Good morning, brothers and sisters. My name's Elizabeth, and I'm going to read the Bible now from Genesis chapter 18.
!
O Lord, if I have found favour in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourself under the tree while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on, since you have come to your servant.
So they said, Do as you have said. And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, Quick, three seers of fine flour, knead it and make cakes.
And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man who prepared it quickly.
Then he took curds and milk and the cattle that had been prepared and set it before them, and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
They said to him, Where is Sarah, your wife? And he said, She's in the tent.
The Lord said, I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah, your wife, shall have a son.
And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.
So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, After I am worn out, and my Lord is old, shall I have pleasure?
The Lord said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh and say, Shall I indeed bear a child now that I am old?
Is anything too hard for the Lord?
At the appointed time, I will return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.
But Sarah denied it, saying, I did not laugh, for she was afraid.
And he said, No, but you did laugh.
Then the men set out from there, and they looked down towards Sodom.
And Abraham went with them to set them on their way.
The Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation,
and all the nations on earth shall be blessed in him?
For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him,
to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice,
so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.
Then the Lord said, Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great,
and their sin is very grave,
I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me,
and if not, I will know.
So the men turned from there and went down towards Sodom,
but Abraham stood before the Lord.
Then Abraham drew near and said,
Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city.
Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for fifty righteous who are in it?
Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked,
so that the righteous fare as the wicked.
Far be it from you.
Shall not the judge of all the earth do what is just?
And the Lord said,
If I find in Sodom fifty righteous in the city,
I will spare the whole place for their sake.
Abraham answered and said,
Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord,
I who am but dust and ashes.
Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking.
Will you destroy the whole city for the lack of five?
And he said,
I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.
Again he spoke to them and said,
Suppose forty are found there.
He answered,
For the sake of forty I will not do it.
Then he said,
O let not the Lord be angry and I will speak.
Suppose thirty are found there.
He answered,
I will not do it if I find thirty there.
He said,
Behold,
I have undertaken to speak to the Lord.
Suppose twenty are found there.
He answered,
For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.
Then he said,
O let not the Lord be angry.
I will speak again but this once.
Suppose ten are found there.
He answered,
For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.
And the Lord went on his way
when he had finished speaking to Abraham
and Abraham returned to his place.
This is the word of the Lord.
Good morning everyone.
Will you pray with me as we come to God's word?
Heavenly Father,
I pray for your help to understand your word.
Help us to see that every part of scripture is written for our benefit.
Help us to be engaged and show us more of your son.
May we,
at the end of this passage,
may our hearts be singing as we just sang.
Why should I gain from his reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But may we know with all our heart
that his wounds have paid our ransom.
So please speak to each one of us through your word
as we sit under it now.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well,
when a couple gets married,
I'm not the only one to observe this,
but often,
see if you agree with me,
but often,
at least one of them
struggles to let go
of thinking of themselves
as an independent individual.
It can take some time
and some people
seem to never learn.
They want the benefits
of companionship,
but they continue to think
individualistically.
Whether it's having separate bank accounts,
even though legally,
it's we.
It doesn't matter
if it's two accounts.
I'll check with John later.
I'm pretty sure that's right.
Feeling entitled
to go out with friends,
not making commitments together.
Not letting go
of career aspirations,
no matter what damage
it is that it's causing
to your family.
Speaking poorly
about their spouse
as if it's their own issue
and not yours.
Now,
in your relationship
with God,
are you struggling
to let go
of thinking
of yourself
independently,
individualistically,
with your walk
with God?
I think there's
some symptoms of this
is like your awareness
of being close
with God,
at peace with God,
goes up and down
on your performance.
your feelings,
whether they're
positive or negative,
your devotion
or your sin,
your hopes
and fears
for the future.
I need to make
this plural.
Our hopes,
I'm speaking
to myself too,
our hopes
and fears
for the future
rest on what
we can imagine
we can do.
Our ability
to be faithful
to God
as if
it rests
on our shoulders
to carry that out
on our own.
We can think
of prayer.
We can think,
oh yeah,
of course,
I can just waltz
into God Almighty
El Shaddai's presence
on my own.
really?
Or,
we think,
I'm too unworthy.
I don't know
how to pray.
Do you see
the Bible
as basically
a spiritual handbook
to help you
do what is right
and avoid
what is wrong?
I think these
are all symptoms.
We're struggling
to let go
that being
in a relationship
with God.
We're struggling
to let go
of thinking
individualistically
that our walk
depends on us.
Now,
in chapter 18,
you're just going
to have to trust me here,
I think that'll help us
as we come to chapter 18.
To help us see
what this heavenly visit
to Abraham
and Sarah
is about,
I want to start,
well,
please have your Bibles
open.
I want to start
in the obvious place,
not in verse 1,
but in verse 16.
Now,
again,
I'm hoping
this will be
a bit of a key
that unlocks
this chapter
for us.
Here in 16 to 19,
we have what seems
to be a bit
of a humorous
scene.
The Lord is talking
to himself
or to the other two.
I think it's like
in a play
where a character
steps forward
to the front of stage
and gives a monologue.
And like in a play,
when a character
does that,
we get a deeper
insight into their
character,
their inner thoughts.
Here we see
the inner resolve
and purposes
of God.
So,
verse 17 and 18.
The Lord said,
shall I hide
from Abraham
what I'm about to do
to Sodom?
We'll come to that
later.
Seeing that Abraham
shall surely
become a great
and mighty nation
and all the nations
of the earth
shall be blessed
in him.
He's totally
committed
to his covenant
with Abraham.
Surely,
he will
become a great nation.
He doesn't have
a son yet.
Surely,
he'll be the father
of many nations
as we saw last week.
He's going to be
the source of blessing
to the entire world
and so God
shares his plans
for the future
like with a friend.
I've chosen
him,
this one
out of all the earth,
I've chosen Abraham
to bless
the entire world.
There is no blessing,
there is no hope
for any of us
outside
of Abraham,
outside of this
covenant with him.
Genesis sets up
the whole Bible.
The Bible is not
a random collection
of spiritual insights,
it's a question,
how is God
going to restore
the whole world
like we see
in Eden?
The answer,
by keeping his covenant
with Abraham.
Abraham,
I have chosen
this one,
Abraham.
Verse 19,
I've chosen him
that he may command
his children
and his household
after him
to keep
the way
of the Lord
by doing
righteousness
and justice
so that the Lord
may bring
to Abraham
what he has
promised.
The covenant
depends on
Abraham
and his descendants
righteousness.
Doing righteousness,
living faithfully
before God,
doing justice,
not mistreating
others in any way.
Notice that
so that
the Lord,
for the Lord
to keep his promise,
Abraham
must be
righteous.
Righteous
we saw
this last week
at the start
of chapter 17
verse 1
with the covenant.
Walk
before me
and be
blameless.
Abraham
must
be righteous.
The hope
of the world
depends on it.
So in chapter
18
here's what
I believe
we're going
to see.
Verses 1
to 8
we see
the righteousness
of this
one.
He's one
who serves.
Then in
verses 9
to 15
all the
covenant
promises
of God
depend on
the son
of Abraham
but this
son is born
not by what
man can do
but by
promise.
Then
verse 20
to 33
we see
Abraham
blessing
the nations.
He's
interceding
with God
on behalf
of sinners.
So that's
where we're
headed.
So
verses 1
to 8
we have
what appeared
to Abraham
to be
three men
on their
journey.
Now
who are
these
three
men?
We're
told from
the outset
verse 1
that the
Lord
appeared
to
Abraham
but
he
sees
three
men.
Later
on
verse 27
these
men
continue
on
to
the
city
of
Sodom
and
Abraham
is
left
alone
with
the
Lord
and
then
by
19
verse 1
we've
got
the
two
angels
came
to
Sodom.
This
is
the
one
journey.
Now
throughout
history
some
commentators
have
latched
on to
three.
This
must be
the
triune
God.
I
think
that's
just
jumping
at the
number
three
a bit
too
quick.
The
language
between
angels
and the
Lord
can
be
interchangeable.
It goes
from plural
to singular
throughout
these
chapters.
Perhaps
it's best
to picture
two angels
appearing as
men
and the
Lord
appearing
as a
man.
Now
that raises
more
questions
than it
answers.
What is
the
Lord
doing
here
appearing
as
a
man?
I'll
leave
that
one
with
you.
Abraham
does
seem
to
sense
that
one
of
them
is
superior.
Verse
three
he
addresses
singular.
But
we've
got another
question.
When
was
Abraham
aware?
When
was he
aware he
was in
the
presence
of the
Lord?
Some
say
straight
away
like
verse
three
oh
Lord
that
Lord
could
be
just
a
title
of
respect.
I
don't
think
it's
absolutely
conclusive.
Some
see the
urgency
and
extravagance
that
Abraham
goes
to
as
he
knew
it
was
God.
But
when
I
was
at
Bible
college
I
lived
with a
Nepalese
couple
and a
Pakistani
couple
and
there
was a
cultural
difference
that
struck
me.
As
a
Westerner
I
would
try and
fit
five
things
or
six
things
into
my
day
and
then
have
someone
over
for
dinner.
They
would
spend
the
entire
day
and
waste
a
whole
day
preparing
for the
meal
at
night
just
to
put
various
dishes
on the
table.
I
was
thinking
what a
waste
of
time.
As a
teenager
we once
went to
Japan
and mum
got talking
to this
older
Japanese
man
and he
invited us
to his
home
and it
wasn't a
huge house.
I think he put
one of his
relatives in a
hotel so that
we could stay
there and then
they served us
meat which
has to be
imported in
Japan.
It wasn't
cheap.
Just met us
on the
plane.
What we
see here,
all I'm
trying to
say is it
doesn't
necessarily
mean he
knows God
himself has
turned up
for dinner.
His
care for
these
strangers is
a great
example of
what the
Bible means
by
hospitality.
Hospitality is
not just
have your
friends over
so that
they can
have you
over.
Everyone
does that.
hospitality is
you see
someone with
a need,
you go out
of your
way to
meet their
need,
to help
them on
their way
at great
cost to
yourself.
And does
Yahweh really
need Abraham
to refresh
him?
I don't
know.
You're
hearing where
I'm headed
but I don't
think it is
conclusive but
I'm persuaded
two other
things push
me towards
Abraham did
not know.
Until verse
nine.
The first
is Hebrews
13.2
which all
us believers
are urged to
practice
hospitality and
thereby some
have entertained
angels.
Now that's
bizarre.
Really?
If it's not
referring to
here and
Lot, I'm
not quite
sure.
I could be
forgetting
something
somewhere else
in Scripture.
You can tell
me later.
But I'm
guessing
Hebrews is
talking about
here.
And the
second reason
which I've
already tried
to set up
in the
sermon is
that the
covenant
depends on
Abraham
walking
blamelessly
and the
very next
story is
focused on
what Abraham
does.
Like we're
told a lot
of detail
here.
He's running
like he's
just sitting
in the heat
of the
day.
This is
inconvenient.
This is
inconvenient.
They show
up unannounced
in the
heat of the
day and
he doesn't
just slip
inside his
tent and
just hope
they pass
by.
He runs
out to
them.
He's eager
to serve.
Now they're
not beneath
him.
He's the
chosen one.
But no,
he's on
his face
respecting
them.
They're
only
passing
through.
They can't
return the
favour.
There's no
social,
financial gain
for him.
Instead,
he's going
to great
costs to
serve their
needs.
He's going
above and
beyond.
Three
seers of
flour,
it's way
too much
for the
number of
guests.
And he
chooses a
calf to
give meat,
which was a
delicacy.
He's giving
his best and
he doesn't
even eat it.
He's standing
there,
as a
waiter,
while they
eat.
But two
of these
same men
reach Sodom,
same
journey,
they reach
Sodom,
and their
visit,
we're told,
is a test
to see if
the senior
Sodom really
is as
great.
And what
is the
test?
Strangers
coming.
They don't
even give
them a
cup of
water.
They are
in danger.
They want
to take
from these
strangers,
not give.
And they're
going to
take it
violently.
I think
the contrast
between
Abraham and
Sodom is
stark.
I think
we're seeing
here his
righteousness.
this.
So what
should we
today learn
from
Abraham's
costly
service?
Let's
not be
too quick
to draw a
straight line
from Abraham
to us.
I think
when I was
preparing this
section of
the sermon,
I was
grumbling
about
doing
something for
someone else
that was
just
inconvenient,
but it
took me
ten minutes
and I
was
whinging
about it.
And it
took me a
while to
realise the
irony of
what I
was writing.
I don't
think this
is just a
lesson on
hospitality.
Out of
all the
people of
the earth,
God
Almighty
has chosen
him and
entered into
covenant and
you might
expect a
man like
that who
has been
elevated so
high to
stand on
his greatness.
Others
serve him,
demand
respect.
I think
we see his
greatness and
his righteousness
in that he's
lowering his
face to the
dirt.
He's serving
others at
great cost to
himself.
God's
It's a
beautiful
picture.
I wonder
how your
life would
change if
that's your
picture of
greatness.
The son of
Abraham,
many years
later, his
disciples were
grumbling
amongst
themselves,
who's the
greatest?
greatest.
And I
wonder if
Jesus had
this story
in mind
when he
replies in
Luke 22.
Who is the
greater?
One who
reclines at
table or
the one who
serves, who's
standing by and
serving the one
eating at table?
It is not the
one who reclines
at table,
but I am
among you as
the one who
serves.
He's come to
be a waiter.
I think here
Abraham is
pointing to
Christ.
Not to be
waited upon but
goes to great
personal cost and
here's his
promise, so
that you may
eat and
drink at my
table in my
kingdom.
You get to
eat and
drink and
Jesus is
serving you.
That's the
gospel.
I think we
see his
righteousness and
he's pointing
to the truly
righteous son.
So Abraham
is righteous.
In verse
9, I
think Abraham
would know for
sure these
are no ordinary
men he's
hosting.
These visitors
know his
wife's name,
Sarah.
It's a name
recalling the
covenant promise
and not much
time has elapsed.
It's very
similar timing to
chapter 17.
The promise
in chapter 17,
Isaac, whom
Sarah shall
bear to you at
this time next
year.
Now we're
told Sarah is
90 years old.
We're told the
way of women
has ceased.
I think that's
saying she's way
past menopause.
Her language
may even reveal a
negative view of
herself.
I'm worn out.
Can you
imagine how
many disappointments
Sarah has
had in her
90 years?
Longing every
single month to
finally have the
pleasure of just
one child.
that's a lot of
disappointment.
They tried to
take matters into
their own hands
with Hagar and
that just resulted
in more misery.
I think she
dare not raise
her hopes again.
And she
laughs,
probably in
self-protection,
but it's,
she's laughing,
she's chuckling,
it's just absurd.
It is impossible,
God's promise.
She's heard this
promise through
Abraham and the
Lord visits her to
reaffirm this
promise in her
hearing and she
laughs in God's
face.
If God showed
her up to you and
promised you what
your heart has been
longing for your
whole life, and she
laughs in disbelief.
We can
sympathise with her,
can't we?
It is absurd.
When waves of
disappointment hit
you relentlessly,
we can resonate
with Sarah.
God's promises
seem so far
removed from
reality, don't
they?
I think we
see here the
reassurance of
being in covenant
relationship with
Yahweh.
I think it's a
little odd here
that the Lord
doesn't speak
directly to Sarah,
not until the
very end.
It's through
Abraham.
I wonder if
that's more
than just
ancient culture.
I wonder if
that's to remind
us that all the
blessings are
through Abraham.
Whatever the
case, the Lord
doesn't punish
her.
He doesn't have
a go at her
for her
unbelief.
He doesn't let
her forget.
She lies to
cover up her
unbelief.
But her
unbelief,
laughing in
God's face,
doesn't slow
down or
sidetrack God's
covenant promises
one bit.
He reaffirms the
promise with
stronger language.
As far as I'm
concerned, Sarah,
it's scheduled in
my diary.
At the appointed
time next year,
I'm coming back
and there will be
a son.
He takes her
eyes off herself.
Is anything too
wonderful?
Too hard?
Too extraordinary
for the Lord?
He's reassuring
her.
Now Sarah and
Abraham, they
would have had
such a more
beautiful night
sky to look at
than we did.
They could look
and see the wonder
of what God
could do.
In all our
light pollution,
we just get
these few little
they must have
seen a beautiful
night sky.
But how much
more can we
answer that
question looking
at the word
of God in
our time in
history?
Is anything
too wonderful
for the Lord?
God?
The delay in
Isaac being
born only
serves to
answer that
question.
No, nothing.
Nothing is
too wonderful
for the Lord.
The delay in
the Messiah
coming, it
takes a long
time for him
to be born.
That serves
to answer this
question.
Nothing is
too impossible.
And Sarah
will laugh
again in
chapter 21.
Abraham was
100 years
old when
his son
Isaac was
born to
him and
Sarah said,
God has
made laughter
for me.
Everyone who
hears will
laugh over
me.
Her
laughter is
transformed.
Bitter,
cynical,
self-protecting,
can't believe,
to a laughter
of wonder.
Wonder is
filling her
heart.
She laughs
with joy.
She laughs
with such
joy that she
doesn't care
that others
will laugh
seeing a
90-year-old
breastfeeding.
I don't
care.
I'm full
of wonder.
But wasn't
the strength
of Sarah's
faith,
please see
that,
she laughed
in God's
face.
It was all
because the
Lord has
made a
covenant with
Abraham and
he keeps
his covenant.
Nothing is
too wonderful.
many years
later,
another young,
not another,
a young
woman was
told she
would have
a son.
This woman
asked,
how is
that
possible?
Sarah was
impossible with
her age.
That's tricky,
that's hard,
that's impossible.
She doesn't
even have a
husband.
And the
angel replies,
nothing will
be impossible
with God.
The point
for us
today is
that we
can be
caught up
in Abraham's
story.
Who'd have
thought that
all God's
covenant
promises are
yes in
his son,
simply by
faith alone.
Our life,
our story,
can feel
ordinary,
dull,
or overshadowed
by darkness,
but if we're
caught up
in this,
in Jesus'
story,
our life is
filled with
wonder.
All God's
promises are
yours.
You can
laugh.
not bitter
laugh,
but whatever
you're going
through,
wonder can
fill your
heart.
Your future
is bound
up in
this son.
Verse,
verse 20.
we come
to Abraham
praying to
the Lord,
and many
take this
passage as
an example,
a lesson
on prayer.
And yes,
okay,
learn from
this about
prayer,
but it's so
much more
than that.
We really
need to see
that.
Here we see
Abraham as
the source
of blessing
to the
nations.
It depends
on him
blessing the
nations.
The central
theme here
is justice.
Abraham's
bold question
to God,
shall not
the judge
of all
the earth
be just?
Do what
is just.
have you
talked to
God like
that lately?
This is a
bold prayer.
Are you
going to be
just,
God?
Are you
going to do
what is
right?
Now,
Abraham,
I don't think
he's claiming
to know more
about justice
than the Lord,
as lots of
people claim.
Abraham,
I am dust
and ashes.
He is
humble here,
at the same
time as
being bold.
But Abraham,
because of
his unique
covenant
intimacy with
the judge
of all the
earth,
he's acting
as a
priest.
And the
Lord is
inviting him
to.
He didn't
need Abraham's
permission to
go to
Sodom,
but he's
inviting,
you're my
chosen one,
come,
be a
friend,
be my
confidant.
Verse 17,
I don't know
if I should
tell Abraham
this,
really when
you say
that to
someone,
you've
already
decided,
should I
tell you
this?
You've
already
decided,
I trust
you enough.
And then
verse 21,
he says,
I'm not
fully decided
yet.
He's
inviting
Abraham in.
The angels
walk off and
the Lord is
alone,
he's giving
an opportunity,
come.
Verse 23,
despite already
standing before
the Lord,
he seems to
approach like a
defense lawyer.
He's like
Moses,
interceding for
sinful people.
Now,
many have a
problem with a
God of
judgment,
fire and
brimstone.
We're going to
see fire next
week.
that Abraham
is getting
reassured that
God will act
justly,
him coming
down to
check,
I don't
think coming
down to
see if the
sin is as
great as
he's heard.
I don't
think that's
saying anything
about his
knowledge.
I think it's
just human
language to
say he's
going to
experience this
evidence
first hand.
He won't
act off
hearsay.
He's a
righteous judge
and by the
end of this
intercession,
we know
God will
act justly.
But notice
what Abraham
is praying.
He's not
saying,
God, I
thought you
could be
merciful to
anyone,
no matter
what they've
done.
It's your
job to
forgive.
He's not
saying that.
God hears
the great
outcry in
Sodom.
Whatever
prayers have
gone up,
maybe it's
just Lot
praying.
I doubt
any of the
others are
praying.
Maybe it's
strangers who
have come
through that
city who
have been
praying.
He sees
and he
hears the
violence and
the cruelty
trampling
the poor and
needy,
Ezekiel says
about Sodom,
using people
regardless of
the harm done
to them,
a merciful
God who
hears those
cries,
if he
doesn't judge,
he's not
merciful.
If you
have a
God who
doesn't
judge in
the end
when he
hears the
cries,
it could
be the
blood like
Abel's
crying out,
it could
be the
screams.
You
don't have
a merciful
God.
God's
The wrath
of God
is coming
one day,
we're told,
and the
cries throughout
history are
great.
Now,
Abraham
isn't trying
to twist
God's arm
to do
what's
right.
He's
appealing
to God's
character.
father,
far be
it from
you to
do such
a thing.
Do what?
He's not
just concerned
about Lot
and his
immediate
family,
just take
my family
out and
then just
blow the
rest to
smithereen.
He's not
saying that.
He's saying
don't let
there be
collateral
damage.
Don't let
the righteous
few
be judged
and taken
out because
of the
sin of
many.
But he's
actually going
a step
further than
that.
He doesn't
ask,
let the
50 righteous
escape and
then go
for it.
He's,
some people
call this,
he's going,
this is a
theological
exploration,
he's going
into the
character of
God here.
What kind
of God
are you?
He's
pleading not
just for
his family,
he's not
pleading just
for the
righteous,
he's actually
pleading for
all of
Sodom and
Gomorrah.
Look at
verse 24,
he's asking
for the
entire place
to be
spared.
Suppose
there are
50 righteous
within the
city,
will you
then sweep
away the
place?
and not
spare the
place for
the 50
who are
in it.
This is a
bold prayer.
Yes,
the evil
is great,
are you
the kind
of God
who would
much prefer,
much rather
save the
many sinners
because of
the 50
righteous?
Yes,
the
yes,
I am.
It's the
righteousness
of the
50 would
save the
whole city.
I'm that
kind of
God.
Now,
it may seem
like humorous
bargaining here,
50,
45,
but this
is deep.
He's daring
to go deeper
and deeper.
how much
do you
value the
righteous
of the
few,
that it
could save
the many?
Is it
45?
Yes.
Is it
40?
Yeah,
even just
40?
I would
spare the
whole place.
Is it
30?
Yes.
Is it
20?
Yes.
Just 20.
Is it,
one more
time,
is it
10?
Just 10
would you
save all
these sinners
just for
10
righteous
people?
For the
sake of
10,
I will
not destroy
it.
That's the
kind of
God he
is.
We're
seeing
Abraham,
the chosen
one,
be the
blessing
for all
the
peoples
of the
earth
because
he's
acting
as a
priest
interceding
for
sinners.
For
Sodom
and
Gomorrah.
But he
didn't
save
Sodom
and
Gomorrah.
Now
perhaps
Abraham
lost
his
nerve.
Perhaps
a moment's
self-reflection.
He knew
himself,
though
righteous,
as a
servant,
as we've
seen.
He is
righteous,
but he's
also a
mixed
picture.
And we're
going to
come to
that in
a couple
chapters
time.
He's
still a
mixed
picture.
He's
got a
lot of
faith and
obedience
to learn.
I don't
know about
you,
but for
whatever
reason,
I'm
expecting
him to
ask,
Lord,
would
you spare
the
many
for the
sake of
just
one?
just
one?
Who is
righteous?
Are you
that kind
of God?
And the
good news
is,
the rest
of
Scripture
is of
a greater
high priest,
and we
have an
answer,
yes,
I'm that
kind of
God.
Yahweh
is such
a God
whose
justice
can be
satisfied
by the
righteous
one,
the
son
born
by
promise,
Isaiah 53,
12,
the
righteous
one,
my
servant,
because
he
poured
out
his
soul
to
death
and
was
numbered
with
the
transgressors,
yet
he
bore
the
sin
of
many
and
makes
intercession
for the
transgressors.
Let
that fill
you with
wonder
and
laugh.
brothers and
sisters,
we do
not stand
or fall
on our
independent
faith,
our walk
with God.
We have a
better
Abraham,
we have
a greater
high priest,
a greater
head of
our family
that we're
caught up
in.
The son
born by
promise,
the son
of
Abraham.
In
Hebrews
7.25,
he is
able to
save to
the
uttermost
those
who draw
near to
God
through
him
since
he
always
lives
to
make
intercession
for
them.
Where
Abraham
failed,
the Lord
Jesus
Christ
saved
the
many.
in
him we
may
approach
the
Lord
with
boldness.
Can I
urge us
not just
to pray
for our
family
or even
just our
church,
pray boldly
for
our
community,
our world,
other sinners
like us
to see
this
righteous
one.
But
seeing
our
Lord
Jesus
on the
cross
as the
one who
serves
so that
you and
I can
eat and
drink
at his
table
in the
kingdom
forever
and ever.
He
teaches
us
to
serve.
But
our
walk
with
God
is not
as an
independent
individual,
it's
because we
belong to
this
righteous
one,
this
son of
Abraham,
in whom
all the
promises
are yes
and amen.
Let that
wonder
fill you
so you
can laugh.
Let's
pray.
Lord,
we praise
you that
you are
such a
God who
would spare
the many
because of
the
righteousness
of one
and we
thank you
for his
obedience
that we
could never
live up to
and we
thank you
that that
obedience
is ours
simply by
belonging to
him by
faith.
Thank you
that all
the promises,
all the
covenant
promises are
ours in
the Lord
Jesus
Christ.
Father,
teach us,
fill us
with hope
and teach
us to
increasingly
trust you
and obey
you in
faith.
I pray
this in
Jesus' name.
Amen.