WEBVTT

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 Father, we just recently sang to you as an act of praise

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 that when Satan tempts us to despair and tells us of the guilt within,

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 and the hymn invites us to remember Jesus and his death upon the cross for us.

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 Father, we ask that your word would come very deeply into our hearts

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 and into our minds and into our lives,

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 that the gospel will be more real to us.

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 So, Father, that we will learn to live day by day out of your great promise to us

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 and the great gift that you give us in the death and resurrection of your son, Jesus Christ.

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 Pour out the Holy Spirit. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 I'm still sort of all hoarse from singing.

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 After those things, God tested Abraham and said,

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 said to him, Abraham.

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 And he said, here I am.

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 And God said,

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 take your son,

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 your only son Isaac,

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 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,

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 of which I shall tell you.

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 You know,

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 when they teach preaching,

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 one of the things that they try to tell you

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 is to try to come up with a story or a line

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 or something to grab people's attention right at the beginning.

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 And it's probably harder to come up with a better line

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 than just reading the scripture

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 where God tells Abraham to go and kill his son Isaac.

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 The temptation for us as Christians

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 is to read that part really quickly,

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 hoping that nobody really notices it,

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 and try to get on to better stuff.

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 Excuse me.

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 If there's somebody watching,

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 either now,

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 live or downstream,

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 maybe you're a skeptic

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 trying to examine the Christian claims,

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 but hoping that you'll find something

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 that will,

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 in a sense,

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 nail Christianity

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 to the wall

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 in such a way

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 that it's just revealed

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 to be a hateful,

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 murderous religion

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 that's bad for you,

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 and you hear,

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 take your son,

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 your only son Isaac,

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 whom you love,

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 and go to the land of Moriah

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 and offer him there

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 as a burnt offering

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 on one of the mountains

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 of which I shall tell you,

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 and you feel,

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 there you go.

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 I've got the smoking gun.

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 What possible,

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 who could ever believe a religion

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 or follow a religion

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 that would tell you

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 to murder your only son?

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 For the curious,

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 it's a bit of a shock.

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 I've talked to people

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 who sort of

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 have been part of the visible church

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 for quite a while

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 but aren't very knowledgeable

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 of the Bible,

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 and when I've mentioned

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 that there's a story like this

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 in the Bible,

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 they say,

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 really?

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 Like, that's in the Bible?

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 For obvious reasons,

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 it's a Bible text

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 that often doesn't show up

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 in church services.

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 In fact,

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 for Christians,

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 we're probably a bit shocked

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 and embarrassed.

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 Our worst fears

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 are realized.

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 Why read it?

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 So,

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 one of the things

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 that we do at this church

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 is we preach through

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 either whole books

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 of the Bible

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 or chunks of the Bible,

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 and one of the reasons

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 we do it

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 is because,

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 of course,

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 that's how it's written.

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 These stories

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 from chapter 12

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 to chapter 22

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 were written

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 one after another

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 as a story

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 after story

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 after story,

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 part of a bigger story

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 in Genesis

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 and part of the bigger story

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 in the first five books

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 and part of the bigger story

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 of the Old Testament

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 and part of the bigger story

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 of the New Testament.

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 And,

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 well,

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 it's good for us

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 to read texts like this

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 together on one hand,

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 even though it's a very

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 sort of shocking text

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 to many who aren't familiar

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 with it.

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 And so what we're going to do

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 is we're going to,

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 we're going to walk towards it.

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 We're going to look at the story

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 very carefully

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 and see what it is

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 that it teaches.

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 So just read it again.

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 If I was to do this

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 in terms of scenes,

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 which I've done

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 for a couple of these

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 last sermons,

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 verses one and two,

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 scene one,

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 could be called

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 the shocking command.

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 I'll read it again.

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 After these things,

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 God tested Abraham

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 and said to him,

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 Abraham.

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 And Abraham said,

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 here I am.

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 And by the way,

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 in the original language,

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 here I am implies

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 that he's making himself

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 available to God,

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 ready to do what God

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 is going to ask him to do.

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 Verse two,

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 and God said,

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 take your son,

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 your only son,

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 Isaac,

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 whom you love

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 and go to the land of Moriah

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 and offer him there

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 as a burnt offering

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 on one of the mountains

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 of which I shall tell you.

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 A burnt offering,

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 as you'll discover

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 as the rest of the Bible unfolds,

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 is it's a Bible,

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 it's a complete sacrifice.

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 Some of the other

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 Old Testament sacrifices,

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 either the priest

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 or the community

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 or the offerer

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 would get to keep

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 some of it,

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 so to speak,

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 and eat some of it.

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 But a burnt offering,

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 it's a complete offering

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 to God.

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 It's an offering to God

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 with nothing left over,

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 a complete and utter

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 offering to God.

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 God.

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 So,

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 I mean,

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 in our day and age,

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 if somebody told us

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 that they'd had this message

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 to kill somebody,

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 we would know,

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 we would suspect

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 that they were probably

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 mentally ill.

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 what happens to Abraham

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 after he gets this

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 shocking demand request,

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 I should say,

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 from God.

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 Well,

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 let's look at scene two,

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 and if we had a name for it,

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 it would be thoughtful

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 and prompt.

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 Verse three,

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 so Abraham rose

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 early in the morning,

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 saddled his donkey,

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 and took two of his young men

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 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

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 had told him.

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 The writer of the story

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 actually almost does it

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 in slow motion.

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 He doesn't just say,

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 well,

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 they took off.

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 Part of the thing

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 which is shocking about this

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 is that Abraham acts

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 very promptly.

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 He doesn't say,

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 well,

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 I've got to think about this

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 for a week.

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 You know,

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 it's a three-day journey.

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 It's going to require

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 lots of planning,

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 et cetera,

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 et cetera.

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 No,

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 he begins to answer

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 what God has asked him

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 to do right away.

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 But he doesn't do it

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 in a half-assed way.

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 He does it in a thoughtful way.

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 He gets the donkey.

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 He makes sure

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 there's enough supplies

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 for the journey

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 to go there and back.

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 There's a possibility

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 that there'll be

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 no suitable dry wood

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 for the offering,

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 so he gets that.

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 And as you'll see later on,

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 he makes sure

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 that there's the knife.

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 And he makes sure

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 that there's fire

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 that he can bring with him

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 so he doesn't have to worry

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 about trying to start

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 a fire from fresh.

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 He does all of the things.

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 He does them quickly

00:07:06.280 --> 00:07:07.080
 and promptly,

00:07:07.079 --> 00:07:08.199
 and deliberately.

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 In fact,

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 actually,

00:07:10.419 --> 00:07:11.219
 that helps to show,

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 especially this next bit,

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 that he's not being rash.

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 Look at scene number three,

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 verse four,

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 and it could be called,

00:07:18.359 --> 00:07:19.099
 if it was a movie

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 or a book,

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 Time to Reflect.

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 Verse four,

00:07:22.579 --> 00:07:24.519
 on the third day,

00:07:25.079 --> 00:07:26.639
 Abraham lifted up his eyes

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 and saw the place

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 from afar.

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 So what's going on here

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 is he gets this specific request

00:07:33.699 --> 00:07:34.359
 from God.

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 He acts promptly

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 the very next day

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 to act on it.

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 He acts with deliberation,

00:07:39.919 --> 00:07:41.139
 and he has three days

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 to think about it

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 as he walks.

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 In those days,

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 of course,

00:07:45.319 --> 00:07:47.560
 he doesn't have iTunes.

00:07:47.919 --> 00:07:49.099
 He doesn't have podcasts.

00:07:49.100 --> 00:07:50.560
 All he has

00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:51.240
 is the walk

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 and his thoughts

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 and the three younger men

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 with him.

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 And so,

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 it doesn't necessarily mean

00:07:56.720 --> 00:07:57.580
 72 hours.

00:07:57.700 --> 00:07:58.240
 Let's say he left

00:07:58.240 --> 00:07:59.160
 on a Monday morning.

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 He's walked all day Monday,

00:08:00.820 --> 00:08:01.480
 all day Tuesday,

00:08:01.620 --> 00:08:03.879
 and sometime on Wednesday,

00:08:04.040 --> 00:08:04.740
 the third day,

00:08:05.320 --> 00:08:06.680
 three days of walking

00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:08.640
 all towards this destination

00:08:08.640 --> 00:08:09.680
 where God has asked him

00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:11.740
 to do this thing,

00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:13.200
 which we all understand

00:08:13.200 --> 00:08:13.920
 to be horrific,

00:08:13.920 --> 00:08:16.800
 that Abraham would kill

00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:18.720
 his son Isaac.

00:08:20.600 --> 00:08:21.120
 Now,

00:08:21.560 --> 00:08:23.319
 as you can well imagine,

00:08:23.660 --> 00:08:24.420
 there's been lots

00:08:24.420 --> 00:08:25.120
 of philosophical

00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:26.020
 and theological

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 and commentary reflection

00:08:28.379 --> 00:08:29.240
 on this story.

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 And one of the common things

00:08:31.520 --> 00:08:32.440
 of all the stories

00:08:32.440 --> 00:08:34.620
 is what was Abraham thinking

00:08:34.620 --> 00:08:35.860
 for these three days.

00:08:36.899 --> 00:08:38.340
 And lots of pages

00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:39.080
 have been filled

00:08:39.080 --> 00:08:40.200
 with writing

00:08:40.200 --> 00:08:41.000
 as to what Abraham

00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:42.139
 might be thinking about

00:08:42.139 --> 00:08:43.500
 during these three days.

00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:45.839
 But what they all often miss,

00:08:45.899 --> 00:08:46.439
 not all of them,

00:08:46.500 --> 00:08:48.179
 but many of these things miss,

00:08:48.459 --> 00:08:49.639
 is we don't have to guess

00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:51.120
 as to what Abraham

00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:51.799
 was thinking.

00:08:52.419 --> 00:08:53.179
 We know

00:08:53.179 --> 00:08:54.740
 what Abraham was thinking

00:08:54.740 --> 00:08:56.459
 because the storyteller

00:08:56.459 --> 00:08:57.059
 tells us

00:08:57.059 --> 00:08:57.719
 what he's thinking.

00:08:58.240 --> 00:08:59.439
 So the next scene,

00:08:59.699 --> 00:09:00.539
 which would be

00:09:00.539 --> 00:09:02.279
 verses five to eight,

00:09:02.319 --> 00:09:03.539
 if it had a title,

00:09:03.620 --> 00:09:04.179
 it would be

00:09:04.179 --> 00:09:05.120
 The Mirror.

00:09:05.819 --> 00:09:07.059
 Look at what it says.

00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:08.740
 Then Abraham

00:09:08.740 --> 00:09:10.620
 said to his young men,

00:09:11.219 --> 00:09:12.519
 stay here with the donkey.

00:09:12.519 --> 00:09:14.100
 I and the boy

00:09:14.100 --> 00:09:15.340
 will go over there

00:09:15.340 --> 00:09:16.600
 and worship.

00:09:17.059 --> 00:09:17.779
 And note this,

00:09:18.539 --> 00:09:19.399
 they're going to go there

00:09:19.399 --> 00:09:20.079
 to worship

00:09:20.079 --> 00:09:21.740
 and then they're going

00:09:21.740 --> 00:09:22.939
 to come again

00:09:22.939 --> 00:09:24.360
 to see the two young men.

00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:27.819
 In verse six,

00:09:27.899 --> 00:09:29.159
 and Abraham took the wood

00:09:29.159 --> 00:09:30.039
 of the burnt offering

00:09:30.039 --> 00:09:31.740
 and laid it on Isaac,

00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:32.379
 his son.

00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:35.340
 Isaac's going to carry

00:09:35.340 --> 00:09:36.039
 the wood

00:09:36.039 --> 00:09:39.860
 that will be lit under him

00:09:39.860 --> 00:09:41.639
 to burn him.

00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:44.360
 And Abraham

00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:45.259
 took in his hand

00:09:45.259 --> 00:09:45.879
 the fire

00:09:45.879 --> 00:09:46.899
 and the knife,

00:09:48.120 --> 00:09:49.200
 the instruments of death.

00:09:50.419 --> 00:09:51.120
 So they went

00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:52.000
 both of them together.

00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:53.560
 And Isaac said

00:09:53.560 --> 00:09:54.560
 to his father Abraham,

00:09:54.779 --> 00:09:55.379
 my father.

00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:57.580
 And Abraham said,

00:09:57.680 --> 00:09:58.360
 here I am,

00:09:58.560 --> 00:09:59.100
 my son.

00:10:00.100 --> 00:10:01.100
 And Isaac said,

00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:02.039
 behold the fire

00:10:02.039 --> 00:10:02.539
 and the wood,

00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:04.080
 but where is the lamb

00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:04.940
 for burnt offering?

00:10:04.940 --> 00:10:07.220
 And Abraham said,

00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:08.800
 God will provide

00:10:08.800 --> 00:10:09.460
 for himself

00:10:09.460 --> 00:10:10.040
 the lamb

00:10:10.040 --> 00:10:11.000
 for a burnt offering,

00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:11.560
 my son.

00:10:12.220 --> 00:10:12.720
 So they went

00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:13.680
 both of them together.

00:10:16.800 --> 00:10:18.540
 Over the last year or so,

00:10:18.800 --> 00:10:19.900
 I've often said

00:10:19.900 --> 00:10:21.180
 about different Bible stories

00:10:21.180 --> 00:10:22.400
 that the story

00:10:22.400 --> 00:10:23.720
 is both a window

00:10:23.720 --> 00:10:24.260
 and a mirror.

00:10:25.220 --> 00:10:26.060
 I should give credit,

00:10:26.140 --> 00:10:27.200
 I think I got the phrase

00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:28.420
 from Jackie Hill Perry

00:10:28.420 --> 00:10:30.360
 in her most recent book,

00:10:30.400 --> 00:10:31.280
 and it's a wonderful,

00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:32.720
 a wonderful image,

00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:34.420
 just as both of her books

00:10:34.420 --> 00:10:35.899
 are wonderful books.

00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:39.100
 And the Bible stories

00:10:39.100 --> 00:10:40.040
 are a mirror

00:10:40.040 --> 00:10:41.580
 because if you read them,

00:10:42.040 --> 00:10:43.180
 there's the possibility

00:10:43.180 --> 00:10:44.600
 by God's grace

00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:46.200
 that they'll reveal to you,

00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:47.100
 they'll help you

00:10:47.100 --> 00:10:47.820
 to see yourself

00:10:47.820 --> 00:10:48.700
 as you really are.

00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:51.340
 Not beneath your appearances,

00:10:51.680 --> 00:10:54.120
 beneath the things

00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:54.580
 that you do

00:10:54.580 --> 00:10:55.980
 to try to sell yourself

00:10:55.980 --> 00:10:57.240
 and cover yourself up.

00:10:57.279 --> 00:10:58.340
 It'll reveal who you are

00:10:58.340 --> 00:10:59.420
 at the level of your heart,

00:10:59.540 --> 00:11:00.139
 the real you.

00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:01.540
 In that way,

00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:02.279
 the Bible stories

00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:02.740
 are a mirror.

00:11:02.839 --> 00:11:04.279
 They're also windows often.

00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:05.299
 They help you

00:11:05.299 --> 00:11:06.319
 to see the real world.

00:11:06.459 --> 00:11:06.879
 They help you

00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:08.379
 to see the triune God

00:11:08.379 --> 00:11:09.519
 and what the world

00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:10.399
 is really like.

00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:13.100
 And this story here

00:11:13.100 --> 00:11:14.299
 is a profound mirror.

00:11:15.699 --> 00:11:17.259
 And it's a mirror

00:11:17.259 --> 00:11:19.600
 because when we first hear

00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:20.679
 the shocking thing

00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:21.519
 in verse 2,

00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:23.120
 take your son,

00:11:23.199 --> 00:11:24.079
 your only son Isaac,

00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:24.720
 whom you love,

00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:25.419
 and go to the land

00:11:25.419 --> 00:11:25.959
 of Moriah

00:11:25.959 --> 00:11:26.839
 and offer him there

00:11:26.839 --> 00:11:27.659
 as a burnt offering

00:11:27.659 --> 00:11:28.500
 on one of the mountains

00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:29.740
 of which I shall tell you.

00:11:29.740 --> 00:11:33.919
 we hear this.

00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:35.980
 Well,

00:11:36.259 --> 00:11:38.220
 our reaction reveals

00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:39.759
 what we usually think

00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:40.340
 about God.

00:11:41.940 --> 00:11:43.639
 And if you're watching this,

00:11:43.940 --> 00:11:44.159
 you know,

00:11:44.200 --> 00:11:45.220
 maybe you're a Buddhist

00:11:45.220 --> 00:11:47.120
 or a Hindu,

00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:48.240
 maybe you're just

00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:49.639
 one of our many

00:11:49.639 --> 00:11:51.460
 secular Canadian friends.

00:11:51.560 --> 00:11:52.539
 This might surprise you

00:11:52.539 --> 00:11:53.279
 about Christians.

00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:54.919
 but we Christians

00:11:54.919 --> 00:11:55.720
 share something

00:11:55.720 --> 00:11:56.839
 with you,

00:11:57.639 --> 00:11:58.620
 is that

00:11:58.620 --> 00:12:00.939
 beneath the piety,

00:12:01.699 --> 00:12:03.980
 we actually sort of worry

00:12:03.980 --> 00:12:04.899
 that God just wants

00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:05.639
 to hurt us,

00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:09.720
 that the true God

00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:11.319
 wants to belittle us

00:12:11.319 --> 00:12:12.199
 or harm us

00:12:12.199 --> 00:12:13.399
 or keep us down.

00:12:15.159 --> 00:12:16.919
 There's almost always

00:12:16.919 --> 00:12:17.720
 a small,

00:12:18.039 --> 00:12:19.259
 still voice within us

00:12:19.259 --> 00:12:19.779
 that says,

00:12:19.899 --> 00:12:20.459
 be careful,

00:12:21.240 --> 00:12:22.459
 don't get too close,

00:12:22.460 --> 00:12:24.320
 don't get carried away,

00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:26.120
 don't be too religious,

00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:27.780
 don't be too Christian,

00:12:28.259 --> 00:12:29.519
 don't pray too much,

00:12:29.660 --> 00:12:30.379
 it'll get in way

00:12:30.379 --> 00:12:31.220
 of other things.

00:12:31.780 --> 00:12:32.060
 Like,

00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:33.180
 don't really listen

00:12:33.180 --> 00:12:33.879
 to what the Bible

00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:34.519
 has to say

00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:35.120
 about money

00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:36.000
 and generosity.

00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:37.420
 If you listen too much

00:12:37.420 --> 00:12:38.379
 and you get carried away,

00:12:38.440 --> 00:12:39.540
 it'll just make you poor.

00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:41.100
 Don't listen

00:12:41.100 --> 00:12:42.240
 to what the Bible says

00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:43.300
 about sexuality

00:12:43.300 --> 00:12:44.120
 and identity,

00:12:44.400 --> 00:12:45.780
 it's just going

00:12:45.780 --> 00:12:46.759
 to make you lonely,

00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:48.280
 it's just going

00:12:48.280 --> 00:12:48.960
 to hurt you.

00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:51.360
 don't listen

00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:55.400
 to these concerns

00:12:55.400 --> 00:12:56.280
 about humility,

00:12:56.540 --> 00:12:57.960
 it'll just make you weak.

00:12:59.180 --> 00:13:00.000
 Other people

00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:01.019
 will get the promotion.

00:13:02.220 --> 00:13:03.060
 Be careful,

00:13:03.420 --> 00:13:04.500
 don't get extreme.

00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:07.540
 Before we know it,

00:13:08.540 --> 00:13:09.660
 unrecognized,

00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:11.160
 but now maybe

00:13:11.160 --> 00:13:12.400
 beginning to be recognized,

00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:13.460
 we hear the voice

00:13:13.460 --> 00:13:13.960
 that says,

00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:15.440
 did God really say

00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:17.500
 that you should be generous?

00:13:17.820 --> 00:13:18.900
 Did God really say

00:13:18.900 --> 00:13:20.040
 that you should be chaste?

00:13:20.740 --> 00:13:22.000
 Did God really say

00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:22.840
 you should be humble?

00:13:24.140 --> 00:13:24.460
 Listen,

00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:25.700
 nothing bad

00:13:25.700 --> 00:13:26.720
 will happen to you

00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:27.520
 if you don't do

00:13:27.520 --> 00:13:28.260
 those things.

00:13:29.060 --> 00:13:29.800
 Be careful

00:13:29.800 --> 00:13:31.000
 because God knows

00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:31.420
 that if,

00:13:33.580 --> 00:13:34.360
 God knows

00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:35.300
 you have the possibility

00:13:35.300 --> 00:13:35.940
 to be great

00:13:35.940 --> 00:13:36.840
 and to be like God

00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:37.340
 and he wants

00:13:37.340 --> 00:13:38.260
 to keep you down.

00:13:38.259 --> 00:13:45.580
 And we hear God

00:13:45.580 --> 00:13:46.519
 out of this perspective

00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:48.259
 and so when we hear

00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:49.159
 the opening word

00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:50.519
 of verse 2,

00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:55.700
 our basic fears

00:13:55.700 --> 00:13:57.379
 about God hurting us

00:13:57.379 --> 00:13:58.220
 come to the fore.

00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:01.120
 But the shocking thing

00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:02.559
 about Abraham's answer

00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:03.460
 in verse 5,

00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:05.120
 and it's really shocking,

00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:05.919
 look at it again,

00:14:06.019 --> 00:14:06.519
 verse 5,

00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:07.399
 then Abraham said

00:14:07.399 --> 00:14:08.299
 to his young men,

00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:10.360
 stay here with the donkey,

00:14:11.220 --> 00:14:12.259
 I and the boy

00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:13.600
 will go over there

00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:14.639
 and worship

00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:16.679
 and come again to you.

00:14:18.340 --> 00:14:19.799
 Like that's a shocking thing

00:14:19.799 --> 00:14:20.899
 for Abraham to say.

00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:22.759
 You see,

00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:23.559
 you and I

00:14:23.559 --> 00:14:24.659
 hear verse 2

00:14:24.659 --> 00:14:25.779
 and we interpret it

00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:27.500
 from our fear

00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:28.899
 that God will harm us,

00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:31.460
 that he will belittle us,

00:14:32.079 --> 00:14:33.539
 that he will make us less.

00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:36.019
 but Abraham

00:14:36.019 --> 00:14:37.199
 hears it

00:14:37.199 --> 00:14:38.480
 in the context

00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:39.779
 of promise and miracle.

00:14:42.839 --> 00:14:43.439
 God's

00:14:43.439 --> 00:14:44.639
 free,

00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:45.799
 loving,

00:14:46.059 --> 00:14:47.099
 generous promise

00:14:47.099 --> 00:14:49.579
 that he will make

00:14:49.579 --> 00:14:50.360
 Abraham

00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:51.799
 not just great,

00:14:52.439 --> 00:14:52.959
 not just a,

00:14:53.099 --> 00:14:53.579
 but that,

00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:55.019
 not just that Abraham

00:14:55.019 --> 00:14:55.799
 will be blessed,

00:14:55.939 --> 00:14:56.719
 but that he will be

00:14:56.719 --> 00:14:58.299
 a blessing.

00:14:59.419 --> 00:15:00.779
 And Abraham himself

00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:01.980
 has seen time and time

00:15:01.980 --> 00:15:02.759
 and time again

00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:04.259
 how God has acted

00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:06.460
 miraculously on his behalf

00:15:06.460 --> 00:15:07.720
 to uphold his word.

00:15:08.580 --> 00:15:09.100
 And the story

00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:10.420
 that just goes before this

00:15:10.420 --> 00:15:12.560
 and right from chapter 11

00:15:12.560 --> 00:15:13.279
 all the way through

00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:14.240
 to chapter 21,

00:15:14.420 --> 00:15:15.820
 the story time and time

00:15:15.820 --> 00:15:17.019
 and time again

00:15:17.019 --> 00:15:17.800
 makes it clear

00:15:17.800 --> 00:15:19.220
 that if Sarah

00:15:19.220 --> 00:15:20.519
 is going to have a son,

00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:22.220
 that son

00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:23.100
 is going to have

00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:24.460
 to be a miracle of God.

00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:26.840
 Only a miracle of God

00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:28.019
 will produce that son.

00:15:28.460 --> 00:15:29.019
 And that's what

00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:30.180
 immediately just happened

00:15:30.179 --> 00:15:30.859
 before it.

00:15:31.359 --> 00:15:32.599
 That God has kept

00:15:32.599 --> 00:15:33.179
 his word.

00:15:33.719 --> 00:15:35.459
 He visits Sarah

00:15:35.459 --> 00:15:36.559
 as he promised

00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:38.359
 and as he promised

00:15:38.359 --> 00:15:39.739
 he has kept his word

00:15:39.739 --> 00:15:40.479
 and a miracle

00:15:40.479 --> 00:15:41.179
 is performed

00:15:41.179 --> 00:15:42.659
 and the baby

00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:43.139
 is there,

00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:44.299
 the seed,

00:15:44.479 --> 00:15:45.139
 the offspring

00:15:45.139 --> 00:15:45.919
 is born.

00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:47.299
 And when Abraham

00:15:47.299 --> 00:15:48.979
 hears God's command

00:15:48.979 --> 00:15:50.239
 to go and do this,

00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:51.819
 you and I hear it

00:15:51.819 --> 00:15:52.799
 out of our flesh,

00:15:54.059 --> 00:15:55.439
 he hears it

00:15:55.439 --> 00:15:56.559
 out of God's promise.

00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:59.879
 Now,

00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:01.179
 how's God

00:16:01.179 --> 00:16:01.619
 going to keep

00:16:01.619 --> 00:16:02.139
 his promise?

00:16:02.859 --> 00:16:03.859
 Abraham doesn't know.

00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:06.539
 What Abraham

00:16:06.539 --> 00:16:07.199
 does know

00:16:07.199 --> 00:16:08.299
 is that they're

00:16:08.299 --> 00:16:08.959
 going to worship,

00:16:09.459 --> 00:16:10.279
 they're both

00:16:10.279 --> 00:16:11.119
 going to come back

00:16:11.119 --> 00:16:13.099
 and as he says

00:16:13.099 --> 00:16:14.179
 to Isaac,

00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:15.719
 God will provide

00:16:15.719 --> 00:16:16.519
 for himself.

00:16:17.599 --> 00:16:18.519
 How does it go again?

00:16:18.619 --> 00:16:19.419
 God will provide

00:16:19.419 --> 00:16:20.099
 for himself

00:16:20.099 --> 00:16:20.599
 the lamb

00:16:20.599 --> 00:16:21.479
 for a burnt offering,

00:16:21.579 --> 00:16:22.039
 my son.

00:16:22.739 --> 00:16:23.119
 He doesn't have

00:16:23.119 --> 00:16:23.659
 a lamb with him,

00:16:23.699 --> 00:16:23.959
 doesn't know

00:16:23.959 --> 00:16:24.519
 how it's going to go,

00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:25.600
 but he interprets

00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:26.419
 God's command

00:16:26.419 --> 00:16:27.620
 in light of his promise

00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:28.779
 and in light

00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:30.379
 of his love.

00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:32.559
 So what will God do?

00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:34.319
 How does his story go?

00:16:35.179 --> 00:16:35.519
 Well,

00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:38.059
 if we had another thing

00:16:38.059 --> 00:16:38.960
 for the next scene,

00:16:39.100 --> 00:16:39.779
 it would be called,

00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:40.720
 verses 9 and 10

00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:41.639
 would be the next scene

00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:42.259
 and it would be

00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:43.500
 prepare to die

00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:45.019
 or maybe

00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:46.480
 in light of,

00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:47.840
 what is it,

00:16:47.899 --> 00:16:48.759
 from Star Trek?

00:16:50.699 --> 00:16:53.720
 Is it the Vulcan war cry?

00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:55.279
 It is a good day to die?

00:16:56.800 --> 00:16:57.440
 Some of you

00:16:57.440 --> 00:16:57.800
 who are more,

00:16:58.139 --> 00:16:58.279
 eh?

00:16:59.399 --> 00:16:59.840
 Klingon.

00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:00.540
 I always get them

00:17:00.540 --> 00:17:01.200
 all mixed up.

00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:01.840
 You can just show

00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:02.480
 that I'm not really

00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:03.340
 a science fiction

00:17:03.340 --> 00:17:04.039
 type of guy.

00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:05.740
 A Klingon war cry.

00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:07.019
 It is a good day to die.

00:17:07.140 --> 00:17:08.339
 Verses 9 and 10.

00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:09.799
 When they came

00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:10.339
 to the place

00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:10.900
 of which God

00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:11.680
 had told him,

00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:13.000
 Abraham built

00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:13.839
 the altar there

00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:15.339
 and laid the wood

00:17:15.339 --> 00:17:16.299
 in order

00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:18.039
 and bound Isaac,

00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:18.620
 his son,

00:17:19.100 --> 00:17:19.779
 and laid him

00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:20.460
 on the altar

00:17:20.460 --> 00:17:22.100
 on top of the wood.

00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:23.599
 Then Abraham

00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:24.799
 reached out his hand

00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:26.439
 and took the knife

00:17:26.439 --> 00:17:27.619
 to slaughter

00:17:27.619 --> 00:17:28.719
 his son.

00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:30.259
 Once again,

00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:31.500
 note all of the detail

00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:33.299
 and the deliberation.

00:17:36.299 --> 00:17:38.159
 But then God intervenes.

00:17:38.579 --> 00:17:39.199
 Next scene,

00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:40.859
 verses 11 and 12.

00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:42.679
 Faith's fruit.

00:17:44.719 --> 00:17:45.279
 But,

00:17:45.419 --> 00:17:45.899
 verse 11,

00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:46.819
 the angel of the Lord

00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:47.799
 called to Abraham

00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:48.500
 from heaven

00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:48.980
 and said,

00:17:49.179 --> 00:17:49.519
 Abraham,

00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:50.000
 Abraham.

00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:52.339
 And Abraham said,

00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:53.220
 here I am.

00:17:53.859 --> 00:17:55.059
 And the Lord said,

00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:56.579
 do not lay your hand

00:17:56.579 --> 00:17:57.139
 on the boy

00:17:57.139 --> 00:17:58.720
 or do anything to him.

00:17:59.059 --> 00:17:59.920
 For now I know

00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:00.839
 that you fear God,

00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:01.740
 seeing you have not

00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:02.779
 withheld your son,

00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:04.139
 your only son,

00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:05.259
 from me.

00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:09.480
 This is a story

00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:10.579
 which is talked about

00:18:10.579 --> 00:18:11.299
 a great deal

00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:12.099
 in the New Testament.

00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:14.639
 And the reason

00:18:14.639 --> 00:18:15.240
 I called it

00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:15.859
 Faith's Fruit

00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:16.400
 is this.

00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:18.160
 I'm not very good,

00:18:18.580 --> 00:18:19.860
 anybody who knows me

00:18:19.860 --> 00:18:20.380
 know that I'm not

00:18:20.380 --> 00:18:21.080
 very good at

00:18:21.080 --> 00:18:22.220
 trying to figure out

00:18:22.220 --> 00:18:24.400
 plants and stuff

00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:24.820
 like that

00:18:24.820 --> 00:18:25.720
 in the garden

00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:26.320
 or trees.

00:18:26.860 --> 00:18:27.700
 But if I go up

00:18:27.700 --> 00:18:28.300
 to a tree

00:18:28.300 --> 00:18:30.040
 and I see an apple

00:18:30.040 --> 00:18:30.420
 on it,

00:18:30.620 --> 00:18:31.720
 I know it's an apple

00:18:31.720 --> 00:18:32.080
 tree.

00:18:33.700 --> 00:18:34.740
 I'm an Einstein

00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.680
 when it comes to that.

00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:36.500
 I can pick out,

00:18:36.800 --> 00:18:37.660
 that's an apple tree

00:18:37.660 --> 00:18:38.120
 because it has

00:18:38.120 --> 00:18:39.000
 an apple on it.

00:18:39.540 --> 00:18:40.540
 And what we see

00:18:40.540 --> 00:18:40.980
 here

00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:42.440
 is

00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:44.039
 is it

00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:44.640
 Abraham's

00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:45.440
 great faith

00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:47.160
 that whatever

00:18:47.160 --> 00:18:47.799
 it is that God

00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:48.380
 has told him

00:18:48.380 --> 00:18:48.940
 to do,

00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:51.160
 God's promise

00:18:51.160 --> 00:18:52.580
 and God's miracle

00:18:52.580 --> 00:18:54.240
 and God's grace

00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:55.700
 and God's generosity

00:18:55.700 --> 00:18:57.180
 is that Isaac

00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:58.539
 will be

00:18:58.539 --> 00:18:59.600
 the means,

00:18:59.720 --> 00:19:00.279
 he will be

00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:01.080
 that seed,

00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:02.259
 that ongoing

00:19:02.259 --> 00:19:03.620
 offspring or seed

00:19:03.620 --> 00:19:04.340
 that will be

00:19:04.340 --> 00:19:04.920
 a blessing,

00:19:05.420 --> 00:19:05.900
 that will be

00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:06.500
 blessed and that

00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:07.200
 will be a blessing.

00:19:07.360 --> 00:19:08.519
 And he's living

00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:09.340
 and acting

00:19:09.340 --> 00:19:10.400
 out a promise

00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:11.600
 that God

00:19:11.600 --> 00:19:12.140
 will keep

00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:12.759
 his word,

00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:13.480
 that God

00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.040
 is a God

00:19:14.040 --> 00:19:14.820
 that's sovereign

00:19:14.820 --> 00:19:16.019
 and can do miracles.

00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:17.400
 And so what

00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:18.259
 you see in all

00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:18.860
 of this

00:19:18.860 --> 00:19:19.900
 is like

00:19:19.900 --> 00:19:21.300
 you can't see

00:19:21.300 --> 00:19:21.920
 what's going on

00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:22.880
 inside Abraham,

00:19:23.060 --> 00:19:23.600
 what you can see

00:19:23.600 --> 00:19:24.400
 is what he does.

00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:27.120
 I can't,

00:19:27.360 --> 00:19:27.800
 I'm not good

00:19:27.800 --> 00:19:28.660
 at recognizing trees

00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:29.220
 but if I see

00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:30.180
 an apple on a tree

00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:30.920
 I know it's an apple

00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:31.120
 tree.

00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:31.820
 If I see a pear

00:19:31.820 --> 00:19:32.220
 on a tree

00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:32.920
 I know it's a pear

00:19:32.920 --> 00:19:33.220
 tree.

00:19:33.940 --> 00:19:34.720
 And when God

00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.280
 sees this

00:19:35.280 --> 00:19:35.860
 he knows

00:19:35.860 --> 00:19:36.519
 and sees

00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:37.560
 and we see

00:19:37.560 --> 00:19:38.640
 because the text

00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:39.140
 is written

00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:40.460
 not so much

00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:41.080
 for us

00:19:41.080 --> 00:19:42.380
 as it is

00:19:42.380 --> 00:19:43.140
 and not so much

00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:43.740
 for God

00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:44.620
 as it is

00:19:44.620 --> 00:19:45.220
 for us.

00:19:47.280 --> 00:19:47.740
 See,

00:19:47.860 --> 00:19:48.440
 one of the things

00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:49.140
 about this

00:19:49.140 --> 00:19:51.860
 when Abraham

00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:52.660
 enters into

00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:53.140
 a covenant

00:19:53.140 --> 00:19:53.840
 with God

00:19:53.840 --> 00:19:55.240
 and God

00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:55.800
 enters into

00:19:55.800 --> 00:19:56.220
 a covenant

00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:56.780
 with him

00:19:56.780 --> 00:19:58.500
 in a very

00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.180
 very real

00:19:59.180 --> 00:19:59.700
 sense

00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:00.100
 Abraham

00:20:00.100 --> 00:20:00.960
 now belongs

00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:01.480
 to God.

00:20:02.600 --> 00:20:03.320
 And when

00:20:03.320 --> 00:20:04.060
 Isaac

00:20:04.060 --> 00:20:06.180
 is circumcised

00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:07.420
 and brought

00:20:07.420 --> 00:20:07.880
 into the

00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:08.220
 covenant

00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:09.240
 Abraham

00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:09.839
 is saying

00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:10.480
 in a sense

00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:11.059
 that not only

00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:11.759
 do I belong

00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:12.299
 to God

00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:13.180
 but Isaac

00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:13.799
 belongs to

00:20:13.799 --> 00:20:14.079
 God.

00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:15.059
 One of the

00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:15.360
 ways to

00:20:15.360 --> 00:20:15.759
 understand

00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:16.059
 what it

00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:16.400
 means to

00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:16.839
 become a

00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:17.200
 Christian

00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:18.299
 is

00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:19.339
 and we're

00:20:19.339 --> 00:20:19.539
 going to

00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:19.880
 celebrate

00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:20.460
 the Lord's

00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:20.680
 Supper

00:20:20.680 --> 00:20:21.200
 in a sense

00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:21.759
 the covenant

00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:22.200
 meal

00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:23.420
 where we

00:20:23.420 --> 00:20:23.900
 remember

00:20:23.900 --> 00:20:24.579
 what Jesus

00:20:24.579 --> 00:20:25.220
 did for us

00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:25.940
 on the cross

00:20:25.940 --> 00:20:26.980
 and we also

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:27.700
 remember his

00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:28.240
 resurrection

00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:28.759
 and the fact

00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:29.140
 that he will

00:20:29.140 --> 00:20:29.759
 come again

00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:31.019
 is that

00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:31.360
 when you

00:20:31.360 --> 00:20:32.259
 ask Christ

00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:32.740
 to be your

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.039
 Savior

00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:33.380
 and your

00:20:33.380 --> 00:20:33.700
 Lord

00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:35.600
 he hears

00:20:35.600 --> 00:20:36.259
 your request

00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:37.200
 and he says

00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:37.759
 yes or when

00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.360
 you recognize

00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:38.920
 that you've

00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:39.259
 given your

00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:39.680
 life to

00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:40.039
 Christ

00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:41.120
 but you've

00:20:41.120 --> 00:20:41.580
 given your

00:20:41.580 --> 00:20:42.019
 life to

00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:42.460
 Christ.

00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:44.819
 Jim Elliott

00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:45.400
 was famous

00:20:45.400 --> 00:20:45.799
 for the

00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:46.120
 quote

00:20:46.120 --> 00:20:47.340
 he is no

00:20:47.340 --> 00:20:47.819
 fool

00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:48.940
 who gives

00:20:48.940 --> 00:20:49.259
 what he

00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:50.120
 cannot keep

00:20:50.120 --> 00:20:51.240
 to gain

00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:51.940
 what he

00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:52.740
 cannot lose.

00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:54.299
 He is no

00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:54.900
 fool who

00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:55.380
 gives what

00:20:55.380 --> 00:20:55.799
 he cannot

00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:56.240
 keep.

00:20:56.460 --> 00:20:56.860
 None of us

00:20:56.860 --> 00:20:57.240
 can keep

00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:57.900
 our lives

00:20:57.900 --> 00:20:58.539
 or our

00:20:58.539 --> 00:20:59.019
 possessions

00:20:59.019 --> 00:20:59.720
 or our

00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:00.420
 reputations.

00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:01.460
 We will

00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:02.039
 lose them

00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:03.380
 all but

00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:03.759
 when we give

00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:04.620
 ourselves to

00:21:04.619 --> 00:21:05.099
 Christ

00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:06.599
 he gives

00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:07.099
 us something

00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:07.459
 that we

00:21:07.459 --> 00:21:07.839
 cannot

00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:08.339
 lose

00:21:08.339 --> 00:21:09.099
 which is

00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:09.299
 that we

00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:09.599
 will be

00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:09.819
 his

00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:10.179
 forever.

00:21:14.179 --> 00:21:14.979
 God not

00:21:14.979 --> 00:21:15.439
 only now

00:21:15.439 --> 00:21:16.179
 sees in a

00:21:16.179 --> 00:21:16.619
 sense the

00:21:16.619 --> 00:21:17.019
 apple

00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:18.539
 but he

00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:19.119
 provides.

00:21:19.859 --> 00:21:20.939
 The next

00:21:20.939 --> 00:21:21.459
 scene verses

00:21:21.459 --> 00:21:22.159
 13 and

00:21:22.159 --> 00:21:22.739
 14 the

00:21:22.739 --> 00:21:23.099
 Lord's

00:21:23.099 --> 00:21:23.479
 provision

00:21:23.479 --> 00:21:26.759
 and Abraham

00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:28.199
 lifted up his

00:21:28.199 --> 00:21:28.679
 eyes and

00:21:28.679 --> 00:21:29.099
 looked and

00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:29.939
 behold behind

00:21:29.939 --> 00:21:30.479
 him was a

00:21:30.479 --> 00:21:31.339
 ram caught

00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:31.599
 in the

00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:32.159
 thicket by

00:21:32.159 --> 00:21:32.859
 his horns

00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:34.019
 and Abraham

00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:34.659
 went and

00:21:34.659 --> 00:21:35.079
 took the

00:21:35.079 --> 00:21:35.500
 ram and

00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:36.019
 offered it

00:21:36.019 --> 00:21:36.479
 up as a

00:21:36.479 --> 00:21:37.139
 burnt offering

00:21:37.139 --> 00:21:37.879
 instead of

00:21:37.879 --> 00:21:38.299
 his son.

00:21:39.139 --> 00:21:39.740
 So Abraham

00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.259
 called the

00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:40.659
 name of that

00:21:40.659 --> 00:21:41.179
 place the

00:21:41.179 --> 00:21:41.599
 Lord will

00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:42.859
 provide as

00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:43.339
 it is said

00:21:43.339 --> 00:21:44.019
 to this day

00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:44.439
 on the

00:21:44.439 --> 00:21:44.859
 mount of

00:21:44.859 --> 00:21:45.259
 the Lord

00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:45.759
 it shall

00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:47.000
 be provided.

00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:49.079
 And so

00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:49.479
 what we see

00:21:49.479 --> 00:21:50.139
 here is

00:21:50.139 --> 00:21:50.619
 there's a

00:21:50.619 --> 00:21:51.339
 short-term

00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:52.699
 provision but

00:21:52.699 --> 00:21:53.339
 there's also

00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:54.099
 a riddle

00:21:54.099 --> 00:21:54.899
 which is

00:21:54.899 --> 00:21:55.379
 posed.

00:21:57.199 --> 00:21:57.299
 But

00:21:57.299 --> 00:21:59.799
 the really

00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:00.599
 big thing

00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:01.079
 in this

00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:02.839
 look at

00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:03.439
 verse 13

00:22:03.439 --> 00:22:03.960
 again it's

00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:04.699
 just a

00:22:04.699 --> 00:22:05.220
 very very

00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:06.480
 little tiny

00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:07.199
 word which

00:22:07.199 --> 00:22:07.579
 is very

00:22:07.579 --> 00:22:08.119
 important.

00:22:08.879 --> 00:22:09.199
 And Abraham

00:22:09.199 --> 00:22:09.919
 lifted up his

00:22:09.919 --> 00:22:10.339
 eyes and

00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:10.759
 looked and

00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:12.220
 behold behind

00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:12.859
 him was a

00:22:12.859 --> 00:22:13.480
 ram caught

00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.039
 in a thicket

00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:14.460
 by his

00:22:14.460 --> 00:22:14.960
 horns.

00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:16.159
 And Abraham

00:22:16.159 --> 00:22:17.240
 went and

00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:17.740
 took the

00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:19.019
 ram and

00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:19.579
 offered it

00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:19.980
 up as a

00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:20.179
 burnt

00:22:20.179 --> 00:22:20.699
 offering

00:22:20.699 --> 00:22:21.899
 instead

00:22:21.899 --> 00:22:23.619
 of his

00:22:23.619 --> 00:22:23.960
 son.

00:22:26.379 --> 00:22:27.019
 Instead

00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:28.139
 of his

00:22:28.139 --> 00:22:28.419
 son.

00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:30.279
 and this

00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:30.620
 is the

00:22:30.620 --> 00:22:31.539
 first time

00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:32.240
 in the

00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:32.580
 Bible

00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:33.140
 where this

00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:34.019
 idea of

00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:35.060
 a sacrifice

00:22:35.060 --> 00:22:36.420
 an offering

00:22:36.420 --> 00:22:36.980
 in the

00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:37.720
 place of

00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:38.519
 or instead

00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:40.240
 is introduced.

00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:41.840
 And as the

00:22:41.840 --> 00:22:42.279
 rest of the

00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:43.420
 story unfolds

00:22:43.420 --> 00:22:43.840
 and the rest

00:22:43.840 --> 00:22:44.420
 of the

00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:44.980
 Pentateuch

00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:45.420
 and the rest

00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:45.640
 of the

00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:46.080
 old what

00:22:46.080 --> 00:22:46.480
 we call

00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:46.820
 the Old

00:22:46.820 --> 00:22:47.200
 Testament

00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:47.539
 and our

00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:47.779
 Jewish

00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:48.039
 friends

00:22:48.039 --> 00:22:48.420
 call the

00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:48.840
 Tanakh

00:22:48.840 --> 00:22:49.539
 and we

00:22:49.539 --> 00:22:50.019
 see it

00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:50.620
 unfold in

00:22:50.620 --> 00:22:50.920
 the rest

00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:51.240
 of the

00:22:51.240 --> 00:22:52.380
 New

00:22:52.380 --> 00:22:52.880
 Testament

00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:53.400
 is this

00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:54.100
 idea of

00:22:54.100 --> 00:22:54.519
 one

00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:55.380
 dying

00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:56.440
 on behalf

00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:56.740
 of

00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:57.039
 another.

00:22:58.799 --> 00:22:59.340
 Now

00:22:59.340 --> 00:23:00.740
 one of

00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:01.000
 the things

00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:01.460
 which makes

00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:01.920
 the Christian

00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:02.799
 faith so

00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:03.240
 beautiful

00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:05.400
 so emotionally

00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:06.080
 beautiful is

00:23:06.080 --> 00:23:06.559
 it touches

00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:07.279
 on something

00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:07.860
 that human

00:23:07.860 --> 00:23:08.799
 beings recognize

00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:09.940
 as being

00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:10.360
 deeply

00:23:10.360 --> 00:23:11.100
 beautiful.

00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:13.759
 It's not

00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:14.240
 that great

00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:14.620
 a movie

00:23:14.620 --> 00:23:15.120
 but there's

00:23:15.120 --> 00:23:15.480
 a movie

00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:16.420
 on Netflix

00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:16.900
 called

00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:17.500
 The Last

00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:18.220
 Full Measure

00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:20.480
 and it's

00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:20.880
 based on

00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:21.279
 the true

00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:22.580
 story of

00:23:22.580 --> 00:23:22.900
 a fellow

00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:23.180
 by the

00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:23.519
 name of

00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:23.900
 Pitts

00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:24.700
 who was

00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:25.140
 a medic

00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:26.700
 with the

00:23:26.700 --> 00:23:27.280
 Air Force

00:23:27.280 --> 00:23:27.960
 and in

00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:28.380
 the Vietnam

00:23:28.380 --> 00:23:28.900
 War

00:23:28.900 --> 00:23:29.820
 in one

00:23:29.820 --> 00:23:30.000
 of the

00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.360
 bloodiest

00:23:30.360 --> 00:23:30.820
 battles

00:23:30.820 --> 00:23:31.140
 of the

00:23:31.140 --> 00:23:31.460
 Vietnam

00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:31.900
 War

00:23:31.900 --> 00:23:32.640
 he

00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:33.320
 continually

00:23:33.320 --> 00:23:33.780
 left

00:23:33.780 --> 00:23:34.020
 the

00:23:34.020 --> 00:23:34.340
 safety

00:23:34.340 --> 00:23:34.700
 of his

00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.280
 helicopter

00:23:35.280 --> 00:23:36.440
 to go

00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:36.840
 down

00:23:36.840 --> 00:23:37.600
 to help

00:23:37.600 --> 00:23:38.180
 and bring

00:23:38.180 --> 00:23:38.500
 back

00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:38.960
 the wound

00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:39.420
 to care

00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:39.740
 for the

00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:40.020
 wounded

00:23:40.020 --> 00:23:40.340
 and to

00:23:40.340 --> 00:23:40.720
 bring them

00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:41.040
 up into

00:23:41.040 --> 00:23:41.480
 the safety

00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:41.740
 of the

00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.240
 helicopter

00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:43.460
 and at

00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:43.780
 the height

00:23:43.780 --> 00:23:44.040
 of the

00:23:44.040 --> 00:23:44.560
 intensity

00:23:44.560 --> 00:23:44.940
 of the

00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:45.300
 battle

00:23:45.300 --> 00:23:46.800
 his

00:23:46.800 --> 00:23:47.380
 commanding

00:23:47.380 --> 00:23:47.880
 officers

00:23:47.880 --> 00:23:49.060
 order him

00:23:49.060 --> 00:23:50.080
 to come

00:23:50.080 --> 00:23:50.440
 up with

00:23:50.440 --> 00:23:50.900
 the last

00:23:50.900 --> 00:23:51.460
 patient

00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:52.460
 leaving

00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:53.360
 the soldiers

00:23:53.360 --> 00:23:53.740
 on the

00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:54.100
 ground

00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:55.079
 to have

00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:55.459
 to deal

00:23:55.459 --> 00:23:55.899
 with no

00:23:55.899 --> 00:23:56.219
 medical

00:23:56.219 --> 00:23:56.659
 help

00:23:56.659 --> 00:23:57.519
 to a

00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:57.740
 very

00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:58.339
 fierce

00:23:58.339 --> 00:23:58.799
 battle

00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:00.139
 and in

00:24:00.139 --> 00:24:00.579
 the movie

00:24:00.579 --> 00:24:01.219
 the true

00:24:01.219 --> 00:24:01.639
 story

00:24:01.639 --> 00:24:02.740
 he refuses

00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:03.259
 to go up

00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:03.519
 to the

00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:03.799
 safety

00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.099
 of the

00:24:04.099 --> 00:24:04.599
 helicopter

00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:05.519
 and he

00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:05.759
 stays

00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.039
 on the

00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:06.399
 ground

00:24:06.399 --> 00:24:07.639
 60

00:24:07.639 --> 00:24:08.480
 different

00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:09.339
 soldiers

00:24:09.339 --> 00:24:10.099
 lives

00:24:10.099 --> 00:24:10.619
 are ultimately

00:24:10.619 --> 00:24:11.339
 saved that

00:24:11.339 --> 00:24:12.179
 day by

00:24:12.179 --> 00:24:12.980
 his heroism

00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:13.599
 and he

00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:14.039
 dies

00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:15.279
 and the

00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:15.839
 story is

00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:16.259
 told

00:24:16.259 --> 00:24:17.359
 later on

00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:18.019
 for political

00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:18.459
 reasons

00:24:18.459 --> 00:24:19.000
 he was never

00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:19.399
 given the

00:24:19.399 --> 00:24:19.740
 medal of

00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:19.939
 honour

00:24:19.939 --> 00:24:20.279
 and the

00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:20.480
 movie

00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:20.980
 which is a

00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:21.319
 so-so

00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:21.719
 movie

00:24:21.719 --> 00:24:22.799
 tells a

00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:23.199
 story

00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:24.100
 of how

00:24:24.100 --> 00:24:24.720
 he eventually

00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:25.259
 gets the

00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:25.600
 medal of

00:24:25.600 --> 00:24:25.840
 honour

00:24:25.840 --> 00:24:26.960
 for his

00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:27.220
 great

00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:27.940
 courage

00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:29.160
 one of the

00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:29.519
 interesting

00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:30.080
 things about

00:24:30.080 --> 00:24:30.559
 the movie

00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:32.180
 is that

00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:32.940
 they show

00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:33.920
 or portray

00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:34.539
 some of the

00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:34.900
 men who

00:24:34.900 --> 00:24:35.539
 were saved

00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:36.840
 and their

00:24:36.840 --> 00:24:37.660
 struggle

00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:38.900
 coming to

00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:39.400
 terms

00:24:39.400 --> 00:24:40.480
 with the

00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:41.039
 fact that

00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:41.340
 they

00:24:41.340 --> 00:24:42.580
 live

00:24:42.580 --> 00:24:43.539
 because he

00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:43.940
 died

00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:47.100
 so on one

00:24:47.100 --> 00:24:47.740
 hand you see

00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:48.319
 here something

00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:49.080
 which is very

00:24:49.080 --> 00:24:49.500
 beautiful

00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:50.480
 you recognize

00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:51.640
 this profound

00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:52.180
 beauty

00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:53.620
 that

00:24:53.620 --> 00:24:55.380
 this person

00:24:55.380 --> 00:24:56.200
 would act

00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:56.700
 in such

00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:57.140
 a way

00:24:57.140 --> 00:24:57.940
 that these

00:24:57.940 --> 00:24:58.819
 many people's

00:24:58.819 --> 00:24:59.380
 lives are

00:24:59.380 --> 00:24:59.860
 saved

00:24:59.860 --> 00:25:02.940
 and you can

00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:03.400
 we all

00:25:03.400 --> 00:25:04.120
 understand on

00:25:04.120 --> 00:25:04.819
 one level

00:25:04.819 --> 00:25:05.960
 that it

00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:06.539
 makes us a

00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:07.519
 bit uncomfortable

00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:08.059
 if we're the

00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:09.099
 recipient of

00:25:09.099 --> 00:25:09.880
 such profound

00:25:09.880 --> 00:25:10.360
 love

00:25:10.360 --> 00:25:11.720
 so on one

00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:12.519
 hand we see

00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:12.980
 the beauty

00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:13.319
 of it

00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:13.819
 and the

00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:14.380
 beauty of it

00:25:14.380 --> 00:25:14.700
 is made

00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:15.180
 even more

00:25:15.180 --> 00:25:16.000
 clearly if

00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.440
 you think

00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:18.079
 of the

00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:18.539
 opposite

00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:18.720
 it

00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:20.399
 I don't

00:25:20.399 --> 00:25:20.599
 know how

00:25:20.599 --> 00:25:21.000
 to pronounce

00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:21.220
 it

00:25:21.220 --> 00:25:21.960
 I never

00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:22.500
 listen to

00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:22.859
 the news

00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:23.379
 on the radio

00:25:23.379 --> 00:25:23.779
 and I never

00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.240
 watch the

00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:24.659
 news on the

00:25:24.659 --> 00:25:24.960
 radio

00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:25.420
 it means

00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:25.680
 there's

00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:26.440
 one of my

00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:26.859
 problems

00:25:26.859 --> 00:25:27.200
 and is I

00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:27.379
 don't know

00:25:27.379 --> 00:25:27.599
 how to

00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:28.119
 pronounce a

00:25:28.119 --> 00:25:28.539
 whole pile

00:25:28.539 --> 00:25:29.059
 of things

00:25:29.059 --> 00:25:30.279
 but that

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.659
 terrible

00:25:30.659 --> 00:25:31.099
 school

00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:31.519
 shooting

00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.659
 in Texas

00:25:32.659 --> 00:25:34.460
 where the

00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:34.920
 police

00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:36.579
 armed with

00:25:36.579 --> 00:25:37.039
 automatic

00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:37.720
 weapons and

00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:38.259
 bulletproof

00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:38.819
 vests

00:25:38.819 --> 00:25:40.559
 didn't go

00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:40.859
 in to

00:25:40.859 --> 00:25:41.240
 save the

00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:41.579
 children

00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:46.519
 they

00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:47.119
 didn't go

00:25:47.119 --> 00:25:47.579
 in to

00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:48.279
 save the

00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:48.619
 children

00:25:48.619 --> 00:25:53.980
 that's the

00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:54.379
 opposite

00:25:54.379 --> 00:25:56.519
 and when we

00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:56.980
 look at that

00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:57.500
 we realize

00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:57.799
 there's

00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:58.119
 something

00:25:58.119 --> 00:25:59.000
 we see

00:25:59.000 --> 00:25:59.519
 the beauty

00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:00.180
 of the

00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:00.839
 sacrifice

00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:02.059
 in the

00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:02.420
 case of

00:26:02.420 --> 00:26:02.839
 the fellow

00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:04.079
 pits

00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:05.879
 and there's

00:26:05.879 --> 00:26:06.480
 something not

00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:07.039
 right there

00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:08.299
 just over

00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:08.859
 ten years

00:26:08.859 --> 00:26:09.200
 ago

00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:11.139
 the

00:26:11.139 --> 00:26:11.799
 Concordia

00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:12.460
 cruise ship

00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:14.220
 hit a

00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:14.619
 rock

00:26:14.619 --> 00:26:15.720
 began to

00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:16.059
 sink

00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:17.160
 one of the

00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:17.619
 very very

00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:18.439
 first people

00:26:18.439 --> 00:26:18.839
 to come

00:26:18.839 --> 00:26:19.219
 to land

00:26:19.219 --> 00:26:19.739
 safely

00:26:19.739 --> 00:26:20.199
 was the

00:26:20.199 --> 00:26:20.679
 captain

00:26:20.679 --> 00:26:22.719
 who fled

00:26:22.719 --> 00:26:23.179
 the ship

00:26:23.179 --> 00:26:24.859
 and 32

00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:25.699
 people died

00:26:25.699 --> 00:26:30.019
 you see

00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:30.539
 at a very

00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.179
 very deep

00:26:31.179 --> 00:26:31.579
 level

00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:32.739
 there's this

00:26:32.739 --> 00:26:33.219
 mystery

00:26:33.219 --> 00:26:34.839
 of a person

00:26:34.839 --> 00:26:35.199
 who would

00:26:35.199 --> 00:26:35.619
 sacrifice

00:26:35.619 --> 00:26:36.339
 himself for

00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:36.579
 another

00:26:36.579 --> 00:26:38.259
 and that

00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:38.859
 mystery of

00:26:38.859 --> 00:26:39.339
 the beauty

00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:39.619
 of it

00:26:39.619 --> 00:26:39.839
 and the

00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:40.459
 power of

00:26:40.459 --> 00:26:40.739
 it is

00:26:40.739 --> 00:26:41.159
 seen even

00:26:41.159 --> 00:26:41.819
 more clearly

00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:42.439
 when we see

00:26:42.439 --> 00:26:43.059
 the opposite

00:26:43.059 --> 00:26:45.139
 but there

00:26:45.139 --> 00:26:45.740
 is a mystery

00:26:45.740 --> 00:26:46.720
 I'll tell you

00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.319
 just one more

00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:47.899
 story about

00:26:47.899 --> 00:26:48.119
 it

00:26:48.119 --> 00:26:49.480
 somebody that

00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:49.940
 Louise and

00:26:49.940 --> 00:26:50.319
 I know

00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:52.539
 we didn't

00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:53.079
 meet the

00:26:53.079 --> 00:26:53.619
 person

00:26:53.619 --> 00:26:54.079
 but we

00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:55.379
 met the

00:26:55.379 --> 00:26:56.399
 people after

00:26:56.399 --> 00:26:56.960
 this was

00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:57.379
 over

00:26:57.379 --> 00:26:57.799
 there was

00:26:57.799 --> 00:26:58.879
 a couple

00:26:58.879 --> 00:26:59.940
 they fell

00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:00.299
 in love

00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:00.960
 they married

00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:01.819
 they wanted

00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:02.079
 to have

00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:02.539
 children

00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:05.200
 she got

00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:05.639
 pregnant

00:27:05.639 --> 00:27:07.119
 and after

00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:07.519
 she got

00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:07.899
 pregnant

00:27:07.899 --> 00:27:08.539
 she discovered

00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:08.920
 that she

00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:09.139
 had

00:27:09.139 --> 00:27:09.599
 cancer

00:27:09.599 --> 00:27:13.940
 so the

00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:14.420
 doctors

00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:16.220
 told her

00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:17.139
 she needed

00:27:17.139 --> 00:27:17.599
 to take

00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:18.159
 the cancer

00:27:18.159 --> 00:27:18.519
 treatment

00:27:18.519 --> 00:27:18.980
 immediately

00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:19.339
 if she

00:27:19.339 --> 00:27:19.599
 wanted to

00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:19.879
 have any

00:27:19.879 --> 00:27:20.279
 chance

00:27:20.279 --> 00:27:21.059
 of surviving

00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:21.740
 and living

00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:24.180
 she asked

00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:24.519
 what the

00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:24.839
 cancer

00:27:24.839 --> 00:27:25.220
 treatment

00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:25.680
 would do

00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:27.599
 to the

00:27:27.599 --> 00:27:28.000
 baby in

00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.379
 her womb

00:27:28.379 --> 00:27:30.319
 and they

00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:30.639
 said well

00:27:30.639 --> 00:27:30.940
 the baby

00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:31.420
 will die

00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:33.039
 but you

00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:33.579
 might live

00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:36.740
 so as

00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.119
 we've been

00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:37.680
 told she

00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:38.220
 thought about

00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:38.420
 it and

00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:38.800
 she thought

00:27:38.800 --> 00:27:39.779
 about it

00:27:39.779 --> 00:27:42.000
 don't know

00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.300
 all that

00:27:42.300 --> 00:27:42.600
 went on

00:27:42.600 --> 00:27:42.840
 in her

00:27:42.840 --> 00:27:43.220
 thought

00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:47.259
 and I

00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:47.580
 know this

00:27:47.580 --> 00:27:48.000
 is actually

00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.200
 one of

00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:48.980
 those cases

00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:49.779
 that when

00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:50.500
 people discuss

00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:50.980
 abortion

00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:53.740
 are complicated

00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:55.880
 but for

00:27:55.880 --> 00:27:56.340
 her

00:27:56.340 --> 00:27:58.660
 she chose

00:27:58.660 --> 00:27:59.120
 the baby

00:27:59.120 --> 00:28:03.240
 she didn't

00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:03.620
 take the

00:28:03.620 --> 00:28:03.920
 cancer

00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:04.320
 treatment

00:28:04.320 --> 00:28:06.600
 the baby

00:28:06.600 --> 00:28:07.140
 was born

00:28:07.140 --> 00:28:08.520
 and after

00:28:08.520 --> 00:28:08.840
 the baby

00:28:08.840 --> 00:28:09.340
 was born

00:28:09.340 --> 00:28:09.820
 she took

00:28:09.820 --> 00:28:10.300
 the cancer

00:28:10.300 --> 00:28:10.780
 treatment

00:28:10.780 --> 00:28:11.700
 and I

00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:11.900
 think it

00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:12.140
 was about

00:28:12.140 --> 00:28:12.340
 a year

00:28:12.340 --> 00:28:12.600
 later

00:28:12.600 --> 00:28:13.180
 she died

00:28:13.180 --> 00:28:21.540
 part of

00:28:21.540 --> 00:28:21.820
 the reason

00:28:21.820 --> 00:28:22.120
 that's

00:28:22.120 --> 00:28:22.700
 complicated

00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.220
 of course

00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:23.780
 is because

00:28:23.780 --> 00:28:24.420
 we have a

00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:25.000
 complicated

00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:25.720
 relationship

00:28:25.720 --> 00:28:26.240
 with seeing

00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:26.620
 what's in

00:28:26.620 --> 00:28:26.940
 the womb

00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:29.059
 it would

00:28:29.059 --> 00:28:29.500
 be a

00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.120
 simpler

00:28:30.120 --> 00:28:30.519
 thing in

00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:30.840
 a sense

00:28:30.840 --> 00:28:31.120
 for us

00:28:31.120 --> 00:28:31.420
 to see

00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:32.080
 if it

00:28:32.080 --> 00:28:32.380
 was a

00:28:32.380 --> 00:28:32.519
 little

00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:32.900
 baby

00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:33.360
 held in

00:28:33.360 --> 00:28:33.740
 the arm

00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:34.620
 and we

00:28:34.620 --> 00:28:34.920
 would all

00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:35.559
 understand

00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:36.460
 why a

00:28:36.460 --> 00:28:37.080
 mother might

00:28:37.080 --> 00:28:37.660
 go into a

00:28:37.660 --> 00:28:37.840
 burning

00:28:37.840 --> 00:28:38.340
 building

00:28:38.339 --> 00:28:41.079
 even if

00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:41.339
 it meant

00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:41.919
 her dying

00:28:41.919 --> 00:28:42.240
 if she

00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:42.599
 was able

00:28:42.599 --> 00:28:43.740
 to have

00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:44.099
 the baby

00:28:44.099 --> 00:28:44.480
 live

00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:47.459
 and we

00:28:47.459 --> 00:28:48.019
 recognize

00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:48.459
 there's

00:28:48.459 --> 00:28:48.779
 something

00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:49.480
 emotionally

00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:50.179
 powerful

00:28:50.179 --> 00:28:50.879
 and beautiful

00:28:50.879 --> 00:28:52.659
 about

00:28:52.659 --> 00:28:54.980
 sacrifice

00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:58.779
 here we

00:28:58.779 --> 00:28:59.419
 see this

00:28:59.419 --> 00:29:00.480
 very very

00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:01.500
 two little

00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:02.579
 tiny words

00:29:02.579 --> 00:29:03.720
 instead of

00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:06.740
 this

00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:08.120
 insertion

00:29:08.120 --> 00:29:09.240
 it's the

00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:09.759
 crack

00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.740
 the

00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:11.500
 lifting

00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:11.960
 of the

00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:12.319
 curtain

00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:12.980
 in the

00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:13.460
 window

00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:15.000
 for we

00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:15.339
 as the

00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:15.600
 reader

00:29:15.600 --> 00:29:16.160
 to begin

00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:16.720
 to see

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.140
 into the

00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:17.559
 heart of

00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:17.920
 God

00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:20.839
 and what

00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:21.460
 the triune

00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:21.900
 God is

00:29:21.900 --> 00:29:22.559
 really like

00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:23.339
 you see

00:29:23.339 --> 00:29:23.880
 it's really

00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:24.380
 only

00:29:24.380 --> 00:29:25.000
 truly

00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:25.680
 the case

00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:26.240
 that the

00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:26.759
 triune

00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:27.200
 God

00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:28.579
 the

00:29:28.579 --> 00:29:29.180
 gospel

00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:32.960
 Christian

00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:33.420
 faith

00:29:33.420 --> 00:29:34.660
 is a

00:29:34.660 --> 00:29:35.039
 religion

00:29:35.039 --> 00:29:35.600
 of love

00:29:35.600 --> 00:29:36.480
 in the

00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:36.779
 short

00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:37.180
 term

00:29:37.180 --> 00:29:37.420
 the

00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:38.140
 ram

00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:38.640
 dies

00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:38.880
 in the

00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:39.140
 place

00:29:39.140 --> 00:29:39.320
 of

00:29:39.320 --> 00:29:39.680
 Isaac

00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:39.880
 and

00:29:39.880 --> 00:29:40.200
 Abraham

00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:40.420
 and

00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:40.740
 Isaac

00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:41.259
 return

00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:42.039
 to the

00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:42.220
 two

00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:42.460
 young

00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:42.680
 men

00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:42.820
 and

00:29:42.820 --> 00:29:43.279
 go home

00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:44.060
 after

00:29:44.060 --> 00:29:44.200
 they

00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:44.360
 have

00:29:44.360 --> 00:29:44.860
 worshipped

00:29:44.860 --> 00:29:47.680
 but

00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:48.200
 the same

00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:48.720
 story

00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:49.259
 poses

00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:49.720
 a bit

00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.019
 of a

00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:50.340
 riddle

00:29:50.340 --> 00:29:51.420
 which

00:29:51.420 --> 00:29:51.880
 points

00:29:51.880 --> 00:29:52.140
 into

00:29:52.140 --> 00:29:52.320
 the

00:29:52.320 --> 00:29:52.700
 future

00:29:52.700 --> 00:29:53.779
 I'm

00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:53.920
 not

00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:54.100
 going

00:29:54.100 --> 00:29:54.240
 to

00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:54.440
 read

00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:54.740
 the

00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:55.560
 verses

00:29:55.560 --> 00:29:56.120
 15

00:29:56.120 --> 00:29:56.300
 to

00:29:56.300 --> 00:29:56.660
 19

00:29:56.660 --> 00:29:57.980
 but

00:29:57.980 --> 00:29:58.140
 if

00:29:58.140 --> 00:29:58.220
 you

00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:58.360
 go

00:29:58.360 --> 00:29:58.600
 back

00:29:58.600 --> 00:29:58.740
 and

00:29:58.740 --> 00:29:58.920
 look

00:29:58.920 --> 00:29:59.080
 at

00:29:59.080 --> 00:29:59.259
 them

00:29:59.259 --> 00:29:59.580
 later

00:29:59.580 --> 00:30:00.060
 the

00:30:00.060 --> 00:30:00.320
 word

00:30:00.320 --> 00:30:00.880
 offspring

00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:01.140
 I

00:30:01.140 --> 00:30:01.380
 haven't

00:30:01.380 --> 00:30:01.779
 commented

00:30:01.779 --> 00:30:02.220
 on this

00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:02.420
 throughout

00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:02.580
 the

00:30:02.579 --> 00:30:02.839
 11

00:30:02.839 --> 00:30:03.279
 chapters

00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:03.460
 that

00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:03.539
 we

00:30:03.539 --> 00:30:03.799
 looked

00:30:03.799 --> 00:30:03.960
 at

00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:04.240
 the

00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:04.659
 word

00:30:04.659 --> 00:30:05.139
 offspring

00:30:05.139 --> 00:30:05.519
 is a

00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:05.699
 very

00:30:05.699 --> 00:30:06.199
 unusual

00:30:06.199 --> 00:30:06.720
 word

00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:07.159
 sometimes

00:30:07.159 --> 00:30:07.439
 in

00:30:07.439 --> 00:30:07.699
 the

00:30:07.699 --> 00:30:07.859
 King

00:30:07.859 --> 00:30:08.119
 James

00:30:08.119 --> 00:30:08.460
 version

00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:09.000
 it's

00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:09.419
 translated

00:30:09.419 --> 00:30:09.699
 as

00:30:09.699 --> 00:30:10.059
 seed

00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:10.859
 it's

00:30:10.859 --> 00:30:11.159
 called

00:30:11.159 --> 00:30:11.379
 in

00:30:11.379 --> 00:30:11.659
 Hebrew

00:30:11.659 --> 00:30:11.899
 a

00:30:11.899 --> 00:30:12.299
 collective

00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:12.899
 singular

00:30:12.899 --> 00:30:14.079
 and

00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:14.240
 that

00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:14.500
 means

00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:14.639
 that

00:30:14.639 --> 00:30:15.099
 sometimes

00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:15.359
 it's

00:30:15.359 --> 00:30:15.699
 understood

00:30:15.699 --> 00:30:15.919
 as

00:30:15.919 --> 00:30:16.259
 referring

00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:16.759
 to

00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:16.919
 a

00:30:16.919 --> 00:30:17.299
 collective

00:30:17.299 --> 00:30:17.539
 but

00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:17.699
 it's

00:30:17.699 --> 00:30:17.859
 a

00:30:17.859 --> 00:30:18.279
 singular

00:30:18.279 --> 00:30:19.759
 it's

00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:19.919
 a

00:30:19.919 --> 00:30:20.359
 singular

00:30:20.359 --> 00:30:21.399
 it's

00:30:21.399 --> 00:30:21.579
 a

00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:21.939
 he

00:30:21.939 --> 00:30:24.099
 and

00:30:24.099 --> 00:30:24.839
 the

00:30:24.839 --> 00:30:25.039
 New

00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:25.419
 Testament

00:30:25.419 --> 00:30:26.019
 writers

00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:27.619
 realize

00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:28.199
 that

00:30:28.199 --> 00:30:28.480
 it's

00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:28.779
 this

00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:30.059
 prophecy

00:30:30.059 --> 00:30:30.399
 not

00:30:30.399 --> 00:30:30.679
 just

00:30:30.679 --> 00:30:31.000
 of a

00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:31.439
 line

00:30:31.439 --> 00:30:31.699
 of

00:30:31.699 --> 00:30:31.899
 the

00:30:31.899 --> 00:30:32.159
 seed

00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:32.420
 but

00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:32.660
 that

00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:33.300
 out

00:30:33.300 --> 00:30:33.660
 of

00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:34.040
 the

00:30:34.040 --> 00:30:36.040
 Jewish

00:30:36.040 --> 00:30:36.560
 people

00:30:36.560 --> 00:30:36.779
 there

00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:36.980
 would

00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:37.180
 be

00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:37.460
 a

00:30:37.460 --> 00:30:37.940
 savior

00:30:37.940 --> 00:30:38.160
 who

00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:38.279
 would

00:30:38.279 --> 00:30:38.440
 be

00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:38.740
 born

00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:38.880
 and

00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:40.200
 Emmanuel

00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:40.740
 would

00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:41.200
 come

00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:42.000
 and

00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:43.000
 so much

00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:43.279
 of what

00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:43.680
 happens

00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:44.040
 in

00:30:44.040 --> 00:30:44.380
 verses

00:30:44.380 --> 00:30:44.920
 15

00:30:44.920 --> 00:30:45.300
 and on

00:30:45.299 --> 00:31:15.299


00:31:15.299 --> 00:31:45.299


00:31:45.299 --> 00:31:46.919
 corrupted

00:31:46.919 --> 00:31:47.700
 so aware

00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:47.980
 man

00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:48.919
 could

00:31:48.919 --> 00:31:49.119
 be

00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:51.180
 uniting

00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:57.680
 taks

00:31:57.680 --> 00:31:58.319
 uniting

00:31:58.319 --> 00:31:58.779
 stone

00:31:58.779 --> 00:32:07.139
 or a woman. An animal ultimately isn't a proper substitute. If it was to be a human being who

00:32:07.139 --> 00:32:13.160
 would be volunteering to die for the person on death row, well, that's a very problematic thing.

00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:23.139
 We would worry that there was some type of coercion or mental illness on the part. It would

00:32:23.140 --> 00:32:31.200
 be too easy for a rich criminal to hire some poor man or some poor woman to die in their

00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:38.240
 place so that they could walk free. There is no true sacrifice, and there is no true love.

00:32:39.520 --> 00:32:44.259
 And the Bible closes the door with this story and with the stories that continue on about

00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:51.880
 any type of thing of human sacrifice. In Psalm 40, it recognized that the blood of bulls and

00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:58.480
 goats ultimately can't satisfy and die in the place of a human being, leaving behind a mystery

00:32:58.480 --> 00:33:05.060
 and a riddle as to how God is going to provide for himself the sacrifice for Isaac, and ultimately

00:33:05.060 --> 00:33:14.040
 not just for Isaac, but for Abraham and for you and me. Only God can die in the place of

00:33:14.040 --> 00:33:21.720
 you and me. You don't have to worry. You can't possibly cajole him, force him.

00:33:21.880 --> 00:33:29.400
 Bribe him. He's God. And it's very, very interesting. If you go back and you look at how it develops,

00:33:29.560 --> 00:33:37.640
 that God's revealed as being a God of relationship, of Yahweh, of the Lord. He's a relational God.

00:33:38.280 --> 00:33:43.820
 And God is revealed in the story of Hagar as the God who sees, the God who sees me.

00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:52.019
 And God in the story just before this is revealed as the everlasting God, the God who is from all

00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:58.240
 ages and in all places and in all times. And here God is revealed as Jehovah Jireh, the God who will

00:33:58.240 --> 00:34:11.099
 provide. And since only God could die a death instead of human beings that could cover me and you,

00:34:11.099 --> 00:34:14.460
 and you on you, you who are watching.

00:34:18.299 --> 00:34:24.619
 And then given that there is a beauty and a power to sacrifice the woman who died for her baby, the man

00:34:24.619 --> 00:34:33.079
 who died, that 60 soldiers would live. And that God, the Son of God, would die for you and for me.

00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:42.739
 One of the things that the people in the movie, the last full measure, wrestle with is whether or not

00:34:42.739 --> 00:34:51.319
 their lives have been worthy of the sacrifice made by pits. And one of the things which makes the

00:34:51.319 --> 00:34:58.519
 gospel even more beautiful is that we know that our lives aren't worthy. I mean, one of the things

00:34:58.519 --> 00:35:04.759
 which so bedevils us as human beings is that we want to maintain our fronts. We worry that if people

00:35:04.759 --> 00:35:13.099
 were to see behind our appearances and to know us as we really and truly deeply are, if they saw those

00:35:13.099 --> 00:35:18.340
 things for which we are ashamed and of which we have done that are wrong, that people wouldn't want to

00:35:18.340 --> 00:35:25.639
 have a relationship with us. And the God who sees me sees both your excellencies and your virtues

00:35:25.639 --> 00:35:32.299
 and your uniqueness and your beauty, but he also sees your shame and your wrongdoing. He sees the

00:35:32.299 --> 00:35:39.639
 worst about you and still seeing the worst about you, he dies for you instead of you.

00:35:41.319 --> 00:35:45.159
 And so it is that the gospel has this power and profound

00:35:45.159 --> 00:35:54.500
 sacrifice at the very heart of what it means is that we receive what he has done for us, that we enter

00:35:54.500 --> 00:36:03.059
 into that and that enters into us. And there is this, the beginning, the dawning of the possibility of a

00:36:03.059 --> 00:36:11.300
 secure identity and a secure place to love and to be generous and to forgive and to give and to serve

00:36:11.300 --> 00:36:19.280
 and to pursue justice and creativity, not just out of our accomplishments that make us feel very,

00:36:19.280 --> 00:36:25.300
 very confident, but those things can come crashing down. There can be that tweak that we made five

00:36:25.300 --> 00:36:33.120
 years ago that could get us cancelled or that thing, that momentary act of temper or selfishness or

00:36:33.120 --> 00:36:38.120
 something that reveals that there's something within us that's not just as good as all of our

00:36:38.120 --> 00:36:43.240
 accomplishments seem to have been and that at some point in time we come face to face with the hurt that

00:36:43.239 --> 00:36:50.459
 we might have done or that the good that we failed to do. But there's this begins as we not only

00:36:50.459 --> 00:36:56.819
 receive Christ as our Savior, but to understand that he died knowing the worst about us.

00:36:59.639 --> 00:37:06.759
 But still he died instead of that I could belong to God.

00:37:06.760 --> 00:37:14.980
 And he did it out of just out of love and out of grace and out of mercy and out of kindness.

00:37:18.920 --> 00:37:24.360
 And so the gospel begins to change us that we can live out of promise.

00:37:26.780 --> 00:37:33.640
 That we can live secure, begin to learn to live secure out of an identity rooted

00:37:33.639 --> 00:37:45.239
 in his sacrifice. The God who sees me, the everlasting God, my provider, has died for me.

00:37:46.519 --> 00:37:49.299
 And I can live out of the promise of his blessing.

00:37:52.359 --> 00:37:58.420
 And that's why we open the word and that's why we remember his sacrifice for us.

00:37:58.420 --> 00:38:05.460
 And then it becomes a place that we can stand where we can begin to

00:38:05.460 --> 00:38:11.880
 come face to face with the fact that there's still part of us deep within.

00:38:12.119 --> 00:38:18.920
 We've been clothed with his righteousness, we are his, but we still need to die to our sin,

00:38:19.119 --> 00:38:28.119
 to our lack of living out of promise, and our fear that if we pray, that we could pray too much,

00:38:28.119 --> 00:38:33.920
 or be too generous or we're too loving or too just.

00:38:36.659 --> 00:38:41.119
 The gospel opens up to us as the gospel opens up within us,

00:38:41.799 --> 00:38:45.019
 a place to live out of, a place to stand

00:38:45.019 --> 00:38:49.460
 and truly be healed.

00:38:49.460 --> 00:38:54.440
 Please stand.

00:39:03.139 --> 00:39:04.440
 Let's bow our heads in prayer.

00:39:05.220 --> 00:39:10.260
 Father, we thank you that Jesus died instead of each one of us.

00:39:10.360 --> 00:39:15.019
 We thank you, Father, that because he is God, he can die not just for one person,

00:39:15.019 --> 00:39:19.820
 but that he can be the one who is instead of every one of the elect,

00:39:20.320 --> 00:39:23.340
 everyone who puts their faith and trust and confidence in Jesus.

00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:27.940
 We thank you that he did this as the God who sees me,

00:39:28.860 --> 00:39:31.179
 the God who is my provider,

00:39:32.179 --> 00:39:38.440
 and that there is in fact, Father, a beauty and a power in the gospel.

00:39:38.440 --> 00:39:43.139
 And we thank you, Father, that you're not a God who desires others to die

00:39:43.139 --> 00:39:45.420
 so that you might be exalted,

00:39:46.039 --> 00:39:51.059
 but that you have died so that we might be exalted to your presence.

00:39:52.900 --> 00:39:55.820
 So, Father, we ask that you help us to receive the gospel,

00:39:56.820 --> 00:39:59.119
 to trust this promise of life in Christ.

00:39:59.119 --> 00:40:04.000
 And we ask, Father, that the Holy Spirit, as we sing, as we pray,

00:40:04.199 --> 00:40:05.679
 as we celebrate the Lord's Supper,

00:40:05.799 --> 00:40:08.440
 that the gospel will become more real to our hearts

00:40:08.440 --> 00:40:13.279
 so that day by day we live out of your promise to us in Christ.

00:40:13.859 --> 00:40:16.759
 And we ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior.

00:40:17.480 --> 00:40:17.839
 Amen.