WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.459 Well, from my perspective, the hardest part of the sermon is over. 00:00:04.600 --> 00:00:06.940 I made it through those names, I think, fairly well. 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:09.640 I can't guarantee the accuracy of the pronunciations. 00:00:10.419 --> 00:00:14.519 But if you're anything like me, when you come to a genealogy in Scripture, 00:00:14.780 --> 00:00:17.539 it's my temptation to just kind of skip over it, right? 00:00:18.339 --> 00:00:20.820 Because we may not know how to pronounce those names. 00:00:20.920 --> 00:00:22.379 We don't know who those people are. 00:00:22.480 --> 00:00:24.679 We don't know the significance of the genealogy. 00:00:24.740 --> 00:00:26.940 And so we kind of just move ourselves forward. 00:00:26.940 --> 00:00:32.320 And interesting, someplace in the Bible where there's genealogies, it makes sense where they are. 00:00:32.539 --> 00:00:37.719 At the very beginning of Matthew, there's this genealogy that leads up to the birth of Jesus that makes sense to us. 00:00:38.439 --> 00:00:44.020 After the creation story, we see this genealogy that tells us of man as they multiply on this earth. 00:00:44.120 --> 00:00:48.900 But in our passage today, we see this genealogy seemingly pop out of nowhere. 00:00:49.040 --> 00:00:52.719 It seems like it's kind of randomly placed smack dab in the middle of this text. 00:00:52.719 --> 00:01:00.060 I wonder if any of you are familiar with the American artist named Bob Ross. 00:01:00.780 --> 00:01:02.719 He passed away a number of years ago. 00:01:03.340 --> 00:01:06.359 He had this TV show in the States that spanned decades. 00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:09.120 I don't know if it was popular here in the U.K. 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:10.900 But he was a guy. 00:01:10.980 --> 00:01:12.099 He just had this big hair. 00:01:12.200 --> 00:01:13.480 He was very soft-spoken. 00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:16.500 And it was a 30-minute TV show, very low production value, 00:01:16.500 --> 00:01:21.260 where he's in this dark room with an easel and a canvas and his palette of paint, 00:01:21.459 --> 00:01:25.640 and he just talks you through this painting that he's doing over the course of his show. 00:01:26.920 --> 00:01:30.659 And whether you're into art or not, this would just mesmerize people. 00:01:30.719 --> 00:01:35.460 I remember as a child watching this and just seeing him, his tone of his voice, 00:01:35.560 --> 00:01:37.859 and you hear the tapping of the paintbrush on the canvas, 00:01:38.039 --> 00:01:40.859 and you just sit still and you watch this masterpiece come together. 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:42.719 But it was interesting. 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:46.359 Almost in every single one of his paintings, there's a point in time where you're like, 00:01:46.500 --> 00:01:47.500 no, don't do that. 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:52.659 Because he'd paint these beautiful backgrounds first, this scene of mountains or lakes, 00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:54.200 and then he'd start working on the foreground. 00:01:55.060 --> 00:01:59.039 And oftentimes he'd paint these big black lines right down the middle of his painting, 00:01:59.120 --> 00:02:00.180 and you think, what are you doing? 00:02:00.219 --> 00:02:01.180 You're destroying your art. 00:02:02.280 --> 00:02:05.200 And then he'd explain this is actually going to be a tree or trees, 00:02:05.319 --> 00:02:09.439 and he finishes the finer details, and he recognizes how that fits together. 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:10.120 That works. 00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:11.879 That's creating this masterpiece. 00:02:11.879 --> 00:02:12.900 It makes sense. 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:17.579 And I think we can find it kind of the same way about this genealogy. 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:22.400 We wonder, why in the world is it placed smack dab in this narrative that's kind of reaching this climax? 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:24.719 It seems to be a bad decision. 00:02:25.900 --> 00:02:29.000 And so I think it's important for us to ask, why is it placed here? 00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:31.960 What does this have to do with the Israelites in slavery? 00:02:33.099 --> 00:02:37.039 And then when we answer those questions, I think we begin to see the beauty of it 00:02:37.039 --> 00:02:39.819 in the place and where it sits in this narrative. 00:02:41.079 --> 00:02:43.219 And so that's what I want us to focus on this morning. 00:02:43.319 --> 00:02:48.500 I want us to consider, first of all, how this genealogy illustrates for us God's sovereign plan. 00:02:48.500 --> 00:02:55.159 And then secondly, as we move into chapter 7, to consider man's response to this plan. 00:02:56.240 --> 00:03:00.379 So just two points, God's plan and our response. 00:03:00.379 --> 00:03:02.840 So let's consider God's plan. 00:03:04.039 --> 00:03:10.539 I think as we think of this genealogy, it's important to think about the cultural context in which this passage was written. 00:03:11.199 --> 00:03:16.000 In ancient times, a lineage would be something that was really important, that would hold great significance, 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:17.620 particularly to the people of Israel. 00:03:17.620 --> 00:03:23.000 Maybe some of us have dabbled with some of those websites like genealogy.com or others 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:27.379 where you can kind of figure out your own genealogy and people in your family tree. 00:03:28.539 --> 00:03:33.240 But I would dare say there's probably not many of us here could even name their great-grandparents. 00:03:34.759 --> 00:03:38.599 But in this day and age, we see this genealogy being very important. 00:03:38.740 --> 00:03:42.879 And it's interesting also that this is a rather incomplete genealogy. 00:03:43.020 --> 00:03:44.980 It's rather selective in who it names. 00:03:44.979 --> 00:03:49.579 Because while genealogy can be important for historical purposes, 00:03:50.019 --> 00:03:52.840 this is important for theological purposes. 00:03:53.780 --> 00:03:58.719 It's placed here in this passage because it shows us how God is shaping his people 00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:01.919 and the events of this world in order to accomplish his purposes. 00:04:03.679 --> 00:04:05.819 And so if we go back to the beginning of Genesis, 00:04:06.139 --> 00:04:09.139 we encounter this man named Abram who God comes to. 00:04:09.239 --> 00:04:12.479 A pagan man, not worthy of God's attention or affection, 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:15.459 but God chooses to bless him. 00:04:16.139 --> 00:04:19.819 And he changes his name to Abraham and said that he, through him, 00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:24.139 his family is going to be great and that all nations will be blessed through him. 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:27.480 But just a few chapters later in Genesis, 00:04:27.620 --> 00:04:32.980 we see also that God says that his descendants are actually going to become slaves in a foreign land. 00:04:32.980 --> 00:04:38.540 And that God will bring judgment on that nation and bring this people of Abraham, 00:04:38.700 --> 00:04:42.340 this people known as the Israelites, out of that land with great possession. 00:04:43.540 --> 00:04:48.939 And so this promise that was made to Abraham is not simply for Abraham, 00:04:49.060 --> 00:04:50.360 but also for his descendants. 00:04:51.520 --> 00:04:54.160 The Israelites would have known of this promise. 00:04:54.520 --> 00:04:57.920 And that's why they would have cried out to God for deliverance. 00:04:57.920 --> 00:05:02.900 And so this genealogy, it connects the past to the present, 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:07.140 tracing the reality of God's sovereignty and grace. 00:05:08.259 --> 00:05:11.220 And so that's why it makes sense that it's in the middle of this narrative 00:05:11.220 --> 00:05:15.540 to remind the people of Israel of God's covenant promise to them, 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:17.220 that they are a part of a family, 00:05:17.500 --> 00:05:21.780 that they are a part of a tribe and a nation that has been ordained by God. 00:05:21.779 --> 00:05:27.759 And it's interesting that this specifically highlights the priestly line of Aaron. 00:05:28.739 --> 00:05:30.459 Aaron is from the tribe of Levi. 00:05:30.679 --> 00:05:34.899 It is the Levites who will be the priests in the years to come. 00:05:36.059 --> 00:05:40.179 And so that's all the more important when we think about what Aaron and Moses have been called to do here, 00:05:40.299 --> 00:05:44.239 to go before Pharaoh, to enter into this crucial conflict, 00:05:44.359 --> 00:05:46.979 to request the release of their people. 00:05:46.980 --> 00:05:51.200 So I think I might have mentioned this before, 00:05:51.340 --> 00:05:53.780 but when I was in uni, I played rugby, 00:05:54.040 --> 00:05:56.160 and I had a part of a really good team. 00:05:56.220 --> 00:05:58.620 Even though rugby is not hugely popular in the States, 00:05:58.740 --> 00:06:00.540 it was a big deal at my school. 00:06:01.780 --> 00:06:06.700 And one of the reasons for the success of our program was because of our coach. 00:06:07.520 --> 00:06:09.720 He was a great coach at teaching the sport. 00:06:09.819 --> 00:06:11.860 He was great at kind of creating a game plan, 00:06:11.939 --> 00:06:13.000 but also at motivation. 00:06:13.960 --> 00:06:14.920 And so before games, 00:06:14.920 --> 00:06:17.540 especially toward the end of the year when we were in tournament play, 00:06:17.819 --> 00:06:20.379 I remember he'd have a circle around him on the pitch, 00:06:20.600 --> 00:06:22.420 and he'd give us this motivational speech, 00:06:22.500 --> 00:06:26.319 and he'd point to each one of us in the name of our university on our kit. 00:06:27.280 --> 00:06:27.720 And he'd say, 00:06:27.860 --> 00:06:29.360 that name means something. 00:06:30.600 --> 00:06:32.520 That name means excellence. 00:06:32.860 --> 00:06:34.379 That name means aggression. 00:06:36.100 --> 00:06:37.580 You do not play for yourself, 00:06:37.700 --> 00:06:40.400 but you play for this team and this program 00:06:40.400 --> 00:06:43.139 and for every player who has gone before you. 00:06:43.139 --> 00:06:48.199 He wanted us to recognize our identity as players of this program 00:06:48.199 --> 00:06:53.959 who had won three national championships in a row in just years prior. 00:06:55.399 --> 00:06:56.839 And so that makes sense here. 00:06:56.899 --> 00:06:58.139 What God is doing here, 00:06:59.180 --> 00:07:00.339 he's reminding Aaron, 00:07:00.459 --> 00:07:03.759 he's reminding the people of Israel of their own role, 00:07:04.099 --> 00:07:05.899 their own calling as God's people. 00:07:06.060 --> 00:07:06.819 Aaron specifically, 00:07:06.979 --> 00:07:10.000 this priestly heritage and identity he has, 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:15.480 his identity being rooted in God is going to enable him to speak God's words to Pharaoh. 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:20.060 And so you may expect then that after this genealogy, 00:07:20.259 --> 00:07:21.500 being in the middle of this passage, 00:07:21.620 --> 00:07:21.779 okay, 00:07:21.839 --> 00:07:24.720 that's going to change Moses and Aaron's attitude, right? 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:26.459 They were reluctant at first. 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:28.439 This genealogy is inserted here, 00:07:28.500 --> 00:07:30.339 so we're going to see a change of attitude for them. 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:33.480 They're going to go forth with great boldness and confidence. 00:07:33.480 --> 00:07:35.319 Not so much. 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:39.960 God commands Moses to tell Pharaoh all that he's told him, 00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:41.960 just like he did earlier in the chapter, 00:07:42.780 --> 00:07:44.920 and Moses again exhibits his self-doubt. 00:07:45.800 --> 00:07:46.120 Me? 00:07:47.100 --> 00:07:48.580 I'm not a good public speaker. 00:07:48.700 --> 00:07:50.500 How is Pharaoh going to listen to me? 00:07:50.540 --> 00:07:52.340 The people of Israel didn't even listen to me. 00:07:53.740 --> 00:07:54.819 And it's a credit to Moses, 00:07:55.020 --> 00:07:56.580 who's the author of this book, 00:07:56.579 --> 00:08:00.419 that he doesn't try to paint himself as falsely as some hero here, 00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:03.259 because he repeatedly shows himself to be reluctant 00:08:03.259 --> 00:08:05.620 and to be nervous and to be doubtful. 00:08:07.219 --> 00:08:10.019 But it's actually in Moses' weakness 00:08:10.019 --> 00:08:15.879 that emphasizes to us all the more the deliverance comes from Christ alone. 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:18.759 It is God who made a promise. 00:08:18.919 --> 00:08:20.060 It is God who has a plan. 00:08:20.180 --> 00:08:23.019 It is God who has the power to save his people. 00:08:23.019 --> 00:08:26.919 And so that brings us then to point number two. 00:08:27.079 --> 00:08:30.019 If this is God's plan that's revealed through his genealogy, 00:08:30.159 --> 00:08:32.199 that has been told to Moses and his people, 00:08:32.319 --> 00:08:34.319 this is how I will rescue you, 00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:36.379 how does man respond? 00:08:37.699 --> 00:08:39.759 Well, as we move forward in chapter 7, 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:41.559 in the next few chapters of Exodus, 00:08:41.860 --> 00:08:44.039 it really focuses in on two men, 00:08:44.779 --> 00:08:47.100 Moses being one and Pharaoh being the other. 00:08:48.100 --> 00:08:49.419 And we see these two men, 00:08:49.419 --> 00:08:52.799 they act very differently in response to God's plan. 00:08:54.019 --> 00:08:56.399 And so I want us to consider Pharaoh's response first, 00:08:56.579 --> 00:08:58.620 and then I want us to consider Moses' response. 00:08:59.699 --> 00:09:02.379 So how does Pharaoh respond to this plan? 00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:04.480 It's resistance. 00:09:05.319 --> 00:09:06.399 It's rejection, right? 00:09:06.460 --> 00:09:07.500 Look at verse 2 again. 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:09.379 You are to say, 00:09:09.659 --> 00:09:11.740 Everything I command you and your brother Aaron 00:09:11.740 --> 00:09:14.480 is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country, 00:09:14.840 --> 00:09:16.899 but I will harden Pharaoh's heart. 00:09:16.899 --> 00:09:20.740 And though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, 00:09:20.899 --> 00:09:22.379 he will not listen to you. 00:09:24.019 --> 00:09:25.559 Now think about my rugby program again. 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:27.019 If my coach before the game, 00:09:27.079 --> 00:09:27.939 he gives us the strategy, 00:09:28.019 --> 00:09:28.779 this is what we're going to do. 00:09:29.240 --> 00:09:30.600 We're going to be aggressive in the backs, 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:32.759 or in scrum. 00:09:32.819 --> 00:09:34.500 We're going to spin the ball out in the backs. 00:09:35.379 --> 00:09:35.819 But you know what? 00:09:36.039 --> 00:09:37.559 Even if we stick to our game plan, 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:38.559 if we do all this stuff, 00:09:38.679 --> 00:09:40.399 it's likely not going to work for us. 00:09:41.419 --> 00:09:41.740 You think, 00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:43.100 Well, that's a horrible game plan then. 00:09:43.159 --> 00:09:44.439 Like think of a new game plan 00:09:44.439 --> 00:09:45.639 that's actually going to work 00:09:45.639 --> 00:09:47.639 that's going to give us some sort of motivation here. 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:51.100 But we see here that even though Moses is told, 00:09:51.299 --> 00:09:52.860 You're not going to be able to convince Moses, 00:09:53.019 --> 00:09:54.279 or you're not going to be able to convince Pharaoh, 00:09:55.179 --> 00:09:56.960 this is still the plan for success, 00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:58.759 because success would actually come 00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:00.939 through God hardening Pharaoh's heart. 00:10:00.940 --> 00:10:05.460 And I think this can be a point in the scripture 00:10:05.460 --> 00:10:08.000 where we can become really confused 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:11.120 or actually really angry at God and his will here. 00:10:12.660 --> 00:10:13.960 Because we can ask the question, 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:17.760 How is it fair that God would judge Pharaoh 00:10:17.760 --> 00:10:20.360 when he's controlling Pharaoh's actions? 00:10:21.160 --> 00:10:22.500 It's almost as if Pharaoh's like, 00:10:22.620 --> 00:10:24.100 it looks like he's a puppet on a string. 00:10:24.860 --> 00:10:26.380 And God's going to bring him to judgment 00:10:26.380 --> 00:10:28.760 without ever giving him the choice of what he can do 00:10:28.760 --> 00:10:30.880 if he's hardening his heart. 00:10:30.940 --> 00:10:33.980 But I think even though this is kind of difficult 00:10:33.980 --> 00:10:35.460 for us to wrap our heads around, 00:10:35.560 --> 00:10:37.060 I think we can say confidently 00:10:37.060 --> 00:10:39.540 that God is not actively working evil 00:10:39.540 --> 00:10:40.580 in the heart of Pharaoh. 00:10:40.680 --> 00:10:42.640 God is not the source of evil. 00:10:44.400 --> 00:10:46.180 Pharaoh's heart was already hard. 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:48.720 Just like your heart and my heart, 00:10:49.400 --> 00:10:52.540 we came into this world hard-hearted people. 00:10:53.940 --> 00:10:56.720 We see this actually throughout the book of Exodus early on. 00:10:56.800 --> 00:10:58.820 This proves that he was this evil tyrant. 00:10:58.920 --> 00:11:00.100 He ordered ethnic cleansing. 00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:01.659 He was killing firstborn sons. 00:11:01.820 --> 00:11:03.639 He was working his slaves to death. 00:11:03.920 --> 00:11:06.100 He was treating the Israelites as subhuman. 00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:09.259 And so this hardening of heart, 00:11:09.320 --> 00:11:10.720 I think it's worth thinking about 00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:12.700 what it means in this context. 00:11:12.740 --> 00:11:14.899 Because oftentimes now when we think of this word 00:11:14.899 --> 00:11:15.940 hardening hearts, 00:11:15.980 --> 00:11:17.740 it means someone who lacks compassion 00:11:17.740 --> 00:11:20.080 or is cruel, they're hard-hearted. 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:22.879 That's not what it means here in this context. 00:11:23.080 --> 00:11:26.000 When God is talking about hardening Pharaoh's heart, 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:29.320 it means that he's conveying a sense of being determined 00:11:29.320 --> 00:11:31.179 or resolute in purpose. 00:11:33.019 --> 00:11:35.379 And so Pharaoh's heart is being strengthened 00:11:35.379 --> 00:11:37.039 toward his evil agenda. 00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:41.519 He's being allowed to be steadfast and unchanging 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:42.840 in his rejection of God. 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:47.559 And so to say that God is hardening Pharaoh's heart 00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:49.220 doesn't mean that he's forcing Pharaoh 00:11:49.220 --> 00:11:50.440 to act against his will. 00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:51.379 Quite the opposite. 00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:55.399 God is withholding his restraining grace, 00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:58.320 giving Pharaoh the boldness to pursue the pathway 00:11:58.320 --> 00:11:59.279 that he so desires. 00:12:00.980 --> 00:12:03.860 It's not like Pharaoh longed to submit to God, 00:12:04.220 --> 00:12:06.279 but he wasn't allowed to do so. 00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:08.340 He was given countless opportunities 00:12:08.340 --> 00:12:09.679 over and over again, 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:11.659 these signs and these plagues. 00:12:11.960 --> 00:12:15.080 Every single time he rejects God. 00:12:16.259 --> 00:12:17.460 We see in this passage, 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:19.679 Aaron throws his rod on the ground 00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:21.039 and it becomes a serpent. 00:12:21.839 --> 00:12:22.859 Does that impress Pharaoh? 00:12:22.939 --> 00:12:23.099 No. 00:12:24.319 --> 00:12:26.000 His own magicians do the same thing. 00:12:26.620 --> 00:12:28.120 Aaron's staff swallows up their staff. 00:12:28.179 --> 00:12:28.799 Is he impressed? 00:12:29.299 --> 00:12:30.099 Still not impressed. 00:12:30.939 --> 00:12:33.199 With every plague and sign to follow, 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:36.599 we see Pharaoh still not impressed. 00:12:37.219 --> 00:12:38.519 His heart still hardened. 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:40.319 No change comes. 00:12:40.819 --> 00:12:42.179 And so it's like we see concrete 00:12:42.179 --> 00:12:43.379 when it begins to harden. 00:12:43.479 --> 00:12:44.559 At some point, there's just, 00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:45.359 it cannot make, 00:12:45.359 --> 00:12:48.459 you can't make any impression upon that concrete anymore 00:12:48.460 --> 00:12:50.480 because it becomes so hard. 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:53.800 And we see the effect of this hardening 00:12:53.800 --> 00:12:55.360 in verse 4 and verse 17. 00:12:56.320 --> 00:12:57.900 It says his heart was hardened 00:12:57.900 --> 00:13:00.019 and he would not listen. 00:13:01.940 --> 00:13:04.560 A hardened heart makes him hard of hearing. 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:08.840 And this is true not just for Pharaoh, 00:13:08.940 --> 00:13:11.160 but this is true for you and me as well. 00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:13.660 We sang this in Psalm 95 earlier. 00:13:13.659 --> 00:13:16.879 It says today if you hear God's voice, 00:13:17.059 --> 00:13:18.539 do not harden your hearts. 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:23.120 Certainly at all times in our life, 00:13:23.179 --> 00:13:24.919 we've probably faced this temptation, right? 00:13:25.539 --> 00:13:28.459 To try to close God out for some reason. 00:13:29.579 --> 00:13:31.679 We don't want him involved in our life. 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:33.879 We don't want to hear what he has to say. 00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:36.279 We want to deal with things our own way. 00:13:38.659 --> 00:13:40.839 Many of you know that my family and I moved here 00:13:40.839 --> 00:13:42.439 from the States and I practiced law 00:13:42.440 --> 00:13:43.340 for a number of years there 00:13:43.340 --> 00:13:44.400 and I loved what I did 00:13:44.400 --> 00:13:46.260 and I loved who I worked with. 00:13:47.420 --> 00:13:49.200 But we started to sense this calling 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:51.920 that God was putting on our lives. 00:13:53.260 --> 00:13:54.500 And the temptation for us 00:13:54.500 --> 00:13:55.980 was to refuse that calling, 00:13:56.140 --> 00:13:58.540 to kind of close our ears off to that calling, 00:13:58.640 --> 00:14:00.240 to not even want to spend time in the word 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:01.640 or in prayer out of fear 00:14:01.640 --> 00:14:03.020 of what he may tell us to do. 00:14:05.180 --> 00:14:06.540 We were tempted to just kind of 00:14:06.540 --> 00:14:07.680 enclose ourselves off 00:14:07.680 --> 00:14:10.120 in this bubble of comfort and success 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:11.500 and ignore the voice of God. 00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:14.880 Maybe we've experienced 00:14:14.880 --> 00:14:16.280 similar things yourself. 00:14:16.460 --> 00:14:18.780 Maybe it's been tragedy in your life 00:14:18.780 --> 00:14:21.280 and you're left asking God, 00:14:21.420 --> 00:14:21.620 why? 00:14:21.720 --> 00:14:23.000 Why would you allow this to happen? 00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:26.120 And we're left maybe questioning 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:27.980 God's love for us 00:14:27.980 --> 00:14:28.680 or maybe questioning 00:14:28.680 --> 00:14:29.840 whether God even cares. 00:14:32.220 --> 00:14:33.760 And so we start to shut down. 00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:35.040 We don't want to hear from God 00:14:35.040 --> 00:14:36.060 because why in the world 00:14:36.060 --> 00:14:37.360 would we want to hear from a God 00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:39.380 who doesn't seem to care for us at all? 00:14:39.379 --> 00:14:43.259 Maybe we see this in relationships. 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:46.299 Maybe there's been a relationship 00:14:46.299 --> 00:14:47.679 that's been in turmoil, 00:14:47.799 --> 00:14:48.860 that there's been conflict 00:14:48.860 --> 00:14:49.779 with you and another 00:14:49.779 --> 00:14:50.820 and you're no longer friends 00:14:50.820 --> 00:14:51.500 with that person. 00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:52.259 And in fact, 00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:53.759 you have withheld forgiveness 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:54.639 from that person. 00:14:57.039 --> 00:14:58.600 Maybe even the thought of that person 00:14:58.600 --> 00:15:00.299 makes your blood boil a little bit. 00:15:00.299 --> 00:15:03.079 And as that develops 00:15:03.079 --> 00:15:04.240 in our own hearts, 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:06.879 we refuse to listen 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:08.219 to God's own voice 00:15:08.219 --> 00:15:11.000 who tells us 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:11.819 and reminds us 00:15:11.819 --> 00:15:12.740 of His forgiveness 00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:15.059 and grace in our lives 00:15:15.059 --> 00:15:17.259 that we should also extend to others. 00:15:19.319 --> 00:15:21.319 Maybe it's a secret sin in our life. 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:26.359 Maybe rather than try to fight 00:15:26.359 --> 00:15:27.479 and expose the sin, 00:15:27.559 --> 00:15:29.799 we just want to feed it secretly. 00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:33.879 Maybe we try to compartmentalize 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:35.359 our lives around it 00:15:35.359 --> 00:15:36.839 and rather than expose it, 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:38.679 rather than listen to God's call 00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:40.519 of purity and repentance, 00:15:41.319 --> 00:15:43.120 we just grow harder and harder 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:44.179 of heart. 00:15:46.779 --> 00:15:47.979 It's a horrible thing 00:15:47.979 --> 00:15:49.439 to allow our hearts 00:15:49.439 --> 00:15:51.240 to become hard 00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:52.779 that we fail to hear 00:15:52.779 --> 00:15:53.639 the voice of God. 00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:57.279 Ultimately, in this passage, 00:15:57.399 --> 00:15:58.659 we see the purpose 00:15:58.659 --> 00:16:00.179 for Pharaoh's hardened heart 00:16:00.179 --> 00:16:01.339 in verses 4 and 5. 00:16:03.100 --> 00:16:04.000 Moses is told that 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:04.759 Pharaoh's not going 00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:05.679 to listen to you 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:07.919 and that I will lay my hand 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:08.559 on Egypt 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:10.100 with mighty acts of judgment. 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:11.480 I will bring out my divisions, 00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:12.620 my people of Israel. 00:16:13.839 --> 00:16:14.219 It says, 00:16:14.319 --> 00:16:15.980 the Egyptians will know 00:16:15.980 --> 00:16:16.980 that I am the Lord 00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:18.259 when I stretch out my hand 00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:18.959 against Egypt 00:16:18.959 --> 00:16:20.699 and bring the Israelites 00:16:20.699 --> 00:16:21.439 out of it. 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:23.460 Why does God 00:16:23.460 --> 00:16:24.560 harden Pharaoh's heart? 00:16:25.760 --> 00:16:26.920 So that Pharaoh 00:16:26.920 --> 00:16:28.840 and all of Egypt 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:29.560 will know 00:16:29.560 --> 00:16:30.520 who God is. 00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:32.740 The first time 00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:33.640 that Moses 00:16:33.640 --> 00:16:34.460 goes to Pharaoh 00:16:34.460 --> 00:16:35.740 in Exodus chapter 5 00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:37.860 and he tells him 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.520 who God, 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:40.260 who this Yahweh is 00:16:40.260 --> 00:16:41.800 and what he's supposed 00:16:41.800 --> 00:16:42.280 to do, 00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:43.520 Pharaoh says, 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:44.260 who is Yahweh? 00:16:45.260 --> 00:16:46.240 And why would I listen 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:46.680 to him? 00:16:46.679 --> 00:16:49.439 But through these signs, 00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:50.199 through these plagues 00:16:50.199 --> 00:16:50.899 that are to come, 00:16:50.979 --> 00:16:51.759 we see that Pharaoh 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:52.979 will come to know 00:16:52.979 --> 00:16:53.579 the power 00:16:53.579 --> 00:16:54.659 and the authority 00:16:54.659 --> 00:16:55.659 of the one true God. 00:16:57.479 --> 00:16:58.599 And as we read on, 00:16:58.679 --> 00:16:59.259 Pharaoh's heart 00:16:59.259 --> 00:17:00.079 becomes brittle 00:17:00.079 --> 00:17:01.559 and it does break, 00:17:01.659 --> 00:17:02.819 but it only breaks 00:17:02.819 --> 00:17:03.779 through the knowledge 00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:04.519 of that God 00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.519 that comes through 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:07.059 the judgment of God. 00:17:09.159 --> 00:17:10.059 And so the same 00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:10.899 is true for us. 00:17:11.059 --> 00:17:12.519 If we are hard-hearted, 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:14.379 if we fail 00:17:14.379 --> 00:17:15.240 to listen to God, 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:16.680 there will come 00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:18.180 a day of judgment 00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:20.640 when our hearts 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:21.480 will be broken. 00:17:22.660 --> 00:17:23.700 God warns this 00:17:23.700 --> 00:17:24.720 through the prophet Jeremiah. 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:25.259 He says, 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:26.859 is not my word 00:17:26.859 --> 00:17:27.640 like a hammer 00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:29.180 that breaks rocks 00:17:29.180 --> 00:17:29.680 into pieces? 00:17:31.380 --> 00:17:32.519 There will come a day 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:33.480 when God will break 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:33.940 the heart 00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:35.460 of every rebel. 00:17:36.779 --> 00:17:37.700 But the thing is, 00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:38.400 at that point 00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:39.099 of judgment, 00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:40.740 it will be too late 00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:41.359 for any of us 00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:41.779 to listen. 00:17:43.620 --> 00:17:44.440 But we see 00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:45.039 in this passage 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:46.019 there is an alternative. 00:17:46.159 --> 00:17:46.659 Though Pharaoh 00:17:46.659 --> 00:17:48.059 rejects the plan of God, 00:17:48.099 --> 00:17:48.720 we see Moses 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:49.819 do something quite different. 00:17:51.019 --> 00:17:51.480 And again, 00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:52.639 it's easy to put Moses 00:17:52.639 --> 00:17:53.819 on a pedestal, 00:17:53.899 --> 00:17:54.680 to think that he's 00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:56.500 the hero in this passage 00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:57.379 and in this book. 00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:58.879 But if we look back 00:17:58.879 --> 00:17:59.440 to the beginning 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:00.019 of Exodus, 00:18:00.159 --> 00:18:01.759 we see over and over again 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:02.759 that it's not just 00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:03.859 Pharaoh who's hard-hearted, 00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:04.980 but it's also Moses 00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:05.720 who is hard-hearted. 00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:08.559 We see multiple examples 00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:10.579 of Moses being a coward. 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:11.779 He's a murderer. 00:18:12.139 --> 00:18:13.240 He's a blasphemer. 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:14.240 He lacks faith. 00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:14.960 He continues 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:16.160 to question God. 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:18.779 And yet God 00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:20.000 extends his mercy 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:21.000 to Moses. 00:18:22.220 --> 00:18:23.200 And as a result, 00:18:23.319 --> 00:18:24.319 his heart is softened. 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:26.620 And we see this 00:18:26.620 --> 00:18:27.339 play out elsewhere 00:18:27.339 --> 00:18:28.160 in the Old Testament. 00:18:28.279 --> 00:18:29.059 If we go to the book 00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:30.180 of Ezekiel, 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:31.440 the people of Israel 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:32.319 are no longer captive 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:33.720 in Egypt. 00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:35.180 They're held captive 00:18:35.180 --> 00:18:36.279 by the Babylonians. 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:38.539 And this is what God 00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:39.539 says through the prophet 00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:40.740 Ezekiel to his people. 00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:41.099 He says, 00:18:41.579 --> 00:18:42.259 I will give you 00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:43.140 a new heart 00:18:43.140 --> 00:18:45.339 and a new spirit 00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:46.539 I will put within you. 00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:48.480 And I will remove 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:49.480 the heart of stone 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.160 from your flesh 00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:50.779 and give you 00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:51.579 a heart of flesh. 00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:52.579 And I will put 00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:53.779 my spirit within you 00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:54.720 and cause you 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:56.039 to walk in my statutes 00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.700 and be careful 00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:57.700 to obey my rules. 00:18:59.460 --> 00:19:00.180 Does this not 00:19:00.180 --> 00:19:01.180 describe exactly 00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:02.220 what happens 00:19:02.220 --> 00:19:02.660 to Moses? 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:04.720 This is exactly 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:05.599 what God can do 00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:06.120 for us. 00:19:06.180 --> 00:19:06.819 When we think about 00:19:06.819 --> 00:19:07.640 the softening 00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:08.420 of our own hearts, 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:09.819 this is not something 00:19:09.819 --> 00:19:10.480 that we can do 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:10.939 on our own 00:19:10.939 --> 00:19:12.299 if we just try harder 00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:13.839 or try to be better 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:15.480 to think God 00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:16.439 will accept us, 00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:16.960 to think we're 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:17.939 some means 00:19:17.939 --> 00:19:18.720 of softening 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.200 our hearts 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:19.799 toward God. 00:19:21.980 --> 00:19:22.659 Our hearts 00:19:22.659 --> 00:19:23.240 are softened 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:24.539 when we receive 00:19:24.539 --> 00:19:25.279 the mercy 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:26.220 of our generous 00:19:26.220 --> 00:19:27.000 forgiving God. 00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:28.119 It is he alone 00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:29.000 who can transform 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:29.619 our hearts. 00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:31.960 And so we see 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:32.480 the effect 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.299 of this transformation 00:19:33.299 --> 00:19:34.779 in Moses' life. 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:36.220 He begins 00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:36.859 to listen 00:19:36.859 --> 00:19:38.500 and he begins 00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:38.979 to obey. 00:19:40.419 --> 00:19:41.119 Verses 6 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:41.819 and verses 10. 00:19:42.299 --> 00:19:42.859 Moses and Aaron 00:19:42.859 --> 00:19:44.119 did just as the Lord 00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:44.859 commanded them. 00:19:45.979 --> 00:19:46.859 So Moses and Aaron 00:19:46.859 --> 00:19:47.559 went to Pharaoh 00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:48.699 and did just as 00:19:48.699 --> 00:19:49.500 the Lord commanded. 00:19:49.639 --> 00:19:50.459 We see this pattern 00:19:50.459 --> 00:19:51.379 that begins to repeat 00:19:51.379 --> 00:19:52.439 over and over again 00:19:52.439 --> 00:19:53.199 in the book of Exodus. 00:19:54.959 --> 00:19:55.599 It says, 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.519 the Lord said 00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:57.219 to Moses 00:19:57.219 --> 00:19:58.839 and Moses did 00:19:58.839 --> 00:19:59.459 as he commanded. 00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:02.059 And it's really 00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:02.419 interesting. 00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:03.279 I think it's 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:04.539 important that it 00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:05.159 actually includes 00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:06.519 Moses' age here 00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:07.220 and the age of Aaron. 00:20:07.320 --> 00:20:07.460 It says, 00:20:07.560 --> 00:20:08.960 Moses is 80 years old 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:10.200 when he goes to Pharaoh. 00:20:10.320 --> 00:20:11.759 Aaron is 83 years old. 00:20:12.040 --> 00:20:12.720 And so does this 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.940 not give us hope? 00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:17.140 It took Moses 00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:18.180 80 years 00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:19.000 for his heart 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:19.700 to be softened, 00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:20.640 to become sensitive 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:21.680 and tender 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:22.240 to the things 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:22.680 of the Lord. 00:20:23.620 --> 00:20:24.440 Is there not hope 00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:25.519 for each one of us? 00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:27.560 When we recognize 00:20:27.560 --> 00:20:28.800 our rebellious hearts, 00:20:28.860 --> 00:20:29.420 when we recognize 00:20:29.420 --> 00:20:30.519 the path of sin 00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:31.519 that we have lived, 00:20:31.580 --> 00:20:32.580 that we have a God 00:20:32.580 --> 00:20:33.279 who is willing 00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:33.759 to forgive 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:34.539 and extend 00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:35.759 his mercy to us 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:36.799 that we may receive 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.279 his mercy. 00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:39.940 And so you think, 00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:40.119 no, 00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:42.099 I've been apart 00:20:42.099 --> 00:20:42.519 from God 00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:43.079 for too long. 00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:44.079 I've done too much 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:46.379 to earn his shame. 00:20:46.879 --> 00:20:47.539 No, you haven't. 00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:50.819 I've done too many 00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:51.759 bad things 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.259 in my life. 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:53.299 I have too many 00:20:53.299 --> 00:20:54.119 skeletons 00:20:54.119 --> 00:20:54.960 in my closet. 00:20:55.099 --> 00:20:55.640 No, you don't. 00:20:57.559 --> 00:20:58.379 You are never 00:20:58.379 --> 00:20:59.339 too far 00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:00.480 from the mercy 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:00.920 of God. 00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:00.980 You are never 00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:00.920 too far 00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:00.480 from the mercy 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:00.920 of God. 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:05.039 But you know what? 00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:05.879 It's not ultimately 00:21:05.879 --> 00:21:07.440 Moses who's our example 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:08.160 in this passage. 00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:10.819 Because if we turn 00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:11.519 to the book of Hebrews, 00:21:11.619 --> 00:21:12.259 this is what we read 00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:13.440 earlier in chapter 3. 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:15.079 It says, 00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:16.180 While Moses was faithful 00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:17.019 in God's house, 00:21:17.160 --> 00:21:17.960 Jesus was counted 00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:19.279 worthy of more glory 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:19.759 than Moses. 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:20.920 For while Moses 00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:21.619 was faithful 00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:22.299 as a servant, 00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:23.859 Jesus was faithful 00:21:23.859 --> 00:21:24.579 as a son. 00:21:25.339 --> 00:21:26.160 And so as we look 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:26.940 back at our passage, 00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:28.140 this is not just 00:21:28.140 --> 00:21:29.279 some moral lesson 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:31.000 to teach ourselves 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:31.980 to be soft-hearted. 00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:34.220 I don't want 00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:35.200 to simply encourage 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:35.880 you to see 00:21:35.880 --> 00:21:37.059 what you can glean 00:21:37.059 --> 00:21:37.740 from the life 00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:38.160 of Moses, 00:21:38.299 --> 00:21:38.860 but rather 00:21:38.860 --> 00:21:39.839 to look at 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:40.500 to who 00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:42.200 Moses' life points. 00:21:44.339 --> 00:21:45.599 Because a soft heart 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:46.539 is a believing heart. 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.839 And so the encouragement 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:50.299 for us, 00:21:50.360 --> 00:21:51.240 the call for each 00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:51.740 one of us 00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:52.500 as we listen 00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:53.680 to the voice of God 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:54.519 is to believe 00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:56.500 that God's saving plan 00:21:56.500 --> 00:21:57.460 that was promised 00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:58.099 to Abraham, 00:21:58.360 --> 00:21:59.200 that was claimed 00:21:59.200 --> 00:21:59.819 by Moses, 00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:00.599 has found 00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:01.419 his fulfillment 00:22:01.419 --> 00:22:02.599 in Jesus, 00:22:02.779 --> 00:22:03.299 God's son. 00:22:04.919 --> 00:22:05.779 It's Jesus 00:22:05.779 --> 00:22:06.859 who's the better Moses, 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:08.799 who's the true 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:09.439 high priest 00:22:09.439 --> 00:22:10.459 who came to earth 00:22:10.459 --> 00:22:11.359 to deliver 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:12.059 his people 00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:13.419 from the slavery 00:22:13.419 --> 00:22:13.939 of sin 00:22:13.939 --> 00:22:14.819 through the shedding 00:22:14.819 --> 00:22:15.359 of his blood 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:15.879 on the cross. 00:22:17.919 --> 00:22:18.740 It is only 00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:20.299 through his sacrifice 00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:21.259 that we can receive 00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:21.919 God's mercy. 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:23.139 It is by grace 00:22:23.139 --> 00:22:25.119 through faith 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:26.359 in what Christ 00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:26.859 has done 00:22:26.859 --> 00:22:27.519 that our hearts 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:28.400 can be softened. 00:22:30.639 --> 00:22:31.400 And so the reality 00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:32.119 of the situation 00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:32.639 is, 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:34.359 is just like Pharaoh 00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:35.339 and just like Moses, 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.259 we are all 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:37.240 hard-hearted. 00:22:39.400 --> 00:22:40.359 And we can either 00:22:40.359 --> 00:22:41.420 choose to refuse 00:22:41.420 --> 00:22:42.160 God's plan 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:45.440 or we can accept it. 00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:48.220 And so know this, 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:50.379 God's mercy 00:22:50.379 --> 00:22:51.759 has been extended 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:52.619 to you. 00:22:52.619 --> 00:22:56.439 God's mercy 00:22:56.439 --> 00:22:57.979 has been extended 00:22:57.979 --> 00:22:59.359 to you. 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:02.500 And so the invitation 00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:03.479 for each one of us 00:23:03.479 --> 00:23:04.439 is to receive 00:23:04.439 --> 00:23:05.579 this gift of grace 00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:06.919 through faith 00:23:06.919 --> 00:23:08.119 in the completed 00:23:08.119 --> 00:23:08.839 work of Jesus. 00:23:10.699 --> 00:23:11.759 And maybe this is 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:12.399 the first time 00:23:12.399 --> 00:23:13.059 you have heard 00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:13.839 this message 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:15.099 and the Lord 00:23:15.099 --> 00:23:15.699 is softening 00:23:15.699 --> 00:23:16.159 your heart 00:23:16.159 --> 00:23:16.679 even now. 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.659 Praise the Lord. 00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:19.299 But maybe you've 00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:20.079 heard this message 00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:20.419 before. 00:23:20.420 --> 00:23:21.100 Maybe you have 00:23:21.100 --> 00:23:22.440 come to the Lord 00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:23.000 in faith 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:23.539 and your heart 00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:24.360 has been softened. 00:23:24.420 --> 00:23:25.019 But recognize 00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:26.360 this gift of mercy 00:23:26.360 --> 00:23:27.800 is not a one-time gift. 00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:29.140 His mercies 00:23:29.140 --> 00:23:29.840 are new 00:23:29.840 --> 00:23:30.900 every morning. 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.259 And we still 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:32.840 are tempted 00:23:32.840 --> 00:23:33.920 to allow our hearts 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:34.539 to be hardened. 00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:36.860 And so recognize 00:23:36.860 --> 00:23:37.980 with His mercy 00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:38.680 our lives 00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:39.880 are to be transformed. 00:23:40.340 --> 00:23:40.940 Our identity 00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:41.920 is to be found 00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:42.900 in Christ. 00:23:43.320 --> 00:23:44.180 And so may we learn 00:23:44.180 --> 00:23:45.400 to hear His voice 00:23:45.400 --> 00:23:46.620 and to obey 00:23:46.620 --> 00:23:47.920 His will. 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:50.980 knowing that we serve 00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:51.660 a loving 00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:53.259 and powerful God 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:54.680 whose plans 00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:55.820 will always be accomplished. 00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:58.180 Hear His voice 00:23:58.180 --> 00:24:00.400 and harden not your heart. 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:30.380 His love