00:34:24.099
 in fear?

00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:25.899
 Abram and Sarai,

00:34:26.239 --> 00:34:27.039
 they didn't act

00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:27.839
 because they felt

00:34:27.839 --> 00:34:28.659
 this peace

00:34:28.659 --> 00:34:29.460
 and conviction

00:34:29.460 --> 00:34:30.699
 that God's covenant

00:34:30.699 --> 00:34:32.019
 would be fulfilled

00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:33.219
 by taking Hagar

00:34:33.219 --> 00:34:35.679
 as a second wife.

00:34:36.579 --> 00:34:37.319
 They did it

00:34:37.319 --> 00:34:39.000
 because they were afraid.

00:34:39.359 --> 00:34:39.940
 They were afraid

00:34:39.940 --> 00:34:40.940
 that time was running out.

00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:42.019
 They were anxious.

00:34:42.380 --> 00:34:42.880
 They panicked

00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:44.400
 and wanted to do something.

00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:46.079
 And so for us,

00:34:46.179 --> 00:34:47.139
 do our actions,

00:34:47.260 --> 00:34:48.260
 they come from a place

00:34:48.260 --> 00:34:49.320
 of anxiety and panic

00:34:49.320 --> 00:34:51.860
 to try to force an outcome.

00:34:52.860 --> 00:34:53.840
 We need to land this job.

00:34:53.900 --> 00:34:54.740
 I need to work as hard

00:34:54.740 --> 00:34:55.159
 as I can

00:34:55.159 --> 00:34:56.000
 to make this happen.

00:34:57.440 --> 00:34:58.460
 Are we acting

00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:59.760
 out of faith

00:34:59.760 --> 00:35:01.720
 or in fear,

00:35:01.940 --> 00:35:02.519
 in panic?

00:35:03.400 --> 00:35:03.940
 And third,

00:35:04.300 --> 00:35:04.940
 are we trying

00:35:04.940 --> 00:35:05.740
 to do it ourselves

00:35:05.740 --> 00:35:07.059
 or are we

00:35:07.059 --> 00:35:08.860
 moving in reliance

00:35:08.860 --> 00:35:09.260
 on God?

00:35:09.260 --> 00:35:10.360
 When we look

00:35:10.360 --> 00:35:11.200
 at Genesis 16,

00:35:12.040 --> 00:35:12.840
 do you know what we see?

00:35:12.880 --> 00:35:13.340
 There's one thing

00:35:13.340 --> 00:35:14.060
 that we see missing

00:35:14.060 --> 00:35:14.560
 that I notice

00:35:14.560 --> 00:35:15.120
 that's missing.

00:35:15.820 --> 00:35:16.540
 That's prayer.

00:35:18.020 --> 00:35:19.040
 Abram and Sarai,

00:35:19.160 --> 00:35:20.140
 they never stop

00:35:20.140 --> 00:35:20.960
 to ask God,

00:35:21.520 --> 00:35:22.580
 is this what you

00:35:22.580 --> 00:35:23.440
 want us to do?

00:35:24.120 --> 00:35:25.320
 Is this how you

00:35:25.320 --> 00:35:26.340
 will fulfill your covenant?

00:35:26.560 --> 00:35:27.840
 Is taking Hagar

00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:28.780
 your plan?

00:35:29.820 --> 00:35:30.180
 And God,

00:35:30.300 --> 00:35:31.300
 he names the child

00:35:31.300 --> 00:35:31.880
 Ishmael,

00:35:32.220 --> 00:35:32.920
 which means

00:35:32.920 --> 00:35:34.160
 God hears.

00:35:34.920 --> 00:35:35.840
 God will hear.

00:35:35.840 --> 00:35:38.200
 And that's the question

00:35:38.200 --> 00:35:38.660
 for us.

00:35:38.780 --> 00:35:39.660
 If God hears,

00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:41.120
 then why don't we

00:35:41.120 --> 00:35:41.680
 pray to him?

00:35:42.860 --> 00:35:43.920
 If God hears,

00:35:44.380 --> 00:35:45.160
 then what are they

00:35:45.160 --> 00:35:45.800
 doing not praying

00:35:45.800 --> 00:35:46.160
 to him?

00:35:47.260 --> 00:35:47.780
 Are we making

00:35:47.780 --> 00:35:48.360
 our decisions

00:35:48.360 --> 00:35:49.280
 in prayer

00:35:49.280 --> 00:35:49.900
 in dependence

00:35:49.900 --> 00:35:50.420
 on him

00:35:50.420 --> 00:35:51.620
 or relying

00:35:51.620 --> 00:35:52.260
 on ourselves?

00:35:52.940 --> 00:35:54.160
 Psalm 127 says,

00:35:54.360 --> 00:35:54.940
 unless the Lord

00:35:54.940 --> 00:35:55.880
 builds the house,

00:35:56.340 --> 00:35:56.980
 those who labor

00:35:56.980 --> 00:35:58.019
 over it build it

00:35:58.019 --> 00:35:58.280
 in vain.

00:35:58.500 --> 00:35:59.079
 Unless the Lord

00:35:59.079 --> 00:36:00.140
 watches over the city,

00:36:00.600 --> 00:36:01.079
 the watchman

00:36:01.079 --> 00:36:01.960
 stays awake

00:36:01.960 --> 00:36:02.260
 in vain.

00:36:02.360 --> 00:36:03.360
 Are we acting

00:36:03.360 --> 00:36:04.120
 with that faith

00:36:04.120 --> 00:36:05.620
 or is our first

00:36:05.620 --> 00:36:06.420
 instinct to do

00:36:06.420 --> 00:36:06.920
 something

00:36:06.920 --> 00:36:07.880
 or to pray

00:36:07.880 --> 00:36:08.460
 knowing that

00:36:08.460 --> 00:36:09.500
 if God is not

00:36:09.500 --> 00:36:09.980
 with us,

00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:10.380
 it will amount

00:36:10.380 --> 00:36:10.780
 to nothing.

00:36:12.079 --> 00:36:12.900
 Abraham and Sarai,

00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:13.780
 they tried to build

00:36:13.780 --> 00:36:14.599
 the house themselves

00:36:14.599 --> 00:36:16.000
 and the result

00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:16.860
 is they labored

00:36:16.860 --> 00:36:17.240
 in vain.

00:36:17.700 --> 00:36:18.480
 They got Ishmael,

00:36:18.760 --> 00:36:19.500
 a child born

00:36:19.500 --> 00:36:20.240
 of the flesh,

00:36:20.320 --> 00:36:21.099
 not of the promise.

00:36:22.700 --> 00:36:23.480
 They tried to do

00:36:23.480 --> 00:36:23.900
 it themselves

00:36:23.900 --> 00:36:24.660
 and it didn't work.

00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:26.019
 And if there's

00:36:26.019 --> 00:36:26.740
 one thing we know,

00:36:27.059 --> 00:36:28.519
 if there's one thing

00:36:28.519 --> 00:36:29.380
 that we can't do

00:36:29.380 --> 00:36:30.019
 for ourselves,

00:36:30.640 --> 00:36:32.420
 it's earn our

00:36:32.420 --> 00:36:33.400
 righteousness with God.

00:36:34.800 --> 00:36:35.539
 There's one thing

00:36:35.539 --> 00:36:36.340
 that we can't do

00:36:36.340 --> 00:36:37.340
 is earn our way

00:36:37.340 --> 00:36:37.780
 to God.

00:36:38.200 --> 00:36:39.240
 We can't earn

00:36:39.240 --> 00:36:40.099
 our own salvation.

00:36:40.720 --> 00:36:41.360
 What can a man

00:36:41.360 --> 00:36:42.280
 give in exchange

00:36:42.280 --> 00:36:42.960
 for his soul?

00:36:43.559 --> 00:36:44.260
 Galatians 4

00:36:44.260 --> 00:36:45.059
 will later pick up

00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:45.360
 on this.

00:36:45.440 --> 00:36:46.180
 There is a child

00:36:46.180 --> 00:36:47.860
 born of the flesh,

00:36:48.119 --> 00:36:49.800
 born of human design,

00:36:50.119 --> 00:36:51.220
 born by human striving

00:36:51.220 --> 00:36:52.760
 and that's Ishmael,

00:36:54.119 --> 00:36:54.720
 slaved,

00:36:55.680 --> 00:36:56.139
 exhausted,

00:36:57.059 --> 00:36:58.000
 cast out of the house.

00:36:59.059 --> 00:36:59.860
 On the other hand,

00:36:59.920 --> 00:37:01.059
 there is another child,

00:37:01.579 --> 00:37:01.880
 Isaac,

00:37:01.880 --> 00:37:02.619
 that will later

00:37:02.619 --> 00:37:03.680
 be born of the promise,

00:37:04.140 --> 00:37:05.500
 born out of reliance

00:37:05.500 --> 00:37:06.640
 on God's promise,

00:37:06.800 --> 00:37:07.420
 out of faith.

00:37:08.119 --> 00:37:08.720
 And that's the same

00:37:08.720 --> 00:37:09.200
 for us,

00:37:09.519 --> 00:37:10.680
 that when we strive,

00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:11.860
 we take efforts

00:37:11.860 --> 00:37:13.039
 to be a good person,

00:37:13.460 --> 00:37:14.400
 to earn our way,

00:37:14.519 --> 00:37:15.240
 earn our righteousness

00:37:15.240 --> 00:37:16.119
 with God.

00:37:16.320 --> 00:37:17.420
 If what we're saying

00:37:17.420 --> 00:37:17.800
 is,

00:37:18.140 --> 00:37:19.480
 I'm trying my best,

00:37:20.320 --> 00:37:21.660
 I can get to know you,

00:37:21.720 --> 00:37:21.840
 God,

00:37:21.900 --> 00:37:23.280
 I deserve eternity

00:37:23.280 --> 00:37:23.820
 with you,

00:37:23.820 --> 00:37:24.059
 God,

00:37:24.420 --> 00:37:25.619
 because I was

00:37:25.619 --> 00:37:26.260
 a good person,

00:37:26.640 --> 00:37:27.400
 know that this will

00:37:27.400 --> 00:37:28.599
 always amount to nothing

00:37:28.599 --> 00:37:29.460
 when we try to do it

00:37:29.460 --> 00:37:29.840
 ourselves.

00:37:29.840 --> 00:37:31.079
 Our only hope

00:37:31.079 --> 00:37:32.140
 is that God made

00:37:32.140 --> 00:37:32.660
 a covenant

00:37:32.660 --> 00:37:33.980
 as we read last week

00:37:33.980 --> 00:37:34.640
 with Abram,

00:37:34.700 --> 00:37:36.100
 that he would take on

00:37:36.100 --> 00:37:37.519
 the curse of our sin,

00:37:37.740 --> 00:37:38.700
 that he would send

00:37:38.700 --> 00:37:39.539
 an offspring

00:37:39.539 --> 00:37:40.300
 who would crush

00:37:40.300 --> 00:37:41.220
 the head of the snake,

00:37:41.640 --> 00:37:41.900
 Jesus,

00:37:42.120 --> 00:37:42.860
 who would accomplish

00:37:42.860 --> 00:37:43.940
 everything he demands

00:37:43.940 --> 00:37:44.480
 from us,

00:37:44.579 --> 00:37:46.039
 if only we put

00:37:46.039 --> 00:37:46.960
 our faith in him.

00:37:48.460 --> 00:37:49.519
 That's what we learn here

00:37:49.519 --> 00:37:51.600
 from Abram and Sarai's story.

00:37:51.780 --> 00:37:52.780
 When we try to do it

00:37:52.780 --> 00:37:53.300
 on our own,

00:37:53.760 --> 00:37:54.780
 it'll make a mess.

00:37:54.780 --> 00:37:57.460
 But God stepped down

00:37:57.460 --> 00:37:58.720
 in Jesus,

00:37:59.180 --> 00:38:00.220
 he sent his son

00:38:00.220 --> 00:38:02.500
 to take on our mess,

00:38:03.019 --> 00:38:04.060
 to die for our sins,

00:38:04.220 --> 00:38:04.920
 rise from the dead

00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:06.260
 so that we can have life,

00:38:06.320 --> 00:38:07.200
 so that we don't have

00:38:07.200 --> 00:38:07.820
 to do it ourselves

00:38:07.820 --> 00:38:08.840
 because we can't.

00:38:09.540 --> 00:38:10.300
 And many of us

00:38:10.300 --> 00:38:10.920
 are in a season

00:38:10.920 --> 00:38:11.720
 of waiting right now,

00:38:12.140 --> 00:38:13.500
 maybe waiting for a spouse,

00:38:14.019 --> 00:38:14.840
 waiting for a child,

00:38:15.220 --> 00:38:15.960
 waiting to progress

00:38:15.960 --> 00:38:16.540
 in our careers,

00:38:17.120 --> 00:38:18.040
 waiting for healing.

00:38:18.039 --> 00:38:21.099
 And we have this assurance

00:38:21.099 --> 00:38:22.800
 that God sees us,

00:38:22.880 --> 00:38:24.059
 he hears our affliction.

00:38:24.880 --> 00:38:25.779
 And we know because

00:38:25.779 --> 00:38:28.139
 we see what Jesus

00:38:28.139 --> 00:38:28.980
 done on the cross.

00:38:29.059 --> 00:38:30.440
 When he hung on the cross,

00:38:30.779 --> 00:38:31.619
 that situation

00:38:31.619 --> 00:38:32.400
 seemed desperate.

00:38:32.860 --> 00:38:33.519
 It might have looked

00:38:33.519 --> 00:38:34.400
 like at that time

00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:35.559
 the promises of God

00:38:35.559 --> 00:38:36.079
 would fail.

00:38:36.480 --> 00:38:37.320
 Jesus was dying,

00:38:37.539 --> 00:38:38.820
 but in that hopeless moment

00:38:38.820 --> 00:38:40.500
 when it seemed

00:38:40.500 --> 00:38:41.340
 that God's plan

00:38:41.340 --> 00:38:42.259
 amounted to nothing,

00:38:42.840 --> 00:38:44.079
 that's when he was working.

00:38:45.759 --> 00:38:46.739
 That's when Jesus

00:38:46.739 --> 00:38:47.699
 took on the full

00:38:47.699 --> 00:38:48.839
 penalty of our sins.

00:38:49.179 --> 00:38:49.899
 He did it

00:38:49.899 --> 00:38:51.299
 so that all the promises

00:38:51.299 --> 00:38:52.199
 of God

00:38:52.199 --> 00:38:53.879
 find their yes in him.

00:38:54.439 --> 00:38:55.299
 He did it so that

00:38:55.299 --> 00:38:56.539
 we don't have to do it ourselves.

00:38:56.839 --> 00:38:58.319
 And if we can trust him

00:38:58.319 --> 00:38:59.659
 with our souls,

00:38:59.799 --> 00:39:00.699
 with our salvation,

00:39:01.059 --> 00:39:02.139
 why can't we also

00:39:02.139 --> 00:39:02.819
 trust him

00:39:02.819 --> 00:39:04.219
 with our schools,

00:39:04.519 --> 00:39:05.500
 with our work,

00:39:05.859 --> 00:39:06.579
 with our homes,

00:39:06.819 --> 00:39:07.799
 when we're in the hospital,

00:39:08.419 --> 00:39:09.219
 in our relationships,

00:39:09.539 --> 00:39:10.099
 in our families?

00:39:10.179 --> 00:39:11.599
 Can we not also trust him

00:39:11.599 --> 00:39:12.599
 with those things?

00:39:13.379 --> 00:39:14.480
 If we're getting tired

00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:14.919
 of waiting,

00:39:16.519 --> 00:39:17.219
 remember this.

00:39:17.699 --> 00:39:18.799
 We don't have to do it

00:39:18.799 --> 00:39:19.139
 ourselves.

00:39:19.259 --> 00:39:20.799
 We can trust in Jesus.

00:39:20.960 --> 00:39:21.980
 He didn't take any shortcuts.

00:39:22.139 --> 00:39:23.239
 He didn't take the easy way.

00:39:23.619 --> 00:39:24.199
 In Gethsemane,

00:39:24.279 --> 00:39:24.899
 he cried out,

00:39:25.539 --> 00:39:26.739
 if there's any other way,

00:39:26.839 --> 00:39:27.960
 let this cup pass from me,

00:39:28.019 --> 00:39:28.799
 but not my will,

00:39:28.879 --> 00:39:29.599
 but yours be done.

00:39:30.339 --> 00:39:31.219
 Can we do the same

00:39:31.219 --> 00:39:32.460
 to surrender our striving

00:39:32.460 --> 00:39:33.159
 and our scheming?

00:39:33.799 --> 00:39:34.480
 Surrender to him.

00:39:35.119 --> 00:39:36.379
 Lay aside every weight

00:39:36.379 --> 00:39:37.199
 and sin which clings

00:39:37.199 --> 00:39:37.779
 so closely,

00:39:38.339 --> 00:39:39.399
 looking to Jesus,

00:39:40.099 --> 00:39:41.079
 and run with endurance

00:39:41.079 --> 00:39:41.960
 the race that is set

00:39:41.960 --> 00:39:42.539
 before us.

00:39:43.599 --> 00:39:44.859
 Let's put our trust in him.

00:39:44.860 --> 00:39:46.180
 Let's pray.

00:39:46.180 --> 00:39:46.200
 Let's pray.

00:39:46.199 --> 00:39:58.639
 God,

00:39:58.679 --> 00:39:59.639
 we thank you that you

00:39:59.639 --> 00:40:01.599
 are someone

00:40:01.599 --> 00:40:03.259
 we can put our faith in.

00:40:03.679 --> 00:40:05.559
 You are our firm foundation.

00:40:06.839 --> 00:40:08.559
 You are the anchor

00:40:08.559 --> 00:40:09.460
 for our soul.

00:40:10.839 --> 00:40:11.679
 In Christ,

00:40:11.839 --> 00:40:13.339
 all the promises of God

00:40:13.339 --> 00:40:15.239
 find their yes and amen.

00:40:15.239 --> 00:40:18.559
 we know that for those

00:40:18.559 --> 00:40:19.299
 who love God,

00:40:19.379 --> 00:40:20.779
 all things work together

00:40:20.779 --> 00:40:21.719
 for good.

00:40:22.259 --> 00:40:23.819
 That what we mean for evil,

00:40:23.959 --> 00:40:24.739
 you mean for good.

00:40:25.299 --> 00:40:26.239
 That these light momentary

00:40:26.879 --> 00:40:28.299
 afflictions are preparing

00:40:28.299 --> 00:40:30.119
 for us an eternal weight

00:40:30.119 --> 00:40:31.979
 of glory beyond all comparison.

00:40:32.419 --> 00:40:33.279
 They're not just happening,

00:40:33.399 --> 00:40:34.899
 but are preparing for us glory.

00:40:36.759 --> 00:40:38.819
 That we are co-heirs with Christ,

00:40:38.919 --> 00:40:40.439
 provided we suffer with him.

00:40:42.099 --> 00:40:42.579
 God,

00:40:42.619 --> 00:40:43.719
 we hold to your promises.

00:40:43.719 --> 00:40:46.199
 We pray that you help us

00:40:46.199 --> 00:40:47.239
 to hold to your promises.

00:40:48.819 --> 00:40:49.699
 And we know

00:40:49.699 --> 00:40:51.939
 that there is suffering now.

00:40:52.019 --> 00:40:52.839
 There is waiting now.

00:40:53.179 --> 00:40:54.179
 There's anxieties now.

00:40:54.519 --> 00:40:55.659
 But you are making

00:40:55.659 --> 00:40:56.519
 all things new.

00:40:57.939 --> 00:40:59.500
 Help us to trust you,

00:41:00.000 --> 00:41:01.000
 to believe in you,

00:41:01.859 --> 00:41:04.139
 to look

00:41:04.139 --> 00:41:05.980
 to your coming.

00:41:05.980 --> 00:41:11.079
 and you're worthy of our faith.

00:41:12.840 --> 00:41:13.599
 Thank you, God.

00:41:13.900 --> 00:41:14.539
 In Jesus' name,

00:41:15.179 --> 00:41:15.380
 amen.

00:41:15.380 --> 00:41:15.500
 Amen.

00:41:15.500 --> 00:41:15.599
 Amen.