WEBVTT

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 Let me pray and then we'll look at this together.

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 Thank you so much, Heavenly Father, for your kindness to us,

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 the ways you speak to us, to tell us of your Son and your grace to us in him.

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 Please, by your Spirit now, open our hearts, open our minds.

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 Help us to see Jesus, to trust him, to follow him.

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 We ask in his name. Amen.

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 Amen. Well, there may be some chapters in the book of Genesis

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 that are not very well known, some bits of Abraham's life

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 that aren't terribly familiar to us.

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 But as Paul mentioned just earlier,

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 I doubt that's going to be a problem for us this evening, is it?

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 This famous, some might say infamous, account that we have before us here.

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 What is the Lord doing?

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 How could he ever put someone through something like this?

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 So let's not miss a round.

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 There's no long introduction this evening.

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 That takes us straight into the first thing for us to see.

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 A huge thing in this passage, isn't it?

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 The puzzle, just the sheer puzzle of God's ways.

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 How so often they leave his people, they leave you and me sometimes,

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 thinking, what on earth is he doing?

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 Just one, after these things, God tested Abraham.

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 So immediately, as is sometimes the case in the Bible,

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 we know more than Abraham does about what's going on in this incident here.

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 God is testing him. He's testing his faith.

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 His fear of God, we find out later.

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 Not testing in the sense that the Lord doesn't really know

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 whether or not Abraham has faith,

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 or what kind of faith it might be if he does,

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 so he's got to run a test to try to work it out.

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 Of course the Lord knows.

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 He's God. He knows everything.

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 But testing in the sense of proving it,

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 of demonstrating it for other people.

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 So you think of engineers, perhaps,

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 piling huge loads onto a brand new, unlikely-looking bridge.

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 Not because they don't know if it's going to work,

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 at least you hope not.

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 They've run the calculations.

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 But to try to show people like us,

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 it works, it's safe, you can walk on it.

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 Well, sort of like that here, really.

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 The Lord showing Abraham and us what real faith looks like.

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 We'll come back to that thought in a few moments' time.

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 Verse 2.

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 He said, the Lord said,

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 Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love,

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 and go to the land of Moriah,

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 and offer him there as a burnt offering

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 on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.

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 And there's such a danger we gloss over those words,

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 especially if we're very, very familiar with the story.

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 Just let them land on you for a moment.

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 Imagine being Abraham, hearing God say this to you.

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 Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love,

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 and go to the land of Moriah and offer him.

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 You notice every phrase kind of deepening the pain

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 of what Abraham realizes he's being asked to do.

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 Your son, your only son, now that Ishmael's gone,

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 whom you love.

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 Take him, go to the land of Moriah,

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 which we're about to realize is three days' journey away.

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 That is a lot of time to think about

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 what you've just been asked to do.

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 And when you get there, sacrifice him.

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 Most parents, including Christian parents,

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 we're super sensitive about our children, aren't we?

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 We really are.

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 You think very, very carefully, don't you,

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 before you say something critical

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 about someone else's child to their parents,

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 or ask the parent to do something

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 you know their child isn't going to like.

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 Teachers, if you're any teachers here,

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 you must know this more than any of us, don't you?

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 You must brace yourselves

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 for some of those conversations you have to have.

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 Probably one of the main forms of idolatry

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 in the Western Church today.

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 I'll do anything for you, Lord.

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 I'll give up anything for you,

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 so long as it doesn't affect my children.

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 And God just goes straight there.

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 Offer him, he says.

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 Of course, by this stage in the book of Genesis,

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 it's not just the pain of losing his son

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 and being the one through whom that son will die

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 that is so hard for Abraham.

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 There's a real theological problem here as well,

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 isn't there?

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 Because who is Isaac?

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 He's not just a dearly loved only child.

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 He's the child of the promise.

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 So God's great promise to undo the curse of sin

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 by bringing blessing into the world

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 through Abraham's family

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 after Abraham,

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 it all hangs on Isaac.

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 It rests on him.

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 You lose Isaac at this stage, it's over.

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 And now God's saying,

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 he must die.

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 And you can imagine Abraham wrestling with that,

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 can't you?

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 You've promised this, Lord,

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 but now you're commanding this.

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 I wonder whether you've ever found yourself

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 thinking you just haven't got a clue

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 what God is doing.

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 Can't even begin to make sense

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 of something he's commanding

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 or asking you to do

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 or something he's allowing to happen,

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 something you seem to be leading you towards,

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 perhaps.

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 Maybe showering with blessing

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 and then suddenly he snatches it away.

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 And in our heads, of course,

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 we know moments like that shouldn't be a surprise,

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 should they?

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 After all, he's God and we're not.

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 So, you know,

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 just as you wouldn't expect a child

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 in a reception class at school

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 to understand everything

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 their head teacher's doing,

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 it would be ridiculous, wouldn't it?

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 Can you imagine a four-year-old

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 marching into a head teacher's office,

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 demanding an explanation

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 for every decision the head teacher makes?

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 And of course,

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 the gap between a four-year-old

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 and a head teacher,

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 that is nothing compared to the gap

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 between you and me and the Lord.

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 Of course we shouldn't expect

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 to get our heads around his ways.

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 But here's a helpful reminder

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 of how painful that can sometimes be.

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 Not just an intellectual puzzle,

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 agony emotionally sometimes.

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 The puzzle of God's ways.

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 Then the second thing for us to see,

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 the faith God seeks.

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 The faith he seeks.

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 It's the faith he shows

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 that Abraham has.

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 You see,

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 what is Christian faith, really?

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 What does it look like

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 when we really trust in him?

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 What kind of response

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 does the Lord long to see

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 from people like you and me?

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 And you notice a couple of things

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 that we see about it here

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 in this passage.

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 First,

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 real faith

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 is obedient.

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 It does what God says.

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 So verse three,

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 and don't worry,

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 we are going to speed up considerably

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 in just a moment.

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 But verse three,

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 so Abraham rose early in the morning,

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 saddled his donkey

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 and took two of his young men with him

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 and his son Isaac

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 and he cut the wood

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 for the burnt offering

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 and arose

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 and went to the place

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 of which God had told him.

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 It's very different, isn't it,

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 to how we'd write that today.

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 There's nothing in there

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 about how Abraham's feeling.

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 We'd be full of that,

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 wouldn't we?

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 Although,

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 I wonder whether we get

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 just a little glimpse.

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 He's up early.

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 You sense

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 he's probably not slept.

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 That night,

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 thinking through

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 what he's been told to do.

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 He collects Isaac,

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 the other things he needs

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 and he heads off

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 just as God has told him to do.

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 Because that's the point.

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 Real faith

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 does what God says.

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 Martin Luther put it so well,

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 didn't he?

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 We're saved by faith alone.

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 But the faith that saves

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 is never alone.

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 So just as Abraham

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 was saved by faith,

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 Genesis 15 told us,

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 Abraham believed the Lord

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 and he counted it to him

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 as righteousness.

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 But that belief he had

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 that saved him

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 didn't stand alone.

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 He didn't just say

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 he was trusting God.

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 I thought anyone

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 could do that,

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 can't they?

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 All you need is a voice

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 and you can say

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 you're trusting God.

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 Anyone can say the grief

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 we said together earlier.

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 But he shows it

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 by doing what God says

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 and obeying his commands.

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 Even the things

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 that we wish God

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 hadn't said perhaps.

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 The commands

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 that we can't understand.

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 The ones that we know

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 will be really painful

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 to obey.

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 Faith God seeks

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 obeys him

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 and that's a very relevant

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 thought isn't it

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 at the moment

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 as just increasingly

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 doing what God says

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 is less and less popular

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 in our society now.

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 And then notice

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 the other remarkable thing

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 about true faith.

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 It trusts the Lord

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 to keep his promises

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 beyond the grave.

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 You see how does Abraham

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 reconcile those two things

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 he's heard from God?

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 So Isaac is the child

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 of the promise.

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 He must live

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 if that promise

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 is going to come true.

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 But here's God

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 asking Abraham

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 to put him to death.

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 God says Isaac must die.

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 Which is it?

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 How can they both be true?

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 And I think there is a clue

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 to how Abraham is thinking

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 in verse 5.

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 We'll pick it up

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 verse 4.

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 On the third day

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 Abraham lifted up his eyes

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 and saw the place

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 from afar.

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 Then Abraham said

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 to his young men

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 stay here with the donkey

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 I and the boy

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 will go over there

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 and worship

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 and come again to you.

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 You notice those

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 last few words?

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 Not just

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 and I will come

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 back to you

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 but I and the boy

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 will.

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 Me and Isaac.

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 Isaac who

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 so far as I know

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 I will put to death

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 on that mountain

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 over there.

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 He will come back

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 with me

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 to see you again.

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 You see what is that?

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 Is that wishful thinking?

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 Is that

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 refusing to face

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 the facts?

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 It wouldn't be the last time

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 would it

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 in the face of death?

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 Or could it be

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 a deep confidence

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 in God's ability

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 to keep his promises

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 and that not being

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 limited by death

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 but ultimately

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 demonstrated

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 and proven

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 in resurrection life

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 beyond.

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 But more simply

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 even if Isaac

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 must die

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 on that mountain

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 Abraham

00:10:10.340 --> 00:10:11.420
 trusts God

00:10:11.420 --> 00:10:13.100
 to bring him

00:10:13.100 --> 00:10:13.860
 back to life

00:10:13.860 --> 00:10:14.379
 as well.

00:10:14.560 --> 00:10:15.500
 God has to do that

00:10:15.500 --> 00:10:16.040
 he knows

00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:17.860
 if this promise

00:10:17.860 --> 00:10:18.459
 of blessing

00:10:18.459 --> 00:10:19.959
 is going to come true

00:10:19.959 --> 00:10:20.419
 and that's certainly

00:10:20.419 --> 00:10:21.219
 what the book of Hebrews

00:10:21.219 --> 00:10:22.279
 says when it reflects

00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:23.399
 on Abraham's life

00:10:23.399 --> 00:10:24.439
 and that great gallery

00:10:24.439 --> 00:10:25.679
 of heroes of the faith

00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:26.219
 that we get

00:10:26.219 --> 00:10:28.000
 in Hebrews chapter 11.

00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:29.019
 By faith Abraham

00:10:29.019 --> 00:10:29.939
 when he was tested

00:10:29.939 --> 00:10:31.319
 offered up Isaac

00:10:31.319 --> 00:10:32.559
 and he who had received

00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:33.179
 the promises

00:10:33.179 --> 00:10:34.019
 was in the act

00:10:34.019 --> 00:10:34.819
 of offering up

00:10:34.819 --> 00:10:35.639
 his only son

00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:36.500
 of whom it was said

00:10:36.500 --> 00:10:37.719
 through Isaac

00:10:37.719 --> 00:10:38.599
 shall your offspring

00:10:38.599 --> 00:10:39.279
 be named.

00:10:39.439 --> 00:10:40.240
 He Abraham

00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:41.500
 considered that God

00:10:41.500 --> 00:10:42.139
 was able

00:10:42.139 --> 00:10:43.819
 even to raise him

00:10:43.819 --> 00:10:44.539
 from the dead.

00:10:46.039 --> 00:10:47.679
 deep confidence

00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:49.379
 death won't be

00:10:49.379 --> 00:10:50.360
 the end of the story.

00:10:51.699 --> 00:10:52.620
 It can't be.

00:10:53.740 --> 00:10:54.899
 There must be more

00:10:54.899 --> 00:10:56.879
 if what God has promised

00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:57.779
 is going to come true

00:10:57.779 --> 00:10:58.779
 and so it is of course

00:10:58.779 --> 00:10:59.699
 with you and me

00:10:59.699 --> 00:11:00.759
 and Christian brothers

00:11:00.759 --> 00:11:01.399
 and sisters

00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:02.699
 right back through history

00:11:02.699 --> 00:11:04.199
 and right across

00:11:04.199 --> 00:11:05.259
 the world today

00:11:05.259 --> 00:11:06.480
 God's promises

00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:07.099
 to us

00:11:07.099 --> 00:11:07.879
 in the Lord Jesus

00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:09.319
 just so phenomenal

00:11:09.319 --> 00:11:09.980
 aren't they?

00:11:10.079 --> 00:11:11.419
 Every spiritual blessing

00:11:11.419 --> 00:11:12.099
 ours in him

00:11:12.099 --> 00:11:12.699
 he says

00:11:12.700 --> 00:11:14.800
 and yet our experience

00:11:14.800 --> 00:11:15.700
 of that at the moment

00:11:15.700 --> 00:11:16.740
 so much less

00:11:16.740 --> 00:11:20.080
 in this life

00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:20.580
 suffering

00:11:20.580 --> 00:11:21.300
 and opposition

00:11:21.300 --> 00:11:22.300
 and disappointment

00:11:22.300 --> 00:11:23.280
 and maybe even

00:11:23.280 --> 00:11:24.420
 persecution too

00:11:24.420 --> 00:11:25.259
 and even if we don't

00:11:25.259 --> 00:11:26.340
 personally experience

00:11:26.340 --> 00:11:27.680
 too many of those things

00:11:27.680 --> 00:11:28.340
 even so

00:11:28.340 --> 00:11:29.580
 our experience

00:11:29.580 --> 00:11:30.640
 nowhere near

00:11:30.640 --> 00:11:31.320
 the full

00:11:31.320 --> 00:11:33.220
 expanse

00:11:33.220 --> 00:11:33.700
 of what God

00:11:33.700 --> 00:11:34.259
 has promised.

00:11:35.640 --> 00:11:36.720
 We get into so much

00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:37.580
 trouble don't we?

00:11:38.060 --> 00:11:39.220
 We mess ourselves up

00:11:39.220 --> 00:11:39.660
 when we try

00:11:39.660 --> 00:11:40.500
 and convince ourselves

00:11:40.500 --> 00:11:41.400
 no this is it

00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:42.100
 this is as good

00:11:42.100 --> 00:11:43.059
 as it gets now

00:11:43.059 --> 00:11:44.519
 this is everything

00:11:44.519 --> 00:11:47.600
 but it's okay

00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:48.399
 isn't it

00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:49.179
 because this life

00:11:49.179 --> 00:11:49.799
 is not all

00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:50.480
 after death

00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:51.759
 when Jesus returns

00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:55.139
 that's when so many

00:11:55.139 --> 00:11:55.799
 of those things

00:11:55.799 --> 00:11:56.220
 that the Lord

00:11:56.220 --> 00:11:56.840
 has promised

00:11:56.840 --> 00:11:58.699
 really will

00:11:58.699 --> 00:12:00.639
 be felt to be true.

00:12:02.699 --> 00:12:03.319
 The faith of God

00:12:03.319 --> 00:12:03.740
 speaks

00:12:03.740 --> 00:12:04.439
 obeying him

00:12:04.439 --> 00:12:06.139
 hoping beyond the grave

00:12:06.139 --> 00:12:07.419
 so verses 7 and 8

00:12:07.419 --> 00:12:08.079
 even when Isaac

00:12:08.079 --> 00:12:09.100
 suddenly realises

00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:09.559
 hang on

00:12:09.559 --> 00:12:10.600
 something's missing

00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:11.800
 and asks that question

00:12:11.800 --> 00:12:12.420
 can you imagine

00:12:12.420 --> 00:12:13.279
 how this must have

00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:14.139
 just cut Abraham

00:12:14.139 --> 00:12:14.860
 to the heart?

00:12:16.560 --> 00:12:17.060
 Dad

00:12:17.060 --> 00:12:17.820
 where's the lamb?

00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:21.120
 Even then

00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:22.139
 Abraham still carries

00:12:22.139 --> 00:12:22.940
 on treading that

00:12:22.940 --> 00:12:23.800
 path of obedience

00:12:23.800 --> 00:12:24.600
 up the mountain

00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:25.540
 when he gets there

00:12:25.540 --> 00:12:26.080
 verse 9

00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:26.879
 builds the altar

00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:28.480
 and prepares to

00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:29.360
 slay his son

00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:32.120
 which brings us

00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:32.740
 third to the

00:12:32.740 --> 00:12:33.519
 salvation God

00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:34.120
 provides

00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:34.960
 the salvation

00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:35.899
 that God provides

00:12:35.899 --> 00:12:36.300
 Abraham

00:12:36.300 --> 00:12:36.820
 Abraham

00:12:36.820 --> 00:12:37.560
 this voice

00:12:37.560 --> 00:12:38.019
 from heaven

00:12:38.019 --> 00:12:38.519
 cries

00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:38.840
 and we get

00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:39.159
 the sense

00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:39.480
 don't we

00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:40.000
 it's right

00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:40.460
 at the last

00:12:40.460 --> 00:12:40.720
 minute

00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:41.879
 just as the

00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:42.220
 knife

00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:43.059
 is about

00:12:43.059 --> 00:12:43.860
 to come down

00:12:43.860 --> 00:12:44.699
 really urgent

00:12:44.699 --> 00:12:45.600
 don't do it

00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:46.360
 God says

00:12:46.360 --> 00:12:48.220
 now your faith

00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:49.100
 is clear

00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:49.879
 because you have

00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:50.740
 not withheld

00:12:50.740 --> 00:12:51.980
 your son

00:12:51.980 --> 00:12:52.679
 and nearby

00:12:52.679 --> 00:12:53.500
 there's a ram

00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:54.139
 for Abraham

00:12:54.139 --> 00:12:54.759
 to offer

00:12:54.759 --> 00:12:55.220
 instead

00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:55.960
 to die

00:12:55.960 --> 00:12:56.639
 in Isaac's

00:12:56.639 --> 00:12:57.059
 place

00:12:57.059 --> 00:12:59.120
 which is what

00:12:59.120 --> 00:12:59.539
 happens

00:12:59.539 --> 00:13:00.439
 so verse 14

00:13:00.439 --> 00:13:01.100
 Abraham called

00:13:01.100 --> 00:13:01.559
 the name of

00:13:01.559 --> 00:13:02.019
 that place

00:13:02.019 --> 00:13:02.460
 the Lord

00:13:02.460 --> 00:13:03.199
 will provide

00:13:03.199 --> 00:13:03.879
 as it is said

00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:04.559
 to this day

00:13:04.559 --> 00:13:05.579
 on the mount

00:13:05.580 --> 00:13:06.120
 of the Lord

00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:06.900
 it shall be

00:13:06.900 --> 00:13:07.440
 provided

00:13:07.440 --> 00:13:08.280
 God provides

00:13:08.280 --> 00:13:08.980
 a substitute

00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:09.840
 something to

00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:11.440
 come and die

00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:13.139
 in Isaac's

00:13:13.139 --> 00:13:13.520
 place

00:13:13.520 --> 00:13:14.000
 and it's a

00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:14.660
 pattern we see

00:13:14.660 --> 00:13:15.180
 so often

00:13:15.180 --> 00:13:15.500
 isn't it

00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:16.120
 right across

00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:16.840
 the Old Testament

00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:18.879
 most clearly

00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:19.840
 in that sacrificial

00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:20.680
 system in the

00:13:20.680 --> 00:13:21.200
 tabernacle

00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:21.860
 in the temple

00:13:21.860 --> 00:13:24.340
 at this stage

00:13:24.340 --> 00:13:25.259
 still yet to come

00:13:25.259 --> 00:13:25.780
 the temple

00:13:25.780 --> 00:13:26.280
 you know from

00:13:26.280 --> 00:13:26.660
 later

00:13:26.660 --> 00:13:28.240
 built

00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:29.900
 guess where

00:13:29.900 --> 00:13:31.540
 I love this

00:13:31.540 --> 00:13:31.960
 detail

00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:33.540
 right here

00:13:33.540 --> 00:13:33.940
 on Mount

00:13:33.940 --> 00:13:34.380
 Moriah

00:13:34.380 --> 00:13:35.520
 where all

00:13:35.520 --> 00:13:36.180
 this happens

00:13:36.180 --> 00:13:38.260
 the place

00:13:38.260 --> 00:13:38.780
 where every

00:13:38.780 --> 00:13:39.380
 day for

00:13:39.380 --> 00:13:39.880
 centuries

00:13:39.880 --> 00:13:40.660
 animals would

00:13:40.660 --> 00:13:41.000
 die

00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:41.500
 just as

00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:42.180
 God commanded

00:13:42.180 --> 00:13:42.780
 in the place

00:13:42.780 --> 00:13:43.080
 of his

00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:43.400
 people

00:13:43.400 --> 00:13:43.740
 when they

00:13:43.740 --> 00:13:44.280
 sinned

00:13:44.280 --> 00:13:46.800
 each of

00:13:46.800 --> 00:13:47.080
 them

00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:47.560
 pointing

00:13:47.560 --> 00:13:48.140
 forward

00:13:48.140 --> 00:13:48.760
 to the

00:13:48.760 --> 00:13:49.720
 sacrifice

00:13:49.720 --> 00:13:52.680
 that this

00:13:52.680 --> 00:13:53.220
 moment is

00:13:53.220 --> 00:13:53.960
 pointing forward

00:13:53.960 --> 00:13:55.060
 to as well

00:13:55.060 --> 00:13:55.540
 Isaac's

00:13:55.540 --> 00:13:55.880
 haunting

00:13:55.880 --> 00:13:56.440
 question

00:13:56.440 --> 00:13:56.960
 there in

00:13:56.960 --> 00:13:57.580
 verse 7

00:13:57.580 --> 00:13:58.100
 where is

00:13:58.100 --> 00:13:58.680
 the land

00:13:58.680 --> 00:13:59.860
 for the

00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:00.100
 burnt

00:14:00.100 --> 00:14:00.520
 offering

00:14:00.520 --> 00:14:03.080
 one person

00:14:03.080 --> 00:14:03.440
 has said

00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:03.880
 it's as if

00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:04.379
 that question

00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:04.779
 it kind of

00:14:04.779 --> 00:14:05.419
 hangs over

00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:05.899
 the whole

00:14:05.899 --> 00:14:06.439
 of the rest

00:14:06.439 --> 00:14:06.879
 of the Old

00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:07.259
 Testament

00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:07.899
 it's a question

00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:08.379
 the whole

00:14:08.379 --> 00:14:08.779
 of the rest

00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:09.159
 of the Old

00:14:09.159 --> 00:14:09.500
 Testament

00:14:09.500 --> 00:14:10.639
 can't quite

00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:11.080
 answer

00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:11.700
 where is

00:14:11.700 --> 00:14:12.200
 the one

00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:13.320
 who is going

00:14:13.320 --> 00:14:13.700
 to come

00:14:13.700 --> 00:14:14.539
 and really

00:14:14.539 --> 00:14:15.220
 take away

00:14:15.220 --> 00:14:16.179
 people's sins

00:14:16.179 --> 00:14:17.600
 in a way

00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:18.139
 that of course

00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:18.659
 no animal

00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:19.360
 ever could

00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:21.259
 and so even

00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:21.720
 at the end

00:14:21.720 --> 00:14:22.139
 of the Old

00:14:22.139 --> 00:14:22.519
 Testament

00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:23.200
 where is

00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:23.500
 he

00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:25.439
 still to

00:14:25.439 --> 00:14:25.799
 come

00:14:25.799 --> 00:14:28.879
 until that

00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:29.720
 magic moment

00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:31.340
 John's

00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:31.639
 Gospel

00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:32.240
 John 1

00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:33.539
 from the

00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:33.819
 Baptist

00:14:33.819 --> 00:14:34.279
 chatting

00:14:34.279 --> 00:14:34.679
 with some

00:14:34.679 --> 00:14:34.939
 of his

00:14:34.939 --> 00:14:35.399
 disciples

00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:35.899
 suddenly

00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:36.319
 sees

00:14:36.319 --> 00:14:36.679
 Jesus

00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:37.039
 coming

00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:37.259
 his

00:14:37.259 --> 00:14:37.559
 way

00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:39.480
 look

00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:40.019
 he says

00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:41.799
 the Lamb

00:14:41.799 --> 00:14:42.240
 of God

00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:43.600
 who takes

00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:44.100
 away the

00:14:44.100 --> 00:14:44.559
 sin of the

00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:44.980
 world

00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:48.199
 the one

00:14:48.199 --> 00:14:48.600
 who really

00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:49.199
 does take

00:14:49.199 --> 00:14:49.600
 it away

00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:50.179
 there he

00:14:50.179 --> 00:14:50.419
 is

00:14:50.419 --> 00:14:50.740
 the one

00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:51.059
 we've been

00:14:51.059 --> 00:14:51.360
 waiting

00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:51.620
 for

00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:51.960
 the one

00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:52.220
 Isaac

00:14:52.220 --> 00:14:52.840
 was asking

00:14:52.840 --> 00:14:53.259
 about

00:14:53.259 --> 00:14:56.100
 Jesus

00:14:56.100 --> 00:14:56.620
 Christ

00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:58.240
 God's

00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:58.460
 great

00:14:58.460 --> 00:14:59.019
 salvation

00:14:59.019 --> 00:14:59.600
 look to

00:14:59.600 --> 00:14:59.799
 him

00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:03.360
 and then

00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:03.759
 fourth

00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:06.000
 the frailty

00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:06.560
 of God's

00:15:06.560 --> 00:15:06.899
 ways

00:15:06.899 --> 00:15:07.620
 the frailty

00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:07.960
 of his

00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:08.240
 ways

00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:08.639
 it's not a

00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:09.120
 great heading

00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:09.480
 this one

00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:09.820
 but I hope

00:15:09.820 --> 00:15:10.060
 you'll get

00:15:10.060 --> 00:15:10.460
 the sense

00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:10.720
 of what

00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:11.139
 it means

00:15:11.139 --> 00:15:11.460
 it's an

00:15:11.460 --> 00:15:11.879
 odd little

00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:12.399
 postscript

00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:12.720
 to the

00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:13.039
 chapter

00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:13.460
 isn't it

00:15:13.460 --> 00:15:14.200
 verses 20

00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:14.799
 to 24

00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:15.340
 don't you

00:15:15.340 --> 00:15:15.560
 think

00:15:15.560 --> 00:15:15.899
 Abraham

00:15:15.899 --> 00:15:16.399
 and Isaac

00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:16.820
 back in

00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:17.259
 Beersheba

00:15:17.259 --> 00:15:17.639
 now

00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:19.879
 Genesis

00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:20.299
 12

00:15:20.299 --> 00:15:20.620
 what was

00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:20.860
 one of

00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:21.259
 the things

00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:21.500
 God

00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:21.919
 promised

00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:22.139
 to

00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:22.580
 Abraham

00:15:22.580 --> 00:15:25.100
 I'll

00:15:25.100 --> 00:15:25.539
 make of

00:15:25.539 --> 00:15:25.820
 you a

00:15:25.820 --> 00:15:26.139
 great

00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:26.560
 nation

00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:27.039
 he said

00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:27.259
 it's a

00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:27.479
 promise

00:15:27.479 --> 00:15:27.819
 actually

00:15:27.819 --> 00:15:28.019
 it's

00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:28.659
 reiterated

00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:28.859
 it's

00:15:28.859 --> 00:15:29.359
 underlined

00:15:29.359 --> 00:15:29.679
 in our

00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:30.059
 passage

00:15:30.059 --> 00:15:30.459
 today

00:15:30.459 --> 00:15:31.199
 verse 17

00:15:31.199 --> 00:15:31.799
 I'll

00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:32.159
 surely

00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:32.579
 bless

00:15:32.579 --> 00:15:32.859
 you

00:15:32.859 --> 00:15:33.739
 and I'll

00:15:33.739 --> 00:15:34.099
 surely

00:15:34.099 --> 00:15:34.739
 multiply

00:15:34.739 --> 00:15:35.039
 your

00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:35.439
 offspring

00:15:35.439 --> 00:15:35.899
 as the

00:15:35.899 --> 00:15:36.339
 stars

00:15:36.339 --> 00:15:36.799
 of heaven

00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:37.179
 and as

00:15:37.179 --> 00:15:37.379
 the

00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:37.719
 sand

00:15:37.719 --> 00:15:38.019
 that is

00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:38.359
 on the

00:15:38.359 --> 00:15:38.959
 seashore

00:15:38.959 --> 00:15:40.079
 so lots

00:15:40.079 --> 00:15:40.659
 of people

00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:41.159
 due to

00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:41.639
 come from

00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:42.159
 Abraham's

00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:42.519
 line

00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:45.199
 so end

00:15:45.199 --> 00:15:45.399
 of the

00:15:45.399 --> 00:15:45.679
 chapter

00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:46.079
 how's it

00:15:46.079 --> 00:15:46.399
 going

00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:49.019
 oh not

00:15:49.019 --> 00:15:49.259
 brilliant

00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:49.819
 is it

00:15:49.819 --> 00:15:51.579
 Abraham

00:15:51.579 --> 00:15:53.099
 Sarah

00:15:53.099 --> 00:15:54.699
 and now

00:15:54.699 --> 00:15:55.179
 Ishmael's

00:15:55.179 --> 00:15:55.399
 gone

00:15:55.399 --> 00:15:56.079
 just Isaac

00:15:56.080 --> 00:15:56.800
 rattling

00:15:56.800 --> 00:15:57.160
 around

00:15:57.160 --> 00:15:57.460
 in the

00:15:57.460 --> 00:15:57.720
 tents

00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.120
 at home

00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:58.400
 with the

00:15:58.400 --> 00:15:58.840
 servants

00:15:58.840 --> 00:16:01.900
 meanwhile

00:16:01.900 --> 00:16:02.420
 birth

00:16:02.420 --> 00:16:03.020
 announcement

00:16:03.020 --> 00:16:04.060
 after birth

00:16:04.060 --> 00:16:04.620
 announcement

00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:05.220
 coming from

00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:05.759
 Nahor's

00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:06.040
 line

00:16:06.040 --> 00:16:06.259
 do you

00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:06.639
 notice

00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:09.100
 12 of

00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:09.340
 them

00:16:09.340 --> 00:16:11.180
 which even

00:16:11.180 --> 00:16:11.740
 taking into

00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:12.300
 account some

00:16:12.300 --> 00:16:12.780
 help from a

00:16:12.780 --> 00:16:13.840
 concubine is a

00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:14.259
 lot of

00:16:14.259 --> 00:16:14.680
 offspring

00:16:14.680 --> 00:16:15.200
 you imagine

00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:15.639
 Sarah

00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:16.060
 I assume

00:16:16.060 --> 00:16:16.560
 it fell to

00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:16.820
 Sarah

00:16:16.820 --> 00:16:17.220
 trying to

00:16:17.220 --> 00:16:17.700
 keep track

00:16:17.700 --> 00:16:18.060
 of all

00:16:18.060 --> 00:16:18.280
 those

00:16:18.280 --> 00:16:18.720
 birthdays

00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:18.920
 birthdays

00:16:18.920 --> 00:16:19.980
 all those

00:16:19.980 --> 00:16:20.360
 cousins

00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:21.000
 birthdays

00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:23.320
 not a

00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:23.700
 problem in

00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:23.980
 our own

00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:24.379
 household

00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:24.580
 though

00:16:24.580 --> 00:16:24.820
 just

00:16:24.820 --> 00:16:25.139
 Isaac

00:16:25.139 --> 00:16:27.340
 imagine the

00:16:27.340 --> 00:16:27.920
 family get

00:16:27.920 --> 00:16:28.519
 togethers at

00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:28.879
 Christmas

00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:29.740
 the piles

00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:30.500
 of presents

00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:31.259
 for Nahor's

00:16:31.259 --> 00:16:31.560
 clan

00:16:31.560 --> 00:16:33.379
 just the

00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:33.820
 one in the

00:16:33.820 --> 00:16:34.100
 corner

00:16:34.100 --> 00:16:35.220
 Isaac that's

00:16:35.220 --> 00:16:35.540
 yours

00:16:35.540 --> 00:16:38.120
 as if to

00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:39.080
 really rub

00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:39.300
 in

00:16:39.300 --> 00:16:41.200
 the great

00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:41.660
 nation

00:16:41.660 --> 00:16:42.259
 part of

00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:42.540
 God's

00:16:42.540 --> 00:16:42.820
 promise

00:16:42.820 --> 00:16:43.340
 hasn't yet

00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:43.940
 come true

00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:47.000
 come on

00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:47.500
 Lord you can

00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:48.220
 imagine Abraham

00:16:48.220 --> 00:16:49.060
 thinking can't

00:16:49.060 --> 00:16:49.240
 you

00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:50.940
 well

00:16:50.940 --> 00:16:52.960
 the Lord's

00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:53.640
 people looking

00:16:53.640 --> 00:16:54.640
 so few

00:16:54.640 --> 00:16:55.340
 so often

00:16:55.340 --> 00:16:55.980
 so weak

00:16:55.980 --> 00:16:56.760
 so frail

00:16:56.760 --> 00:16:59.420
 compared to

00:16:59.420 --> 00:16:59.860
 the rest of

00:16:59.860 --> 00:17:00.200
 the world

00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:00.580
 and it's a

00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:00.980
 feeling some

00:17:00.980 --> 00:17:01.380
 of us know

00:17:01.380 --> 00:17:01.900
 really well

00:17:01.900 --> 00:17:02.340
 isn't it

00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:04.019
 think what it

00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:04.460
 will be like

00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:05.019
 tomorrow when

00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:05.420
 you're back at

00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:06.100
 school or

00:17:06.100 --> 00:17:07.640
 dropping off in

00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:08.080
 the playground

00:17:08.080 --> 00:17:08.820
 perhaps with

00:17:08.820 --> 00:17:09.519
 other parents

00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:10.259
 or at work

00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:11.600
 or in our

00:17:11.600 --> 00:17:12.360
 public life at

00:17:12.360 --> 00:17:12.720
 the moment

00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:13.180
 or in the

00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:13.519
 media

00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:16.379
 it's that

00:17:16.379 --> 00:17:16.940
 sense of

00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:17.200
 God's

00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:17.940
 people seeming

00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:18.639
 so few

00:17:18.639 --> 00:17:19.220
 looking so

00:17:19.220 --> 00:17:19.579
 weak

00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:20.299
 numerically

00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:23.879
 I know

00:17:23.879 --> 00:17:24.460
 this says

00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:26.700
 but don't

00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:27.119
 panic

00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:29.200
 that is

00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:29.779
 often God's

00:17:29.779 --> 00:17:30.039
 way

00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:31.720
 often how

00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:32.259
 he works

00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:33.900
 through what

00:17:33.900 --> 00:17:34.579
 looks small

00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:36.240
 and frail

00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:37.079
 so there we

00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:37.539
 are Genesis

00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:38.460
 22 it is an

00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:38.920
 extraordinary

00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:39.660
 chapter isn't

00:17:39.660 --> 00:17:40.240
 it how could

00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:41.119
 God do this

00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:42.799
 how could he

00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:44.039
 put Abraham

00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:44.740
 through something

00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:45.379
 like this

00:17:45.379 --> 00:17:46.839
 how can that

00:17:46.839 --> 00:17:47.359
 be right

00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:48.259
 how can that

00:17:48.259 --> 00:17:48.940
 be fair

00:17:48.940 --> 00:17:51.319
 it's kind of

00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:51.819
 hard not to

00:17:51.819 --> 00:17:52.180
 ask that

00:17:52.180 --> 00:17:52.720
 question I

00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:53.359
 vividly remember

00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:53.980
 the first time

00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:54.399
 I preached

00:17:54.399 --> 00:17:55.139
 this passage

00:17:55.139 --> 00:17:57.139
 for two reasons

00:17:57.139 --> 00:17:57.680
 actually the

00:17:57.680 --> 00:17:58.639
 first was it

00:17:58.639 --> 00:17:59.319
 was a Sunday

00:17:59.319 --> 00:18:00.019
 evening almost

00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:00.960
 exactly three

00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:01.619
 years ago

00:18:01.619 --> 00:18:04.079
 the last Sunday

00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:04.759
 evening before

00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:05.740
 Boris told us

00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:06.119
 do you remember

00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:07.059
 you must stay

00:18:07.059 --> 00:18:07.500
 at home

00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:10.500
 so in hindsight

00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:11.519
 such a precious

00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:12.460
 time that last

00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:13.140
 Sunday evening

00:18:13.140 --> 00:18:14.740
 service before

00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:15.299
 we didn't meet

00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:15.819
 for a little bit

00:18:15.819 --> 00:18:16.500
 as a church

00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:17.160
 and you must

00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:17.619
 remember that

00:18:17.619 --> 00:18:18.059
 some of you

00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:18.640
 even you guys

00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:19.339
 didn't meet for

00:18:19.339 --> 00:18:19.740
 a couple of

00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:20.339
 weeks at least

00:18:20.339 --> 00:18:21.000
 did you before

00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:22.279
 things got back

00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:23.059
 together again

00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:26.440
 but the second

00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:27.259
 reason I remember

00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:28.160
 it so clearly is

00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:28.960
 because there sat

00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:29.680
 almost at the

00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:30.400
 front of church

00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:30.980
 was a friend of

00:18:30.980 --> 00:18:31.400
 mine a member

00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:31.960
 of our church

00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:32.680
 family who

00:18:32.680 --> 00:18:34.039
 just a couple of

00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:34.640
 years earlier

00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:35.400
 had lost his

00:18:35.400 --> 00:18:36.040
 own son

00:18:36.040 --> 00:18:37.900
 completely out

00:18:37.900 --> 00:18:38.280
 of the blue

00:18:38.280 --> 00:18:39.460
 17 years old

00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:41.120
 started to feel

00:18:41.120 --> 00:18:41.759
 a bit ill one

00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:42.320
 evening and a

00:18:42.320 --> 00:18:42.860
 couple of days

00:18:42.860 --> 00:18:43.700
 later was dead

00:18:43.700 --> 00:18:45.920
 and you think

00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:46.500
 how do you help

00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:47.300
 a parent who

00:18:47.300 --> 00:18:48.280
 knows that kind

00:18:48.280 --> 00:18:48.860
 of pain

00:18:48.860 --> 00:18:50.800
 in a way that

00:18:50.800 --> 00:18:51.360
 most of us

00:18:51.360 --> 00:18:51.820
 don't

00:18:51.820 --> 00:18:54.620
 how do you

00:18:54.620 --> 00:18:55.340
 encourage them

00:18:55.340 --> 00:18:56.200
 to keep trusting

00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:56.980
 this God

00:18:56.980 --> 00:18:59.340
 I mentioned

00:18:59.340 --> 00:18:59.940
 Martin Luther

00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:00.560
 earlier this

00:19:00.560 --> 00:19:01.440
 great 16th

00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:02.300
 century church

00:19:02.300 --> 00:19:02.820
 leader in

00:19:02.820 --> 00:19:03.480
 Germany one of

00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:04.360
 the towering

00:19:04.359 --> 00:19:05.859
 figures in

00:19:05.859 --> 00:19:06.559
 church history

00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:08.179
 and there's

00:19:08.179 --> 00:19:08.719
 another lovely

00:19:08.719 --> 00:19:09.359
 story about

00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:11.119
 Luther in

00:19:11.119 --> 00:19:12.099
 family devotions

00:19:12.099 --> 00:19:12.419
 with his

00:19:12.419 --> 00:19:13.000
 family he

00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:13.779
 reads Genesis

00:19:13.779 --> 00:19:14.919
 22 to them

00:19:14.919 --> 00:19:17.179
 gets to the

00:19:17.179 --> 00:19:20.319
 end I do

00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:21.359
 not believe it

00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:22.259
 his wife Katie

00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:24.759
 said perhaps

00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:25.279
 feeling what

00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:25.779
 some of us

00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.039
 have been

00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:26.559
 feeling a bit

00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:27.079
 this evening

00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:29.539
 the impression

00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:30.539
 family devotions

00:19:30.539 --> 00:19:31.059
 in the Luther

00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:31.779
 household like

00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:32.500
 most things in

00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:32.799
 the Luther

00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:33.419
 household were

00:19:33.419 --> 00:19:33.959
 probably quite

00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:34.620
 plain speaking

00:19:34.620 --> 00:19:35.380
 affairs most

00:19:35.380 --> 00:19:35.900
 of the time

00:19:35.900 --> 00:19:38.400
 I do not

00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:39.039
 believe it

00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:39.620
 she said

00:19:39.620 --> 00:19:41.799
 God would

00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:42.440
 not have

00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:43.180
 treated his

00:19:43.180 --> 00:19:43.759
 son like

00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.200
 that

00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:48.460
 but Katie

00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:49.440
 Martin replied

00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:52.160
 he did

00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:55.019
 and of course

00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:55.539
 he did

00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:59.360
 John 3

00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:00.000
 God so

00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:00.000


00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:00.399
 loved the

00:20:00.399 --> 00:20:00.639
 world

00:20:00.639 --> 00:20:00.819
 God

00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:01.699
 gave his

00:20:01.699 --> 00:20:02.619
 only son

00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:04.519
 God the

00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.079
 son sent

00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:05.379
 into the

00:20:05.379 --> 00:20:05.839
 world by

00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:06.179
 God the

00:20:06.179 --> 00:20:06.759
 father and

00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:08.339
 gladly obeying

00:20:08.339 --> 00:20:08.959
 as he came

00:20:08.959 --> 00:20:11.000
 to be offered

00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.599
 in place of

00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:12.099
 people like

00:20:12.099 --> 00:20:13.779
 you and me

00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:16.299
 not to be

00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:17.059
 saved from

00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:17.740
 death at the

00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.299
 last moment

00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:18.859
 kind of whipped

00:20:18.859 --> 00:20:19.439
 away in the

00:20:19.439 --> 00:20:20.079
 nick of time

00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:20.759
 but given

00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:21.740
 completely to

00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:22.119
 death

00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:24.579
 there at the

00:20:24.579 --> 00:20:25.359
 cross the one

00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:26.479
 God provided to

00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.380
 take all the

00:20:27.380 --> 00:20:28.160
 judgment people

00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:29.620
 like us deserve

00:20:29.620 --> 00:20:30.380
 for our sins

00:20:30.380 --> 00:20:30.920
 so that that

00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:31.640
 blessing that

00:20:31.640 --> 00:20:32.079
 God had

00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:32.819
 promised and

00:20:32.819 --> 00:20:33.860
 promises again in

00:20:33.860 --> 00:20:34.460
 this passage

00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:35.539
 Genesis 22

00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:37.279
 really can come

00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:38.500
 flowing into our

00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:39.860
 world to turn

00:20:39.860 --> 00:20:40.860
 back that curse

00:20:40.860 --> 00:20:41.380
 of sin

00:20:41.380 --> 00:20:45.000
 how can you

00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:45.580
 trust a God

00:20:45.580 --> 00:20:46.180
 like this

00:20:46.180 --> 00:20:50.380
 his ways are

00:20:50.380 --> 00:20:51.040
 so puzzling

00:20:51.040 --> 00:20:54.240
 how can I

00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:55.120
 trust him

00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:55.440
 when his

00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:55.880
 commands

00:20:55.880 --> 00:20:57.160
 and the

00:20:57.160 --> 00:20:57.520
 things he

00:20:57.520 --> 00:20:57.980
 allows to

00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:58.260
 happen

00:20:58.260 --> 00:20:58.660
 sometimes

00:20:58.660 --> 00:20:59.280
 seem so

00:20:59.280 --> 00:21:00.280
 so hard

00:21:00.280 --> 00:21:03.720
 how can

00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.240
 you when

00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:04.720
 his ways

00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.160
 feel like

00:21:05.160 --> 00:21:05.720
 agony as

00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.080
 well

00:21:06.080 --> 00:21:10.460
 because as

00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:10.920
 we remember

00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:11.539
 again in just

00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:12.039
 a moment as

00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:12.480
 we share the

00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:12.779
 Lord's

00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:12.980
 supper

00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:16.820
 he gave

00:21:16.820 --> 00:21:17.300
 his son

00:21:17.300 --> 00:21:19.200
 for you

00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:21.240
 and for

00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:21.480
 me

00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:23.940
 and that

00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:24.380
 is why we

00:21:24.380 --> 00:21:24.840
 can trust

00:21:24.840 --> 00:21:25.539
 him

00:21:25.539 --> 00:21:27.480
 let's be

00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:28.019
 quiet together

00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:28.519
 for a moment

00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:28.960
 and then I'll

00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.180
 pray