WEBVTT

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 And it's my joy to bring God's word to you today.

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 A special welcome if you are new or visiting with us.

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! We're glad that you're here.

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 And we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats,

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 but because we're following Jesus together as one community.

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 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good.

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 They don't need God's grace.

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 And no one so bad that they can't have it.

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 Which is why we come back week after week to hear what God has to say to us.

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 In his word.

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 This week we're continuing our series in the book of Genesis.

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 You'll remember the book of Genesis is a book of origins.

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 In chapters 1 through 11, we're told the origin of the world.

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 And then in chapters 11 through 50, we find the origin of God's people, Israel, starting with Abraham.

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 In fact, that's our focus.

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 We're only in chapters 11 through 25 in Abraham's story.

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 And we're there for two reasons.

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 First, to prepare us to go back in our series in Romans,

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 where we'll pick up in chapter 4, which is about Abraham.

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 And two, because it allows us to answer this question,

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 what does it look like to follow God in faith?

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 You remember last week, chapter 17, we asked the question,

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 what does it mean to be in a relationship with God?

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 How does it change us?

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 And we found two answers, that it gives us a new identity,

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 and it gives us new responsibilities.

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 Here in chapter 18, God is going to reiterate his promise specifically to Sarah.

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 In the past, he's spoken only to Abraham.

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 And here, she struggles to believe.

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 And so we ask this question,

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 how does faith overcome bitterness and cynicism?

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 How does faith face overcome bitterness and cynicism?

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 It's with that that I invite you to turn with me to Genesis chapter 18.

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 You can turn in your Bible.

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 You can turn on your phone.

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 You can turn in your worship guide.

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 No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's word.

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 Proverbs chapter 30, verse 5 tells us,

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 every word of God proves true.

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 He's a shield to those who take refuge in him.

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 So that's why we read now chapter 18, starting at verse 1.

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 Do not pass by your servant.

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 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet,

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 and rest yourselves under the tree,

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 while I bring a morsel of bread,

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 that you may refresh yourselves.

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 And after that, you may pass on,

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 since you have come to your servant.

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 So they said,

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 Do as you have said.

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 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah,

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 and said, Quick, three sillas of fine flour.

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 Knead it and make cakes.

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 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf,

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 tender and good,

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 and gave it to a young man who prepared it quickly.

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 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared

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 and set it before them.

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 And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

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 They said to him,

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 Where is Sarah, your wife?

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 And he said,

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 She is in the tent.

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 The Lord said,

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 I will surely return to you about this time next year,

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 and Sarah, your wife, shall have a son.

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 And Sarah was listening at the tent tour behind him.

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 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years.

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 The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.

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 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying,

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 After I am worn out and my Lord is old,

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 shall I have pleasure.

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 The Lord said to Abraham,

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 Why did Sarah laugh and say,

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 Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?

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 Is anything too hard for the Lord?

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 At the appointed time I will return to you

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 about this time next year,

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 and Sarah shall have a son.

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 But Sarah denied it, saying,

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 I did not laugh, for she was afraid.

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 He said,

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 No, but you did laugh.

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 I invite you to pray with me

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 as we come to this portion of God's word.

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 Our Father in heaven,

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 we do praise you

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 and thank you for what you show us in Genesis,

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 that as your people fail again and again,

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 you pursue them again and again,

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 show them grace over and over.

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 We ask that you would remind us of that this morning,

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 that you would open our eyes,

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 you'd unstop our ears,

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 you would clear our minds,

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 you'd soften our hearts,

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 that we would be able to see and hear

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 and understand and believe

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 everything that's written in your word.

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 And we ask these things in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Many years ago,

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 over a decade ago,

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 I spoke with a woman

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 who desperately

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 wanted to be married.

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 And she told me

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 that she had recently

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 started praying about this.

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 She'd recently started praying

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 for a spouse.

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 But only recently,

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 because for a long time,

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 she did not want to pray about it,

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 which I thought was interesting.

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 So I said,

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 why?

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 Why did you not want to pray about it?

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 She said,

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 well,

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 what if I prayed

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 and I still didn't get married?

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 It's bad enough

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 not to have it.

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 It's even worse

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 to pray

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 and not have it.

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 That would be

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 an even greater

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 disappointment.

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 I tell you that

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 because the point is this.

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 Hope

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 is really vulnerable.

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 It is incredibly vulnerable

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 to hope.

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 It's scary.

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 And it's scary

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 and vulnerable

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 because it opens you up

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 to disappointment.

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 And so I'm going to share

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 a little life hack with you.

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 If you want

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 to never be disappointed,

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 make sure you never hope

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 for anything.

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 It's easy.

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 Don't desire anything.

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 you can be safe.

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 If you don't long

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 for anything,

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 your heart

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 will never be broken.

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 So it's a lot easier

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 to make it through

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 this life

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 as a cynic.

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 That's where we're at

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 in this story

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 with Abraham and Sarah.

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 They have been hoping

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 for a long time.

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 You may remember

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 the opening

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 of chapter 17.

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 Last week,

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 we're told

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 that Abraham

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 is now

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 99 years old,

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 which means

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 that it has been

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 24 years

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 since God

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 first appeared

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 to him

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 in Genesis chapter 12.

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 It was in Genesis chapter 12

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 that God said to him,

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 look,

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 you are going to be

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 the father of a nation.

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 Later,

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 he tells him

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 not just a great nation,

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 but many nations.

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 Chapter 16,

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 Abraham and Sarah

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 try to speed things up.

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 This isn't happening

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 fast enough.

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 Maybe we can get Hagar

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 to have the promised son

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 for us.

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 That's Sarah's idea.

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 Chapter 17,

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 remember,

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 God comes to Abraham

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 and says,

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 I'm going to give you a son.

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 And Abraham says,

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 yeah,

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 but what about Ishmael?

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 Isn't he good enough?

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 Can't he be the solution

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 to the problem?

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 Proverbs chapter 13,

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 verse 12,

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 tells us,

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 hope deferred

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 makes the heart sick.

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 Sarah's hope

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 has been deferred

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 and her heart

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 is very sick.

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 I'm jumping ahead of us,

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 though.

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 At the very beginning

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 of this passage,

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 verses 1 and 2,

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 we have three unexpected visitors

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 who show up

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 to see Abraham.

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 Verses 3 through 5,

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 he gives them

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 this offer of hospitality.

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 Verses 6 through 8,

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 we have a frantic scene

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 of preparation.

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 And we know it's frantic

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 because of the words

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 that are used.

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 Verse 6,

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 Abraham goes quickly

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 and he says,

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 quick.

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 Verse 7,

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 they ran.

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 In the Hebrew,

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 there's actually a verb

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 or two that is dropped

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 to show how fast

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 Abraham is talking

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 because he's trying

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 to get it done

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 as soon as possible.

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 Now,

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 the point is this.

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 Abraham is a great host.

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 Abraham is a great host

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 who is really good

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 at hospitality.

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 This plays a larger role

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 in the narrative

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 of Genesis

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 because we're being set up

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 for what's going to happen

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 in the next chapter.

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 Remember,

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 Abraham and Lot

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 sort of serve as contrast

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 to each other.

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 Abraham often

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 the positive example.

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 Lot always

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 the negative example.

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 Abraham shows

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 great hospitality

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 so we can understand

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 how bad Lot's hospitality

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 is later on.

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 Okay?

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 That's for a future sermon,

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 though.

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 We still need to get down

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 to business.

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 And in fact,

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 that's what they do.

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 So they have this meal

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 and then it is time

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 for the four men,

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 Abraham and the three visitors,

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 to sit down

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 and figure out

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 what this is all about.

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 We don't have to wait long

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 because they tell us

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 the topic,

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 verse 9.

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 Where is Sarah,

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 your wife?

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 Now this is kind of

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 a rhetorical question.

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 They're not actually wondering

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 where Sarah is.

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 This is a men's meeting

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 for man talk.

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 And so really what they're saying is,

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 hey, the reason we're here

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 is for Sarah.

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 We know she's behind the tent

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 and we find out quickly

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 these are not just

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 random human visitors.

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 No, something is going on.

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 And we know something

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 is going on for many reasons,

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 one of which is

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 they know Sarah's name.

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 And they don't just know

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 Sarah's name,

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 they know her new name.

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 Right?

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 Remember chapter 17,

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 after most of her life

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 being called Sarai,

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 she is now,

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 God's given her

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 this new name of Sarah.

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 And so we are not

00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:19.659
 dealing here

00:10:19.659 --> 00:10:20.959
 with some average,

00:10:21.179 --> 00:10:22.819
 regular travelers.

00:10:22.959 --> 00:10:24.079
 No, and we find out quickly

00:10:24.079 --> 00:10:25.579
 we are dealing

00:10:25.579 --> 00:10:27.120
 with God himself.

00:10:27.839 --> 00:10:28.740
 In fact, that's what we see

00:10:28.740 --> 00:10:29.399
 in verse 10.

00:10:29.699 --> 00:10:30.519
 You may have noticed

00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:31.919
 in verse 3,

00:10:32.600 --> 00:10:33.699
 Abraham addresses him,

00:10:33.819 --> 00:10:34.459
 O Lord.

00:10:34.579 --> 00:10:36.199
 Lord there is lowercase,

00:10:37.179 --> 00:10:37.980
 meaning he's just using

00:10:37.980 --> 00:10:38.939
 the general term.

00:10:39.699 --> 00:10:40.819
 And we find out verse 10,

00:10:40.939 --> 00:10:42.039
 Lord uppercase,

00:10:42.120 --> 00:10:43.579
 meaning God's personal name,

00:10:43.699 --> 00:10:44.120
 Yahweh.

00:10:44.860 --> 00:10:47.039
 This is not just

00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:48.179
 three random men.

00:10:48.339 --> 00:10:49.599
 No, God himself

00:10:49.599 --> 00:10:52.779
 has come to visit Abraham.

00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:55.240
 That commentators point out

00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:57.219
 that until Jesus' incarnation

00:10:57.219 --> 00:10:58.419
 in the New Testament,

00:10:58.919 --> 00:11:00.299
 this is the only

00:11:00.299 --> 00:11:01.759
 and first time

00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:03.860
 that God has a meal

00:11:03.860 --> 00:11:04.959
 with a man.

00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:07.259
 So it's significant.

00:11:08.839 --> 00:11:09.559
 It's a good thing

00:11:09.559 --> 00:11:11.399
 that Sarah is listening in

00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:12.860
 because they, in fact,

00:11:12.939 --> 00:11:14.159
 do have a word for her.

00:11:14.779 --> 00:11:15.259
 Verse 10,

00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:16.939
 Sarah, your wife,

00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:19.099
 shall have a son.

00:11:20.899 --> 00:11:22.379
 And what's Sarah's response?

00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:24.819
 Does she say,

00:11:24.899 --> 00:11:26.000
 wow, that's so exciting.

00:11:27.439 --> 00:11:28.799
 I wonder how that's

00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:29.299
 going to happen.

00:11:30.679 --> 00:11:31.939
 Oh, the thing I've been

00:11:31.939 --> 00:11:32.599
 longing for

00:11:32.599 --> 00:11:33.839
 for so many years

00:11:33.839 --> 00:11:35.419
 is finally coming to pass.

00:11:37.219 --> 00:11:37.719
 No.

00:11:38.379 --> 00:11:39.099
 Verse 12,

00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:41.099
 Sarah laughed

00:11:41.099 --> 00:11:42.480
 to herself.

00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:45.500
 Her laugh here,

00:11:45.580 --> 00:11:46.920
 it's not a joyful laugh.

00:11:48.220 --> 00:11:49.680
 It's not a silly laugh.

00:11:50.940 --> 00:11:52.340
 It is a bitter laugh.

00:11:53.639 --> 00:11:54.840
 It is a laugh

00:11:54.840 --> 00:11:55.539
 filled

00:11:55.539 --> 00:11:57.139
 with Sarah's

00:11:57.139 --> 00:11:58.019
 shame.

00:11:58.860 --> 00:11:59.879
 And we know that

00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:01.060
 because of what we found out

00:12:01.060 --> 00:12:01.879
 the verse before,

00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:02.580
 verse 11.

00:12:03.420 --> 00:12:04.519
 Abraham and Sarah

00:12:04.519 --> 00:12:05.279
 were old,

00:12:05.820 --> 00:12:06.980
 advanced in years.

00:12:07.580 --> 00:12:08.620
 The way of women

00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:09.360
 had ceased

00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:10.100
 to be

00:12:10.100 --> 00:12:11.220
 with Sarah.

00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:13.820
 It's a bitter laugh

00:12:13.820 --> 00:12:14.259
 of how.

00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:16.860
 How is this

00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:17.720
 going to happen

00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:18.960
 now that I'm weak?

00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:22.240
 How is this going

00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:22.879
 to happen

00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:25.019
 now that I'm not enough?

00:12:26.700 --> 00:12:27.620
 How is it going

00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:28.120
 to happen

00:12:28.120 --> 00:12:29.720
 now that my sex life

00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:31.480
 is over?

00:12:31.480 --> 00:12:34.759
 We're not here

00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:35.800
 to throw Sarah

00:12:35.800 --> 00:12:37.139
 under the bus.

00:12:38.580 --> 00:12:39.379
 In many ways,

00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:40.080
 her response

00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:41.320
 makes complete sense.

00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:43.080
 From a human perspective,

00:12:43.820 --> 00:12:45.220
 this is a joke.

00:12:46.940 --> 00:12:47.659
 Verse 11

00:12:47.659 --> 00:12:48.460
 is telling us

00:12:48.460 --> 00:12:49.360
 that for Sarah,

00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:50.340
 menopause

00:12:50.340 --> 00:12:51.220
 is finished.

00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:53.220
 And whatever hope

00:12:53.220 --> 00:12:54.340
 that she had

00:12:54.340 --> 00:12:55.740
 of one day

00:12:55.740 --> 00:12:56.539
 having a child

00:12:56.539 --> 00:12:57.440
 is fully

00:12:57.440 --> 00:12:58.320
 and finally

00:12:58.320 --> 00:12:58.680
 gone.

00:12:58.679 --> 00:13:03.319
 Her options

00:13:03.319 --> 00:13:03.839
 are set.

00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:05.919
 Her greatest

00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:06.459
 dream,

00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:08.239
 the thing

00:13:08.239 --> 00:13:08.799
 that would be

00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:09.879
 most important

00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:10.519
 to a woman

00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:11.259
 in the ancient

00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:11.899
 Near East

00:13:11.899 --> 00:13:13.099
 has not happened

00:13:13.099 --> 00:13:14.859
 and it will

00:13:14.859 --> 00:13:15.739
 not happen.

00:13:17.699 --> 00:13:18.699
 And so it's

00:13:18.699 --> 00:13:19.120
 safe

00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:20.399
 and easy

00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:21.899
 for her to laugh.

00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:23.839
 In fact,

00:13:23.959 --> 00:13:24.459
 cynicism

00:13:24.459 --> 00:13:26.679
 makes complete

00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:27.219
 sense

00:13:27.219 --> 00:13:28.539
 in a world

00:13:28.539 --> 00:13:29.240
 without God.

00:13:31.319 --> 00:13:31.620
 Cynicism

00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:32.539
 makes complete

00:13:32.539 --> 00:13:33.039
 sense

00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:33.679
 in a world

00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:35.000
 without God.

00:13:35.599 --> 00:13:36.360
 A man named

00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:37.059
 Cary Newhoff

00:13:37.059 --> 00:13:37.519
 tells us

00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:38.179
 that cynicism

00:13:38.179 --> 00:13:38.819
 and hope

00:13:38.819 --> 00:13:39.639
 are actually

00:13:39.639 --> 00:13:40.319
 opposites.

00:13:41.579 --> 00:13:42.339
 If you hope,

00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:43.779
 you cannot be

00:13:43.779 --> 00:13:44.039
 cynical.

00:13:45.079 --> 00:13:45.879
 And if you are

00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:46.199
 cynical,

00:13:46.719 --> 00:13:47.539
 you have given

00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:48.399
 up on hope.

00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:49.360
 Those things

00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:50.139
 cannot travel

00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:50.939
 on the same

00:13:50.939 --> 00:13:51.759
 track.

00:13:52.860 --> 00:13:53.719
 Hope tells us

00:13:53.719 --> 00:13:54.620
 that the future

00:13:54.620 --> 00:13:56.459
 and other people

00:13:56.460 --> 00:13:57.660
 are innocent

00:13:57.660 --> 00:13:58.879
 until proven

00:13:58.879 --> 00:13:59.240
 guilty.

00:14:00.820 --> 00:14:01.360
 Cynicism

00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:02.120
 tells us

00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:02.840
 that the future

00:14:02.840 --> 00:14:03.960
 and other people

00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:05.139
 are guilty

00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:06.379
 until proven

00:14:06.379 --> 00:14:06.720
 innocent.

00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:08.220
 I'll say

00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:08.600
 that again.

00:14:09.320 --> 00:14:09.700
 Hope

00:14:09.700 --> 00:14:10.759
 tells us

00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:11.980
 that the future

00:14:11.980 --> 00:14:13.080
 and other people

00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:13.900
 are innocent

00:14:13.900 --> 00:14:15.040
 until proven

00:14:15.040 --> 00:14:15.519
 guilty.

00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:17.420
 Cynicism

00:14:17.420 --> 00:14:18.100
 tells us

00:14:18.100 --> 00:14:18.680
 the future

00:14:18.680 --> 00:14:19.680
 and other people

00:14:19.680 --> 00:14:20.519
 are guilty

00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:22.100
 until proven

00:14:22.100 --> 00:14:22.920
 innocent.

00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:29.799
 Cynicism assumes the worst so that we never get disappointed.

00:14:31.079 --> 00:14:35.159
 Assumes the worst so we never have to hurt.

00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:43.439
 Where do you laugh at God's promises?

00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:53.620
 Where are you tempted to let bitterness and unbelief set in?

00:14:56.420 --> 00:15:04.200
 Do you believe that the very best things are not in front of you, but are behind you?

00:15:06.680 --> 00:15:11.200
 If you do, you don't believe God's promise in Psalm 23.

00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:17.340
 That goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life.

00:15:19.560 --> 00:15:26.300
 Do you believe that God cannot use you anymore?

00:15:29.920 --> 00:15:33.800
 If you do, you've given up on God's promise in Ephesians 2.

00:15:33.800 --> 00:15:41.000
 That you were created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand.

00:15:41.640 --> 00:15:43.259
 That we should walk in them.

00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:53.000
 Christian, if you're still alive, God still has good works for you.

00:15:53.000 --> 00:16:05.519
 Are you convinced that you or other people cannot and will not change?

00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:14.960
 If you do, you've forgotten God's promise in Ephesians 3.

00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:23.319
 That he is able to do far more abundantly than all we can ask or think.

00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:30.440
 Remember, we're asking this question in Genesis.

00:16:31.340 --> 00:16:35.420
 What does it look like to follow God in faith?

00:16:35.419 --> 00:16:39.419
 One of the answers, the answer of this passage is,

00:16:40.579 --> 00:16:48.539
 following God in faith means believing that what is ahead is better than what is behind.

00:16:48.539 --> 00:17:03.860
 It's hard to be cynical if you believe that.

00:17:03.860 --> 00:17:13.019
 Charles Spurgeon was a Baptist pastor in London in the 19th century.

00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:19.599
 It's well known that Spurgeon struggled with pretty severe depression throughout most of his adult life.

00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:22.599
 It was so bad at times that he wanted to die.

00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:26.640
 Spurgeon spoke about this in multiple sermons.

00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:31.320
 In fact, a man named Zach Eswine wrote a book about it called Spurgeon's Sorrows.

00:17:32.300 --> 00:17:37.920
 And he tells us in one of Spurgeon's sermons that he points out that despair is arrogant.

00:17:39.400 --> 00:17:44.500
 And he said, despair is arrogant because it is confident that it knows the future.

00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:50.400
 It's arrogant to believe that you know what's going to come next.

00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:57.080
 And so Spurgeon goes on to say the Christian needs to hide themselves under this promise.

00:17:57.200 --> 00:18:00.440
 And he quotes 1 Corinthians 2, verse 9.

00:18:01.340 --> 00:18:02.680
 But as it is written,

00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:08.880
 What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined,

00:18:09.340 --> 00:18:13.200
 what God has prepared for those who love him.

00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:21.200
 Christian, you cannot imagine what God has prepared for you.

00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:30.400
 Faith means believing that what is to come is better than what has passed.

00:18:32.900 --> 00:18:36.140
 Spurgeon preaches a sermon on the prophet Elijah,

00:18:36.420 --> 00:18:38.680
 and he riffs off the Psalms and says this,

00:18:38.680 --> 00:19:06.519
 Do you believe that God can and will still do great things for you?

00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:19.680
 Do you believe that God can and will still do great things for you?

00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:26.880
 Or do you laugh with bitterness?

00:19:30.600 --> 00:19:35.420
 Hope and cynicism cannot coexist.

00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:42.820
 Hope and despair never go together.

00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:47.620
 Thankfully, God doesn't leave Sarah here.

00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:52.160
 He doesn't leave us there either.

00:19:54.100 --> 00:19:57.240
 As we've been going through this story of Abraham,

00:19:57.500 --> 00:20:00.460
 one of the major themes, maybe the major theme,

00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:06.220
 is this, that God shows mercy and grace to his people

00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:07.799
 despite their failure.

00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:13.500
 That God shows mercy and grace to his people through their failure.

00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:15.720
 Genesis chapter 12,

00:20:16.100 --> 00:20:18.779
 right after God's made this great promise to Abraham,

00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:19.539
 what does he do?

00:20:20.340 --> 00:20:24.180
 He goes and lies to Pharaoh and puts his wife in danger.

00:20:25.420 --> 00:20:26.480
 What does God do?

00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:29.519
 God delivers him.

00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:31.920
 Genesis 14,

00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:35.099
 Lot makes a foolish choice

00:20:35.099 --> 00:20:37.900
 and ends up being the collateral damage

00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:39.920
 in a big war between lots of kings.

00:20:41.620 --> 00:20:44.819
 What does God do with Lot's foolish choice?

00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:50.200
 God shows grace to his people through his people.

00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:53.220
 And Abraham shows up to rescue.

00:20:53.220 --> 00:20:55.880
 Genesis chapter 15,

00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:57.600
 God makes a covenant

00:20:57.600 --> 00:20:59.140
 and says,

00:20:59.360 --> 00:21:01.920
 I'll pay the price if you break it.

00:21:04.339 --> 00:21:05.640
 Genesis 16,

00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:08.200
 Hagar is thrown out

00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:11.180
 because of Abraham and Sarah's selfishness.

00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:12.940
 What does God do?

00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:17.079
 He goes and finds Hagar in the desert

00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:18.980
 and rescues her.

00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:24.120
 Genesis chapter 18,

00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:31.220
 God comes to a bitter and cynical old woman

00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:35.039
 and shows her his grace.

00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:40.420
 God comes to someone who's very disappointed

00:21:40.420 --> 00:21:42.319
 with how their story is ending

00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:46.480
 and he calls her by name.

00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.779
 She laughs.

00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:52.279
 God doesn't punish her for that.

00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:56.079
 No, he doubles down on his promise.

00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:59.539
 He says it not once, but twice.

00:21:59.779 --> 00:22:00.939
 First time, verse 10,

00:22:01.679 --> 00:22:03.799
 Sarah, your wife shall have a son.

00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:06.319
 Verse 12, she laughs.

00:22:06.939 --> 00:22:09.159
 So it's time to repeat the promise again.

00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:10.160
 Verse 14,

00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:14.040
 Is anything too hard for the Lord?

00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:16.700
 I will return to you

00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:18.880
 about this time next year

00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:21.900
 and Sarah will have a son.

00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:26.200
 God is still going to use Sarah for his mission.

00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:30.700
 His grace is more powerful

00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:32.460
 than her unbelief.

00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:35.980
 Christian,

00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:39.880
 as you falter and fail

00:22:39.880 --> 00:22:41.200
 in following God,

00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:45.779
 he is still going to use you

00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:47.140
 in his mission.

00:22:48.840 --> 00:22:51.900
 He has still prepared works beforehand

00:22:51.900 --> 00:22:55.140
 for you to do in Christ Jesus.

00:22:56.660 --> 00:22:59.940
 His grace is greater

00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:02.640
 greater than your unbelief.

00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:08.600
 I'm going to fast forward a little bit

00:23:08.600 --> 00:23:10.500
 and steal a little bit of thunder

00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.620
 for chapter 21.

00:23:12.360 --> 00:23:13.940
 Because in chapter 21,

00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:15.700
 Isaac is born.

00:23:16.840 --> 00:23:18.400
 You know what Isaac's name means?

00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:24.400
 Isaac is Hebrew for he laughs.

00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:29.780
 God gets the last word.

00:23:31.360 --> 00:23:32.620
 Genesis chapter 21,

00:23:32.840 --> 00:23:33.780
 Sarah says,

00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:36.340
 God has made laughter for me.

00:23:37.360 --> 00:23:38.780
 Everyone who hears

00:23:38.780 --> 00:23:40.980
 will laugh over me.

00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:44.560
 Her laugh of bitterness,

00:23:45.860 --> 00:23:47.060
 her laugh of shame,

00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:49.000
 God takes that.

00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:51.800
 He makes it into a laugh

00:23:51.800 --> 00:23:53.100
 of joy.

00:23:53.099 --> 00:23:58.279
 He does that for us as well.

00:24:00.459 --> 00:24:02.699
 And so there's a foundational question

00:24:02.699 --> 00:24:05.599
 that we must get straight

00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:06.459
 as Christians,

00:24:06.939 --> 00:24:07.839
 and it is this.

00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:13.699
 Is anything too hard

00:24:13.699 --> 00:24:14.659
 for the Lord?

00:24:16.439 --> 00:24:19.000
 Is anything too hard

00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:19.619
 for the Lord?

00:24:19.619 --> 00:24:22.359
 The answer is no.

00:24:23.939 --> 00:24:25.339
 And we know that

00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:27.619
 even more than Sarah did.

00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:31.099
 We know that more than Sarah did

00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:32.419
 because we have seen

00:24:32.419 --> 00:24:34.359
 more than Sarah saw.

00:24:35.159 --> 00:24:37.659
 What Sarah looked forward to,

00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:40.000
 we look back on,

00:24:40.579 --> 00:24:42.559
 which is Jesus' life

00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.659
 and death

00:24:43.659 --> 00:24:44.799
 and resurrection.

00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:47.039
 If there was anything

00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:48.899
 that would show

00:24:48.899 --> 00:24:50.019
 that there was nothing

00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:51.659
 too hard for God,

00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:53.059
 it was not

00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:54.559
 everything that God

00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:55.539
 sent up to this point

00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:56.119
 in Genesis.

00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:57.299
 No.

00:24:58.139 --> 00:24:59.359
 It's God sending

00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:00.159
 his son,

00:25:00.579 --> 00:25:01.859
 his only son,

00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:04.039
 to die for us.

00:25:04.039 --> 00:25:07.480
 if Jesus has risen

00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.200
 from the dead

00:25:08.200 --> 00:25:10.059
 and he has,

00:25:10.619 --> 00:25:12.339
 there is nothing

00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:14.000
 too hard

00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:15.259
 for the Lord.

00:25:16.839 --> 00:25:18.039
 That's what Paul tells us

00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:19.460
 in 1 Corinthians 15.

00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:20.879
 He says,

00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:22.059
 if Christ has not

00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:22.940
 been raised,

00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:24.039
 then our preaching

00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:24.859
 is in vain

00:25:24.859 --> 00:25:25.940
 and your faith

00:25:25.940 --> 00:25:26.579
 is in vain.

00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:27.700
 In other words,

00:25:27.779 --> 00:25:28.879
 if Jesus has not risen

00:25:28.879 --> 00:25:29.519
 from the dead,

00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:31.139
 you really need

00:25:31.139 --> 00:25:31.759
 to be cynical.

00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:34.799
 You need to stop hoping.

00:25:35.640 --> 00:25:35.900
 In fact,

00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:36.420
 he goes on,

00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:36.940
 verse 19,

00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:37.299
 he says,

00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:38.619
 if in Christ

00:25:38.619 --> 00:25:40.000
 we have hope

00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:41.680
 in this life only,

00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:43.440
 we are of all people

00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:44.319
 most to be pitied.

00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:47.019
 If Jesus didn't rise

00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:47.519
 from the dead,

00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:48.259
 you should laugh

00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:48.900
 at Christians

00:25:48.900 --> 00:25:49.960
 more than you laugh

00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:50.720
 at anyone else

00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:52.839
 because we believe

00:25:52.839 --> 00:25:53.740
 the future is better

00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:54.379
 than the past

00:25:54.379 --> 00:25:55.180
 even though it's not.

00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:57.740
 The problem is this.

00:25:58.920 --> 00:26:00.599
 Jesus has risen

00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:01.539
 from the dead.

00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:04.720
 so we can trust him

00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:06.379
 and follow him

00:26:06.379 --> 00:26:07.900
 and believe him.

00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:10.480
 He'll take our laughs

00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:11.079
 of bitterness,

00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:12.220
 our laughs of shame,

00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:14.119
 he turns them

00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:16.099
 to laughs of joy.

00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:19.099
 Is anything

00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:20.440
 too hard

00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:21.599
 for the Lord?

00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:23.759
 No.

00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:25.319
 Let's pray.

00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:28.299
 Our Father in heaven,

00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:29.960
 we do praise you

00:26:29.960 --> 00:26:30.480
 and thank you

00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:30.480


00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:31.819
 that you meet us

00:26:31.819 --> 00:26:34.000
 as we falter

00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.579
 and fail,

00:26:35.380 --> 00:26:37.120
 that our mistakes

00:26:37.120 --> 00:26:38.779
 cannot stand

00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:39.340
 in the way

00:26:39.340 --> 00:26:40.000
 of your kingdom

00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:41.140
 as it moves forward.

00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:43.360
 They don't block

00:26:43.360 --> 00:26:44.319
 our relationship

00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:44.840
 with you

00:26:44.840 --> 00:26:46.120
 because we don't rise

00:26:46.120 --> 00:26:46.920
 or fall

00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:48.440
 on our behavior,

00:26:48.600 --> 00:26:48.980
 but instead

00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:49.539
 our hope

00:26:49.539 --> 00:26:50.480
 is in Jesus Christ.

00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:51.660
 We ask that you

00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:52.460
 would remind us

00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:52.799
 of that,

00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:53.700
 you would drive it

00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:54.519
 deeper and deeper

00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:55.380
 into our hearts

00:26:55.380 --> 00:26:56.400
 and we would believe it

00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:57.880
 more and more

00:26:57.880 --> 00:26:59.540
 that we would have

00:26:59.540 --> 00:27:00.480
 great hope.

00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:01.600
 We ask these things

00:27:01.600 --> 00:27:02.360
 in Jesus' name.

00:27:02.820 --> 00:27:03.060
 Amen.