WEBVTT

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 to the book of Genesis. Genesis chapter 3. Today we are looking at the second half of the chapter

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 starting at verse 14. Last week we looked at the first half of the chapter of the first sin

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 and the nature of temptation. And today we are looking at the consequences.

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 Genesis 3 verse 14 to verse 24. Let's read these verses together.

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 The Lord God said to the serpent, because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock

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 and above all beasts of the field. On your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat

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 all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your

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 offspring and her offspring, he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel.

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 To the woman he said, I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing, in pain you shall bring forth

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 children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.

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 And to Adam he said, because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree

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 of which I commanded you, you shall not eat of it. Cursed is the ground because of you. In pain you

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 shall eat of it all the days of your life. Thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you

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 shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the

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 ground. For out of it you were taken, for you were dust, and to dust you shall return.

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 The man called his wife's name Eve because she was the mother of all living. And the Lord God made

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 for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. Then the Lord God said, Behold, the man

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 has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree

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 of life and eat and live forever. Therefore, the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work

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 the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed

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 the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

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 Let's pray. Father, we thank you for your word. We thank you for how it has been preserved for us

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 through the centuries, for how it's translated into our language, that we can understand it.

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 We pray that your spirit would walk with us and guide us as we look into this passage this morning.

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 Enliven us, guide us, teach us, challenge us, encourage us. We pray this for Jesus' sake. Amen.

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 But it was just one bite. But I didn't mean any harm. But he hit me first. But she told me to do it.

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 There are many skills and habits which parents teach their children when they are young,

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 whether it's getting dressed or washing your hands or clearing your plate from the dinner table,

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 keeping track of your belongings, speaking respectfully to older adults, looking both ways

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 before crossing the street. All of these habits require intentional training, often over the course

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 of months or even years. But one habit that seems to develop quite naturally

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 without any parental instruction or intention is self-justification.

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 Self-justification comes in many varied and varied forms, minimizing, blaming, excusing, avoiding,

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 making a scene, or making it all a joke. And human beings of all ages seem quite adept

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 at this skill. Though we tend to recognize it and point it out more quickly in others than we do in

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 ourselves. And isn't that another form of it? Now, the Bible traces this deeply rooted pattern back

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 to our earliest beginnings. Last week, we looked at the first half of chapter 3, when Eve listened to

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 the voice of the serpent and Adam listened to the voice of Eve, and they both ate of the one tree that God

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 had prohibited them. And then they hid, they blamed, they minimized, they tried to evade God's probing

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 and persistent questions. And ever since, have we not continued down that same road?

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 We want to say that our problem is not that serious, or that somebody else is really at fault,

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 or we can fix things on our own. But this morning's passage confronts us with the pervasive

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 and disastrous consequences of sin. What is sin? Well, this very chapter depicts sin as distrust of

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 God's promise and disobedience to God's command. We could also describe sin as putting ourselves in the

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 center of the universe instead of God. And according to the Bible, sin is now the default condition of

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 humanity, and it is at the root of all our troubles. See, the first thing we see in this morning's passage

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 is that sin has consequences. And we see that sin has consequences in three areas. Now, this section of

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 Genesis 3 that I read and before that is structured as a courtroom scene. So, verses 8 through 13, God is

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 questioning Adam and Eve. And then in verses 14 through 19, God declares His verdict on the situation.

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 And then He carries out the sentence in verses 22 to 24.

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 But in the course of this section, we see that sin has consequences in three areas.

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 In our human relationships, in our human endeavors, and in our relationship with God.

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 First, sin has consequences in our human relationships. We see this particularly in verse 16.

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 God's word to the woman, He says,

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 I will surely multiply your pain and childbearing. In pain you shall bring forth children.

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 Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, and he shall rule over you.

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 Now, that verse does not describe how human relationships are intended to be,

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 or how they should be.

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 No, Genesis 2 gave us a picture of what marriage was intended to be,

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 an intimate, trusting, one flesh alliance, male and female,

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 corresponding to one another, and carrying out God's mission together.

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 Verse 16, rather, describes how relationships between husbands and wives and parents and children,

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 by extension all sorts of human relationships,

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 how they tend to decay on this side of the fall.

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 How they're hard and difficult and full of tension and conflict.

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 The first half of the verse emphasizes the pains of childbearing,

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 and by extension, childrearing.

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 Children are a great gift and blessing from God.

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 The Bible says that over and over.

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 But the Bible is also very realistic,

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 that bringing children into the world and raising them to become healthy and functional adults

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 is now costly and difficult and painful.

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 The second half of the verse emphasizes the struggles that attend marriage in a fallen world.

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 Again, the Bible says marriage is a good gift from God.

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 It says that in many places, but the Bible is also very realistic.

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 Marriage in this fallen world is hard and difficult.

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 Why?

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 Because people are naturally selfish.

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 It's that simple.

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 And self-centeredness is the greatest enemy of marital happiness.

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 Now, some translations of verse 16 say,

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 your desire shall be contrary to your husband.

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 I think that's what the Pew Bibles say.

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 Other translations, even if you have an earlier version of the ESV,

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 say your desire shall be for your husband.

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 And you might think, well, wait a minute.

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 What does the verse mean?

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 If you can translate it both of those ways.

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 Well, however you translate it, the meaning is actually quite clear

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 because the same phrase appears in the next chapter,

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 in chapter 4, verse 7,

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 when God is speaking to Cain,

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 and God says,

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 sin is crouching at your door.

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 Its desire is for you or contrary to you,

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 but you must rule over it.

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 Okay?

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 However you translate the preposition for or contrary,

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 it's a picture of a power struggle.

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 In chapter 3 and in chapter 4.

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 It's a picture of hostility and conflict.

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 Derek Kidner put it this way,

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 to love and to cherish becomes to desire and to dominate.

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 The picture we get in verse 16 is the woman and the man vying for control,

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 putting their own self-interest first,

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 and the result is frustration and conflict,

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 manipulation and abuse.

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 And of course,

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 these dynamics are not only limited to human marriages.

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 Adam and Eve represent all human relationships.

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 No human relationship is free of pain and sorrow,

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 tension and misunderstanding,

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 alienation and conflict.

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 All human relationships are vulnerable to those things.

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 Even the closest ones.

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 And at some level,

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 I think we can all recognize this.

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 Whether you're a Christian or not,

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 don't we all look at the world

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 and see that human relationships are very often

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 not what they should be?

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 Just read the news.

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 Or just look around at our own families,

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 our friends, roommates.

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 Sometimes we struggle most to love the people who are closest to us.

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 And the Bible says that our fractured and fraught human relationships

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 are a sign and a consequence of our broken relationship with God.

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 But sin doesn't just affect our human relationships.

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 Sin also has consequences in our human endeavors.

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 We see this in verses 17 to 19.

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 Our human endeavors are subject to frustration and disappointment.

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 Or as we say, blood, sweat, and tears.

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 Cursed is the ground because of you.

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 In pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life.

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 Thorns and thistles that shall bring forth for you.

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 Now originally, according to Genesis,

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 human beings were given dominion over the earth

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 to cultivate it, to care for it, to order it,

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 to bring forth life from it.

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 God put Adam in the garden to cultivate it,

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 to bring it out to its fullest potential,

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 and to guard it against any hostile intruders.

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 In other words, work was meant to be a good thing

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 and an aspect of our human growth and flourishing.

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 But what do we see in chapter 3?

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 We see Adam fail to do his job.

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 Instead of recognizing the serpent for the deceitful enemy that he was,

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 instead of taking up his rightful authority

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 and kicking him out of the garden,

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 Adam did nothing.

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 He watched Eve fall under the serpent's sway,

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 and then he joined right in with her

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 and ate the fruit that God had said not to eat.

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 And so God said to Adam,

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 you will no longer have dominion over the earth.

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 Now it will fight back against you,

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 and one day it will swallow you up.

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 To dust you shall return.

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 Meredith Klein put it this way,

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 human existence has become a struggle for survival,

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 a perpetual conflict,

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 a vain history unto death.

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 There's an entire book of the Bible that reflects on this theme.

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 It's called Ecclesiastes.

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 Ecclesiastes is really an extended meditation

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 on these first three chapters of Genesis,

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 especially the end of Genesis 3.

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 Ecclesiastes is written in the voice of someone

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 who has achieved every form of earthly success,

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 who's climbed to the top of every ladder,

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 who's experienced everything the world has to offer,

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 and who says in the end,

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 it's all empty and fleeting and futile.

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 What does man gain by all the toil

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 at which he toils under the sun?

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 A generation comes and a generation goes.

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 The sun rises and the sun goes down

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 and hastens to the place where it rises.

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 All things are full of weariness.

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 I've seen everything that is done under the sun,

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 and behold, all is vanity.

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 Literally, it's all a breath of vapor

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 and a striving after the wind.

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 And once again, don't we all feel this

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 at some level or another?

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 Whether or not you believe in the Bible,

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 don't you see and feel the fleeting

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 and frustrating nature of our human endeavors?

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 Just a couple months ago,

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 The Atlantic published an article by Arthur Brooks

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 with the title,

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 Your Professional Decline is Coming Sooner Than You Think.

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 Most business entrepreneurs hit their peak

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 in their 20s and early 30s.

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 Most poets and writers in their 40s and 50s.

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 For research scientists,

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 the likelihood of a major discovery

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 begins to decrease after age 40.

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 The highest performing major league baseball umpires

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 are on average 33.

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 The older guys are not so good.

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 Brooks writes,

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 If your profession requires mental processing speed

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 or significant analytic capabilities,

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 most of the jobs that college graduates pursue,

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 noticeable decline is probably going to set in

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 earlier than you imagine.

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 And he says,

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 Most of us are not ready to face that reality.

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 Whole sections of bookstores

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 are dedicated to becoming successful.

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 There is no section marked

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 managing your professional decline.

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 Work is frustrating.

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 Work is toilsome.

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 And it doesn't just get better

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 with the passage of time.

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 The Bible is very honest about this reality.

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 And again, it says,

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 The frustration that we experience

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 in our human endeavors

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 is a sign and consequence

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 of our alienation from God.

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 Sin has consequences in our human relationships.

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 Sin has consequences in our human endeavors.

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 And sin has consequences

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 in our relationship with God.

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 We see this in verses 22 to 24.

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 The chapter ends with Adam and Eve

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 being exiled from the garden.

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 Banished from the temple of God.

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 They are now defiled

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 and they can no longer live

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 in close communion with God.

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 They can no longer eat of the tree

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 of eternal life.

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 David Atkinson wrote,

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 The joyous dance of creation

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 becomes a dirge

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 as a shadow falls

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 over all things.

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 And the shadow cast

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 by the end of this chapter

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 hangs over the rest

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 of the Old Testament.

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 Now there are some scholars

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 who say

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 that the story of Adam and Eve

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 is unimportant

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 or even unknown

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 to the rest of the Old Testament

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 because Adam and Eve

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 are rarely referred to by name

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 after Genesis 5.

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 But that statement

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 is very misleading

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 because the imagery

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 of Genesis 2 and 3

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 reappears constantly

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 throughout the Old Testament.

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 So when God brings

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 the people of Israel

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 into the promised land

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 he says

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 it will be like

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 a fruitful garden.

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 A place of eating

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 and flourishing

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 and joy.

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 Like a renewed

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 garden of Eden

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 and in the center

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 of that land

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 would be God's holy temple.

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 And the priests

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 were to do exactly

00:17:29.979 --> 00:17:31.000
 what Adam does

00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:31.719
 to work

00:17:31.719 --> 00:17:33.240
 and guard the temple.

00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:35.159
 And the people

00:17:35.159 --> 00:17:36.419
 would meet with God

00:17:36.420 --> 00:17:37.519
 like Adam and Eve

00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:39.000
 did in close communion.

00:17:39.360 --> 00:17:40.160
 And there was a hope

00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:41.160
 of renewed Eden

00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:42.160
 renewed fellowship

00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:42.800
 with God.

00:17:43.120 --> 00:17:43.700
 And yet throughout

00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:44.500
 the Old Testament

00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:46.240
 we see the same pattern

00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:47.519
 of Genesis 3

00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:48.840
 happening over

00:17:48.840 --> 00:17:49.880
 and over again.

00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:50.840
 The garden

00:17:50.840 --> 00:17:51.620
 the temple

00:17:51.620 --> 00:17:52.480
 is spoiled

00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:53.740
 by the people's

00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:54.480
 idolatry

00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:55.620
 and disobedience

00:17:55.620 --> 00:17:56.500
 and the result

00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:57.180
 is shame

00:17:57.180 --> 00:17:58.320
 and defilement

00:17:58.320 --> 00:17:59.039
 conflict

00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:00.140
 and disarray

00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:00.779
 exile

00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:01.740
 and death.

00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:04.200
 They can never

00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:04.880
 make it

00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:05.900
 back in.

00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:10.240
 The shadow

00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.480
 of Genesis 3

00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:12.340
 hangs over

00:18:12.340 --> 00:18:12.740
 the rest

00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:13.520
 of the Old Testament

00:18:13.520 --> 00:18:14.360
 and in one

00:18:14.360 --> 00:18:15.260
 particular place

00:18:15.260 --> 00:18:16.140
 it's very evident

00:18:16.140 --> 00:18:16.940
 in the very

00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:17.880
 center

00:18:17.880 --> 00:18:18.960
 of the temple

00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:19.720
 that God

00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:20.680
 commanded the people

00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:21.240
 to build

00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:22.620
 there was a constant

00:18:22.620 --> 00:18:23.580
 reminder of the end

00:18:23.580 --> 00:18:24.260
 of this chapter.

00:18:26.140 --> 00:18:26.700
 Genesis 3

00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:27.260
 ends with

00:18:27.260 --> 00:18:28.020
 the cherubim.

00:18:29.060 --> 00:18:29.860
 The cherubim

00:18:29.860 --> 00:18:30.980
 are fiery

00:18:30.980 --> 00:18:32.420
 warriors of light

00:18:32.420 --> 00:18:34.380
 angels

00:18:34.380 --> 00:18:37.180
 who are

00:18:37.180 --> 00:18:38.000
 standing guard

00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:40.160
 at God's throne.

00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:41.019
 So the cherubim

00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:41.800
 stand guard

00:18:41.800 --> 00:18:42.759
 at the east gate

00:18:42.759 --> 00:18:43.360
 of the Garden

00:18:43.360 --> 00:18:43.740
 of Eden

00:18:43.740 --> 00:18:45.000
 with a flaming sword

00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.160
 barring the way

00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:47.140
 to the Tree of Life.

00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:48.660
 In the temple

00:18:48.660 --> 00:18:50.759
 the cherubim

00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:51.740
 were also there.

00:18:52.420 --> 00:18:53.120
 They guarded

00:18:53.120 --> 00:18:54.080
 God's throne.

00:18:54.300 --> 00:18:54.840
 So the center

00:18:54.840 --> 00:18:55.519
 of the temple

00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:57.560
 was the Holy of Holies

00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:59.319
 and in there

00:18:59.319 --> 00:19:00.200
 was the Ark

00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:00.720
 of the Covenant

00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.379
 and on top

00:19:01.379 --> 00:19:02.700
 was the mercy seat

00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:03.579
 or sort of

00:19:03.579 --> 00:19:04.000
 representing

00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:04.500
 the throne

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.000
 of God

00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:05.700
 and there were

00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:06.519
 two cherubim

00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.500
 one on each side

00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:09.139
 overshadowing

00:19:09.139 --> 00:19:11.119
 that throne

00:19:11.119 --> 00:19:12.019
 of God

00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:13.460
 in the center

00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:14.059
 of the temple.

00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:16.000
 Guarding the way

00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:16.839
 to God's presence

00:19:16.839 --> 00:19:17.539
 and then

00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:18.720
 there was a curtain

00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:20.059
 surrounding

00:19:20.059 --> 00:19:21.980
 that central place

00:19:21.980 --> 00:19:22.639
 that represented

00:19:22.639 --> 00:19:23.119
 the presence

00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:23.579
 of God

00:19:23.579 --> 00:19:24.980
 and only one person

00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:25.960
 only the high priest

00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:26.559
 could go in there

00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:27.379
 only once a year

00:19:27.379 --> 00:19:28.879
 but on that curtain

00:19:28.879 --> 00:19:30.419
 there were woven

00:19:30.419 --> 00:19:31.079
 into it

00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:32.079
 pictures

00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:33.779
 of these

00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:35.579
 warrior angels

00:19:35.579 --> 00:19:36.720
 the cherubim.

00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:40.839
 Exodus 36-35

00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:41.579
 is the reference

00:19:41.579 --> 00:19:42.200
 if you want it.

00:19:43.019 --> 00:19:43.799
 They were beautiful

00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:45.279
 but also terrifying

00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:45.919
 reminders

00:19:45.919 --> 00:19:47.079
 that the way

00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:48.419
 into God's presence

00:19:48.419 --> 00:19:49.299
 the way

00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:50.159
 into the garden

00:19:50.159 --> 00:19:51.299
 was not

00:19:51.299 --> 00:19:52.039
 yet

00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:52.779
 open.

00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:57.299
 You see

00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:57.819
 sin

00:19:57.819 --> 00:19:59.240
 separates us

00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:00.359
 from the presence

00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:02.159
 of a holy God

00:20:02.159 --> 00:20:04.720
 and according

00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:05.339
 to the Bible

00:20:05.339 --> 00:20:06.619
 that is the most

00:20:06.619 --> 00:20:07.639
 serious consequence

00:20:07.639 --> 00:20:08.720
 of all.

00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:11.099
 It's not just

00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:11.679
 that our human

00:20:11.679 --> 00:20:12.259
 relationships

00:20:12.259 --> 00:20:13.039
 are fractured

00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:13.579
 and fraught.

00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:14.319
 It's not just

00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:14.839
 that our human

00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:15.539
 endeavors are

00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:16.819
 fleeting and frustrating.

00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:17.500
 It's that we

00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:18.759
 are at odds

00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:19.519
 with the very

00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:20.879
 God who made

00:20:20.879 --> 00:20:21.539
 us.

00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:22.940
 Why are human

00:20:22.940 --> 00:20:23.680
 beings all

00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:24.400
 over the world

00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:25.860
 haunted by guilt

00:20:25.860 --> 00:20:26.640
 and fear

00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:27.440
 and anxiety?

00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:28.880
 Why is the history

00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:29.620
 of religions

00:20:29.620 --> 00:20:30.299
 littered with

00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:30.860
 attempts to

00:20:30.860 --> 00:20:32.019
 atone for sin

00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:33.299
 somehow or other

00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:34.360
 and appease the

00:20:34.360 --> 00:20:35.440
 deity in some

00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:36.019
 way or other?

00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:36.779
 Why are even

00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:37.860
 non-religious people

00:20:37.860 --> 00:20:38.700
 driven to worship

00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:39.340
 something?

00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:40.620
 Whether it's

00:20:40.620 --> 00:20:41.220
 their work

00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:42.059
 or children

00:20:42.059 --> 00:20:43.120
 or politics

00:20:43.120 --> 00:20:44.160
 or a relationship

00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:44.960
 it's because

00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:45.640
 at the deepest

00:20:45.640 --> 00:20:46.340
 level we are

00:20:46.340 --> 00:20:47.259
 not right

00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:48.480
 with God.

00:20:51.120 --> 00:20:51.759
 Sin

00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:53.680
 has consequences

00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:55.559
 in our human

00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:56.180
 relationships

00:20:56.180 --> 00:20:57.000
 in our human

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:57.400
 endeavors

00:20:57.400 --> 00:20:58.220
 and ultimately

00:20:58.220 --> 00:20:59.859
 in our relationship

00:20:59.859 --> 00:21:00.400
 with God.

00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:03.879
 That's the first

00:21:03.879 --> 00:21:04.900
 thing that we see

00:21:04.900 --> 00:21:06.519
 in this passage

00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:07.039
 this morning.

00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:10.819
 But thankfully

00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:11.379
 there's another

00:21:11.379 --> 00:21:12.480
 thing that we see.

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:15.019
 We also see

00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:15.599
 in this passage

00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:16.220
 that God

00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.839
 has mercy.

00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:21.759
 woven into

00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:22.419
 God's

00:21:22.419 --> 00:21:23.259
 judicial

00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:23.699
 verdict

00:21:23.699 --> 00:21:24.480
 on sinful

00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:25.079
 humanity

00:21:25.079 --> 00:21:26.199
 are glimmers

00:21:26.199 --> 00:21:28.019
 of mercy.

00:21:29.679 --> 00:21:30.459
 You see

00:21:30.459 --> 00:21:31.039
 God doesn't

00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:31.919
 just dish out

00:21:31.919 --> 00:21:32.459
 all the

00:21:32.459 --> 00:21:33.059
 consequences

00:21:33.059 --> 00:21:34.259
 that we deserve

00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:35.379
 for our rebellion

00:21:35.379 --> 00:21:36.159
 against him.

00:21:38.379 --> 00:21:39.259
 We see

00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:39.619
 the first

00:21:39.619 --> 00:21:40.419
 glimmer of mercy

00:21:40.419 --> 00:21:41.339
 in verses 14

00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:41.980
 and 15

00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:44.259
 in the hope

00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:45.720
 of Satan's

00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:46.699
 ultimate defeat.

00:21:46.700 --> 00:21:49.500
 Now verses

00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:50.380
 14 and 15

00:21:50.380 --> 00:21:50.840
 are not

00:21:50.840 --> 00:21:51.440
 intending to

00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:52.059
 explain

00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:53.360
 why snakes

00:21:53.360 --> 00:21:54.100
 crawl on the

00:21:54.100 --> 00:21:54.480
 ground

00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.299
 nor are they

00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:55.920
 implying that

00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:56.620
 snakes previously

00:21:56.620 --> 00:21:57.259
 had legs.

00:21:58.299 --> 00:21:58.799
 No,

00:21:58.900 --> 00:21:59.340
 this is a

00:21:59.340 --> 00:21:59.900
 figure of

00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:00.319
 speech.

00:22:02.900 --> 00:22:03.559
 When you

00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:04.420
 say the

00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:04.759
 New York

00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.259
 Jets are

00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:05.460
 going to

00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:05.779
 eat the

00:22:05.779 --> 00:22:06.160
 dust,

00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:08.220
 everybody

00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:08.740
 knows what

00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:09.400
 it means.

00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:10.580
 Right?

00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:11.220
 They do that

00:22:11.220 --> 00:22:11.700
 most of the

00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:12.100
 time.

00:22:12.099 --> 00:22:17.019
 Okay,

00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:17.379
 in the

00:22:17.379 --> 00:22:17.839
 story,

00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.259
 the serpent

00:22:19.259 --> 00:22:20.039
 represents

00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:20.879
 or symbolizes

00:22:20.879 --> 00:22:21.740
 or embodies

00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.240
 the devil,

00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:23.079
 the source

00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:23.639
 of temptation

00:22:23.639 --> 00:22:24.059
 and the

00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:24.539
 father of

00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:24.899
 lies.

00:22:24.899 --> 00:22:25.299
 That's how

00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:26.219
 many Jewish

00:22:26.219 --> 00:22:26.759
 and Christian

00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:27.299
 interpreters

00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:27.839
 throughout history

00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:28.299
 have understood

00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:28.539
 it.

00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:29.179
 So what we

00:22:29.179 --> 00:22:29.539
 have here

00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:29.959
 is God's

00:22:29.959 --> 00:22:30.679
 verdict upon

00:22:30.679 --> 00:22:31.059
 Satan,

00:22:31.059 --> 00:22:32.599
 and he is

00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:32.980
 cursed,

00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:33.579
 consigned to

00:22:33.579 --> 00:22:34.279
 crawl on the

00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:34.619
 ground,

00:22:34.719 --> 00:22:35.219
 a picture of

00:22:35.219 --> 00:22:35.899
 humiliation

00:22:35.899 --> 00:22:36.619
 and eat the

00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:36.980
 dust,

00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:38.399
 a picture of

00:22:38.399 --> 00:22:39.139
 ultimate and

00:22:39.139 --> 00:22:40.099
 total defeat.

00:22:40.099 --> 00:22:42.439
 And then

00:22:42.439 --> 00:22:42.759
 the glimmer

00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.219
 of mercy

00:22:43.219 --> 00:22:44.039
 comes in

00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:44.699
 verse 15.

00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:47.639
 I will put

00:22:47.639 --> 00:22:49.059
 enmity between

00:22:49.059 --> 00:22:50.579
 you, the

00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:50.839
 serpent,

00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:51.339
 and the

00:22:51.339 --> 00:22:51.539
 woman.

00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:53.859
 Now what

00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:54.079
 does that

00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:54.279
 mean?

00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:55.399
 What it

00:22:55.399 --> 00:22:55.839
 means is

00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:56.219
 that the

00:22:56.219 --> 00:22:56.980
 unholy

00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:58.599
 alliance of

00:22:58.599 --> 00:22:59.279
 Eve and

00:22:59.279 --> 00:22:59.740
 the serpent

00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.500
 will not

00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:01.119
 last.

00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:03.839
 That's what

00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:04.259
 Eve did in

00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:04.519
 the beginning

00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:04.740
 of the

00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:05.000
 chapter.

00:23:05.099 --> 00:23:05.359
 The serpent

00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:05.619
 said,

00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:05.899
 hey,

00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:06.399
 listen to

00:23:06.399 --> 00:23:06.759
 me.

00:23:08.139 --> 00:23:08.299
 Why?

00:23:08.539 --> 00:23:08.839
 You know,

00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:09.439
 no,

00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:09.579
 no,

00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:09.719
 no,

00:23:09.719 --> 00:23:09.759
 no,

00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:09.859
 no.

00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:10.319
 What God

00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:10.639
 said,

00:23:11.139 --> 00:23:11.559
 put that

00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:12.879
 to the

00:23:12.879 --> 00:23:13.199
 side.

00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.379
 I'm going

00:23:14.379 --> 00:23:14.719
 to frame

00:23:14.719 --> 00:23:15.419
 the way

00:23:15.419 --> 00:23:15.740
 you think

00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:16.079
 about the

00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:16.439
 world.

00:23:17.459 --> 00:23:17.899
 And Eve

00:23:17.899 --> 00:23:20.719
 allies with

00:23:20.719 --> 00:23:20.959
 him.

00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:24.059
 But here

00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:24.539
 it says

00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.740
 that alliance

00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:26.399
 won't stand.

00:23:28.019 --> 00:23:28.539
 Why?

00:23:29.539 --> 00:23:30.459
 Because Eve

00:23:30.459 --> 00:23:31.099
 will once

00:23:31.099 --> 00:23:31.639
 again come

00:23:31.639 --> 00:23:32.099
 to love

00:23:32.099 --> 00:23:33.459
 God and

00:23:33.459 --> 00:23:34.240
 therefore hate

00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:35.359
 Satan.

00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:37.419
 You see,

00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:38.159
 it is God's

00:23:38.159 --> 00:23:38.979
 mercy when we

00:23:38.979 --> 00:23:39.779
 begin to see

00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:41.019
 our sin for

00:23:41.019 --> 00:23:41.839
 what it is

00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:42.480
 and to

00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:42.859
 hate it.

00:23:45.420 --> 00:23:45.879
 Now,

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.359
 hating our

00:23:46.359 --> 00:23:46.859
 sin is not

00:23:46.859 --> 00:23:47.240
 the same

00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:47.599
 thing as

00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:48.519
 hating ourselves.

00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.519
 Self-hatred is

00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:50.180
 not the way

00:23:50.180 --> 00:23:51.319
 to atonement,

00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.460
 but neither is

00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:53.480
 self-justification.

00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:57.180
 It's God's

00:23:57.180 --> 00:23:58.319
 mercy when we

00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:59.700
 are no longer

00:23:59.700 --> 00:24:00.559
 comfortable

00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:02.039
 hiding and

00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:02.639
 minimizing,

00:24:03.139 --> 00:24:03.480
 blaming,

00:24:03.899 --> 00:24:04.759
 and excusing,

00:24:04.879 --> 00:24:05.759
 and deflecting.

00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.400
 it's God's

00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:07.000
 mercy that

00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:07.579
 leads us to

00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:07.960
 say,

00:24:08.359 --> 00:24:08.839
 I was

00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:09.700
 wrong and

00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:10.200
 I need

00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:10.559
 help.

00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:14.599
 It's God's

00:24:14.599 --> 00:24:15.279
 mercy when we

00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:16.119
 begin to see

00:24:16.119 --> 00:24:17.099
 Satan's lies for

00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:17.859
 what they are

00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:18.779
 and to resist

00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:19.000
 them.

00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:19.720
 It's God's

00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:20.460
 mercy when we

00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:21.200
 want to be

00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:22.019
 free from

00:24:22.019 --> 00:24:22.660
 our addictions

00:24:22.660 --> 00:24:23.379
 and habitual

00:24:23.379 --> 00:24:24.279
 patterns of sin

00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:25.359
 and self-contradictions

00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:25.839
 even if we

00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:26.400
 don't know how

00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:26.839
 to get rid

00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:27.160
 of them.

00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:32.440
 That's where

00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:33.060
 God's mercy

00:24:33.060 --> 00:24:33.700
 begins.

00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:35.900
 Now the rest

00:24:35.900 --> 00:24:36.560
 of verse 15

00:24:36.560 --> 00:24:37.140
 describes an

00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:38.220
 ongoing struggle

00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:40.180
 culminating in a

00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:41.279
 decisive battle

00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:42.060
 between the

00:24:42.060 --> 00:24:42.820
 offspring of the

00:24:42.820 --> 00:24:43.560
 serpent and the

00:24:43.560 --> 00:24:44.680
 offspring of Eve.

00:24:44.800 --> 00:24:45.580
 Now there's

00:24:45.580 --> 00:24:46.640
 certainly mystery

00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:47.720
 and ambiguity

00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:49.000
 in this verse.

00:24:49.600 --> 00:24:50.519
 In particular,

00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:51.320
 grammatically,

00:24:51.600 --> 00:24:52.340
 offspring could

00:24:52.340 --> 00:24:53.180
 refer to an

00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:53.820
 individual

00:24:53.820 --> 00:24:55.200
 descendant of

00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:56.860
 Eve or

00:24:56.859 --> 00:24:57.479
 the serpent

00:24:57.479 --> 00:24:58.179
 or a group

00:24:58.179 --> 00:24:58.819
 of descendants

00:24:58.819 --> 00:24:59.419
 or both.

00:25:00.879 --> 00:25:01.559
 But regardless,

00:25:01.699 --> 00:25:02.199
 the end of the

00:25:02.199 --> 00:25:02.779
 verse says that

00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.519
 the offspring of

00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:05.159
 Eve will bruise

00:25:05.159 --> 00:25:05.799
 the serpent's

00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:06.479
 head but the

00:25:06.479 --> 00:25:07.039
 serpent will

00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.819
 bruise his

00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:08.139
 heel.

00:25:10.099 --> 00:25:10.859
 Now the verb

00:25:10.859 --> 00:25:11.579
 is the same.

00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:13.419
 Some translations

00:25:13.419 --> 00:25:14.079
 translate the verb

00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:14.740
 differently but the

00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:15.259
 verb in Hebrew is

00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:15.699
 the same.

00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:16.379
 It can be

00:25:16.379 --> 00:25:17.399
 translated bruise,

00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.159
 crush,

00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:19.259
 or strike.

00:25:20.159 --> 00:25:20.779
 But the body

00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.439
 parts are different.

00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:22.839
 The head of the

00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:23.979
 serpent, the heel

00:25:23.979 --> 00:25:26.139
 of the woman's

00:25:26.139 --> 00:25:26.479
 offspring.

00:25:26.859 --> 00:25:29.179
 So in other

00:25:29.179 --> 00:25:29.639
 words, there's

00:25:29.639 --> 00:25:30.279
 hope that the

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.879
 serpent will

00:25:30.879 --> 00:25:31.659
 ultimately be

00:25:31.659 --> 00:25:32.459
 defeated with a

00:25:32.459 --> 00:25:33.119
 blow to the

00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:33.419
 head.

00:25:34.939 --> 00:25:36.199
 But the

00:25:36.199 --> 00:25:37.079
 victory will be a

00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:38.559
 painful one for

00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:39.419
 the offspring of

00:25:39.419 --> 00:25:40.819
 the woman, a

00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:41.699
 blow to the

00:25:41.699 --> 00:25:41.919
 heel.

00:25:43.419 --> 00:25:44.179
 So it's a

00:25:44.179 --> 00:25:45.599
 puzzling prophecy

00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:46.799
 but in it we see

00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:48.119
 God's mercy in the

00:25:48.119 --> 00:25:48.939
 hope that the one

00:25:48.939 --> 00:25:49.759
 who led humans

00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:50.599
 astray in the

00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:52.539
 first place will

00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:53.619
 ultimately be

00:25:53.619 --> 00:25:53.939
 defeated.

00:25:53.940 --> 00:25:56.340
 So that's a

00:25:56.340 --> 00:25:58.519
 first glimmer of

00:25:58.519 --> 00:25:59.500
 hope and

00:25:59.500 --> 00:25:59.840
 mercy.

00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:01.080
 The second

00:26:01.080 --> 00:26:03.400
 aspect of God's

00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:04.340
 mercy that we see

00:26:04.340 --> 00:26:05.259
 is in verse 16

00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:06.220
 to 21 we see

00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:06.900
 God's present

00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:07.920
 provisions for

00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:08.480
 humanity.

00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:10.320
 Adam and

00:26:10.320 --> 00:26:10.940
 Eve are not

00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:11.799
 immediately wiped

00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:12.120
 out.

00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:13.240
 God does not

00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:14.860
 personally curse

00:26:14.860 --> 00:26:15.640
 Adam and Eve.

00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:16.059
 Do you notice

00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:16.320
 that?

00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:17.279
 He curses the

00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:18.380
 serpent in verse

00:26:18.380 --> 00:26:19.200
 14 and he

00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:20.120
 curses the ground

00:26:20.120 --> 00:26:22.160
 in verse 17 but

00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:22.920
 he does not

00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:23.840
 directly and

00:26:23.840 --> 00:26:24.880
 personally curse

00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:26.080
 Adam and Eve

00:26:26.080 --> 00:26:27.980
 because he's not

00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:28.500
 done with them

00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:28.820
 yet.

00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:34.279
 He doesn't say

00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:35.240
 you will be

00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:36.019
 eternally cursed.

00:26:39.720 --> 00:26:40.840
 He also doesn't

00:26:40.840 --> 00:26:42.300
 say they're not

00:26:42.300 --> 00:26:43.060
 condemned to

00:26:43.060 --> 00:26:43.920
 immediate destruction.

00:26:44.080 --> 00:26:44.560
 They will not

00:26:44.560 --> 00:26:45.240
 starve to death

00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:45.740
 imminently.

00:26:45.880 --> 00:26:46.380
 They will not

00:26:46.380 --> 00:26:47.180
 remain childless

00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:47.540
 forever.

00:26:47.860 --> 00:26:48.440
 There's still a

00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:49.000
 future for the

00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:49.660
 human race.

00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:51.340
 Marriage and

00:26:51.339 --> 00:26:52.419
 childbearing work

00:26:52.419 --> 00:26:53.379
 and eating will

00:26:53.379 --> 00:26:54.119
 all continue

00:26:54.119 --> 00:26:55.059
 despite the pain

00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:55.619
 and conflict

00:26:55.619 --> 00:26:56.599
 sweat and sorrow

00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:57.139
 involved.

00:26:59.199 --> 00:26:59.740
 You see in

00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:00.879
 every moment of

00:27:00.879 --> 00:27:01.980
 marital joy,

00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:03.740
 in every birth of

00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:04.419
 a new child,

00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:06.220
 in every satisfying

00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:07.079
 human achievement,

00:27:07.699 --> 00:27:08.939
 in every good and

00:27:08.939 --> 00:27:09.699
 nourishing meal,

00:27:10.619 --> 00:27:11.500
 in all those

00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:12.480
 ordinary yet at

00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.319
 times breathtaking

00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:13.980
 gifts,

00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:16.919
 the mercy of God

00:27:16.919 --> 00:27:18.699
 is sustaining us

00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:20.660
 and even reaching

00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:21.700
 out to us.

00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:27.059
 God's daily

00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:28.799
 sustaining graces

00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:30.420
 are His mercy.

00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:34.840
 And in verse 21,

00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:35.620
 we see even a

00:27:35.620 --> 00:27:36.420
 further expression

00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:36.900
 of God's

00:27:36.900 --> 00:27:38.200
 sustaining mercy.

00:27:38.340 --> 00:27:38.880
 The Lord God

00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:39.740
 made for Adam

00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:40.440
 and for his wife

00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:42.420
 garments of skins

00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:43.660
 and clothed

00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:44.240
 them.

00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:48.200
 Walter Brueggemann

00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:48.460
 wrote,

00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:49.359
 God does for the

00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:50.019
 couple what they

00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:50.920
 cannot do for

00:27:50.920 --> 00:27:51.440
 themselves.

00:27:52.120 --> 00:27:53.519
 They cannot deal

00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:54.599
 with their shame.

00:27:56.140 --> 00:27:57.059
 The fig leaves

00:27:57.059 --> 00:27:58.960
 that they try to

00:27:58.960 --> 00:27:59.700
 cover themselves

00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:00.299
 with,

00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.440
 in verse 7,

00:28:01.640 --> 00:28:02.759
 do not suffice.

00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:05.440
 They cannot deal

00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:05.980
 with their shame,

00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:06.960
 but God can,

00:28:07.620 --> 00:28:07.920
 will,

00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:08.720
 and does.

00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:12.579
 In the Old

00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:12.900
 Testament,

00:28:13.120 --> 00:28:14.220
 clothing is often

00:28:14.220 --> 00:28:15.600
 a sign of a

00:28:15.600 --> 00:28:16.640
 covenant bond,

00:28:17.380 --> 00:28:18.740
 a promise of

00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:19.860
 provision and

00:28:19.860 --> 00:28:20.180
 care.

00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:22.740
 That's why when

00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:24.140
 Ruth asks Boaz

00:28:24.140 --> 00:28:25.000
 to marry her,

00:28:25.360 --> 00:28:25.940
 she says,

00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:27.120
 spread your

00:28:27.120 --> 00:28:28.100
 garment over

00:28:28.100 --> 00:28:28.559
 me.

00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:31.240
 That's why

00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:32.019
 Joseph's father

00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:32.579
 gives him a

00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:33.200
 coat of many

00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:33.640
 colors,

00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:34.539
 a robe of

00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:34.880
 honor,

00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:35.740
 a sign of

00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:36.960
 his sonship.

00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:39.120
 And here

00:28:39.120 --> 00:28:40.140
 God clothes

00:28:40.140 --> 00:28:40.759
 Adam and

00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:41.180
 Eve,

00:28:42.860 --> 00:28:43.480
 symbolically

00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:45.019
 restoring their

00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:45.920
 relationship with

00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:46.380
 him and

00:28:46.380 --> 00:28:47.319
 reuniting them

00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:47.980
 with one

00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:48.480
 another,

00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:51.440
 promising his

00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:52.559
 ongoing care,

00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:53.360
 protection,

00:28:53.860 --> 00:28:54.840
 and provision.

00:28:59.299 --> 00:29:00.420
 Isn't that a

00:29:00.420 --> 00:29:01.279
 picture of God's

00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:02.600
 tender mercy?

00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:06.460
 Now you might

00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:06.900
 wonder how

00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:07.579
 does verse

00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:08.819
 20 fit into

00:29:08.819 --> 00:29:09.279
 the flow of

00:29:09.279 --> 00:29:09.920
 this passage.

00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:10.960
 The man

00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:11.400
 called his

00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:11.940
 wife's name

00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:12.600
 Eve because

00:29:12.600 --> 00:29:13.039
 she was the

00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:13.400
 mother of

00:29:13.400 --> 00:29:13.799
 all living.

00:29:13.880 --> 00:29:14.240
 That seems

00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:14.740
 to come out

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.100
 of nowhere.

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.259
 What's that

00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:17.680
 verse about?

00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:19.180
 Well,

00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:19.600
 look up at

00:29:19.600 --> 00:29:20.299
 verse 12.

00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:22.900
 Adam's last

00:29:22.900 --> 00:29:23.680
 words toward

00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:24.340
 his wife,

00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:25.700
 before verse

00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:26.039
 20,

00:29:26.140 --> 00:29:26.620
 are in verse

00:29:26.620 --> 00:29:27.019
 12,

00:29:27.140 --> 00:29:27.500
 and they

00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:27.940
 are,

00:29:29.059 --> 00:29:29.500
 the woman

00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:29.940
 whom you

00:29:29.940 --> 00:29:30.400
 gave to

00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:30.759
 be with

00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:30.960
 me,

00:29:31.079 --> 00:29:31.579
 she gave

00:29:31.579 --> 00:29:32.039
 me fruit

00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:32.299
 of the

00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:32.559
 tree,

00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:33.059
 and I

00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:33.340
 ate.

00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:34.940
 In other

00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:35.200
 words,

00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:35.680
 Adam was

00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:35.980
 saying,

00:29:36.120 --> 00:29:36.620
 she's the

00:29:36.620 --> 00:29:36.960
 source of

00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:37.799
 my problems,

00:29:38.120 --> 00:29:39.920
 and God,

00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:40.460
 you gave

00:29:40.460 --> 00:29:40.740
 her to

00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:41.039
 me.

00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:44.380
 But verse

00:29:44.380 --> 00:29:45.560
 20 displays

00:29:45.560 --> 00:29:45.900
 a very

00:29:45.900 --> 00:29:46.200
 different

00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:47.460
 attitude on

00:29:47.460 --> 00:29:47.759
 Adam's

00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.100
 part.

00:29:48.779 --> 00:29:49.380
 Adam calls

00:29:49.380 --> 00:29:49.820
 his wife

00:29:49.820 --> 00:29:50.140
 Eve.

00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:50.560
 The word

00:29:50.560 --> 00:29:51.380
 means life

00:29:51.380 --> 00:29:52.060
 giver.

00:29:53.860 --> 00:29:54.380
 Eve is not

00:29:54.380 --> 00:29:55.039
 the source

00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.519
 of Adam's

00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.000
 problems.

00:29:56.140 --> 00:29:56.820
 Eve is now

00:29:56.820 --> 00:29:57.279
 the source

00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:57.820
 of life.

00:29:59.340 --> 00:29:59.560
 You see,

00:29:59.620 --> 00:30:00.039
 Adam in

00:30:00.039 --> 00:30:00.560
 verse 20

00:30:00.560 --> 00:30:01.380
 is responding

00:30:01.380 --> 00:30:02.180
 to God's

00:30:02.180 --> 00:30:02.760
 promise in

00:30:02.760 --> 00:30:03.560
 verse 15

00:30:03.560 --> 00:30:04.420
 with faith

00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:05.180
 and hope

00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:05.640
 and with

00:30:05.640 --> 00:30:06.040
 renewed

00:30:06.040 --> 00:30:06.780
 love

00:30:06.780 --> 00:30:07.600
 for his

00:30:07.600 --> 00:30:07.960
 wife.

00:30:11.080 --> 00:30:11.740
 You see,

00:30:11.800 --> 00:30:12.140
 that's what

00:30:12.140 --> 00:30:12.680
 happens

00:30:12.680 --> 00:30:13.940
 when God's

00:30:13.940 --> 00:30:14.360
 mercy

00:30:14.360 --> 00:30:15.180
 starts to

00:30:15.180 --> 00:30:15.400
 get a

00:30:15.400 --> 00:30:15.700
 hold of

00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:16.040
 us.

00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:19.260
 Our

00:30:19.260 --> 00:30:19.820
 faith

00:30:19.820 --> 00:30:20.940
 in God

00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:21.540
 is renewed.

00:30:21.780 --> 00:30:22.140
 We see

00:30:22.140 --> 00:30:23.220
 hope for

00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:23.840
 the future

00:30:23.840 --> 00:30:24.680
 because of

00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:25.300
 God and

00:30:25.300 --> 00:30:25.980
 his promises,

00:30:26.600 --> 00:30:28.120
 and our

00:30:28.120 --> 00:30:29.140
 love is

00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:29.920
 also renewed.

00:30:29.920 --> 00:30:32.140
 attitude toward

00:30:32.140 --> 00:30:32.840
 other people

00:30:32.840 --> 00:30:33.539
 begins to

00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:34.180
 change.

00:30:34.840 --> 00:30:35.700
 Even people

00:30:35.700 --> 00:30:36.039
 who have

00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:36.700
 caused us

00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:37.480
 problems and

00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:38.039
 dragged us

00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:38.519
 down, and

00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:39.300
 previously we've

00:30:39.300 --> 00:30:40.100
 just pointed the

00:30:40.100 --> 00:30:40.640
 finger at them

00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:41.500
 and blamed them

00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:41.960
 for everything

00:30:41.960 --> 00:30:42.680
 bad that's

00:30:42.680 --> 00:30:43.180
 come into our

00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:43.660
 lives.

00:30:44.340 --> 00:30:45.000
 And now we

00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:45.800
 long for them

00:30:45.800 --> 00:30:46.440
 to turn to

00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:46.880
 God and

00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:47.720
 experience the

00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:48.779
 same mercy

00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:49.380
 that we

00:30:49.380 --> 00:30:50.279
 have.

00:30:55.560 --> 00:30:56.300
 Sin has

00:30:56.300 --> 00:30:56.980
 consequences,

00:30:57.680 --> 00:30:58.180
 but God

00:30:58.180 --> 00:30:58.800
 has mercy.

00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:02.000
 we see

00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:02.460
 that in

00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:03.220
 how God

00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:03.860
 deals with

00:31:03.860 --> 00:31:04.300
 Adam and

00:31:04.300 --> 00:31:04.700
 Eve in

00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:05.039
 Genesis,

00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:06.980
 but as we

00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:07.560
 look at the

00:31:07.560 --> 00:31:08.080
 rest of the

00:31:08.080 --> 00:31:08.539
 Bible, we

00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:09.100
 can see

00:31:09.100 --> 00:31:10.080
 that even

00:31:10.080 --> 00:31:10.940
 more clearly.

00:31:13.120 --> 00:31:13.720
 When we

00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:14.140
 turn to the

00:31:14.140 --> 00:31:14.600
 New Testament,

00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:15.240
 we see the

00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:16.400
 fullest display

00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:17.440
 of God's

00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:18.620
 mercy in

00:31:18.620 --> 00:31:19.000
 his son,

00:31:19.080 --> 00:31:19.720
 Jesus Christ.

00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:23.900
 The New

00:31:23.900 --> 00:31:24.519
 Testament shows

00:31:24.519 --> 00:31:25.840
 us that

00:31:25.840 --> 00:31:26.519
 Jesus came to

00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:27.180
 conquer our

00:31:27.180 --> 00:31:28.019
 greatest enemy.

00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:28.500
 He's the

00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:29.240
 fulfillment of

00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:30.299
 verse 15.

00:31:31.779 --> 00:31:32.339
 Hebrews 2

00:31:32.339 --> 00:31:32.660
 says,

00:31:33.019 --> 00:31:33.500
 since the

00:31:33.500 --> 00:31:35.440
 children share

00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:36.000
 in flesh and

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:36.660
 blood, that is

00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:39.299
 the human, we

00:31:39.299 --> 00:31:40.160
 share in flesh and

00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:40.859
 blood, the son of

00:31:40.859 --> 00:31:42.160
 God partook of the

00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:43.019
 same things.

00:31:43.879 --> 00:31:44.379
 That through

00:31:44.379 --> 00:31:46.059
 death he might

00:31:46.059 --> 00:31:47.279
 destroy the one

00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:48.180
 who has the power

00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:49.119
 of death, that is

00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:50.220
 the devil, and

00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:51.940
 deliver those who

00:31:51.940 --> 00:31:53.019
 through fear of

00:31:53.019 --> 00:31:54.359
 death were subject

00:31:54.359 --> 00:31:56.019
 to lifelong slavery.

00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:57.279
 You see, what the

00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:58.160
 verse is saying is

00:31:58.160 --> 00:31:58.799
 Jesus came to

00:31:58.799 --> 00:31:59.720
 destroy the power

00:31:59.720 --> 00:32:00.900
 of Satan and

00:32:00.900 --> 00:32:02.680
 deliver all those

00:32:02.680 --> 00:32:03.940
 in captivity to

00:32:03.940 --> 00:32:04.680
 his lies.

00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:06.599
 The New

00:32:06.599 --> 00:32:07.200
 Testament says

00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:08.200
 Jesus is that

00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:09.220
 offspring of

00:32:09.220 --> 00:32:11.039
 Eve who

00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:11.960
 came to

00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:12.539
 fight the

00:32:12.539 --> 00:32:13.579
 decisive battle

00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:14.799
 over the

00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:15.519
 serpent and

00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:16.500
 triumph even

00:32:16.500 --> 00:32:17.119
 through a

00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:18.559
 painful ordeal.

00:32:21.400 --> 00:32:22.200
 And the

00:32:22.200 --> 00:32:22.900
 Apostle Paul

00:32:22.900 --> 00:32:24.079
 assured the

00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:24.900
 Christians in

00:32:24.900 --> 00:32:25.379
 his letter to

00:32:25.380 --> 00:32:26.840
 the Romans that

00:32:26.840 --> 00:32:27.860
 they too would

00:32:27.860 --> 00:32:28.800
 share in that

00:32:28.800 --> 00:32:29.820
 victory of

00:32:29.820 --> 00:32:30.260
 Christ.

00:32:30.420 --> 00:32:30.880
 He says the

00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:31.920
 God of peace

00:32:31.920 --> 00:32:33.620
 will soon crush

00:32:33.620 --> 00:32:35.300
 Satan under

00:32:35.300 --> 00:32:36.160
 your feet.

00:32:37.400 --> 00:32:37.980
 In other words,

00:32:38.040 --> 00:32:39.000
 because Christ has

00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:39.620
 won the victory

00:32:39.620 --> 00:32:40.460
 through his death

00:32:40.460 --> 00:32:41.100
 and resurrection,

00:32:41.580 --> 00:32:42.700
 everyone who is

00:32:42.700 --> 00:32:43.640
 joined to him,

00:32:45.120 --> 00:32:46.360
 by trusting him

00:32:46.360 --> 00:32:46.800
 and giving

00:32:46.800 --> 00:32:47.680
 ourselves to him,

00:32:48.100 --> 00:32:49.280
 we too will

00:32:49.280 --> 00:32:50.440
 share in that

00:32:50.440 --> 00:32:52.220
 victory over

00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:53.340
 Satan and all

00:32:53.339 --> 00:32:54.039
 his lies.

00:32:56.079 --> 00:32:56.919
 Jesus came to

00:32:56.919 --> 00:32:57.439
 conquer our

00:32:57.439 --> 00:32:58.119
 greatest enemy

00:32:58.119 --> 00:32:59.500
 and also he

00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:00.419
 came to clothe us

00:33:00.419 --> 00:33:01.419
 in his very own

00:33:01.419 --> 00:33:01.879
 righteousness.

00:33:02.079 --> 00:33:02.339
 He's the

00:33:02.339 --> 00:33:02.879
 fulfillment of

00:33:02.879 --> 00:33:03.699
 verse 21.

00:33:05.740 --> 00:33:06.539
 He came to

00:33:06.539 --> 00:33:07.399
 take away our

00:33:07.399 --> 00:33:08.379
 filthy rags of

00:33:08.379 --> 00:33:09.019
 sin and give us

00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:09.759
 a robe of

00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:10.559
 righteousness and

00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:10.980
 honor.

00:33:11.579 --> 00:33:12.279
 He gives us a

00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:12.939
 new identity.

00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:14.099
 He calls us

00:33:14.099 --> 00:33:15.220
 God's beloved

00:33:15.220 --> 00:33:15.879
 children.

00:33:15.880 --> 00:33:16.000
 children.

00:33:17.940 --> 00:33:18.920
 And he has

00:33:18.920 --> 00:33:19.820
 promised himself

00:33:19.820 --> 00:33:21.540
 to us.

00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:24.500
 He said,

00:33:24.760 --> 00:33:25.220
 never will I

00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:25.720
 leave you.

00:33:26.860 --> 00:33:27.660
 Never will I

00:33:27.660 --> 00:33:28.380
 forsake you.

00:33:33.760 --> 00:33:35.020
 Just as God

00:33:35.020 --> 00:33:36.640
 clothes Adam

00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:37.200
 and Eve,

00:33:37.840 --> 00:33:38.820
 we're

00:33:38.820 --> 00:33:40.240
 closed by

00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:40.680
 Christ.

00:33:41.580 --> 00:33:42.220
 We have the

00:33:42.220 --> 00:33:43.020
 promise of his

00:33:43.020 --> 00:33:44.680
 ongoing care and

00:33:44.680 --> 00:33:45.620
 protection and

00:33:45.620 --> 00:33:46.620
 provision and

00:33:46.620 --> 00:33:47.000
 love.

00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:49.960
 So Jesus came to

00:33:49.960 --> 00:33:50.440
 conquer our

00:33:50.440 --> 00:33:50.980
 greatest enemy.

00:33:51.100 --> 00:33:51.440
 He came to

00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:52.080
 clothe us in his

00:33:52.080 --> 00:33:52.480
 righteousness.

00:33:52.700 --> 00:33:53.500
 And third, he

00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:54.980
 came to do what

00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:55.759
 nobody else in the

00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:56.460
 Old Testament could

00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:56.680
 do.

00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:58.799
 He came to lead us

00:33:58.799 --> 00:33:59.360
 back into the

00:33:59.360 --> 00:33:59.600
 garden.

00:34:01.299 --> 00:34:02.100
 You see, for

00:34:02.100 --> 00:34:03.860
 centuries, that

00:34:03.860 --> 00:34:04.660
 curtain in the

00:34:04.660 --> 00:34:06.720
 temple stood there

00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:09.280
 with the cherubim

00:34:09.280 --> 00:34:10.960
 embroidered on it.

00:34:11.280 --> 00:34:12.700
 It hung there as a

00:34:12.699 --> 00:34:14.299
 perpetual reminder to

00:34:14.299 --> 00:34:14.879
 the people of

00:34:14.879 --> 00:34:15.779
 Israel that sin

00:34:15.779 --> 00:34:17.059
 separates us from

00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:17.919
 the presence of a

00:34:17.919 --> 00:34:18.859
 holy God that we

00:34:18.859 --> 00:34:20.819
 cannot enter in to

00:34:20.819 --> 00:34:22.099
 that place of

00:34:22.099 --> 00:34:23.139
 intimate fellowship

00:34:23.139 --> 00:34:24.679
 with God.

00:34:24.859 --> 00:34:25.699
 Only the high

00:34:25.699 --> 00:34:26.460
 priest could go in

00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:27.339
 there and only once

00:34:27.339 --> 00:34:28.279
 a year and only with

00:34:28.279 --> 00:34:29.299
 a sacrifice and then

00:34:29.299 --> 00:34:30.079
 he had to leave.

00:34:33.439 --> 00:34:34.519
 But when Jesus was

00:34:34.519 --> 00:34:36.779
 crucified, when he

00:34:36.779 --> 00:34:38.179
 breathed his last,

00:34:39.299 --> 00:34:40.359
 the curtain in the

00:34:40.360 --> 00:34:41.940
 temple was torn in

00:34:41.940 --> 00:34:43.840
 two, from top to

00:34:43.840 --> 00:34:44.220
 bottom.

00:34:45.640 --> 00:34:47.579
 God had opened the

00:34:47.579 --> 00:34:50.260
 way through the

00:34:50.260 --> 00:34:50.980
 death of Jesus.

00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:52.820
 Jesus had gone in

00:34:52.820 --> 00:34:53.240
 his death.

00:34:53.320 --> 00:34:54.340
 He had passed under

00:34:54.340 --> 00:34:55.940
 that flaming sword.

00:34:57.700 --> 00:35:01.260
 He had endured the

00:35:01.260 --> 00:35:02.920
 consequences that we

00:35:02.920 --> 00:35:05.800
 deserved so that he

00:35:05.800 --> 00:35:06.840
 could make a way for

00:35:06.840 --> 00:35:08.620
 us to enter in and

00:35:08.619 --> 00:35:09.699
 have eternal life,

00:35:10.279 --> 00:35:13.319
 freely and

00:35:13.319 --> 00:35:13.679
 forgiven.

00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:16.239
 God has made a way

00:35:16.239 --> 00:35:18.079
 where previously there

00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:18.519
 was none.

00:35:20.139 --> 00:35:21.239
 Have you entered in?

00:35:22.599 --> 00:35:23.659
 Have you come to God

00:35:23.659 --> 00:35:24.199
 through Jesus?

00:35:24.839 --> 00:35:25.719
 Turn to him and

00:35:25.719 --> 00:35:26.859
 trust yourself to him

00:35:26.859 --> 00:35:27.579
 and you will know

00:35:27.579 --> 00:35:29.400
 God's mercy for you

00:35:29.400 --> 00:35:29.980
 today.

00:35:31.819 --> 00:35:33.119
 Sin has consequences,

00:35:33.679 --> 00:35:35.739
 but God has mercy.

00:35:35.739 --> 00:35:38.599
 If you've come to

00:35:38.599 --> 00:35:39.359
 Jesus in faith,

00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:40.839
 listen to this word of

00:35:40.839 --> 00:35:41.679
 encouragement from the

00:35:41.679 --> 00:35:42.319
 book of Hebrews.

00:35:43.899 --> 00:35:44.159
 It says,

00:35:44.399 --> 00:35:45.039
 Therefore, brothers and

00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:45.939
 sisters, since we have

00:35:45.939 --> 00:35:47.899
 confidence to enter the

00:35:47.899 --> 00:35:49.519
 holy places by the blood

00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:50.959
 of Jesus, by the new and

00:35:50.959 --> 00:35:52.359
 living way that he opened

00:35:52.359 --> 00:35:53.759
 for us through the

00:35:53.759 --> 00:35:56.079
 curtain, through his

00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:58.419
 flesh, and since we have

00:35:58.419 --> 00:35:59.859
 a great priest over the

00:35:59.859 --> 00:36:01.159
 house of God, let us draw

00:36:01.159 --> 00:36:03.159
 near with a true heart and

00:36:03.159 --> 00:36:04.339
 full assurance of faith.

00:36:04.340 --> 00:36:06.460
 With our hearts

00:36:06.460 --> 00:36:07.640
 sprinkled clean from an

00:36:07.640 --> 00:36:08.660
 evil conscience and our

00:36:08.660 --> 00:36:09.840
 bodies washed with pure

00:36:09.840 --> 00:36:12.440
 water, let us hold fast

00:36:12.440 --> 00:36:13.340
 the confession of our

00:36:13.340 --> 00:36:15.519
 hope without wavering for

00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:16.360
 he who promised is

00:36:16.360 --> 00:36:17.920
 faithful, and let us stir

00:36:17.920 --> 00:36:19.180
 up one another to love.

00:36:19.500 --> 00:36:21.140
 Faith, hope, and love

00:36:21.140 --> 00:36:22.800
 because of God's mercy to

00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:24.440
 us in Jesus Christ.

00:36:25.820 --> 00:36:26.680
 Let's pray.

00:36:26.680 --> 00:36:26.740
 Let's pray.

00:36:26.740 --> 00:36:26.760
 Let's pray.

00:36:34.340 --> 00:36:38.260
 God, we thank you that you

00:36:38.260 --> 00:36:43.260
 have not simply left us to

00:36:43.260 --> 00:36:44.760
 experience all the consequences

00:36:44.760 --> 00:36:46.920
 of our sin that we deserve, but

00:36:46.920 --> 00:36:48.079
 we thank you for your

00:36:48.079 --> 00:36:49.420
 intervening mercy.

00:36:52.140 --> 00:36:54.280
 We pray that we would, that

00:36:54.280 --> 00:36:55.940
 each one of us would know your

00:36:55.940 --> 00:36:56.900
 mercy for us.

00:36:56.900 --> 00:37:00.139
 Lord, that we would see your

00:37:00.139 --> 00:37:01.380
 mercy even in your daily

00:37:01.380 --> 00:37:02.680
 provisions for us, and that we

00:37:02.680 --> 00:37:04.220
 would ultimately see your

00:37:04.220 --> 00:37:06.260
 mercy in your son Jesus,

00:37:06.599 --> 00:37:10.539
 overflowing, despite our sin,

00:37:10.639 --> 00:37:11.720
 despite our undeserving.

00:37:11.719 --> 00:37:18.079
 Lord, may we be people who, who

00:37:18.079 --> 00:37:19.619
 take our sin seriously, who do

00:37:19.619 --> 00:37:22.859
 not live in denial, or in

00:37:22.859 --> 00:37:24.859
 excuse, making excuses for it.

00:37:26.419 --> 00:37:28.259
 May we be people who hate it and

00:37:28.259 --> 00:37:29.079
 fight against it.

00:37:30.899 --> 00:37:32.139
 May we be people who are

00:37:32.139 --> 00:37:33.919
 strengthened to do that because

00:37:33.919 --> 00:37:37.839
 we rest in your merciful love and

00:37:37.839 --> 00:37:38.699
 provision for us.

00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:41.659
 In Jesus' name we pray.

00:37:41.719 --> 00:37:42.480
 Amen.