WEBVTT 00:00:00.540 --> 00:00:06.620 We're now going to read the Bible, so if you want to open your Bibles, your devices, scrolls, if you have that. 00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:10.460 Genesis chapter 15, we're going to read the whole chapter. 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:15.280 After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision. 00:00:16.120 --> 00:00:20.600 Fear not, Abram, I am your shield. Your reward shall be very great. 00:00:21.740 --> 00:00:25.580 But Abram said, O Lord God, what will you give me? 00:00:25.579 --> 00:00:30.719 For I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus. 00:00:31.519 --> 00:00:38.560 And Abram said, Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir. 00:00:39.219 --> 00:00:42.060 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him. 00:00:43.079 --> 00:00:48.140 This man shall not be your heir. Your very own son shall be your heir. 00:00:48.140 --> 00:00:56.420 And he brought him outside and said, Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them. 00:00:57.420 --> 00:01:00.460 Then he said to him, So shall your offspring be. 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:04.819 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness. 00:01:05.980 --> 00:01:12.340 And he said to him, I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess. 00:01:12.340 --> 00:01:17.840 But he said, O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it? 00:01:18.579 --> 00:01:28.420 He said to him, Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtle dove, and a young pigeon. 00:01:29.260 --> 00:01:36.240 And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:39.119 But he did not cut the birds in half. 00:01:39.839 --> 00:01:43.939 And when the birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. 00:01:45.159 --> 00:01:51.599 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram, and behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. 00:01:52.479 --> 00:02:00.579 Then the Lord said to Abram, Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and will be servants there. 00:02:01.199 --> 00:02:03.780 And they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 00:02:03.780 --> 00:02:11.699 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 00:02:12.620 --> 00:02:15.719 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace. 00:02:16.259 --> 00:02:21.900 You shall be buried in a good old age, and they shall come back here in the fourth generation. 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:25.759 For the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete. 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:33.500 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 00:02:34.099 --> 00:02:37.879 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, 00:02:37.879 --> 00:02:44.240 To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 00:02:44.939 --> 00:02:52.199 the land of the Canaanites, the Canaanites, the Kadamonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, and the Rephaim, 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:56.979 the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Gergashites, and the Jebusites. 00:02:56.979 --> 00:02:57.979 Thank you. 00:03:01.979 --> 00:03:03.299 Well, good morning, everyone. 00:03:10.500 --> 00:03:22.519 Well, I once visited a man in hospital, and I didn't know him too well, but he was happy that I came. 00:03:22.520 --> 00:03:28.320 And he had got a diagnosis that he knew he was about to die. 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:31.700 He was days, maybe weeks. 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:37.400 And I asked him, are you ready to meet God? 00:03:39.320 --> 00:03:48.640 And his answer to me wasn't surprising, but it left me very sad, 00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:52.359 because he said, I've lived a long life. 00:03:54.299 --> 00:03:55.759 Now, I don't know where that came from. 00:03:55.819 --> 00:04:01.159 Maybe he didn't know me well, like I just asked one of the most profound questions you can ask. 00:04:01.879 --> 00:04:03.379 So maybe it was just that. 00:04:04.739 --> 00:04:11.099 But I do wonder if, as he stares into that deep darkness, that void, 00:04:11.099 --> 00:04:20.719 how can you know for certain that there is a God, that he's going to reward you? 00:04:21.540 --> 00:04:26.699 I wonder if the question was just, he couldn't go there. 00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:28.800 You can't know for certain. 00:04:30.300 --> 00:04:31.659 Maybe the question was too open. 00:04:31.740 --> 00:04:34.819 I suspect that was the case, but I can't see his heart. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:35.659 I'm not sure. 00:04:35.660 --> 00:04:38.800 We need to know for certain. 00:04:40.120 --> 00:04:45.380 And it's not just for when you're old and on your deathbed, 00:04:45.500 --> 00:04:46.820 but it's for when you're young. 00:04:47.640 --> 00:04:50.780 If you're going to devote your life to God's promises, 00:04:51.740 --> 00:04:56.320 you want to know for certain, right, that God is going to come good, 00:04:57.080 --> 00:04:58.460 that he's going to bless you. 00:04:59.900 --> 00:05:03.200 If it's going to cost you, you want to know for certain. 00:05:05.660 --> 00:05:10.980 So the all-important question is, can you know for certain 00:05:10.980 --> 00:05:14.520 that you can trust God's promises to bless? 00:05:17.820 --> 00:05:21.760 I think there's a lot of religious activity that goes on 00:05:21.760 --> 00:05:26.280 that really is just people trying to make sure, 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:28.320 make certain that God will bless. 00:05:28.900 --> 00:05:32.000 I think that produces a lot of religious activity. 00:05:32.600 --> 00:05:35.460 I think it kind of sees God like this. 00:05:35.660 --> 00:05:39.460 I'm going to scratch your back, God, if you scratch mine. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:46.400 Like, does God need your attention right now and during church 00:05:46.400 --> 00:05:47.460 to feel validated? 00:05:49.780 --> 00:05:54.879 Are you giving him something that he needs right now? 00:05:55.120 --> 00:05:56.580 We just sang a beautiful song. 00:05:56.980 --> 00:06:01.420 Was he, like, coming to Friday, just feeling a bit in the dumps? 00:06:01.420 --> 00:06:06.840 Oh, I can't wait till they sing that song again and just make me feel a bit better. 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:08.699 Does he need us? 00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:14.540 He possesses heaven and earth. 00:06:14.660 --> 00:06:15.520 We read last week. 00:06:15.580 --> 00:06:16.740 Does he need our donations? 00:06:16.740 --> 00:06:21.519 Is that us scratching his back? 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:24.860 We'll help build your church, God. 00:06:27.060 --> 00:06:28.740 You scratch my back now. 00:06:29.699 --> 00:06:31.240 Does he need our volunteering? 00:06:32.360 --> 00:06:35.120 Paul understands from Genesis who this God is, 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:38.400 who we've seen this term as we've studied Genesis. 00:06:38.399 --> 00:06:40.599 Paul says in Acts 17, 00:06:40.719 --> 00:06:42.919 The God who made the world and everything in it, 00:06:43.259 --> 00:06:44.719 being Lord of heaven and earth, 00:06:45.399 --> 00:06:47.719 does not live in temples made by man, 00:06:48.279 --> 00:06:54.099 nor is he served by human hands as though he needed anything, 00:06:54.779 --> 00:07:01.279 since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything else. 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:03.519 Haven't we seen that from Genesis 1? 00:07:03.799 --> 00:07:06.099 The true God before the beginning of creation, 00:07:07.079 --> 00:07:12.439 he didn't need creation to know his identity as creator. 00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:14.039 He is blessed. 00:07:14.399 --> 00:07:18.079 He has deep satisfaction within himself. 00:07:19.239 --> 00:07:20.559 He is the blessed God. 00:07:20.659 --> 00:07:21.919 He has deep satisfaction. 00:07:22.859 --> 00:07:26.139 And he easily creates all things by the word of his power. 00:07:26.459 --> 00:07:27.379 He doesn't need anything. 00:07:27.879 --> 00:07:31.019 In fact, he's the one giving life, breath and everything else. 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:40.259 How can you possibly offer anything to such a God? 00:07:41.839 --> 00:07:44.859 He doesn't have an itch that you can scratch. 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:51.519 A lot of religious activity approaches God 00:07:51.519 --> 00:07:54.539 as if he's got a few itches that you can help him out with. 00:07:56.399 --> 00:08:01.219 As if that can make you certain that he will scratch your back in return. 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:03.559 And that's what the Tower of Babel was about, 00:08:04.279 --> 00:08:06.219 if we can remember a few weeks ago. 00:08:06.979 --> 00:08:12.739 It's mankind trying to reach God to offer the sacrifices that God wants 00:08:12.739 --> 00:08:15.359 so that God comes down and guarantees the blessing. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:18.979 And it's ridiculous when you think about who God is. 00:08:19.559 --> 00:08:20.699 He doesn't have any needs. 00:08:20.699 --> 00:08:31.500 So how do you know he will bless you if you can't scratch his back? 00:08:32.100 --> 00:08:33.639 And he will scratch in return. 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:38.100 I think other people think, oh, well, it's God's job to bless. 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:39.679 That's his job. 00:08:40.659 --> 00:08:41.259 He's God. 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:43.340 It's his job to forgive. 00:08:43.340 --> 00:08:47.100 But let's remember Noah's flood. 00:08:51.680 --> 00:08:53.940 The judge of all the earth's seas. 00:08:55.300 --> 00:08:58.960 He can't stand to look on evil because he only loves what is good. 00:08:59.280 --> 00:09:04.540 The rainbow reminds us the only reason society has life and breath 00:09:04.540 --> 00:09:07.540 and everything else is because God is incredibly patient. 00:09:07.539 --> 00:09:16.559 My conscience regularly tells me all I've got to bargain with, God, 00:09:16.620 --> 00:09:17.699 is my failures. 00:09:17.700 --> 00:09:27.120 So don't just assume, we can't, from the God we've seen in Genesis, 00:09:28.180 --> 00:09:32.040 you can't just assume, oh, blessing's automatic to all people. 00:09:35.780 --> 00:09:44.280 But nor can we think he has, we can manipulate him to guarantee blessing from him. 00:09:44.279 --> 00:09:50.939 Now, some other people, I think, claim you can't know for certain. 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:58.519 You can't know for certain that God will ultimately give you life 00:09:58.519 --> 00:10:01.480 and when we're talking about ultimate things, eternal life. 00:10:01.539 --> 00:10:04.019 You can't know for certain, some people claim. 00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:10.539 Well, to those people, I would say Genesis 15 strongly disagrees with you. 00:10:10.539 --> 00:10:20.120 Genesis 15 is this defining turning point, a defining moment in human history 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:27.919 and it's all about God wanting to assure Abraham so that he can know for certain. 00:10:30.740 --> 00:10:37.299 It's one of these beautiful chapters that I feel so insufficient to preach this morning 00:10:37.299 --> 00:10:39.399 because it's so wonderful. 00:10:40.439 --> 00:10:42.579 It's all about assuring Abraham. 00:10:43.459 --> 00:10:44.740 You can know for certain. 00:10:47.379 --> 00:10:48.939 So I hope you're looking forward to it. 00:10:49.659 --> 00:10:51.919 In Abraham's fear and doubt, 00:10:53.479 --> 00:10:58.699 we're going to see that it's God's promises that create Abraham's faith 00:10:58.699 --> 00:11:00.979 and strengthens his faith. 00:11:00.980 --> 00:11:07.460 And we see his promises are guaranteed by his covenant of grace. 00:11:10.019 --> 00:11:12.759 And all this gives an anchor for the soul, 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:18.580 even in the face of horror, even in the face of affliction. 00:11:19.259 --> 00:11:20.139 So that's where we're headed. 00:11:20.139 --> 00:11:31.819 I wonder if you know what the most common command in Scripture is. 00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:38.679 Apparently, I haven't done the tally, but I'm relying on other sources here. 00:11:39.039 --> 00:11:41.019 It's do not be afraid. 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:45.299 Do not be afraid. 00:11:45.299 --> 00:11:52.399 We see here, Abraham is made of the same stuff you and I are. 00:11:53.439 --> 00:11:56.639 His faith is mixed with deep fear and doubt. 00:11:58.099 --> 00:11:59.799 And the Lord comes to him, 00:12:00.439 --> 00:12:02.240 Fear not, Abram. 00:12:03.599 --> 00:12:06.459 I am your shield, your reward shall be very great. 00:12:07.500 --> 00:12:08.599 Now, why is he afraid? 00:12:09.219 --> 00:12:12.859 I think Abram's questions in this passage tell us. 00:12:12.860 --> 00:12:15.659 He and Sarah are getting into their old age 00:12:15.659 --> 00:12:20.080 and the stakes are getting higher and higher and higher 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:21.600 as each year passes. 00:12:22.659 --> 00:12:25.340 He still has the opportunity to return to Ur. 00:12:25.800 --> 00:12:28.560 Just forget about these promises. 00:12:28.740 --> 00:12:30.960 Let's just go back to the life I came from 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:33.659 where I understand how to make a future there. 00:12:35.300 --> 00:12:37.379 We're reading these chapters very quickly, 00:12:37.580 --> 00:12:39.420 but years are going by, decades. 00:12:39.419 --> 00:12:44.779 And the fulfillment of these promises are lagging far behind. 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:51.120 What good is it, God, if you were my shield all the days of my life? 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:55.179 You might give me lots of riches even if it all comes to nothing. 00:12:57.979 --> 00:13:00.779 If it all goes to this relative Eliezer. 00:13:01.139 --> 00:13:02.639 What good is it in the end? 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:12.559 I think Abraham is staring into that dark void. 00:13:15.100 --> 00:13:17.220 God might be with him all his days, 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:20.379 but there's no future ahead. 00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:23.620 And he's getting older. 00:13:27.740 --> 00:13:30.559 Increasingly, he can't see a way for God to come good 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:32.119 on his word of promise. 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:35.719 Don't you find that you often, are you like me? 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:39.679 We pray for things when we can imagine how God could answer. 00:13:39.839 --> 00:13:43.199 Like, oh, I think God possibly could do this. 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:44.139 Okay, I'll pray that. 00:13:46.459 --> 00:13:49.059 But we can hesitate when we just can't see a way. 00:13:51.439 --> 00:13:52.599 Abraham can't see a way. 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:59.759 I love the gentleness of the Lord in this passage. 00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:01.159 He doesn't scold Abraham. 00:14:01.560 --> 00:14:02.899 He's already given his word. 00:14:03.060 --> 00:14:06.899 He could have just said, I've told you, that's enough. 00:14:07.300 --> 00:14:07.840 But he doesn't. 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:12.720 He comes to him and he reiterates the promise. 00:14:13.840 --> 00:14:15.200 He gives a clear reply. 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:18.300 He doesn't even mention the servant's name. 00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:18.820 This one. 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:20.259 This one you're talking about. 00:14:20.259 --> 00:14:22.500 He won't be your heir from your very own body. 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:24.399 A son will come. 00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:29.480 He doesn't explain how it's possible. 00:14:31.220 --> 00:14:34.779 I think he actually makes the promise a lot, lot harder to believe. 00:14:35.779 --> 00:14:40.159 He takes him outside and Abraham's night sky would have been filled 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:44.559 without all the light pollution we're surrounded with. 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:46.000 It must have been filled. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:49.620 I'm driving here this morning on the windscreen, 00:14:49.779 --> 00:14:53.240 just all these little dots of water on the windscreen. 00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:56.620 It must have just been filled, the night sky that he was singing. 00:14:58.899 --> 00:15:02.519 God amps up the situation. 00:15:02.779 --> 00:15:04.799 So shall your offspring be. 00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:10.399 Your eyes are on you and Sarah in your old age. 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:12.559 You think it's impossible to have even one son. 00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:14.059 Look at who I am. 00:15:15.739 --> 00:15:19.619 I'm the creator who called these stars into existence out of nothing. 00:15:21.379 --> 00:15:26.679 Could the one who made these innumerable stars then fail to uphold his promise? 00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:36.299 I love looking at the sky we can see. 00:15:37.979 --> 00:15:42.500 I love the Southern Cross because I can't remember which of the stars it is, 00:15:42.599 --> 00:15:46.979 but one of them, the closest one outside our solar system, 00:15:47.699 --> 00:15:52.579 is it's over 88 light years away. 00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:57.600 And I always think 88, I probably won't live to 88. 00:15:57.780 --> 00:15:58.220 I might. 00:15:59.960 --> 00:16:02.440 That's older than my lifespan. 00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:05.340 I don't know, for some reason that really comforts me. 00:16:05.420 --> 00:16:08.400 That might freak you out, but it really comforts me. 00:16:08.520 --> 00:16:09.960 God is constant. 00:16:12.800 --> 00:16:13.980 My life is temporary. 00:16:14.100 --> 00:16:14.740 He's constant. 00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:22.320 I think the Lord here is blowing Abraham's restricted time frame of his own lifespan 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:26.299 because he's not going to see this in his own lifespan. 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:29.960 But a multitude you can't count. 00:16:30.680 --> 00:16:33.299 And if you're believing in Jesus today, you're one of those stars. 00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:41.299 It's an interesting way to speak into Abraham's fear, isn't it? 00:16:41.299 --> 00:16:45.240 Abraham, in effect, is saying, I can't see how it's possible. 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:48.740 And the Lord goes, so? 00:16:50.599 --> 00:16:51.279 So what? 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:55.919 You don't need to know. 00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:57.379 Get out of your own head. 00:16:58.259 --> 00:17:00.319 Get out of your own restricted expectations. 00:17:00.579 --> 00:17:01.439 Look at who I am. 00:17:02.699 --> 00:17:04.099 Look at my word of promise. 00:17:04.099 --> 00:17:12.779 The reward, I promise, is so very great if you think outside of your own lifespan, even, 00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:13.740 your own capacity. 00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:25.259 And here we have one of the most important verses in the Bible about what God wants from us. 00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:31.339 Someone's described it this way, Genesis 15, 6. 00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:36.279 Here is a picture of a human being and God in right relationship. 00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:37.559 Here it is, this verse. 00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:41.359 He believed the Lord. 00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:45.919 And the Lord counted it to him as righteousness. 00:17:45.920 --> 00:18:00.420 I think there's great comfort here if you fear your faith isn't genuine or doubts plague you. 00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:04.019 Like, I sometimes think, I don't know if these thoughts come into your mind. 00:18:04.120 --> 00:18:07.580 I'm like, will I still be trusting in 10 years' time? 00:18:07.580 --> 00:18:13.980 Do those thoughts, especially if someone you've really respected, trips up? 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:25.019 If you think your faith is your own doing, this verse is really, really comforting. 00:18:25.140 --> 00:18:27.279 Because look at what created Abram's faith. 00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:31.259 It wasn't anything inside Abram. 00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:34.120 He's filled with fear and doubt. 00:18:35.660 --> 00:18:36.900 He's afraid. 00:18:36.900 --> 00:18:41.600 It's what's outside of him that creates his faith. 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:48.220 It's God's word of promise that creates the faith. 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:52.120 Abram doesn't conjure it up. 00:18:53.080 --> 00:18:57.740 It's the word that creates his faith and strengthens it. 00:18:57.740 --> 00:19:07.980 I'm going to read an extended quote from the ex-principal of Moore College. 00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:11.700 We had him at a church camp a few years ago at John Woodhouse. 00:19:12.599 --> 00:19:14.640 Because he just summarises it really well. 00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:19.819 To see what true Christian faith is, he compares it with a bunch of imitations. 00:19:19.819 --> 00:19:22.559 He says, 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:35.759 Since God has spoken, right relationship consists in this, his word and our faith in him created by his word. 00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:42.839 Take away his word and you have nothing. 00:19:42.839 --> 00:19:49.679 You may have superstition that pretends to be faith. 00:19:52.379 --> 00:19:56.240 You may have traditions that pretend to be Christianity. 00:19:56.980 --> 00:19:58.720 You may have religious feelings. 00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:01.000 You may have wise counselling. 00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:04.379 You may have a diary filled with good works. 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:08.459 But without the word of God, there will be no faith in God. 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:10.699 No right relationship with God. 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:19.159 This is the picture of a human being and God in right relationship. 00:20:19.919 --> 00:20:22.399 His word creating faith in his word. 00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:31.939 Our faith will last because it's his word that creates and strengthens our faith. 00:20:33.639 --> 00:20:34.519 Isn't that good news? 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:43.379 Well, Abram has the audacity to kind of ask another question. 00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:45.539 How do I know? 00:20:46.619 --> 00:20:47.660 How do I know? 00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:53.460 How can the Lord be trusted to keep his promises? 00:20:53.460 --> 00:21:03.279 We know because he guarantees his promise by his covenant of grace. 00:21:04.360 --> 00:21:05.940 Now, we might think of grace. 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.799 It's in our church name. 00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:12.420 We might think of grace as the forgiveness we receive when we slip up. 00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:17.259 If that's our definition of grace, that's true. 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:20.759 But it's just the tip of the iceberg of what grace means. 00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:25.140 That's just the fruit that comes from the tree. 00:21:26.420 --> 00:21:31.039 Here we see the root system of what grace is. 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:38.920 And it looks like a cow, a goat and a ram cut in pieces and making a bloody aisle. 00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:41.899 There's grace. 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:49.119 Emma and I turned 11 yesterday. 00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:56.859 And we re-watched the video montage of our wedding ceremony. 00:21:58.039 --> 00:22:04.879 And after publicly declaring our promises, there's shots of us signing the marriage certificates. 00:22:06.479 --> 00:22:13.039 Now, imagine if instead, you know where I'm going, we cut up some animals at the end of the ceremony 00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:17.059 and we placed it down the aisle, each half on either side. 00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:18.859 And then Emma and I walked down. 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:24.679 And there's this bloody aisle. 00:22:25.399 --> 00:22:27.159 And we walked down hand in hand. 00:22:27.399 --> 00:22:34.799 And we're basically saying, may this be done to me if I break this covenant. 00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:38.339 That's powerful. 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:40.319 I kind of wish we did it. 00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:41.279 I'm not sure what Emma thinks. 00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:42.179 I haven't run this by. 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:43.599 It's too late now. 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:51.139 But I have a feeling I'm not going to get as many requests to run a marriage ceremony soon. 00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:53.599 But may this be... 00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:58.519 That's what this was about. 00:22:59.299 --> 00:23:01.819 There were different kinds of covenants in the ancient world. 00:23:01.819 --> 00:23:08.379 And sometimes when there was a regional power like the Hittites or the Babylonians later on, 00:23:08.639 --> 00:23:11.919 and there was these smaller states, then they made an agreement. 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:13.339 Like, we're going to protect your borders. 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:16.579 We're going to look after you. 00:23:17.159 --> 00:23:18.359 You pay your taxes. 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.939 Give full allegiance to us. 00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:24.039 And sometimes they cut up these animals. 00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:27.620 They called down curses of what would happen if they broke the agreement. 00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:37.039 And, of course, it's the big bully who is the superpower who would bring about those curses if the little states disobeyed. 00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:42.400 And it would be this superpower king and the servant walking together. 00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:46.220 Or it would just be the servant walking down that bloody aisle. 00:23:46.620 --> 00:23:50.900 May this be done to me if I break this covenant. 00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:56.840 Because when God said, get the animals, Abraham seems to know what's coming. 00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:59.220 He knows what to do with them. 00:23:59.880 --> 00:24:01.200 He knows that a covenant is coming. 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:10.640 He goes into a deep sleep and he sees a burning oven and a torch. 00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:19.480 Apparently those were the same images we see at Mount Sinai and in the wilderness after the exodus. 00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:26.620 How do I know, Abraham asks, how do I know that you'll keep your promises? 00:24:26.619 --> 00:24:32.359 The Lord walks down the bloody aisle. 00:24:33.739 --> 00:24:35.339 Please excuse my language. 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:39.639 I literally mean that. 00:24:41.959 --> 00:24:43.439 He walks down. 00:24:43.679 --> 00:24:44.599 The Lord walks down. 00:24:46.179 --> 00:24:53.299 But how does Abraham know that he himself will keep his side of the agreement? 00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:57.659 The Lord walks down alone. 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:09.099 The Lord is committing himself to keep his side and he's taking responsibility for Abraham's side. 00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:18.139 The Lord is saying, may I be like these animals if I or you don't keep this agreement? 00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:21.539 That's grace. 00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:28.220 It is not. 00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:31.039 And I'll scratch you all back if you scratch mine. 00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:37.059 It's not even God saying, Abraham, for the times you slip up, I'll give you some mercy. 00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:45.579 It's the Lord saying, I'm going to take sole responsibility for his and Abraham's side of this relationship. 00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:47.700 May this be done to me. 00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:50.399 That's grace. 00:25:50.399 --> 00:25:50.480 Grace. 00:25:51.539 --> 00:26:02.079 And it gives an anchor. 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:04.000 An anchor for the soul. 00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:11.119 If you're in a boat, I've never been in this situation. 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:15.420 I'm just imagining this would be the case of any nautical people out there. 00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:19.920 you're in a boat, wild storm, you drop the anchor. 00:26:20.060 --> 00:26:23.620 If that anchor is still just in the water, even if it's deep water, 00:26:24.360 --> 00:26:25.600 it's not far enough, is it? 00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:26.660 It's not going to hold you. 00:26:29.620 --> 00:26:35.160 Hebrews 6 uses this metaphor of an anchor referring to Abraham. 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:39.779 It's what you pin your hopes on. 00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:42.440 If you're pinning your hopes on your circumstances, 00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:44.400 your circumstances change. 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:45.759 It's like that flowing water. 00:26:46.800 --> 00:26:51.180 If you're pinning on your own capacity, your own capacity changes. 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:54.500 Your anchor's not deep enough. 00:26:54.560 --> 00:26:57.820 If you're pinning it on any human being, any created thing, 00:26:58.720 --> 00:27:02.900 even a government, it changes. 00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:05.620 Your anchor's still just in the water. 00:27:07.300 --> 00:27:12.519 But if your soul is anchored to the immovable bedrock of who God is 00:27:12.519 --> 00:27:19.099 and his covenant of grace, you're good. 00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:23.000 It doesn't move. 00:27:24.920 --> 00:27:28.500 You can even face horrible affliction and have peace. 00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:37.480 The Lord says, I will surely give the land. 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:39.660 And then he tells Abraham what's got to come. 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:42.759 And it's a horrible picture. 00:27:42.759 --> 00:28:03.079 Now, I think the sight of all this history was overwhelming to Abraham's mind and soul. 00:28:03.079 --> 00:28:07.179 I think that's what the deep darkness that falls on him is about. 00:28:07.679 --> 00:28:15.359 It is this horror at seeing what it's going to take for God to keep his promises. 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:19.179 There is a lot of affliction first. 00:28:23.879 --> 00:28:28.799 Now, having this shown to Abraham, his descendants would have known, 00:28:28.919 --> 00:28:30.500 when they're in the midst of that affliction, 00:28:30.619 --> 00:28:33.199 they would have known that God had made this promise. 00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:34.519 He's the Lord of history. 00:28:35.679 --> 00:28:37.719 They would have looked around while they were enslaved 00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:41.660 and seen no evidence that God was for them. 00:28:42.140 --> 00:28:43.319 But they would have known this. 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:45.700 He's the Lord of history. 00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:54.220 One reason we are told that Abraham was told this future 00:28:56.360 --> 00:29:01.380 is that the Amorite sin isn't full, isn't complete yet. 00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:06.140 Yes, Joshua will lead God's people to receive the land, 00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:09.780 but not one hour before justice requires it. 00:29:12.040 --> 00:29:15.860 God is just in the way that he's going to fulfill these promises. 00:29:17.300 --> 00:29:19.600 It would have given assurance to his descendants, 00:29:19.820 --> 00:29:22.740 but here's the question that's gone through my mind. 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:25.759 Why did Abraham need to experience it? 00:29:25.860 --> 00:29:30.280 Why this horror and deep darkness that overwhelmed him? 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:33.900 I think perhaps that is what caused his deep sleep. 00:29:36.140 --> 00:29:37.820 It overwhelmed him. 00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:39.840 Why did he need to experience this? 00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:45.900 I can see two reasons from the surrounding context. 00:29:47.840 --> 00:29:49.740 One is the immediate context. 00:29:50.840 --> 00:29:53.020 The covenant was about to be made. 00:29:53.100 --> 00:29:53.920 He got the animals ready. 00:29:54.420 --> 00:29:55.140 And he probably thought, 00:29:55.360 --> 00:29:57.980 I'm about to walk through this and make this agreement. 00:29:58.320 --> 00:30:00.380 But when he saw what it would take, 00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:01.680 the horror first, 00:30:03.120 --> 00:30:03.780 that overwhelm, 00:30:03.860 --> 00:30:04.820 he was incapacitated. 00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:06.980 He couldn't. 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:12.159 And so what a relief that the Lord took full responsibility. 00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:20.899 So I think it pushed him to love the fact that God takes sole responsibility 00:30:20.899 --> 00:30:22.500 for this covenant. 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:25.200 But I can see another reason as well. 00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:27.259 If we zoom out to Abraham's life, 00:30:29.100 --> 00:30:33.299 I should have looked this up before this very moment, 00:30:33.400 --> 00:30:38.720 but I think it's about 10 years after this moment of the covenant 00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:41.360 that Isaac comes. 00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:47.240 Still many years until God comes good on the promise. 00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:52.519 And then Isaac is about 13 years old. 00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:57.519 When the Lord tested him in terms of sacrificing him. 00:30:57.519 --> 00:31:04.859 I think having this foretaste of the horror beforehand, 00:31:04.859 --> 00:31:09.079 I think it tells us that when Abraham walked with the Lord, 00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:11.619 he had the opportunity to go back to Ur, 00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:14.740 but he saw what it would take, 00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:17.420 and he trusted God's covenant, 00:31:17.420 --> 00:31:22.820 even though he knew affliction came first. 00:31:24.100 --> 00:31:28.039 I think getting this now meant that he did it voluntary. 00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:36.480 He saw the promises from afar, Hebrews 11 says. 00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:43.379 He had no visible evidence of the Lord giving the land. 00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:47.279 He had no idea how it would be possible. 00:31:47.420 --> 00:31:49.359 He knew that suffering came first. 00:31:50.139 --> 00:31:51.619 So what was he clinging to? 00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:55.720 It was the covenant of grace. 00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:58.960 That was his anchor for his soul. 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:04.140 That's what sustained his walk of faith, 00:32:04.759 --> 00:32:06.600 to inherit the promises. 00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:14.860 There came a descendant after Abraham 00:32:14.860 --> 00:32:18.140 whose soul was also filled with horror 00:32:18.140 --> 00:32:23.120 at the sight of the darkness and affliction 00:32:23.119 --> 00:32:27.219 that it would take for God to fulfil his promises. 00:32:29.399 --> 00:32:30.899 This man didn't sleep, 00:32:32.159 --> 00:32:35.379 but he was so afraid at what he saw 00:32:35.379 --> 00:32:38.159 that he was sweating drops of blood. 00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:41.819 He said to his friends, 00:32:42.359 --> 00:32:45.539 my soul is very sorrowful, 00:32:45.679 --> 00:32:47.459 even to the point of death. 00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:53.559 He was shown what was about to take place 00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:55.120 and it overwhelmed him. 00:32:56.160 --> 00:32:57.779 He had opportunity to run away. 00:32:59.960 --> 00:33:02.059 He pleaded with God three times, 00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:03.480 take this cup from me. 00:33:03.480 --> 00:33:08.980 This cup of covenant curse, 00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:13.299 this cup of suffering was set before him 00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:14.640 and he saw it. 00:33:16.140 --> 00:33:21.420 It was like being shown the fiery furnace 00:33:21.420 --> 00:33:23.620 before you're about to be thrown in 00:33:23.620 --> 00:33:26.400 and he had an opportunity to run away. 00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:29.580 But three times, 00:33:30.800 --> 00:33:33.080 not my will but yours be done. 00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:34.940 He did it voluntarily. 00:33:37.080 --> 00:33:39.000 He trusted his father's plan. 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:47.280 Do you see why Jesus willingly went to the cross 00:33:47.280 --> 00:33:48.780 from Genesis 15? 00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:55.819 How dare we think of him 00:33:55.819 --> 00:33:58.559 as I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine. 00:34:01.359 --> 00:34:03.779 He went down that bloody aisle 00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:08.239 because of the covenant with Abraham. 00:34:11.920 --> 00:34:13.380 He went down voluntarily. 00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:16.860 Everyone abandoned him. 00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:19.460 He walked down it alone. 00:34:20.120 --> 00:34:22.559 He took sole responsibility 00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:24.960 for his side of the covenant and ours. 00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:27.140 He kept his promise 00:34:27.140 --> 00:34:30.620 and he bore the curse 00:34:30.620 --> 00:34:33.440 for us breaking the covenant. 00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:37.800 That's grace. 00:34:39.480 --> 00:34:40.820 God keeps his promises 00:34:40.820 --> 00:34:43.160 and we know that looking at the cross. 00:34:43.159 --> 00:34:48.559 And knowing that covenant of grace, 00:34:49.359 --> 00:34:53.019 that crushes the serpent's head. 00:34:55.739 --> 00:34:58.259 The lie that Adam and Eve believed, 00:34:58.619 --> 00:35:00.099 it crushes the lie 00:35:00.099 --> 00:35:01.980 that God is not good. 00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:06.219 He is so good 00:35:06.219 --> 00:35:10.159 that he took sole responsibility 00:35:10.159 --> 00:35:11.980 to make sure 00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:13.500 that we receive 00:35:13.500 --> 00:35:15.480 all his promises. 00:35:17.880 --> 00:35:19.460 And that gives us an anchor 00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:20.420 for our soul. 00:35:23.300 --> 00:35:24.340 Will you pray with me? 00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:24.840 Let's pray. 00:35:24.840 --> 00:35:31.920 Oh, the depths of the riches 00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:33.880 and wisdom 00:35:33.880 --> 00:35:36.100 and knowledge of you, God. 00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:39.620 How unsearchable are your judgments 00:35:39.620 --> 00:35:42.360 and how inscrutable are your ways. 00:35:42.460 --> 00:35:44.340 For who has known the mind of the Lord? 00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:47.100 Or who has been his counsellor? 00:35:47.099 --> 00:35:50.299 Or who has ever given a gift to him 00:35:50.299 --> 00:35:51.539 that he might be repaid? 00:35:52.819 --> 00:35:53.739 For from him 00:35:53.739 --> 00:35:55.699 and through him 00:35:55.699 --> 00:35:56.940 and to him 00:35:56.940 --> 00:35:58.059 are all things. 00:35:59.019 --> 00:36:00.239 To him be glory 00:36:00.239 --> 00:36:00.880 forever. 00:36:04.440 --> 00:36:04.960 Father, 00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:06.480 Son and Holy Spirit, 00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:07.360 we thank you 00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:08.900 for your covenant of grace. 00:36:09.880 --> 00:36:11.000 In Jesus' name. 00:36:11.159 --> 00:36:11.440 Amen.