WEBVTT

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 Please do open up your Bibles to Genesis 16.

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!

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 Abraham falls, but the up, God makes a promise.

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 Evil fills the world, but God saves Noah.

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 Abraham is called, but almost destroys the promise, but God rescues.

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 As you follow God's people and his promise to save the world,

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 it isn't this neat straight line journey with no hiccups.

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 No, it's actually a real mess.

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 It's a rollercoaster of ups and downs.

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 That's why all of our lives are never just this neat straight line.

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 But we also see in Genesis, the rollercoaster never collapses.

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 It keeps going, because God's grace is always there to rescue and restore.

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 And this constant cycle of sin and grace, sin and grace,

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 it's there throughout Genesis because it is showing us

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 this is what life is like under God's promise.

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 This is the reality of being God's people in Christ's church.

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 It's not neat or perfect.

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 It's messy.

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 The Christian life is full of failures and sins and brokenness and even shattered families.

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 But there is something constant in our life that stops us from collapsing.

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 It is the grace of God.

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 The God who sees us and restores us and looks after us as we live under his promise.

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 And this chapter in front of us really captures the down and the up of the Christian life.

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 This is a very unvarnished and honest account of the messy reality of God's people.

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 And so if you are here tonight and you are thinking that Christians are just these glossy people

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 with picture perfect lives, I hope your assumptions will be dashed tonight.

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 Because that is simply not the reality.

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 But I also hope you'll see there is something even more beautiful going on in a Christian's life.

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 It is the grace of God who restores us.

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 And so this chapter is a story of two hearts, sin and grace.

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 Our mess and God's restoration.

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 And this chapter is here to help us to understand the mess of our lives.

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 To understand how we wander, why we doubt, how we end up in those downs and to warn us of it.

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 But this also shows us the God who restores.

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 Our saviour who helps the wandering and the broken and the destitute.

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 And he sees all our affliction.

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 So we're going to look at the two halves of this chapter.

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 The mess of sin and the grace when God sees us.

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 But first we need to recognise, we need to understand the mess of sin.

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 My first point today, the mess of sin.

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 This chapter begins with a double problem.

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 Did you see, look at verse 1.

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 Now Sarai, Abraham's wife, had borne him no children.

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 So not only is Sarai suffering the painful grief of childlessness, an agonising experience for so many.

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 But there is something even worse.

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 The child she hopes for is meant to bring blessing to the world.

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 That's the promise God made to Abraham.

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 Abraham's going to have a child, offspring.

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 And from him will come a great nation.

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 And through that offspring, God's blessing will reach the world.

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 God is going to save this world from the curse through someone coming from Abraham's family tree.

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 It's the same promise of the gospel we have today.

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 Except we know who the offspring turns out to be.

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 We can look back to see who Jesus is.

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 See the fulfilment in him.

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 But Abraham and Sarai can't look back.

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 No, they are looking ahead.

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 Waiting for God to act.

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 Waiting for God to do something.

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 But they don't see anything.

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 In fact, look at verse 3.

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 It's been 10 years of nothing.

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 Can you imagine how hard that is?

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 10 years of waiting.

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 I'm sure we all know that feeling when life seems bleak.

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 And God has made big promises for us.

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 Promises to be with us.

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 And love us.

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 But we just don't see it.

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 We don't see God working in our lives.

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 We don't see his promises coming true.

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 We wait and we wait and we wait.

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 We don't see light at the end of the tunnel.

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 And it can make us doubt God, can't it?

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 We wonder, where are you, Lord, in all of this?

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 And when that happens, we can either, by faith, wait on the Lord.

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 And even though we don't see him, we trust God that he is there and he is doing something in my life, even though I don't understand it.

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 Or we can just become bitter and replace that faith with doubt.

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 Well, look how Sarai responds, verse 3.

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 And Sarai said to Abraham,

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 Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children.

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 What's she doing?

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 She doesn't see God working according to her timings and her ways.

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 And so she becomes bitter.

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 And she doubts God's character.

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 In fact, she blames God.

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 The Lord has prevented me.

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 God's done this.

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 God's set me up.

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 God's against me right now.

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 She thinks God is useless and can't and won't fulfill his promises.

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 And so, because of that, she starts looking at everything in the wrong way.

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 Like lenses over our eyes.

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 With the lens of faith, we may not see God at work right now, but we realize he is there.

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 He is at work and his promises never fail.

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 And so we see this problem in my life.

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 I may not understand it, but I know it's there for a reason.

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 But with the lens of doubt, we only see our problems as God is against me.

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 Or God is useless.

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 Or God can't really help me in this cursed world.

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 And so when we think like that, what do we try to do?

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 We try to fix it ourselves.

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 If God won't make me happy, then I'll take my happiness into my own hands.

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 Which is exactly what Sarai does, verse 2.

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 Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children.

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 Go into my servant.

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 It may be that I shall obtain children by her.

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 If God won't bring this child, I will.

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 If God can't bless me, then I'll find the blessing myself.

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 So she takes plans into her own hands.

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 And she gets Abraham to sleep with her servant, Hagar.

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 And did you notice?

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 It's just like the Garden of Eden all over again.

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 Like Eve, Sarai doubts God's character.

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 Like Eve, Sarai tempts her husband with this plan.

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 And like Adam, Abraham listens to the voice of his wife instead of leading her.

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 And like the fruits, look at verse 3.

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 Sarai took Hagar and gave her to Abraham.

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 And like Adam and Eve, they try to find blessing without God.

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 This same pattern of sin continues east of Eden.

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 We see it with Abraham.

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 We see it with Sarai.

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 And we see it in our own hearts today.

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 When we don't see God working the way we want him to.

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 And we're dissatisfied with what the Lord has given us in this life.

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 And we aren't happy in the way that we hoped.

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 And maybe, maybe, like Sarai, it's the disappointment that God hasn't given me a family.

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 And we don't see light at the end of the tunnel.

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 And we can't see his plans.

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 We don't like his timings.

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 And the new creation isn't coming fast enough.

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 And so what do we do?

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 We doubt God.

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 And we take things into our own hands.

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 Well, if God won't fix my dissatisfaction, well, I'll find satisfaction somewhere else.

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 I'll find it in my work.

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 Forget church.

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 Forget Sundays.

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 Let's really do something with my career now.

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 Or if it's not God's plan to give me a family, well, I'll make my own plans.

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 And we get on the apps.

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 We start texting.

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 We say yes to those coffee meetups with that guy at work, the guy at the gym.

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 Or God isn't working fast enough with the pain in my life.

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 But drinking helps it instantly.

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 So I'll take it into my own hands.

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 This is what we do.

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 God has promised to restore Eden, but I can't see it, so I'll make an Eden for myself.

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 We may not realize it, but it is the attitude of, I can create blessing better than God can.

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 And in fact, in Galatians, in the New Testament, Paul looks back at this very moment with Sarai and Hagar,

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 and he says, what is going on here is actually, at heart, this is Sarai trying to save herself.

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 Abraham can either have a saviour child through Sarai, relying on God's promise, and therefore salvation will come by God alone.

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 By faith, God will be the one to fix the sin and mess of this world.

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 Or, Abraham and Sarai can have a child through Hagar, relying on what they do, their works, their plans, their efforts,

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 and trying to fix sin themselves.

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 What we have here is salvation by faith versus salvation by works.

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 And when we doubt God and try to fix our fallen life with what we do,

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 whether it be building a happy life our way,

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 or trying to cover up our guilt by living a better life,

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 either way, ultimately, we are trying to save ourselves.

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 But it doesn't work.

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 Because the only way out of this curse is for God to save.

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 To trust in God's promise, faith.

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 This is why Christ came.

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 Not for you to dig yourself out of this hole,

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 but for Christ to reach down and pick you up himself.

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 Not for you to work,

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 but for Christ to work for you.

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 And that is the choice set before us.

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 With our sin, with our guilt,

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 with whatever misery and pain we are going through,

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 and we struggle to see God,

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 or any light at the end of the tunnel,

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 will you leave it in God's hands?

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 Or will you take it into your own hands?

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 Well, this chapter warns us,

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 when we do take it into our own hands,

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 it only leaves us in a bigger mess.

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 Just look at the fallout of Sarai's plan.

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 Verse 4.

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 Hagar becomes pregnant,

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 and Hagar looked with contempt on her mistress.

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 Hagar looked down on Sarai,

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 mocks her.

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 I got pregnant and you didn't, Sarai.

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 And it sparks jealousy,

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 a rivalry in the household.

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 And verse 5.

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 Sarai says to Abraham,

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 this is all your fault.

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 I gave her to you,

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 and now look how she's treating me.

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 It's all your fault, Abraham.

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 Even though this was actually Sarai's plan.

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 But Abraham, he's stuck in the middle now.

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 And so verse 6, he says,

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 well, she's your servant,

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 you deal with her.

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 And so Sarai is harsh with Hagar.

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 Hagar makes her life a living nightmare.

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 And so Hagar runs away.

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 Away from Canaan,

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 away from the promise,

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 and away from God.

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 Broken family,

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 broken marriage,

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 runaway pregnancy,

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 shattered faith.

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 It is by any standard,

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 an absolute mess.

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 This is a very,

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 very low dip

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 in the roller coaster.

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 And how did it all start?

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 With doubting God

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 and taking things

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 into our own hands.

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 From that

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 to now this mess.

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 And this is showing us

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 something very important

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 that we need to know.

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 Sin

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 has real consequences.

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 Sin

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 never just

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 happens

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 in a vacuum.

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 No.

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 Sin

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 ripples out

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 into this world

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 and into our lives

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 and causes

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 real,

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 tangible mess.

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 Our decisions

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 to make an Eden

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 for ourselves

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 here on earth

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 without God,

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 it has consequences.

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 It can

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 shatter families.

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 It can

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 taint marriages.

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 It can

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 cause

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 rivalries,

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 jealousy.

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 jealousy.

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 And like

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 Hagar,

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 it can even

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 make people

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 run away

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 from God

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 altogether.

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 It is what we

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 painfully see

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 all around us

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 and it's what we

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 painfully see

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 in our own lives.

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 And these

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 consequences,

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 they can even

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 be long term.

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 The big one

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 here being

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 there is now

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 this child,

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 Ishmael.

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 and though

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 every child

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 is a wonderful

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 gift from God,

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 he will be

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 a permanent

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 reality in

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 their lives

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 now.

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 And that

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 family dynamic

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 is going to

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 be complicated.

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 And in fact,

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 this child

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 is going to

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 cause trouble

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 for generations

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 to come.

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 Did you see

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 that in verse

00:15:35.420 --> 00:15:35.780
 12?

00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:37.740
 His hand

00:15:37.740 --> 00:15:38.140
 will be

00:15:38.140 --> 00:15:38.900
 against everyone

00:15:38.900 --> 00:15:39.740
 and everyone's

00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:40.400
 hand against

00:15:40.400 --> 00:15:40.680
 him.

00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:42.040
 And he shall

00:15:42.040 --> 00:15:42.920
 dwell over

00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:43.620
 against all

00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:44.159
 his kinsmen.

00:15:45.719 --> 00:15:46.379
 This is

00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:47.059
 anticipating

00:15:47.059 --> 00:15:48.000
 the friction

00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:48.599
 between the

00:15:48.599 --> 00:15:49.299
 Ishmaelites

00:15:49.299 --> 00:15:49.620
 and the

00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:50.000
 Israelites.

00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:52.959
 Now this

00:15:52.959 --> 00:15:53.539
 isn't saying

00:15:53.539 --> 00:15:54.399
 that every

00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:55.819
 child brings

00:15:55.819 --> 00:15:56.500
 complicated

00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:57.059
 dynamics.

00:15:57.259 --> 00:15:57.439
 No, it's

00:15:57.439 --> 00:15:57.860
 not saying

00:15:57.860 --> 00:15:58.139
 that.

00:15:59.099 --> 00:15:59.799
 This chapter

00:15:59.799 --> 00:16:00.279
 is teaching

00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:01.419
 that sin

00:16:01.419 --> 00:16:01.939
 can have

00:16:01.939 --> 00:16:02.979
 short term

00:16:02.979 --> 00:16:04.399
 and long

00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:04.620
 term

00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:05.240
 consequences.

00:16:06.439 --> 00:16:07.539
 It causes

00:16:07.539 --> 00:16:08.339
 all sorts

00:16:08.339 --> 00:16:08.819
 of mess.

00:16:10.579 --> 00:16:10.980
 And what

00:16:10.980 --> 00:16:11.459
 makes it

00:16:11.459 --> 00:16:12.179
 even messier

00:16:12.179 --> 00:16:12.699
 is that

00:16:12.700 --> 00:16:14.580
 there aren't

00:16:14.580 --> 00:16:15.940
 clear-cut

00:16:15.940 --> 00:16:16.759
 goodies and

00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:17.379
 baddies

00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:18.080
 here.

00:16:18.780 --> 00:16:19.680
 It's not

00:16:19.680 --> 00:16:21.120
 sinners or

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:21.720
 victims.

00:16:22.140 --> 00:16:23.100
 It's both.

00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:25.360
 Sarai

00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:26.040
 sinned with

00:16:26.040 --> 00:16:26.640
 this plan

00:16:26.640 --> 00:16:27.440
 but she

00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:27.900
 was also

00:16:27.900 --> 00:16:28.440
 sinned

00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:28.879
 against

00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:29.560
 by Hagar.

00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:31.300
 Abram

00:16:31.300 --> 00:16:31.879
 was sinned

00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:32.200
 against,

00:16:32.340 --> 00:16:32.900
 tempted by

00:16:32.900 --> 00:16:33.580
 Sarai,

00:16:33.920 --> 00:16:34.540
 but he

00:16:34.540 --> 00:16:35.480
 also sinned

00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:36.220
 by listening

00:16:36.220 --> 00:16:36.740
 to her.

00:16:38.040 --> 00:16:38.300
 Hagar

00:16:38.300 --> 00:16:39.020
 was used.

00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:39.460
 She was

00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:39.940
 treated

00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:40.720
 harshly

00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:42.200
 but she

00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:42.940
 also sinned

00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:43.240
 against

00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:43.540
 Sarai.

00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:43.920
 She

00:16:43.920 --> 00:16:44.580
 sparked

00:16:44.580 --> 00:16:44.860
 this

00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:45.300
 rivalry.

00:16:47.160 --> 00:16:47.620
 So not

00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:48.720
 only are

00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:48.840
 the

00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:49.519
 consequences

00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:50.220
 messy

00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:51.820
 but also

00:16:51.820 --> 00:16:52.139
 the

00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:52.940
 situations

00:16:52.940 --> 00:16:53.259
 that

00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:53.639
 start

00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:53.920
 them.

00:16:55.920 --> 00:16:56.279
 And this

00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:56.899
 is usually

00:16:56.899 --> 00:16:58.320
 the case

00:16:58.320 --> 00:16:58.620
 in the

00:16:58.620 --> 00:16:58.899
 mess of

00:16:58.899 --> 00:16:59.340
 our lives.

00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:01.540
 We are

00:17:01.540 --> 00:17:02.480
 very tempted

00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:03.399
 to think

00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:03.840
 we are

00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:04.500
 only

00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:05.100
 victims,

00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:05.900
 never the

00:17:05.900 --> 00:17:06.120
 sinner.

00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:07.880
 Now there

00:17:07.880 --> 00:17:08.440
 are cases

00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:08.640
 victims of

00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:08.980
 that.

00:17:09.180 --> 00:17:09.480
 Don't get

00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:09.799
 me wrong,

00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:10.200
 we don't

00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:10.460
 want to

00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:10.960
 ignore

00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:11.759
 real victims

00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:12.299
 of sin

00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:13.320
 but we're

00:17:13.320 --> 00:17:14.100
 so easily

00:17:14.100 --> 00:17:14.779
 tempted to

00:17:14.779 --> 00:17:15.160
 think we

00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:16.400
 are only

00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:17.120
 victims,

00:17:17.380 --> 00:17:17.779
 never the

00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:18.000
 sinner.

00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:20.380
 But most

00:17:20.380 --> 00:17:20.840
 of the time

00:17:20.840 --> 00:17:21.680
 it's messy,

00:17:21.840 --> 00:17:22.620
 it's both.

00:17:24.320 --> 00:17:24.740
 And it

00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:25.799
 takes real

00:17:25.799 --> 00:17:26.720
 humility to

00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:27.500
 recognise that

00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:29.759
 and to see

00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.580
 where we

00:17:30.580 --> 00:17:31.360
 have sinned

00:17:31.360 --> 00:17:33.279
 and in all

00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:33.600
 the mess

00:17:33.600 --> 00:17:33.840
 of it,

00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:34.559
 if we have

00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:35.240
 been sinned

00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:35.680
 against,

00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:36.740
 are we

00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:37.480
 responding

00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.180
 sinfully.

00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:40.460
 And this

00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:40.860
 chapter,

00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:41.519
 it's getting

00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:42.079
 us to

00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:42.759
 ask ourselves

00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:43.160
 that.

00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:44.500
 It is here

00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.180
 to warn

00:17:45.180 --> 00:17:45.740
 us of the

00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:46.099
 mess,

00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:46.400
 sinking

00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:47.019
 cause when

00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:47.480
 we doubt

00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:48.360
 God and

00:17:48.360 --> 00:17:48.860
 take things

00:17:48.860 --> 00:17:49.200
 into our

00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:49.700
 own hands.

00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:52.460
 And let's

00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:53.360
 not miss

00:17:53.360 --> 00:17:53.740
 this.

00:17:55.099 --> 00:17:55.819
 This is all

00:17:55.819 --> 00:17:57.120
 happening in

00:17:57.120 --> 00:17:57.799
 the church.

00:17:59.160 --> 00:17:59.880
 In this

00:17:59.880 --> 00:18:00.160
 chapter,

00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:01.120
 we aren't

00:18:01.120 --> 00:18:01.620
 in the

00:18:01.620 --> 00:18:02.400
 pagan nations.

00:18:02.819 --> 00:18:03.299
 We aren't

00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:04.019
 following the

00:18:04.019 --> 00:18:04.480
 lives of

00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:05.120
 unbelievers.

00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:05.380
 No,

00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:06.599
 this is the

00:18:06.599 --> 00:18:07.539
 very heart

00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:08.059
 of God's

00:18:08.059 --> 00:18:08.359
 people.

00:18:09.699 --> 00:18:10.159
 At this

00:18:10.159 --> 00:18:10.519
 point,

00:18:10.639 --> 00:18:11.399
 the promise

00:18:11.399 --> 00:18:12.559
 exists nowhere

00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:13.379
 else in the

00:18:13.379 --> 00:18:13.619
 world.

00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:14.599
 It is only

00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:15.279
 here in

00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:15.899
 this family

00:18:15.899 --> 00:18:16.699
 and what

00:18:16.699 --> 00:18:17.019
 does it

00:18:17.019 --> 00:18:17.659
 look like?

00:18:18.119 --> 00:18:18.659
 An

00:18:18.659 --> 00:18:19.279
 absolute

00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:20.000
 mess.

00:18:22.199 --> 00:18:22.699
 And this

00:18:22.699 --> 00:18:23.500
 shows us

00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:24.740
 what life

00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:25.019
 in the

00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:25.359
 church can

00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:25.819
 be like.

00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:27.439
 It's a

00:18:27.439 --> 00:18:28.000
 rollercoaster.

00:18:29.399 --> 00:18:30.259
 If you are

00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:30.899
 here thinking

00:18:30.899 --> 00:18:31.539
 that Christians

00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:31.980
 are just

00:18:31.980 --> 00:18:32.519
 these glossy

00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:33.559
 people with

00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:34.319
 picture-perfect

00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:34.859
 lives,

00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:35.879
 that simply

00:18:35.879 --> 00:18:36.460
 isn't the

00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:36.899
 reality.

00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:38.879
 This side

00:18:38.879 --> 00:18:39.179
 of heaven,

00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:39.819
 life in the

00:18:39.819 --> 00:18:40.220
 church is

00:18:40.220 --> 00:18:40.500
 messy,

00:18:40.639 --> 00:18:41.159
 full of

00:18:41.159 --> 00:18:41.980
 complexities

00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:43.159
 and difficult

00:18:43.159 --> 00:18:44.079
 family dynamics

00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:45.359
 and hurt

00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:46.099
 and sin

00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:46.740
 and all its

00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:47.339
 consequences.

00:18:49.899 --> 00:18:50.159
 And so

00:18:50.159 --> 00:18:50.639
 there will be

00:18:50.639 --> 00:18:51.319
 many here

00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:52.799
 tonight who

00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:53.299
 are going

00:18:53.299 --> 00:18:53.859
 through that

00:18:53.859 --> 00:18:54.439
 right now.

00:18:55.700 --> 00:18:56.579
 You may be

00:18:56.579 --> 00:18:57.480
 in that mess.

00:18:58.319 --> 00:18:59.139
 You took

00:18:59.139 --> 00:18:59.679
 things into

00:18:59.679 --> 00:19:00.039
 your own

00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:00.599
 hands and

00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:00.980
 it's all

00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:01.480
 gone wrong

00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:01.899
 and it

00:19:01.899 --> 00:19:02.859
 just seems

00:19:02.859 --> 00:19:03.599
 unfixable.

00:19:04.459 --> 00:19:05.019
 You don't

00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:05.299
 know where

00:19:05.299 --> 00:19:05.919
 to turn

00:19:05.919 --> 00:19:07.059
 and you

00:19:07.059 --> 00:19:07.839
 still don't

00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:08.359
 see any

00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:08.740
 light at

00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:08.939
 the end

00:19:08.939 --> 00:19:09.119
 of the

00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:09.339
 tunnel.

00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:11.679
 Well if

00:19:11.679 --> 00:19:11.979
 that is

00:19:11.979 --> 00:19:12.419
 you and

00:19:12.419 --> 00:19:12.759
 it's all

00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:13.000
 of us

00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:13.299
 really,

00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:15.139
 then we

00:19:15.139 --> 00:19:15.659
 need to

00:19:15.659 --> 00:19:17.059
 see how

00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:18.399
 God responds

00:19:18.399 --> 00:19:18.879
 to all

00:19:18.879 --> 00:19:19.359
 this mess.

00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:21.699
 In his

00:19:21.699 --> 00:19:23.479
 grace and

00:19:23.479 --> 00:19:23.879
 in his

00:19:23.879 --> 00:19:24.740
 gentleness,

00:19:25.899 --> 00:19:26.979
 God sees

00:19:26.979 --> 00:19:27.240
 us.

00:19:28.639 --> 00:19:28.979
 And this

00:19:28.979 --> 00:19:29.179
 is the

00:19:29.179 --> 00:19:29.599
 second and

00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:29.959
 the final

00:19:29.959 --> 00:19:30.240
 thing I

00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:30.599
 want us to

00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:31.179
 see tonight,

00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:31.899
 the grace

00:19:31.900 --> 00:19:32.540
 when God

00:19:32.540 --> 00:19:32.980
 sees us,

00:19:33.040 --> 00:19:33.620
 the grace

00:19:33.620 --> 00:19:34.759
 when God

00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:35.280
 sees us.

00:19:36.800 --> 00:19:37.500
 At this

00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:37.900
 point,

00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:39.460
 we're really

00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:39.900
 at the

00:19:39.900 --> 00:19:40.460
 bottom of

00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:40.780
 the roller

00:19:40.780 --> 00:19:41.100
 coaster.

00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:43.019
 Hagar is

00:19:43.019 --> 00:19:43.680
 pregnant and

00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:45.100
 vulnerable and

00:19:45.100 --> 00:19:45.680
 alone,

00:19:46.120 --> 00:19:46.540
 abandoned,

00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:47.100
 nowhere to

00:19:47.100 --> 00:19:47.420
 turn,

00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:48.220
 lost in the

00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:48.380
 mess,

00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:49.300
 literally lost

00:19:49.300 --> 00:19:49.620
 in the

00:19:49.620 --> 00:19:49.960
 wilderness

00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:50.700
 right now,

00:19:51.280 --> 00:19:51.860
 and now

00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:52.900
 very far

00:19:52.900 --> 00:19:53.660
 from God

00:19:53.660 --> 00:19:54.600
 and his

00:19:54.600 --> 00:19:54.960
 promises.

00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:56.560
 It's

00:19:56.560 --> 00:19:56.780
 rock

00:19:56.780 --> 00:19:57.140
 bottom.

00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.560
 But then

00:19:59.559 --> 00:20:01.359
 we hear

00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:01.980
 these very

00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:02.539
 beautiful

00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.519
 words in

00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:04.019
 verse 7.

00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:06.220
 The angel

00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:06.679
 of the

00:20:06.679 --> 00:20:07.419
 Lord found

00:20:07.419 --> 00:20:08.700
 her by a

00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:09.119
 spring of

00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:09.539
 water in

00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:09.919
 the wilderness.

00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:12.500
 A broken

00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:12.859
 woman,

00:20:13.859 --> 00:20:14.419
 nowhere to

00:20:14.419 --> 00:20:14.740
 turn,

00:20:14.819 --> 00:20:15.279
 a guilty

00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:16.659
 woman whom

00:20:16.659 --> 00:20:17.019
 the Lord

00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:17.740
 didn't need

00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.079
 to take

00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:18.779
 notice of,

00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:20.200
 but the

00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:21.859
 Lord found

00:20:21.859 --> 00:20:22.159
 her.

00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:24.179
 Just like

00:20:24.179 --> 00:20:24.519
 the lost

00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:24.759
 sheep,

00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:25.099
 isn't it?

00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:26.619
 And I

00:20:26.619 --> 00:20:27.299
 think it's

00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:27.939
 just such a

00:20:27.939 --> 00:20:29.059
 lovely phrase

00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:30.399
 that captures

00:20:30.399 --> 00:20:31.159
 how God

00:20:31.159 --> 00:20:31.679
 deals with

00:20:31.679 --> 00:20:31.939
 us.

00:20:33.179 --> 00:20:34.179
 He finds

00:20:34.179 --> 00:20:35.139
 us when

00:20:35.139 --> 00:20:35.599
 we're lost

00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:35.839
 in the

00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:36.119
 mess.

00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:38.419
 And when

00:20:38.419 --> 00:20:38.819
 he does,

00:20:38.899 --> 00:20:39.539
 he begins

00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:41.179
 to untangle

00:20:41.179 --> 00:20:41.819
 it by

00:20:41.819 --> 00:20:42.459
 speaking.

00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:44.079
 Do you

00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:44.319
 see,

00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:45.559
 God speaks

00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:46.259
 the exact

00:20:46.259 --> 00:20:47.279
 words she

00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:47.639
 needs.

00:20:47.959 --> 00:20:48.439
 He actually

00:20:48.439 --> 00:20:49.139
 speaks the

00:20:49.139 --> 00:20:49.819
 gospel here.

00:20:50.639 --> 00:20:51.179
 He first

00:20:51.179 --> 00:20:51.379
 of all

00:20:51.379 --> 00:20:52.099
 addresses her

00:20:52.099 --> 00:20:52.399
 sin.

00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:52.779
 He asks

00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:53.359
 verse 8,

00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:54.839
 where have

00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:55.139
 you come

00:20:55.139 --> 00:20:55.459
 from?

00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:56.559
 And where

00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:56.779
 are you

00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:57.039
 going?

00:20:58.419 --> 00:20:59.439
 He forces

00:20:59.439 --> 00:21:00.199
 Hagar to

00:21:00.199 --> 00:21:01.619
 reflect on

00:21:01.619 --> 00:21:02.119
 her life,

00:21:02.179 --> 00:21:02.419
 on her

00:21:02.419 --> 00:21:02.799
 choices.

00:21:04.219 --> 00:21:04.979
 And then

00:21:04.979 --> 00:21:05.519
 God calls

00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:06.019
 her back.

00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:07.699
 Return to

00:21:07.699 --> 00:21:08.179
 your mistress

00:21:08.179 --> 00:21:08.740
 and submit

00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:09.179
 to her.

00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:10.740
 Hagar,

00:21:10.879 --> 00:21:11.179
 repent.

00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:13.299
 Return to

00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:13.779
 the people of

00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:13.919
 God,

00:21:14.059 --> 00:21:14.759
 come back

00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:15.439
 to salvation.

00:21:16.639 --> 00:21:17.319
 And then

00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:17.839
 he promises

00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:18.539
 to bless

00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:19.000
 Hagar,

00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:19.740
 verse 10.

00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:20.939
 I will

00:21:20.939 --> 00:21:21.159
 surely

00:21:21.159 --> 00:21:22.019
 multiply your

00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:22.659
 offspring so

00:21:22.659 --> 00:21:23.000
 that they

00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:23.960
 cannot be

00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:24.599
 numbered for

00:21:24.599 --> 00:21:24.980
 multitude.

00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:27.740
 They're not

00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:28.579
 easy words to

00:21:28.579 --> 00:21:28.819
 hear,

00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:30.440
 but they are

00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:31.160
 such good

00:21:31.160 --> 00:21:31.559
 words.

00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:33.799
 And it's

00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:34.279
 what God

00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:34.759
 says to

00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:35.460
 everyone who

00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:36.880
 doubts and

00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:37.680
 wanders and

00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:38.180
 has taken

00:21:38.180 --> 00:21:38.700
 life into

00:21:38.700 --> 00:21:39.119
 their own

00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:39.619
 hands.

00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:40.640
 In our

00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:41.000
 mess,

00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:41.720
 God says,

00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:42.599
 repent.

00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:45.519
 Return to

00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.140
 my people,

00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:47.960
 and I will

00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:48.799
 bless you

00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:49.619
 even more.

00:21:49.619 --> 00:21:51.619
 God

00:21:51.619 --> 00:21:53.959
 brings her

00:21:53.959 --> 00:21:54.319
 back.

00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:55.779
 She

00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:56.519
 returns to

00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:56.919
 the promise

00:21:56.919 --> 00:21:57.419
 to God's

00:21:57.419 --> 00:21:57.779
 people.

00:21:58.219 --> 00:21:58.379
 God

00:21:58.379 --> 00:21:59.679
 begins even

00:21:59.679 --> 00:22:00.379
 to repair

00:22:00.379 --> 00:22:00.639
 the

00:22:00.639 --> 00:22:01.219
 relationships.

00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:02.799
 She goes

00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.279
 back to

00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:03.759
 Sarai,

00:22:04.579 --> 00:22:05.819
 but God

00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:07.179
 never holds

00:22:07.179 --> 00:22:07.559
 her sin

00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:08.059
 against her.

00:22:09.259 --> 00:22:09.659
 He doesn't

00:22:09.659 --> 00:22:10.059
 bring it

00:22:10.059 --> 00:22:10.319
 up.

00:22:11.179 --> 00:22:11.679
 She doesn't

00:22:11.679 --> 00:22:12.199
 have to

00:22:12.199 --> 00:22:12.699
 make up

00:22:12.699 --> 00:22:13.219
 for it.

00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:13.919
 She doesn't

00:22:13.919 --> 00:22:14.579
 miss out

00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:15.219
 on any

00:22:15.219 --> 00:22:15.699
 blessing.

00:22:15.700 --> 00:22:17.440
 God is

00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:18.840
 just so

00:22:18.840 --> 00:22:20.539
 gentle and

00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:22.360
 kind, and

00:22:22.360 --> 00:22:22.799
 he just

00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:24.380
 safely brings

00:22:24.380 --> 00:22:25.299
 Hagar back

00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:25.779
 into the

00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:26.140
 promise.

00:22:27.620 --> 00:22:28.000
 The

00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:28.559
 rollercoaster

00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:30.180
 dips, but

00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:30.640
 he never

00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:31.039
 lets it

00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:31.420
 collapse.

00:22:33.120 --> 00:22:34.160
 And he

00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:34.700
 only just

00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:35.539
 blesses her

00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:36.360
 even more.

00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:37.299
 It's like God

00:22:37.299 --> 00:22:37.660
 is saying

00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:37.980
 here, I

00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:38.400
 know what

00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:38.840
 you've done.

00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:40.100
 I know

00:22:40.100 --> 00:22:40.500
 what you're

00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.080
 going through.

00:22:41.180 --> 00:22:41.580
 Now come

00:22:41.580 --> 00:22:41.960
 back.

00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:43.360
 Let me

00:22:43.360 --> 00:22:44.019
 fix this

00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:44.700
 mess, and

00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:45.180
 let me

00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:45.840
 just love

00:22:45.840 --> 00:22:46.560
 you even

00:22:46.560 --> 00:22:46.960
 more.

00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.100
 We have

00:22:49.100 --> 00:22:49.799
 such a

00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:50.080
 generous

00:22:50.080 --> 00:22:50.440
 God.

00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:52.420
 And Hagar

00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:53.340
 realizes that,

00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:54.299
 verse 13.

00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:55.900
 So she

00:22:55.900 --> 00:22:56.380
 called the

00:22:56.380 --> 00:22:56.740
 name of

00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:57.100
 the Lord

00:22:57.100 --> 00:22:57.580
 who spoke

00:22:57.580 --> 00:22:58.000
 to her.

00:22:58.759 --> 00:22:59.400
 You are

00:22:59.400 --> 00:22:59.920
 a God

00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:00.500
 of seeing.

00:23:01.600 --> 00:23:01.940
 For she

00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:02.259
 said,

00:23:02.460 --> 00:23:03.180
 truly here

00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:03.600
 I have

00:23:03.600 --> 00:23:04.299
 seen him

00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:05.100
 who looks

00:23:05.100 --> 00:23:05.640
 after me.

00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:07.720
 And again

00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:08.039
 it's such

00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:08.420
 beautiful

00:23:08.420 --> 00:23:08.940
 language.

00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:10.420
 God is

00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:10.860
 the one

00:23:10.860 --> 00:23:11.680
 who sees

00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:12.100
 me in

00:23:12.100 --> 00:23:12.640
 my mess.

00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:14.620
 when you

00:23:14.620 --> 00:23:15.120
 have no

00:23:15.120 --> 00:23:15.740
 hope and

00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:16.240
 nowhere to

00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:17.440
 turn, and

00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:17.840
 you've made

00:23:17.840 --> 00:23:18.400
 a mess of

00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:20.140
 everything, God

00:23:20.140 --> 00:23:21.320
 sees you.

00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:23.020
 He doesn't

00:23:23.020 --> 00:23:23.880
 forget, he

00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:24.140
 doesn't

00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:25.220
 abandon, no, he

00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:26.060
 sees.

00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:27.780
 And he

00:23:27.780 --> 00:23:28.300
 looks after

00:23:28.300 --> 00:23:28.580
 you.

00:23:29.780 --> 00:23:30.500
 Just like

00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:31.100
 Hagar, he

00:23:31.100 --> 00:23:31.759
 comes to

00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:33.140
 heal and

00:23:33.140 --> 00:23:34.140
 restore, to

00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:34.560
 bring us

00:23:34.560 --> 00:23:35.280
 back and to

00:23:35.280 --> 00:23:36.200
 transform the

00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:36.560
 mess.

00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:38.100
 And how?

00:23:38.099 --> 00:23:39.879
 through

00:23:39.879 --> 00:23:40.879
 forgiveness in

00:23:40.879 --> 00:23:41.379
 his son.

00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:43.559
 Whatever

00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:44.240
 mess you

00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:44.659
 might be in

00:23:44.659 --> 00:23:45.139
 right now,

00:23:46.179 --> 00:23:46.899
 however much

00:23:46.899 --> 00:23:47.139
 you have

00:23:47.139 --> 00:23:48.000
 doubted God,

00:23:48.399 --> 00:23:49.079
 however far

00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:49.399
 you have

00:23:49.399 --> 00:23:49.819
 wandered,

00:23:49.959 --> 00:23:51.079
 whatever Eden

00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:51.639
 you have been

00:23:51.639 --> 00:23:52.500
 trying to

00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:52.919
 build for

00:23:52.919 --> 00:23:53.899
 yourself, if

00:23:53.899 --> 00:23:54.480
 you will

00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.039
 return to

00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:55.339
 the Lord

00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:56.939
 now, and

00:23:56.939 --> 00:23:57.419
 come to

00:23:57.419 --> 00:23:57.719
 the Lord

00:23:57.719 --> 00:23:58.240
 Jesus who

00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:58.699
 has come

00:23:58.699 --> 00:23:59.579
 to find

00:23:59.579 --> 00:24:00.279
 the lost,

00:24:01.219 --> 00:24:01.759
 when you

00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:03.539
 return, God

00:24:03.539 --> 00:24:04.299
 will only

00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:04.799
 look after

00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:05.039
 you.

00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:07.180
 And there

00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:07.619
 will be

00:24:07.619 --> 00:24:08.259
 complete

00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:08.799
 forgiveness.

00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:10.740
 Whatever

00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.339
 you've done,

00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:11.720
 he won't

00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:12.139
 hold it

00:24:12.139 --> 00:24:12.659
 against you,

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:13.079
 he doesn't

00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:13.700
 tell you to

00:24:13.700 --> 00:24:14.279
 pay for it,

00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:14.720
 he doesn't

00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:15.539
 hold back

00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.259
 any blessing,

00:24:16.379 --> 00:24:17.220
 no, he

00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:17.779
 forgives.

00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:20.740
 And his

00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:21.240
 grace is

00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:21.960
 always there to

00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:22.720
 restore the

00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:23.200
 mess of our

00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:23.759
 lives, to

00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:25.000
 begin to

00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:25.740
 heal the

00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.279
 pain of

00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:26.859
 our failures.

00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:28.980
 He helps

00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:29.740
 us forgive

00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:30.119
 others.

00:24:31.460 --> 00:24:32.000
 He helps

00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:32.980
 us see where

00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:33.700
 we have sinned

00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:34.099
 in all this

00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:34.460
 mess.

00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:36.379
 And he

00:24:36.379 --> 00:24:37.779
 promises to

00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.220
 bless us

00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:39.299
 even more,

00:24:39.899 --> 00:24:40.980
 to finally

00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:41.799
 one day

00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:43.159
 restore the

00:24:43.159 --> 00:24:43.819
 mess completely

00:24:43.819 --> 00:24:44.359
 and make

00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:45.279
 all things

00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:45.659
 new.

00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:48.180
 There really

00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:49.079
 is a light

00:24:49.079 --> 00:24:49.539
 at the end

00:24:49.539 --> 00:24:49.960
 of the tunnel.

00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:52.279
 And so the

00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.139
 rollercoaster may

00:24:53.139 --> 00:24:53.759
 dip, but with

00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:54.319
 the Lord Jesus

00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:54.960
 it never

00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:55.859
 collapses, he

00:24:55.859 --> 00:24:56.599
 looks after

00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:56.839
 you.

00:24:58.119 --> 00:24:59.000
 In our ruined

00:24:59.000 --> 00:24:59.759
 lives, in our

00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:02.519
 affliction, we

00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:03.639
 can't take

00:25:03.639 --> 00:25:04.480
 things into our

00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:04.940
 own hands

00:25:04.940 --> 00:25:05.339
 anymore.

00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:06.860
 And so

00:25:06.860 --> 00:25:07.279
 what else

00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:07.680
 is there?

00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:09.599
 There is

00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:10.220
 the grace

00:25:10.220 --> 00:25:10.839
 of God.

00:25:13.140 --> 00:25:13.759
 But we

00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:14.539
 must realise,

00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:16.779
 though God

00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:18.059
 does find

00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:18.759
 and forgive

00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:20.740
 us, this

00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:21.539
 doesn't mean

00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:23.160
 the consequences

00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:23.940
 will go away

00:25:23.940 --> 00:25:24.579
 in this life.

00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:26.759
 Ishmael

00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:27.799
 doesn't go

00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:28.319
 away, does

00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:28.480
 he?

00:25:29.779 --> 00:25:30.839
 Sarai still

00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:31.400
 had to live

00:25:31.400 --> 00:25:31.819
 with Hagar.

00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:32.619
 these events

00:25:32.619 --> 00:25:33.319
 couldn't be

00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:34.000
 undone, the

00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.639
 consequences

00:25:34.639 --> 00:25:36.099
 don't disappear.

00:25:38.099 --> 00:25:38.419
 And so

00:25:38.419 --> 00:25:39.599
 likewise, we

00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:40.939
 may still

00:25:40.939 --> 00:25:41.939
 live with

00:25:41.939 --> 00:25:42.700
 the consequences

00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:43.299
 of our sin.

00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:45.379
 Maybe for

00:25:45.379 --> 00:25:45.819
 the rest of

00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:46.359
 our lives.

00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:48.839
 The memories

00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:49.779
 may still

00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:50.359
 remain, the

00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:51.779
 scars never

00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:52.859
 completely fade

00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:53.460
 this side of

00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:53.679
 heaven.

00:25:54.899 --> 00:25:55.960
 God doesn't

00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:56.599
 make our

00:25:56.599 --> 00:25:57.639
 mess disappear,

00:25:57.640 --> 00:25:58.800
 tear, but

00:25:58.800 --> 00:25:59.160
 he does

00:25:59.160 --> 00:25:59.880
 atone for

00:25:59.880 --> 00:26:00.120
 it.

00:26:01.800 --> 00:26:02.380
 And whatever

00:26:02.380 --> 00:26:03.240
 mess is

00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:03.900
 still there,

00:26:04.020 --> 00:26:04.540
 he gives

00:26:04.540 --> 00:26:05.920
 it a new

00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:07.020
 meaning in

00:26:07.020 --> 00:26:07.540
 your life.

00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:09.080
 Look at

00:26:09.080 --> 00:26:09.580
 verse 11.

00:26:10.780 --> 00:26:11.180
 Look what

00:26:11.180 --> 00:26:12.000
 God says

00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:12.840
 to call

00:26:12.840 --> 00:26:13.300
 Hagar's

00:26:13.300 --> 00:26:13.660
 child.

00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.020
 You shall

00:26:15.020 --> 00:26:15.560
 call his

00:26:15.560 --> 00:26:16.400
 name Ishmael

00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:17.880
 because the

00:26:17.880 --> 00:26:18.620
 Lord has

00:26:18.620 --> 00:26:19.360
 listened to

00:26:19.360 --> 00:26:19.900
 your reflection.

00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:22.060
 The name

00:26:22.060 --> 00:26:22.720
 Ishmael

00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.960
 literally means

00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:24.759
 God hears.

00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:26.539
 And look

00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:27.119
 what the

00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:27.640
 well was

00:26:27.640 --> 00:26:27.879
 called,

00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:28.619
 verse 14.

00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:29.920
 Be'er

00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:30.720
 lehi roi,

00:26:31.619 --> 00:26:32.379
 which literally

00:26:32.379 --> 00:26:33.460
 means well

00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:33.980
 of the

00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.559
 living one

00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:35.379
 who sees.

00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:38.059
 These could

00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:38.960
 be painful

00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:39.799
 reminders of

00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:40.039
 sin.

00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:40.599
 Ishmael

00:26:40.599 --> 00:26:42.259
 could be a

00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:43.160
 walking reminder

00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:44.019
 of Sarai's

00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:44.599
 doubts and

00:26:44.599 --> 00:26:45.140
 Abraham's

00:26:45.140 --> 00:26:45.519
 failures.

00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:46.539
 This well

00:26:46.539 --> 00:26:47.240
 could be a

00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:47.960
 haunting

00:26:47.960 --> 00:26:48.920
 reminder of

00:26:48.920 --> 00:26:49.539
 Hagar's

00:26:49.539 --> 00:26:50.180
 sin and the

00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:50.779
 low point of

00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.339
 her life.

00:26:51.900 --> 00:26:52.279
 But God

00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:53.140
 finds her,

00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:54.420
 forgives her,

00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:55.879
 and gives a

00:26:55.879 --> 00:26:57.059
 new meaning

00:26:57.059 --> 00:26:57.579
 to these

00:26:57.579 --> 00:26:57.920
 things.

00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:00.019
 With this

00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:00.619
 new name,

00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.359
 Ishmael is

00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:01.680
 now a

00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:02.619
 constant reminder,

00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:03.500
 a monument

00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.799
 of God's

00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:05.160
 grace.

00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:07.319
 Every time

00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:07.980
 they see

00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:08.740
 him and

00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:09.339
 say his

00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:10.119
 name, it

00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:10.579
 is not

00:27:10.579 --> 00:27:11.259
 their sin

00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:11.920
 God brings

00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:12.940
 up, it's

00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:13.539
 his grace.

00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:16.279
 They look

00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:17.339
 back at

00:27:17.339 --> 00:27:17.879
 this mess

00:27:17.879 --> 00:27:18.240
 and now

00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:18.539
 they can

00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:19.099
 just know

00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:20.539
 God hears

00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:21.039
 me in my

00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:21.299
 trouble.

00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:23.259
 And if

00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:23.680
 Hagar

00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:24.059
 were to

00:27:24.059 --> 00:27:24.960
 ever walk

00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:25.659
 past that

00:27:25.659 --> 00:27:26.259
 well again,

00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:26.940
 it could

00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:27.539
 have been a

00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:28.579
 painful monument

00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:29.119
 for her.

00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:30.519
 But now

00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:30.859
 she can

00:27:30.859 --> 00:27:31.940
 walk past

00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:33.240
 and God

00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:33.819
 tells her,

00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:34.460
 I don't

00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:34.899
 want you

00:27:34.899 --> 00:27:35.519
 to remember

00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.139
 your sin.

00:27:36.919 --> 00:27:37.720
 I want

00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:38.059
 you to

00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:38.440
 remember

00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:39.180
 God

00:27:39.180 --> 00:27:40.319
 sees me.

00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:43.079
 And that's

00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:43.559
 what God

00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:44.180
 has done

00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:45.299
 with the

00:27:45.299 --> 00:27:45.659
 monuments

00:27:45.659 --> 00:27:46.039
 of our

00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:46.279
 sin.

00:27:46.279 --> 00:27:48.920
 those scars,

00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:49.960
 those

00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:50.839
 consequences,

00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:52.259
 those

00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:52.660
 memories,

00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:53.220
 all that

00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:53.720
 mess,

00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:55.420
 the Lord

00:27:55.420 --> 00:27:56.240
 Jesus has

00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:56.920
 taken them

00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:57.359
 and not

00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:57.980
 only paid

00:27:57.980 --> 00:27:58.339
 for them

00:27:58.339 --> 00:27:59.399
 but transformed

00:27:59.399 --> 00:28:01.279
 them and

00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:01.720
 given them

00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:02.259
 a new

00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:02.660
 meaning,

00:28:02.779 --> 00:28:03.180
 a new

00:28:03.180 --> 00:28:03.759
 name.

00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:05.059
 They are

00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:05.819
 no longer

00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:06.619
 reminders of

00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:07.279
 our sins

00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:08.059
 and failures

00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:08.460
 but they

00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:08.960
 are now

00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:10.079
 monuments

00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:11.279
 of God's

00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:12.059
 grace to

00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:12.339
 you.

00:28:13.879 --> 00:28:14.240
 Those

00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:15.000
 scars

00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:15.940
 are

00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:16.500
 monuments

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:17.200
 that God

00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:18.039
 rescued me

00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:18.380
 from that

00:28:18.380 --> 00:28:18.759
 life.

00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:20.259
 Your

00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:20.980
 past

00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.339
 is now

00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:22.019
 a monument

00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:22.599
 declaring

00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:23.420
 God

00:28:23.420 --> 00:28:24.359
 sees me

00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:24.859
 even though

00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:25.240
 I didn't

00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:25.720
 see him.

00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:27.279
 Our

00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:27.799
 foolish

00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:28.380
 choices

00:28:28.380 --> 00:28:28.819
 are now

00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:29.440
 monuments

00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:29.900
 that show

00:28:29.900 --> 00:28:30.599
 God

00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:31.200
 looks after

00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:31.900
 me even

00:28:31.900 --> 00:28:32.380
 when I

00:28:32.380 --> 00:28:32.720
 didn't

00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.339
 care about

00:28:33.339 --> 00:28:33.579
 him.

00:28:34.660 --> 00:28:35.099
 And the

00:28:35.099 --> 00:28:35.380
 Lord

00:28:35.380 --> 00:28:35.740
 Jesus

00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:36.519
 has washed

00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:37.079
 all my

00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:37.279
 guilt

00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:37.599
 away.

00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:40.059
 And so

00:28:40.059 --> 00:28:40.559
 if things

00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:40.900
 of your

00:28:40.900 --> 00:28:41.460
 past

00:28:41.460 --> 00:28:43.079
 still haunt

00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:43.339
 you,

00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:45.079
 if like

00:28:45.079 --> 00:28:45.480
 Hagar

00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:46.119
 you walk

00:28:46.119 --> 00:28:46.659
 past a

00:28:46.659 --> 00:28:47.039
 well that

00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:47.839
 could remind

00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:48.139
 you of

00:28:48.139 --> 00:28:48.879
 your failures,

00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:49.740
 let it

00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:50.559
 now remind

00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:51.139
 you of

00:28:51.139 --> 00:28:51.519
 God's

00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:51.859
 grace.

00:28:53.199 --> 00:28:54.259
 It could

00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:54.939
 overwhelm

00:28:54.939 --> 00:28:55.259
 us with

00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:56.740
 regret and

00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:57.379
 despair but

00:28:57.379 --> 00:28:58.839
 God wants

00:28:58.839 --> 00:28:59.480
 it to drive

00:28:59.480 --> 00:28:59.819
 you to

00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:00.459
 praise.

00:29:01.459 --> 00:29:02.539
 Praise for

00:29:02.539 --> 00:29:03.159
 his mercy

00:29:03.159 --> 00:29:03.799
 and grace.

00:29:05.819 --> 00:29:06.299
 And whatever

00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:07.019
 mess we might

00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.399
 be in right

00:29:07.399 --> 00:29:09.119
 now and it

00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:09.839
 feels like God

00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:10.500
 is distant,

00:29:10.639 --> 00:29:10.919
 like he

00:29:10.919 --> 00:29:11.740
 doesn't see,

00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:13.539
 trust him,

00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:15.620
 wait for

00:29:15.620 --> 00:29:15.799
 him,

00:29:16.059 --> 00:29:16.839
 hold to

00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:17.579
 his promises

00:29:17.579 --> 00:29:18.299
 right now

00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:20.140
 and never

00:29:20.140 --> 00:29:20.839
 forget you

00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:21.279
 may not

00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:22.079
 see him but

00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:23.180
 God sees

00:29:23.180 --> 00:29:23.539
 you.

00:29:25.620 --> 00:29:26.019
 And so

00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:26.500
 we can go

00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:26.920
 into this

00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:28.539
 week saying

00:29:28.539 --> 00:29:29.160
 those beautiful

00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:29.680
 words,

00:29:29.900 --> 00:29:30.539
 God sees

00:29:30.539 --> 00:29:31.980
 me and

00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:33.339
 God always

00:29:33.339 --> 00:29:33.900
 looks after

00:29:33.900 --> 00:29:34.140
 me.

00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:35.779
 Let's

00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:35.980
 pray.

00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:36.059
 Amen.

00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:36.059


00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:36.059


00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:36.059