WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.900 Well, I'm not much of a baseball player. 00:00:09.080 --> 00:00:10.419 I know Byron is. 00:00:11.339 --> 00:00:15.460 But from my few moments where I have had the opportunity to play, 00:00:16.199 --> 00:00:19.219 I know that if there's one thing that you don't want, 00:00:19.379 --> 00:00:23.539 it's for the pitcher to throw a curveball when you're up to bat. 00:00:23.580 --> 00:00:26.060 You want that ball to just come straight across the plate 00:00:26.060 --> 00:00:27.940 so you can just get a clean hit. 00:00:27.940 --> 00:00:32.920 But you don't want to see what some of us have seen at the last moment 00:00:32.920 --> 00:00:35.439 as it begins to all of a sudden change direction 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:38.299 and go somewhere that you didn't expect it to. 00:00:39.380 --> 00:00:42.539 Even if you haven't played baseball, maybe you've had that moment 00:00:42.539 --> 00:00:44.260 or experienced that before. 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:47.960 A ball's coming towards you or a frisbee or something, 00:00:48.480 --> 00:00:50.939 and you think you know where it's going to go, 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:52.700 and then all of a sudden at the last minute, 00:00:52.700 --> 00:00:55.960 it just totally curves and goes way off 00:00:55.960 --> 00:00:58.120 from where you thought it would go. 00:01:00.620 --> 00:01:05.120 Well, curveballs are not just things that we see in the fields. 00:01:06.739 --> 00:01:10.859 Oftentimes, those kind of moments happen to us in life, 00:01:10.939 --> 00:01:16.280 whether in the big story picture of our lives 00:01:16.280 --> 00:01:21.219 or in the details of a given day. 00:01:22.739 --> 00:01:24.060 Things are going well, 00:01:24.060 --> 00:01:27.920 or at least we're at peace with the troubles in our lives, 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:31.000 and then seemingly out of nowhere, 00:01:31.859 --> 00:01:33.140 something happens. 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:38.319 Something perhaps unexpected or unplanned for. 00:01:38.319 --> 00:01:42.379 Something that maybe leads us to the place 00:01:42.379 --> 00:01:44.079 where we're asking the question, 00:01:44.399 --> 00:01:46.159 God, why? 00:01:48.659 --> 00:01:49.699 Why this? 00:01:52.119 --> 00:01:53.219 Why now? 00:01:58.979 --> 00:02:04.039 God has a way of bringing curveballs into our life, 00:02:04.099 --> 00:02:05.599 whether we like it or not. 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:09.739 How do we handle those situations? 00:02:11.159 --> 00:02:13.240 What do we do in those moments? 00:02:15.379 --> 00:02:17.039 How do we hit a home run 00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:20.519 when a curveball comes at us? 00:02:22.539 --> 00:02:24.019 If you have your Bible with you, 00:02:24.079 --> 00:02:26.919 please open it to Genesis chapter 22. 00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:28.819 This morning, we're going to be looking at a time 00:02:28.819 --> 00:02:31.599 when Abraham had the craziest curveball, 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:34.419 probably that anyone has experienced, 00:02:35.060 --> 00:02:36.180 brought his way. 00:02:41.780 --> 00:02:43.479 Genesis chapter 22, 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:47.579 verse 1. 00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:50.019 Sometime later, 00:02:51.019 --> 00:02:52.759 God tested Abraham. 00:02:54.199 --> 00:02:55.459 He said to him, 00:02:56.099 --> 00:02:56.479 Abraham, 00:02:56.479 --> 00:02:58.679 Here I am, 00:02:58.859 --> 00:02:59.419 he replied. 00:03:00.679 --> 00:03:01.739 Then God said, 00:03:02.060 --> 00:03:03.879 Take your son, 00:03:04.979 --> 00:03:06.120 your only son, 00:03:06.519 --> 00:03:07.519 whom you love, 00:03:08.959 --> 00:03:09.399 Isaac, 00:03:09.839 --> 00:03:12.399 and go to the region of Moriah. 00:03:15.199 --> 00:03:16.859 Sacrifice him there 00:03:16.859 --> 00:03:18.560 as a burnt offering 00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:20.159 on a mountain 00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:21.719 I will show you. 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:27.539 So here Abraham is, 00:03:27.659 --> 00:03:27.939 he's, 00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:30.099 we've been working through his story 00:03:30.099 --> 00:03:31.740 here together as a church. 00:03:32.280 --> 00:03:33.979 Things have been going well for him. 00:03:34.120 --> 00:03:35.180 God has blessed him. 00:03:35.300 --> 00:03:36.439 God has protected him. 00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:38.060 God has turned all these things 00:03:38.060 --> 00:03:39.159 that have gone wrong 00:03:39.159 --> 00:03:41.060 into blessings. 00:03:41.979 --> 00:03:43.079 It's gone well. 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:44.819 The promised son, 00:03:45.060 --> 00:03:45.400 Isaac, 00:03:45.500 --> 00:03:46.419 has been born. 00:03:46.419 --> 00:03:49.659 And then seemingly 00:03:49.659 --> 00:03:50.699 out of nowhere, 00:03:51.339 --> 00:03:53.219 God gives Abraham 00:03:53.219 --> 00:03:54.239 this command. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:57.560 I want you to go 00:03:57.560 --> 00:03:59.339 to the region of Moriah, 00:03:59.859 --> 00:04:01.679 take your son, 00:04:02.079 --> 00:04:02.899 whom you love, 00:04:03.539 --> 00:04:05.919 and sacrifice him to me 00:04:05.919 --> 00:04:06.579 there 00:04:06.579 --> 00:04:08.159 as a burnt offering. 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:15.300 Why would God 00:04:15.300 --> 00:04:16.219 ask Abraham 00:04:16.219 --> 00:04:17.439 to do such a thing? 00:04:18.860 --> 00:04:20.339 Why would he do that? 00:04:22.719 --> 00:04:24.000 Even the thought of it 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:26.240 is deeply upsetting 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:26.980 to us. 00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:28.459 Can you imagine 00:04:28.459 --> 00:04:29.279 how Abraham 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:30.199 would have felt? 00:04:32.159 --> 00:04:32.680 God, 00:04:32.839 --> 00:04:33.240 why? 00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:36.340 you want me 00:04:36.340 --> 00:04:37.340 to offer 00:04:37.340 --> 00:04:38.500 my own son 00:04:38.500 --> 00:04:39.480 as a sacrifice? 00:04:41.319 --> 00:04:42.240 You want me 00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:42.819 to kill 00:04:42.819 --> 00:04:43.780 my own son? 00:04:43.980 --> 00:04:44.379 Why? 00:04:48.060 --> 00:04:49.019 God gives us 00:04:49.019 --> 00:04:49.960 only one clue 00:04:49.960 --> 00:04:52.079 as to why 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:53.720 in verse 1. 00:04:54.840 --> 00:04:55.519 It says, 00:04:55.780 --> 00:04:56.300 sometime later, 00:04:56.420 --> 00:04:57.819 God tested Abraham. 00:04:58.079 --> 00:04:59.000 This was a test. 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:00.340 He was testing 00:05:00.340 --> 00:05:00.980 Abraham. 00:05:00.980 --> 00:05:02.960 But Abraham 00:05:02.960 --> 00:05:03.879 didn't know 00:05:03.879 --> 00:05:05.740 that it was a test. 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:09.379 And again, 00:05:09.460 --> 00:05:10.060 we might wonder, 00:05:10.160 --> 00:05:10.280 well, 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:11.800 why would God 00:05:11.800 --> 00:05:13.000 do something 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:13.879 like this? 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:15.080 Something so 00:05:15.080 --> 00:05:16.460 horrible, 00:05:17.319 --> 00:05:18.240 asking him 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:18.980 to kill 00:05:18.980 --> 00:05:19.860 his own son? 00:05:22.900 --> 00:05:23.879 And if that's 00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:24.860 how we think 00:05:24.860 --> 00:05:25.200 about it 00:05:25.200 --> 00:05:26.040 and feel about it, 00:05:26.100 --> 00:05:26.780 then think 00:05:26.780 --> 00:05:27.480 and feel 00:05:27.480 --> 00:05:28.860 how much more 00:05:28.860 --> 00:05:29.879 Abraham would have 00:05:29.879 --> 00:05:30.759 thought and felt 00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:31.099 that 00:05:31.099 --> 00:05:33.219 and wrestled 00:05:33.219 --> 00:05:33.879 and struggled 00:05:33.879 --> 00:05:34.819 with this command 00:05:34.819 --> 00:05:37.459 in that moment. 00:05:39.639 --> 00:05:40.740 God acknowledges 00:05:40.740 --> 00:05:41.379 how difficult 00:05:41.379 --> 00:05:42.099 this is going 00:05:42.099 --> 00:05:42.560 to be. 00:05:43.879 --> 00:05:44.639 Do you see 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:45.539 how he describes 00:05:45.539 --> 00:05:46.740 Isaac in verse 2? 00:05:46.839 --> 00:05:47.240 He says, 00:05:47.319 --> 00:05:48.899 your only son. 00:05:49.500 --> 00:05:49.899 Of course, 00:05:50.019 --> 00:05:50.800 Ishmael has been 00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:51.459 sent away 00:05:51.459 --> 00:05:52.719 and Isaac 00:05:52.719 --> 00:05:53.779 is all that's left. 00:05:55.039 --> 00:05:55.740 Not only 00:05:55.740 --> 00:05:56.480 your only son, 00:05:56.579 --> 00:05:57.699 but your only son 00:05:57.699 --> 00:05:58.839 whom you love. 00:05:58.839 --> 00:06:02.779 how could God 00:06:02.779 --> 00:06:03.519 ask this? 00:06:06.819 --> 00:06:07.659 We can only 00:06:07.659 --> 00:06:08.399 imagine how 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:09.439 perplexed 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:10.239 and confused 00:06:10.239 --> 00:06:11.279 Abraham must have 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:12.299 felt at this moment. 00:06:12.299 --> 00:06:13.159 I mean, 00:06:13.299 --> 00:06:15.179 was it not 00:06:15.179 --> 00:06:15.639 the Lord 00:06:15.639 --> 00:06:16.639 that told me 00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:17.879 that 00:06:17.879 --> 00:06:19.299 Sarah would 00:06:19.299 --> 00:06:20.079 bear a son 00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:22.219 and that 00:06:22.219 --> 00:06:22.919 he was to 00:06:22.919 --> 00:06:23.679 inherit 00:06:23.679 --> 00:06:24.739 the promises 00:06:24.739 --> 00:06:25.819 of this covenant 00:06:25.819 --> 00:06:27.079 as an everlasting 00:06:27.079 --> 00:06:28.019 covenant? 00:06:28.860 --> 00:06:29.740 Was it not 00:06:29.740 --> 00:06:30.379 you, 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:30.680 Lord, 00:06:30.740 --> 00:06:31.439 who told me 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:31.980 that it is 00:06:31.980 --> 00:06:32.699 through Isaac 00:06:32.699 --> 00:06:33.680 that my offspring 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:34.599 shall be reckoned 00:06:34.599 --> 00:06:35.199 and now you're 00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:35.860 asking me 00:06:35.860 --> 00:06:36.740 to do this? 00:06:38.659 --> 00:06:39.399 That doesn't 00:06:39.399 --> 00:06:40.180 make sense. 00:06:46.100 --> 00:06:46.879 Abraham has 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:47.639 a curveball 00:06:47.639 --> 00:06:49.019 thrown at him 00:06:49.019 --> 00:06:49.600 from God. 00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:52.520 How does 00:06:52.520 --> 00:06:53.500 Abraham respond? 00:06:54.760 --> 00:06:55.620 Verse 3. 00:06:56.620 --> 00:06:57.420 Early the next 00:06:57.420 --> 00:06:57.980 morning, 00:06:58.600 --> 00:06:59.720 Abraham got up 00:06:59.720 --> 00:07:00.600 and loaded 00:07:00.600 --> 00:07:01.220 his donkey. 00:07:02.100 --> 00:07:03.060 He took with him 00:07:03.060 --> 00:07:03.980 two of his servants 00:07:03.980 --> 00:07:05.300 and his son Isaac. 00:07:06.020 --> 00:07:06.980 When he had cut 00:07:06.980 --> 00:07:07.680 enough wood 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:08.240 for the burnt 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:08.720 offering, 00:07:08.980 --> 00:07:09.840 he set out 00:07:09.840 --> 00:07:10.480 for the place 00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:11.480 God had told him 00:07:11.480 --> 00:07:11.800 about. 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:13.920 On the third day, 00:07:14.379 --> 00:07:15.420 Abraham looked up 00:07:15.420 --> 00:07:16.700 and saw the place 00:07:16.700 --> 00:07:17.420 in the distance. 00:07:18.400 --> 00:07:19.180 He said to his 00:07:19.180 --> 00:07:19.520 servants, 00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:20.580 stay here 00:07:20.580 --> 00:07:21.220 with the donkey 00:07:21.220 --> 00:07:21.960 while I 00:07:21.960 --> 00:07:22.740 and the boy 00:07:22.740 --> 00:07:23.960 go over there. 00:07:24.780 --> 00:07:25.980 We will worship 00:07:25.980 --> 00:07:27.460 and then we 00:07:27.460 --> 00:07:28.100 will come back 00:07:28.100 --> 00:07:28.520 to you. 00:07:30.200 --> 00:07:31.160 The first thing 00:07:31.160 --> 00:07:31.620 we notice 00:07:31.620 --> 00:07:32.500 about Abraham's 00:07:32.500 --> 00:07:33.140 response is 00:07:33.140 --> 00:07:34.200 just how quickly 00:07:34.200 --> 00:07:36.080 he gets to 00:07:36.080 --> 00:07:36.760 obeying 00:07:36.760 --> 00:07:37.800 the Lord's command. 00:07:38.260 --> 00:07:38.980 Did you see that 00:07:38.980 --> 00:07:39.860 in verse 3? 00:07:40.500 --> 00:07:41.860 The next morning, 00:07:42.680 --> 00:07:43.840 Abraham got up 00:07:43.840 --> 00:07:44.640 and began to make 00:07:44.640 --> 00:07:45.280 preparations. 00:07:45.480 --> 00:07:45.939 And not just 00:07:45.939 --> 00:07:46.660 the next morning, 00:07:46.760 --> 00:07:47.520 but early 00:07:47.520 --> 00:07:48.780 the next morning. 00:07:48.779 --> 00:07:50.859 there was no 00:07:50.859 --> 00:07:51.299 delay 00:07:51.299 --> 00:07:53.699 in Abraham's 00:07:53.699 --> 00:07:54.259 obedience. 00:07:55.059 --> 00:07:55.899 But can you 00:07:55.899 --> 00:07:56.539 imagine how 00:07:56.539 --> 00:07:57.159 he must have 00:07:57.159 --> 00:07:57.579 felt 00:07:57.579 --> 00:07:58.979 as there he 00:07:58.979 --> 00:07:59.939 is cutting 00:07:59.939 --> 00:08:00.559 the wood, 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:02.899 knowing what 00:08:02.899 --> 00:08:03.359 the wood 00:08:03.359 --> 00:08:04.000 is going to 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:04.939 be used for? 00:08:04.939 --> 00:08:08.300 can you imagine 00:08:08.300 --> 00:08:09.040 how he must 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:09.300 have been 00:08:09.300 --> 00:08:09.899 feeling as 00:08:09.899 --> 00:08:10.379 for two 00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:11.000 days they 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:12.219 walked together, 00:08:12.219 --> 00:08:13.079 he and his 00:08:13.079 --> 00:08:14.300 son Isaac, 00:08:15.300 --> 00:08:16.600 all the while 00:08:16.600 --> 00:08:17.680 Abraham knowing 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:18.220 what was 00:08:18.220 --> 00:08:18.680 coming. 00:08:20.920 --> 00:08:21.879 Can you imagine 00:08:21.879 --> 00:08:23.240 how what must 00:08:23.240 --> 00:08:23.699 have been going 00:08:23.699 --> 00:08:24.779 on in Abraham's 00:08:24.779 --> 00:08:26.680 heart as he 00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:27.680 finally looked up 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:28.319 on the third 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:29.139 day and saw 00:08:29.139 --> 00:08:29.879 the place 00:08:29.879 --> 00:08:30.879 where this was 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:32.879 all to happen? 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:38.679 But there's 00:08:38.679 --> 00:08:39.460 this interesting 00:08:39.460 --> 00:08:40.039 thing that 00:08:40.039 --> 00:08:41.080 Abraham says 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:43.600 when it 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:44.200 comes to the 00:08:44.200 --> 00:08:44.759 moment to 00:08:44.759 --> 00:08:45.179 leave the 00:08:45.179 --> 00:08:46.000 servants behind 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:46.419 and for 00:08:46.419 --> 00:08:47.259 Abraham and 00:08:47.259 --> 00:08:47.860 Isaac to 00:08:47.860 --> 00:08:48.559 go up the 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:49.740 hill where 00:08:49.740 --> 00:08:50.379 the sacrifice 00:08:50.379 --> 00:08:50.980 is to be 00:08:50.980 --> 00:08:51.259 offered, 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:51.740 he says 00:08:51.740 --> 00:08:52.019 this, 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:52.439 he says 00:08:52.439 --> 00:08:53.139 to the 00:08:53.139 --> 00:08:53.439 servants, 00:08:53.439 --> 00:08:54.120 stay here 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:54.460 with the 00:08:54.460 --> 00:08:55.039 donkey while 00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:55.580 I and the 00:08:55.580 --> 00:08:55.960 boy go 00:08:55.960 --> 00:08:56.600 over there. 00:08:57.159 --> 00:08:57.899 We will 00:08:57.899 --> 00:08:58.679 worship and 00:08:58.679 --> 00:08:59.820 then we 00:08:59.820 --> 00:09:01.059 will come 00:09:01.059 --> 00:09:01.559 back to 00:09:01.559 --> 00:09:01.799 you. 00:09:04.099 --> 00:09:04.539 Well, 00:09:04.579 --> 00:09:04.799 what do 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:05.119 you mean 00:09:05.119 --> 00:09:05.519 Abraham? 00:09:06.199 --> 00:09:06.739 What do 00:09:06.739 --> 00:09:06.919 you mean 00:09:06.919 --> 00:09:07.439 we will 00:09:07.439 --> 00:09:07.939 come back 00:09:07.939 --> 00:09:08.339 to you? 00:09:09.939 --> 00:09:10.559 Why did 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:10.899 he say 00:09:10.899 --> 00:09:11.259 that? 00:09:13.219 --> 00:09:13.819 Was he 00:09:13.819 --> 00:09:14.199 trying to 00:09:14.199 --> 00:09:14.759 hide from 00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:15.399 Isaac what 00:09:15.399 --> 00:09:15.779 was about 00:09:15.779 --> 00:09:16.299 to happen? 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:16.679 Was this 00:09:16.679 --> 00:09:17.159 kind of a 00:09:17.159 --> 00:09:17.439 lie? 00:09:19.439 --> 00:09:20.519 Or did 00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:20.939 Abraham 00:09:20.939 --> 00:09:21.839 expect or 00:09:21.839 --> 00:09:22.399 hope that 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:23.839 somehow this 00:09:23.839 --> 00:09:24.419 wasn't going 00:09:24.419 --> 00:09:24.959 to happen? 00:09:25.239 --> 00:09:25.799 God wasn't 00:09:25.799 --> 00:09:27.139 going to 00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:28.619 have him 00:09:28.619 --> 00:09:29.099 kill his 00:09:29.099 --> 00:09:29.639 own son. 00:09:31.559 --> 00:09:35.639 Abraham 00:09:35.639 --> 00:09:36.599 and Isaac 00:09:36.599 --> 00:09:37.239 continue 00:09:37.239 --> 00:09:37.719 on. 00:09:38.119 --> 00:09:38.879 Verse 6, 00:09:39.339 --> 00:09:40.119 Abraham took 00:09:40.119 --> 00:09:40.799 the wood for 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:41.179 the burnt 00:09:41.179 --> 00:09:42.179 offering and 00:09:42.179 --> 00:09:42.939 placed it on 00:09:42.939 --> 00:09:43.439 his son 00:09:43.439 --> 00:09:44.799 Isaac and 00:09:44.799 --> 00:09:45.519 he himself 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:46.099 carried the 00:09:46.099 --> 00:09:47.279 fire and 00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:47.759 the knife. 00:09:49.119 --> 00:09:49.899 As the two 00:09:49.899 --> 00:09:50.539 of them went 00:09:50.539 --> 00:09:51.439 on together, 00:09:52.259 --> 00:09:53.039 Isaac spoke 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:54.039 up and 00:09:54.039 --> 00:09:54.539 said to 00:09:54.539 --> 00:09:55.059 his father 00:09:55.059 --> 00:09:55.659 Abraham, 00:09:56.219 --> 00:09:57.139 Father, 00:09:57.619 --> 00:09:59.079 yes, 00:09:59.179 --> 00:09:59.599 my son, 00:10:00.139 --> 00:10:00.439 Abraham 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:00.960 replied, 00:10:01.380 --> 00:10:02.620 the fire 00:10:02.620 --> 00:10:02.900 and the 00:10:02.900 --> 00:10:03.240 wood are 00:10:03.240 --> 00:10:03.620 here, 00:10:03.880 --> 00:10:04.480 Isaac said, 00:10:04.840 --> 00:10:06.160 but where's 00:10:06.160 --> 00:10:06.600 the lamb 00:10:06.600 --> 00:10:07.120 for the 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:07.280 burnt 00:10:07.280 --> 00:10:07.660 offering? 00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:11.420 This must 00:10:11.420 --> 00:10:11.780 have been a 00:10:11.780 --> 00:10:12.420 heart-wrenching 00:10:12.420 --> 00:10:12.980 moment for 00:10:12.980 --> 00:10:13.380 Abraham. 00:10:16.100 --> 00:10:16.580 Dad, 00:10:17.160 --> 00:10:19.020 the fire 00:10:19.020 --> 00:10:19.280 and the 00:10:19.280 --> 00:10:19.540 wood are 00:10:19.540 --> 00:10:19.780 here, 00:10:19.960 --> 00:10:20.600 where's the 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:21.260 lamb for 00:10:21.260 --> 00:10:21.900 the sacrifice? 00:10:22.560 --> 00:10:22.900 Can you 00:10:22.900 --> 00:10:23.820 imagine that 00:10:23.820 --> 00:10:24.240 moment? 00:10:24.620 --> 00:10:25.160 Think of 00:10:25.160 --> 00:10:25.700 those of you 00:10:25.700 --> 00:10:26.120 who have 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:26.400 kids, 00:10:26.540 --> 00:10:26.920 think if 00:10:26.920 --> 00:10:27.420 you were 00:10:27.420 --> 00:10:27.880 in that 00:10:27.880 --> 00:10:28.560 situation 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:28.979 and it 00:10:28.979 --> 00:10:29.379 was your 00:10:29.379 --> 00:10:29.759 own 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:30.459 child 00:10:30.459 --> 00:10:31.139 who 00:10:31.139 --> 00:10:31.559 looked at 00:10:31.559 --> 00:10:31.839 you and 00:10:31.839 --> 00:10:32.019 said, 00:10:32.119 --> 00:10:32.399 Dad, 00:10:33.199 --> 00:10:35.879 where's the 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:36.159 lamb? 00:10:39.739 --> 00:10:40.399 What would 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:40.899 you say? 00:10:45.159 --> 00:10:45.959 This is what 00:10:45.959 --> 00:10:46.719 Abraham said. 00:10:51.719 --> 00:10:52.239 Abraham 00:10:52.239 --> 00:10:52.779 answered, 00:10:52.779 --> 00:10:54.819 God 00:10:54.819 --> 00:10:56.699 himself will 00:10:56.699 --> 00:10:57.299 provide the 00:10:57.299 --> 00:10:58.819 lamb for 00:10:58.819 --> 00:10:59.659 the sacrifice, 00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:00.500 my son. 00:11:04.199 --> 00:11:04.720 Again, 00:11:04.819 --> 00:11:04.980 we're 00:11:04.980 --> 00:11:05.439 wondering, 00:11:06.439 --> 00:11:07.019 just what 00:11:07.019 --> 00:11:07.319 did he 00:11:07.319 --> 00:11:07.720 mean by 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:08.079 that? 00:11:09.019 --> 00:11:09.439 One 00:11:09.439 --> 00:11:10.059 commentator 00:11:10.059 --> 00:11:10.459 said, 00:11:10.959 --> 00:11:11.339 you know, 00:11:11.419 --> 00:11:11.959 what is 00:11:11.959 --> 00:11:12.240 this? 00:11:12.299 --> 00:11:13.360 Is this a 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:14.720 masterpiece of 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:15.939 pious evasion? 00:11:15.940 --> 00:11:18.000 doesn't seem 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:18.760 to really be 00:11:18.760 --> 00:11:19.500 answering the 00:11:19.500 --> 00:11:20.020 question. 00:11:23.260 --> 00:11:24.060 Or is this 00:11:24.060 --> 00:11:24.500 a statement 00:11:24.500 --> 00:11:25.060 of faith? 00:11:26.920 --> 00:11:27.520 God's going 00:11:27.520 --> 00:11:28.080 to look 00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:28.520 after it. 00:11:28.520 --> 00:11:28.760 He's going 00:11:28.760 --> 00:11:29.120 to take 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:29.480 care of 00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:29.560 it. 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:29.920 He's going 00:11:29.920 --> 00:11:30.420 to provide 00:11:30.420 --> 00:11:30.900 the lamb. 00:11:31.620 --> 00:11:31.940 Thankfully, 00:11:32.180 --> 00:11:33.060 we know 00:11:33.060 --> 00:11:33.800 the answer. 00:11:34.500 --> 00:11:35.100 In the 00:11:35.100 --> 00:11:35.620 inspired 00:11:35.620 --> 00:11:36.180 commentary 00:11:36.180 --> 00:11:37.140 of the 00:11:37.140 --> 00:11:37.740 author of 00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:38.180 Hebrews, 00:11:38.560 --> 00:11:39.000 thousands 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:39.520 of years 00:11:39.520 --> 00:11:39.940 later, 00:11:40.180 --> 00:11:40.980 the author 00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:41.420 of Hebrews 00:11:41.420 --> 00:11:42.000 tells us 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:42.560 that this 00:11:42.560 --> 00:11:42.960 was a 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:44.340 moment in 00:11:44.340 --> 00:11:45.200 which Abraham 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:47.020 displayed 00:11:47.020 --> 00:11:48.280 great faith 00:11:48.280 --> 00:11:49.520 in God. 00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:51.280 This was 00:11:51.280 --> 00:11:51.800 a statement 00:11:51.800 --> 00:11:52.520 of faith. 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:53.540 God 00:11:53.540 --> 00:11:54.460 himself 00:11:54.460 --> 00:11:55.480 will provide 00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:56.060 the lamb 00:11:56.060 --> 00:11:57.500 for the 00:11:57.500 --> 00:11:58.180 sacrifice, 00:11:58.800 --> 00:11:59.220 my son. 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:01.460 That word 00:12:01.460 --> 00:12:02.160 provide is 00:12:02.160 --> 00:12:02.560 literally 00:12:02.560 --> 00:12:03.540 see. 00:12:04.220 --> 00:12:04.600 God will 00:12:04.600 --> 00:12:05.080 see. 00:12:05.400 --> 00:12:05.860 One 00:12:05.860 --> 00:12:06.860 commentator 00:12:06.860 --> 00:12:08.240 I think 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:08.960 captures it 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:09.460 really well. 00:12:09.580 --> 00:12:09.920 God will 00:12:09.920 --> 00:12:10.540 see to 00:12:10.540 --> 00:12:10.780 it 00:12:10.780 --> 00:12:12.520 the lamb 00:12:12.520 --> 00:12:13.240 for the 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:13.920 sacrifice. 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:15.720 my son. 00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:17.000 Does 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:17.300 Abraham 00:12:17.300 --> 00:12:17.980 know how 00:12:17.980 --> 00:12:18.379 this is 00:12:18.379 --> 00:12:18.640 going to 00:12:18.640 --> 00:12:19.080 work out? 00:12:19.660 --> 00:12:20.360 I don't 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:20.900 think so. 00:12:22.280 --> 00:12:22.940 And yet 00:12:22.940 --> 00:12:24.120 he expresses 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:25.100 his trust 00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:25.660 in the 00:12:25.660 --> 00:12:26.000 Lord. 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:28.820 God's 00:12:28.820 --> 00:12:29.040 going to 00:12:29.040 --> 00:12:29.560 look after 00:12:29.560 --> 00:12:29.759 it, 00:12:29.860 --> 00:12:30.280 my son. 00:12:31.420 --> 00:12:31.920 He's 00:12:31.920 --> 00:12:32.160 going to 00:12:32.160 --> 00:12:32.620 take care 00:12:32.620 --> 00:12:32.940 of it. 00:12:33.940 --> 00:12:34.680 He will 00:12:34.680 --> 00:12:35.200 provide. 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:42.980 verse 9. 00:12:43.520 --> 00:12:43.860 When they 00:12:43.860 --> 00:12:44.400 reached the 00:12:44.400 --> 00:12:45.160 place God 00:12:45.160 --> 00:12:45.720 had told 00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:46.220 him about 00:12:46.220 --> 00:12:46.460 it, 00:12:47.400 --> 00:12:47.780 Abraham 00:12:47.780 --> 00:12:49.259 built an 00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:49.480 altar 00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:49.860 there, 00:12:50.580 --> 00:12:52.520 and he 00:12:52.520 --> 00:12:53.060 arranged 00:12:53.060 --> 00:12:53.660 the wood 00:12:53.660 --> 00:12:54.860 on it, 00:12:55.460 --> 00:12:57.400 and he 00:12:57.400 --> 00:12:58.280 bound his 00:12:58.280 --> 00:12:59.259 son Isaac, 00:12:59.259 --> 00:13:01.759 and he 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:02.360 laid him 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:03.299 on the 00:13:03.299 --> 00:13:03.700 altar 00:13:03.700 --> 00:13:05.500 on top 00:13:05.500 --> 00:13:05.819 of the 00:13:05.819 --> 00:13:06.080 wood. 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:09.379 Then he 00:13:09.379 --> 00:13:10.019 reached out 00:13:10.019 --> 00:13:10.600 his hand 00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:11.639 and took 00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:12.179 the knife 00:13:12.179 --> 00:13:13.059 to slay 00:13:13.059 --> 00:13:14.000 his son. 00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:16.379 But the 00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:17.080 angel of 00:13:17.080 --> 00:13:17.559 the Lord 00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:18.379 called out 00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:18.799 to him 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:19.460 from heaven, 00:13:20.019 --> 00:13:20.439 Abraham, 00:13:21.559 --> 00:13:22.279 Abraham, 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:24.639 here I 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:24.879 am, 00:13:25.059 --> 00:13:25.679 he replied. 00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:27.259 Do not 00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:27.659 lay a 00:13:27.659 --> 00:13:28.259 hand on 00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:28.679 the boy, 00:13:29.739 --> 00:13:30.299 he said. 00:13:30.439 --> 00:13:30.879 Do not 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:31.699 do anything 00:13:31.699 --> 00:13:32.500 to him. 00:13:34.219 --> 00:13:35.659 Now I 00:13:35.659 --> 00:13:37.359 know that 00:13:37.359 --> 00:13:37.979 you fear 00:13:37.979 --> 00:13:38.479 God, 00:13:39.099 --> 00:13:40.359 because you 00:13:40.359 --> 00:13:41.000 have not 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:41.559 withheld 00:13:41.559 --> 00:13:42.719 from me 00:13:42.719 --> 00:13:43.979 your son, 00:13:45.099 --> 00:13:46.120 your only 00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:46.679 son. 00:13:48.679 --> 00:13:49.579 What a 00:13:49.579 --> 00:13:51.219 moment this 00:13:51.219 --> 00:13:51.639 must have 00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:52.039 been for 00:13:52.039 --> 00:13:52.559 Abraham, 00:13:53.079 --> 00:13:53.699 even the 00:13:53.699 --> 00:13:54.019 way it's 00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:54.620 written here 00:13:54.620 --> 00:13:54.919 in the 00:13:54.919 --> 00:13:55.339 original 00:13:55.340 --> 00:13:55.899 language, 00:13:56.280 --> 00:13:56.840 gives us 00:13:56.840 --> 00:13:57.399 the sense 00:13:57.399 --> 00:13:59.440 that he's 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:00.000 going through 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:00.840 the processes 00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:02.320 of preparing 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:03.180 the sacrifice. 00:14:03.420 --> 00:14:03.879 He builds 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:04.379 the altar, 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:04.879 he gets 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:05.360 the wood 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:06.139 onto it, 00:14:06.340 --> 00:14:07.940 and all 00:14:07.940 --> 00:14:08.440 along the 00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:08.980 way we're 00:14:08.980 --> 00:14:10.160 hoping and 00:14:10.160 --> 00:14:10.879 we're expecting 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:11.800 with Abraham 00:14:11.800 --> 00:14:13.180 that God's 00:14:13.180 --> 00:14:13.440 going to 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:14.060 intervene and 00:14:14.060 --> 00:14:14.220 say, 00:14:14.340 --> 00:14:14.639 actually, 00:14:14.740 --> 00:14:14.960 no, 00:14:15.019 --> 00:14:15.340 you don't 00:14:15.340 --> 00:14:15.680 have to 00:14:15.680 --> 00:14:16.220 do this. 00:14:19.139 --> 00:14:19.879 He gets 00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:20.240 to that 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:20.820 moment where 00:14:20.820 --> 00:14:21.400 he has to 00:14:21.400 --> 00:14:22.040 tie up 00:14:22.040 --> 00:14:22.480 his own 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:22.900 son. 00:14:22.899 --> 00:14:25.519 And we 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:25.720 don't 00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:26.000 really 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:27.579 know how 00:14:27.579 --> 00:14:28.179 Isaac was 00:14:28.179 --> 00:14:28.679 feeling in 00:14:28.679 --> 00:14:29.139 this moment. 00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:29.500 We can 00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:30.279 only imagine. 00:14:30.699 --> 00:14:31.319 We assume 00:14:31.319 --> 00:14:31.799 that he 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:33.319 allowed himself 00:14:33.319 --> 00:14:34.139 to be tied, 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:34.500 that he 00:14:34.500 --> 00:14:35.159 submitted to 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:35.919 his father's 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:36.220 will, 00:14:36.439 --> 00:14:37.439 and that he 00:14:37.439 --> 00:14:38.079 trusted his 00:14:38.079 --> 00:14:39.179 father with 00:14:39.179 --> 00:14:39.539 this, 00:14:40.459 --> 00:14:41.360 allowing himself 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:42.299 to be bound 00:14:42.299 --> 00:14:43.340 and put up 00:14:43.340 --> 00:14:43.939 on the altar. 00:14:44.100 --> 00:14:44.939 We don't know. 00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:45.679 Did he question 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:46.799 his father's love 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:47.439 in that moment? 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:48.160 We don't 00:14:48.160 --> 00:14:48.480 know. 00:14:52.340 --> 00:14:53.080 But it's 00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:53.560 not until 00:14:53.560 --> 00:14:54.180 the last 00:14:54.180 --> 00:14:54.840 moment when 00:14:54.840 --> 00:14:55.640 Abraham has 00:14:55.640 --> 00:14:56.280 made the 00:14:56.280 --> 00:14:57.680 decision to 00:14:57.680 --> 00:14:58.660 obey God 00:14:58.660 --> 00:15:01.120 that God 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:03.060 intervenes and 00:15:03.060 --> 00:15:03.780 speaks to him 00:15:03.780 --> 00:15:04.320 from heaven. 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:06.980 He tells him 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:07.340 twice, 00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:08.200 don't do 00:15:08.200 --> 00:15:08.980 anything to 00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:09.080 him. 00:15:09.160 --> 00:15:09.840 Don't lay a 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:10.360 hand on 00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:10.700 him. 00:15:11.820 --> 00:15:12.700 Despite the 00:15:12.700 --> 00:15:13.300 command that 00:15:13.300 --> 00:15:14.000 Abraham had 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:14.540 been given, 00:15:15.040 --> 00:15:15.840 the Lord's 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:16.380 will all 00:15:16.380 --> 00:15:17.020 along was 00:15:17.019 --> 00:15:17.579 not that 00:15:17.579 --> 00:15:17.980 he would 00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:18.559 harm his 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:19.399 son Isaac 00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:20.919 or do 00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:22.279 anything to 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:22.600 him. 00:15:24.100 --> 00:15:25.000 This was a 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:25.419 test. 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:28.340 And the 00:15:28.340 --> 00:15:29.720 results were 00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:30.079 in. 00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:32.919 Abraham passed 00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:34.279 the test with 00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:35.199 flying colors, 00:15:35.379 --> 00:15:35.980 and the results 00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:36.500 were this. 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:37.720 The Lord says, 00:15:38.220 --> 00:15:39.519 now I know 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:41.379 that you 00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:42.319 fear God 00:15:42.319 --> 00:15:44.679 because you 00:15:44.679 --> 00:15:45.319 have not 00:15:45.319 --> 00:15:46.199 withheld from 00:15:46.199 --> 00:15:46.559 me. 00:15:47.019 --> 00:15:48.319 your son, 00:15:49.319 --> 00:15:50.579 your only 00:15:50.579 --> 00:15:50.960 son. 00:15:51.539 --> 00:15:52.079 Let's not 00:15:52.079 --> 00:15:52.519 trip over 00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:53.120 those words, 00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:53.819 now I 00:15:53.819 --> 00:15:54.240 know. 00:15:55.179 --> 00:15:56.059 It's not as 00:15:56.059 --> 00:15:56.500 though God 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:57.360 didn't know 00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:58.179 what Abraham 00:15:58.179 --> 00:15:58.799 would do. 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:00.480 We might 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:00.799 wonder, 00:16:00.899 --> 00:16:01.259 well, why 00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:01.860 did he test 00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:02.279 him anyway? 00:16:02.279 --> 00:16:02.720 If God 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:03.519 knows everything, 00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:04.419 if he knew 00:16:04.419 --> 00:16:04.960 what Abraham 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:05.600 would do, 00:16:05.939 --> 00:16:06.699 why did he 00:16:06.699 --> 00:16:07.220 test him in 00:16:07.220 --> 00:16:07.579 the first 00:16:07.579 --> 00:16:08.000 place? 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:09.500 God 00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:09.779 God 00:16:09.779 --> 00:16:12.440 values 00:16:12.440 --> 00:16:14.080 real 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:15.700 experiential 00:16:15.700 --> 00:16:16.539 relationship 00:16:16.539 --> 00:16:17.299 kind of 00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:17.820 knowledge. 00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:21.559 Think of it 00:16:21.559 --> 00:16:22.139 in terms of a 00:16:22.139 --> 00:16:23.080 natural disaster. 00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:25.000 It's one thing to 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:25.620 know that a 00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:26.519 natural disaster 00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:27.220 is coming. 00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:29.080 It's another 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:30.100 thing to go 00:16:30.100 --> 00:16:30.940 through it and 00:16:30.940 --> 00:16:31.320 to know 00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:32.700 personally the 00:16:32.700 --> 00:16:33.740 devastation that 00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:34.259 it causes. 00:16:34.259 --> 00:16:36.580 I think 00:16:36.580 --> 00:16:37.039 that's the 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:37.460 way that 00:16:37.460 --> 00:16:38.259 we're meant 00:16:38.259 --> 00:16:38.700 to read 00:16:38.700 --> 00:16:38.939 this. 00:16:39.019 --> 00:16:39.259 When the 00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:39.740 Lord says, 00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:40.360 now I 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:40.639 know, 00:16:40.679 --> 00:16:40.980 it's not 00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:41.279 that he 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:41.799 didn't know 00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:42.399 before. 00:16:44.179 --> 00:16:44.919 It's that 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:45.720 now it's 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:46.759 confirmed in 00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:47.439 reality, 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:49.100 in experience, 00:16:49.259 --> 00:16:50.200 in relationship, 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:51.819 that you 00:16:51.819 --> 00:16:52.740 fear God. 00:16:54.179 --> 00:16:54.960 That you 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:55.819 fear God. 00:16:57.500 --> 00:16:58.480 The fear of 00:16:58.480 --> 00:16:59.059 God is a 00:16:59.059 --> 00:16:59.819 rich and 00:16:59.819 --> 00:17:00.259 meaningful 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:01.080 phrase that 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:02.379 is found 00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:02.960 throughout the 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:03.539 whole Bible. 00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:07.039 but it's 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:07.519 more than 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:08.240 just an 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:09.259 afraidness of 00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:09.619 God, 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:10.519 being afraid 00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:10.960 of him. 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:12.140 It has to 00:17:12.140 --> 00:17:12.660 do with a 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:13.579 deep reverence 00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:14.220 for God, 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:15.579 a regard for 00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:15.960 him that 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:16.740 controls the 00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:17.259 way that we 00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:17.700 live, 00:17:18.099 --> 00:17:18.660 the way that 00:17:18.660 --> 00:17:20.019 we relate 00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:20.680 to him. 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:23.180 At its 00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:23.579 core, 00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.440 it means 00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:25.339 taking God 00:17:25.339 --> 00:17:26.400 seriously for 00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:27.379 who he is 00:17:27.379 --> 00:17:28.779 and for 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:29.460 what he has 00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:30.119 said. 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:33.139 and it's 00:17:33.139 --> 00:17:33.439 not 00:17:33.439 --> 00:17:34.500 portrayed in 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:35.239 scripture as 00:17:35.239 --> 00:17:35.739 a negative 00:17:35.739 --> 00:17:36.500 thing to 00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:37.139 fear God. 00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:38.000 Rather, 00:17:38.139 --> 00:17:38.659 it's portrayed 00:17:38.659 --> 00:17:39.239 as a good 00:17:39.239 --> 00:17:39.819 thing, a 00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:40.539 positive thing, 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:41.119 a thing that's 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:41.939 right, that's 00:17:41.939 --> 00:17:42.439 proper. 00:17:43.899 --> 00:17:44.519 That's what 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:45.459 this test was 00:17:45.459 --> 00:17:46.259 all about. 00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:48.939 This word from 00:17:48.939 --> 00:17:49.500 the Lord is 00:17:49.500 --> 00:17:49.919 really a 00:17:49.919 --> 00:17:50.619 commendation. 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:51.519 He's commending 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:52.099 Abraham. 00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:53.439 The results of 00:17:53.439 --> 00:17:54.299 the test are in 00:17:54.299 --> 00:17:54.740 and you 00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:56.339 have a 00:17:56.339 --> 00:17:57.299 proper fear, 00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:58.159 a good and 00:17:58.159 --> 00:17:59.059 right fear of 00:17:59.059 --> 00:18:00.139 me as you 00:18:00.139 --> 00:18:00.500 should. 00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:02.639 And the 00:18:02.639 --> 00:18:03.339 evidence of 00:18:03.339 --> 00:18:05.019 that is that 00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:05.599 you have 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:06.440 obeyed my 00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:06.899 command. 00:18:08.339 --> 00:18:09.240 And not just 00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:09.819 any command, 00:18:09.940 --> 00:18:10.519 but a hard 00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:10.980 command. 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:13.460 You have not 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.359 withheld from 00:18:14.359 --> 00:18:15.399 me your son. 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:17.440 Do you notice 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:18.119 the link there 00:18:18.119 --> 00:18:20.000 between fear 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:21.819 of God and 00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:22.240 obedience? 00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:27.500 genuine fear 00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.159 of God. 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:29.859 If we have 00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:31.720 that, the 00:18:31.720 --> 00:18:32.460 evidence will 00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:33.619 be that we 00:18:33.619 --> 00:18:34.419 obey him, 00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:35.899 that we take 00:18:35.899 --> 00:18:36.559 his word 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:37.359 seriously. 00:18:42.619 --> 00:18:43.299 As it 00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:43.919 pertains to 00:18:43.919 --> 00:18:44.579 faith, that's 00:18:44.579 --> 00:18:45.119 really what we've 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:45.720 been looking at 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:46.460 in this series. 00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:47.899 Fear of God 00:18:47.899 --> 00:18:49.159 and faith in 00:18:49.159 --> 00:18:49.720 God are really 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.460 two sides of 00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:51.240 the same coin. 00:18:52.339 --> 00:18:53.240 At the end 00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:54.119 of the day, 00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:54.679 they both 00:18:54.679 --> 00:18:55.299 have at 00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:55.939 their core 00:18:55.939 --> 00:18:57.399 taking God 00:18:57.399 --> 00:18:58.379 seriously for 00:18:58.379 --> 00:18:59.159 who he is 00:18:59.159 --> 00:19:00.500 and what he 00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:01.099 has said. 00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:03.539 And if we 00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:04.019 look back 00:19:04.019 --> 00:19:04.459 through this 00:19:04.459 --> 00:19:05.059 story leading 00:19:05.059 --> 00:19:05.619 up to this 00:19:05.619 --> 00:19:06.199 moment where 00:19:06.199 --> 00:19:07.319 he goes to 00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:08.439 sacrifice Isaac, 00:19:08.939 --> 00:19:10.139 it's not 00:19:10.139 --> 00:19:10.979 afraidness, 00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:12.319 afraidness that 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:12.959 we've seen, 00:19:13.399 --> 00:19:14.059 it's faith. 00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:17.219 It's trust. 00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:18.259 We will 00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:19.099 come back to 00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:19.379 you. 00:19:19.380 --> 00:19:24.960 God will 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:26.620 provide the 00:19:26.620 --> 00:19:27.820 lamb required 00:19:27.820 --> 00:19:28.640 for the 00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:29.340 sacrifice. 00:19:34.340 --> 00:19:35.100 And that's 00:19:35.100 --> 00:19:36.660 exactly what 00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:37.440 happened in a 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:38.140 very tangible 00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:38.600 way. 00:19:39.760 --> 00:19:40.700 Abraham looked 00:19:40.700 --> 00:19:41.360 up and there 00:19:41.360 --> 00:19:42.020 in a thicket, 00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:43.160 he saw a 00:19:43.160 --> 00:19:44.160 ram, a male 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:44.840 sheep caught 00:19:44.840 --> 00:19:45.600 by its horns. 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:47.099 He went 00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:47.539 over and 00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:47.899 took the 00:19:47.899 --> 00:19:48.339 ram and 00:19:48.339 --> 00:19:49.219 sacrificed it 00:19:49.219 --> 00:19:49.779 as a burnt 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:51.039 offering instead 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:51.740 of his son. 00:19:53.139 --> 00:19:53.759 So Abraham 00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:54.399 called that 00:19:54.399 --> 00:19:55.000 place, the 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:55.480 Lord will 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:56.000 provide. 00:19:56.659 --> 00:19:57.079 And to 00:19:57.079 --> 00:19:57.719 this day, 00:19:57.839 --> 00:19:58.740 it is said, 00:19:59.099 --> 00:19:59.679 on the 00:19:59.679 --> 00:20:00.219 mountain of 00:20:00.219 --> 00:20:00.659 the Lord, 00:20:00.659 --> 00:20:01.480 it will be 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:01.980 provided. 00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:07.740 God then 00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:09.279 confirms and 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:10.620 goes on to 00:20:10.620 --> 00:20:11.759 express again 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:12.480 and expand 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:13.400 upon even the 00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:14.160 promises that 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:14.799 he has made. 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:15.799 Because you 00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:16.339 have done 00:20:16.339 --> 00:20:18.059 this, you 00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:18.720 have this 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:19.319 fear of me, 00:20:19.420 --> 00:20:20.099 this faith in 00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:20.700 me, and 00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:21.380 have obeyed 00:20:21.380 --> 00:20:22.279 me like 00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:22.799 this, I 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:23.660 will surely 00:20:23.660 --> 00:20:24.700 do everything 00:20:24.700 --> 00:20:25.200 that I've 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:26.380 promised and 00:20:26.380 --> 00:20:26.860 a little bit 00:20:26.860 --> 00:20:27.220 more. 00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:33.140 Abraham 00:20:33.140 --> 00:20:33.960 then returns 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:34.559 to his 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:35.360 servants with 00:20:35.360 --> 00:20:36.240 Isaac and 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:36.579 they set 00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:37.240 off together 00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:37.860 for 00:20:37.860 --> 00:20:38.700 Beersheba. 00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:41.200 Let's 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:41.539 take a 00:20:41.539 --> 00:20:42.000 moment to 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:43.519 consider the 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:44.079 inspired 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:45.519 commentary on 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.400 this story 00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:47.839 from Hebrews. 00:20:49.120 --> 00:20:49.920 Hebrews 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:51.279 chapter 11 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:53.539 verse 17. 00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:57.119 This is 00:20:57.119 --> 00:20:57.399 what the 00:20:57.399 --> 00:20:57.819 Lord had 00:20:57.819 --> 00:20:58.220 to say 00:20:58.220 --> 00:20:58.700 about that 00:20:58.700 --> 00:20:59.759 moment long 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:00.119 ago. 00:21:04.119 --> 00:21:05.279 By faith, 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:06.359 Abraham, 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:07.700 when God 00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:08.519 tested him, 00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:09.740 offered Isaac 00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:10.500 as a 00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:11.019 sacrifice. 00:21:12.119 --> 00:21:12.579 He who 00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:13.259 had embraced 00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:13.879 the promises 00:21:13.879 --> 00:21:14.799 was about to 00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:15.779 sacrifice his 00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:16.579 one and 00:21:16.579 --> 00:21:17.500 only son, 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:18.639 even though 00:21:18.639 --> 00:21:19.180 God had 00:21:19.180 --> 00:21:19.639 said to 00:21:19.639 --> 00:21:19.819 him, 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:20.440 it is through 00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:21.460 Isaac that 00:21:21.460 --> 00:21:22.059 your offspring 00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:22.500 will be 00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:22.940 reckoned. 00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:25.200 Now watch 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:25.599 this. 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:26.819 Abraham 00:21:26.819 --> 00:21:29.019 reasoned that 00:21:29.019 --> 00:21:29.740 God could 00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:30.700 even raise 00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:31.279 the dead. 00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:33.099 And so in 00:21:33.099 --> 00:21:33.639 a manner of 00:21:33.639 --> 00:21:34.000 speaking, 00:21:34.159 --> 00:21:34.599 he did 00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:35.920 receive Isaac 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:37.359 back from 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:37.639 death. 00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:38.000 Do you hear 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:38.279 what the 00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:38.619 Lord is 00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:39.180 saying there? 00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:40.899 Abraham 00:21:40.899 --> 00:21:42.460 had amazing 00:21:42.460 --> 00:21:44.220 faith in 00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:44.899 this moment. 00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:47.039 He knew 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:47.920 that he 00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:49.079 must obey 00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:49.740 and offer 00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:50.700 the sacrifice 00:21:50.700 --> 00:21:52.319 and he 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:52.879 also 00:21:52.879 --> 00:21:54.079 believed with 00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:54.599 all his 00:21:54.599 --> 00:21:55.099 heart that 00:21:55.099 --> 00:21:55.579 God would 00:21:55.579 --> 00:21:56.159 keep the 00:21:56.159 --> 00:21:57.200 promises made 00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:58.460 concerning 00:21:58.460 --> 00:21:59.099 Isaac. 00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:00.720 He believed 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:01.819 both and so 00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:02.539 that leaves only 00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.500 two possibilities, 00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:04.259 doesn't it? 00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:06.579 The one 00:22:06.579 --> 00:22:07.500 possibility is 00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:08.339 that God 00:22:08.339 --> 00:22:08.960 will stop 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:10.599 me before 00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:11.179 I kill 00:22:11.179 --> 00:22:11.899 Isaac on 00:22:11.899 --> 00:22:12.379 the altar. 00:22:12.380 --> 00:22:13.960 and the 00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:14.800 other possibility 00:22:14.800 --> 00:22:16.340 is that if 00:22:16.340 --> 00:22:17.020 God actually 00:22:17.020 --> 00:22:17.980 expects me to 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:18.460 kill my 00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:18.760 son, 00:22:19.760 --> 00:22:20.780 he's going 00:22:20.780 --> 00:22:21.140 to raise 00:22:21.140 --> 00:22:21.640 him back to 00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:22.060 life from 00:22:22.060 --> 00:22:22.540 the dead 00:22:22.540 --> 00:22:24.960 because he 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:25.820 will keep 00:22:25.820 --> 00:22:27.080 his promise 00:22:27.080 --> 00:22:27.440 and the 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:28.200 promise was 00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:28.880 made to 00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:29.480 Isaac and 00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:30.180 his descendants. 00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:32.440 Isn't 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:33.140 that amazing? 00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:35.779 Abraham 00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.740 believed God 00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:37.160 for a 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:37.560 miracle. 00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:40.080 Do you 00:22:40.080 --> 00:22:40.580 realize the 00:22:40.580 --> 00:22:41.279 position that 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:41.880 he was put 00:22:41.880 --> 00:22:42.080 in? 00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:43.160 He was 00:22:43.160 --> 00:22:43.920 asked to 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:44.680 do something 00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:45.660 and if he 00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:46.400 succeeded in 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:46.820 doing it, 00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:47.240 it would 00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:48.060 cause the 00:22:48.060 --> 00:22:48.640 promise to 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:49.000 fail. 00:22:50.380 --> 00:22:51.299 The promise 00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:51.960 was made 00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:53.560 that Isaac 00:22:53.560 --> 00:22:54.259 would inherit 00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:54.960 the land and 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:55.700 his descendants 00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:56.700 would be this 00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:57.980 great numerous 00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.560 offspring. 00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:00.980 If Abraham 00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:02.019 kills Isaac, 00:23:02.299 --> 00:23:03.240 the promise 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:03.860 fails, 00:23:04.600 --> 00:23:05.240 doesn't it? 00:23:06.080 --> 00:23:07.340 God put him 00:23:07.340 --> 00:23:07.820 in that 00:23:07.820 --> 00:23:08.740 position on 00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:11.140 purpose where 00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:11.900 he had this 00:23:11.900 --> 00:23:13.560 conundrum and 00:23:13.560 --> 00:23:14.580 Abraham passed 00:23:14.580 --> 00:23:15.360 the test with 00:23:15.360 --> 00:23:16.220 flying colors. 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:17.279 He believed 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:18.580 both that God 00:23:18.580 --> 00:23:19.460 would keep his 00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:21.279 promise 100% 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:22.720 about Isaac 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:24.519 and that God 00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:25.320 would provide 00:23:25.320 --> 00:23:26.480 the lamb that 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:27.180 was needed for 00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:27.860 the sacrifice 00:23:27.860 --> 00:23:28.920 that was required 00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:30.680 for his sins. 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:33.180 What an 00:23:33.180 --> 00:23:34.759 amazing moment. 00:23:35.580 --> 00:23:35.940 What an 00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:36.880 amazing example. 00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:38.800 I love this 00:23:38.800 --> 00:23:39.140 story. 00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:41.120 I love this 00:23:41.120 --> 00:23:42.840 story most 00:23:42.840 --> 00:23:43.560 of all because 00:23:43.560 --> 00:23:44.820 of all the 00:23:44.820 --> 00:23:45.680 parallels, the 00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:46.640 rich parallels 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:47.600 that it has to 00:23:47.600 --> 00:23:49.640 the gospel, to 00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:50.360 the story of 00:23:50.360 --> 00:23:50.700 Jesus. 00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.340 Some people 00:23:52.340 --> 00:23:52.960 here see a 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:53.500 whole bunch of 00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:54.580 coincidences and 00:23:54.580 --> 00:23:55.279 I used to be 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:55.759 one of those 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.140 people. 00:23:56.140 --> 00:23:57.140 people 00:23:57.140 --> 00:23:58.140 know what 00:23:58.140 --> 00:23:58.460 I'm not 00:23:58.460 --> 00:23:58.920 anymore. 00:23:59.560 --> 00:24:00.320 I do believe 00:24:00.320 --> 00:24:00.940 that Moses 00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:02.160 did not know 00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:03.560 what all of 00:24:03.560 --> 00:24:04.580 these parallels 00:24:04.580 --> 00:24:05.700 would be as 00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:06.300 he wrote this 00:24:06.300 --> 00:24:07.140 story down under 00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:07.800 the inspiration 00:24:07.800 --> 00:24:08.500 of the Spirit. 00:24:10.080 --> 00:24:11.060 But I believe 00:24:11.060 --> 00:24:11.840 that God knew 00:24:11.840 --> 00:24:12.440 that these 00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:13.180 parallels were 00:24:13.180 --> 00:24:14.740 here and not 00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:16.120 just knew but 00:24:16.120 --> 00:24:16.680 that it was 00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:17.280 intentional. 00:24:18.900 --> 00:24:19.680 Think about 00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:20.440 the story of 00:24:20.440 --> 00:24:21.960 Jesus for a 00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:22.680 moment as I 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:23.480 recount just a 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:23.900 few of the 00:24:23.900 --> 00:24:24.580 details of 00:24:24.580 --> 00:24:25.180 this story. 00:24:26.380 --> 00:24:27.320 A promised 00:24:27.320 --> 00:24:29.100 son must be 00:24:29.100 --> 00:24:30.780 sacrificed and 00:24:30.780 --> 00:24:31.480 not just any 00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:32.080 son but an 00:24:32.080 --> 00:24:34.620 only son, a 00:24:34.620 --> 00:24:35.280 son deeply 00:24:35.280 --> 00:24:36.160 loved by his 00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:36.540 father. 00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:39.240 And this 00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:40.400 sacrifice will 00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:41.340 be the ultimate 00:24:41.340 --> 00:24:43.320 test of his 00:24:43.320 --> 00:24:44.320 father's character. 00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:48.480 This son was 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:49.740 made to carry 00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:51.940 the wood up 00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:52.400 the hill. 00:24:53.900 --> 00:24:54.700 to his death. 00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:57.700 The son 00:24:57.700 --> 00:24:58.600 doesn't resist 00:24:58.600 --> 00:24:59.860 or protest 00:24:59.860 --> 00:25:01.220 but submits 00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:01.740 to his 00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:03.740 father in 00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:05.200 trusting silence. 00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:08.060 The father 00:25:08.060 --> 00:25:08.820 is willing 00:25:08.820 --> 00:25:09.560 to do 00:25:09.560 --> 00:25:10.820 what is 00:25:10.820 --> 00:25:11.400 required, 00:25:11.780 --> 00:25:13.519 even if it 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:14.880 means he 00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:15.500 must offer 00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.000 his own 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:17.340 son as a 00:25:17.340 --> 00:25:17.880 sacrifice. 00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:21.260 from the 00:25:21.260 --> 00:25:21.980 perspective of 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:22.380 Isaac, 00:25:22.620 --> 00:25:23.280 whether we 00:25:23.280 --> 00:25:24.160 understand it 00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:24.700 or not, 00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:26.060 God has 00:25:26.060 --> 00:25:27.900 required our 00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:31.160 death because 00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:31.700 of sin. 00:25:33.800 --> 00:25:34.780 Yet at just 00:25:34.780 --> 00:25:35.180 the right 00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:35.940 moment, God 00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:37.740 intervenes to 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:38.580 provide an 00:25:38.580 --> 00:25:39.240 acceptable 00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:42.760 substitute so 00:25:42.760 --> 00:25:43.880 that we can 00:25:43.880 --> 00:25:44.840 go free and 00:25:44.840 --> 00:25:45.400 unharmed. 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:48.820 the lesson 00:25:48.820 --> 00:25:49.480 that we see 00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:50.060 here is that 00:25:50.060 --> 00:25:50.580 God will 00:25:50.580 --> 00:25:51.360 provide the 00:25:51.360 --> 00:25:52.480 lamb needed 00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:53.820 for the 00:25:53.820 --> 00:25:54.780 sacrifice that 00:25:54.780 --> 00:25:55.259 God has 00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:56.080 required for 00:25:56.080 --> 00:25:56.540 sins. 00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:58.900 And we 00:25:58.900 --> 00:25:59.400 are even 00:25:59.400 --> 00:26:00.280 pointed to 00:26:00.280 --> 00:26:01.640 the reality 00:26:01.640 --> 00:26:03.320 that was 00:26:03.320 --> 00:26:03.920 going on in 00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:04.920 Abraham's 00:26:04.920 --> 00:26:05.220 heart, 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:07.019 that if the 00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:07.560 son should 00:26:07.560 --> 00:26:07.940 die, 00:26:08.620 --> 00:26:09.280 we should 00:26:09.280 --> 00:26:10.440 trust that 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:11.860 God can 00:26:11.860 --> 00:26:12.280 raise him 00:26:12.280 --> 00:26:12.660 from the 00:26:12.660 --> 00:26:12.920 dead. 00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:13.019 God, 00:26:13.320 --> 00:26:14.420 are all 00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:14.800 these 00:26:14.800 --> 00:26:15.980 parallels 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.740 coincidence? 00:26:18.360 --> 00:26:19.180 I don't 00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:19.680 think so. 00:26:20.360 --> 00:26:21.240 This is not 00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:21.620 the only 00:26:21.620 --> 00:26:22.380 place where 00:26:22.380 --> 00:26:24.860 God does 00:26:24.860 --> 00:26:25.460 this thing. 00:26:25.560 --> 00:26:25.960 He does it 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:26.400 all throughout 00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:26.800 the Old 00:26:26.800 --> 00:26:27.200 Testament. 00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:28.140 He tells 00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:29.279 what is yet 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:29.940 to come 00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:31.820 long before 00:26:31.820 --> 00:26:32.539 it happens. 00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:33.960 Not 00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:34.519 necessarily 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:35.300 always with 00:26:35.300 --> 00:26:35.740 words, 00:26:35.840 --> 00:26:36.440 but sometimes 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:37.080 with the 00:26:37.080 --> 00:26:37.759 events of 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.160 history 00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:38.800 themselves. 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:42.159 I see 00:26:42.159 --> 00:26:42.440 it as 00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:42.960 God's 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:43.899 signature 00:26:43.899 --> 00:26:45.099 authenticating 00:26:45.099 --> 00:26:46.519 that this 00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:48.240 story is 00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:48.599 his. 00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:54.579 And this 00:26:54.579 --> 00:26:54.859 is where 00:26:54.859 --> 00:26:55.339 we see 00:26:55.339 --> 00:26:55.940 for the 00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:56.539 first time 00:26:56.539 --> 00:26:57.980 the beginning 00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:58.599 to the 00:26:58.599 --> 00:26:59.139 answer of 00:26:59.139 --> 00:26:59.519 this great 00:26:59.519 --> 00:26:59.980 question. 00:27:00.399 --> 00:27:01.159 We came 00:27:01.159 --> 00:27:01.619 up to this 00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:02.379 question earlier. 00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:03.859 Abraham is a 00:27:03.859 --> 00:27:04.119 sinner. 00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:05.159 He's blown 00:27:05.159 --> 00:27:05.379 it. 00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.119 We've watched 00:27:06.119 --> 00:27:06.480 it. 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.360 And yet 00:27:07.360 --> 00:27:07.860 God is 00:27:07.860 --> 00:27:08.640 counting him 00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:09.279 righteous, 00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:11.019 treating him 00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:11.799 as though he 00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:12.400 is not a 00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:12.660 sinner. 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.799 How can he 00:27:13.799 --> 00:27:14.380 do that 00:27:14.380 --> 00:27:15.339 and be 00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:15.759 just? 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:18.860 It's here 00:27:18.860 --> 00:27:19.519 that Abraham 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:20.319 is being 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:21.559 led to that 00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:22.220 place where 00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:23.200 he embraces 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:25.279 that God 00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:26.339 will provide 00:27:26.339 --> 00:27:27.559 the lamb 00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:28.579 required, 00:27:29.380 --> 00:27:30.279 the sacrifice 00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:31.259 required for 00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:31.980 his sins. 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:35.620 if we 00:27:35.620 --> 00:27:36.120 miss these 00:27:36.120 --> 00:27:36.579 parallels, 00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.799 we miss 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.180 the good 00:27:38.180 --> 00:27:38.559 news. 00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:39.200 We miss 00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:39.819 the gospel 00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:40.980 that's here 00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:42.220 for us. 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.220 Finally, 00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:45.720 what do we 00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:46.200 learn about 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:48.140 faith from 00:27:48.140 --> 00:27:48.700 this story? 00:27:50.579 --> 00:27:51.200 That's kind 00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:51.539 of what we've 00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:52.079 been focusing 00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:52.640 on in this 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:53.039 series, 00:27:53.339 --> 00:27:53.740 faith. 00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:55.779 There is so 00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:56.360 much that we 00:27:56.360 --> 00:27:56.680 could pull 00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:57.039 out of this 00:27:57.039 --> 00:27:57.519 passage, 00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.180 but I want 00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:59.180 to just take 00:27:59.180 --> 00:27:59.960 one specific 00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:00.380 angle, 00:28:00.380 --> 00:28:01.680 and I'm 00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:02.380 indebted to 00:28:02.380 --> 00:28:03.240 Dale Ralph 00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:03.920 Davis and 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:04.720 his sermon, 00:28:04.860 --> 00:28:05.340 or I don't 00:28:05.340 --> 00:28:05.900 know if it's 00:28:05.900 --> 00:28:07.000 a sermon, 00:28:07.060 --> 00:28:07.440 it was put 00:28:07.440 --> 00:28:08.000 into a book, 00:28:08.100 --> 00:28:08.900 but he had 00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:10.500 a chapter 00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:11.400 on this in 00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:12.300 his book 00:28:12.300 --> 00:28:13.620 and kind of 00:28:13.620 --> 00:28:14.260 helped me to 00:28:14.260 --> 00:28:15.180 see this 00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:15.560 angle. 00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.140 So some of 00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:16.400 what I'm 00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:16.860 going to say 00:28:16.860 --> 00:28:17.600 is borrowed 00:28:17.600 --> 00:28:18.180 from him. 00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:19.920 What do we 00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:20.420 learn about 00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:21.400 faith from 00:28:21.400 --> 00:28:21.780 Abraham? 00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:22.100 Well, 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:22.680 first of all, 00:28:22.780 --> 00:28:23.480 our situation 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.060 is not the 00:28:24.060 --> 00:28:24.720 same as his. 00:28:25.520 --> 00:28:26.260 God spoke 00:28:26.260 --> 00:28:26.960 with an audible 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.720 voice to him 00:28:27.720 --> 00:28:28.300 and required 00:28:28.300 --> 00:28:29.320 this of him. 00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:30.359 That's not 00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:31.139 the situation 00:28:31.139 --> 00:28:31.839 that we find 00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:32.460 ourselves in 00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:32.859 today. 00:28:34.159 --> 00:28:35.299 But perhaps 00:28:35.299 --> 00:28:36.039 we do find 00:28:36.039 --> 00:28:36.779 ourselves in 00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:38.579 an Abraham-like 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:39.539 situation, 00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:42.419 a situation 00:28:42.419 --> 00:28:42.879 where God 00:28:42.879 --> 00:28:43.419 has brought 00:28:43.419 --> 00:28:44.659 something into 00:28:44.659 --> 00:28:45.399 our life 00:28:45.399 --> 00:28:48.099 or allowed 00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:48.799 something to 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:49.279 happen 00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:52.220 that we don't 00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:52.799 understand, 00:28:53.859 --> 00:28:55.559 a situation 00:28:55.559 --> 00:28:56.259 where perhaps 00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:57.019 we're asking 00:28:57.019 --> 00:28:57.700 the question 00:28:57.700 --> 00:28:58.480 like Abraham 00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:58.799 did. 00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:00.740 Why God? 00:29:02.120 --> 00:29:03.079 Why this? 00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:06.660 Why now? 00:29:11.660 --> 00:29:12.500 Perhaps a 00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:14.339 situation in 00:29:14.339 --> 00:29:14.900 which we look 00:29:14.900 --> 00:29:15.620 at the promises 00:29:15.620 --> 00:29:16.400 that we've been 00:29:16.400 --> 00:29:17.000 given in the 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:17.559 word of God 00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:17.980 and we look 00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:18.220 at our 00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:18.759 situation, 00:29:18.920 --> 00:29:19.360 we wonder 00:29:19.360 --> 00:29:19.779 how can 00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.220 these be 00:29:20.220 --> 00:29:20.539 true? 00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:23.220 You said, 00:29:23.360 --> 00:29:23.460 Lord, 00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.259 that you are 00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:25.920 our refuge 00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:26.819 and strength, 00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:27.660 a very present 00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:28.660 help in 00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:29.200 times of 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:29.700 trouble and 00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:30.200 yet look 00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:30.480 at the 00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:30.860 mess of 00:29:30.860 --> 00:29:31.360 my life. 00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:32.000 Where are 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:32.340 you? 00:29:36.340 --> 00:29:37.100 Times when 00:29:37.100 --> 00:29:38.920 we are 00:29:38.920 --> 00:29:39.480 wondering 00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:40.800 about God 00:29:40.800 --> 00:29:41.380 himself. 00:29:41.380 --> 00:29:45.280 what we 00:29:45.280 --> 00:29:45.720 thought we 00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:46.300 knew about 00:29:46.300 --> 00:29:46.620 him 00:29:46.620 --> 00:29:49.400 doesn't 00:29:49.400 --> 00:29:50.340 seem to 00:29:50.340 --> 00:29:50.860 be holding 00:29:50.860 --> 00:29:51.540 true. 00:29:53.040 --> 00:29:53.860 We can't 00:29:53.860 --> 00:29:54.520 make heads 00:29:54.520 --> 00:29:55.120 or tails 00:29:55.120 --> 00:29:55.620 of what 00:29:55.620 --> 00:29:56.160 God is 00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:56.860 doing in 00:29:56.860 --> 00:29:57.080 this 00:29:57.080 --> 00:29:57.840 situation. 00:30:01.380 --> 00:30:02.100 Deep down 00:30:02.100 --> 00:30:02.320 in our 00:30:02.320 --> 00:30:02.560 hearts, 00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:03.100 maybe we 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.720 even feel 00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:04.120 like we 00:30:04.120 --> 00:30:04.480 have a 00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:04.980 problem 00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:06.000 with his 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:06.480 ways. 00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:10.860 how do 00:30:10.860 --> 00:30:11.380 we handle 00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:12.640 those kinds 00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:12.799 of 00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:13.420 situations? 00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:14.360 I believe 00:30:14.360 --> 00:30:14.860 that God's 00:30:14.860 --> 00:30:15.240 given us 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:15.860 Abraham's 00:30:15.860 --> 00:30:17.059 story as 00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:17.660 an example 00:30:17.660 --> 00:30:20.819 and very 00:30:20.819 --> 00:30:21.500 simply that 00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:22.440 as Abraham 00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:22.980 did, 00:30:23.700 --> 00:30:24.500 we should 00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:25.980 trust him 00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:27.259 completely 00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:29.360 and obey 00:30:29.360 --> 00:30:30.279 and do 00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:30.940 what he's 00:30:30.940 --> 00:30:31.420 asked us 00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:31.860 to do. 00:30:31.859 --> 00:30:35.319 he's 00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:35.679 given us 00:30:35.679 --> 00:30:35.979 something 00:30:35.979 --> 00:30:36.379 very 00:30:36.379 --> 00:30:36.959 specific, 00:30:37.319 --> 00:30:38.039 two things 00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:38.619 really in 00:30:38.619 --> 00:30:39.339 this passage 00:30:39.339 --> 00:30:40.279 to trust 00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:40.599 in. 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:41.599 First of 00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:41.799 all, 00:30:42.099 --> 00:30:42.679 trust his 00:30:42.679 --> 00:30:43.179 promises. 00:30:44.619 --> 00:30:45.359 Even if 00:30:45.359 --> 00:30:45.779 they don't 00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:46.299 seem to 00:30:46.299 --> 00:30:48.240 be holding 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:48.759 true in 00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.219 that moment, 00:30:49.459 --> 00:30:50.019 God will 00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:50.579 keep his 00:30:50.579 --> 00:30:51.279 promises no 00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:51.919 matter what. 00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:52.399 Abraham 00:30:52.399 --> 00:30:53.279 believed that 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:53.719 God could 00:30:53.719 --> 00:30:54.139 do a 00:30:54.139 --> 00:30:55.319 miracle and 00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:55.819 raise his 00:30:55.819 --> 00:30:56.159 son from 00:30:56.159 --> 00:30:56.479 the dead 00:30:56.479 --> 00:30:56.939 if he had 00:30:56.939 --> 00:30:57.099 to, 00:30:57.179 --> 00:30:57.459 but that 00:30:57.459 --> 00:30:58.039 he would 00:30:58.039 --> 00:30:59.039 do whatever 00:30:59.039 --> 00:30:59.459 it took 00:30:59.459 --> 00:30:59.899 to keep 00:30:59.899 --> 00:31:00.079 his 00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:00.539 promises. 00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:00.720 promises. 00:31:01.319 --> 00:31:02.339 Trust that 00:31:02.339 --> 00:31:02.759 God will 00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:03.180 keep his 00:31:03.180 --> 00:31:03.659 promises. 00:31:04.099 --> 00:31:05.379 He always 00:31:05.379 --> 00:31:05.700 does. 00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:06.379 He always 00:31:06.379 --> 00:31:06.680 will. 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:08.940 And second, 00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.940 trust that 00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:12.079 God will 00:31:12.079 --> 00:31:12.980 provide. 00:31:13.879 --> 00:31:14.559 Isn't that 00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:14.920 the main 00:31:14.920 --> 00:31:15.440 lesson of 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:15.980 this story? 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:17.200 That's what 00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:18.059 Abraham came 00:31:18.059 --> 00:31:19.399 to express 00:31:19.399 --> 00:31:21.200 before the 00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:21.899 sacrifice. 00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:23.799 God will 00:31:23.799 --> 00:31:24.619 provide the 00:31:24.619 --> 00:31:26.539 lamb for 00:31:26.539 --> 00:31:27.319 the sacrifice, 00:31:27.480 --> 00:31:27.920 my son. 00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:28.899 And that's 00:31:28.899 --> 00:31:29.359 what Abraham 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:30.000 expressed 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:31.319 after as 00:31:31.319 --> 00:31:31.920 he named 00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:33.720 that mountain, 00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:34.920 that region, 00:31:35.480 --> 00:31:36.700 the Lord 00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:37.400 will provide. 00:31:40.359 --> 00:31:40.880 Perhaps 00:31:40.880 --> 00:31:41.299 you're going 00:31:41.299 --> 00:31:41.799 through one 00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:42.180 of those 00:31:42.180 --> 00:31:42.819 kinds of 00:31:42.819 --> 00:31:43.440 situations 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:44.160 right now 00:31:44.160 --> 00:31:45.099 in your 00:31:45.099 --> 00:31:45.480 life. 00:31:47.440 --> 00:31:48.259 If so, 00:31:48.380 --> 00:31:48.880 I want 00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:49.220 to say 00:31:49.220 --> 00:31:49.720 to you 00:31:49.720 --> 00:31:50.740 with Abraham, 00:31:51.220 --> 00:31:51.960 lift your 00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:53.180 head and 00:31:53.180 --> 00:31:53.559 look to 00:31:53.559 --> 00:31:54.000 the Lord. 00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:56.359 He will 00:31:56.359 --> 00:31:57.400 look after 00:31:57.400 --> 00:31:57.720 it. 00:31:57.720 --> 00:32:00.380 He will 00:32:00.380 --> 00:32:01.220 provide. 00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:01.779 He will 00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:02.900 see to 00:32:02.900 --> 00:32:04.000 it what 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:04.720 is required 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:05.799 in this 00:32:05.799 --> 00:32:06.460 situation. 00:32:09.019 --> 00:32:09.779 You can 00:32:09.779 --> 00:32:10.339 count on 00:32:10.339 --> 00:32:10.680 him for 00:32:10.680 --> 00:32:10.980 that. 00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:11.900 And if 00:32:11.900 --> 00:32:12.400 there's any 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:13.079 doubt about 00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:13.980 whether this 00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:14.579 is just for 00:32:14.579 --> 00:32:16.940 Abraham or 00:32:16.940 --> 00:32:17.620 if this is for 00:32:17.620 --> 00:32:18.160 us too, 00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:18.860 the Lord has 00:32:18.860 --> 00:32:19.539 said these 00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:21.380 similar words 00:32:21.380 --> 00:32:22.100 again 00:32:22.099 --> 00:32:24.500 through the 00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:25.240 apostle Paul 00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:26.619 in his 00:32:26.619 --> 00:32:26.939 letter to 00:32:26.939 --> 00:32:27.319 the church 00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:27.799 at Rome, 00:32:28.199 --> 00:32:29.039 what did 00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:29.399 he say? 00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:29.839 He said, 00:32:29.980 --> 00:32:31.159 and we 00:32:31.159 --> 00:32:32.099 know 00:32:32.099 --> 00:32:34.079 that God 00:32:34.079 --> 00:32:35.259 causes all 00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:36.599 things to 00:32:36.599 --> 00:32:37.299 work together 00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:38.099 for the good 00:32:38.099 --> 00:32:39.219 of those who 00:32:39.219 --> 00:32:39.740 love him, 00:32:40.419 --> 00:32:41.619 who have been 00:32:41.619 --> 00:32:42.639 called according 00:32:42.639 --> 00:32:43.279 to his 00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:43.839 purpose. 00:32:43.839 --> 00:32:46.839 how can 00:32:46.839 --> 00:32:47.159 we be 00:32:47.159 --> 00:32:47.659 sure that 00:32:47.659 --> 00:32:48.220 that's for 00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:48.500 us, 00:32:48.599 --> 00:32:49.159 that God 00:32:49.159 --> 00:32:49.639 will really 00:32:49.639 --> 00:32:50.139 treat us 00:32:50.139 --> 00:32:50.779 like that? 00:32:51.539 --> 00:32:51.980 Listen, 00:32:53.079 --> 00:32:53.759 he who 00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:54.639 did not 00:32:54.639 --> 00:32:56.059 spare his 00:32:56.059 --> 00:32:56.779 own son, 00:32:57.599 --> 00:32:58.619 but gave 00:32:58.619 --> 00:32:59.259 him up for 00:32:59.259 --> 00:32:59.759 us all, 00:33:01.139 --> 00:33:01.659 how will 00:33:01.659 --> 00:33:02.059 he not 00:33:02.059 --> 00:33:02.839 also along 00:33:02.839 --> 00:33:03.319 with him 00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:04.319 graciously 00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:04.839 give us 00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:05.679 all things, 00:33:06.339 --> 00:33:08.659 all things, 00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:11.220 all things 00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:11.519 that we 00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:11.879 need, 00:33:12.099 --> 00:33:12.779 all things 00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:13.440 that are 00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:13.960 good for 00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:14.319 us. 00:33:17.379 --> 00:33:17.960 He's 00:33:17.960 --> 00:33:18.180 already 00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:18.700 given us 00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:19.279 the ultimate 00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:20.319 and that's 00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:20.980 the evidence, 00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:21.920 that's the 00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:23.160 proof that 00:33:23.160 --> 00:33:23.700 he will 00:33:23.700 --> 00:33:24.359 look after 00:33:24.359 --> 00:33:24.859 us and 00:33:24.859 --> 00:33:25.440 take care 00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:25.920 of us, 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:26.799 even in 00:33:26.799 --> 00:33:27.619 those situations 00:33:27.619 --> 00:33:28.500 where we 00:33:28.500 --> 00:33:29.000 have no 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:30.339 idea how 00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:30.680 it's going 00:33:30.680 --> 00:33:31.160 to happen. 00:33:33.819 --> 00:33:34.420 Nothing 00:33:34.420 --> 00:33:35.299 can separate 00:33:35.299 --> 00:33:36.460 us from 00:33:36.460 --> 00:33:37.200 his love. 00:33:38.420 --> 00:33:38.799 And as 00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:39.460 Abraham learned 00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:39.899 that day, 00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:40.460 not even 00:33:40.460 --> 00:33:41.319 my own 00:33:41.319 --> 00:33:41.859 sin, 00:33:41.859 --> 00:33:44.679 the sacrifice 00:33:44.679 --> 00:33:45.919 that was 00:33:45.919 --> 00:33:46.779 required was 00:33:46.779 --> 00:33:47.899 far costlier 00:33:47.899 --> 00:33:48.459 than he 00:33:48.459 --> 00:33:49.719 expected. 00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:51.359 But he 00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:51.899 learned that 00:33:51.899 --> 00:33:52.439 day that 00:33:52.439 --> 00:33:53.159 God will 00:33:53.159 --> 00:33:55.039 provide the 00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:55.919 lamb that's 00:33:55.919 --> 00:33:56.399 required. 00:33:57.579 --> 00:33:57.879 God will 00:33:57.879 --> 00:33:58.399 look after 00:33:58.399 --> 00:33:58.639 it. 00:33:59.679 --> 00:34:00.599 God will 00:34:00.599 --> 00:34:01.079 look after 00:34:01.079 --> 00:34:01.879 you and 00:34:01.879 --> 00:34:02.119 me. 00:34:03.539 --> 00:34:04.240 Let's 00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:04.500 pray. 00:34:04.500 --> 00:34:04.599 Okay. 00:34:04.599 --> 00:34:05.639 God will 00:34:05.639 --> 00:34:06.599 pray. 00:34:06.599 --> 00:34:07.139 God will 00:34:07.139 --> 00:34:07.599 pray. 00:34:07.599 --> 00:34:08.639 God will 00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:08.719 pray. 00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:09.139 God will 00:34:09.139 --> 00:34:09.659 pray. 00:34:09.659 --> 00:34:10.219 Father in 00:34:10.219 --> 00:34:10.400 heaven, 00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:10.900 thank you 00:34:10.900 --> 00:34:11.380 so much 00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:11.759 for these 00:34:11.759 --> 00:34:12.179 words. 00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:14.880 They come 00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:15.819 at a 00:34:15.819 --> 00:34:16.500 needed time 00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:17.019 for many 00:34:17.019 --> 00:34:17.539 of us. 00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:21.000 It's 00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:21.360 hard to 00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:21.920 trust you 00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:23.599 when what 00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:24.119 we see 00:34:24.119 --> 00:34:24.639 happening 00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:25.219 in our 00:34:25.219 --> 00:34:25.599 lives, 00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:25.880 in the 00:34:25.880 --> 00:34:26.279 lives of 00:34:26.279 --> 00:34:27.219 friends and 00:34:27.219 --> 00:34:27.699 family, 00:34:27.699 --> 00:34:29.380 is so 00:34:29.380 --> 00:34:30.159 opposite to 00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:30.500 what we 00:34:30.500 --> 00:34:31.079 expected. 00:34:31.079 --> 00:34:33.799 strengthen our 00:34:33.799 --> 00:34:34.219 faith in 00:34:34.219 --> 00:34:34.360 you, 00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:34.639 Lord. 00:34:36.440 --> 00:34:37.179 Teach us 00:34:37.179 --> 00:34:38.059 to live 00:34:38.059 --> 00:34:38.679 as Abraham 00:34:38.679 --> 00:34:39.380 did, to 00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:40.079 walk by 00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:41.259 faith and 00:34:41.259 --> 00:34:41.679 not by 00:34:41.679 --> 00:34:43.699 sight, so 00:34:43.699 --> 00:34:44.019 that you 00:34:44.019 --> 00:34:44.579 might receive 00:34:44.579 --> 00:34:44.900 all the 00:34:44.900 --> 00:34:45.239 glory. 00:34:46.119 --> 00:34:46.500 In 00:34:46.500 --> 00:34:46.880 Christ's 00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:47.099 name, 00:34:47.719 --> 00:34:48.000 amen.