WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.280 If you have your Bible with you, please open it up to Genesis chapter 13. 00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:11.279 Genesis chapter 13. 00:00:18.780 --> 00:00:22.900 I want to begin this morning with a question to you. 00:00:22.899 --> 00:00:33.839 As you make big decisions or plans, what's your starting place? 00:00:35.859 --> 00:00:42.519 How do you typically begin that process of making decisions? 00:00:43.159 --> 00:00:49.659 Whether it's the decision to have a change of job or to move or a large purchase. 00:00:52.899 --> 00:00:57.539 Do you sit down and write out a list of pros and cons? 00:00:59.219 --> 00:01:05.180 Do you stop and pray and ask that God would show you what to do? 00:01:07.519 --> 00:01:19.400 Do you talk to some of the other people that are your friends or family about what they would do if they were in the same situation? 00:01:19.400 --> 00:01:28.660 What's your process as you think about making bigger decisions in life? 00:01:30.280 --> 00:01:33.960 And what happens when there's a little bit of a roadblock? 00:01:34.140 --> 00:01:37.840 You've kind of made your plan or your decision and something comes up. 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:42.359 How do you wrestle through those kinds of things? 00:01:42.620 --> 00:01:45.859 Do you stick with your original decision? 00:01:46.800 --> 00:01:51.900 Or is that kind of indication that that's not the right decision and we're going to go this way? 00:01:51.900 --> 00:02:02.160 These are the kinds of questions that are stirred up and answered for us in the story that we're going to look at this morning. 00:02:02.500 --> 00:02:05.480 We're tracking through the story of Abraham. 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:19.500 Last Sunday we saw how there was a severe famine in the land and he packed up the whole household and everybody went down to Egypt. 00:02:19.700 --> 00:02:28.159 We saw how down there he really blew it with regards to his wife and Pharaoh. 00:02:28.420 --> 00:02:30.080 He kind of, he failed. 00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:33.360 And yet God blessed him. 00:02:34.100 --> 00:02:35.800 God was gracious to him. 00:02:36.140 --> 00:02:46.360 In a sense he ended up plundering Pharaoh and carrying back all of these animals and wealth and servants back to Canaan. 00:02:46.439 --> 00:02:48.620 And that's really where we pick up the story this morning. 00:02:49.460 --> 00:02:51.200 Chapter 13, verse 1. 00:02:51.199 --> 00:03:17.859 And there, and where he had first built an altar. 00:03:17.860 --> 00:03:22.100 There, Abram called on the name of the Lord. 00:03:23.380 --> 00:03:25.000 So here's Abraham. 00:03:25.440 --> 00:03:29.120 You've got to wonder what the people living in the land would have been thinking. 00:03:29.260 --> 00:03:31.940 They saw him going away because things were scarce. 00:03:32.500 --> 00:03:36.700 And now they see him coming back with even more than he left with. 00:03:37.480 --> 00:03:39.420 And here he is coming into the land. 00:03:39.419 --> 00:03:48.539 And he goes to the place that he had been before where he had built an altar. 00:03:49.679 --> 00:03:52.159 And he calls on the name of the Lord. 00:03:52.659 --> 00:03:54.019 He worships the Lord. 00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:00.519 Moses lets us know that he had become very wealthy. 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:09.600 And the sense here is that most of this, or a lot of this, came from Pharaoh and his trip down to Egypt. 00:04:12.320 --> 00:04:14.520 His herds are growing. 00:04:14.660 --> 00:04:16.759 His flocks are getting bigger. 00:04:18.280 --> 00:04:20.800 There's silver and gold in the money pouch. 00:04:21.960 --> 00:04:23.819 Things seem to be going pretty well. 00:04:23.819 --> 00:04:28.740 But then something unexpected happens. 00:04:30.279 --> 00:04:30.920 Verse 5. 00:04:31.420 --> 00:04:38.360 Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 00:04:39.620 --> 00:04:42.439 But the land could not support them while they stayed together, 00:04:42.600 --> 00:04:47.659 for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. 00:04:47.660 --> 00:04:53.600 And quarreling arose between Abram's herders and lots. 00:04:54.700 --> 00:05:00.880 The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time. 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:09.260 So everything seems to be going well for Abraham until he realizes that it's not. 00:05:09.840 --> 00:05:16.620 He starts hearing complaints, reports from his herders who are in conflict with the herders of his nephew. 00:05:16.620 --> 00:05:20.439 In one sense, it's a good problem to have. 00:05:20.680 --> 00:05:24.939 We've got so many animals and the herds of flocks are so large 00:05:24.939 --> 00:05:32.060 that we don't have enough space for both of our herds, both of our flocks. 00:05:34.259 --> 00:05:37.519 And of course, animals need places to graze. 00:05:37.639 --> 00:05:38.439 They need pasture. 00:05:38.660 --> 00:05:41.699 They need places where they can have water to drink. 00:05:41.699 --> 00:05:48.300 And Moses reminds us, in case we've forgotten, that the Canaanites and Perizzites, 00:05:48.519 --> 00:05:50.360 they're already living in the land. 00:05:50.479 --> 00:05:58.659 And so Abraham and Lot, they're kind of, they're living off of the scraps that are left over in this land. 00:05:58.759 --> 00:06:00.980 The best parts of the land, they're already occupied. 00:06:01.159 --> 00:06:03.860 There's already people there with their animals and their farms. 00:06:03.860 --> 00:06:12.639 And so they're doing what they can to kind of grow their herds and make out their existence there in this land. 00:06:14.020 --> 00:06:19.060 And there starts to become some fighting, some quarreling, some arguments. 00:06:23.259 --> 00:06:25.060 What are we going to do about this? 00:06:25.060 --> 00:06:27.399 Verse 8. 00:06:27.399 --> 00:06:31.160 Abram said to Lot, 00:06:31.620 --> 00:06:34.660 Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, 00:06:34.980 --> 00:06:37.500 or between your herders and mine, 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:39.500 for we are close relatives. 00:06:40.519 --> 00:06:42.620 Is not the whole land before you? 00:06:43.720 --> 00:06:44.939 Let's part company. 00:06:45.899 --> 00:06:47.600 If you go to the left, 00:06:47.819 --> 00:06:49.060 I'll go to the right. 00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:51.000 If you go to the right, 00:06:51.300 --> 00:06:52.500 I'll go to the left. 00:06:52.500 --> 00:06:56.579 At this moment, 00:06:56.699 --> 00:06:58.040 they are between Bethel and Ai. 00:06:58.360 --> 00:07:00.000 It's in the hill country, 00:07:00.180 --> 00:07:02.660 where probably from where they are, 00:07:02.740 --> 00:07:06.540 they can look around and see the land all around them. 00:07:07.959 --> 00:07:09.920 And Abram kind of comes up with this solution. 00:07:10.439 --> 00:07:11.360 Our herds are growing. 00:07:11.500 --> 00:07:12.100 They need food. 00:07:12.199 --> 00:07:12.939 They need water. 00:07:14.259 --> 00:07:15.639 So let's part company. 00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:20.220 But notice the reason that Abraham gives for why. 00:07:22.500 --> 00:07:28.459 We might expect that it's because my flocks are not getting the water that they need, 00:07:28.620 --> 00:07:31.939 or because your herders have been doing this and that, 00:07:32.360 --> 00:07:37.319 or because there's not enough grass here for my animals. 00:07:37.319 --> 00:07:41.500 But there's no indication of that from Abraham. 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:44.899 What are his reasons for wanting to go separate ways? 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:50.899 He cares most about the relationship between him and his nephew. 00:07:51.100 --> 00:07:51.519 He says, 00:07:51.699 --> 00:07:54.639 let's not have any quarreling between you and me, 00:07:55.139 --> 00:07:57.899 because we're close relatives. 00:07:58.100 --> 00:07:58.680 We're kin. 00:07:59.159 --> 00:08:00.100 We're family. 00:08:00.100 --> 00:08:01.800 So let's, 00:08:02.020 --> 00:08:05.780 let there not be any fighting or disputing between us. 00:08:07.180 --> 00:08:08.740 Let's go our separate ways. 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:12.660 And then Abraham does something beautiful. 00:08:13.879 --> 00:08:15.020 He takes him up, 00:08:15.260 --> 00:08:15.700 we assume, 00:08:15.780 --> 00:08:20.460 onto a hill or to a vantage point from where they can see the land all around them. 00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:20.960 And he says, 00:08:20.959 --> 00:08:24.759 is not the whole land before you? 00:08:25.859 --> 00:08:26.299 Lot, 00:08:26.620 --> 00:08:28.060 where would you like to live? 00:08:28.500 --> 00:08:29.419 Where would you like to, 00:08:29.419 --> 00:08:30.479 to graze your animals? 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:30.759 Where, 00:08:30.779 --> 00:08:32.100 where do you want to go and settle? 00:08:32.419 --> 00:08:33.159 Take your pick. 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:35.480 If you go over here, 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:36.899 I'll go over there. 00:08:37.159 --> 00:08:38.139 If you want to stay here, 00:08:38.220 --> 00:08:39.279 I'll pack up and move, 00:08:39.419 --> 00:08:40.179 move along. 00:08:41.559 --> 00:08:43.240 But you can have the first choice. 00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:49.940 This is a beautiful moment. 00:08:50.299 --> 00:08:50.659 It's, 00:08:50.659 --> 00:08:51.440 it's, 00:08:51.519 --> 00:08:51.860 uh, 00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:53.539 for two reasons. 00:08:53.860 --> 00:08:54.279 First, 00:08:54.500 --> 00:08:56.279 it's a beautiful picture of love. 00:08:57.279 --> 00:08:58.620 For Abraham to, 00:08:58.680 --> 00:09:00.100 to treat his nephew this way. 00:09:01.320 --> 00:09:01.919 To, 00:09:02.019 --> 00:09:08.220 to desire that his nephew do well and have that opportunity to choose the best, 00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:08.480 to, 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:10.500 to pick where he's going to go. 00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:15.740 So it's kind of reminiscent of what Paul says, 00:09:16.679 --> 00:09:19.960 do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, 00:09:20.019 --> 00:09:20.820 but in humility, 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:24.179 consider others as more important than yourselves. 00:09:24.539 --> 00:09:26.740 Looking not only to your own interests, 00:09:26.820 --> 00:09:28.679 but also to the interests of others, 00:09:28.899 --> 00:09:31.080 which is the same attitude that, 00:09:31.179 --> 00:09:33.039 that Jesus himself had. 00:09:34.100 --> 00:09:37.279 As he came down from heaven into our world, 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:43.919 to see that our need was met and at great cost to himself. 00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:46.159 This is God's kind of love. 00:09:46.199 --> 00:09:48.360 And this is a moment where Abraham really shines. 00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:49.740 I mean, 00:09:49.839 --> 00:09:51.019 down in Egypt, 00:09:51.179 --> 00:09:54.539 not so much with how he treated his wife there, 00:09:54.539 --> 00:09:59.399 but here he really does shine as someone who is, 00:09:59.500 --> 00:10:03.639 who is living God's kind of love in the way that he treats lot. 00:10:03.639 --> 00:10:09.379 But this is also a moment in which Abraham's faith is seen as well, 00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:10.919 because God has made them the promise. 00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:13.539 I'm going to give this land to you and to your offspring. 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:15.319 Lot, 00:10:15.500 --> 00:10:15.879 he's, 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:17.460 he's the nephew. 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:20.980 He's not quite in that family. 00:10:22.139 --> 00:10:25.399 He's kind of been tagging along all the way since Ur. 00:10:25.399 --> 00:10:32.019 He's got his own dreams and aspirations and plans. 00:10:32.139 --> 00:10:32.319 He's, 00:10:32.319 --> 00:10:32.759 he's kind of, 00:10:32.819 --> 00:10:33.659 he's been there, 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:37.860 but the Abraham doesn't say, 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:38.120 well, 00:10:38.220 --> 00:10:39.679 the promise was made to me. 00:10:39.740 --> 00:10:41.120 So this is my land. 00:10:41.199 --> 00:10:43.379 I'm going to live here and you need to go over there. 00:10:45.340 --> 00:10:50.079 We see a glimpse of his faith here in this moment in his willingness to kind of 00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:51.220 just surrender and say, 00:10:51.300 --> 00:10:52.139 say to lot, 00:10:52.520 --> 00:10:56.080 you can take the pick anywhere you want. 00:10:56.240 --> 00:10:56.960 You choose, 00:10:57.060 --> 00:10:59.259 you go there in his heart. 00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:04.240 We can kind of see that he's trusting that the Lord will sort this out, 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:07.820 how he will keep his promise. 00:11:10.200 --> 00:11:11.860 So what does lot choose? 00:11:15.640 --> 00:11:16.400 Verse 10, 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:26.500 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan towards Zoar was well 00:11:26.500 --> 00:11:29.500 watered like the garden of the Lord, 00:11:29.699 --> 00:11:31.340 like the land of Egypt. 00:11:32.439 --> 00:11:35.399 This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:41.539 So lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the 00:11:41.539 --> 00:11:41.919 east. 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:44.819 The two men parted company. 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:51.620 Abraham lived in the land of Canaan while lot lived among the cities of the 00:11:51.620 --> 00:11:54.319 plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 00:11:55.519 --> 00:12:01.000 Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord. 00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:05.059 So what does Abraham do? 00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:06.919 It's not the whole land before you. 00:12:07.019 --> 00:12:07.600 Take your pick. 00:12:09.779 --> 00:12:10.819 Lot looks up. 00:12:10.820 --> 00:12:20.560 He looks around and his eyes settle on that well watered land to the east where it's 00:12:20.560 --> 00:12:24.000 especially green compared to all the other land. 00:12:24.740 --> 00:12:27.280 It's green like the stories of Eden. 00:12:28.140 --> 00:12:32.100 It's green like the land of Egypt where we just came from. 00:12:32.100 --> 00:12:37.159 He looks at it and desire rises in his heart. 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:39.060 That's where I want to go. 00:12:39.639 --> 00:12:42.879 That's the kind of place that I want to settle. 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:48.480 No more of this scrounging for places for our flocks to graze. 00:12:48.580 --> 00:12:49.800 I mean, look at that over there. 00:12:49.899 --> 00:12:51.440 There's plenty of that over there. 00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:53.640 I want to go there. 00:12:55.340 --> 00:12:57.680 And he makes his choice. 00:12:58.420 --> 00:13:00.780 And he sets out and he goes. 00:13:02.820 --> 00:13:10.900 But there's a couple ominous notes in Moses' description of this choice. 00:13:12.140 --> 00:13:14.960 First is that statement in parentheses there. 00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:19.480 This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:23.639 This land to the east was kind of, it was near the Jordan. 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:25.440 It was rich, fertile land. 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:26.960 It was also near the Dead Sea. 00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:31.879 It was, it says the plain, but it was kind of the Jordan Valley. 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:35.399 It's kind of on the edge of the land of Canaan. 00:13:37.680 --> 00:13:40.180 But there's two cities there, Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:13:41.659 --> 00:13:46.899 And Moses lets us know that they're going to be destroyed. 00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:49.240 They were destroyed. 00:13:49.480 --> 00:13:52.399 As he looks back on this, this moment. 00:13:53.019 --> 00:13:55.519 And then again in verse 13. 00:13:56.840 --> 00:13:59.539 Now the people of Sodom were wicked. 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:02.879 And were sinning greatly against the Lord. 00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:10.399 The emphasis here is very strong. 00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:11.120 They were wicked. 00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:12.120 They were evil. 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:13.379 And they were sinning. 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:14.340 And not just sinning. 00:14:14.419 --> 00:14:18.159 They were sinning greatly against the Lord. 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:26.019 And those of us who have read the story, we know how things turn out for Lot. 00:14:26.339 --> 00:14:28.480 We're not actually going to cover that in this series. 00:14:28.659 --> 00:14:31.579 But if you want to, you can read it in Genesis 18 and 19. 00:14:31.580 --> 00:14:35.120 Things don't go well for Lot. 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:35.800 For Lot. 00:14:35.920 --> 00:14:38.100 He pitches his tent near Sodom. 00:14:38.100 --> 00:14:47.019 And he goes there hoping to get this good and prosperous life. 00:14:47.019 --> 00:14:53.259 And he ends up losing almost everything and barely escaping with his life. 00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:55.300 He and his two daughters. 00:14:55.299 --> 00:15:05.699 God later destroys those cities because of the outcry against them and the wickedness that's going on there. 00:15:05.700 --> 00:15:10.080 And so Lot, he looks around and he sees. 00:15:11.340 --> 00:15:13.820 He sees the rich, fertile land. 00:15:13.920 --> 00:15:14.980 He desires it. 00:15:15.520 --> 00:15:15.920 Yes. 00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:20.379 That's the place where I can thrive. 00:15:20.520 --> 00:15:23.900 That's the place where my animals, my herds will increase. 00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:29.400 The more they increase, the more money, the better things will go. 00:15:31.520 --> 00:15:33.780 It reminds him of back in Egypt. 00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:37.179 And yes, this is my chance to live the dream. 00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:42.579 That's what he sees as he looks out and makes his choice. 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:50.459 But he overlooks this deep, disturbing reality of what's going on in that region. 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:57.620 And we kind of got to wonder what his thought process is here. 00:15:58.659 --> 00:16:03.459 I mean, he's been journeying with Abraham all this time. 00:16:03.460 --> 00:16:09.920 And so he's no stranger to this idea of the Lord, of Yahweh, Abraham's God. 00:16:10.460 --> 00:16:13.360 Abraham has been building altars here and there to him. 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:16.379 He's been worshiping him very visibly, very publicly. 00:16:17.100 --> 00:16:19.420 Lot has seen how things have gone for Abraham. 00:16:20.780 --> 00:16:23.820 Just down in Egypt, how things went really well for him. 00:16:23.820 --> 00:16:32.520 And we have to know that Lot would have known what was going on in this region. 00:16:32.640 --> 00:16:36.620 These cities, their reputation was well known. 00:16:37.820 --> 00:16:44.440 They're not living the way that Abraham's God would want. 00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:49.520 In fact, they're known for doing some pretty terrible things to the people around them. 00:16:51.020 --> 00:17:03.400 And so Lot looks out and he sees, he desires, but he misses, he overlooks this deep and dark, unseen reality of what's going on. 00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:08.139 And at the end, it almost costs him everything. 00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:15.359 It's kind of a living parable of those words that Jesus spoke thousands of years later. 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:18.099 It reminds me of them anyway. 00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:26.099 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet forfeit his soul? 00:17:26.099 --> 00:17:39.959 And so as we think about making decisions, making plans, what is it that we are looking to make our decision on? 00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:42.659 What are we basing our decision on? 00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:48.619 Lot makes his choice and he goes his way. 00:17:48.619 --> 00:17:55.339 And then with him gone, verse 14, 00:17:55.459 --> 00:17:58.679 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot parted from him, 00:17:59.139 --> 00:18:05.859 Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. 00:18:07.139 --> 00:18:14.159 All the land that you see, I will give to you and your offspring forever. 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:21.519 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth so that if anyone could count the dust, 00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:25.160 then your offspring could be counted. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:31.480 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land for I am giving it to you. 00:18:36.420 --> 00:18:42.080 Abram's just been up on the hilltop and looking around. 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:44.960 This moment kind of just happened. 00:18:45.899 --> 00:18:47.879 He was up there with Lot. 00:18:48.139 --> 00:18:49.099 He said, Look around. 00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:50.240 Take your pick. 00:18:51.859 --> 00:18:59.720 And then after he's gone, in a sense, the Lord takes Abraham up to the hilltop and says, 00:19:00.179 --> 00:19:00.599 Look around. 00:19:02.879 --> 00:19:03.819 Look north. 00:19:04.179 --> 00:19:04.859 Look south. 00:19:05.220 --> 00:19:05.599 Look east. 00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:06.059 Look west. 00:19:06.139 --> 00:19:07.319 Look all around. 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:10.419 But he doesn't say, Take your pick. 00:19:10.420 --> 00:19:14.740 He says, All the land that you see. 00:19:17.340 --> 00:19:23.000 In every direction, all around you, as far as your eyes can see, all the land that you see, 00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:27.580 I will give to you and your offspring. 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:30.320 Wow. 00:19:31.820 --> 00:19:32.720 What a promise. 00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:33.460 What a moment. 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:36.940 I mean, this is not a new promise. 00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:40.759 We already heard that as Abraham first came into the land, the Lord said to him, 00:19:40.860 --> 00:19:43.740 To your offspring, I will give this land. 00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:50.640 But it must have been wonderful to hear it again from the Lord in that moment. 00:19:51.100 --> 00:19:57.420 To have him reaffirm it, especially after having left the land, gone down to Egypt, blowing it there, 00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:59.960 and then coming back to have the Lord say it again. 00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:03.980 And this time, the Lord adds to the promise. 00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:10.539 The first time it was to your offspring, I will give this land. 00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:18.100 Now the Lord adds, not just to your offspring, to you and your offspring. 00:20:19.100 --> 00:20:20.640 I will give this land. 00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:23.500 And not just for a time. 00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:25.799 He adds forever. 00:20:25.799 --> 00:20:26.799 Wow. 00:20:29.159 --> 00:20:29.639 Wow. 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:31.319 What a promise. 00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.460 He goes on. 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:35.899 He says, 00:20:36.619 --> 00:20:42.259 I will make your offspring innumerable, beyond numbering. 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:47.980 That if, just like the dust of the earth can't be counted by people, 00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:50.379 because it's just too many. 00:20:50.380 --> 00:20:57.460 The day that it can be counted is the day that someone will be able to number your descendants, 00:20:58.300 --> 00:20:59.400 your offspring. 00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:03.280 And then he tells Abraham to go on a little tour. 00:21:04.360 --> 00:21:04.840 Go. 00:21:05.260 --> 00:21:06.280 Walk through the land. 00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:09.580 Walk through the length and the breadth of the land. 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:14.320 Prepare your heart to receive this. 00:21:14.660 --> 00:21:16.760 For I am giving it to you. 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:20.160 What a promise. 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:25.140 Abraham's response. 00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:33.519 How I wish we had more details here about what he's thinking as he hears this from the Lord. 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:37.700 All we get is what's in verse 18. 00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:42.379 So Abraham, presumably after he went on his tour, 00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:47.019 went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, 00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:48.779 where he pitched his tents. 00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:51.900 There he built an altar to the Lord. 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:59.019 Sounds pretty informational, but I think that there is something there. 00:21:59.019 --> 00:22:02.859 I mean, these are big promises. 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:09.039 If Abraham thought that the Lord was lying to him or that these were empty, 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:14.740 would he be building an altar and calling on the name of the Lord and continuing this relationship? 00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:15.539 I don't think so. 00:22:15.700 --> 00:22:18.420 So the sense that we get here, the picture we get here, 00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:21.379 is that he accepted the Lord's word. 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:22.480 He believed it. 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.660 He trusted him. 00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:30.700 He was going to continue to worship him and call on his name. 00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:38.560 But the question that we're kind of left with at the end of all of this is, 00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:39.540 is now what? 00:22:42.620 --> 00:22:46.640 I mean, Abraham has been given these amazing promises. 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:51.940 Let's remember for a moment just what they are. 00:22:52.080 --> 00:22:54.320 Back in Ur, I will bless you. 00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:56.240 I will make you into a great nation. 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:57.880 I will make your name great. 00:22:58.020 --> 00:22:59.200 I will protect you. 00:22:59.520 --> 00:23:02.280 And I will bless all the families of the earth through you. 00:23:03.300 --> 00:23:05.000 When he first enters the land, 00:23:05.800 --> 00:23:09.120 I will give this land to your offspring. 00:23:09.320 --> 00:23:12.000 And now he's heard something new 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:14.840 that the Lord has added to his promises. 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:17.599 I will not just give this land to your offspring. 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:19.259 I will give it to you. 00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:22.819 To you, Abraham. 00:23:24.179 --> 00:23:26.599 Now, of course, this morning here, 00:23:26.819 --> 00:23:29.099 we know how the rest of the story goes, 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:31.879 but I want us to get into Abraham's head for a moment. 00:23:32.619 --> 00:23:34.759 He doesn't know how the story goes. 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:38.240 How is he processing this? 00:23:38.879 --> 00:23:40.699 How is he thinking about this? 00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:43.319 To me? 00:23:45.080 --> 00:23:47.019 All this land that I can see, 00:23:47.819 --> 00:23:50.360 the Lord's going to give this to me? 00:23:50.440 --> 00:23:53.039 I mean, what would he have to do to make that happen 00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:55.259 before I die? 00:23:59.620 --> 00:24:01.940 That's what it means to you, right? 00:24:02.100 --> 00:24:04.480 Not just to your offspring, but to you. 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:09.160 Somehow, the title deed of this entire region 00:24:09.160 --> 00:24:11.920 is going to be given to me. 00:24:15.360 --> 00:24:17.039 What about that word forever? 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:19.200 To you and your offspring, 00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:22.599 I will give this land forever. 00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.819 What does that mean? 00:24:25.900 --> 00:24:26.900 What is he thinking of? 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:27.900 As he hears that, 00:24:27.900 --> 00:24:33.080 from the moment God gives this to me 00:24:33.080 --> 00:24:34.060 and I receive it, 00:24:34.820 --> 00:24:37.160 it will be in my possession, 00:24:37.320 --> 00:24:38.600 it will be in my control 00:24:38.600 --> 00:24:42.259 from that point on forever. 00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:44.860 From then on, 00:24:45.540 --> 00:24:47.800 there will always be my descendants 00:24:47.800 --> 00:24:48.960 in this land, 00:24:49.100 --> 00:24:49.960 living here, 00:24:51.040 --> 00:24:52.220 in control of this land, 00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:53.540 possessing this land. 00:24:53.540 --> 00:24:53.620 And 00:24:53.619 --> 00:24:59.419 descendants 00:24:59.419 --> 00:25:01.719 that are beyond number. 00:25:01.939 --> 00:25:03.099 What kind of picture 00:25:03.099 --> 00:25:05.799 is this stirring up in Abraham's mind? 00:25:07.919 --> 00:25:09.719 He looks out at this land 00:25:09.719 --> 00:25:12.439 and he imagines it's full of people, 00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:14.179 full of families 00:25:14.179 --> 00:25:16.979 with children working and playing. 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:19.500 And they're all 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:21.439 his descendants. 00:25:23.619 --> 00:25:26.599 And not just for one moment in time, 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:29.259 but generation 00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:30.519 after generation 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.739 after generation 00:25:31.739 --> 00:25:33.019 after generation 00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:35.739 of his descendants 00:25:35.739 --> 00:25:37.899 in this land. 00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:39.139 This is their home. 00:25:44.879 --> 00:25:46.599 How is this going to happen? 00:25:48.939 --> 00:25:50.839 These are great promises. 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:52.419 This is what Abraham 00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:53.300 has been given 00:25:53.300 --> 00:25:54.480 to go on. 00:25:55.140 --> 00:25:56.420 And this is kind of what I, 00:25:56.860 --> 00:25:58.039 my imagination of, 00:25:58.180 --> 00:25:58.460 of, 00:25:58.660 --> 00:26:00.240 of how he's processing this 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:01.440 and taking this in. 00:26:04.600 --> 00:26:05.220 And yet, 00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:06.120 what does he see 00:26:06.120 --> 00:26:09.039 when he looks around? 00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:13.180 He looks at his wife, 00:26:13.420 --> 00:26:13.860 Sarai, 00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:15.380 beautiful, 00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:16.800 and yet beginning 00:26:16.800 --> 00:26:18.279 to show signs of age, 00:26:18.900 --> 00:26:21.640 already 70-ish. 00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:24.800 For decades, 00:26:25.060 --> 00:26:26.539 they've been unable 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:27.279 to conceive. 00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:32.580 He looks in his mirror himself 00:26:32.580 --> 00:26:34.440 and sees the signs of age. 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:35.700 He's in his 80s-ish. 00:26:39.580 --> 00:26:40.920 How is this going to happen? 00:26:41.860 --> 00:26:42.940 This would take a miracle. 00:26:44.060 --> 00:26:44.340 I mean, 00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:45.000 statistically, 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:46.779 this is, 00:26:46.779 --> 00:26:48.599 this is borderline impossible. 00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:51.920 He looks at this good land 00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:53.559 as he walks through it, 00:26:53.619 --> 00:26:55.099 as the Lord told him to do. 00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:56.599 And what does he see? 00:26:57.640 --> 00:27:00.000 He sees a lot of other people. 00:27:00.839 --> 00:27:01.960 The Canaanites, 00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:02.940 the Perizzites. 00:27:04.539 --> 00:27:06.160 He sees other people 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:07.500 who have laid claim 00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:08.380 to this land, 00:27:08.380 --> 00:27:11.260 who have built homes, 00:27:11.580 --> 00:27:13.120 who are running farms, 00:27:13.320 --> 00:27:14.460 who have their flocks 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:15.200 and animals 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:16.200 here and there 00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:17.700 scattered throughout the land. 00:27:18.300 --> 00:27:19.740 He sees cities 00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.760 that they've built 00:27:20.760 --> 00:27:22.000 and are living in 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:23.020 with walls. 00:27:24.020 --> 00:27:25.240 He sees kings 00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:27.120 and powerful men 00:27:27.120 --> 00:27:29.600 who have been getting their way. 00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:34.539 How is this going to happen? 00:27:36.039 --> 00:27:37.039 How is the Lord 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:37.799 going to take 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:39.139 all of this land 00:27:39.139 --> 00:27:40.480 and give it to me? 00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:43.619 You've got to know 00:27:43.619 --> 00:27:44.519 that's the question 00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:45.980 that's rolling on 00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:46.480 in his mind. 00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.179 And the answer 00:27:47.179 --> 00:27:48.539 for this moment, 00:27:49.939 --> 00:27:51.779 I don't know. 00:27:53.939 --> 00:27:55.299 I can't even imagine 00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:57.459 how this would come to be. 00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:59.660 But what am I going to do? 00:28:02.120 --> 00:28:03.460 I'm going to pitch my tent 00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:04.079 right here 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:05.059 in this land 00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:06.720 because this is the land 00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:07.180 that the Lord 00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:08.360 has promised to give me. 00:28:08.840 --> 00:28:09.720 I'm going to build 00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:10.920 an altar to the Lord 00:28:10.920 --> 00:28:12.759 and call on his name 00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:13.880 and worship 00:28:13.880 --> 00:28:15.160 and wait 00:28:15.160 --> 00:28:16.319 and see. 00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:20.019 What a picture 00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:21.460 of faith, 00:28:22.180 --> 00:28:23.299 of trust. 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:28.019 At this point 00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:29.039 we're probably wondering, 00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:29.380 I mean, 00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:30.920 what does Abraham 00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:31.660 really know 00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:32.380 about the Lord? 00:28:35.059 --> 00:28:36.079 In the next chapter 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:36.779 we get a little bit 00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:37.180 of a clue 00:28:37.180 --> 00:28:37.880 and I'm not going to 00:28:37.880 --> 00:28:38.840 read the whole story. 00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.579 It's the story 00:28:39.579 --> 00:28:40.700 of how Abraham 00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:42.120 goes on a rescue mission 00:28:42.120 --> 00:28:43.380 to get Lot 00:28:43.380 --> 00:28:44.680 after Lot is captured. 00:28:45.579 --> 00:28:46.420 And at the end 00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.880 of this rescue mission 00:28:47.880 --> 00:28:48.880 Abraham has 00:28:48.880 --> 00:28:50.000 a conversation 00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:50.960 face to face 00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:51.620 with the king 00:28:51.620 --> 00:28:52.220 of Sodom. 00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:54.880 And what does he 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:56.000 say to the king 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.519 of Sodom? 00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:58.639 verse 22 00:28:58.639 --> 00:28:59.639 of chapter 14 00:28:59.639 --> 00:29:00.119 he says, 00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:01.259 With raised hand 00:29:01.259 --> 00:29:02.559 I have sworn 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:03.299 an oath 00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:04.799 to the Lord 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:06.019 Yahweh 00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:08.720 God most high 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:10.200 creator 00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:11.099 of heaven 00:29:11.099 --> 00:29:12.259 and earth. 00:29:14.339 --> 00:29:15.379 What a thing 00:29:15.379 --> 00:29:15.879 to say. 00:29:17.319 --> 00:29:19.039 These are big promises 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:19.900 that the Lord 00:29:19.900 --> 00:29:20.339 has made 00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:20.940 to Abraham. 00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:22.220 Yes, 00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:23.660 but little by little 00:29:23.660 --> 00:29:25.059 Abraham is learning 00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:26.299 to trust 00:29:26.299 --> 00:29:27.519 Yahweh 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.759 the Lord. 00:29:30.839 --> 00:29:31.919 Little by little 00:29:31.919 --> 00:29:33.200 as he has made 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:33.619 his way 00:29:33.619 --> 00:29:34.299 all the way 00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:34.859 from Ur 00:29:34.859 --> 00:29:36.220 to Canaan 00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:37.559 little by little 00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:38.139 as he went 00:29:38.139 --> 00:29:39.299 down to Egypt 00:29:39.299 --> 00:29:40.440 and saw how the Lord 00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:41.179 turned that situation 00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:42.619 in his favor 00:29:42.619 --> 00:29:47.379 Abraham is learning 00:29:47.379 --> 00:29:48.799 that the Lord 00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:50.359 does keep 00:29:50.359 --> 00:29:51.159 his promises. 00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:53.860 He is protecting 00:29:53.860 --> 00:29:54.100 him. 00:29:54.180 --> 00:29:55.100 He is blessing 00:29:55.100 --> 00:29:55.480 him. 00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:58.820 And now 00:29:58.820 --> 00:29:59.800 it's come to the 00:29:59.800 --> 00:30:00.580 point we've seen 00:30:00.580 --> 00:30:01.140 how he's kind 00:30:01.140 --> 00:30:01.500 of grown. 00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:02.019 I mean he 00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:04.500 he cowered in fear 00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:05.360 before Pharaoh 00:30:05.360 --> 00:30:07.320 and now 00:30:07.320 --> 00:30:08.340 just a chapter 00:30:08.340 --> 00:30:08.779 later 00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:10.200 this is not long 00:30:10.200 --> 00:30:11.540 that much longer 00:30:11.540 --> 00:30:11.960 after 00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:14.920 he's 00:30:14.920 --> 00:30:16.500 telling the king 00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:17.160 of Sodom 00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:18.300 my allegiance 00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:19.460 is to Yahweh. 00:30:20.919 --> 00:30:21.480 And he's not 00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:22.599 just one 00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:23.279 of the many 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:23.839 gods 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:25.720 like Nana 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:26.299 the moon 00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:26.619 god 00:30:26.619 --> 00:30:27.139 that we 00:30:27.139 --> 00:30:27.539 serve 00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:28.480 back in Ur 00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:30.039 he is 00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:30.480 God 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:31.299 most high 00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:32.059 the most 00:30:32.059 --> 00:30:33.000 high god 00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:34.119 not only that 00:30:34.119 --> 00:30:34.639 but he is 00:30:34.639 --> 00:30:35.259 the creator 00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:36.619 of the heaven 00:30:36.619 --> 00:30:37.200 of heaven 00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:37.680 and earth. 00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:43.480 Abraham's 00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:44.399 understanding 00:30:44.399 --> 00:30:45.119 of who God 00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:45.379 is 00:30:45.379 --> 00:30:46.639 is growing 00:30:46.640 --> 00:30:47.540 and yes 00:30:47.540 --> 00:30:48.040 these are 00:30:48.040 --> 00:30:48.720 big promises 00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:51.540 but this is 00:30:51.540 --> 00:30:52.220 a big god 00:30:52.220 --> 00:30:53.740 that Abraham 00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.860 has believed 00:30:54.860 --> 00:30:55.180 in. 00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:57.420 The Lord 00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:58.460 the creator 00:30:58.460 --> 00:30:59.640 himself. 00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:03.420 It would have 00:31:03.420 --> 00:31:03.880 been easy 00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:04.440 for Abraham 00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:05.640 to laugh 00:31:05.640 --> 00:31:06.360 about these 00:31:06.360 --> 00:31:07.420 promises. 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:09.120 How is that 00:31:09.120 --> 00:31:09.800 how is that 00:31:09.800 --> 00:31:10.300 going to happen? 00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:10.880 Yeah right. 00:31:12.020 --> 00:31:12.540 I mean look 00:31:12.540 --> 00:31:13.300 at this place. 00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:14.759 Look at my 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:15.440 wife and me. 00:31:16.640 --> 00:31:18.360 But he 00:31:18.360 --> 00:31:18.800 doesn't. 00:31:20.420 --> 00:31:21.500 He chooses 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.520 to pitch 00:31:22.520 --> 00:31:23.040 his tent 00:31:23.040 --> 00:31:23.759 here 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.580 and to 00:31:24.580 --> 00:31:25.000 trust 00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:25.940 and wait 00:31:25.940 --> 00:31:26.640 and see. 00:31:30.140 --> 00:31:30.980 There's a 00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:31.580 lesson to be 00:31:31.580 --> 00:31:32.160 learned here 00:31:32.160 --> 00:31:33.440 and I don't 00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:34.259 think it's 00:31:34.259 --> 00:31:34.920 a coincidence 00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:35.780 that Lot 00:31:35.780 --> 00:31:36.800 and his 00:31:36.800 --> 00:31:37.400 story is 00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:38.000 sandwiched 00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:38.340 right up 00:31:38.340 --> 00:31:39.140 against Abraham 00:31:39.140 --> 00:31:39.740 and his 00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:40.420 story. 00:31:44.140 --> 00:31:44.900 Lot 00:31:44.900 --> 00:31:46.940 he looked 00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:47.940 at the 00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:48.519 land all 00:31:48.519 --> 00:31:49.160 around him 00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:50.320 and he 00:31:50.320 --> 00:31:50.720 made his 00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:51.220 decision 00:31:51.220 --> 00:31:52.440 his plan 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:53.660 his way 00:31:53.660 --> 00:31:54.700 by what 00:31:54.700 --> 00:31:55.400 he could 00:31:55.400 --> 00:31:55.860 see 00:31:55.860 --> 00:31:57.320 right here 00:31:57.320 --> 00:31:57.960 and now. 00:32:01.400 --> 00:32:02.340 And he 00:32:02.340 --> 00:32:02.820 missed 00:32:02.820 --> 00:32:04.720 the unseen 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:07.120 danger 00:32:07.120 --> 00:32:07.920 and 00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:10.320 consequences 00:32:10.320 --> 00:32:11.360 of making 00:32:11.360 --> 00:32:12.280 his home 00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:12.899 among 00:32:12.899 --> 00:32:13.399 the wicked 00:32:13.399 --> 00:32:14.680 and it 00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:14.940 almost 00:32:14.940 --> 00:32:15.480 cost him 00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:15.920 everything. 00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:18.059 Abraham 00:32:18.059 --> 00:32:18.579 is the 00:32:18.579 --> 00:32:18.960 exact 00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:19.480 opposite. 00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:20.940 He 00:32:20.940 --> 00:32:21.680 is now 00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:22.039 pitching 00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:22.779 his tent 00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:23.779 building 00:32:23.779 --> 00:32:24.339 an altar 00:32:24.339 --> 00:32:27.639 based on 00:32:27.639 --> 00:32:28.279 what he 00:32:28.279 --> 00:32:28.700 can't 00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:28.960 see 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:29.839 what is 00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:30.460 unseen 00:32:30.460 --> 00:32:30.819 the 00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:31.440 reality 00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:32.160 of these 00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:32.779 promises 00:32:32.779 --> 00:32:34.139 which God 00:32:34.139 --> 00:32:34.579 has given 00:32:34.579 --> 00:32:35.039 to him. 00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:37.119 If that's 00:32:37.119 --> 00:32:37.420 how it's 00:32:37.420 --> 00:32:37.980 going to be 00:32:37.980 --> 00:32:38.299 if you're 00:32:38.299 --> 00:32:38.539 going to 00:32:38.539 --> 00:32:38.839 give me 00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:39.379 this land 00:32:39.379 --> 00:32:39.700 then I'm 00:32:39.700 --> 00:32:39.920 going to 00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:40.339 pitch my 00:32:40.339 --> 00:32:40.599 tent 00:32:40.599 --> 00:32:41.179 right here. 00:32:45.179 --> 00:32:45.779 Complete 00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:46.500 contrast. 00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:50.740 And so 00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:51.099 we kind 00:32:51.099 --> 00:32:51.899 of are 00:32:51.899 --> 00:32:53.000 moved to 00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:53.199 this 00:32:53.199 --> 00:32:53.699 question 00:32:53.699 --> 00:32:57.559 of who 00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:58.980 or what 00:32:58.980 --> 00:33:00.579 are we 00:33:00.579 --> 00:33:01.199 making our 00:33:01.199 --> 00:33:01.740 decisions 00:33:01.740 --> 00:33:02.119 by, 00:33:02.279 --> 00:33:03.119 our plans. 00:33:03.799 --> 00:33:04.219 How are 00:33:04.219 --> 00:33:04.759 we making 00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:05.480 our way 00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:06.319 here in 00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:07.539 this world? 00:33:07.539 --> 00:33:10.899 are we 00:33:10.899 --> 00:33:11.279 doing it 00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:11.500 like 00:33:11.500 --> 00:33:11.839 Lot? 00:33:14.119 --> 00:33:14.779 And so 00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:15.119 often 00:33:15.119 --> 00:33:16.220 that's kind 00:33:16.220 --> 00:33:16.440 of the 00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:16.740 tendency 00:33:16.740 --> 00:33:17.220 we have 00:33:17.220 --> 00:33:17.619 isn't it? 00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:18.019 We just 00:33:18.019 --> 00:33:18.639 look around 00:33:18.639 --> 00:33:19.139 well that 00:33:19.139 --> 00:33:19.659 looks really 00:33:19.659 --> 00:33:19.960 good. 00:33:20.099 --> 00:33:20.399 I'm going 00:33:20.399 --> 00:33:20.940 to go 00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:21.480 after that. 00:33:21.559 --> 00:33:21.980 I need 00:33:21.980 --> 00:33:22.319 that. 00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:23.819 Look at 00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:24.379 that nice 00:33:24.379 --> 00:33:25.480 house over 00:33:25.480 --> 00:33:25.779 there. 00:33:26.180 --> 00:33:26.859 It's nicer 00:33:26.859 --> 00:33:27.299 than the one 00:33:27.299 --> 00:33:27.720 that I've 00:33:27.720 --> 00:33:28.000 got. 00:33:28.599 --> 00:33:29.440 I want 00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:29.779 that. 00:33:30.779 --> 00:33:31.240 This 00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:32.259 new car, 00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:33.799 this 00:33:33.799 --> 00:33:34.480 gadget, 00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:34.879 this 00:33:34.879 --> 00:33:35.759 vacation 00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:36.279 package, 00:33:36.279 --> 00:33:36.599 this 00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:37.180 whatever. 00:33:37.420 --> 00:33:38.000 Like Lot, 00:33:38.099 --> 00:33:38.480 we so 00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:39.139 easily just 00:33:39.139 --> 00:33:39.740 look around 00:33:39.740 --> 00:33:40.500 and our 00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:41.059 eyes come 00:33:41.059 --> 00:33:41.559 to rest 00:33:41.559 --> 00:33:41.859 and we 00:33:41.859 --> 00:33:42.379 desire, 00:33:42.579 --> 00:33:44.359 but at 00:33:44.359 --> 00:33:45.079 what cost? 00:33:45.879 --> 00:33:46.500 What are 00:33:46.500 --> 00:33:47.160 the deeper 00:33:47.160 --> 00:33:48.200 unseen 00:33:48.200 --> 00:33:48.879 realities 00:33:48.879 --> 00:33:49.460 at work 00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:51.200 in this 00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:53.940 situation? 00:33:56.319 --> 00:33:56.839 Abraham 00:33:56.839 --> 00:33:59.099 teaches us 00:33:59.099 --> 00:34:00.700 that we 00:34:00.700 --> 00:34:01.119 should make 00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:01.680 our decision 00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:02.279 first and 00:34:02.279 --> 00:34:02.759 foremost 00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:03.399 on the 00:34:03.399 --> 00:34:04.119 basis of 00:34:04.119 --> 00:34:04.539 those 00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:05.500 unseen 00:34:05.500 --> 00:34:06.440 realities? 00:34:07.619 --> 00:34:08.380 That we 00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:08.980 should listen 00:34:08.980 --> 00:34:09.519 to the 00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:09.820 Lord 00:34:09.820 --> 00:34:11.340 and to 00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:11.539 his 00:34:11.539 --> 00:34:12.000 word 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:14.139 and do 00:34:14.139 --> 00:34:14.659 our life 00:34:14.659 --> 00:34:15.099 according 00:34:15.099 --> 00:34:15.719 to it. 00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:16.420 Pitch our 00:34:16.420 --> 00:34:17.320 tent according 00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:17.920 to the 00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:18.539 promise that 00:34:18.539 --> 00:34:18.940 we've been 00:34:18.940 --> 00:34:19.260 given. 00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:21.440 Even if 00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:21.880 everything 00:34:21.880 --> 00:34:22.739 around looks 00:34:22.739 --> 00:34:23.739 like how 00:34:23.739 --> 00:34:24.260 is that even 00:34:24.260 --> 00:34:24.559 going to 00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:24.860 work? 00:34:25.500 --> 00:34:25.900 How is 00:34:25.900 --> 00:34:26.219 that going 00:34:26.219 --> 00:34:26.440 to be 00:34:26.440 --> 00:34:26.940 possible? 00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:27.000 people? 00:34:29.880 --> 00:34:30.460 As I 00:34:30.460 --> 00:34:30.760 think of 00:34:30.760 --> 00:34:31.240 Abraham, 00:34:31.880 --> 00:34:33.179 here he 00:34:33.179 --> 00:34:33.559 is in 00:34:33.559 --> 00:34:34.039 a foreign 00:34:34.039 --> 00:34:34.420 land, 00:34:34.519 --> 00:34:35.019 he stands 00:34:35.019 --> 00:34:35.420 out like 00:34:35.420 --> 00:34:35.860 a sore 00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:36.300 thumb, 00:34:36.820 --> 00:34:38.019 and I 00:34:38.019 --> 00:34:38.420 don't think 00:34:38.420 --> 00:34:38.679 it was 00:34:38.679 --> 00:34:39.240 just because 00:34:39.240 --> 00:34:40.260 of the 00:34:40.260 --> 00:34:41.099 tone of 00:34:41.099 --> 00:34:41.599 his skin 00:34:41.599 --> 00:34:43.220 or because 00:34:43.220 --> 00:34:43.900 of his 00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:44.500 accent 00:34:44.500 --> 00:34:45.360 being from 00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:46.000 far away. 00:34:47.700 --> 00:34:48.220 Those 00:34:48.220 --> 00:34:48.599 probably 00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:49.119 factored 00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:49.599 in too, 00:34:50.099 --> 00:34:50.860 but he 00:34:50.860 --> 00:34:51.320 stuck out 00:34:51.320 --> 00:34:51.700 like a 00:34:51.700 --> 00:34:52.179 sore thumb 00:34:52.179 --> 00:34:52.980 because here's 00:34:52.980 --> 00:34:53.619 a guy who 00:34:53.619 --> 00:34:55.220 actually believes 00:34:55.219 --> 00:34:55.939 in and 00:34:55.939 --> 00:34:56.899 worships 00:34:56.899 --> 00:34:57.579 Yahweh. 00:34:59.139 --> 00:34:59.839 Look at 00:34:59.839 --> 00:34:59.980 him, 00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:00.419 he's building 00:35:00.419 --> 00:35:00.899 an altar 00:35:00.899 --> 00:35:01.480 to him. 00:35:02.579 --> 00:35:03.119 That's not 00:35:03.119 --> 00:35:03.480 who we 00:35:03.480 --> 00:35:04.119 worship around 00:35:04.119 --> 00:35:04.439 here, 00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:05.019 we worship 00:35:05.019 --> 00:35:05.480 Baal. 00:35:07.699 --> 00:35:08.419 Can you 00:35:08.419 --> 00:35:09.139 believe that? 00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:10.199 That guy 00:35:10.199 --> 00:35:11.079 would actually 00:35:11.079 --> 00:35:13.559 subscribe to 00:35:13.559 --> 00:35:13.859 him? 00:35:16.119 --> 00:35:16.879 But that's 00:35:16.879 --> 00:35:17.579 not all 00:35:17.579 --> 00:35:19.419 unlike how 00:35:19.419 --> 00:35:19.819 things are 00:35:19.819 --> 00:35:20.199 for us 00:35:20.199 --> 00:35:20.539 today, 00:35:20.599 --> 00:35:21.000 is it? 00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:22.199 We live 00:35:22.199 --> 00:35:22.719 in a world 00:35:22.719 --> 00:35:23.719 that basically 00:35:23.719 --> 00:35:24.279 says the 00:35:24.279 --> 00:35:24.879 same thing. 00:35:25.219 --> 00:35:26.559 look at 00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:27.259 those guys. 00:35:28.639 --> 00:35:29.119 They 00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:29.980 actually 00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:31.279 believe in 00:35:31.279 --> 00:35:31.739 the God 00:35:31.739 --> 00:35:32.099 of the 00:35:32.099 --> 00:35:32.539 Bible, 00:35:33.459 --> 00:35:34.139 that God 00:35:34.139 --> 00:35:34.439 who 00:35:34.439 --> 00:35:35.919 condemns 00:35:35.919 --> 00:35:37.539 homosexuality 00:35:37.539 --> 00:35:38.419 and talks 00:35:38.419 --> 00:35:39.099 about sin 00:35:39.099 --> 00:35:39.379 and how 00:35:39.379 --> 00:35:39.719 we're all 00:35:39.719 --> 00:35:40.339 guilty of 00:35:40.339 --> 00:35:40.579 it and 00:35:40.579 --> 00:35:40.879 how we're 00:35:40.879 --> 00:35:41.039 going to 00:35:41.039 --> 00:35:41.559 be punished 00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:42.019 for it 00:35:42.019 --> 00:35:42.539 and hell 00:35:42.539 --> 00:35:42.879 and all 00:35:42.879 --> 00:35:43.419 that stuff. 00:35:43.539 --> 00:35:43.719 I mean, 00:35:43.779 --> 00:35:44.480 who believes 00:35:44.480 --> 00:35:45.259 that anymore? 00:35:45.260 --> 00:35:49.440 Abraham 00:35:49.440 --> 00:35:54.580 gives us 00:35:54.580 --> 00:35:55.300 this incredible 00:35:55.300 --> 00:35:55.900 example 00:35:55.900 --> 00:35:58.500 of faith. 00:35:59.140 --> 00:36:00.520 If he 00:36:00.520 --> 00:36:01.580 really is 00:36:01.580 --> 00:36:02.500 the Lord, 00:36:03.640 --> 00:36:04.800 then absolutely 00:36:04.800 --> 00:36:05.340 I'm going to 00:36:05.340 --> 00:36:06.240 live in 00:36:06.240 --> 00:36:06.920 allegiance to 00:36:06.920 --> 00:36:07.160 him. 00:36:08.160 --> 00:36:08.820 I'm going to 00:36:08.820 --> 00:36:09.520 build altars 00:36:09.520 --> 00:36:10.100 to him and 00:36:10.100 --> 00:36:10.780 worship him. 00:36:10.840 --> 00:36:11.120 I'm going to 00:36:11.120 --> 00:36:11.480 let other 00:36:11.480 --> 00:36:12.200 people see. 00:36:12.199 --> 00:36:14.659 I'm going to 00:36:14.659 --> 00:36:15.239 stick out like 00:36:15.239 --> 00:36:15.899 a sore thumb. 00:36:19.460 --> 00:36:20.159 Isn't that 00:36:20.159 --> 00:36:20.719 what God 00:36:20.719 --> 00:36:21.219 has brought 00:36:21.219 --> 00:36:22.159 Abraham here 00:36:22.159 --> 00:36:22.939 for? 00:36:24.939 --> 00:36:25.679 To be a 00:36:25.679 --> 00:36:25.980 witness, 00:36:26.139 --> 00:36:26.679 a testimony 00:36:26.679 --> 00:36:27.299 to his 00:36:27.299 --> 00:36:27.759 grace, 00:36:28.039 --> 00:36:28.519 a blessing 00:36:28.519 --> 00:36:29.339 to all the 00:36:29.339 --> 00:36:29.939 families of 00:36:29.939 --> 00:36:30.299 the earth, 00:36:30.419 --> 00:36:30.919 starting with 00:36:30.919 --> 00:36:31.319 the people 00:36:31.319 --> 00:36:31.939 around him? 00:36:31.940 --> 00:36:34.280 there's so 00:36:34.280 --> 00:36:34.679 much we 00:36:34.679 --> 00:36:35.139 can learn 00:36:35.139 --> 00:36:36.659 from Abraham 00:36:36.659 --> 00:36:38.639 about how 00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:39.059 we make 00:36:39.059 --> 00:36:39.659 our decisions 00:36:39.659 --> 00:36:40.320 and our 00:36:40.320 --> 00:36:40.780 plans. 00:36:41.380 --> 00:36:42.119 We too 00:36:42.119 --> 00:36:42.840 have received 00:36:42.840 --> 00:36:43.679 promises 00:36:43.679 --> 00:36:44.440 from God, 00:36:44.860 --> 00:36:45.840 the word 00:36:45.840 --> 00:36:46.360 of God. 00:36:46.720 --> 00:36:47.559 It looks a 00:36:47.559 --> 00:36:48.039 little different. 00:36:48.220 --> 00:36:48.700 We have it 00:36:48.700 --> 00:36:49.220 here in a 00:36:49.220 --> 00:36:49.420 book. 00:36:49.519 --> 00:36:49.880 We have 00:36:49.880 --> 00:36:50.800 not just 00:36:50.800 --> 00:36:51.300 what Abraham 00:36:51.300 --> 00:36:51.740 heard, 00:36:51.820 --> 00:36:52.039 but we 00:36:52.039 --> 00:36:52.639 have more. 00:36:53.800 --> 00:36:54.579 We have 00:36:54.579 --> 00:36:55.260 the son 00:36:55.260 --> 00:36:55.720 of God 00:36:55.720 --> 00:36:56.420 himself 00:36:56.420 --> 00:36:57.720 described 00:36:57.720 --> 00:36:58.119 in these 00:36:58.119 --> 00:36:58.500 pages 00:36:58.500 --> 00:36:58.920 in his 00:36:58.920 --> 00:36:59.420 words 00:36:59.420 --> 00:37:00.019 here. 00:37:00.019 --> 00:37:02.619 Abraham 00:37:02.619 --> 00:37:03.159 had some 00:37:03.159 --> 00:37:04.059 pretty big 00:37:04.059 --> 00:37:04.840 promises made 00:37:04.840 --> 00:37:05.219 to him, 00:37:05.340 --> 00:37:05.679 but we 00:37:05.679 --> 00:37:07.119 have some 00:37:07.119 --> 00:37:07.599 even bigger 00:37:07.599 --> 00:37:08.039 ones, 00:37:08.259 --> 00:37:09.300 which came 00:37:09.300 --> 00:37:10.000 through Christ. 00:37:11.519 --> 00:37:12.199 An 00:37:12.199 --> 00:37:12.759 inheritance 00:37:12.759 --> 00:37:13.420 in the 00:37:13.420 --> 00:37:14.059 kingdom of 00:37:14.059 --> 00:37:15.900 God that 00:37:15.900 --> 00:37:16.539 is coming 00:37:16.539 --> 00:37:18.280 when Jesus 00:37:18.280 --> 00:37:18.780 returns. 00:37:19.780 --> 00:37:20.759 We have a 00:37:20.759 --> 00:37:21.579 forever promise 00:37:21.579 --> 00:37:21.920 too, 00:37:22.219 --> 00:37:23.300 eternal life 00:37:23.300 --> 00:37:24.019 in that 00:37:24.019 --> 00:37:24.420 kingdom. 00:37:30.019 --> 00:37:30.980 God promised 00:37:30.980 --> 00:37:31.539 to bless 00:37:31.539 --> 00:37:31.820 him, 00:37:32.500 --> 00:37:33.019 to be 00:37:33.019 --> 00:37:33.480 gracious 00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:33.960 to him, 00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:34.259 and we 00:37:34.259 --> 00:37:34.900 have received 00:37:34.900 --> 00:37:35.599 the greatest 00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:36.860 of graces 00:37:36.860 --> 00:37:37.579 and blessing 00:37:37.579 --> 00:37:39.179 through Christ. 00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:40.519 And the 00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:41.259 question is, 00:37:41.699 --> 00:37:43.000 will we make 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:43.340 our way 00:37:43.340 --> 00:37:43.980 by this, 00:37:44.579 --> 00:37:45.699 by this 00:37:45.699 --> 00:37:46.460 good news, 00:37:46.980 --> 00:37:48.920 as we 00:37:48.920 --> 00:37:50.099 consider what 00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:50.539 we'll do 00:37:50.539 --> 00:37:51.259 in our lives, 00:37:51.579 --> 00:37:52.480 or will we 00:37:52.480 --> 00:37:52.900 do like 00:37:52.900 --> 00:37:53.239 Lot, 00:37:54.780 --> 00:37:55.099 and just 00:37:55.099 --> 00:37:55.679 go after 00:37:55.679 --> 00:37:56.239 what on the 00:37:56.239 --> 00:37:56.980 surface looks 00:37:56.980 --> 00:37:57.400 like it 00:37:57.400 --> 00:37:58.699 will fulfill 00:37:58.699 --> 00:37:59.119 us, 00:37:59.259 --> 00:37:59.559 it will 00:37:59.559 --> 00:37:59.960 make us 00:37:59.960 --> 00:38:00.460 happy. 00:38:05.919 --> 00:38:06.399 Let's 00:38:06.399 --> 00:38:06.619 pray. 00:38:13.019 --> 00:38:13.500 Father, 00:38:13.619 --> 00:38:13.980 we thank 00:38:13.980 --> 00:38:14.259 you for 00:38:14.259 --> 00:38:14.739 your word, 00:38:15.139 --> 00:38:15.859 and we 00:38:15.859 --> 00:38:16.359 proclaim 00:38:16.359 --> 00:38:18.259 you are 00:38:18.259 --> 00:38:19.619 the great 00:38:19.619 --> 00:38:20.399 and glorious 00:38:20.399 --> 00:38:21.539 Lord of the 00:38:21.539 --> 00:38:21.879 universe, 00:38:22.099 --> 00:38:22.639 as we talked 00:38:22.639 --> 00:38:23.039 about in 00:38:23.039 --> 00:38:23.559 Sunday school 00:38:23.559 --> 00:38:24.179 this morning. 00:38:26.519 --> 00:38:27.359 Your son 00:38:27.359 --> 00:38:27.960 is supreme 00:38:27.960 --> 00:38:28.599 over all, 00:38:28.699 --> 00:38:30.960 we worship 00:38:30.960 --> 00:38:31.379 you. 00:38:33.019 --> 00:38:33.719 Help us 00:38:33.719 --> 00:38:34.279 to live 00:38:34.279 --> 00:38:36.559 by faith 00:38:36.559 --> 00:38:37.279 as if all 00:38:37.279 --> 00:38:37.699 of this 00:38:37.699 --> 00:38:38.859 is true 00:38:38.859 --> 00:38:39.299 as it 00:38:39.299 --> 00:38:39.659 is. 00:38:41.099 --> 00:38:41.819 No matter 00:38:41.819 --> 00:38:42.339 what anybody 00:38:42.339 --> 00:38:43.139 else thinks, 00:38:43.960 --> 00:38:46.619 we want 00:38:46.619 --> 00:38:46.960 to bring 00:38:46.960 --> 00:38:47.460 glory to 00:38:47.460 --> 00:38:47.919 your name, 00:38:48.299 --> 00:38:49.279 and we 00:38:49.279 --> 00:38:49.659 thank you 00:38:49.659 --> 00:38:50.000 for the 00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:50.339 grace 00:38:50.339 --> 00:38:51.319 that you 00:38:51.319 --> 00:38:51.779 have given 00:38:51.779 --> 00:38:52.339 to us 00:38:52.339 --> 00:38:53.019 and promised 00:38:53.019 --> 00:38:53.399 us. 00:38:53.400 --> 00:38:56.360 Jesus' name 00:38:56.360 --> 00:38:57.800 we pray. 00:38:58.519 --> 00:38:58.920 Amen. 00:38:58.920 --> 00:38:58.980 Amen. 00:38:58.980 --> 00:39:28.960 Here we go.