WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.820
 Father, I thank you for Jesus.

00:00:02.660 --> 00:00:04.620
 I thank you that he loves us.

00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:08.080
 Thank you that he loved us enough to die on the cross for us.

00:00:08.740 --> 00:00:11.679
 Thank you, Father, that your son Jesus,

00:00:11.900 --> 00:00:14.620
 by his death upon the cross and his mighty resurrection,

00:00:15.320 --> 00:00:18.400
 that he has dealt with our gravest and deepest need.

00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:21.920
 We thank you, Father, that his death upon the cross

00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:24.900
 is a power for salvation that comes from you

00:00:24.900 --> 00:00:27.359
 that we can receive by faith.

00:00:28.039 --> 00:00:31.759
 Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit would fall upon us this morning,

00:00:31.939 --> 00:00:34.420
 fall upon us with gentle but deep power,

00:00:34.820 --> 00:00:36.100
 and draw us to Jesus.

00:00:36.659 --> 00:00:39.600
 Father, you know the deep fears that we have about you.

00:00:40.179 --> 00:00:43.280
 And so, Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit would fall upon us,

00:00:43.620 --> 00:00:46.280
 that your Holy Spirit would quieten our hearts,

00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:49.640
 that we might know that you are exalted and that you are good.

00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:53.260
 And this we ask in the name of Jesus, your son and our savior.

00:00:53.799 --> 00:00:54.120
 Amen.

00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:55.600
 Please be seated.

00:00:55.600 --> 00:00:55.719
 Amen.

00:01:00.060 --> 00:01:04.719
 So, did you know that in the city of Ottawa,

00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:10.599
 there are more people in the city of Ottawa in the 2011 census

00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:15.819
 that identify themselves as having no religion

00:01:15.819 --> 00:01:19.579
 than those who self-identify themselves as Protestants?

00:01:19.939 --> 00:01:20.620
 That's true.

00:01:20.620 --> 00:01:25.700
 In fact, more than one in five people in the city of Ottawa in 2011,

00:01:26.060 --> 00:01:29.520
 in the census, identified themselves as being no religion.

00:01:30.040 --> 00:01:30.960
 Doesn't mean they're bad people,

00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:32.540
 doesn't mean that religious people are good people.

00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:33.840
 I'm not talking about anything like that.

00:01:33.880 --> 00:01:36.120
 No value statements being made whatsoever.

00:01:36.320 --> 00:01:38.740
 That's just what the census tells us about the city.

00:01:39.360 --> 00:01:43.040
 That, in fact, today, if you leave your friends and go and talk to people,

00:01:43.100 --> 00:01:46.719
 you're more likely to meet somebody who would identify themselves as no religion

00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:49.939
 than you are to meet somebody who would identify themselves as a Protestant.

00:01:51.060 --> 00:01:54.039
 And the text that we're going to look at in a couple of minutes,

00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:57.459
 we're going to look at right now, Genesis 22.

00:01:57.719 --> 00:01:59.879
 If you have Bibles, you might want to sort of get them

00:01:59.879 --> 00:02:02.599
 and open it up to Genesis 22.

00:02:02.599 --> 00:02:09.840
 In some ways, this is a classic horror text for many, many people in our culture.

00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:13.620
 Many people who identify themselves as Protestants or Catholics, in fact,

00:02:13.719 --> 00:02:16.419
 find this a profoundly difficult text.

00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:19.939
 And for many people who identify themselves as no religion,

00:02:20.379 --> 00:02:22.680
 some of whom I suppose are atheists or agnostics,

00:02:22.799 --> 00:02:24.819
 and many of whom, probably the majority,

00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:27.439
 would call themselves spiritual but not religious,

00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:32.099
 the text that we're about to read would be, in a sense,

00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:35.819
 everything that terrifies them about God

00:02:35.819 --> 00:02:37.599
 and terrifies them about religion

00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:40.079
 and terrifies them about religious people.

00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:44.579
 It is a story where God tells Abraham to take his son,

00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:46.680
 his only son, the son he loves,

00:02:47.079 --> 00:02:49.099
 and embark on a journey, and the end of the journey,

00:02:49.460 --> 00:02:50.960
 he is to sacrifice his son.

00:02:51.099 --> 00:02:52.879
 Andrew, if you could put up the first piece of art.

00:02:53.819 --> 00:02:55.659
 And for this first part of the sermon,

00:02:55.659 --> 00:02:59.020
 while we look at this text and think about it,

00:02:59.400 --> 00:03:01.659
 this is a famous painting by Rembrandt

00:03:02.359 --> 00:03:05.620
 to capture a key moment in this story.

00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:08.359
 Later on, we'll have a different piece of art

00:03:08.359 --> 00:03:11.620
 that will come up by a contemporary Jewish painter,

00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:14.039
 well, contemporary in terms of 20th century,

00:03:14.139 --> 00:03:15.979
 one of the greatest painters of the 20th century,

00:03:16.439 --> 00:03:18.079
 who also reflects upon this.

00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:20.439
 But right now, you can sort of, as we're looking at the text,

00:03:20.519 --> 00:03:22.419
 if you want to lift your eyes for a second,

00:03:22.419 --> 00:03:25.719
 and this work of art helps you to enter into the story.

00:03:26.399 --> 00:03:27.959
 But for many people in our culture,

00:03:28.359 --> 00:03:30.819
 this idea that God would command murder,

00:03:31.339 --> 00:03:33.139
 it brings up images of ISIS.

00:03:33.639 --> 00:03:38.319
 It brings up this image that God is an amoral God at best,

00:03:38.379 --> 00:03:41.000
 and maybe even an evil being,

00:03:41.500 --> 00:03:42.659
 that he's willful,

00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:45.379
 that he just goes ahead and makes whatever command

00:03:45.379 --> 00:03:46.759
 pops into his head,

00:03:47.139 --> 00:03:48.780
 that he does things to hurt people,

00:03:49.099 --> 00:03:50.659
 that he can't really be trusted,

00:03:51.240 --> 00:03:54.579
 and that only nutcases, to be honest,

00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:56.879
 would be attracted to such an unpredictable,

00:03:57.259 --> 00:04:00.219
 violent, irrational, and willful being.

00:04:01.900 --> 00:04:04.939
 And, you know, a lot of people

00:04:04.939 --> 00:04:07.019
 just aren't interested in religion,

00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:08.219
 but if you press the case,

00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:09.780
 if you press the Christian case,

00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:12.379
 and especially if they were to hear a story like this,

00:04:12.379 --> 00:04:15.139
 all of their deeper thoughts,

00:04:15.379 --> 00:04:17.360
 all of maybe many of our deeper thoughts

00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:19.560
 of worry about what it's like to get close to God

00:04:19.560 --> 00:04:20.279
 come to the fore.

00:04:21.219 --> 00:04:22.500
 So we're going to read this text.

00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:24.500
 In the Jewish faith,

00:04:24.980 --> 00:04:28.459
 Genesis 22 is a profoundly important text of Scripture

00:04:28.459 --> 00:04:29.879
 in terms of understanding Abraham,

00:04:30.519 --> 00:04:32.920
 and it's a profoundly important text

00:04:32.920 --> 00:04:34.399
 in the New Testament as well.

00:04:34.600 --> 00:04:35.500
 So Genesis 22,

00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:36.959
 this very first book in the Bible,

00:04:37.459 --> 00:04:38.540
 and what we're going to do is

00:04:38.540 --> 00:04:40.319
 I'm going to sort of read through the text with you,

00:04:40.319 --> 00:04:42.699
 making a few comments and observations,

00:04:43.339 --> 00:04:45.079
 because I don't expect many of you,

00:04:45.159 --> 00:04:45.639
 all of you,

00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:47.199
 to necessarily just have the story

00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:49.779
 at the tip of your mind, so to speak.

00:04:50.199 --> 00:04:53.100
 And then after we've sort of read the text slowly,

00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:55.759
 drawing attention to different things,

00:04:56.019 --> 00:04:58.219
 I'll make a couple of points and observations

00:04:58.219 --> 00:04:59.120
 about the text.

00:04:59.319 --> 00:05:00.319
 So Genesis 22,

00:05:00.939 --> 00:05:02.779
 and it begins like this.

00:05:03.699 --> 00:05:04.819
 After these things,

00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:07.039
 God tested Abraham and said to him,

00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:08.220
 Abraham.

00:05:09.140 --> 00:05:10.580
 And Abraham said,

00:05:11.000 --> 00:05:12.080
 here am I.

00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:15.420
 And just sort of pause here for a second.

00:05:15.760 --> 00:05:17.160
 One of the things that you're going to notice

00:05:17.160 --> 00:05:18.640
 about this text is that

00:05:18.640 --> 00:05:21.220
 Abraham says a couple of things in the story,

00:05:21.379 --> 00:05:23.820
 but he only speaks to God twice,

00:05:23.980 --> 00:05:26.500
 here in verse 1 and later on in the story.

00:05:26.960 --> 00:05:27.879
 And in both cases,

00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:29.620
 the only thing he says to God is,

00:05:29.720 --> 00:05:30.180
 here am I.

00:05:31.140 --> 00:05:32.140
 That's all he says.

00:05:32.139 --> 00:05:35.279
 It's something for us to puzzle over.

00:05:35.979 --> 00:05:36.360
 Eventually,

00:05:36.479 --> 00:05:37.800
 as we get through the whole story,

00:05:37.899 --> 00:05:39.319
 we'll maybe get a bit of a sense

00:05:39.319 --> 00:05:41.099
 why for Jewish people,

00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:43.500
 and especially for Christians as well,

00:05:43.979 --> 00:05:47.399
 this story ends up being a story about faith

00:05:47.399 --> 00:05:50.139
 and about a particular posture for God.

00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:53.039
 But at the very, very first verse,

00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:56.199
 which sort of sets the stage for the entire story,

00:05:57.159 --> 00:05:59.680
 that God's going to be testing Abraham,

00:05:59.979 --> 00:06:01.599
 and he speaks to Abraham directly,

00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:02.740
 and Abraham's response is,

00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:03.160
 here am I.

00:06:04.120 --> 00:06:04.660
 Here am I.

00:06:05.520 --> 00:06:06.379
 In a sense,

00:06:06.620 --> 00:06:08.700
 if you go back and read the beginning of Genesis,

00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:09.280
 because remember,

00:06:09.400 --> 00:06:10.780
 Genesis is a book, right?

00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:11.820
 It's a book.

00:06:11.900 --> 00:06:12.920
 It develops themes.

00:06:13.800 --> 00:06:18.100
 And after the fall of the human race,

00:06:18.400 --> 00:06:19.840
 human beings were created good.

00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:22.200
 They decide to be gods themselves,

00:06:22.400 --> 00:06:24.760
 and so they break off their relationship with God.

00:06:25.180 --> 00:06:26.879
 And the first thing that happens to them

00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:28.320
 is that they realize that they're naked.

00:06:28.680 --> 00:06:30.140
 They're ashamed of their nakedness.

00:06:30.139 --> 00:06:32.699
 And when God comes and calls for them,

00:06:32.979 --> 00:06:33.599
 they hide.

00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:35.740
 And here we have Abraham,

00:06:36.219 --> 00:06:39.319
 who's been now in the book of Genesis for 12 chapters,

00:06:39.819 --> 00:06:43.139
 and his response when God calls him is,

00:06:43.599 --> 00:06:44.000
 here am I.

00:06:45.399 --> 00:06:45.959
 So sort of,

00:06:46.279 --> 00:06:49.519
 it's an interesting sort of counterpoint

00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:51.300
 to God testing him,

00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:53.939
 is Abraham's just saying,

00:06:54.060 --> 00:06:54.500
 here am I.

00:06:54.839 --> 00:06:55.399
 Verse 2.

00:06:55.399 --> 00:06:57.239
 We're not going to go that slow all the way through.

00:06:57.500 --> 00:06:57.899
 Actually,

00:06:57.939 --> 00:06:59.560
 I'm going to say one more thing about this text,

00:07:00.139 --> 00:07:01.399
 just before we get going,

00:07:01.959 --> 00:07:04.819
 is that if you read the book of Genesis from the beginning,

00:07:05.159 --> 00:07:07.719
 and it's in chapter 11 that Abraham is introduced,

00:07:08.459 --> 00:07:10.219
 and there's a bit of cultural background

00:07:10.219 --> 00:07:12.379
 that's not automatically in the text,

00:07:13.019 --> 00:07:14.919
 but Abraham was a pagan

00:07:14.919 --> 00:07:17.839
 who worshipped the moon god.

00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:20.679
 That's who Abraham is.

00:07:22.039 --> 00:07:25.359
 He was from Ur of Chaldea,

00:07:25.739 --> 00:07:27.500
 what was later on known as Babylon,

00:07:27.799 --> 00:07:29.500
 and what would now be known as Iran.

00:07:30.459 --> 00:07:33.399
 And he was there with his family,

00:07:33.679 --> 00:07:36.739
 and he was a worshipper of the moon god.

00:07:36.899 --> 00:07:39.259
 So he would have believed that there were many, many gods,

00:07:39.259 --> 00:07:41.959
 and out of the many, many gods that exist,

00:07:42.120 --> 00:07:44.360
 he was a devotee to the moon god.

00:07:45.339 --> 00:07:46.980
 And so part of the story of Abraham

00:07:46.980 --> 00:07:48.879
 is the fact that God chooses,

00:07:49.800 --> 00:07:50.680
 I mean, in a sense,

00:07:50.819 --> 00:07:54.139
 if God can call and choose a pagan who worships the moon,

00:07:54.819 --> 00:07:55.779
 he can call anybody.

00:07:56.680 --> 00:07:58.480
 He can call you, he can call me.

00:07:59.379 --> 00:08:01.099
 That in the story of Genesis,

00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:03.860
 it's not all about God looking for people

00:08:03.860 --> 00:08:06.899
 who have their lives completely and utterly together,

00:08:06.899 --> 00:08:09.039
 who know the Westminster Confession

00:08:09.039 --> 00:08:11.579
 or the Catholic Catechism off by heart,

00:08:12.219 --> 00:08:13.779
 that can read the,

00:08:13.919 --> 00:08:15.599
 have know the Calvin's Institutes

00:08:15.599 --> 00:08:18.519
 or Aquinas' Summa Theologica off by heart,

00:08:18.859 --> 00:08:21.279
 and have their lives completely and utterly together.

00:08:21.539 --> 00:08:23.560
 And when we've accomplished these things,

00:08:23.679 --> 00:08:24.419
 God looks down and says,

00:08:24.500 --> 00:08:26.659
 oh, there's the person I sort of have my eye on.

00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:27.759
 No, no, no, no.

00:08:28.679 --> 00:08:31.560
 This first person that God calls to himself

00:08:31.560 --> 00:08:32.620
 worships the moon

00:08:32.620 --> 00:08:35.819
 in the context of worshiping many gods,

00:08:35.820 --> 00:08:39.320
 and that's who God chooses and calls to himself.

00:08:41.020 --> 00:08:41.840
 Verse two,

00:08:42.740 --> 00:08:43.920
 God says to Abraham,

00:08:44.140 --> 00:08:44.980
 take your son,

00:08:45.460 --> 00:08:46.940
 your only son Isaac,

00:08:47.280 --> 00:08:48.040
 whom you love,

00:08:48.420 --> 00:08:50.040
 and go to the land of Moriah

00:08:50.040 --> 00:08:52.920
 and offer him there as a burnt offering

00:08:52.920 --> 00:08:56.240
 on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.

00:08:56.500 --> 00:08:57.220
 And we'll pause.

00:08:58.800 --> 00:09:01.220
 We'll do more pauses at the beginning of the story

00:09:01.220 --> 00:09:03.060
 to give it a bit of a context for you.

00:09:03.059 --> 00:09:05.619
 For a lot of Jewish people,

00:09:05.739 --> 00:09:08.519
 this is a very stark text,

00:09:08.679 --> 00:09:09.699
 and it would be stark for us

00:09:09.699 --> 00:09:12.000
 if we realized that burnt offering is Holocaust.

00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:15.599
 Holocaust.

00:09:16.839 --> 00:09:21.199
 It's a sacrifice that is offered to God

00:09:21.199 --> 00:09:24.459
 where the animal is killed,

00:09:24.460 --> 00:09:29.400
 and then there's absolutely no benefit to the worshippers

00:09:29.400 --> 00:09:32.280
 because after the animal is killed as a sacrifice,

00:09:32.660 --> 00:09:35.160
 it's burnt until there's nothing left.

00:09:36.620 --> 00:09:39.700
 So a great part of human sacrifice

00:09:39.700 --> 00:09:41.340
 and a great part of human religion

00:09:41.340 --> 00:09:43.620
 is doing something,

00:09:43.780 --> 00:09:45.100
 an act of sacrifice,

00:09:45.100 --> 00:09:46.759
 or a liturgical act

00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:47.779
 or a religious act

00:09:47.779 --> 00:09:49.519
 or a spiritual act

00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:50.300
 in the hope

00:09:50.300 --> 00:09:52.300
 that we can buy off God,

00:09:52.420 --> 00:09:53.580
 we can appease him,

00:09:53.620 --> 00:09:55.420
 or we can get him on our side.

00:09:55.800 --> 00:09:56.800
 And at the same time

00:09:56.800 --> 00:09:58.240
 that the sacrifice is done,

00:09:58.519 --> 00:10:01.000
 hoping to get some type of goodies from God

00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:02.540
 in terms of his relationship to him,

00:10:02.779 --> 00:10:03.580
 at the same time,

00:10:03.639 --> 00:10:05.300
 we want to have some goodies right now.

00:10:06.040 --> 00:10:06.899
 And in some ways,

00:10:06.980 --> 00:10:08.139
 then many sacrifices

00:10:08.139 --> 00:10:09.800
 are both this combination

00:10:09.800 --> 00:10:11.100
 of trying to manipulate God

00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:13.240
 and at the same time

00:10:13.240 --> 00:10:14.860
 get some goodies for ourselves.

00:10:15.019 --> 00:10:16.040
 But a burnt sacrifice,

00:10:16.040 --> 00:10:18.000
 there's no goodies that come to us at all.

00:10:18.259 --> 00:10:19.340
 It's a holocaust.

00:10:19.480 --> 00:10:20.960
 It's a complete and utter death

00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:22.180
 and then destruction.

00:10:23.019 --> 00:10:25.840
 And that's what God calls Abraham to do.

00:10:26.600 --> 00:10:29.440
 And from the rest of the Old Testament,

00:10:29.659 --> 00:10:31.820
 Moriah is where Jerusalem now is.

00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:37.700
 And there's obvious parallels

00:10:37.700 --> 00:10:39.440
 between where the temple is to go

00:10:39.440 --> 00:10:41.600
 and where Jesus is to eventually be crucified.

00:10:42.980 --> 00:10:45.280
 But this is what God calls Abraham to do.

00:10:45.380 --> 00:10:46.440
 Now, one of the things

00:10:46.440 --> 00:10:48.420
 that we also have to understand about this,

00:10:48.820 --> 00:10:52.220
 which is a bit puzzling for us,

00:10:53.380 --> 00:10:54.440
 is remember I said to you

00:10:54.440 --> 00:10:55.920
 that Abraham was a pagan

00:10:55.920 --> 00:10:57.200
 who worshipped the moon god.

00:10:57.700 --> 00:10:59.940
 The moon god didn't practice human sacrifice.

00:11:00.980 --> 00:11:02.760
 But archaeologists tell us

00:11:02.760 --> 00:11:05.560
 that human sacrifice is 5,000 years old.

00:11:06.820 --> 00:11:08.600
 And I'm not going to get into a discussion

00:11:08.600 --> 00:11:10.820
 or debate about when Genesis was written

00:11:10.820 --> 00:11:11.720
 or anything like that.

00:11:11.779 --> 00:11:13.019
 The traditional understanding

00:11:13.019 --> 00:11:15.759
 is that Moses was the primary author of the book

00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:19.259
 and that Moses either lived in the 1200s BC

00:11:19.259 --> 00:11:20.940
 or the 1400s BC,

00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:24.040
 depending on how it fits with archaeological evidence.

00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:26.800
 But this story purports to be told

00:11:26.800 --> 00:11:28.420
 around the year 2000 BC,

00:11:28.820 --> 00:11:30.940
 which means that human sacrifice

00:11:30.940 --> 00:11:32.600
 is already 1,000 years old

00:11:32.600 --> 00:11:35.040
 in that part of the world.

00:11:36.620 --> 00:11:39.840
 Not all gods demanded that a human being be killed

00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:42.279
 to appease him or her,

00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:44.360
 but many did.

00:11:45.139 --> 00:11:46.879
 And Abraham would be familiar with this.

00:11:48.060 --> 00:11:49.720
 And so I guess the question for Abraham

00:11:49.720 --> 00:11:51.120
 and the question for God is,

00:11:51.700 --> 00:11:54.500
 how is God revealing himself to Abraham

00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:58.740
 and who ultimately does Abraham think that God is?

00:11:58.740 --> 00:12:01.539
 In fact, in the pagan world,

00:12:01.539 --> 00:12:03.259
 it was only with Socrates

00:12:03.259 --> 00:12:06.799
 approximately 400 years before the birth of Jesus

00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:09.519
 that he articulated a question

00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:11.120
 that we now take for granted.

00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:14.060
 But for other than the Jewish scriptures,

00:12:14.060 --> 00:12:15.940
 which predate this notion,

00:12:16.060 --> 00:12:16.980
 but in the pagan world,

00:12:17.100 --> 00:12:18.279
 Socrates asked the question,

00:12:18.419 --> 00:12:21.240
 is God good because he wills it?

00:12:22.440 --> 00:12:25.139
 You know, is goodness in a sense over God

00:12:25.139 --> 00:12:27.519
 or does God just declare goodness?

00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:29.840
 Because the pagans didn't understand

00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:31.079
 that goodness was at all

00:12:31.079 --> 00:12:32.679
 necessarily connected to God.

00:12:33.199 --> 00:12:35.000
 The gods did all sorts of willful,

00:12:35.159 --> 00:12:36.039
 horrible things.

00:12:36.539 --> 00:12:38.340
 And their understandings of good and evil

00:12:38.340 --> 00:12:39.139
 would be separate

00:12:39.139 --> 00:12:40.740
 from their understandings of God.

00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:42.899
 And so for the question for Abraham,

00:12:43.019 --> 00:12:43.659
 on one hand,

00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:45.980
 this is going to be obviously a huge blow.

00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:48.539
 Isaac is his only son.

00:12:48.659 --> 00:12:50.360
 Abraham's over 100 years old.

00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:52.779
 God has promised Isaac, Abraham,

00:12:53.319 --> 00:12:55.480
 that he was going to have descendants.

00:12:55.480 --> 00:12:57.840
 And God has promised Abraham

00:12:57.840 --> 00:13:01.600
 that Abraham would have many descendants

00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:03.680
 and that the whole world would be blessed

00:13:03.680 --> 00:13:06.420
 and that his descendants in particular

00:13:06.420 --> 00:13:08.399
 were called to be a blessing to the world.

00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:11.420
 And Abraham had tried to sort of deal with things

00:13:11.420 --> 00:13:12.980
 in his own power by having,

00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:14.980
 through a slave woman,

00:13:15.159 --> 00:13:16.360
 the birth of Ishmael.

00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:17.860
 And in chapter 21,

00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:19.120
 chapter 21 of Genesis,

00:13:19.539 --> 00:13:21.060
 is all about Ishmael leaving.

00:13:21.059 --> 00:13:22.479
 And so now Isaac,

00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:23.699
 who's over 100 years,

00:13:23.899 --> 00:13:25.759
 Abraham was over 100 years old.

00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:28.539
 His only son is Isaac.

00:13:29.199 --> 00:13:30.299
 And in fact, in the story,

00:13:30.359 --> 00:13:31.500
 I'm not going to bring it out every time.

00:13:31.579 --> 00:13:33.659
 I believe that just about every verse

00:13:33.659 --> 00:13:35.859
 or every second verse in the story,

00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:39.259
 it mentions son to drive this home.

00:13:40.199 --> 00:13:41.339
 And for Christians,

00:13:41.599 --> 00:13:43.439
 this idea of your only son,

00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:44.379
 the beloved son,

00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:47.519
 when the Greek version of the Old Testament

00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:48.000
 was published,

00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:49.200
 it's the same language

00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:50.440
 which is used of Jesus

00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:52.700
 in the Gospels

00:13:52.700 --> 00:13:54.500
 when he's baptized

00:13:54.500 --> 00:13:55.700
 and the transfiguration.

00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:56.759
 It's the exact same term

00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:57.740
 which is used of Jesus.

00:13:59.820 --> 00:14:03.240
 So Abraham gets this command from God.

00:14:03.340 --> 00:14:05.019
 There are many gods in the ancient world

00:14:05.019 --> 00:14:05.779
 who would command

00:14:05.779 --> 00:14:08.360
 the sacrifice of innocent human life.

00:14:09.899 --> 00:14:12.279
 And Abraham has these promises of God.

00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:14.080
 He's been called by God.

00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:16.860
 And he's trying to figure out

00:14:16.860 --> 00:14:18.720
 or is he trying to figure out

00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:21.000
 or is the reader trying to figure out

00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:23.879
 is God a bloodthirsty God

00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:25.220
 like many of the gods

00:14:25.220 --> 00:14:27.200
 that have existed for 1,000 years

00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:28.200
 prior to Abraham

00:14:28.200 --> 00:14:30.980
 or is this God different?

00:14:33.800 --> 00:14:35.540
 One of the things about this story

00:14:35.540 --> 00:14:36.879
 is that we don't learn anything at all

00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:38.640
 about Abraham's inner life.

00:14:39.640 --> 00:14:40.140
 Abraham,

00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:42.799
 we get a few statements

00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:44.939
 but it's all in this context

00:14:44.939 --> 00:14:48.559
 of a very, very horrific command from God.

00:14:49.299 --> 00:14:50.259
 Read verse 2 again.

00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:50.860
 He said,

00:14:51.179 --> 00:14:51.779
 Take your son,

00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:53.120
 your only son Isaac,

00:14:53.720 --> 00:14:54.500
 whom you love

00:14:54.500 --> 00:14:56.019
 and go to the land of Moriah

00:14:56.019 --> 00:14:57.559
 and offer him there

00:14:57.559 --> 00:14:58.559
 as a burnt offering

00:14:58.559 --> 00:14:59.939
 on one of the mountains

00:14:59.939 --> 00:15:01.480
 of which I shall tell you.

00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:02.179
 Verse 3.

00:15:02.840 --> 00:15:05.139
 So Abraham rose early in the morning,

00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:06.779
 saddled his donkey

00:15:06.779 --> 00:15:09.279
 and took two of his young men with him

00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:10.620
 and his son Isaac.

00:15:11.299 --> 00:15:12.240
 And he cut the wood

00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:13.259
 for the burnt offering

00:15:13.259 --> 00:15:14.059
 and arose

00:15:14.059 --> 00:15:15.220
 and went to the place

00:15:15.220 --> 00:15:16.819
 of which God had told him.

00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:18.860
 Now just sort of pause here

00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:19.519
 for a second.

00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:23.299
 Moriah is 45 miles away

00:15:23.299 --> 00:15:24.579
 from where Abraham is.

00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:28.379
 That's about 72 kilometers,

00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:29.360
 give or take.

00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:33.120
 And that's going to be a long walk.

00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:34.259
 In fact,

00:15:34.300 --> 00:15:34.860
 it's going to take

00:15:34.860 --> 00:15:36.060
 two and a half days

00:15:36.060 --> 00:15:37.879
 for Abraham to walk there

00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:38.480
 with Isaac

00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:39.379
 and the two servants

00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:40.120
 and the donkey.

00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:42.159
 And so this actually

00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:43.320
 is one of the interesting things

00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:43.980
 about the story.

00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:45.240
 It shows two aspects

00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:47.279
 about Abraham's response to God.

00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.560
 On one hand,

00:15:48.680 --> 00:15:50.659
 his faith in God

00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:53.779
 leads him to act promptly.

00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:56.460
 And secondly,

00:15:56.840 --> 00:15:58.019
 it leads him to act

00:15:58.019 --> 00:15:58.899
 with persistence.

00:16:00.340 --> 00:16:01.060
 One of the things

00:16:01.060 --> 00:16:01.800
 that we're going to see

00:16:01.800 --> 00:16:02.580
 in this story

00:16:02.580 --> 00:16:04.080
 is because at the end

00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:04.620
 of the story,

00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:05.580
 it's going to be understood

00:16:05.580 --> 00:16:06.680
 that Abraham was a man

00:16:06.680 --> 00:16:07.659
 of profound faith

00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:08.639
 in who God is.

00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:11.600
 And Abraham's faith in God

00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:12.899
 is going to require

00:16:12.899 --> 00:16:15.080
 a time of profound loneliness.

00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:17.480
 Two and a half days

00:16:17.480 --> 00:16:18.659
 walking with his son,

00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:19.740
 his only son,

00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:20.980
 to the place

00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:22.340
 where he is to kill

00:16:22.340 --> 00:16:23.680
 his only son.

00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:25.560
 Two and a half days

00:16:25.560 --> 00:16:27.019
 to think about this.

00:16:28.300 --> 00:16:29.159
 One of the things

00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:31.120
 we have to always remember

00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:32.319
 that these books are books.

00:16:32.439 --> 00:16:33.819
 They have literary features.

00:16:34.459 --> 00:16:35.799
 And one of the literary features

00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:36.719
 of the book of Genesis

00:16:36.719 --> 00:16:38.039
 is that the stories

00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:39.839
 usually contain blanks.

00:16:40.679 --> 00:16:41.360
 And by that,

00:16:41.459 --> 00:16:41.799
 I mean,

00:16:41.939 --> 00:16:42.679
 it's just the way

00:16:42.679 --> 00:16:43.319
 the book of Genesis

00:16:43.319 --> 00:16:44.259
 is often written.

00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:46.159
 It doesn't do anything

00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:46.980
 to try to describe

00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:48.399
 what's going through Isaac's mind.

00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:49.120
 It doesn't answer

00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:50.379
 the question about Sarah

00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:51.519
 and what she thinks.

00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:53.100
 It doesn't say anything at all

00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:53.919
 about what Abraham

00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:55.199
 might have said to Sarah.

00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:57.220
 that in the book of Genesis,

00:16:57.379 --> 00:16:58.200
 the way that the writer

00:16:58.200 --> 00:16:59.060
 writes the book

00:16:59.060 --> 00:17:00.160
 is he blanks out

00:17:00.160 --> 00:17:01.140
 certain types of things

00:17:01.140 --> 00:17:02.820
 that we're interested in

00:17:02.820 --> 00:17:04.860
 to focus on the one character

00:17:04.860 --> 00:17:06.039
 that the story is about.

00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:07.360
 And this story

00:17:07.360 --> 00:17:08.400
 is about Abraham.

00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:09.900
 And so all the other

00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:10.920
 types of questions

00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:11.740
 that we might have

00:17:11.740 --> 00:17:12.420
 and speculation

00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:13.559
 that we might have

00:17:13.559 --> 00:17:14.680
 are blanked out

00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.960
 as it just focuses

00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:17.360
 on Abraham's

00:17:17.360 --> 00:17:19.660
 lonely walk of faith.

00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:21.920
 Those of us

00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:23.120
 who are followers of Jesus,

00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:24.919
 this is a profound reminder to us

00:17:24.919 --> 00:17:26.339
 that there are some times

00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:27.399
 in our walk with Jesus

00:17:27.399 --> 00:17:28.379
 when we are called

00:17:28.379 --> 00:17:30.259
 to a lonely walk

00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:32.579
 of faith with Jesus.

00:17:34.139 --> 00:17:35.359
 Where it seems

00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:36.579
 as if the way is dark

00:17:36.579 --> 00:17:39.379
 and we have no external support,

00:17:39.479 --> 00:17:40.239
 maybe no support

00:17:40.239 --> 00:17:40.939
 from our culture,

00:17:41.059 --> 00:17:42.239
 no support from our church,

00:17:42.359 --> 00:17:43.679
 no support from our family,

00:17:44.099 --> 00:17:45.539
 no support from our friends,

00:17:45.899 --> 00:17:47.079
 and we are called

00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:49.699
 to a lonely walk of faith.

00:17:49.700 --> 00:17:53.059
 And that's what we see here

00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:54.000
 in Abraham.

00:17:56.420 --> 00:17:57.120
 Verse 4.

00:17:58.740 --> 00:17:59.279
 And by the way,

00:17:59.319 --> 00:17:59.980
 just with verse 3,

00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:01.039
 you see, that's why,

00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:02.319
 as we'll see in a moment,

00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:03.340
 the only reason

00:18:03.340 --> 00:18:04.299
 that the two servants

00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:04.860
 are there apart

00:18:04.860 --> 00:18:05.360
 from the fact

00:18:05.360 --> 00:18:05.940
 that they probably

00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:06.660
 were with him

00:18:06.660 --> 00:18:08.180
 is that the servants

00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:09.920
 serve as a way

00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:11.000
 for us to understand

00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:11.700
 something about

00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:12.980
 the inner life of Abraham,

00:18:13.140 --> 00:18:13.640
 which we'll see

00:18:13.640 --> 00:18:14.480
 in a couple of verses.

00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:15.559
 Verse 4.

00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:17.519
 So, okay,

00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:18.519
 we have this story now.

00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:19.619
 God has said to Abraham,

00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:20.559
 take your son,

00:18:20.619 --> 00:18:21.240
 your only son,

00:18:21.299 --> 00:18:22.079
 whom you love, Isaac,

00:18:22.220 --> 00:18:23.319
 take him to Mount Moriah,

00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:24.900
 a mountain near Moriah,

00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:25.740
 where you're going

00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:26.339
 to kill him.

00:18:27.220 --> 00:18:28.079
 Abraham wakes up

00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:28.639
 the next morning

00:18:28.639 --> 00:18:29.039
 and immediately

00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:29.920
 starts to do it.

00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:31.379
 He takes two servants

00:18:31.379 --> 00:18:31.920
 and a donkey

00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:32.740
 and his son Isaac,

00:18:32.859 --> 00:18:33.359
 and they begin

00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:34.420
 this two-and-a-half-day

00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:35.779
 journey to Moriah.

00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:36.779
 Verse 4.

00:18:38.019 --> 00:18:39.180
 On the third day,

00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:40.720
 Abraham lifted up his eyes

00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:41.500
 and saw the place

00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.079
 from afar.

00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:44.139
 Then Abraham said

00:18:44.139 --> 00:18:45.259
 to his young men,

00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:46.220
 the young servants,

00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:48.180
 stay here with the donkey.

00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:49.740
 I and the boy

00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:50.819
 will go over there

00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:51.299
 and worship

00:18:51.299 --> 00:18:54.460
 and come again to you.

00:18:55.660 --> 00:18:57.879
 That's a real puzzling riddle

00:18:57.879 --> 00:18:59.220
 in the text.

00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:02.400
 What does Abraham think?

00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:04.799
 The book of Hebrews comments

00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:06.839
 as a sort of a Christian reflection

00:19:06.839 --> 00:19:08.379
 on this wonders,

00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:09.119
 in fact,

00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:10.420
 says that Abraham

00:19:10.420 --> 00:19:11.319
 actually believed

00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:12.079
 that God was going

00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:13.799
 to be able to resurrect Isaac.

00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:15.819
 That on one hand,

00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:17.119
 that Abraham was going

00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:17.579
 to go through

00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:18.319
 with the slaughtering

00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:19.599
 because he had no idea

00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:20.659
 at this point in time

00:19:20.659 --> 00:19:21.359
 that he wasn't called

00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:21.919
 to do it,

00:19:22.439 --> 00:19:24.039
 but that he had this belief

00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:25.059
 that since there was

00:19:25.059 --> 00:19:26.559
 no other offspring

00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:27.759
 and since he was

00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:29.379
 over a hundred years old

00:19:29.379 --> 00:19:30.419
 and that Isaac

00:19:30.419 --> 00:19:31.699
 was his only offspring

00:19:31.699 --> 00:19:33.179
 and God had promised

00:19:33.179 --> 00:19:33.859
 to him

00:19:33.859 --> 00:19:35.500
 that he would have

00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:36.799
 many offspring

00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.719
 and give birth

00:19:37.719 --> 00:19:38.799
 to many, many people

00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:39.959
 that would be a blessing

00:19:39.959 --> 00:19:40.959
 to the whole world

00:19:40.959 --> 00:19:41.979
 and that would bless

00:19:41.979 --> 00:19:42.859
 the whole world.

00:19:42.859 --> 00:19:44.799
 And so Abraham

00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:47.179
 has this amazing statement.

00:19:47.619 --> 00:19:48.839
 He doesn't tell the young man

00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:49.819
 I'm going up the mountain

00:19:49.819 --> 00:19:50.839
 to kill my son.

00:19:50.919 --> 00:19:51.579
 He says,

00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:52.819
 he knows that that's

00:19:52.819 --> 00:19:53.819
 what he's called to do,

00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:54.819
 but he knows

00:19:54.819 --> 00:19:55.859
 what God has promised

00:19:55.859 --> 00:19:57.639
 and he says to the young men,

00:19:58.099 --> 00:19:59.699
 Isaac and I will return.

00:19:59.919 --> 00:20:00.539
 You wait here.

00:20:03.899 --> 00:20:04.799
 Verse six,

00:20:05.699 --> 00:20:07.039
 and Abraham took the wood

00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:07.939
 of the burnt offering

00:20:07.939 --> 00:20:10.099
 and laid it on Isaac,

00:20:10.099 --> 00:20:10.679
 his son,

00:20:11.439 --> 00:20:12.599
 and he took in his hand

00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:13.799
 the fire and the knife

00:20:13.799 --> 00:20:14.839
 and in the original language

00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:15.659
 it's a knife,

00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:16.819
 it's a butcher's knife,

00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:18.679
 a knife for killing.

00:20:19.719 --> 00:20:20.719
 So they went,

00:20:20.859 --> 00:20:21.919
 both of them together.

00:20:24.099 --> 00:20:24.500
 Abraham,

00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:25.679
 after two and a half days

00:20:25.679 --> 00:20:26.159
 of walking,

00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:27.379
 now walks up the hill

00:20:27.379 --> 00:20:29.219
 having put the wood

00:20:29.219 --> 00:20:30.599
 that will burn his son

00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:31.779
 upon his son's back

00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:33.699
 and he carries in his hands

00:20:33.699 --> 00:20:34.719
 the knife and the fire,

00:20:35.199 --> 00:20:36.059
 the knife to kill

00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:37.000
 and the fire to burn.

00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:39.439
 The lonely walk of faith.

00:20:40.099 --> 00:20:42.119
 Verse seven,

00:20:42.359 --> 00:20:42.839
 and Isaac,

00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:43.939
 as he's going up the hill,

00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:45.179
 says to his father Abraham,

00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:45.879
 my father.

00:20:47.699 --> 00:20:48.359
 Can you just imagine

00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:49.179
 how that would break

00:20:49.179 --> 00:20:50.319
 a father's heart?

00:20:50.639 --> 00:20:51.219
 My father.

00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:54.299
 And Abraham said,

00:20:54.439 --> 00:20:55.459
 here am I, my son.

00:20:56.439 --> 00:20:57.259
 And Isaac says,

00:20:57.339 --> 00:20:58.779
 behold the fire and the wood,

00:20:58.899 --> 00:21:00.619
 but where is the lamb

00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:01.659
 for a burnt offering?

00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:06.139
 We'll return to this

00:21:06.139 --> 00:21:07.039
 in a few minutes

00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:08.319
 after we finish the story.

00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:11.019
 This is a poignant question

00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:13.220
 and one that Christians

00:21:13.220 --> 00:21:15.480
 and others have reflected upon

00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:16.379
 for millennia.

00:21:17.879 --> 00:21:18.799
 In verse eight,

00:21:18.919 --> 00:21:19.720
 Abraham said,

00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:22.639
 God will provide for himself

00:21:22.639 --> 00:21:24.299
 the lamb for a burnt offering,

00:21:24.419 --> 00:21:24.919
 my son.

00:21:25.899 --> 00:21:27.500
 So they both went on their way.

00:21:27.659 --> 00:21:28.179
 They went,

00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:29.179
 both of them together.

00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:31.439
 When they came to the place

00:21:31.439 --> 00:21:32.839
 of which God had told him,

00:21:33.619 --> 00:21:35.599
 Abraham built the altar there

00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:37.519
 and then he laid the wood

00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:38.099
 in order

00:21:38.099 --> 00:21:40.439
 and then he bound Isaac,

00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:41.000
 his son,

00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:44.139
 and then he laid his son

00:21:44.139 --> 00:21:45.419
 upon the wood

00:21:45.419 --> 00:21:46.179
 and the altar

00:21:46.179 --> 00:21:47.359
 on top of the wood.

00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.159
 Verse 10,

00:21:49.939 --> 00:21:51.939
 then Abraham reached out his hand

00:21:51.939 --> 00:21:52.919
 and took the knife

00:21:52.919 --> 00:21:55.259
 to slaughter his son.

00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:58.039
 Now we have that

00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:58.919
 in the picture here,

00:21:58.980 --> 00:21:59.579
 which is happening

00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:00.740
 in verse 10 and 11.

00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:03.759
 But the angel of the Lord

00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:06.220
 called to Abraham from heaven

00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:06.819
 and said,

00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:08.099
 Abraham, Abraham.

00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:10.779
 And here's the second time

00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:12.900
 that God speaks to Abraham

00:22:12.900 --> 00:22:14.079
 and the second time

00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:14.740
 that Abraham responds.

00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:17.519
 The angel of the Lord

00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:18.359
 in the book of Genesis

00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:19.900
 is a bit of a mysterious creature,

00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:21.660
 but basically in the ancient world

00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:22.980
 to have the messenger

00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:23.779
 of the emperor,

00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:24.900
 the messenger of the king

00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:25.620
 was as if you had

00:22:25.620 --> 00:22:26.920
 the king himself present.

00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.920
 And there's been Christians

00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:29.700
 who have speculated

00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:31.480
 that this is the pre-incarnate Jesus

00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:32.259
 who is speaking.

00:22:32.360 --> 00:22:32.980
 The New Testament

00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:34.319
 doesn't speak anything of that.

00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:35.960
 It's pious imagination,

00:22:36.660 --> 00:22:37.920
 but it's very, very clear

00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:38.880
 that this is a messenger

00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:39.539
 who speaks,

00:22:39.640 --> 00:22:40.460
 and when he speaks

00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:41.920
 because he's come from God,

00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:43.259
 to hear him speak

00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:44.400
 is to hear God speak.

00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:46.319
 And so God calls

00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:47.620
 and Abraham again says,

00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:48.700
 here am I.

00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:51.180
 And the angel of the Lord,

00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:52.240
 God says,

00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:53.980
 do not lay your hand on the boy

00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:55.259
 or do anything to him.

00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:56.660
 For now I know

00:22:56.660 --> 00:22:57.759
 that you fear God,

00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:58.840
 seeing that you have not

00:22:58.839 --> 00:22:59.879
 withheld your son,

00:22:59.959 --> 00:23:01.319
 your only son from me.

00:23:02.139 --> 00:23:03.000
 And pause here.

00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:04.879
 As many of you

00:23:04.879 --> 00:23:06.059
 have heard me talk about before,

00:23:06.179 --> 00:23:07.220
 the fear of God here

00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:07.839
 doesn't mean that

00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:09.319
 we're terrified about God,

00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:10.740
 but that we have

00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:12.879
 a profound sense

00:23:12.879 --> 00:23:13.819
 that God is God

00:23:13.819 --> 00:23:14.740
 and that I am not.

00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:17.299
 We have a growing sense

00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:18.919
 of the difference

00:23:18.919 --> 00:23:20.079
 between God and us,

00:23:20.139 --> 00:23:20.839
 that we don't confuse

00:23:21.439 --> 00:23:22.419
 my will,

00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:22.839
 my success,

00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:23.839
 my happiness,

00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:26.980
 my emotions with God,

00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:28.900
 that there's a clear sense

00:23:28.900 --> 00:23:29.819
 of me is me

00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:30.839
 and God is God,

00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:32.299
 that this is a good thing,

00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:33.259
 but it's also,

00:23:33.400 --> 00:23:33.759
 in a sense,

00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:36.079
 a profoundly unsettling thing

00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:37.120
 to actually know

00:23:37.120 --> 00:23:38.539
 that we are so completely

00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:39.579
 and utterly distinct

00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:40.180
 from God

00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:41.900
 and God is distinctly himself.

00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:43.360
 And on one hand,

00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:44.599
 it's in the Psalms,

00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:45.299
 talk about how

00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:46.240
 as we experience

00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:46.900
 the fear of God,

00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:47.539
 on one hand,

00:23:47.620 --> 00:23:48.620
 we long for him,

00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:49.400
 but on the other hand,

00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:50.640
 we also have a sense

00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:51.660
 of reverence for him

00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:52.519
 and in a sense

00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:53.039
 of something

00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:54.160
 almost like fear

00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:54.860
 to understand

00:23:54.860 --> 00:23:56.259
 how profoundly different

00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:56.900
 God is

00:23:56.900 --> 00:23:58.320
 and to start to have

00:23:58.320 --> 00:23:58.860
 this sense

00:23:58.860 --> 00:24:00.560
 of complete and utter

00:24:00.560 --> 00:24:02.420
 stripping of our consciousness

00:24:02.420 --> 00:24:03.340
 and our emotions

00:24:03.340 --> 00:24:04.680
 of any sense

00:24:04.680 --> 00:24:06.080
 that I am God.

00:24:07.540 --> 00:24:08.300
 And that's the word

00:24:08.300 --> 00:24:09.180
 which is used here.

00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:11.279
 Abraham has had

00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:12.340
 stripped from him

00:24:12.340 --> 00:24:13.680
 any sense

00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:15.220
 that he is God

00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:19.120
 and has this sense

00:24:19.120 --> 00:24:20.519
 of God is different

00:24:20.519 --> 00:24:22.740
 and that that is good.

00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:25.120
 And that Abraham

00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:26.460
 has trusted

00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:27.519
 who God is

00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.279
 and his promises.

00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:30.040
 Verse 13,

00:24:30.920 --> 00:24:31.940
 And Abraham lifted up

00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:32.480
 his eyes

00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:34.040
 and looked and behold

00:24:34.040 --> 00:24:34.840
 and behind him

00:24:34.840 --> 00:24:35.440
 was a ram

00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:36.960
 caught in a thicket

00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:37.880
 by his horns.

00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:40.360
 And Abraham went

00:24:40.360 --> 00:24:41.279
 and took the ram

00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:42.080
 and offered it up

00:24:42.080 --> 00:24:43.160
 as a burnt offering

00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:45.340
 instead of his son.

00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.680
 And in the Hebrew,

00:24:47.840 --> 00:24:48.460
 the language

00:24:48.460 --> 00:24:49.640
 for caught in a thicket,

00:24:50.300 --> 00:24:51.860
 it's actually

00:24:51.860 --> 00:24:52.860
 the same word.

00:24:52.859 --> 00:24:54.899
 You know that gospel text

00:24:54.899 --> 00:24:55.539
 that we just read

00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:56.659
 a few minutes ago

00:24:56.659 --> 00:24:58.000
 and we all struggled over?

00:24:58.419 --> 00:24:59.500
 Eli, Eli,

00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:01.859
 lama sabachthani?

00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:03.740
 My God, my God,

00:25:03.819 --> 00:25:05.839
 why hast thou forsaken me?

00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:07.299
 I have the King James Version

00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:08.139
 stuck in my head.

00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:09.979
 And that word,

00:25:10.119 --> 00:25:10.799
 sabachthani,

00:25:10.859 --> 00:25:11.379
 is translating,

00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:12.740
 it's from Psalm 22

00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:14.019
 and it's translating

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:15.000
 the word forsaken

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:16.959
 and that's the exact same word

00:25:16.959 --> 00:25:17.559
 which is here.

00:25:17.659 --> 00:25:18.379
 There is a ram

00:25:18.380 --> 00:25:20.280
 forsaken in the thicket.

00:25:23.600 --> 00:25:25.200
 And Abraham took up,

00:25:25.340 --> 00:25:26.740
 verse 13 and a half again,

00:25:26.940 --> 00:25:27.780
 and Abraham went

00:25:27.780 --> 00:25:28.720
 and took up the ram,

00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:30.380
 the forsaken ram,

00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:32.220
 and offered it up

00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:33.060
 as a burnt offering

00:25:33.060 --> 00:25:34.480
 instead of his son.

00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:36.640
 So Abraham called

00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:37.660
 the name of that place

00:25:37.660 --> 00:25:38.940
 the Lord will provide.

00:25:39.640 --> 00:25:41.360
 As it is said on this day,

00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:42.420
 on the mount of the Lord

00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:43.440
 it shall be provided.

00:25:44.280 --> 00:25:45.560
 And as we'll see later on

00:25:45.560 --> 00:25:46.260
 when we're going to comment

00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:47.140
 more about the verse,

00:25:48.359 --> 00:25:49.019
 in modern,

00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:51.079
 the last hundred years or now,

00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:51.400
 we now,

00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.259
 when we refer to

00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:53.319
 one of the Hebrew words

00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:53.839
 for God,

00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:55.400
 the Jewish people,

00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:56.099
 because they thought

00:25:56.099 --> 00:25:56.819
 the name of God

00:25:56.819 --> 00:25:57.700
 was so holy,

00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:59.200
 they stopped pronouncing it.

00:25:59.879 --> 00:26:00.500
 And so now,

00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:02.480
 there's only four consonants

00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:04.220
 and we don't actually know

00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:05.140
 what the vowels are.

00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:05.779
 It literally,

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:07.180
 the vowels literally

00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:08.079
 got forgotten.

00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:11.160
 And for many years,

00:26:11.339 --> 00:26:12.299
 people translating

00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:13.000
 these four words

00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:13.960
 used the word Jehovah

00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:15.200
 now that the normal word

00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:16.059
 is Yahweh.

00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:18.039
 But it's become

00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:20.259
 an important sort of idea

00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:22.079
 in Christian spirituality

00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:23.480
 and even Jewish spirituality

00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:25.019
 to refer to Jehovah Jireh.

00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:26.859
 And that's what's here.

00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:29.539
 That's what is here.

00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:31.819
 God called the name

00:26:31.819 --> 00:26:33.299
 of that place Jehovah Jireh.

00:26:33.619 --> 00:26:34.420
 As it is said,

00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:35.680
 on the mount of the Lord

00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:37.099
 it shall be provided.

00:26:37.579 --> 00:26:38.359
 Jehovah Jireh.

00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:39.579
 Very important idea

00:26:39.579 --> 00:26:40.400
 to George Mueller,

00:26:40.599 --> 00:26:41.359
 to Hudson Taylor,

00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:44.920
 to many, many Christian mystics

00:26:44.920 --> 00:26:45.539
 and workers

00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:47.140
 and ordinary Christians

00:26:47.140 --> 00:26:48.080
 throughout the centuries

00:26:48.080 --> 00:26:48.800
 and the decades.

00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:50.140
 Jehovah Jireh,

00:26:50.360 --> 00:26:51.279
 my provider.

00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:54.220
 Verse 15,

00:26:54.300 --> 00:26:55.060
 And the angel of the Lord

00:26:55.060 --> 00:26:55.820
 called Abraham

00:26:55.820 --> 00:26:57.080
 a second time from heaven

00:26:57.080 --> 00:26:57.519
 and said,

00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:59.559
 By myself I have sworn,

00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:00.519
 declares the Lord,

00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:01.980
 because you have done this

00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:03.400
 and have not withheld your son,

00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:04.259
 your only son,

00:27:04.579 --> 00:27:05.960
 I will surely bless you

00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:07.259
 and I will surely multiply

00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:08.019
 your offspring

00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:09.279
 as the stars of heaven

00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:10.359
 and as the sand

00:27:10.359 --> 00:27:11.359
 that is on the seashore.

00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:13.859
 And your offspring

00:27:13.859 --> 00:27:15.019
 shall possess the gate

00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:15.539
 of his enemies

00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:16.819
 and in your offspring

00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:17.979
 shall all the nations

00:27:17.979 --> 00:27:19.019
 of the earth be blessed

00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:21.099
 because you have obeyed my voice.

00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:22.919
 So Abraham returned

00:27:22.919 --> 00:27:23.779
 to his young men

00:27:23.779 --> 00:27:24.899
 and they arose

00:27:24.899 --> 00:27:25.659
 and went together

00:27:25.659 --> 00:27:26.500
 to Beersheba

00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.799
 and Abraham lived

00:27:27.799 --> 00:27:28.519
 at Beersheba.

00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:31.979
 It's a very,

00:27:32.099 --> 00:27:33.379
 very powerful story.

00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:35.899
 You know,

00:27:36.159 --> 00:27:37.379
 I'm not going to say

00:27:37.379 --> 00:27:37.899
 their names.

00:27:38.419 --> 00:27:39.240
 This congregation

00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:39.919
 has a lot of,

00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:40.459
 you know,

00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:42.000
 we live in a very transient

00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.759
 part of the city

00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:44.200
 and so there's a lot

00:27:44.200 --> 00:27:44.840
 of transients

00:27:44.840 --> 00:27:47.940
 but about eight,

00:27:48.420 --> 00:27:48.759
 seven,

00:27:48.840 --> 00:27:49.539
 eight years ago

00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:51.039
 there was a very,

00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:52.380
 very keen couple

00:27:52.380 --> 00:27:52.900
 who were part

00:27:52.900 --> 00:27:53.640
 of the congregation,

00:27:54.360 --> 00:27:54.620
 very,

00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:55.579
 very active,

00:27:56.279 --> 00:27:58.019
 real leaders.

00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:59.380
 They were a young couple.

00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:00.120
 They came here,

00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:01.920
 they were sort of in love

00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:02.819
 and then they got engaged

00:28:02.819 --> 00:28:03.360
 and they got married.

00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:04.420
 I performed their marriage

00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:06.640
 and about three months

00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:07.779
 after I performed the marriage

00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.980
 I got an anguish call

00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:10.000
 from the bride.

00:28:10.460 --> 00:28:12.279
 because the man in prayer

00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:14.079
 had come to the conclusion

00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:15.240
 that God had called them

00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:15.960
 to be divorced.

00:28:19.840 --> 00:28:21.299
 God had called them

00:28:21.299 --> 00:28:22.100
 to be divorced

00:28:22.100 --> 00:28:25.240
 and she called me up

00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:26.440
 and asked me to speak with them.

00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:29.000
 And this began

00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:30.519
 a year,

00:28:30.840 --> 00:28:31.519
 two year

00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:34.680
 back and forward thing

00:28:34.680 --> 00:28:35.640
 that involved many,

00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:36.200
 many people

00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:37.019
 in the congregation

00:28:37.019 --> 00:28:38.839
 because they were

00:28:38.839 --> 00:28:39.920
 very well connected,

00:28:40.099 --> 00:28:41.039
 very well thought of,

00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:41.859
 very well liked

00:28:41.859 --> 00:28:43.599
 and I had many conversations

00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:44.839
 with this young man

00:28:44.839 --> 00:28:46.279
 who believed

00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:48.099
 and I kept trying to look

00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:48.539
 to see,

00:28:48.660 --> 00:28:48.799
 you know,

00:28:48.839 --> 00:28:49.980
 is there mental illness,

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:52.700
 is there an affair going on,

00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:53.920
 is there some other type

00:28:53.920 --> 00:28:54.900
 of thing going on

00:28:54.900 --> 00:28:56.160
 and it was just unshaken

00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:57.799
 that he came to the conclusion

00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:58.339
 in prayer

00:28:58.339 --> 00:28:59.940
 that God had called him

00:28:59.940 --> 00:29:01.859
 to divorce his wife.

00:29:01.859 --> 00:29:04.699
 And I kept telling him,

00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:04.979
 no,

00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:08.459
 God cannot call you

00:29:08.459 --> 00:29:09.879
 to divorce your wife

00:29:09.879 --> 00:29:10.659
 just,

00:29:10.659 --> 00:29:11.559
 just,

00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:11.759
 just,

00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:14.679
 just like that.

00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:18.039
 God can't call you

00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:18.539
 to do that.

00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:20.460
 Was I going against

00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:21.480
 Genesis 22?

00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:24.400
 Abraham seems

00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:25.180
 to go against,

00:29:25.340 --> 00:29:26.019
 God seems to,

00:29:26.060 --> 00:29:27.360
 to order the breaking

00:29:27.360 --> 00:29:28.400
 of the sixth commandment

00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:29.160
 although the commandments

00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:29.660
 aren't given

00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:30.580
 until the next book

00:29:30.580 --> 00:29:31.140
 later on,

00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:32.519
 many hundreds of years

00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:33.279
 after Abraham.

00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:36.140
 I think this story

00:29:36.140 --> 00:29:37.039
 tells us different,

00:29:37.039 --> 00:29:38.500
 several important things

00:29:38.500 --> 00:29:39.120
 about God

00:29:39.120 --> 00:29:40.720
 and about Abraham

00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:42.420
 and so now it's time

00:29:42.420 --> 00:29:43.180
 to sort of go back

00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:44.259
 and reflect upon them.

00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:45.500
 So if you look

00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:46.440
 at the verse one again,

00:29:47.860 --> 00:29:49.420
 here's the first thing

00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:50.580
 to notice about this

00:29:50.580 --> 00:29:51.799
 with a now second reading

00:29:51.799 --> 00:29:52.480
 of the text.

00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:54.420
 Notice how verse one goes.

00:29:54.860 --> 00:29:55.680
 How's my time going?

00:29:55.799 --> 00:29:55.980
 Okay.

00:29:57.320 --> 00:29:58.440
 After these things,

00:29:58.560 --> 00:29:59.640
 God tested Abraham

00:29:59.640 --> 00:30:00.539
 and said to him,

00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:01.019
 Abraham,

00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:02.920
 and Abraham said,

00:30:03.060 --> 00:30:03.620
 here am I.

00:30:04.120 --> 00:30:05.200
 Here's the first thing.

00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:06.779
 In my blog this week,

00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:07.560
 I talk about how

00:30:07.560 --> 00:30:08.240
 one of the problems

00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:09.220
 I have with Bible readings

00:30:09.220 --> 00:30:10.200
 is I'm a quick reader

00:30:10.200 --> 00:30:10.940
 and I'm having to learn

00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:11.799
 to be a slow reader.

00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:13.100
 Actually,

00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:14.320
 at a literary level,

00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:15.039
 there's two very,

00:30:15.159 --> 00:30:16.279
 very interesting things

00:30:16.279 --> 00:30:17.299
 about this first verse

00:30:17.299 --> 00:30:18.200
 at a literary level

00:30:18.200 --> 00:30:19.339
 if you just read it carefully.

00:30:19.799 --> 00:30:20.759
 The first thing is

00:30:20.759 --> 00:30:22.059
 that these opening words

00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:23.079
 are the narrator

00:30:23.079 --> 00:30:24.500
 speaking to the audience

00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:26.879
 and Abraham doesn't know them.

00:30:28.200 --> 00:30:29.399
 And the narrator

00:30:29.399 --> 00:30:31.139
 speaks to the audience

00:30:31.139 --> 00:30:31.859
 and says,

00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:33.359
 these things,

00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:34.759
 after these things,

00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:35.939
 God tested Abraham.

00:30:36.939 --> 00:30:38.579
 And so we now know

00:30:38.579 --> 00:30:39.319
 that God is going

00:30:39.319 --> 00:30:40.259
 to test Abraham.

00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:42.740
 and here's where

00:30:42.740 --> 00:30:43.559
 the text starts

00:30:43.559 --> 00:30:44.099
 to talk about

00:30:44.099 --> 00:30:44.940
 all of our fears.

00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:46.779
 In the book of Genesis

00:30:46.779 --> 00:30:47.720
 in the Old Testament

00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:48.500
 and the New Testament

00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:48.960
 as well,

00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:49.940
 the word here

00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:50.700
 is tested,

00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:51.839
 not tempt.

00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:52.920
 And Andrew,

00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:53.480
 if you could now

00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:54.359
 take the picture down

00:30:54.359 --> 00:30:55.500
 and put the first point up,

00:30:55.599 --> 00:30:56.779
 here's the very first thing

00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:57.839
 to understand.

00:30:58.720 --> 00:30:59.480
 In a sense,

00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:00.839
 a careful reading

00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:01.440
 of the text

00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:02.259
 would have us know

00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:03.460
 that right from the beginning

00:31:03.460 --> 00:31:05.240
 that Isaac's not going to die

00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:09.640
 because evil tests

00:31:09.640 --> 00:31:11.539
 to corrupt and bind me.

00:31:12.099 --> 00:31:14.099
 The living God tests me

00:31:14.099 --> 00:31:15.779
 to grow health and freedom.

00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:19.259
 Evil tests to corrupt

00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:20.279
 and bind me.

00:31:20.700 --> 00:31:22.559
 The living God tests me

00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:24.640
 to grow health and freedom.

00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:26.599
 The serpent,

00:31:26.920 --> 00:31:28.140
 in Genesis 3,

00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:30.579
 19 chapters before this,

00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:32.779
 the serpent tests,

00:31:33.059 --> 00:31:34.380
 and it's really a temptation,

00:31:34.380 --> 00:31:38.040
 and evil tests Adam and Eve

00:31:38.040 --> 00:31:39.580
 and the purpose of it

00:31:39.580 --> 00:31:41.700
 is to corrupt and to bind.

00:31:43.320 --> 00:31:45.200
 And all the way through the Bible,

00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:47.240
 God never tempts.

00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:49.500
 He does things

00:31:49.500 --> 00:31:51.360
 to reveal to us

00:31:51.360 --> 00:31:53.540
 and help us to experience

00:31:53.540 --> 00:31:55.340
 his confidence in us

00:31:55.340 --> 00:31:58.100
 and his call on our lives.

00:31:58.840 --> 00:32:00.100
 And every time

00:32:00.100 --> 00:32:01.220
 we are, in a sense,

00:32:01.580 --> 00:32:02.860
 tested by God,

00:32:02.940 --> 00:32:03.680
 we go through maybe

00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:04.980
 a dark night of the soul

00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:06.779
 or a lonely walk of faith.

00:32:07.060 --> 00:32:08.100
 In every case,

00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:09.740
 the purpose of it is

00:32:09.740 --> 00:32:11.940
 is for us to draw closer to God.

00:32:12.100 --> 00:32:14.080
 That's what is in God's heart.

00:32:14.400 --> 00:32:16.580
 And that as we draw closer to God,

00:32:16.660 --> 00:32:18.840
 as we see that these things

00:32:18.840 --> 00:32:20.640
 that may be a year in advance,

00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:21.480
 a year earlier,

00:32:21.620 --> 00:32:22.440
 or two years earlier,

00:32:22.560 --> 00:32:23.340
 or ten years earlier,

00:32:23.420 --> 00:32:24.420
 or twenty years earlier,

00:32:24.420 --> 00:32:26.680
 would be unimaginable things,

00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:29.039
 that as we go through these things,

00:32:29.100 --> 00:32:30.779
 even though the darkness is real

00:32:30.779 --> 00:32:32.079
 and the suffering is real

00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:33.700
 and the loneliness is real,

00:32:33.879 --> 00:32:35.920
 but as we go through these things

00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:37.779
 and emerge on the other side,

00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:41.200
 we realize that God has done this

00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:43.319
 because he loves us.

00:32:43.700 --> 00:32:44.700
 He loves me.

00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:46.279
 And we emerge

00:32:46.279 --> 00:32:47.299
 wholer,

00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:48.519
 healthier,

00:32:48.879 --> 00:32:49.700
 and freer.

00:32:49.700 --> 00:32:55.539
 And a careful reading of the text

00:32:55.539 --> 00:32:57.039
 when we see that the language here

00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:57.700
 is of testing,

00:32:57.840 --> 00:32:58.319
 we can say,

00:32:58.480 --> 00:32:58.680
 oh,

00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:00.980
 Isaac's not going to die.

00:33:02.840 --> 00:33:04.340
 This is not a story

00:33:04.340 --> 00:33:05.559
 about the danger.

00:33:05.720 --> 00:33:07.259
 This is a very profoundly

00:33:07.259 --> 00:33:09.220
 unsettling thought to us

00:33:09.220 --> 00:33:10.600
 because we don't hear the text

00:33:10.600 --> 00:33:11.840
 the way the Bible means

00:33:11.840 --> 00:33:12.600
 is to hear the text.

00:33:13.080 --> 00:33:14.299
 This isn't a text,

00:33:14.620 --> 00:33:15.700
 a story about danger

00:33:15.700 --> 00:33:17.700
 to Isaac.

00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:19.559
 Is it a story

00:33:19.559 --> 00:33:21.160
 that's going to reveal

00:33:21.160 --> 00:33:22.500
 Abraham's heart

00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:24.360
 and his potential danger

00:33:24.360 --> 00:33:26.360
 in terms of whether he knows

00:33:26.360 --> 00:33:27.700
 who God really is?

00:33:28.440 --> 00:33:30.080
 It's not a story about Isaac

00:33:30.080 --> 00:33:31.160
 and the danger to Isaac.

00:33:31.319 --> 00:33:32.500
 It's a story about Abraham.

00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:34.860
 And God does this

00:33:34.860 --> 00:33:36.160
 in the hope

00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:38.519
 that at the end of it,

00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:41.259
 that Abraham is more whole,

00:33:41.660 --> 00:33:42.440
 more healthy,

00:33:42.539 --> 00:33:43.220
 and more free.

00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:46.180
 which is what happens

00:33:46.180 --> 00:33:46.819
 in the story.

00:33:48.339 --> 00:33:49.799
 An even deeper promise,

00:33:50.039 --> 00:33:51.920
 an even deeper blessing

00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:54.700
 from God upon Abraham.

00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:56.220
 And in the Old Testament,

00:33:56.420 --> 00:33:57.819
 this language of blessing

00:33:57.819 --> 00:33:59.680
 is a language of,

00:34:00.420 --> 00:34:00.860
 it's always,

00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:03.380
 our intern Daniel says

00:34:03.380 --> 00:34:04.240
 that it's all about God

00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:05.400
 wanting us to thrive.

00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:06.860
 That's a very, very good way

00:34:06.860 --> 00:34:07.779
 to understand it.

00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:08.920
 It's all about

00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:10.199
 a greater potency,

00:34:10.720 --> 00:34:11.079
 in a sense,

00:34:11.179 --> 00:34:12.320
 a greater potency,

00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:13.760
 meaning power for life.

00:34:13.860 --> 00:34:15.580
 It's all about prosperity.

00:34:15.940 --> 00:34:16.519
 It's all about,

00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:17.320
 in a sense,

00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:18.539
 a greater thriving,

00:34:18.660 --> 00:34:19.740
 a greater success

00:34:19.740 --> 00:34:20.800
 in spiritual,

00:34:21.059 --> 00:34:22.860
 and just potency.

00:34:23.200 --> 00:34:24.280
 It's all about God

00:34:24.280 --> 00:34:25.240
 bringing into our lives

00:34:25.240 --> 00:34:26.080
 greater potency,

00:34:26.220 --> 00:34:26.980
 greater life,

00:34:27.120 --> 00:34:27.960
 greater health,

00:34:28.280 --> 00:34:29.140
 greater wholeness,

00:34:29.440 --> 00:34:30.200
 greater freedom.

00:34:30.620 --> 00:34:32.080
 Potency is about freedom.

00:34:34.260 --> 00:34:35.080
 And so the narrator

00:34:35.080 --> 00:34:36.019
 says to the reader,

00:34:36.019 --> 00:34:38.280
 this is going to be a story

00:34:38.280 --> 00:34:39.980
 about God doing something

00:34:39.980 --> 00:34:40.759
 with Abraham,

00:34:42.019 --> 00:34:43.259
 that at the end of it,

00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:44.239
 he'll be more whole

00:34:44.239 --> 00:34:44.940
 and more free.

00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:47.099
 See, one of the things

00:34:47.099 --> 00:34:47.820
 about this story

00:34:47.820 --> 00:34:48.380
 is in a sense,

00:34:48.460 --> 00:34:49.300
 the reading of this story

00:34:49.300 --> 00:34:51.139
 is our version

00:34:51.139 --> 00:34:53.179
 of God saying to Abraham,

00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:54.519
 go and kill your son.

00:34:55.300 --> 00:34:56.460
 Because the fact of the matter

00:34:56.460 --> 00:34:57.539
 is this story

00:34:57.539 --> 00:34:58.400
 reveals something

00:34:58.400 --> 00:34:59.259
 about my heart

00:34:59.259 --> 00:35:00.039
 and your heart.

00:35:00.719 --> 00:35:01.099
 You see,

00:35:01.219 --> 00:35:02.280
 the Bible constantly

00:35:02.280 --> 00:35:03.400
 goes after our heart,

00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:04.119
 the heart being,

00:35:04.119 --> 00:35:05.319
 what the Bible understands

00:35:05.319 --> 00:35:06.019
 is the center

00:35:06.019 --> 00:35:06.719
 of who we are

00:35:06.719 --> 00:35:08.299
 and in the context

00:35:08.299 --> 00:35:09.179
 of the living God.

00:35:09.460 --> 00:35:10.420
 And the fact of the matter

00:35:10.420 --> 00:35:11.659
 is that even those of us

00:35:11.659 --> 00:35:12.480
 who follow Jesus

00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:13.920
 at the center of who we are,

00:35:14.279 --> 00:35:15.359
 there are parts of us

00:35:15.359 --> 00:35:16.440
 who are terrified

00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:18.279
 about getting too close to God

00:35:18.279 --> 00:35:19.259
 because if we get

00:35:19.259 --> 00:35:20.299
 too close to God,

00:35:20.619 --> 00:35:22.239
 he will make us a nutcase.

00:35:22.579 --> 00:35:23.960
 He will ask us of things

00:35:23.960 --> 00:35:24.779
 that will make us

00:35:24.779 --> 00:35:26.400
 unpopular in the eyes

00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:26.839
 of the world,

00:35:27.059 --> 00:35:28.039
 ridiculous in the eyes

00:35:28.039 --> 00:35:28.440
 of the world,

00:35:28.639 --> 00:35:29.539
 ridiculous in the eyes

00:35:29.539 --> 00:35:30.339
 of our loved ones,

00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:31.440
 that will hurt us,

00:35:31.480 --> 00:35:32.259
 that will belittle us,

00:35:32.299 --> 00:35:33.239
 that will damage us.

00:35:33.239 --> 00:35:34.099
 And in fact,

00:35:34.299 --> 00:35:36.019
 we have that thing

00:35:36.019 --> 00:35:37.079
 with inside of us

00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:38.899
 and so in a very small

00:35:38.899 --> 00:35:39.979
 and mild way

00:35:39.979 --> 00:35:41.399
 compared to what Abraham

00:35:41.399 --> 00:35:42.159
 had to go through

00:35:42.159 --> 00:35:42.639
 with Isaac,

00:35:42.799 --> 00:35:45.039
 this text is like that.

00:35:45.799 --> 00:35:46.799
 When we hear

00:35:46.799 --> 00:35:48.159
 this passage of scripture,

00:35:48.399 --> 00:35:49.379
 will we trust

00:35:49.379 --> 00:35:50.359
 that God is good?

00:35:51.759 --> 00:35:52.919
 Will we trust

00:35:52.919 --> 00:35:54.399
 that even when God

00:35:54.399 --> 00:35:55.239
 makes commands

00:35:55.239 --> 00:35:56.299
 that seem to us

00:35:56.299 --> 00:35:57.239
 unreasonable

00:35:58.219 --> 00:35:59.179
 in the eyes

00:35:59.179 --> 00:35:59.979
 of our culture,

00:36:01.319 --> 00:36:01.719
 in the eyes

00:36:01.719 --> 00:36:02.419
 of our culture,

00:36:02.420 --> 00:36:03.300
 it's only reasonable

00:36:03.300 --> 00:36:04.139
 to live together

00:36:04.139 --> 00:36:04.900
 before you marry?

00:36:06.099 --> 00:36:06.760
 That's not what

00:36:06.760 --> 00:36:07.599
 the Bible teaches.

00:36:07.840 --> 00:36:08.820
 That seems unreasonable

00:36:08.820 --> 00:36:09.480
 to us.

00:36:10.780 --> 00:36:11.780
 In the eyes of the Bible,

00:36:12.059 --> 00:36:13.039
 it's because God,

00:36:13.420 --> 00:36:14.559
 everything is owned

00:36:14.559 --> 00:36:15.039
 by God

00:36:15.039 --> 00:36:15.920
 and God puts things

00:36:15.920 --> 00:36:16.680
 under our care

00:36:16.680 --> 00:36:17.599
 and so part of the way

00:36:17.599 --> 00:36:18.380
 that we develop

00:36:18.380 --> 00:36:19.480
 freedom from money

00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:20.720
 and don't have money

00:36:20.720 --> 00:36:22.059
 as an idol in our lives

00:36:22.059 --> 00:36:23.320
 and because we can live

00:36:23.320 --> 00:36:24.180
 a more authentically

00:36:24.180 --> 00:36:24.860
 human life

00:36:24.860 --> 00:36:25.619
 and because at the heart

00:36:25.619 --> 00:36:26.059
 of what it means

00:36:26.059 --> 00:36:27.000
 to be authentically human

00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:27.680
 is to give,

00:36:28.099 --> 00:36:28.900
 that he asked us

00:36:28.900 --> 00:36:29.700
 to give away

00:36:29.700 --> 00:36:30.800
 10% of our money,

00:36:30.800 --> 00:36:32.760
 10% of our financial resources

00:36:32.760 --> 00:36:33.840
 and that's completely

00:36:33.840 --> 00:36:34.940
 and utterly insane

00:36:34.940 --> 00:36:35.980
 in a culture

00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:37.580
 that has pages

00:36:37.580 --> 00:36:38.120
 and pages

00:36:38.120 --> 00:36:38.640
 and pages

00:36:38.640 --> 00:36:39.180
 in the newspaper

00:36:39.180 --> 00:36:40.920
 written on a weekly basis

00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:41.700
 about how to make

00:36:41.700 --> 00:36:42.260
 more money,

00:36:42.360 --> 00:36:43.760
 not how to give money away,

00:36:44.180 --> 00:36:44.880
 but how to make

00:36:44.880 --> 00:36:45.500
 more money

00:36:45.500 --> 00:36:48.100
 and whether it's

00:36:48.100 --> 00:36:48.940
 in terms of,

00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:50.420
 you can go on

00:36:50.420 --> 00:36:50.780
 and on

00:36:50.780 --> 00:36:51.180
 and on

00:36:51.179 --> 00:36:55.159
 that we have

00:36:55.159 --> 00:36:56.019
 this fear

00:36:56.019 --> 00:36:57.399
 that getting close

00:36:57.399 --> 00:36:57.859
 to God

00:36:57.859 --> 00:36:58.699
 will hurt us

00:36:58.699 --> 00:37:00.239
 and God wants

00:37:00.239 --> 00:37:01.480
 to reveal to us

00:37:01.480 --> 00:37:02.799
 that he is good.

00:37:03.239 --> 00:37:03.500
 In fact,

00:37:03.699 --> 00:37:04.599
 that's the whole point

00:37:04.599 --> 00:37:05.119
 of the story.

00:37:05.259 --> 00:37:05.679
 If you could put

00:37:05.679 --> 00:37:06.559
 the second point up,

00:37:06.619 --> 00:37:06.859
 Andrew,

00:37:06.980 --> 00:37:07.879
 here it is right here.

00:37:10.679 --> 00:37:11.779
 The living God

00:37:11.779 --> 00:37:12.759
 is only good

00:37:12.759 --> 00:37:13.839
 and he gives

00:37:13.839 --> 00:37:14.699
 all of himself

00:37:14.699 --> 00:37:16.000
 to all of me

00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:17.159
 and all of we.

00:37:17.159 --> 00:37:19.460
 the living God

00:37:19.460 --> 00:37:20.659
 is only good

00:37:20.659 --> 00:37:22.099
 and he gives

00:37:22.099 --> 00:37:22.960
 all of himself

00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:24.379
 to all of me

00:37:24.379 --> 00:37:25.759
 and all of we.

00:37:25.879 --> 00:37:26.359
 I know it's not

00:37:26.359 --> 00:37:27.079
 very good grammar

00:37:27.079 --> 00:37:28.119
 but it's sort of catchy

00:37:28.119 --> 00:37:29.659
 and it's because

00:37:29.659 --> 00:37:30.339
 it's not just

00:37:30.339 --> 00:37:31.239
 a private thing.

00:37:31.339 --> 00:37:31.920
 This text has

00:37:31.920 --> 00:37:33.059
 a communal aspect

00:37:33.059 --> 00:37:33.779
 to it

00:37:33.779 --> 00:37:35.719
 and he gives

00:37:35.719 --> 00:37:36.579
 all of himself

00:37:36.579 --> 00:37:37.539
 and it's interesting

00:37:37.539 --> 00:37:38.000
 it's something

00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:38.920
 I didn't know this

00:37:38.920 --> 00:37:39.859
 until I did the research

00:37:39.859 --> 00:37:40.599
 at the Hebrew

00:37:40.599 --> 00:37:42.619
 this is communicated

00:37:42.619 --> 00:37:43.960
 in a very interesting way.

00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:44.699
 You see,

00:37:44.799 --> 00:37:45.299
 for the first,

00:37:45.639 --> 00:37:46.739
 there's two different names

00:37:46.739 --> 00:37:47.319
 for God

00:37:47.319 --> 00:37:48.159
 used in this text.

00:37:48.199 --> 00:37:48.699
 So we're going to read

00:37:48.699 --> 00:37:49.819
 the first ten verses

00:37:49.819 --> 00:37:50.599
 very quickly

00:37:50.599 --> 00:37:52.939
 and the first word

00:37:52.939 --> 00:37:53.519
 for God

00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:54.399
 is Elohim

00:37:54.399 --> 00:37:56.119
 which basically means

00:37:56.119 --> 00:37:57.219
 the distant creator,

00:37:57.719 --> 00:37:58.799
 the all-powerful

00:37:58.799 --> 00:37:59.639
 distant creator

00:37:59.639 --> 00:38:00.919
 and the second word

00:38:00.919 --> 00:38:01.599
 that's going to be used

00:38:01.599 --> 00:38:02.119
 for God

00:38:02.119 --> 00:38:02.979
 in this text

00:38:02.979 --> 00:38:03.739
 is Yahweh

00:38:03.739 --> 00:38:04.779
 and Yahweh

00:38:04.779 --> 00:38:06.039
 is the intimate word.

00:38:06.239 --> 00:38:07.319
 It's the intimate God.

00:38:07.519 --> 00:38:08.779
 It is both the creator,

00:38:09.119 --> 00:38:10.419
 great creator God

00:38:10.419 --> 00:38:11.639
 but it is the God

00:38:11.639 --> 00:38:12.979
 who gives himself

00:38:12.979 --> 00:38:14.119
 to human beings

00:38:14.119 --> 00:38:15.179
 because he desires

00:38:15.179 --> 00:38:16.179
 to be in a covenant

00:38:16.179 --> 00:38:17.000
 with human beings.

00:38:17.319 --> 00:38:19.039
 He desires to be their God

00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:20.639
 and have human beings

00:38:20.639 --> 00:38:21.419
 like you and me

00:38:21.419 --> 00:38:22.639
 who might have worshipped

00:38:22.639 --> 00:38:23.199
 the moon

00:38:23.199 --> 00:38:24.500
 and might have accepted

00:38:24.500 --> 00:38:25.599
 that human sacrifice

00:38:25.599 --> 00:38:26.599
 is just the way

00:38:26.599 --> 00:38:27.619
 that the world works

00:38:27.619 --> 00:38:28.759
 and yet he wants

00:38:28.759 --> 00:38:30.119
 to call us to himself

00:38:30.119 --> 00:38:31.500
 and be in a relationship

00:38:31.500 --> 00:38:32.159
 with us

00:38:32.159 --> 00:38:33.019
 where he gives

00:38:33.019 --> 00:38:33.899
 all of himself

00:38:33.899 --> 00:38:34.519
 to us

00:38:34.519 --> 00:38:35.299
 in the hope

00:38:35.299 --> 00:38:36.619
 that as we grow

00:38:36.619 --> 00:38:37.199
 in the covenant

00:38:37.199 --> 00:38:37.859
 that we will give

00:38:37.859 --> 00:38:39.179
 all of ourselves to him

00:38:39.179 --> 00:38:40.859
 and that's what's symbolized

00:38:40.859 --> 00:38:41.859
 in the word Yahweh.

00:38:42.259 --> 00:38:42.859
 And now listen

00:38:42.859 --> 00:38:43.559
 to this story

00:38:43.559 --> 00:38:44.379
 where I will say

00:38:44.379 --> 00:38:45.119
 Elohim,

00:38:45.119 --> 00:38:46.579
 distant creator God

00:38:46.579 --> 00:38:47.559
 and Yahweh,

00:38:47.960 --> 00:38:49.019
 the intimate God

00:38:49.019 --> 00:38:50.099
 who desires to be

00:38:50.099 --> 00:38:50.799
 in a relationship

00:38:50.799 --> 00:38:51.299
 with us

00:38:51.299 --> 00:38:51.859
 and this is how

00:38:51.859 --> 00:38:52.619
 the story goes.

00:38:52.759 --> 00:38:53.279
 Verse 1,

00:38:53.759 --> 00:38:54.759
 after these things

00:38:54.759 --> 00:38:56.619
 Elohim tested Abraham

00:38:56.619 --> 00:38:57.380
 and said to him,

00:38:57.480 --> 00:38:57.859
 Abraham,

00:38:58.739 --> 00:38:59.559
 and Abraham said,

00:38:59.659 --> 00:39:00.199
 here am I.

00:39:01.019 --> 00:39:02.539
 And Elohim says,

00:39:02.659 --> 00:39:03.460
 take your son,

00:39:03.519 --> 00:39:04.659
 your only son Isaac

00:39:04.659 --> 00:39:05.339
 whom you love

00:39:05.339 --> 00:39:06.159
 and go to the land

00:39:06.159 --> 00:39:06.679
 of Moriah

00:39:06.679 --> 00:39:07.940
 and offer him there

00:39:07.940 --> 00:39:08.839
 as a burnt offering

00:39:08.839 --> 00:39:09.699
 on one of the mountains

00:39:09.699 --> 00:39:10.940
 of which I shall tell you.

00:39:11.339 --> 00:39:12.400
 So Abraham rose

00:39:12.400 --> 00:39:13.259
 early in the morning,

00:39:13.480 --> 00:39:14.440
 saddled his donkey

00:39:14.440 --> 00:39:15.940
 and took two of his young men

00:39:15.940 --> 00:39:16.420
 with him

00:39:16.420 --> 00:39:17.720
 and his son Isaac

00:39:17.720 --> 00:39:19.099
 and he cut the wood

00:39:19.099 --> 00:39:20.119
 for the burnt offering

00:39:20.119 --> 00:39:20.720
 and arose

00:39:20.720 --> 00:39:21.679
 and went to the place

00:39:21.679 --> 00:39:22.840
 of which Elohim

00:39:22.840 --> 00:39:23.760
 had told him.

00:39:24.240 --> 00:39:25.139
 On the third day,

00:39:25.460 --> 00:39:26.940
 Abraham lifted up his eyes

00:39:26.940 --> 00:39:27.780
 and saw the place

00:39:27.780 --> 00:39:28.340
 from afar.

00:39:28.800 --> 00:39:29.639
 Then Abraham said

00:39:29.639 --> 00:39:30.420
 to his young men,

00:39:30.500 --> 00:39:31.700
 stay here with the donkey.

00:39:31.900 --> 00:39:32.559
 I and the boy

00:39:32.559 --> 00:39:33.400
 will go over there

00:39:33.400 --> 00:39:33.860
 and worship

00:39:33.860 --> 00:39:34.900
 and come again to you.

00:39:35.500 --> 00:39:36.659
 Abraham took the wood

00:39:36.659 --> 00:39:37.519
 of the burnt offering

00:39:37.519 --> 00:39:38.860
 and laid it on Isaac,

00:39:39.019 --> 00:39:39.420
 his son,

00:39:39.760 --> 00:39:40.940
 and he took in his hand

00:39:40.940 --> 00:39:42.059
 the fire and the knife.

00:39:42.400 --> 00:39:43.340
 So they went both

00:39:43.340 --> 00:39:44.000
 of them together

00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:44.960
 and Isaac said

00:39:44.960 --> 00:39:45.720
 to his father,

00:39:46.340 --> 00:39:47.220
 to Abraham,

00:39:47.480 --> 00:39:48.039
 Father Abraham,

00:39:48.139 --> 00:39:48.720
 my father,

00:39:49.320 --> 00:39:50.519
 and he said,

00:39:50.639 --> 00:39:51.240
 here I am,

00:39:51.300 --> 00:39:51.760
 my son.

00:39:52.039 --> 00:39:52.840
 And Isaac says,

00:39:52.920 --> 00:39:53.840
 behold the fire

00:39:53.840 --> 00:39:54.360
 and the wood,

00:39:54.639 --> 00:39:55.659
 but where is the lamb

00:39:55.659 --> 00:39:56.579
 for burnt offering?

00:39:56.960 --> 00:39:57.940
 And Abraham said,

00:39:58.059 --> 00:39:59.679
 Elohim will provide

00:39:59.679 --> 00:40:00.980
 for himself the lamb

00:40:00.980 --> 00:40:02.000
 for burnt offering,

00:40:02.119 --> 00:40:02.579
 my son.

00:40:02.760 --> 00:40:03.760
 So they both of them

00:40:03.760 --> 00:40:04.960
 went their way together.

00:40:05.639 --> 00:40:06.240
 When they came

00:40:06.240 --> 00:40:06.740
 to the place

00:40:06.740 --> 00:40:07.599
 of which Elohim

00:40:07.599 --> 00:40:08.320
 had told them,

00:40:08.720 --> 00:40:10.039
 Abraham built the altar

00:40:10.039 --> 00:40:11.400
 there and laid the wood

00:40:11.400 --> 00:40:13.019
 in order and bound Isaac,

00:40:13.139 --> 00:40:13.579
 his son,

00:40:13.659 --> 00:40:15.159
 and laid him on the altar

00:40:15.159 --> 00:40:16.599
 on top of the wood.

00:40:16.840 --> 00:40:17.820
 And then Abraham

00:40:17.820 --> 00:40:19.480
 reached out his hand

00:40:19.480 --> 00:40:20.559
 and took the knife

00:40:20.559 --> 00:40:21.860
 to slaughter his son.

00:40:22.019 --> 00:40:24.099
 But the angel of Yahweh

00:40:24.099 --> 00:40:26.199
 called to him from heaven.

00:40:26.880 --> 00:40:28.279
 The angel of Yahweh

00:40:28.279 --> 00:40:29.559
 calls to him.

00:40:29.940 --> 00:40:31.820
 No longer just the God

00:40:31.820 --> 00:40:32.360
 that Abraham,

00:40:32.779 --> 00:40:34.579
 he believes that God is good,

00:40:34.679 --> 00:40:36.559
 but he is the distant creator God.

00:40:36.559 --> 00:40:38.659
 And now it is Yahweh

00:40:38.659 --> 00:40:40.519
 who desires to be

00:40:40.519 --> 00:40:42.079
 in a covenant with Abraham

00:40:42.079 --> 00:40:43.579
 and with Isaac

00:40:43.579 --> 00:40:45.579
 and to bless the generations

00:40:45.579 --> 00:40:46.339
 in the world.

00:40:46.679 --> 00:40:47.599
 It is Yahweh

00:40:47.599 --> 00:40:49.039
 who desires to give

00:40:49.039 --> 00:40:50.619
 of all of himself

00:40:50.619 --> 00:40:52.159
 to moon God

00:40:52.159 --> 00:40:53.639
 worshiping people

00:40:53.639 --> 00:40:56.379
 and call them for himself

00:40:56.379 --> 00:40:57.819
 and give all of himself,

00:40:58.399 --> 00:40:59.399
 hoping that they will give

00:40:59.399 --> 00:41:00.679
 all of themselves to him.

00:41:03.359 --> 00:41:04.399
 Verse 12,

00:41:05.299 --> 00:41:05.699
 he said,

00:41:05.699 --> 00:41:06.579
 do not lay your hand

00:41:06.579 --> 00:41:07.059
 on the boy

00:41:07.059 --> 00:41:08.079
 or do anything to him

00:41:08.079 --> 00:41:08.759
 for now I know

00:41:08.759 --> 00:41:09.899
 that you fear Yahweh,

00:41:10.119 --> 00:41:10.879
 seeing you have not

00:41:10.879 --> 00:41:11.819
 withheld your son,

00:41:11.879 --> 00:41:13.079
 your only son from me.

00:41:13.719 --> 00:41:14.739
 And Abraham lifted up

00:41:14.739 --> 00:41:15.579
 his eyes and looked

00:41:15.579 --> 00:41:16.139
 and behold,

00:41:16.279 --> 00:41:17.339
 behind him was a ram

00:41:17.339 --> 00:41:18.219
 caught in a thicket

00:41:18.219 --> 00:41:19.000
 by his horns.

00:41:19.399 --> 00:41:20.319
 And Abraham went

00:41:20.319 --> 00:41:21.179
 and took the ram

00:41:21.179 --> 00:41:22.019
 and offered it up

00:41:22.019 --> 00:41:22.839
 as a burnt offering

00:41:22.839 --> 00:41:23.719
 instead of his son.

00:41:24.059 --> 00:41:25.059
 So Abraham called

00:41:25.059 --> 00:41:26.059
 the name of that place

00:41:26.059 --> 00:41:27.599
 Yahweh will provide.

00:41:27.980 --> 00:41:29.199
 As it is said to this day,

00:41:29.259 --> 00:41:30.859
 on the mount of Yahweh

00:41:30.859 --> 00:41:31.980
 it shall be provided.

00:41:32.419 --> 00:41:33.839
 And the angel of Yahweh

00:41:33.840 --> 00:41:34.760
 called to Abraham

00:41:34.760 --> 00:41:36.200
 a second time from heaven

00:41:36.200 --> 00:41:37.019
 and said,

00:41:37.120 --> 00:41:38.880
 by myself I have sworn,

00:41:39.079 --> 00:41:40.140
 declares Yahweh,

00:41:40.420 --> 00:41:41.720
 because you have done this

00:41:41.720 --> 00:41:42.579
 and have not withheld

00:41:42.579 --> 00:41:43.140
 your son,

00:41:43.200 --> 00:41:43.960
 your only son,

00:41:44.240 --> 00:41:45.720
 I will surely bless you

00:41:45.720 --> 00:41:46.820
 and I will surely

00:41:46.820 --> 00:41:48.160
 multiply your offsprings,

00:41:48.260 --> 00:41:49.140
 the stars of heaven

00:41:49.140 --> 00:41:49.780
 and the sand

00:41:49.780 --> 00:41:50.740
 that is on the seashore

00:41:50.740 --> 00:41:51.740
 and your offspring

00:41:51.740 --> 00:41:52.360
 shall possess

00:41:52.360 --> 00:41:53.340
 the gate of his enemies

00:41:53.340 --> 00:41:54.720
 and in your offspring

00:41:54.720 --> 00:41:55.680
 shall all the nations

00:41:55.680 --> 00:41:56.720
 of the earth be blessed

00:41:56.720 --> 00:41:58.320
 because you have

00:41:58.320 --> 00:41:59.240
 obeyed my voice.

00:41:59.239 --> 00:42:02.439
 The living God

00:42:02.439 --> 00:42:03.199
 is only good

00:42:03.199 --> 00:42:04.339
 and gives all of himself

00:42:04.339 --> 00:42:05.119
 to all of me

00:42:05.119 --> 00:42:05.819
 and all of me.

00:42:07.719 --> 00:42:08.739
 So God gives

00:42:08.739 --> 00:42:10.259
 all of himself to us.

00:42:11.500 --> 00:42:11.759
 You know,

00:42:11.799 --> 00:42:12.759
 we have a lot of fear

00:42:12.759 --> 00:42:13.799
 in our world today

00:42:13.799 --> 00:42:14.779
 about relationships

00:42:14.779 --> 00:42:16.019
 and relationships

00:42:16.019 --> 00:42:16.919
 break down,

00:42:17.079 --> 00:42:18.000
 marriages break down,

00:42:18.139 --> 00:42:19.179
 friendships break down,

00:42:19.339 --> 00:42:20.299
 families break apart,

00:42:20.439 --> 00:42:21.599
 institutions fail us

00:42:21.599 --> 00:42:23.399
 and we have this deep fear.

00:42:25.099 --> 00:42:26.659
 But God is unchanging.

00:42:27.139 --> 00:42:27.979
 He's always good.

00:42:28.039 --> 00:42:28.799
 He's only good.

00:42:29.239 --> 00:42:30.159
 He gives all of himself

00:42:30.159 --> 00:42:31.319
 and so the response

00:42:31.319 --> 00:42:33.000
 that God desires from us

00:42:33.000 --> 00:42:34.179
 is what we see

00:42:34.179 --> 00:42:34.899
 in Abraham

00:42:34.899 --> 00:42:36.299
 that goes from this

00:42:36.299 --> 00:42:37.719
 very, very first call

00:42:37.719 --> 00:42:38.679
 in chapter 11

00:42:38.679 --> 00:42:40.019
 to leave his land

00:42:40.019 --> 00:42:41.459
 and leave the worship

00:42:41.459 --> 00:42:42.559
 of the God of the moon

00:42:42.559 --> 00:42:44.899
 and to come and follow God

00:42:44.899 --> 00:42:46.039
 and to know God

00:42:46.039 --> 00:42:47.119
 and to be God's people

00:42:47.119 --> 00:42:47.839
 and to be blessed.

00:42:48.779 --> 00:42:49.059
 And here,

00:42:49.139 --> 00:42:49.719
 if you could put it up,

00:42:49.799 --> 00:42:50.059
 Andrew,

00:42:52.879 --> 00:42:55.279
 faith in the living God

00:42:55.279 --> 00:42:57.219
 begins with a sliver of me

00:42:57.219 --> 00:43:00.099
 and grows towards encompassing

00:43:00.099 --> 00:43:00.939
 all of me.

00:43:03.599 --> 00:43:03.959
 Right?

00:43:03.959 --> 00:43:04.959
 We don't have to have it all together.

00:43:05.059 --> 00:43:06.019
 We can't always have it.

00:43:06.079 --> 00:43:07.179
 We'll never have it all together.

00:43:07.279 --> 00:43:07.739
 We'll never,

00:43:07.859 --> 00:43:08.139
 ever,

00:43:08.239 --> 00:43:08.539
 ever,

00:43:08.619 --> 00:43:08.879
 ever,

00:43:08.939 --> 00:43:10.199
 ever have it all together.

00:43:11.279 --> 00:43:11.759
 And you know,

00:43:11.759 --> 00:43:13.500
 this is just how relationships work.

00:43:13.719 --> 00:43:13.959
 You know,

00:43:14.039 --> 00:43:15.619
 my relationship with my wife,

00:43:15.699 --> 00:43:15.939
 Louise,

00:43:16.019 --> 00:43:17.459
 began when I first noticed her

00:43:17.459 --> 00:43:18.419
 in the library stacks

00:43:18.420 --> 00:43:19.579
 as a philosophy section

00:43:19.579 --> 00:43:21.119
 of the Carleton University Library.

00:43:23.760 --> 00:43:25.159
 And there's a sliver of me

00:43:25.159 --> 00:43:26.099
 that goes out to her.

00:43:26.720 --> 00:43:27.579
 And then there's sitting

00:43:27.579 --> 00:43:28.539
 at the library table

00:43:28.539 --> 00:43:30.519
 and the glances across the table

00:43:30.519 --> 00:43:31.960
 a sliver of me.

00:43:33.139 --> 00:43:33.960
 And then there's finally

00:43:33.960 --> 00:43:34.579
 when I meet her

00:43:34.579 --> 00:43:35.480
 and I talk to her

00:43:35.480 --> 00:43:36.800
 and there's a sliver of me.

00:43:37.860 --> 00:43:38.680
 And the whole part

00:43:38.680 --> 00:43:39.380
 about a marriage

00:43:39.380 --> 00:43:40.099
 and a relationship

00:43:40.099 --> 00:43:41.460
 is it begins with a sliver

00:43:41.460 --> 00:43:42.920
 but it moves towards

00:43:42.920 --> 00:43:43.860
 all of me.

00:43:44.760 --> 00:43:45.840
 That's what a good marriage

00:43:45.840 --> 00:43:46.280
 is to be,

00:43:46.340 --> 00:43:47.180
 is to move towards

00:43:47.179 --> 00:43:47.799
 all of me.

00:43:47.919 --> 00:43:48.799
 Starts with a sliver

00:43:48.799 --> 00:43:49.759
 and moves towards all.

00:43:50.480 --> 00:43:51.519
 And that's how it works.

00:43:52.139 --> 00:43:53.159
 Abraham doesn't know

00:43:53.159 --> 00:43:53.779
 everything

00:43:53.779 --> 00:43:55.259
 when it begins

00:43:55.259 --> 00:43:56.259
 in chapter 11.

00:43:57.879 --> 00:43:59.019
 But the direction

00:43:59.019 --> 00:44:00.619
 of a real and living faith,

00:44:01.159 --> 00:44:02.159
 it grows

00:44:02.159 --> 00:44:03.159
 and it moves towards

00:44:03.159 --> 00:44:04.099
 all of me.

00:44:04.379 --> 00:44:05.319
 Because God

00:44:05.319 --> 00:44:05.919
 has given

00:44:05.919 --> 00:44:06.599
 and offered

00:44:06.599 --> 00:44:07.500
 all of himself

00:44:07.500 --> 00:44:08.940
 to us.

00:44:12.359 --> 00:44:12.859
 Andrew,

00:44:12.940 --> 00:44:13.539
 could you put up

00:44:13.539 --> 00:44:16.199
 the second painting?

00:44:17.179 --> 00:44:18.219
 It's actually not a painting.

00:44:19.079 --> 00:44:20.599
 It's by Mark Chagall.

00:44:20.919 --> 00:44:21.299
 I don't know

00:44:21.299 --> 00:44:21.819
 if I pronounced

00:44:21.819 --> 00:44:22.460
 that correctly.

00:44:22.699 --> 00:44:23.739
 It's a sketch

00:44:23.739 --> 00:44:26.219
 with pastels.

00:44:27.659 --> 00:44:29.579
 And it's a very,

00:44:29.699 --> 00:44:30.480
 very interesting,

00:44:31.179 --> 00:44:33.179
 this is a painter

00:44:33.179 --> 00:44:34.319
 who is in a sense

00:44:34.319 --> 00:44:35.819
 haunted by the Christian faith.

00:44:36.480 --> 00:44:37.019
 He never became

00:44:37.019 --> 00:44:37.559
 a Christian

00:44:37.559 --> 00:44:38.899
 to our knowledge.

00:44:38.900 --> 00:44:41.619
 and we see here

00:44:41.619 --> 00:44:42.840
 this picture

00:44:42.840 --> 00:44:44.360
 of the Abrahams

00:44:44.360 --> 00:44:45.720
 and Isaac.

00:44:46.559 --> 00:44:47.780
 And in the background,

00:44:47.960 --> 00:44:48.639
 up in the corner

00:44:48.639 --> 00:44:49.260
 at the top,

00:44:49.340 --> 00:44:49.760
 you can see

00:44:49.760 --> 00:44:50.700
 the crucifixion.

00:44:53.980 --> 00:44:54.680
 You know,

00:44:55.360 --> 00:44:57.420
 in a very,

00:44:57.579 --> 00:44:58.539
 very real way,

00:44:59.039 --> 00:45:00.480
 Jesus

00:45:00.480 --> 00:45:01.700
 authenticates

00:45:01.700 --> 00:45:02.460
 this text.

00:45:02.599 --> 00:45:03.000
 The text

00:45:03.000 --> 00:45:03.820
 doesn't authenticate

00:45:03.820 --> 00:45:04.280
 Jesus.

00:45:04.280 --> 00:45:07.480
 in a very real way,

00:45:07.580 --> 00:45:08.220
 it's because,

00:45:08.900 --> 00:45:10.240
 you know,

00:45:10.340 --> 00:45:11.360
 in this story,

00:45:12.060 --> 00:45:13.360
 Abraham says

00:45:13.360 --> 00:45:14.000
 that God,

00:45:14.140 --> 00:45:15.060
 Elohim himself,

00:45:15.180 --> 00:45:16.100
 will provide a lamb.

00:45:16.760 --> 00:45:17.660
 He provides a ram.

00:45:18.960 --> 00:45:20.880
 And the very,

00:45:21.019 --> 00:45:22.640
 very first recorded time

00:45:22.640 --> 00:45:23.660
 that Jesus is seen

00:45:23.660 --> 00:45:24.200
 by anybody,

00:45:24.280 --> 00:45:24.760
 he's introduced

00:45:24.760 --> 00:45:25.860
 as the Lamb of God

00:45:25.860 --> 00:45:26.500
 who takes away

00:45:26.500 --> 00:45:27.180
 the sin of the world.

00:45:27.300 --> 00:45:28.280
 It's in John's Gospel,

00:45:28.380 --> 00:45:29.600
 the first recorded time

00:45:29.600 --> 00:45:31.620
 that Jesus comes about

00:45:31.620 --> 00:45:32.260
 and is introduced

00:45:32.260 --> 00:45:33.060
 to his disciples

00:45:33.060 --> 00:45:33.460
 and is,

00:45:33.840 --> 00:45:35.200
 behold the Lamb of God.

00:45:35.320 --> 00:45:36.120
 The people who will become

00:45:36.120 --> 00:45:36.920
 as a behold

00:45:36.920 --> 00:45:37.600
 the Lamb of God

00:45:37.600 --> 00:45:38.100
 who takes away

00:45:38.100 --> 00:45:38.780
 the sin of the world.

00:45:40.020 --> 00:45:40.900
 And Christians,

00:45:41.340 --> 00:45:42.080
 after the death

00:45:42.080 --> 00:45:42.600
 and resurrection

00:45:42.600 --> 00:45:43.280
 of Jesus,

00:45:43.480 --> 00:45:44.340
 and they understand,

00:45:44.700 --> 00:45:45.480
 they start to understand

00:45:45.480 --> 00:45:46.900
 Luke 24 talks about it,

00:45:46.960 --> 00:45:48.060
 all these things

00:45:48.060 --> 00:45:49.000
 in the Old Testament

00:45:49.000 --> 00:45:50.500
 that point to Jesus.

00:45:50.680 --> 00:45:51.620
 And in one sense,

00:45:51.660 --> 00:45:52.620
 it's because Jesus

00:45:52.620 --> 00:45:53.840
 rose from the dead

00:45:53.840 --> 00:45:54.920
 that he authenticates

00:45:54.920 --> 00:45:56.060
 passages like this.

00:45:56.400 --> 00:45:57.380
 Yet on the other hand,

00:45:57.600 --> 00:45:58.900
 it's because of passages

00:45:58.900 --> 00:45:59.620
 like this

00:45:59.620 --> 00:46:00.760
 that we understand

00:46:00.760 --> 00:46:01.460
 the significance

00:46:01.460 --> 00:46:02.080
 of Jesus.

00:46:02.520 --> 00:46:02.860
 You see,

00:46:03.280 --> 00:46:04.460
 this is maybe

00:46:04.460 --> 00:46:05.520
 before some of your time,

00:46:05.580 --> 00:46:05.980
 there used to be

00:46:05.980 --> 00:46:06.660
 a lot of joking

00:46:06.660 --> 00:46:08.060
 about Elvis was still alive,

00:46:08.120 --> 00:46:08.780
 that he hadn't died,

00:46:08.860 --> 00:46:09.640
 that he was still alive.

00:46:09.880 --> 00:46:11.520
 But if Elvis came back

00:46:11.520 --> 00:46:11.880
 from the dead,

00:46:11.920 --> 00:46:12.480
 well, what on earth

00:46:12.480 --> 00:46:13.340
 would that mean?

00:46:14.240 --> 00:46:14.940
 Like if Elvis

00:46:14.940 --> 00:46:15.740
 was in the building,

00:46:15.920 --> 00:46:16.660
 like what on earth

00:46:16.660 --> 00:46:17.300
 would that mean?

00:46:17.320 --> 00:46:18.740
 That would just be weird.

00:46:19.200 --> 00:46:20.040
 That doesn't fit in

00:46:20.040 --> 00:46:20.820
 with science,

00:46:20.960 --> 00:46:21.780
 with philosophy,

00:46:21.980 --> 00:46:22.680
 with narrative,

00:46:22.980 --> 00:46:23.720
 with emotions,

00:46:23.880 --> 00:46:24.420
 with imagery.

00:46:24.640 --> 00:46:26.280
 It would just be bizarre.

00:46:27.800 --> 00:46:29.000
 But the resurrection,

00:46:29.180 --> 00:46:30.040
 the death and resurrection

00:46:30.040 --> 00:46:30.800
 of Jesus,

00:46:30.800 --> 00:46:31.960
 it isn't just

00:46:31.960 --> 00:46:32.840
 something bizarre.

00:46:33.060 --> 00:46:34.060
 It takes place

00:46:34.060 --> 00:46:35.140
 within the context

00:46:35.140 --> 00:46:37.720
 of centuries

00:46:37.720 --> 00:46:38.760
 of prophecy

00:46:38.760 --> 00:46:39.980
 and of centuries

00:46:39.980 --> 00:46:41.620
 of imagery

00:46:41.620 --> 00:46:44.440
 and an entire narrative

00:46:44.440 --> 00:46:45.539
 and an entire way

00:46:45.539 --> 00:46:46.460
 of sort of understanding

00:46:46.460 --> 00:46:47.200
 the world.

00:46:47.900 --> 00:46:52.019
 And it takes place

00:46:52.019 --> 00:46:53.960
 within this larger narrative

00:46:53.960 --> 00:46:55.120
 and of insight

00:46:55.120 --> 00:46:56.260
 about the human heart

00:46:56.260 --> 00:46:57.600
 and about right and wrong

00:46:57.599 --> 00:46:58.739
 and the nature of God.

00:46:59.119 --> 00:47:00.099
 So the resurrection

00:47:00.099 --> 00:47:01.219
 of Jesus comes

00:47:01.219 --> 00:47:02.219
 as the culmination

00:47:02.219 --> 00:47:02.960
 of imagery,

00:47:03.219 --> 00:47:04.400
 of narrative,

00:47:04.940 --> 00:47:05.900
 of story,

00:47:06.059 --> 00:47:06.759
 of overarching

00:47:06.759 --> 00:47:07.860
 meta-narrative

00:47:07.860 --> 00:47:08.860
 and of ethics

00:47:08.860 --> 00:47:09.759
 and philosophy

00:47:09.759 --> 00:47:10.519
 and understanding

00:47:10.519 --> 00:47:11.299
 of creation.

00:47:11.799 --> 00:47:12.719
 And it's on this

00:47:12.719 --> 00:47:14.219
 whole big,

00:47:14.639 --> 00:47:16.719
 this whole world

00:47:16.719 --> 00:47:17.940
 that in that context,

00:47:18.299 --> 00:47:18.940
 the death

00:47:18.940 --> 00:47:19.500
 and resurrection

00:47:19.500 --> 00:47:20.279
 of Jesus,

00:47:20.460 --> 00:47:20.779
 you go,

00:47:21.119 --> 00:47:22.059
 it fits.

00:47:22.059 --> 00:47:24.559
 it's not just weird

00:47:24.559 --> 00:47:25.599
 like Elvis being

00:47:25.599 --> 00:47:26.159
 in the building,

00:47:26.320 --> 00:47:27.199
 it fits.

00:47:28.460 --> 00:47:29.659
 And at the same time,

00:47:29.719 --> 00:47:30.699
 the death and resurrection

00:47:30.699 --> 00:47:32.159
 of Jesus becomes a light

00:47:32.159 --> 00:47:33.219
 and then you look back

00:47:33.219 --> 00:47:34.039
 on this story

00:47:34.039 --> 00:47:35.099
 and you look back

00:47:35.099 --> 00:47:35.719
 on the things

00:47:35.719 --> 00:47:36.599
 of Abraham

00:47:36.599 --> 00:47:37.840
 and his only son

00:47:37.840 --> 00:47:38.639
 and of the promise

00:47:38.639 --> 00:47:39.820
 of a future lamb

00:47:39.820 --> 00:47:41.059
 and you understand

00:47:41.059 --> 00:47:42.659
 on Isaac carrying

00:47:42.659 --> 00:47:43.199
 the wood

00:47:43.199 --> 00:47:44.019
 upon which he's going

00:47:44.019 --> 00:47:44.799
 to be sacrificed

00:47:44.799 --> 00:47:45.960
 and Jesus carrying

00:47:45.960 --> 00:47:46.699
 his cross

00:47:46.699 --> 00:47:47.759
 upon which he's going

00:47:47.759 --> 00:47:48.539
 to be sacrificed

00:47:48.539 --> 00:47:50.079
 and you understand

00:47:50.079 --> 00:47:50.940
 that on one hand,

00:47:51.239 --> 00:47:51.759
 there's going to be

00:47:51.759 --> 00:47:53.079
 a true and greater Isaac

00:47:53.079 --> 00:47:54.259
 who will carry the wood,

00:47:54.480 --> 00:47:55.059
 that there will be

00:47:55.059 --> 00:47:56.559
 a true and greater lamb

00:47:56.559 --> 00:47:57.599
 that will one day

00:47:57.599 --> 00:47:58.759
 die upon the cross,

00:47:58.900 --> 00:47:59.820
 that in fact,

00:47:59.940 --> 00:48:00.840
 all of the imagery

00:48:00.840 --> 00:48:01.480
 of the story

00:48:01.480 --> 00:48:02.480
 of the only son,

00:48:02.619 --> 00:48:03.719
 that it's imagery

00:48:03.719 --> 00:48:04.639
 and it's linked

00:48:04.639 --> 00:48:05.639
 and it's all pointing

00:48:05.639 --> 00:48:06.199
 to Jesus

00:48:06.199 --> 00:48:07.259
 and at the same time,

00:48:07.320 --> 00:48:08.400
 the true death

00:48:08.400 --> 00:48:08.980
 and resurrection

00:48:08.980 --> 00:48:09.759
 of Jesus,

00:48:10.159 --> 00:48:11.159
 the empty tomb,

00:48:11.559 --> 00:48:13.000
 the resurrection appearances,

00:48:13.179 --> 00:48:14.880
 it vindicates this story.

00:48:16.619 --> 00:48:17.800
 The fourth point,

00:48:18.539 --> 00:48:19.199
 Andrew,

00:48:20.019 --> 00:48:21.400
 God kept his promise

00:48:21.400 --> 00:48:22.400
 to do what only

00:48:22.400 --> 00:48:23.199
 he could do,

00:48:23.880 --> 00:48:24.860
 provide a lamb

00:48:24.860 --> 00:48:25.519
 as a substitute

00:48:25.519 --> 00:48:26.300
 for everyone,

00:48:27.019 --> 00:48:27.300
 Jesus,

00:48:27.599 --> 00:48:28.820
 the crucified Messiah.

00:48:29.719 --> 00:48:31.119
 God kept his promise

00:48:31.119 --> 00:48:31.920
 to do what only

00:48:31.920 --> 00:48:32.599
 he could do,

00:48:33.219 --> 00:48:33.980
 provide a lamb

00:48:33.980 --> 00:48:34.739
 as a substitute

00:48:34.739 --> 00:48:35.460
 for everyone,

00:48:35.800 --> 00:48:36.059
 Jesus,

00:48:36.239 --> 00:48:37.300
 the crucified Messiah.

00:48:38.679 --> 00:48:39.579
 How do we live?

00:48:39.659 --> 00:48:40.699
 Two things very briefly

00:48:40.699 --> 00:48:41.279
 in closing

00:48:41.279 --> 00:48:44.019
 and I was trying

00:48:44.019 --> 00:48:44.579
 to figure out

00:48:44.579 --> 00:48:45.139
 how to word it

00:48:45.139 --> 00:48:45.820
 and then I figured out

00:48:45.820 --> 00:48:47.300
 that Romans 8.31

00:48:47.300 --> 00:48:48.680
 verse 8.32

00:48:48.680 --> 00:48:50.920
 that Romans

00:48:50.920 --> 00:48:52.080
 actually does,

00:48:52.200 --> 00:48:54.140
 8.32 does a great job

00:48:54.140 --> 00:48:54.620
 to summarize

00:48:54.620 --> 00:48:55.340
 what this means

00:48:55.340 --> 00:48:56.280
 for us to live.

00:48:56.360 --> 00:48:57.420
 Once we receive Jesus

00:48:57.420 --> 00:48:58.340
 as our Messiah,

00:48:58.760 --> 00:48:59.760
 the crucified one,

00:49:00.060 --> 00:49:00.920
 the lamb of God

00:49:00.920 --> 00:49:01.640
 who takes away

00:49:01.640 --> 00:49:02.420
 the sin of the world,

00:49:02.519 --> 00:49:03.300
 once we understand

00:49:03.300 --> 00:49:04.320
 that God is good,

00:49:04.680 --> 00:49:05.240
 that he desires

00:49:05.240 --> 00:49:06.640
 to give himself to us,

00:49:06.920 --> 00:49:07.300
 that the way

00:49:07.300 --> 00:49:08.140
 that we understand

00:49:08.140 --> 00:49:09.120
 this is thinking

00:49:09.120 --> 00:49:09.640
 and meditating

00:49:09.640 --> 00:49:10.380
 upon the fact

00:49:10.380 --> 00:49:11.340
 that God did not

00:49:11.340 --> 00:49:12.580
 spare his own son

00:49:12.580 --> 00:49:13.420
 to deal with

00:49:13.420 --> 00:49:14.780
 our gravest need

00:49:14.780 --> 00:49:16.060
 so that we can receive

00:49:16.060 --> 00:49:17.220
 a power of God

00:49:17.220 --> 00:49:18.040
 for salvation

00:49:18.040 --> 00:49:19.780
 whereby God himself

00:49:19.780 --> 00:49:21.240
 gives all of himself

00:49:21.240 --> 00:49:21.940
 to us

00:49:21.940 --> 00:49:23.019
 so that we

00:49:23.019 --> 00:49:24.820
 moon God worshippers

00:49:24.820 --> 00:49:26.120
 who will willingly

00:49:26.120 --> 00:49:27.440
 do crazy,

00:49:27.820 --> 00:49:28.300
 chaotic,

00:49:28.540 --> 00:49:29.920
 morally insane things

00:49:29.920 --> 00:49:31.360
 that God calls us

00:49:31.360 --> 00:49:32.420
 who are at times

00:49:32.420 --> 00:49:33.460
 morally insane

00:49:33.460 --> 00:49:34.200
 and he calls us

00:49:34.200 --> 00:49:34.720
 to himself

00:49:34.720 --> 00:49:35.960
 to desire to give himself

00:49:35.960 --> 00:49:36.480
 to us

00:49:36.480 --> 00:49:37.760
 that we might start

00:49:37.760 --> 00:49:38.519
 to learn to give

00:49:38.519 --> 00:49:39.380
 all of ourselves

00:49:39.380 --> 00:49:39.760
 to him

00:49:39.760 --> 00:49:40.620
 in the context

00:49:40.620 --> 00:49:41.920
 of his grip

00:49:41.920 --> 00:49:42.780
 and what Jesus

00:49:42.780 --> 00:49:43.420
 does for us

00:49:43.420 --> 00:49:44.039
 on the cross.

00:49:44.440 --> 00:49:44.960
 We could have

00:49:44.960 --> 00:49:45.880
 this fifth point up.

00:49:46.360 --> 00:49:47.260
 If God did not

00:49:47.260 --> 00:49:48.500
 spare his own son

00:49:48.500 --> 00:49:49.380
 but gave him up

00:49:49.380 --> 00:49:49.980
 for us all,

00:49:50.500 --> 00:49:51.260
 how will he not

00:49:51.260 --> 00:49:52.420
 also along with him

00:49:52.420 --> 00:49:53.480
 graciously give us

00:49:53.480 --> 00:49:54.059
 all things?

00:49:55.740 --> 00:49:56.900
 If God did not

00:49:56.900 --> 00:49:58.079
 spare his own son

00:49:58.079 --> 00:49:58.900
 but gave him up

00:49:58.900 --> 00:49:59.440
 for us all,

00:49:59.559 --> 00:50:00.300
 how will he not

00:50:00.300 --> 00:50:01.539
 also along with him

00:50:01.539 --> 00:50:02.860
 graciously give us

00:50:02.860 --> 00:50:03.480
 all things?

00:50:04.260 --> 00:50:05.380
 That I can live

00:50:05.380 --> 00:50:06.180
 every day

00:50:06.180 --> 00:50:07.960
 praying to Jehovah Jireh,

00:50:08.180 --> 00:50:08.960
 my provider,

00:50:09.400 --> 00:50:09.900
 whose grace

00:50:09.900 --> 00:50:10.940
 is sufficient for me.

00:50:12.920 --> 00:50:14.000
 An image for the sermon,

00:50:14.180 --> 00:50:15.059
 Jehovah Jireh,

00:50:15.119 --> 00:50:15.980
 you're my provider.

00:50:17.360 --> 00:50:18.159
 My need to have

00:50:18.159 --> 00:50:19.400
 a difficult conversation,

00:50:19.760 --> 00:50:20.039
 Father,

00:50:20.639 --> 00:50:21.800
 you are Jehovah Jireh,

00:50:21.880 --> 00:50:22.780
 you have not spared

00:50:22.780 --> 00:50:23.480
 your own son.

00:50:23.559 --> 00:50:24.240
 I come to you

00:50:24.240 --> 00:50:24.920
 and ask that you

00:50:24.920 --> 00:50:25.559
 would help me

00:50:25.559 --> 00:50:27.059
 with this particular thing.

00:50:27.139 --> 00:50:28.159
 Our need for direction,

00:50:28.619 --> 00:50:29.740
 our need for encouragement,

00:50:30.220 --> 00:50:31.280
 our need for strength

00:50:31.280 --> 00:50:32.480
 in times when we go

00:50:32.480 --> 00:50:33.300
 through a dark night

00:50:33.300 --> 00:50:33.820
 of the soul

00:50:33.820 --> 00:50:34.780
 or a lonely walk

00:50:34.780 --> 00:50:35.240
 of faith,

00:50:35.599 --> 00:50:36.019
 that we,

00:50:36.360 --> 00:50:37.780
 as we reflect upon Jesus

00:50:37.780 --> 00:50:39.380
 who died upon the cross

00:50:39.380 --> 00:50:39.960
 for us,

00:50:40.340 --> 00:50:41.260
 we have a ground

00:50:41.260 --> 00:50:42.120
 to always come

00:50:42.120 --> 00:50:43.000
 to God in prayer

00:50:43.000 --> 00:50:45.520
 as our Jehovah Jireh.

00:50:45.960 --> 00:50:46.660
 Please stand.

00:50:47.840 --> 00:50:48.080
 Andrew,

00:50:48.120 --> 00:50:48.500
 if you could put

00:50:48.500 --> 00:50:49.420
 the final point up.

00:50:52.880 --> 00:50:53.860
 The final point

00:50:53.860 --> 00:50:54.460
 is a prayer.

00:50:56.460 --> 00:50:56.960
 It said,

00:50:57.040 --> 00:50:57.900
 Jehovah Jireh,

00:50:57.940 --> 00:50:58.620
 please grip me

00:50:58.620 --> 00:50:59.340
 with the gospel

00:50:59.340 --> 00:51:00.400
 and grow in me

00:51:00.400 --> 00:51:00.960
 a humble,

00:51:01.200 --> 00:51:01.660
 trusting,

00:51:01.900 --> 00:51:02.960
 persistent knowing

00:51:02.960 --> 00:51:05.660
 that as I follow Jesus,

00:51:06.220 --> 00:51:07.100
 you will provide

00:51:07.100 --> 00:51:08.060
 for me today

00:51:08.059 --> 00:51:09.219
 and every day

00:51:09.219 --> 00:51:10.400
 for all eternity.

00:51:11.019 --> 00:51:11.920
 We don't have

00:51:11.920 --> 00:51:12.480
 to do life

00:51:12.480 --> 00:51:13.219
 by ourself.

00:51:15.219 --> 00:51:16.400
 If God did not

00:51:16.400 --> 00:51:17.719
 spare his own son,

00:51:18.619 --> 00:51:19.299
 will he not

00:51:19.299 --> 00:51:20.380
 graciously give us

00:51:20.380 --> 00:51:21.039
 all things?

00:51:21.299 --> 00:51:22.179
 Will he not be

00:51:22.179 --> 00:51:23.559
 our Jehovah Jireh?

00:51:25.460 --> 00:51:26.699
 If God has touched

00:51:26.699 --> 00:51:27.139
 your heart

00:51:27.139 --> 00:51:28.159
 in any way about this,

00:51:28.259 --> 00:51:28.840
 I invite you

00:51:28.840 --> 00:51:29.719
 to pray with me

00:51:29.719 --> 00:51:30.340
 this prayer,

00:51:30.579 --> 00:51:31.440
 which is on the screen.

00:51:32.360 --> 00:51:33.559
 Let's pray it in closing.

00:51:34.799 --> 00:51:35.960
 Jehovah Jireh,

00:51:35.960 --> 00:51:37.300
 please grip me

00:51:37.300 --> 00:51:38.199
 with the gospel

00:51:38.199 --> 00:51:39.800
 and grow in me

00:51:39.800 --> 00:51:40.500
 a humble,

00:51:40.820 --> 00:51:41.280
 trusting,

00:51:41.599 --> 00:51:42.820
 persistent knowing

00:51:42.820 --> 00:51:44.980
 that as I follow Jesus,

00:51:45.559 --> 00:51:46.480
 you will provide

00:51:46.480 --> 00:51:47.519
 for me today

00:51:47.519 --> 00:51:48.760
 and every day

00:51:48.760 --> 00:51:50.039
 for all eternity.

00:51:50.679 --> 00:51:50.960
 Father,

00:51:51.079 --> 00:51:52.139
 pour out your Holy Spirit

00:51:52.139 --> 00:51:52.679
 upon us.

00:51:52.860 --> 00:51:53.699
 Make us disciples

00:51:53.699 --> 00:51:54.300
 of Jesus

00:51:54.300 --> 00:51:55.460
 gripped by the gospel

00:51:55.460 --> 00:51:56.840
 who live for your glory.

00:51:57.619 --> 00:51:58.900
 Help us to live,

00:51:59.119 --> 00:51:59.199
 Father,

00:51:59.280 --> 00:52:00.300
 not with presumption,

00:52:00.679 --> 00:52:01.480
 not with arrogance,

00:52:02.000 --> 00:52:02.920
 not with superiority,

00:52:03.599 --> 00:52:04.880
 but humbly trusting

00:52:04.880 --> 00:52:06.579
 that you meet

00:52:06.579 --> 00:52:07.780
 our deepest needs

00:52:07.780 --> 00:52:08.700
 and will meet

00:52:08.700 --> 00:52:09.960
 our other needs as well.

00:52:10.460 --> 00:52:11.320
 Help us, Father,

00:52:11.420 --> 00:52:12.960
 to always be drawn closer

00:52:12.960 --> 00:52:13.800
 day by day

00:52:13.800 --> 00:52:14.619
 towards you.

00:52:15.180 --> 00:52:15.800
 Move us from

00:52:15.800 --> 00:52:16.920
 a sliver of faith

00:52:16.920 --> 00:52:18.000
 to a faith

00:52:18.000 --> 00:52:18.740
 that encompasses

00:52:18.740 --> 00:52:19.900
 all of me

00:52:19.900 --> 00:52:21.059
 and all of us.

00:52:21.280 --> 00:52:22.019
 And this we ask

00:52:22.019 --> 00:52:22.960
 in Jesus' name.

00:52:23.140 --> 00:52:23.360
 Amen.

00:52:23.360 --> 00:52:23.460
 Amen.

00:52:23.460 --> 00:52:39.280
ab cuD