WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.900 After these things, God tested Abraham and said to him, Abraham. 00:00:10.900 --> 00:00:13.940 And he said, here I am. 00:00:14.660 --> 00:00:22.520 He said, take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah 00:00:22.520 --> 00:00:28.719 and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you. 00:00:30.619 --> 00:00:39.280 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey and took two of his young men with him and his son Isaac. 00:00:40.899 --> 00:00:46.799 And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:52.859 On the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 00:00:54.299 --> 00:00:58.820 Then Abraham said to his young men, stay here with the donkey. 00:00:59.619 --> 00:01:03.599 I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you. 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:09.579 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac, his son. 00:01:10.900 --> 00:01:13.940 And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. 00:01:14.600 --> 00:01:16.620 So they went both of them together. 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:21.760 And Isaac said to his father, Abraham, my father. 00:01:22.180 --> 00:01:24.440 And he said, here I am, my son. 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:27.680 He said, behold, the fire and the wood. 00:01:28.240 --> 00:01:30.200 But where is the lamb of a burnt offering? 00:01:31.760 --> 00:01:37.340 Abraham said, God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son. 00:01:37.340 --> 00:01:40.079 So they went both of them together. 00:01:42.079 --> 00:01:53.340 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac, his son, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 00:01:54.939 --> 00:01:58.960 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:05.679 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, Abraham, Abraham. 00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:07.879 And he said, here I am. 00:02:08.780 --> 00:02:13.280 He said, do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. 00:02:13.659 --> 00:02:16.400 For now I know that you fear God. 00:02:17.240 --> 00:02:22.199 Seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son from me. 00:02:22.199 --> 00:02:30.719 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked and behold, behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. 00:02:31.679 --> 00:02:36.619 And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:40.739 So Abraham called the name of that place. 00:02:41.639 --> 00:02:43.039 The Lord will provide. 00:02:43.519 --> 00:02:48.539 As it is said to this day, on the mount of the Lord, it shall be provided. 00:02:48.539 --> 00:02:55.219 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, 00:02:56.019 --> 00:03:03.959 By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and not withheld your son, your only son, 00:03:04.599 --> 00:03:12.579 I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of the heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. 00:03:12.580 --> 00:03:16.900 And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemy. 00:03:17.980 --> 00:03:24.860 And in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice. 00:03:26.740 --> 00:03:32.120 So Abraham returned to his young men and they arose and went together to Bathsheba. 00:03:32.760 --> 00:03:35.040 And Abraham lived at Bathsheba. 00:03:35.039 --> 00:03:39.319 Now after these things, it was told to Abraham, 00:03:39.519 --> 00:03:43.799 Behold, Milcah has also born children to your brother Nahor. 00:03:44.599 --> 00:03:46.079 Uz, his firstborn. 00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:47.579 Buzz, his brother. 00:03:48.139 --> 00:03:49.780 Camuel, the father of Aram. 00:03:50.359 --> 00:03:55.120 Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaf and Bethuel. 00:03:56.019 --> 00:03:57.680 Bethuel fathered Rebekah. 00:03:58.680 --> 00:04:02.659 These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother. 00:04:02.659 --> 00:04:10.960 Moreover, his concubine, whose name was Rumah, bore Teba, Gaham, Tehash and Mecca. 00:04:18.180 --> 00:04:19.259 Good morning, everyone. 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:25.219 Will you pray with me as you come to God's word? 00:04:25.219 --> 00:04:25.279 Amen. 00:04:32.660 --> 00:04:40.400 Father, we all come this morning desperate. 00:04:42.400 --> 00:04:45.480 Our life, we need your word. 00:04:46.020 --> 00:04:47.080 We need your promises. 00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:49.820 We need to see who you are, your character. 00:04:50.140 --> 00:04:54.140 We need to understand what you've done for us, the hope you've given us. 00:04:54.139 --> 00:05:04.139 I pray that you'll give us, by your spirit, minds that understand your word and hearts that believe and trust. 00:05:04.939 --> 00:05:06.199 I pray this in Jesus' name. 00:05:06.439 --> 00:05:06.740 Amen. 00:05:09.099 --> 00:05:17.899 Well, we are coming to, I'm going to call it the mountaintop of Abraham's growth in faith. 00:05:17.899 --> 00:05:22.219 This is the climax of the story of Abraham. 00:05:25.639 --> 00:05:31.539 How can Yahweh command such a terrible thing? 00:05:34.199 --> 00:05:40.019 Some atheists find this passage absolutely repugnant. 00:05:40.019 --> 00:05:46.639 Like Richard Dawkins, he says it pretty powerfully. 00:05:47.079 --> 00:05:59.159 This disgraceful story is an example simultaneously of child abuse, bullying in two asymmetrical power relationships, 00:05:59.979 --> 00:06:05.680 and the first recorded use of the Nuremberg defence. 00:06:05.799 --> 00:06:06.939 I was only obeying orders. 00:06:06.939 --> 00:06:11.779 Pretty strong words. 00:06:13.100 --> 00:06:18.660 Let's get a broader perspective before we pronounce a guilty verdict on God's character. 00:06:21.240 --> 00:06:30.519 Child sacrifice was part of the worship to the god Molech in the land of Canaan, in Abraham's time. 00:06:30.519 --> 00:06:41.039 And so we find in Leviticus 18.21, Yahweh prohibits Israel from practising the abominations of the people of the land. 00:06:42.479 --> 00:06:46.859 You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech. 00:06:46.860 --> 00:06:58.920 They offered their children to their god to get further prosperity, further fruitfulness from the gods. 00:06:59.020 --> 00:07:01.060 That is not what's happening in this passage. 00:07:04.340 --> 00:07:09.520 Abraham and his descendants were to be totally different from the nations around them. 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:13.159 Now it's not just the Canaanites. 00:07:13.939 --> 00:07:19.560 In Roman times there was a letter recovered of a man writing to his wife, 00:07:20.019 --> 00:07:23.359 and the letter talks about lots of common things you might expect, 00:07:23.359 --> 00:07:24.859 and then at the end it's like, 00:07:25.060 --> 00:07:27.719 when you give birth to our child, if it's a boy, keep him. 00:07:27.779 --> 00:07:30.639 If it's a girl, leave it to die of exposure. 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:39.079 As if it was like, go do the shopping, and by the way, just throw our kid out to die. 00:07:42.740 --> 00:07:46.139 Infanticide was very common in the ancient world. 00:07:46.599 --> 00:07:51.159 Now whether it's part of religious ritual or not, however far back you go, 00:07:51.160 --> 00:08:04.960 it's legal in New South Wales to end a child's life up to 22 weeks in the womb. 00:08:07.460 --> 00:08:09.420 Now Dawkins himself defends abortion, 00:08:10.320 --> 00:08:13.500 and he was controversial in 2014 when he tweeted, 00:08:13.500 --> 00:08:18.860 it would be immoral to bring a disabled child into the world. 00:08:21.160 --> 00:08:24.720 Now I'm hesitant to bring up abortion, 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:28.720 because I know it probably brings up some shame or regret, 00:08:28.900 --> 00:08:33.480 but please know, if that's you, the blood of Jesus covers that. 00:08:36.060 --> 00:08:39.100 I'm just trying to give perspective here on what we're looking at. 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:42.200 How can Yahweh ask this of Abraham? 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:50.980 I'm not trying to sidestep how troubling this command is. 00:08:50.980 --> 00:08:52.120 It is troubling. 00:08:53.940 --> 00:08:59.300 But it's the wholehearted trust in the biblical God of Abraham, 00:09:00.300 --> 00:09:04.759 those who see the wonder in this passage, in this event, 00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:07.220 that actually saves children, 00:09:09.019 --> 00:09:11.039 both in ancient times and today. 00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:17.719 That's why this passage is actually troubling, 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:21.860 because it's so at odds with the character of Yahweh. 00:09:22.699 --> 00:09:26.659 What God asks of Abraham here, it's unique. 00:09:26.779 --> 00:09:28.159 It is one of a kind. 00:09:29.019 --> 00:09:30.939 And the fact that it is unique, 00:09:31.639 --> 00:09:35.779 I think is what unlocks the wonder of its message to us today. 00:09:35.779 --> 00:09:39.860 So as we come into this passage, 00:09:40.019 --> 00:09:41.039 here's what we're going to see. 00:09:41.179 --> 00:09:45.360 We're going to see what God asks of Abraham in verses 1 and 2, 00:09:45.559 --> 00:09:49.500 offer up your all to me in worship of me. 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:52.139 In verses 3 to 8, 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:56.899 I think we see his obedience is empowered by faith. 00:09:56.899 --> 00:10:01.919 We see the Lord will provide the lamb, 00:10:03.340 --> 00:10:07.199 and that the Lord swears to bless the world 00:10:07.199 --> 00:10:09.079 because of this one man's obedience. 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:10.179 So that's where we're headed. 00:10:11.539 --> 00:10:12.579 Have your Bibles open. 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:15.480 Well, verse 1, 00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:17.100 After these things, 00:10:18.180 --> 00:10:19.779 we saw last week, 00:10:19.860 --> 00:10:22.759 the covenant blessings are starting to come in. 00:10:23.379 --> 00:10:24.779 The nations of the earth, 00:10:24.899 --> 00:10:25.539 with Abimelech, 00:10:25.580 --> 00:10:27.019 is coming to Abraham for blessing. 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:28.740 He's at Bathsheba, 00:10:28.899 --> 00:10:31.399 the southern border of the promised land, 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:32.340 and he's worshipping. 00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:35.340 The promised land is just a matter of time 00:10:35.340 --> 00:10:36.980 before he possesses it. 00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:38.659 And most of all, 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:40.279 all the promises 00:10:40.279 --> 00:10:43.659 hinge on the giving of Isaac. 00:10:43.659 --> 00:10:45.740 Isaac has arrived. 00:10:47.100 --> 00:10:49.120 All God's plans to save the world 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:51.679 will come through Isaac's line. 00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:53.799 And we would expect the story 00:10:53.799 --> 00:10:56.319 to just go from strength to strength, 00:10:56.459 --> 00:10:58.139 more blessings just pouring in, 00:10:58.199 --> 00:10:58.579 but no, 00:10:58.939 --> 00:11:00.139 that is the context 00:11:00.139 --> 00:11:02.459 for this greatest test 00:11:02.459 --> 00:11:04.399 of Abraham's faith and obedience. 00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:11.179 Now, one of my deepest fears 00:11:11.179 --> 00:11:13.199 is when Emma and the kids 00:11:13.200 --> 00:11:14.460 go for a long drive 00:11:14.460 --> 00:11:16.140 without me. 00:11:17.540 --> 00:11:18.140 Not... 00:11:18.140 --> 00:11:20.460 I've got every confidence 00:11:20.460 --> 00:11:21.420 as in Emma's driving. 00:11:21.540 --> 00:11:22.140 I just realised... 00:11:23.140 --> 00:11:24.840 I've got every confidence. 00:11:27.060 --> 00:11:28.060 I'm afraid 00:11:28.060 --> 00:11:30.200 because it feels like 00:11:30.200 --> 00:11:31.300 my whole world 00:11:31.300 --> 00:11:32.580 is in that car. 00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:35.540 And Emma reminds me, 00:11:35.580 --> 00:11:36.879 Christ is my world. 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:42.379 Now, if tragedy was to happen, 00:11:42.460 --> 00:11:43.100 that would be... 00:11:43.100 --> 00:11:46.379 I do not want that test of faith, okay? 00:11:46.620 --> 00:11:48.159 But I don't think 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:49.539 that even comes close 00:11:49.539 --> 00:11:51.419 to what Abraham 00:11:51.419 --> 00:11:53.039 has commanded here. 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:54.439 It's even more than that 00:11:54.439 --> 00:11:56.740 that God is asking 00:11:56.740 --> 00:11:57.559 of Abraham. 00:11:57.720 --> 00:11:58.580 Take your son, 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:00.100 your only son Isaac, 00:12:00.740 --> 00:12:01.700 whom you love, 00:12:01.700 --> 00:12:03.840 and go to the land 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:04.560 of Moriah 00:12:04.560 --> 00:12:05.680 and offer him there 00:12:05.680 --> 00:12:06.920 as a burnt offering 00:12:06.920 --> 00:12:08.080 on one of the mountains 00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:09.680 of which I shall tell you. 00:12:15.060 --> 00:12:16.520 It's his whole world 00:12:16.520 --> 00:12:18.640 and it's all God's promises 00:12:19.160 --> 00:12:20.180 are bound up 00:12:20.180 --> 00:12:21.720 in his son. 00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:28.480 We've seen in Abraham 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:30.040 the man of faith. 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:32.080 He's the model of faith. 00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:33.040 He's a mixed picture. 00:12:34.860 --> 00:12:35.899 The language here 00:12:35.899 --> 00:12:36.600 reminds us 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:38.000 of his original call 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:39.060 in chapter 12. 00:12:39.639 --> 00:12:40.480 Go to a land 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:41.580 and I'll tell you later 00:12:41.580 --> 00:12:42.220 where you're going. 00:12:43.040 --> 00:12:44.480 And he obeyed that call. 00:12:45.040 --> 00:12:46.160 He is a man of faith. 00:12:46.379 --> 00:12:47.660 But then we've also seen him 00:12:47.660 --> 00:12:50.120 full of cowardly fear 00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:52.159 where he puts Sarah 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:53.840 and the promises of God 00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:54.679 in harm's way. 00:12:56.179 --> 00:12:57.299 I think sometimes today 00:12:57.299 --> 00:12:58.899 we talk about faith, 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:00.360 some people talk about faith 00:13:00.360 --> 00:13:01.399 as if they've, 00:13:01.740 --> 00:13:03.340 I've always believed in Jesus. 00:13:03.899 --> 00:13:05.080 There's nothing further 00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:05.759 to develop. 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:08.679 It's this static thing. 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:10.399 I've always had faith. 00:13:10.560 --> 00:13:12.320 What are you talking about? 00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:15.700 Others speak of their lack of faith 00:13:15.700 --> 00:13:17.139 as if it's too weak, 00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:18.360 it's too fixed. 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:20.460 I'm never going to change. 00:13:21.539 --> 00:13:23.419 But we see in the life of Abraham 00:13:23.419 --> 00:13:26.240 growth in faith. 00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:32.440 One commentator says, 00:13:32.580 --> 00:13:33.279 the test, 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:34.820 instead of breaking him, 00:13:35.019 --> 00:13:36.720 brings him to the summit 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:39.980 of his lifelong walk with God. 00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:44.700 here we see 00:13:44.700 --> 00:13:49.940 Abraham's growth in faith. 00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:54.440 And each phrase of the command 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:56.039 must have made the command harder. 00:13:56.159 --> 00:13:57.120 Take your son, 00:13:58.440 --> 00:14:01.120 your only son, 00:14:01.659 --> 00:14:03.659 whom you love. 00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:04.759 It must have gone against 00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:07.740 all his human affection. 00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:09.480 the son whom you love. 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:12.519 Now, 00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:13.080 some parents 00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:15.220 who struggle to have children 00:14:15.220 --> 00:14:15.799 and then 00:14:15.799 --> 00:14:17.940 God gives them a child 00:14:17.940 --> 00:14:18.759 late in life. 00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:20.879 Have you ever noticed 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:22.139 they can be super, 00:14:22.299 --> 00:14:23.000 super 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:24.139 protective 00:14:24.139 --> 00:14:25.580 of that child. 00:14:26.659 --> 00:14:27.799 Abraham had to wait 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:29.220 25 years. 00:14:31.539 --> 00:14:33.080 The son whom you love, 00:14:34.299 --> 00:14:35.580 you've just given him. 00:14:35.580 --> 00:14:38.420 Now, 00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:39.180 give him back. 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:41.080 It seemed to go against 00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:42.480 the character of God. 00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:44.680 How could he make sense 00:14:44.680 --> 00:14:45.460 of this command? 00:14:47.580 --> 00:14:48.540 It went against 00:14:48.540 --> 00:14:50.340 the revealed plans of God 00:14:50.340 --> 00:14:51.740 to save the world. 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:53.400 Remember Abraham's name. 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:54.200 He's the father 00:14:54.200 --> 00:14:55.060 of many nations. 00:14:55.540 --> 00:14:56.620 All the covenant promises 00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:57.200 of God 00:14:57.200 --> 00:14:58.100 are bound up 00:14:58.100 --> 00:14:58.900 in Isaac. 00:14:58.900 --> 00:14:59.120 Isaac. 00:14:59.120 --> 00:14:59.160 Isaac. 00:14:59.159 --> 00:15:06.439 In that time, 00:15:06.699 --> 00:15:07.819 all your identity 00:15:07.819 --> 00:15:08.799 and purpose 00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:09.639 and future 00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:10.519 is bound up 00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:11.719 as a family unit. 00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:13.259 We think individualistically 00:15:13.259 --> 00:15:13.779 today. 00:15:14.459 --> 00:15:15.199 But for Abraham, 00:15:15.799 --> 00:15:16.659 the firstborn 00:15:16.659 --> 00:15:17.439 was the head 00:15:17.439 --> 00:15:18.159 of the family, 00:15:18.299 --> 00:15:19.240 representing the family. 00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:20.379 What's God 00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:21.219 asking him to do? 00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:21.779 Abraham, 00:15:22.019 --> 00:15:23.319 your entire life, 00:15:23.779 --> 00:15:24.779 your identity, 00:15:25.220 --> 00:15:25.959 your meaning, 00:15:25.960 --> 00:15:28.560 your safety, 00:15:28.759 --> 00:15:29.620 your security, 00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:30.580 your hope, 00:15:30.820 --> 00:15:32.220 your significance 00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:33.080 in the world. 00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:36.320 Give it all up. 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:39.840 Give it all your life 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:40.700 up to me. 00:15:40.700 --> 00:15:47.680 Now, 00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:48.680 Abraham's test 00:15:48.680 --> 00:15:50.160 is very unique. 00:15:51.500 --> 00:15:52.580 The specifics 00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:53.200 of what God 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:53.620 is asking. 00:15:53.780 --> 00:15:54.700 But the fact 00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:55.060 that God 00:15:55.060 --> 00:15:56.200 tests faith 00:15:56.200 --> 00:15:57.360 to the point 00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:58.259 where his people 00:15:58.259 --> 00:15:58.920 find it 00:15:58.920 --> 00:16:00.420 troubling, 00:16:01.040 --> 00:16:01.560 perplexing, 00:16:01.640 --> 00:16:03.620 even feeling 00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:04.320 like God 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:05.400 is an enemy. 00:16:05.940 --> 00:16:06.759 How can God 00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:07.480 be asking 00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:08.180 this of me? 00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:11.519 that's par 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:12.239 for the course. 00:16:15.819 --> 00:16:17.000 Elizabeth Elliot, 00:16:17.620 --> 00:16:18.299 whose husband 00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:19.559 died trying 00:16:19.559 --> 00:16:19.879 to share 00:16:19.879 --> 00:16:20.339 the gospel 00:16:20.339 --> 00:16:21.019 as a missionary, 00:16:22.239 --> 00:16:23.399 she was once 00:16:23.399 --> 00:16:24.339 visiting friends 00:16:24.339 --> 00:16:25.259 on a sheep farm 00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:26.279 in northern Wales 00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:28.239 and sheep 00:16:28.239 --> 00:16:28.839 are vulnerable 00:16:28.839 --> 00:16:31.179 to disease, 00:16:31.459 --> 00:16:32.139 even death 00:16:32.139 --> 00:16:33.079 by insects 00:16:33.079 --> 00:16:33.699 and parasites. 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:34.659 So once a year 00:16:34.659 --> 00:16:35.240 the sheep 00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:37.059 were submerged 00:16:37.059 --> 00:16:38.179 in a big 00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:38.739 vat 00:16:38.739 --> 00:16:40.479 of antiseptic 00:16:40.479 --> 00:16:41.959 and Elizabeth 00:16:41.959 --> 00:16:42.539 said this, 00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:43.519 one by one 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:44.519 John sees 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:45.119 the animals 00:16:45.119 --> 00:16:46.279 as their 00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:47.000 Lord and 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:47.379 Master 00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:48.379 was pushing 00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:49.119 their head 00:16:49.119 --> 00:16:49.579 under, 00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:51.000 drowning them 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:52.099 at least as far 00:16:52.099 --> 00:16:52.579 as they could 00:16:52.579 --> 00:16:52.899 tell. 00:16:54.899 --> 00:16:55.979 And she reflected 00:16:55.979 --> 00:16:56.359 later, 00:16:56.459 --> 00:16:57.039 there are times 00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:57.819 I couldn't figure 00:16:57.819 --> 00:16:58.639 out any 00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:00.159 reason for the 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:00.919 treatment I was 00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:01.659 getting from my 00:17:01.659 --> 00:17:02.259 great shepherd 00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:03.219 whom I trusted. 00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:05.799 And like 00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:06.480 these sheep, 00:17:06.600 --> 00:17:07.200 I didn't have 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:07.839 a hint 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:08.819 of explanation. 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:12.940 All God's 00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:13.400 sheep have 00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:14.640 our faith 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:15.180 tested. 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:16.740 It can feel 00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:18.519 like God 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:18.920 is trying 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:19.400 to kill 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:19.740 you, 00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:21.519 not bless 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:21.880 you. 00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:25.740 He's asking 00:17:25.740 --> 00:17:26.460 you to lose 00:17:26.460 --> 00:17:27.640 your meaning 00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:28.240 while you get 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:28.660 up in the 00:17:28.660 --> 00:17:28.900 morning. 00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:29.500 He's asking 00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:30.180 you to lose 00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:32.039 your future, 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:32.700 your sense 00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:33.560 of safety, 00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:34.539 your purpose. 00:17:37.840 --> 00:17:38.880 To trust 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:39.519 that God 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:40.340 himself and 00:17:40.340 --> 00:17:40.920 not what he 00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:41.640 gives us 00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:42.799 is to be 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:43.660 all our 00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:44.160 life. 00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:47.279 God does 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:47.880 that to all 00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:48.779 his children. 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:49.400 He tests 00:17:49.400 --> 00:17:50.000 our faith. 00:17:51.900 --> 00:17:52.519 He is to 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:53.160 be our 00:17:53.160 --> 00:17:54.019 whole world. 00:18:00.180 --> 00:18:02.180 God is 00:18:02.180 --> 00:18:04.100 more interested 00:18:04.100 --> 00:18:04.560 in our 00:18:04.560 --> 00:18:04.960 happiness. 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:06.080 We have 00:18:06.080 --> 00:18:06.580 to come 00:18:06.580 --> 00:18:07.120 to terms 00:18:07.120 --> 00:18:07.420 with the 00:18:07.420 --> 00:18:07.860 fact that 00:18:07.860 --> 00:18:08.200 God is 00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:09.000 more interested 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:09.440 in our 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:10.340 holiness than 00:18:10.340 --> 00:18:10.660 in our 00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:11.759 happiness right 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:12.060 now. 00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:14.779 He's more 00:18:14.779 --> 00:18:15.340 interested in 00:18:15.340 --> 00:18:16.299 our faithfulness 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:16.900 than in our 00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:18.279 financial resources. 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:21.880 He's more 00:18:21.880 --> 00:18:22.480 interested in 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:23.200 our purity 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:24.700 than in our 00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:25.140 power. 00:18:25.140 --> 00:18:28.740 He's more 00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:29.480 interested in 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:30.340 our eternal 00:18:30.340 --> 00:18:31.280 life than 00:18:31.280 --> 00:18:31.620 in our 00:18:31.620 --> 00:18:32.540 external wealth. 00:18:32.620 --> 00:18:33.020 He's more 00:18:33.020 --> 00:18:33.620 interested in 00:18:33.620 --> 00:18:34.860 our endurance 00:18:34.860 --> 00:18:36.280 than in our 00:18:36.280 --> 00:18:36.900 reputation. 00:18:44.580 --> 00:18:45.320 God is 00:18:45.320 --> 00:18:46.080 asking Abraham 00:18:46.080 --> 00:18:46.820 to offer up 00:18:46.820 --> 00:18:47.360 all to 00:18:47.360 --> 00:18:49.700 him. 00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:52.440 Now, 00:18:52.520 --> 00:18:53.060 what's more 00:18:53.060 --> 00:18:53.780 amazing than 00:18:53.780 --> 00:18:54.140 what God 00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:54.620 asks of 00:18:54.619 --> 00:18:55.479 Abraham is 00:18:55.479 --> 00:18:56.559 Abraham's 00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:57.299 response in 00:18:57.299 --> 00:18:57.899 verses 3 00:18:57.899 --> 00:18:58.359 to 10. 00:18:59.179 --> 00:18:59.739 We're not 00:18:59.739 --> 00:19:00.939 told Abraham's 00:19:00.939 --> 00:19:01.379 thoughts. 00:19:02.479 --> 00:19:03.019 Our attention 00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:03.959 is drawn to 00:19:03.959 --> 00:19:05.039 his incredible 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:05.639 obedience. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:07.279 Verse 3, 00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:07.899 he rose up 00:19:07.899 --> 00:19:08.219 early. 00:19:08.339 --> 00:19:08.879 He didn't 00:19:08.879 --> 00:19:09.199 hesitate. 00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:11.959 He cut 00:19:11.959 --> 00:19:12.519 the wood. 00:19:15.159 --> 00:19:15.899 I just 00:19:15.899 --> 00:19:16.159 wonder, 00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:17.239 what is 00:19:17.239 --> 00:19:17.879 going through 00:19:17.879 --> 00:19:18.500 his head 00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:20.839 knowing what 00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:21.500 this wood 00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:22.239 is going to 00:19:22.239 --> 00:19:22.639 be used 00:19:22.639 --> 00:19:22.939 for? 00:19:24.619 --> 00:19:25.679 It's a 00:19:25.679 --> 00:19:26.139 three-day 00:19:26.139 --> 00:19:26.579 journey, 00:19:26.739 --> 00:19:27.079 70 00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:27.559 kilometres, 00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:29.899 people think. 00:19:31.199 --> 00:19:31.799 This wasn't 00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:32.500 just a quick, 00:19:32.899 --> 00:19:33.359 okay, I'm just 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:33.659 going to get 00:19:33.659 --> 00:19:34.199 this obedience 00:19:34.199 --> 00:19:34.599 over and 00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:34.919 done with. 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:36.459 This requires 00:19:36.459 --> 00:19:37.559 sustained 00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:39.059 obedience. 00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:41.019 And the 00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:41.739 closer he got, 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:42.279 the harder 00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:42.899 the obedience. 00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:43.040 obedience. 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:46.200 How hard would 00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:46.680 it have been 00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:47.320 when his son 00:19:47.320 --> 00:19:47.620 says, 00:19:47.820 --> 00:19:48.019 Daddy, 00:19:48.140 --> 00:19:48.680 where's the 00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:49.019 lamb? 00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:54.840 That must have 00:19:54.840 --> 00:19:55.460 been hard to 00:19:55.460 --> 00:19:55.980 keep going. 00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:00.259 What was 00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:00.940 motivating 00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:01.600 Abraham to 00:20:01.600 --> 00:20:01.940 obey? 00:20:04.320 --> 00:20:05.120 Was it 00:20:05.120 --> 00:20:06.440 unquestioning 00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:06.960 obedience 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:07.980 despite how 00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:09.040 crazy it 00:20:09.040 --> 00:20:09.460 seemed? 00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:11.039 I think 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:11.259 that would 00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:11.559 be a 00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:12.000 dangerous 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:12.960 lesson for 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:13.319 us to 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:13.840 take away. 00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:16.039 If you 00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:16.500 feel like 00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:16.980 God is 00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:17.420 telling you 00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:17.680 to do 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:17.980 something, 00:20:18.120 --> 00:20:18.759 regardless 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:19.279 of what 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:19.720 he has 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:20.360 revealed, 00:20:21.100 --> 00:20:22.299 that can't 00:20:22.299 --> 00:20:22.680 be the 00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:23.200 lesson for 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:23.480 us to 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:23.960 take away. 00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:29.940 I think 00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:30.380 there's more 00:20:30.380 --> 00:20:30.960 hints to 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:31.240 what's 00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:31.720 motivating 00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.299 him here. 00:20:32.299 --> 00:20:36.859 By the 00:20:36.859 --> 00:20:37.279 time we 00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:37.559 get to 00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:37.720 the 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:38.180 Passover 00:20:38.180 --> 00:20:38.619 at 00:20:38.619 --> 00:20:39.099 Exodus, 00:20:39.419 --> 00:20:39.839 God's 00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:40.299 judgment 00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:40.720 of the 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:41.440 firstborn, 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:41.919 remember? 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:43.599 The 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:44.159 identity 00:20:44.159 --> 00:20:44.720 and the 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:45.419 future of 00:20:45.419 --> 00:20:46.279 every family 00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:46.899 was in 00:20:46.899 --> 00:20:47.099 the 00:20:47.099 --> 00:20:47.680 firstborn. 00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:48.279 It 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:48.740 would 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:48.899 have 00:20:48.899 --> 00:20:49.279 hit 00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:50.019 Israel's 00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:50.460 families 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:50.879 too. 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.000 God 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:52.200 would 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:52.279 have 00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:52.460 been 00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:53.039 just 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:54.919 to 00:20:54.919 --> 00:20:55.319 call 00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:55.740 in a 00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:55.940 debt 00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:56.200 of 00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:56.539 sin 00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:57.799 except 00:20:57.799 --> 00:20:58.779 for the 00:20:58.779 --> 00:20:59.139 provision 00:20:59.139 --> 00:20:59.480 of the 00:20:59.480 --> 00:20:59.680 blood 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:00.000 of the 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:00.339 lamb. 00:21:00.339 --> 00:21:02.279 In 00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:03.000 Micah 6 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:03.500 verse 7 00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:03.899 the prophet 00:21:03.899 --> 00:21:04.339 asks, 00:21:04.699 --> 00:21:05.139 shall I 00:21:05.139 --> 00:21:05.519 give my 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:06.399 firstborn 00:21:06.399 --> 00:21:07.039 for my 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:07.939 transgression, 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:10.220 the fruit 00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:10.699 of my 00:21:10.699 --> 00:21:11.299 body for 00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:11.799 the sin 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:12.179 of my 00:21:12.179 --> 00:21:12.559 soul? 00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:16.240 It 00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:17.099 could be, 00:21:17.619 --> 00:21:18.359 I'm not 00:21:18.359 --> 00:21:18.740 sure if, 00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:20.119 I might be 00:21:20.119 --> 00:21:21.159 inappropriately 00:21:21.159 --> 00:21:21.839 reading back 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:22.439 into Genesis, 00:21:22.699 --> 00:21:22.859 okay, 00:21:22.959 --> 00:21:23.579 but it 00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:24.220 could be 00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:24.759 that Abraham 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:26.439 knows God 00:21:26.439 --> 00:21:27.159 has every 00:21:27.159 --> 00:21:27.919 right to 00:21:27.919 --> 00:21:28.559 call in 00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:29.859 his debt 00:21:29.859 --> 00:21:30.299 of sin. 00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:34.559 But I 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:34.879 think we're 00:21:34.879 --> 00:21:35.579 given more 00:21:35.579 --> 00:21:35.980 hints, 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:37.579 more clear 00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:38.399 hints here 00:21:38.399 --> 00:21:38.759 of what's 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.179 going through 00:21:39.179 --> 00:21:39.679 Abraham's 00:21:39.679 --> 00:21:40.039 mind. 00:21:40.599 --> 00:21:41.119 I don't 00:21:41.119 --> 00:21:41.839 think we're 00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:42.699 shown the 00:21:42.699 --> 00:21:43.539 willpower to 00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:43.799 obey, 00:21:43.879 --> 00:21:44.099 I'm just 00:21:44.099 --> 00:21:44.299 going to 00:21:44.299 --> 00:21:44.819 obey no 00:21:44.819 --> 00:21:45.019 matter, 00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:46.259 it seems 00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:46.519 to go 00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:46.879 against 00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:47.299 God's 00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:48.119 revealed 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:48.480 will. 00:21:48.899 --> 00:21:49.359 We're 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:49.519 not 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:50.039 shown that 00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:50.519 it seems 00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:51.359 a sense 00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:51.919 of guilt. 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:53.539 His 00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:54.039 obedience 00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:55.279 is empowered 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:56.259 by faith 00:21:56.259 --> 00:21:57.139 in his 00:21:57.139 --> 00:21:57.500 promise. 00:21:57.500 --> 00:21:59.960 I think 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:00.279 we get 00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:00.680 that hint 00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:01.140 in verse 00:22:01.140 --> 00:22:01.660 5. 00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:03.900 Then Abraham 00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:04.359 said to 00:22:04.359 --> 00:22:04.660 his young 00:22:04.660 --> 00:22:04.900 man, 00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:05.559 stay here 00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:05.799 with the 00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:06.079 donkey, 00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:06.720 I and 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:07.019 the boy 00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:07.420 will go 00:22:07.420 --> 00:22:08.000 over there 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:08.720 and worship 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:09.799 and come 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:10.460 again to 00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:10.720 you. 00:22:11.380 --> 00:22:11.859 Now that's 00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:12.079 in the 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:12.420 plural, 00:22:13.339 --> 00:22:13.700 we will 00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:14.279 come again 00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:14.799 to you. 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:17.980 I don't 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:18.259 think he 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:18.859 was lying, 00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:18.919 lying. 00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:20.759 I think 00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:21.079 that would 00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:22.039 detract from 00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:22.559 the picture 00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:23.219 of obedience 00:22:23.219 --> 00:22:23.859 if he's 00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:24.679 lying here. 00:22:26.879 --> 00:22:27.559 As the 00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:28.240 command of 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:28.639 God and 00:22:28.639 --> 00:22:29.219 the promise 00:22:29.219 --> 00:22:29.639 of God 00:22:29.639 --> 00:22:30.299 seem to 00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:30.699 be in 00:22:30.699 --> 00:22:31.199 conflict, 00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:33.119 I think 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:33.339 he's 00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:33.740 drawing 00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.500 deeply 00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:35.219 on God's 00:22:35.219 --> 00:22:35.679 promise. 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:36.599 Through 00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:37.500 Isaac 00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:38.179 shall 00:22:38.179 --> 00:22:38.619 your 00:22:38.619 --> 00:22:39.199 offspring 00:22:39.199 --> 00:22:39.679 be 00:22:39.679 --> 00:22:40.259 named. 00:22:42.119 --> 00:22:42.339 And 00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:42.619 Hebrews 00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:42.979 11 00:22:42.979 --> 00:22:43.559 confirms 00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:43.979 this for 00:22:43.979 --> 00:22:44.259 us. 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:46.959 Hebrews 00:22:46.959 --> 00:22:47.419 11 00:22:47.419 --> 00:22:47.659 says, 00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:47.880 he 00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:48.500 considered 00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:49.120 that God 00:22:49.120 --> 00:22:49.880 was able 00:22:49.880 --> 00:22:51.279 even to 00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:52.259 raise him 00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:52.860 from the 00:22:52.860 --> 00:22:53.120 dead. 00:22:56.360 --> 00:22:56.920 He's 00:22:56.920 --> 00:22:57.120 already 00:22:57.120 --> 00:22:57.820 seen God 00:22:57.820 --> 00:22:58.380 raised from 00:22:58.380 --> 00:22:58.720 the dead, 00:22:58.880 --> 00:22:59.580 a kind 00:22:59.580 --> 00:23:00.019 of raised 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.360 from the 00:23:00.360 --> 00:23:00.600 dead. 00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:03.540 Remember 00:23:03.540 --> 00:23:03.920 that he 00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:04.480 and Sarah 00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:05.000 were as 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:05.340 good as 00:23:05.340 --> 00:23:05.660 dead. 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:06.360 Now 00:23:06.360 --> 00:23:06.700 that's not 00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.279 my wording, 00:23:07.380 --> 00:23:07.560 that's 00:23:07.560 --> 00:23:07.980 scripture's 00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:08.240 wording. 00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:10.080 He was 00:23:10.080 --> 00:23:10.580 as good 00:23:10.580 --> 00:23:11.160 as dead 00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:12.080 when Isaac 00:23:12.080 --> 00:23:12.759 was born. 00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:15.720 His 00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:16.500 faith grew 00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:17.300 strong in 00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:17.740 the promise. 00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:18.200 He knows 00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:18.799 nothing is 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:19.000 too 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:19.480 impossible 00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:20.119 for God. 00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:22.299 The logic 00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:22.940 is sound. 00:23:23.099 --> 00:23:23.299 He's 00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:23.779 telling me 00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:24.200 to offer 00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:24.839 up my 00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:25.779 only son 00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:27.419 my whole 00:23:27.419 --> 00:23:28.099 life, 00:23:28.379 --> 00:23:28.700 but he's 00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:30.119 promised my 00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:30.960 only son 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:31.720 will inherit 00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.399 all God's 00:23:32.399 --> 00:23:32.919 everlasting 00:23:32.919 --> 00:23:33.359 promise. 00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:34.079 He must 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:34.680 be able to 00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.119 raise him 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:35.419 from the 00:23:35.419 --> 00:23:35.720 dead. 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:37.559 He's 00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:37.960 drawing 00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:38.579 deeply 00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:39.899 on God's 00:23:39.899 --> 00:23:40.259 promise. 00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:40.779 That's 00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.019 what's 00:23:41.019 --> 00:23:41.519 empowering 00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:42.200 his faith. 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:42.799 That's 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:43.119 what's 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:43.460 sending 00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:43.960 him up 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:44.299 the 00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:44.700 mountain, 00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:45.759 the 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:46.259 promise. 00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:58.720 Isaac 00:23:58.720 --> 00:23:59.240 asks, 00:23:59.399 --> 00:23:59.779 where is 00:23:59.779 --> 00:23:59.980 the 00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:00.279 lamb? 00:24:00.579 --> 00:24:00.960 Again, 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:01.279 I don't 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:01.700 think he's 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:02.440 lying when 00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:02.919 he says, 00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:04.579 the Lord 00:24:04.579 --> 00:24:05.859 will provide. 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:08.559 I can't 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:09.339 see the 00:24:09.339 --> 00:24:09.659 lamb. 00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:10.619 The word 00:24:10.619 --> 00:24:11.339 provide is 00:24:11.339 --> 00:24:11.720 see. 00:24:11.899 --> 00:24:12.259 God will 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:13.799 see to it. 00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:15.200 I can't 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:15.779 see the 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:16.079 lamb, 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:16.659 my son. 00:24:16.879 --> 00:24:17.319 I can't 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:17.740 see it. 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:18.359 I have 00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:18.940 no idea 00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:19.419 how God's 00:24:19.419 --> 00:24:19.599 going to 00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:20.259 provide here. 00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:22.419 I know 00:24:22.419 --> 00:24:23.980 God has 00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:24.399 every right 00:24:24.399 --> 00:24:24.799 to call 00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:25.200 in my 00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:25.819 debt of 00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:26.139 sin, 00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:26.960 but he's 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:27.460 promised 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:29.940 you will 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:30.319 inherit 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:30.839 all. 00:24:31.139 --> 00:24:31.919 I don't 00:24:31.919 --> 00:24:32.399 know, 00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:32.819 I don't 00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:33.299 know how, 00:24:33.419 --> 00:24:33.619 I don't 00:24:33.619 --> 00:24:34.119 know when, 00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:34.940 but I 00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:35.359 know God 00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:35.919 will provide 00:24:35.919 --> 00:24:36.480 for himself 00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:37.059 so that 00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:37.619 you will 00:24:37.619 --> 00:24:38.019 live. 00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:42.319 He's 00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:42.859 drawing on 00:24:42.859 --> 00:24:43.400 the promise. 00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:47.099 In 00:24:47.099 --> 00:24:47.660 verses 9 00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:47.980 and 10, 00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:48.480 the narrative 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:49.400 slows right 00:24:49.400 --> 00:24:49.839 down. 00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:50.379 He builds 00:24:50.379 --> 00:24:50.920 the altar. 00:24:52.660 --> 00:24:53.700 He binds 00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:54.299 Isaac. 00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:57.019 We're not 00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:57.480 told, 00:24:57.639 --> 00:24:58.400 we're not 00:24:58.400 --> 00:24:58.720 told, 00:24:58.819 --> 00:24:59.240 did Isaac 00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:00.039 resist or 00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:00.619 did he obey 00:25:00.619 --> 00:25:01.519 as well in 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:01.920 trust? 00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:02.299 We're not 00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:02.579 told. 00:25:03.619 --> 00:25:04.220 He takes 00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:04.879 the knife 00:25:04.879 --> 00:25:05.559 in his 00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.039 hand. 00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:10.180 And the 00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:11.440 Lord intervenes. 00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:14.359 Abraham, 00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:15.079 Abraham. 00:25:15.740 --> 00:25:16.059 And he 00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:16.279 said, 00:25:16.339 --> 00:25:16.700 here I 00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:16.920 am. 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:17.099 And he 00:25:17.099 --> 00:25:17.240 said, 00:25:17.359 --> 00:25:18.000 do not 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:18.379 lay your 00:25:18.379 --> 00:25:18.740 hand on 00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:19.099 the boy 00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:19.420 or do 00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:19.819 anything 00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:20.379 to him. 00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:21.839 For now 00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:23.099 I know, 00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:25.319 I know 00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:25.960 that you 00:25:25.960 --> 00:25:26.879 fear God, 00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:27.960 seeing you 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:28.579 have not 00:25:28.579 --> 00:25:29.259 withheld 00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:30.160 your son, 00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:31.519 your only 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.440 son from 00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:32.740 me. 00:25:35.859 --> 00:25:36.539 He 00:25:36.539 --> 00:25:37.339 showed he 00:25:37.339 --> 00:25:38.000 loved God, 00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:38.500 God for 00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:39.079 God's 00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:39.440 sake. 00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:40.400 He 00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:41.440 trusted God's 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:42.200 promise despite 00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:43.279 not knowing 00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:43.740 how God 00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:44.379 would provide. 00:25:45.740 --> 00:25:46.339 But he 00:25:46.339 --> 00:25:47.400 provided in a 00:25:47.400 --> 00:25:48.039 better way than 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:48.680 he anticipated. 00:25:48.900 --> 00:25:49.259 He thought, 00:25:51.019 --> 00:25:51.379 oh well, 00:25:51.660 --> 00:25:52.339 he can raise 00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:52.879 Isaac from 00:25:52.879 --> 00:25:53.240 the dead. 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:54.980 He provided 00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:55.819 in an even 00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:56.460 more wonderful 00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:56.859 way. 00:25:59.000 --> 00:25:59.299 A 00:25:59.299 --> 00:26:00.160 substitute to 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:00.660 die in 00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:01.119 Isaac's 00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:01.539 place. 00:26:03.879 --> 00:26:05.059 This is the 00:26:05.059 --> 00:26:06.599 mountain which 00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:07.200 became the 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:07.879 site for the 00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:08.200 temple. 00:26:09.100 --> 00:26:09.440 That would 00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:09.720 be a 00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:10.160 constant 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:10.680 reminder. 00:26:10.800 --> 00:26:11.340 The Lord 00:26:11.340 --> 00:26:12.020 provides for 00:26:12.020 --> 00:26:13.000 himself the 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:13.680 sacrifice. 00:26:15.300 --> 00:26:16.220 The Lord 00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:16.880 provides. 00:26:22.100 --> 00:26:22.880 It was 00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:23.540 Abraham's 00:26:23.540 --> 00:26:24.620 faith that 00:26:24.620 --> 00:26:25.060 the Lord 00:26:25.060 --> 00:26:25.940 would graciously 00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:26.560 provide, 00:26:26.780 --> 00:26:27.420 even doing 00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:28.020 the impossible, 00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:29.660 that empowered 00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.140 him to 00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:31.400 sacrifice without 00:26:31.400 --> 00:26:32.080 reservation. 00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:39.299 whatever 00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:40.139 trials the 00:26:40.139 --> 00:26:41.179 Lord brings 00:26:41.179 --> 00:26:41.720 your way, 00:26:42.919 --> 00:26:43.500 it may 00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:44.319 feel like 00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:44.899 your shepherd 00:26:44.899 --> 00:26:45.699 is trying 00:26:45.699 --> 00:26:46.159 to drown 00:26:46.159 --> 00:26:46.460 you. 00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:51.139 But nothing 00:26:51.139 --> 00:26:53.139 demonstrates that 00:26:53.139 --> 00:26:54.240 God himself is 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:55.659 worthy of your 00:26:55.659 --> 00:26:56.319 trust, 00:26:56.319 --> 00:27:00.119 God himself is 00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:01.319 to be valued 00:27:01.319 --> 00:27:02.939 and is more 00:27:02.939 --> 00:27:04.000 precious than 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:04.659 the gifts he 00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:05.019 gives. 00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:06.379 Nothing 00:27:06.379 --> 00:27:07.339 demonstrates that 00:27:07.339 --> 00:27:08.119 God's word is 00:27:08.119 --> 00:27:09.099 absolutely 00:27:09.099 --> 00:27:10.200 trustworthy, 00:27:10.919 --> 00:27:11.839 despite you have 00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:13.559 no idea what 00:27:13.559 --> 00:27:14.339 he is doing. 00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:15.980 You can't see how 00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:16.799 he will provide. 00:27:17.059 --> 00:27:17.799 How is this doing 00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:18.500 any good? 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:18.539 God, 00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:22.200 and yet you 00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:23.079 rejoice in 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:23.440 hope. 00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:26.680 You love him 00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:27.160 still. 00:27:28.359 --> 00:27:29.660 You draw on 00:27:29.660 --> 00:27:30.380 his promises. 00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:33.579 The obedience 00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:34.680 that comes from 00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:35.539 faith, it 00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:36.720 glorifies God. 00:27:41.880 --> 00:27:43.380 It shows that 00:27:43.380 --> 00:27:43.960 God is 00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:45.059 trustworthy and 00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:45.819 precious to 00:27:45.819 --> 00:27:46.000 you. 00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:54.059 Well, all 00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:54.740 believers can 00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:55.799 relate to some 00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:56.539 degree we can 00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:57.119 relate to the 00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:57.819 testing of our 00:27:57.819 --> 00:27:59.599 faith, but I 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:00.279 think the primary 00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:01.140 purpose of this 00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:01.920 passage isn't 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:02.759 about our 00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.900 faith at all. 00:28:06.380 --> 00:28:07.420 We see the 00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:08.119 primary purpose 00:28:08.119 --> 00:28:09.079 in verses 15 00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:10.740 to 18, when 00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:11.259 the angel 00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:13.019 speaks, this 00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:13.500 angel of the 00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:14.539 Lord speaks for 00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:15.339 a second time. 00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:17.599 The angel of 00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:17.759 the Lord 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:18.240 called to 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:18.759 Abraham a 00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:19.160 second time 00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:19.620 from heaven 00:28:19.620 --> 00:28:20.200 and said, 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:21.620 By myself 00:28:21.620 --> 00:28:22.299 I have 00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:23.079 sworn, 00:28:23.900 --> 00:28:24.500 declares the 00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:25.740 Lord, because 00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:26.839 you have done 00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:27.900 this and have 00:28:27.900 --> 00:28:28.539 not withheld 00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:29.319 your son, your 00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:30.240 only son, I 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:31.039 will surely 00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:32.279 bless you and 00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:33.059 I will surely 00:28:33.059 --> 00:28:33.920 multiply your 00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:34.640 offspring as 00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:35.359 the stars of 00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:36.220 heaven and as 00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:37.200 the sand is on 00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:37.880 a seashore. 00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:38.740 And your 00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:39.599 offspring shall 00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:40.279 possess the 00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:40.779 gate of his 00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:41.079 enemies. 00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:42.460 And in your 00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:43.200 offspring shall 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.200 all the nations 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:44.859 of the earth be 00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:45.660 blessed because 00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:47.319 you have obeyed 00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:48.220 my voice. 00:28:53.439 --> 00:28:54.339 The only 00:28:54.339 --> 00:28:55.500 addition to 00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:56.379 the promises 00:28:56.379 --> 00:28:57.599 that we see 00:28:57.599 --> 00:28:58.439 here from 00:28:58.439 --> 00:28:59.399 previous passages 00:28:59.399 --> 00:29:01.259 is that your 00:29:01.259 --> 00:29:02.240 offspring shall 00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:03.639 possess the 00:29:03.639 --> 00:29:04.879 gate of his 00:29:04.879 --> 00:29:05.319 enemies. 00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:07.139 His here is 00:29:07.139 --> 00:29:07.839 singular. 00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:09.679 It may be what 00:29:09.679 --> 00:29:10.399 the Apostle Paul 00:29:10.399 --> 00:29:11.519 saw as evidence 00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.220 that the blessing 00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:12.980 of Abraham was 00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:13.759 promised not to 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:14.839 many seeds but 00:29:14.839 --> 00:29:17.599 to one, one 00:29:17.599 --> 00:29:18.480 seed he says 00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:19.160 in Galatians. 00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:22.279 He promises 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:26.220 victory for 00:29:26.220 --> 00:29:27.019 God's chosen 00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:27.720 seed. 00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:29.379 Now certainly 00:29:29.379 --> 00:29:30.859 that is providing 00:29:30.859 --> 00:29:32.099 the land, the 00:29:32.099 --> 00:29:32.920 conquest of the 00:29:32.920 --> 00:29:33.259 land. 00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:34.319 He will provide 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:35.640 victory there but 00:29:35.640 --> 00:29:37.220 maybe that promise 00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:38.299 gets expanded. 00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:40.079 Psalm 2, God's 00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:40.759 chosen one is 00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:41.339 going to possess 00:29:41.339 --> 00:29:42.259 the whole earth 00:29:42.259 --> 00:29:42.779 and by the 00:29:42.779 --> 00:29:43.160 time we get 00:29:43.160 --> 00:29:43.599 to the New 00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:44.619 Testament that 00:29:44.619 --> 00:29:45.539 victory is over 00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:46.559 spiritual enemies. 00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:47.500 It's over every 00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:48.599 single enemy that 00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:50.240 goes against the 00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:51.460 promises of God 00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:51.980 to bless. 00:29:56.079 --> 00:29:57.099 What we have in 00:29:57.099 --> 00:29:58.099 these verses is 00:29:58.099 --> 00:29:59.539 Yahweh swearing 00:29:59.539 --> 00:30:01.420 the oath of 00:30:01.420 --> 00:30:01.900 the covenant. 00:30:01.900 --> 00:30:01.960 covenant. 00:30:04.800 --> 00:30:06.019 The covenant in 00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:08.259 chapter 15, God 00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:09.580 promises descendants 00:30:09.580 --> 00:30:12.060 and land but 00:30:12.060 --> 00:30:13.040 what of the 00:30:13.040 --> 00:30:14.800 promises to 00:30:14.800 --> 00:30:15.740 bless the whole 00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:16.180 earth? 00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:21.700 It is at this 00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:23.280 pivotal moment in 00:30:23.280 --> 00:30:24.280 human history, of 00:30:24.280 --> 00:30:25.480 salvation history, 00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:27.160 that God's blessing 00:30:27.160 --> 00:30:28.240 to the nations is 00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:29.019 locked in. 00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:33.680 Yahweh has 00:30:33.680 --> 00:30:34.660 sworn. 00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:36.059 He is sworn by 00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:36.819 the highest 00:30:36.819 --> 00:30:37.680 authority which 00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:39.240 nothing can alter 00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:39.920 himself. 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.660 Hebrews 6 says 00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:44.500 this, so when God 00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:45.779 desired to show more 00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:46.839 convincingly to the 00:30:46.839 --> 00:30:47.379 heirs of the 00:30:47.379 --> 00:30:48.160 promise the 00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:49.779 unchangeable character 00:30:49.779 --> 00:30:51.119 of his purpose, he 00:30:51.119 --> 00:30:52.460 guaranteed it with an 00:30:52.460 --> 00:30:52.819 oath. 00:30:52.819 --> 00:31:01.460 He's locking in on 00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:02.240 blessing the whole 00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:02.639 world. 00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:05.960 Because you have 00:31:05.960 --> 00:31:06.659 done this. 00:31:08.099 --> 00:31:09.379 Because you have 00:31:09.379 --> 00:31:10.399 not withheld your 00:31:10.399 --> 00:31:11.759 son, your only son, 00:31:12.159 --> 00:31:13.259 because you obeyed 00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:13.939 my voice. 00:31:14.700 --> 00:31:15.480 Now, we get 00:31:15.480 --> 00:31:16.000 uncomfortable. 00:31:16.819 --> 00:31:17.679 Oh, does that 00:31:17.679 --> 00:31:20.359 mean the blessing 00:31:20.359 --> 00:31:22.019 is dependent on our 00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:22.480 obedience? 00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:23.879 It's not about us. 00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:25.799 I don't think this 00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:26.900 passage is about us. 00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:29.859 Remember who 00:31:29.859 --> 00:31:30.539 Abraham is. 00:31:30.619 --> 00:31:31.079 He's a 00:31:31.079 --> 00:31:32.400 representative man. 00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:35.960 He's the head of 00:31:35.960 --> 00:31:37.579 all the people he 00:31:37.579 --> 00:31:38.079 represents. 00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:39.359 It's because of this 00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:40.619 one man's obedience 00:31:40.619 --> 00:31:42.639 that the blessing of 00:31:42.639 --> 00:31:44.240 Yahweh will extend 00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:46.539 far, far, far 00:31:46.539 --> 00:31:48.579 beyond this one 00:31:48.579 --> 00:31:48.900 man. 00:31:48.900 --> 00:31:52.620 I think he's 00:31:52.620 --> 00:31:53.560 like Adam, 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:55.400 the head of 00:31:55.400 --> 00:31:55.860 humanity. 00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:57.840 He was tested. 00:31:59.080 --> 00:31:59.960 Obey me 00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:01.740 and you will 00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:02.120 live. 00:32:04.180 --> 00:32:04.940 And he 00:32:04.940 --> 00:32:05.940 disobeyed and he 00:32:05.940 --> 00:32:07.240 plunged us all into 00:32:07.240 --> 00:32:08.200 sin and curse. 00:32:10.180 --> 00:32:11.200 Abraham's test was 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:11.560 greater. 00:32:11.720 --> 00:32:12.480 Obey me 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:15.259 and you will die. 00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:19.960 All your life 00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:20.640 bound up with 00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:21.400 Isaac, you will 00:32:21.400 --> 00:32:21.940 die. 00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:25.660 This one man's 00:32:25.660 --> 00:32:26.660 great obedience 00:32:26.660 --> 00:32:28.660 and the Lord 00:32:28.660 --> 00:32:30.099 swears to bless 00:32:30.099 --> 00:32:32.039 all the earth. 00:32:32.039 --> 00:32:32.099 death. 00:32:45.379 --> 00:32:46.759 So I want to come 00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:47.240 back to that 00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:48.019 original question. 00:32:48.200 --> 00:32:48.700 Why does 00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:50.339 Yahweh ask such a 00:32:50.339 --> 00:32:53.299 troubling test of 00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:54.399 Abraham's obedience? 00:32:54.400 --> 00:33:01.300 The only way I 00:33:01.300 --> 00:33:03.560 can make sense of 00:33:03.560 --> 00:33:04.540 why Yahweh would 00:33:04.540 --> 00:33:05.519 make this disturbing 00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:06.480 command is if 00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:08.160 Abraham's testing is 00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:09.620 like the first 00:33:09.620 --> 00:33:12.480 pencil sketch of 00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:13.340 a great artist. 00:33:15.040 --> 00:33:16.680 Abraham's faith is 00:33:16.680 --> 00:33:18.040 incredible in his 00:33:18.040 --> 00:33:18.960 own right but it 00:33:18.960 --> 00:33:19.800 was never meant to 00:33:19.800 --> 00:33:21.740 be just a sketch. 00:33:22.060 --> 00:33:23.019 You can't fully 00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:24.579 understand it as a 00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:24.859 sketch. 00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:26.480 The finished 00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:27.960 painting far 00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:28.839 surpasses it. 00:33:30.819 --> 00:33:32.119 It's here at this 00:33:32.119 --> 00:33:33.460 pivotal moment in 00:33:33.460 --> 00:33:34.759 God's salvation plan 00:33:34.759 --> 00:33:36.119 for the world where 00:33:36.119 --> 00:33:37.980 God is binding 00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:38.859 himself with an 00:33:38.859 --> 00:33:39.819 oath and what are 00:33:39.819 --> 00:33:40.279 we finding? 00:33:40.440 --> 00:33:41.079 We're finding a 00:33:41.079 --> 00:33:42.119 father doing the 00:33:42.119 --> 00:33:45.639 unthinkable, not 00:33:45.639 --> 00:33:46.440 withholding his 00:33:46.440 --> 00:33:46.740 son. 00:33:47.579 --> 00:33:48.720 We find a lamb 00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:50.099 provided by heaven 00:33:50.099 --> 00:33:50.859 as a substitute. 00:33:51.059 --> 00:33:52.900 We find one man who 00:33:52.900 --> 00:33:54.240 was tested, obey 00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:55.360 me and you will 00:33:55.360 --> 00:33:57.380 die and by his 00:33:57.380 --> 00:33:59.640 one obedience he's 00:33:59.640 --> 00:34:00.460 bringing blessing to 00:34:00.460 --> 00:34:01.259 the entire world. 00:34:04.360 --> 00:34:05.720 It's Jesus at the 00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:06.700 cross who is the 00:34:06.700 --> 00:34:07.440 finished painting. 00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:09.720 He's the true and 00:34:09.720 --> 00:34:10.980 greater Abraham, he's 00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:11.680 the true and greater 00:34:11.680 --> 00:34:12.800 lamb, he's the true 00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:14.480 and greater son. 00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:20.820 God only asked this of 00:34:20.820 --> 00:34:21.699 Abraham because he 00:34:21.699 --> 00:34:24.659 knew only Yahweh 00:34:24.659 --> 00:34:26.619 himself would ever be 00:34:26.619 --> 00:34:28.039 asked to follow 00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:28.940 through with this. 00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:33.320 It's not child abuse. 00:34:35.019 --> 00:34:37.619 It's not bullying. 00:34:37.619 --> 00:34:43.259 Abraham taking the 00:34:43.259 --> 00:34:44.400 wood and placing it 00:34:44.400 --> 00:34:46.699 on Isaac to carry it 00:34:46.699 --> 00:34:47.699 up that mountain. 00:34:48.539 --> 00:34:50.259 It's a sketch so 00:34:50.259 --> 00:34:51.579 that when we see God's 00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:53.339 only son carrying the 00:34:53.339 --> 00:34:56.559 cross, we marvel. 00:34:58.559 --> 00:35:00.359 As Abraham and Isaac 00:35:00.359 --> 00:35:03.759 walked up together, the 00:35:03.759 --> 00:35:05.219 Godhead is absolutely 00:35:05.219 --> 00:35:05.839 united. 00:35:05.840 --> 00:35:07.039 The Father did not 00:35:07.039 --> 00:35:08.000 compel Jesus. 00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:09.300 He wasn't an unwilling 00:35:09.300 --> 00:35:09.720 victim. 00:35:10.220 --> 00:35:11.519 Nor was Jesus offering 00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:13.620 up himself, trying to 00:35:13.620 --> 00:35:15.860 get from God, the 00:35:15.860 --> 00:35:18.120 Father, some blessing 00:35:18.120 --> 00:35:19.220 because God is unwilling 00:35:19.220 --> 00:35:19.760 to forgive. 00:35:20.640 --> 00:35:22.019 They are totally united 00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:22.579 in this. 00:35:23.340 --> 00:35:24.760 From the very beginning 00:35:24.760 --> 00:35:27.000 of human history, this 00:35:27.000 --> 00:35:29.300 was always God's plan to 00:35:29.300 --> 00:35:30.360 restore blessing to the 00:35:30.360 --> 00:35:31.000 entire world. 00:35:31.000 --> 00:35:33.000 God's plan to 00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:33.840 be able to 00:35:33.840 --> 00:35:35.199 be able to 00:35:35.199 --> 00:35:36.280 be able to 00:35:36.280 --> 00:35:36.840 be able to 00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:38.219 We all sometimes 00:35:38.219 --> 00:35:39.000 feel like our 00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:40.019 shepherd is trying to 00:35:40.019 --> 00:35:40.639 drown us. 00:35:42.440 --> 00:35:44.119 How can God be 00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:45.179 asking this of me? 00:35:48.059 --> 00:35:49.500 But the true child of 00:35:49.500 --> 00:35:50.420 God also knows a 00:35:50.420 --> 00:35:51.340 different experience. 00:35:52.420 --> 00:35:53.460 And it's the same 00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:54.519 faith of Abraham. 00:35:54.519 --> 00:36:00.480 We find God worthy 00:36:00.480 --> 00:36:02.380 of our trust. 00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:06.679 We stop objecting. 00:36:06.860 --> 00:36:08.360 How can you ask this 00:36:08.360 --> 00:36:08.820 of me? 00:36:08.900 --> 00:36:09.800 Because when we see 00:36:09.800 --> 00:36:10.800 the God of Abraham 00:36:10.800 --> 00:36:12.059 offering up his only 00:36:12.059 --> 00:36:14.880 son, with no one in 00:36:14.880 --> 00:36:15.940 heaven or on earth 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:18.199 ready to intervene, 00:36:18.360 --> 00:36:21.139 to stop it, we can 00:36:21.139 --> 00:36:21.920 look at the cross 00:36:21.920 --> 00:36:24.679 and we go, now I 00:36:24.679 --> 00:36:25.039 know. 00:36:26.699 --> 00:36:28.219 Now I know you 00:36:28.219 --> 00:36:28.920 love me. 00:36:30.879 --> 00:36:32.019 Now I know you 00:36:32.019 --> 00:36:33.539 love us because you 00:36:33.539 --> 00:36:34.960 did not give, withhold 00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:36.019 your son, your only 00:36:36.019 --> 00:36:37.299 son, whom you love. 00:36:46.599 --> 00:36:47.579 Will you pray with me? 00:36:47.759 --> 00:36:48.099 Let's pray. 00:36:51.139 --> 00:37:06.079 Father, I pray that 00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:07.359 you would press into 00:37:07.359 --> 00:37:08.299 each of our hearts 00:37:08.299 --> 00:37:10.920 and minds just the 00:37:10.920 --> 00:37:11.920 wonder of your love 00:37:11.920 --> 00:37:12.980 for us in sending 00:37:12.980 --> 00:37:13.539 your son. 00:37:15.339 --> 00:37:16.960 We can't imagine how 00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:17.960 hard it was for 00:37:17.960 --> 00:37:20.440 Abraham to not 00:37:20.440 --> 00:37:21.639 withhold his only 00:37:21.639 --> 00:37:21.980 son. 00:37:22.440 --> 00:37:23.740 Please help us to 00:37:23.740 --> 00:37:25.659 grasp how great your 00:37:25.659 --> 00:37:26.599 love is for us. 00:37:26.740 --> 00:37:29.159 Nothing else, nothing 00:37:29.159 --> 00:37:30.679 else is strong enough 00:37:30.679 --> 00:37:32.400 to help us trust you 00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:34.059 and obey you and 00:37:34.059 --> 00:37:35.940 love you still when 00:37:35.940 --> 00:37:36.840 times are tough. 00:37:37.079 --> 00:37:39.960 Help us feel that 00:37:39.960 --> 00:37:40.280 love. 00:37:41.139 --> 00:37:42.700 It's not enough for 00:37:42.700 --> 00:37:43.820 us just to think it. 00:37:44.139 --> 00:37:45.420 Please help us feel 00:37:45.420 --> 00:37:46.840 it so that we would 00:37:46.840 --> 00:37:49.700 show this world and 00:37:49.699 --> 00:37:52.079 hope that we have 00:37:52.079 --> 00:37:54.399 that your love is 00:37:54.399 --> 00:37:55.299 better than life. 00:37:55.919 --> 00:37:56.579 Lord, I pray this 00:37:56.579 --> 00:37:57.259 because I know it 00:37:57.259 --> 00:37:58.259 glorifies you. 00:37:59.119 --> 00:38:00.319 So in Jesus' name I 00:38:00.319 --> 00:38:00.679 ask. 00:38:00.879 --> 00:38:01.199 Amen. 00:38:01.199 --> 00:38:01.359 Amen. 00:38:01.360 --> 00:38:31.340 Thank you.