1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:08,000 Now I want to begin with a picture and simply to say that if this is your family, you do not need the series 2 00:00:08,440 –> 00:00:11,960 We’re looking at an idealized picture of the 1950s 3 00:00:12,720 –> 00:00:16,920 Imaginary family the father reading a book to his 4 00:00:17,799 –> 00:00:20,600 eager children while his loving and adoring wife 5 00:00:20,959 –> 00:00:22,440 Looks on and 6 00:00:22,440 –> 00:00:28,320 The reason that I show this sort of airbrush type of a picture at the beginning is that it’s very easy 7 00:00:28,740 –> 00:00:34,480 when you arrive at church to think that everyone else’s family is sort of picture-perfect except for yours and 8 00:00:34,919 –> 00:00:41,279 That somehow all other husbands are enjoying loving intimacy with their wives all other wives are 9 00:00:41,980 –> 00:00:46,759 experiencing the engaged support of their husbands who of course understand them very deeply and 10 00:00:47,200 –> 00:00:49,200 All other people’s children 11 00:00:49,480 –> 00:00:56,340 Love and respect their parents and of course seek their counsel and gladly follow after their godly example except for yours 12 00:00:56,380 –> 00:01:02,240 I just want to say right at the beginning let’s dispel that myth because there are no 13 00:01:02,660 –> 00:01:04,459 picture-perfect 14 00:01:04,459 –> 00:01:07,599 Families right? That’s an amen moment. I think 15 00:01:08,160 –> 00:01:15,080 So the Bible addresses the realities of life, there are no airbrushed pictures in the Bible 16 00:01:15,099 –> 00:01:19,839 In fact, I was thinking about this if someone were to attempt to write a book 17 00:01:20,239 –> 00:01:25,540 Called all the model families of the Bible which families would you put in there? 18 00:01:25,540 –> 00:01:26,779 I think be the short 19 00:01:26,779 –> 00:01:27,900 I don’t think you could write the book 20 00:01:27,900 –> 00:01:29,300 Who would you put in there? 21 00:01:29,300 –> 00:01:33,139 I mean you think about the the families that were told about in the Bible 22 00:01:33,459 –> 00:01:39,559 Now you think about the family of Jacob and how God wonderfully blessed him huge family 12 sons 23 00:01:40,120 –> 00:01:43,440 He must have so wished that God had given him daughters instead 24 00:01:43,839 –> 00:01:45,160 Because these boys, you know 25 00:01:45,160 –> 00:01:49,360 there’s envy and then there’s jealousy and then it becomes at one point hatred and 26 00:01:49,459 –> 00:01:53,519 In early pools the whole family apart all kinds of dysfunction 27 00:01:54,120 –> 00:01:56,779 You think of Eli what a godly man of prayer? 28 00:01:57,199 –> 00:02:02,260 Eli was if only we could all pray like Eli and you say one of his sons 29 00:02:02,260 –> 00:02:06,139 they must have been marvelous godly people know his two sons Hoffney and 30 00:02:06,360 –> 00:02:11,740 Phineas end up indulging in some of the worst imaginable sins to the heartbreak of their father 31 00:02:12,539 –> 00:02:19,279 You think about David Israel’s greatest King and he has a son whose name is Absalom 32 00:02:19,539 –> 00:02:23,639 and absalom hates his father hates his father and 33 00:02:24,320 –> 00:02:28,139 Whatever David does to try and reconcile with with Absolom 34 00:02:28,139 –> 00:02:29,520 He’s not able to do it 35 00:02:29,520 –> 00:02:34,740 If you are a parent who has had the experience of a son or a daughter your son your daughter 36 00:02:34,820 –> 00:02:37,940 Saying to you in a moment of anger. I hate you 37 00:02:38,720 –> 00:02:43,080 Then you are in the good company of Israel’s greatest King 38 00:02:43,880 –> 00:02:50,839 Because that’s what happened in his family no airbrushed pictures of families in the Bible 39 00:02:51,440 –> 00:02:54,759 Now that’s why I’ve chosen this title faith is for 40 00:02:55,259 –> 00:02:58,240 fractured families and in this series 41 00:02:58,240 –> 00:03:02,300 We’re going to look at four scenes from the life of one very 42 00:03:03,119 –> 00:03:04,960 fractured family 43 00:03:04,960 –> 00:03:09,020 Today we’re going to look at Abraham who I’m describing as the flawed 44 00:03:09,559 –> 00:03:11,039 father 45 00:03:11,039 –> 00:03:15,000 Next week. We’re going to look at Sarah the perplexed wife 46 00:03:16,080 –> 00:03:20,160 then we’re going to look at Hagar the single mother and 47 00:03:20,479 –> 00:03:24,899 then we’re going to look at the life of Ishmael who I’m describing as the 48 00:03:25,300 –> 00:03:31,479 Troubled son. So for husbands for wives fathers mothers sons daughters, whether you married or whether you’re single 49 00:03:31,660 –> 00:03:36,240 There is an abundance of truth for all of us in this 50 00:03:36,899 –> 00:03:44,179 Real-life story that is presented to us in the book of Genesis all of these four characters 51 00:03:44,179 –> 00:03:49,679 They are fractured people and the good news is that all of them in their brokenness 52 00:03:50,479 –> 00:03:54,460 experienced in wonderful ways the grace of God 53 00:03:55,119 –> 00:04:00,460 And today then we begin with Abraham who I’m describing as the flawed father 54 00:04:01,460 –> 00:04:05,779 Remember of course that Abraham is known throughout the Bible as a great man of faith 55 00:04:06,179 –> 00:04:08,240 He was blessed by God 56 00:04:08,360 –> 00:04:15,080 But it is important to remember that men and women at our best are only the raw 57 00:04:15,380 –> 00:04:16,640 material in which 58 00:04:16,640 –> 00:04:23,140 God’s great work of grace takes place the best of Christians including the Christians sitting next to you is 59 00:04:23,359 –> 00:04:26,079 a sinner in the process of being 60 00:04:26,959 –> 00:04:28,299 redeemed and 61 00:04:28,299 –> 00:04:30,260 God puts his 62 00:04:30,679 –> 00:04:36,480 Blessing into jars of clay and the Bible makes that very clear in the story of Abraham 63 00:04:37,000 –> 00:04:39,600 It begins in verse 1 by telling us about 64 00:04:40,100 –> 00:04:42,839 Abraham’s faith God calls him to set out on a journey 65 00:04:43,160 –> 00:04:48,779 Go from your country and from your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you 66 00:04:48,920 –> 00:04:53,260 And God promises in verse 2 to bless him and to make him a blessing 67 00:04:53,459 –> 00:04:57,559 Indeed all of the nations of the earth verse 3 will be blessed through him 68 00:04:57,899 –> 00:05:02,200 Blessing is going to come from God to all of the world all nations 69 00:05:02,480 –> 00:05:07,859 Through Abraham and through his offspring through his seed in you 70 00:05:07,859 –> 00:05:14,440 All the families of the earth shall be blessed and as Abraham is introduced to us in Genesis in chapter 12 71 00:05:14,700 –> 00:05:20,179 There are four distinguishing marks that are very admirable about this man 72 00:05:20,679 –> 00:05:23,239 The first is that he was clearly a man of faith 73 00:05:23,700 –> 00:05:27,279 God calls him to move and inverse four we read these marvellous words 74 00:05:27,799 –> 00:05:33,299 So Abraham went. He moved. That’s the obedience of faith. God says it 75 00:05:33,299 –> 00:05:34,100 I do it 76 00:05:34,100 –> 00:05:38,420 that’s the kind of person that he is at this point in the story and 77 00:05:38,660 –> 00:05:41,540 Verse four tells us that he was 75 years old 78 00:05:42,320 –> 00:05:47,140 This is interesting because the the patriarchs were given an unusually long 79 00:05:47,940 –> 00:05:49,959 lifespan in the Providence of God 80 00:05:50,839 –> 00:05:53,160 Abraham lived to 175 81 00:05:53,559 –> 00:05:56,079 Sarah lived to the age of 127 82 00:05:56,239 –> 00:06:02,480 So Abraham at 75 on a 175 year lifespan is is in what we would call midlife 83 00:06:03,119 –> 00:06:08,040 He’s just at the place where you think now, I’ve got myself established 84 00:06:08,420 –> 00:06:10,420 Settled put down roots 85 00:06:10,739 –> 00:06:17,600 Begun to get some order in life began to get myself established and suddenly everything in his life is uprooted 86 00:06:17,760 –> 00:06:22,239 And the call of God leads him into a whole new journey of faith 87 00:06:23,079 –> 00:06:27,399 He’s not only a man of faith. He’s a man of influence verse five an 88 00:06:28,239 –> 00:06:31,760 extended family travels with him Lot and lots family 89 00:06:31,760 –> 00:06:38,299 And then we read about the possessions that they had and the people they had acquired in Haran 90 00:06:38,660 –> 00:06:42,179 So you to think of a sort of plan migration here 91 00:06:42,179 –> 00:06:47,399 Here’s this manabrium and there is an extended group of people around him people work for him 92 00:06:47,640 –> 00:06:53,079 People are employed by him people look to him for their livelihoods in some sense are 93 00:06:53,619 –> 00:07:01,420 Dependent upon what is happening under his leadership? He’s a man of very significant influence. And thirdly, he’s a man of prayer as 94 00:07:02,140 –> 00:07:06,179 He follows the Lord in faith and obedience. We find him building altars 95 00:07:06,579 –> 00:07:11,579 little piles of stone that Mark places of worship and of prayer 96 00:07:12,000 –> 00:07:14,220 places where he calls on the name of the Lord 97 00:07:14,260 –> 00:07:16,579 He builds an altar verse seven in Shechem 98 00:07:16,579 –> 00:07:19,459 he builds another one verse 8 when he gets to the place between 99 00:07:19,579 –> 00:07:23,160 Ai and Bethel and he calls on the name of the Lord there 100 00:07:23,160 –> 00:07:27,619 He’s a man of prayer and fourthly. He’s a man of remarkable spiritual experience 101 00:07:28,519 –> 00:07:33,980 So not only did God speak to him. I believe in this case, we’re talking about an audible voice 102 00:07:34,899 –> 00:07:39,959 But even more clearly in verse 7 the Lord appeared to Abraham 103 00:07:40,920 –> 00:07:46,260 Abraham actually saw the glory of the Lord as Isaias saw the glory of the Lord 104 00:07:46,279 –> 00:07:49,200 There was what’s called in the Old Testament a theophany 105 00:07:49,200 –> 00:07:55,700 That is an appearance of God in a visible form so that he actually saw the Lord of glory 106 00:07:55,720 –> 00:08:00,519 Can you imagine the impact of that marvelous spiritual experience? 107 00:08:00,519 –> 00:08:06,700 He saw the Lord the Lord appeared to him says it twice in verse seven 108 00:08:06,700 –> 00:08:08,200 Now let’s put this together 109 00:08:08,260 –> 00:08:11,519 Here is a remarkable person a man of faith 110 00:08:12,760 –> 00:08:15,179 Here is a man of influence a leader 111 00:08:16,500 –> 00:08:21,660 Here is a man of prayer and here is a man of remarkable 112 00:08:22,660 –> 00:08:24,660 spiritual experience 113 00:08:26,079 –> 00:08:28,079 What a blessing 114 00:08:29,100 –> 00:08:33,340 For Sarah to be married to this man, don’t you think? 115 00:08:34,619 –> 00:08:36,840 You’re not sure you’re right 116 00:08:37,739 –> 00:08:39,739 But seriously 117 00:08:40,020 –> 00:08:44,719 Is this not a Christian woman’s wish list? 118 00:08:46,200 –> 00:08:50,539 Here’s a single Christian woman and she would like to be married and she’s praying about it 119 00:08:50,539 –> 00:08:53,859 and she’s got in her mind what she would look for and 120 00:08:54,880 –> 00:09:01,700 She says to the Lord something like this Oh Lord, if you would give to me a husband who is a man of faith and 121 00:09:02,559 –> 00:09:04,559 a leader and 122 00:09:05,159 –> 00:09:07,159 a man of prayer and 123 00:09:07,739 –> 00:09:10,380 someone who really knows you and walks with 124 00:09:11,200 –> 00:09:14,419 that would be the desire of my heart. This is a 125 00:09:15,960 –> 00:09:17,960 Description surely of 126 00:09:18,520 –> 00:09:23,940 what a godly woman would look for in a husband, it’s the wish list and 127 00:09:25,380 –> 00:09:29,280 We’re being told in this story that we’re looking at today that even this man 128 00:09:30,679 –> 00:09:32,679 has feet of clay and 129 00:09:33,299 –> 00:09:36,200 And the Bible does not hide this from us 130 00:09:37,400 –> 00:09:43,580 Because faith is not for airbrushed since there are no ideal men and women 131 00:09:45,719 –> 00:09:49,580 Faith is for flawed fathers. It is for fractured 132 00:09:50,520 –> 00:09:52,000 families 133 00:09:52,000 –> 00:09:56,200 And that’s why the Bible speaks directly into the realities of our lives today 134 00:09:57,760 –> 00:10:01,219 So we come to this extraordinary story that begins in verse 10 135 00:10:01,820 –> 00:10:08,280 Abraham, this man who’s been introduced to us, and he’s stretched himself. He’s extended himself in faith 136 00:10:08,280 –> 00:10:09,340 He’s believed God’s promise 137 00:10:09,340 –> 00:10:10,280 He’s uprooted 138 00:10:10,280 –> 00:10:16,140 everything and all these people with him and he’s moved in this journey of faith to come to the land of Canaan and while 139 00:10:16,219 –> 00:10:22,799 Finally he arrives in the land of Canaan what happens after all this journey is that his faith is immediately tested 140 00:10:23,200 –> 00:10:28,820 And that happens in two ways. The first is in verse 6. God has said I’m gonna give you this land 141 00:10:28,880 –> 00:10:31,520 He arrives in the land of Canaan, and it’s already occupied 142 00:10:32,559 –> 00:10:37,780 There are Canaanites in the land Lord. I thought you were going to give me this land as I am 143 00:10:38,719 –> 00:10:41,099 Well, it’s already fool. Yes, I know 144 00:10:41,799 –> 00:10:43,799 not gonna be easy and 145 00:10:44,479 –> 00:10:49,479 The second great challenge to his faith comes in verse 10. Think about this 146 00:10:49,479 –> 00:10:53,059 He’s been doing quite well in in Haran where he was living and 147 00:10:53,479 –> 00:10:57,159 He undertakes this journey of faith to go to the promised land 148 00:10:57,599 –> 00:11:03,900 Canaan the land that’s going to be flowing with milk and honey and he extends himself in all that’s involved in this 149 00:11:04,460 –> 00:11:11,840 Sacrificial faith and obedience and he arrives in the land of Canaan and verse 10 says and there was famine in the land 150 00:11:12,760 –> 00:11:15,820 You’re about rooted me from a place for I was doing just fine and 151 00:11:16,479 –> 00:11:18,039 You bring me into a place 152 00:11:18,039 –> 00:11:21,900 I follow you in faith and obedience and you bring me into a place where there’s famine 153 00:11:22,659 –> 00:11:24,659 What is all this about? 154 00:11:25,440 –> 00:11:27,440 Now some of you know about this 155 00:11:27,659 –> 00:11:33,059 And you’ve come to a place where in your own hearts you you would have been saying something like this, lord 156 00:11:33,059 –> 00:11:36,320 I have extended myself in faith and in obedience 157 00:11:36,960 –> 00:11:41,859 I’ve taken on responsibility and leadership. I’ve given myself in service 158 00:11:41,859 –> 00:11:48,719 I’ve made sacrifices of time and of money for the sake of ministry. I have been pushing myself in all of this 159 00:11:48,719 –> 00:11:53,179 I spent myself in it. And now this how could you allow this to happen to me? 160 00:11:54,760 –> 00:11:57,840 when I’ve been stretching in every way I possibly could 161 00:11:58,820 –> 00:12:01,059 in order to honor and be faithful to you 162 00:12:03,059 –> 00:12:08,200 So as abbreviation faith is tested we read in verse 11 that he went down to Egypt 163 00:12:09,059 –> 00:12:13,659 To sojourn there for the famine was very severe in the land 164 00:12:14,900 –> 00:12:21,599 The Bible never suggests that Abraham was doing something wrong here there was food in Egypt. There was famine in Canaan and 165 00:12:22,320 –> 00:12:24,599 Abraham rightly uses his initiative 166 00:12:24,599 –> 00:12:29,760 He’s got family who are looking to him he’s got employees who are dependent upon him 167 00:12:30,039 –> 00:12:36,619 He has to do what is the appropriate thing to provide for them and the obvious thing for him to do is to go 168 00:12:36,880 –> 00:12:40,200 To the place where there is food and that is Egypt 169 00:12:40,820 –> 00:12:46,080 the problem of course comes when they arrive or get near to Egypt and 170 00:12:46,799 –> 00:12:48,799 Abraham comes up with a plan 171 00:12:49,799 –> 00:12:53,840 Now in order to understand what Abraham comes up with here 172 00:12:54,500 –> 00:12:57,679 you need to know that in ancient culture a 173 00:12:58,679 –> 00:13:00,159 single woman 174 00:13:00,159 –> 00:13:02,900 lived under the protection of her father and 175 00:13:03,640 –> 00:13:10,239 if the father was not on the scene to be able to do that then the role of protecting the single woman fell to 176 00:13:10,239 –> 00:13:12,080 her brother 177 00:13:12,179 –> 00:13:15,200 This meant that if someone wanted to marry a woman 178 00:13:15,700 –> 00:13:20,799 they had to negotiate with the father and if there was not a father to 179 00:13:21,219 –> 00:13:23,219 negotiate with the brother and 180 00:13:23,599 –> 00:13:27,700 that would involve the payment of a price and so forth and so on and 181 00:13:28,099 –> 00:13:32,140 So in ancient culture if you had your eye on a lady 182 00:13:33,260 –> 00:13:36,400 Rule number one was be very nice to our father 183 00:13:36,979 –> 00:13:41,059 In fact actually that’s still a very good rule in culture today 184 00:13:41,599 –> 00:13:43,260 except that in ancient culture 185 00:13:43,260 –> 00:13:49,619 You would add this little bit if our father is not around be very very nice to her brother because he’ll probably be even 186 00:13:50,059 –> 00:13:52,460 harder to deal with and 187 00:13:53,059 –> 00:13:57,159 So if you had a beautiful daughter or indeed if you had a beautiful sister 188 00:13:58,280 –> 00:14:03,859 That meant that anyone who might be interested in her was going to 189 00:14:04,340 –> 00:14:06,359 Treat you really really well 190 00:14:06,359 –> 00:14:12,679 Well now abram’s wife sarah was a strikingly beautiful woman. She was age 65 191 00:14:12,679 –> 00:14:18,260 But remember on a double lifespan that puts her at the equivalent of her early 30s 192 00:14:18,780 –> 00:14:21,460 which means she’s at the absolute height of 193 00:14:22,080 –> 00:14:24,080 her stunning beauty and 194 00:14:25,679 –> 00:14:28,659 Abraham says to her 195 00:14:29,739 –> 00:14:31,739 When he’s about to arrive in Egypt 196 00:14:32,099 –> 00:14:34,580 Verse 11 I know 197 00:14:35,260 –> 00:14:37,119 That you are a 198 00:14:37,119 –> 00:14:37,979 woman 199 00:14:37,979 –> 00:14:39,479 beautiful 200 00:14:39,479 –> 00:14:40,979 in appearance 201 00:14:40,979 –> 00:14:43,219 The guys that is a good thing to say to your wife 202 00:14:43,979 –> 00:14:47,340 Abraham’s a good example here is Abraham at his best 203 00:14:47,340 –> 00:14:54,260 He’s complimenting his wife, and she is indeed a beautiful woman, and he says so but be careful because he’s about to spoil it 204 00:14:54,260 –> 00:15:01,280 I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance and when the Egyptians see you 205 00:15:01,780 –> 00:15:08,440 They will say now. This is his wife and they will kill me, but they will let you live 206 00:15:09,080 –> 00:15:15,280 so to put it in more contemporary terms Abraham saying something like this is saying 207 00:15:15,979 –> 00:15:17,880 Sarah love 208 00:15:17,880 –> 00:15:20,359 you’re an absolute stunner and 209 00:15:22,719 –> 00:15:26,359 Life with you as my wife is absolutely great 210 00:15:27,440 –> 00:15:29,440 except for one thing 211 00:15:29,500 –> 00:15:35,159 That when other guys see you, they’re gonna want to kill me 212 00:15:35,919 –> 00:15:37,919 That’s what he’s saying. And 213 00:15:38,359 –> 00:15:43,299 so he says verse 13 say that you are my sister that 214 00:15:44,200 –> 00:15:51,080 It may go well with me because of you and that my life may be spared for your sake 215 00:15:51,940 –> 00:15:58,239 Now if we say that you’re my sister then anyone who’s interested in you, they’re gonna say well 216 00:15:58,299 –> 00:16:01,799 it’d be better be very nice to Abraham because he’s the brother and 217 00:16:02,880 –> 00:16:09,099 We’re only gonna be here for a few days get some food, but we’ll get in we’ll get out and everything will be just fine 218 00:16:10,320 –> 00:16:13,000 now it’s important just to know one more thing as we 219 00:16:13,119 –> 00:16:19,659 Grasp the story here and we learn that from Genesis chapter 20 and verse 13 that I put on the screen for you there 220 00:16:20,119 –> 00:16:26,219 This was not the first time that Abraham and Sarah had done this they pulled off this deception many times before 221 00:16:27,039 –> 00:16:31,080 We know that from Genesis 20 in verse 13 because Abraham says there 222 00:16:31,960 –> 00:16:35,059 When God caused me to wander from my father’s house 223 00:16:35,440 –> 00:16:40,960 that’s right back at the beginning of the story when he first left here and on the journey of faith I 224 00:16:41,760 –> 00:16:46,520 Said to Sarah. This is the kindness. You must do me at 225 00:16:47,719 –> 00:16:49,619 every place 226 00:16:49,619 –> 00:16:54,520 To which we come say of me he is my brother and 227 00:16:54,700 –> 00:16:58,260 And so they had gone into these various towns on their journey 228 00:16:58,419 –> 00:17:01,080 They had presented themselves as brother and sister 229 00:17:01,460 –> 00:17:05,280 For the reasons that I’ve described and they had pulled off this 230 00:17:05,479 –> 00:17:10,439 Deception many many times before at every place to which we come 231 00:17:10,479 –> 00:17:16,560 you just say that I am your brother that you are my sister and so they get to the 232 00:17:16,760 –> 00:17:20,000 edge of the community that they’re visiting in Egypt and 233 00:17:20,640 –> 00:17:23,119 Abraham in effect is saying to Sarah hey 234 00:17:24,119 –> 00:17:30,459 Let’s do the brother-sister thing here again. We don’t run any risks with these people when they see you and 235 00:17:31,319 –> 00:17:33,180 It’s always worked before 236 00:17:33,180 –> 00:17:36,400 Nothing bad will come of it at all 237 00:17:37,160 –> 00:17:42,040 By the way, how many disasters in family life and their personal life have begun with a statement? 238 00:17:42,040 –> 00:17:46,760 You know, let’s just do this and some crazy idea and nothing bad will come of it 239 00:17:46,760 –> 00:17:49,959 That’s where they were. It’s a verse 14 240 00:17:50,459 –> 00:17:52,459 when Abraham entered Egypt 241 00:17:52,699 –> 00:17:56,140 Sure enough, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful 242 00:17:57,140 –> 00:18:00,219 and when the princes of Pharaoh saw her 243 00:18:01,099 –> 00:18:03,640 they praised her to Pharaoh and 244 00:18:06,020 –> 00:18:12,579 The woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house, they never expected that to happen 245 00:18:12,579 –> 00:18:16,900 by the way, if you’re the king of Egypt 246 00:18:17,680 –> 00:18:22,699 You do not need to put up your profile on eHarmony or on Christian Mingle 247 00:18:23,780 –> 00:18:25,859 Why because you have scouts 248 00:18:26,540 –> 00:18:34,920 they’re described here as princes who go all the way around the land looking for suitable candidates to introduce to you as your potential wife and 249 00:18:35,880 –> 00:18:41,599 The scouts are out as they regularly wear and they see this woman who’s just arrived in the city 250 00:18:41,640 –> 00:18:43,099 And apparently she’s here with her brother 251 00:18:43,099 –> 00:18:48,520 and they think Wow we’ve gonna introduce her as a candidate for the king of Egypt and 252 00:18:48,959 –> 00:18:52,760 So they whisk her off the abductor. They they take her off to 253 00:18:53,900 –> 00:18:55,599 the palace of 254 00:18:55,599 –> 00:18:59,119 the king of Egypt the Pharaoh and 255 00:18:59,699 –> 00:19:01,699 I have tried to imagine 256 00:19:02,140 –> 00:19:07,439 the look that must have been exchanged between Abraham and Sarah as 257 00:19:08,160 –> 00:19:10,599 this completely unforeseen event 258 00:19:11,579 –> 00:19:13,239 interrupted 259 00:19:13,239 –> 00:19:15,839 the plan that had always worked for them before 260 00:19:17,079 –> 00:19:24,219 They’d been in and out of many many towns with this rouse and nothing the like this had ever happened, but suddenly 261 00:19:25,359 –> 00:19:27,760 the unforeseen takes place and 262 00:19:29,199 –> 00:19:32,439 I imagine in my mind’s try and picture it 263 00:19:33,439 –> 00:19:39,079 Abraham looking at Sarah, she’s been taking off by this posse of these prince’s 264 00:19:40,660 –> 00:19:43,479 abrams thing you want the world have I done? What do I do now? 265 00:19:45,119 –> 00:19:47,119 And Sarah’s looking at 266 00:19:47,520 –> 00:19:53,300 Abraham, and this is another fine mess. You’ve gotten me into right can you imagine it? 267 00:19:55,000 –> 00:19:57,000 To make matters worse 268 00:19:57,479 –> 00:20:02,520 Pharaoh who believes that abraham is Sarah’s brother starts sending him gifts of course 269 00:20:02,520 –> 00:20:06,599 he’s softening him up to the beginning of the negotiation and 270 00:20:06,839 –> 00:20:10,099 And so we read in verse 16 for Sarah’s sake 271 00:20:10,400 –> 00:20:12,300 Pharaoh dealt well with Abraham 272 00:20:12,300 –> 00:20:17,520 And he had sheep and oxen and male donkeys and male servants and female servants 273 00:20:17,520 –> 00:20:21,859 We’ll pick that up later in the story by the way and female donkies and Camels 274 00:20:22,859 –> 00:20:29,060 Kent Hughes points out that the camel around this time had just been introduced as the latest mode of transport in Egypt 275 00:20:30,199 –> 00:20:32,280 So for camels think Ferrari 276 00:20:33,040 –> 00:20:37,619 two Ferraris outside the tent. I mean this is these are big gifts 277 00:20:38,459 –> 00:20:42,500 Actually, the money is rolling in Abraham became a rich man 278 00:20:43,760 –> 00:20:50,079 through these day after day gifts that are coming rolling in and money being amassed and 279 00:20:50,939 –> 00:20:53,099 Think of his position here is this man? 280 00:20:53,099 –> 00:20:55,800 And he’s outside the palace and he’s growing in wealth 281 00:20:55,819 –> 00:21:01,359 But he’s powerless, and he’s deeply ashamed and he must have been thinking to himself 282 00:21:01,359 –> 00:21:08,459 I’ve got all this money, and it’s rolling in and I’m accumulating all this stuff, but I’m alienated from my wife and 283 00:21:10,020 –> 00:21:13,819 I I’m not in a position to do anything about it. I here’s one man 284 00:21:14,619 –> 00:21:16,619 the others who are with him 285 00:21:16,719 –> 00:21:21,420 How can they storm the palace of the pharaoh of Egypt? It’s impossible 286 00:21:21,979 –> 00:21:27,880 And here’s this man of faith and influence and prayer and spiritual experience, and he finds himself not 287 00:21:28,359 –> 00:21:35,479 Powerless and he’s desperately in need of the grace of God and every Christian husband knows what it is to be their 288 00:21:37,260 –> 00:21:39,260 think about Sarah 289 00:21:39,459 –> 00:21:42,839 There she is in luxury and loathing it 290 00:21:44,319 –> 00:21:46,319 in the palace 291 00:21:46,359 –> 00:21:48,359 and she’s powerless 292 00:21:49,060 –> 00:21:54,160 And she’s vulnerable, and there is no one to protect her 293 00:21:54,160 –> 00:21:57,000 And she’s thinking to herself 294 00:21:57,000 –> 00:22:02,939 I married a man of faith and of influence and of prayer and of spiritual experience 295 00:22:02,939 –> 00:22:05,060 How in the world did I end up in this situation? 296 00:22:07,160 –> 00:22:14,680 When she discovers that she is married to a man who is deeply flawed even though he is a man of faith and 297 00:22:16,060 –> 00:22:18,060 every Christian wife 298 00:22:18,939 –> 00:22:21,760 Knows what it is to find herself there 299 00:22:22,000 –> 00:22:24,000 What happens next? 300 00:22:26,479 –> 00:22:28,479 God steps in 301 00:22:29,479 –> 00:22:31,479 verse 17 302 00:22:31,780 –> 00:22:33,040 but 303 00:22:33,040 –> 00:22:34,640 the Lord 304 00:22:34,640 –> 00:22:36,640 afflicted Pharaoh and 305 00:22:36,859 –> 00:22:41,680 His house with great plagues because of Sarah Abraham’s wife 306 00:22:42,199 –> 00:22:48,099 Is the amazing thing when Abraham failed his wife God protected her 307 00:22:49,060 –> 00:22:51,060 God protected her 308 00:22:51,359 –> 00:22:53,939 Pharaoh calls in Abraham and says to him 309 00:22:54,439 –> 00:22:59,839 What is this that you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 310 00:23:00,280 –> 00:23:03,880 Why did you say she’s my sister so that I took her from my wife? 311 00:23:04,400 –> 00:23:07,260 now then here is your wife take her and 312 00:23:08,160 –> 00:23:09,839 go 313 00:23:09,839 –> 00:23:11,660 friends this was a 314 00:23:11,660 –> 00:23:17,439 Remarkable intervention of God to save the marriage of Abraham and Sarah 315 00:23:18,319 –> 00:23:20,319 Here’s the two of them and they’re separated 316 00:23:21,079 –> 00:23:26,000 There’s no way that Abraham can get to Sarah and there’s no way that Sarah can get to Abraham 317 00:23:26,800 –> 00:23:30,520 they’re both in a position of absolute powerlessness and 318 00:23:31,760 –> 00:23:33,859 God steps in and God delivers 319 00:23:34,079 –> 00:23:40,900 That’s why in the New Testament. It says this at the right time while we were still powerless 320 00:23:42,459 –> 00:23:45,739 Christ died for us 321 00:23:45,739 –> 00:23:50,219 Before we come to the application 322 00:23:50,339 –> 00:23:52,540 Let me just comment very briefly on this 323 00:23:53,800 –> 00:23:57,119 The obvious question that I think comes to my mind 324 00:23:57,119 –> 00:24:03,219 I’m sure it will come to your mind to is the question what actually happened to Sarah while she was in the palace 325 00:24:04,579 –> 00:24:06,579 Was she violated? 326 00:24:07,280 –> 00:24:10,260 Did Pharaoh consummate a union with her? 327 00:24:11,520 –> 00:24:13,520 We are not told 328 00:24:13,959 –> 00:24:20,640 Some scholars say yes in answer to that question because of verse 18 where Pharaoh speaks about 329 00:24:21,099 –> 00:24:23,099 Taking her as his wife 330 00:24:24,479 –> 00:24:28,959 Kent Hughes points out I think very helpfully that in the story of Esther 331 00:24:29,140 –> 00:24:34,739 which has many similarities remember Esther was taken into the court of King has Euras and 332 00:24:35,180 –> 00:24:41,619 In Esther chapter 2 we’re told quite specifically that she was there for a whole year 333 00:24:41,880 –> 00:24:44,380 Before she was actually brought to the king and 334 00:24:45,459 –> 00:24:48,099 Remember we’re talking here about becoming the King’s wife 335 00:24:48,099 –> 00:24:52,839 We’re talking about becoming the wife of Pharaoh that means a wedding 336 00:24:53,099 –> 00:24:56,739 Anyone who has planned a wedding knows it takes a little bit of organizing, right? 337 00:24:56,739 –> 00:25:00,959 and if you’ve got a royal wedding, it takes an awful lot of organizing and 338 00:25:01,739 –> 00:25:06,160 it seems therefore quite likely from the analogy of Esther that 339 00:25:06,160 –> 00:25:12,880 That while Sara was in the palace. She was not yet actually brought to 340 00:25:13,579 –> 00:25:15,199 the King 341 00:25:15,199 –> 00:25:18,300 Pharaoh says that I took her to be my wife 342 00:25:18,839 –> 00:25:23,579 Does not necessarily mean that she became his wife and there’s one other thing that makes me 343 00:25:23,959 –> 00:25:28,260 Convinced in my own mind that God protected Sara from the worst outcomes 344 00:25:28,359 –> 00:25:31,000 That could have happened here and that is this 345 00:25:31,599 –> 00:25:34,140 that when you get to Genesis in chapter 20 346 00:25:34,640 –> 00:25:36,640 To our surprise 347 00:25:37,020 –> 00:25:43,380 Abrium and Sara actually repeat this brother-sister routine one more time. They’ve done it so often before you know 348 00:25:43,380 –> 00:25:47,959 How if you have fallen into a pattern of doing something it is easy 349 00:25:47,979 –> 00:25:52,219 Even when you thought you’ve learned from it to to slide into it one more time again 350 00:25:52,219 –> 00:25:55,680 and that’s exactly what happens in Genesis chapter 20 and 351 00:25:56,540 –> 00:25:58,300 I submit to you 352 00:25:58,300 –> 00:26:02,959 that it is very hard to imagine that Sara would ever have agreed to this or 353 00:26:03,099 –> 00:26:08,520 That Abraham would ever have suggested it if Sara had endured the worst outcomes in Egypt 354 00:26:09,540 –> 00:26:11,540 The fact that they resorted to the old 355 00:26:12,060 –> 00:26:19,199 Deception again then suggests to me very strongly that they were saying as we sometimes are tempted to think 356 00:26:19,859 –> 00:26:24,979 Well, you know, we always got away with this before and even in Egypt, you know, we did actually get out 357 00:26:24,979 –> 00:26:25,380 Okay 358 00:26:25,500 –> 00:26:29,739 And so let’s just go down this path one more time 359 00:26:30,180 –> 00:26:34,400 so I do believe for all these reasons that God protected Sarah and 360 00:26:35,219 –> 00:26:38,459 Abraham from the worst outcome of 361 00:26:39,199 –> 00:26:42,099 their deception now having said that 362 00:26:43,459 –> 00:26:47,500 What happened in Egypt must have placed an 363 00:26:48,819 –> 00:26:52,699 Enormous strain on their marriage. I mean, can you imagine it? 364 00:26:53,300 –> 00:26:57,660 Where do you go as a couple after something like this 365 00:26:57,660 –> 00:27:00,540 Can you imagine the emotional fallout 366 00:27:01,780 –> 00:27:03,780 for these two 367 00:27:04,300 –> 00:27:07,979 after all that had happened in this extraordinary 368 00:27:09,180 –> 00:27:11,180 extraordinary 369 00:27:11,280 –> 00:27:13,280 Circumstance 370 00:27:13,579 –> 00:27:16,540 Sarah you try to put yourself in her shoes 371 00:27:17,540 –> 00:27:21,380 Women what does she feel as she looks at Abraham? 372 00:27:21,739 –> 00:27:23,739 I 373 00:27:26,900 –> 00:27:28,900 trusted you I 374 00:27:29,219 –> 00:27:31,040 followed you I 375 00:27:31,040 –> 00:27:37,880 Looked to you as the godly man and leader and I don’t know how I can ever trust you again 376 00:27:39,579 –> 00:27:41,579 and she discovers 377 00:27:41,979 –> 00:27:48,780 That she is married to a man who is deeply flawed even though he is a man of faith 378 00:27:49,739 –> 00:27:54,199 By the way, there are no men of faith who are not deeply flawed. That’s what we’re learning from the story 379 00:27:56,040 –> 00:27:58,040 Get real 380 00:27:58,760 –> 00:28:05,880 And I picture Abraham so wanting to look his wife in the face and feeling that he can’t quite meet her look her in the 381 00:28:05,880 –> 00:28:07,859 eye and 382 00:28:07,859 –> 00:28:11,500 He’s no longer feeling that he has a right to her respect 383 00:28:12,979 –> 00:28:18,380 He’s losing confidence in his own ability to lead you know that guys 384 00:28:18,819 –> 00:28:20,819 God 385 00:28:21,020 –> 00:28:28,180 Has given him his wife back. Thank you God, but where in the world do we go? 386 00:28:29,180 –> 00:28:31,180 from here 387 00:28:31,739 –> 00:28:34,219 Well as soon as you get into this story you will see that 388 00:28:34,219 –> 00:28:41,979 this is speaking into our lives into the fracturing of our lives and the flaws of our lives in a hundred ways, so 389 00:28:42,699 –> 00:28:44,680 So let me in these last minutes now 390 00:28:44,680 –> 00:28:45,819 Then draw these applications 391 00:28:45,819 –> 00:28:50,760 I want to do it in two ways and then just a brief conclusion at the very end 392 00:28:50,760 –> 00:28:54,520 I want to ask this question. What did faith mean for Sarah and 393 00:28:55,500 –> 00:29:02,300 Especially to speak to all the women here in that regard. Let’s stand in Sarah’s shoes 394 00:29:02,300 –> 00:29:06,260 What did faith mean for her and then what did faith mean for Abraham? 395 00:29:06,839 –> 00:29:10,099 What’s it mean guys for us to stand in his shoes in? 396 00:29:10,300 –> 00:29:13,319 In all of the flaws and in all of the 397 00:29:13,880 –> 00:29:18,260 Fracturing that is ours and then then I just want to set the end to see how this points us 398 00:29:18,380 –> 00:29:21,819 To our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through the eyes of Sarah 399 00:29:22,199 –> 00:29:26,880 Let me put it this way give weight to the mystery of sin 400 00:29:28,400 –> 00:29:30,359 You know that are some pious people 401 00:29:31,540 –> 00:29:38,859 Who find their way into church and there are the sort of folks who get very surprised at stories like this in the Bible 402 00:29:39,079 –> 00:29:42,920 Here’s Abram a man of faith, and and he’s behaving like a fool and falling into sin 403 00:29:42,939 –> 00:29:45,260 I mean, how could that possibly have been and? 404 00:29:45,819 –> 00:29:48,459 then he did the same thing again later a 405 00:29:50,060 –> 00:29:52,339 Man who committed the same sin twice 406 00:29:53,939 –> 00:29:58,280 He’s a the certain pious kind of person who just doesn’t get it 407 00:29:59,660 –> 00:30:05,619 You read scholars who say you know there are two stories of this brother-sister thing with Abraham 408 00:30:05,619 –> 00:30:08,099 So obviously it couldn’t have happened twice what? 409 00:30:08,300 –> 00:30:13,239 What world do these guys living if they think that a guy cannot make the same? 410 00:30:13,239 –> 00:30:16,540 Mistake and fall into the same temptation twice. I mean come on 411 00:30:19,339 –> 00:30:24,020 Give weight to the mystery of sin a pious person doesn’t get it 412 00:30:25,699 –> 00:30:27,699 The mature Christian knows 413 00:30:28,140 –> 00:30:32,479 That the problem of sin runs deep in the human 414 00:30:32,939 –> 00:30:37,160 Personality and it does not go away because of a decision to follow Jesus 415 00:30:38,479 –> 00:30:40,479 Let me give you a definition of Christian marriage 416 00:30:40,920 –> 00:30:42,920 Christian marriage is the 417 00:30:43,280 –> 00:30:44,680 union of 418 00:30:44,680 –> 00:30:48,760 two sinners in the process of recovery 419 00:30:49,880 –> 00:30:51,880 That’s what it is 420 00:30:51,920 –> 00:30:56,599 and ladies if you are not prepared to love a 421 00:30:56,880 –> 00:30:57,979 A 422 00:30:57,979 –> 00:31:03,180 Sinner in the process of recovery. There is no other person for you to love 423 00:31:04,420 –> 00:31:06,420 There is no other category 424 00:31:06,800 –> 00:31:09,540 There is not a man on the face of this earth 425 00:31:09,780 –> 00:31:13,060 Who is not a sinner in the process of recovery? 426 00:31:13,060 –> 00:31:16,459 The only alternative is to be a sinner whose recovery has not yet begun 427 00:31:17,400 –> 00:31:19,400 There is no one else for you to love 428 00:31:20,680 –> 00:31:22,900 So let’s get off this piety 429 00:31:23,939 –> 00:31:25,400 That is 430 00:31:25,400 –> 00:31:27,400 floating around in unreality 431 00:31:29,199 –> 00:31:36,420 Sarah please give weight to the mystery of sin. That’s what’s being taught listen at some point in your marriage 432 00:31:36,819 –> 00:31:43,599 Your spouse be it husband or wife will disappoint you. They will fall short of your expectations 433 00:31:43,599 –> 00:31:50,219 It’s inevitable. I love this book that’s been written about Chrisian marriage, and it’s just called what did you expect? 434 00:31:51,020 –> 00:31:53,020 That is a great title 435 00:31:53,099 –> 00:31:58,280 Because it’s drawing us to the reality of the fact that if you have a lifelong union of two sinners 436 00:31:58,280 –> 00:32:01,979 There are going to be some problems, and there’s gonna have to be a lot of grace 437 00:32:04,119 –> 00:32:06,619 Your children will struggle and 438 00:32:07,400 –> 00:32:12,579 There will not cease to struggle because they have made a decision to follow Jesus 439 00:32:12,599 –> 00:32:14,400 That’s not the end of sin 440 00:32:14,400 –> 00:32:16,319 They will make some bad 441 00:32:16,859 –> 00:32:20,380 And that is why they need a redeemer just like you do 442 00:32:23,040 –> 00:32:26,780 So I’m pleading with you for the good of marriage 443 00:32:28,479 –> 00:32:35,719 Please give weight to the mystery of sin and don’t drift through life with a kind of piety that doesn’t seem even to believe what 444 00:32:35,719 –> 00:32:37,719 the Bible tells you about 445 00:32:39,780 –> 00:32:42,900 Second, look to God for miracles of grace 446 00:32:43,300 –> 00:32:48,579 Here’s Abraham and Sarah and their marriage looks like it is over right there in Egypt 447 00:32:48,579 –> 00:32:52,640 No way for Abraham to get to Sarah, no way for Sarah to get to Abraham 448 00:32:54,160 –> 00:32:56,500 This is a marriage that is over 449 00:32:58,000 –> 00:33:03,839 Except for one thing, God stepped in to deliver them with a miracle of grace 450 00:33:04,640 –> 00:33:06,640 and 451 00:33:06,640 –> 00:33:11,599 Some of you may be in a position, even today, where you say, boy, I’ve got myself in a position 452 00:33:11,599 –> 00:33:15,459 I just don’t know how to fix it. I’ve tried everything. Nothing is working 453 00:33:16,199 –> 00:33:21,339 If you find yourself saying, I’m done, I’m beat, I’m spent. I don’t know what to do. I’ve messed up 454 00:33:21,359 –> 00:33:24,920 I don’t know how to put this right! And you’re at the end of yourself 455 00:33:25,920 –> 00:33:27,920 And you’re in this alienation 456 00:33:28,579 –> 00:33:30,579 and I’m saying to you 457 00:33:31,660 –> 00:33:33,660 Remember there is a living God 458 00:33:34,380 –> 00:33:38,839 He’s able to do what you cannot do. Look to God for miracles of grace 459 00:33:40,599 –> 00:33:43,260 Third, stand firm in the obedience of faith 460 00:33:44,140 –> 00:33:48,939 Now, you know, Sarah lived in a culture that was very very different from ours indeed 461 00:33:49,280 –> 00:33:51,280 but I’ve tried just to, in my own mind 462 00:33:51,739 –> 00:33:57,319 translate this story into our culture today and, and with all of the changes that you’d need to make, what would 463 00:33:57,439 –> 00:34:02,280 what would be the outcome of a story like this if it was played out in our culture today? 464 00:34:02,800 –> 00:34:06,920 And what would Sarah be saying to Abraham in the 21st century? 465 00:34:07,380 –> 00:34:11,899 And I think it would be something like this as they’re coming out of Egypt 466 00:34:12,459 –> 00:34:16,899 Abraham, I am so out of here 467 00:34:17,679 –> 00:34:19,679 We are done 468 00:34:19,860 –> 00:34:22,340 D-O-N-E 469 00:34:22,540 –> 00:34:27,159 and don’t talk to me about going to see a counsellor, I think that’s what she’d say 470 00:34:29,560 –> 00:34:31,600 But that’s not what happens in this story 471 00:34:31,820 –> 00:34:33,459 Look at this miracle of grace verse 20 472 00:34:33,719 –> 00:34:38,379 Sarah walks out of Egypt by Abraham’s side 473 00:34:39,459 –> 00:34:44,280 and presses on in the obedience of faith 474 00:34:46,939 –> 00:34:50,899 And you may say, how in all the world could she have done that 475 00:34:52,379 –> 00:34:53,879 And I’ll tell you how she did that 476 00:34:54,800 –> 00:35:00,439 Sarah was faithful to Abraham because she had faith in God 477 00:35:00,840 –> 00:35:04,179 And she knew that God had promised to bless them 478 00:35:05,179 –> 00:35:09,120 and her faith in the promise of God was what sustained her 479 00:35:09,120 –> 00:35:13,360 and it will be faith in the promise of God that will sustain you 480 00:35:14,260 –> 00:35:18,760 in the most difficult moments of a rocky marriage 481 00:35:20,020 –> 00:35:22,280 And what came out of her faithfulness? 482 00:35:23,879 –> 00:35:26,399 What came out of her faithfulness to Abraham? 483 00:35:26,399 –> 00:35:27,459 Answer 484 00:35:27,459 –> 00:35:28,959 Christ did 485 00:35:29,600 –> 00:35:31,120 Christ came out of this 486 00:35:32,620 –> 00:35:35,360 out of the seed of Abraham and Sarah 487 00:35:35,360 –> 00:35:41,540 that’s the line into which Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world is born 488 00:35:41,540 –> 00:35:43,459 from which he takes his flesh 489 00:35:45,580 –> 00:35:47,879 See, as the two are separated here 490 00:35:47,879 –> 00:35:51,580 the whole promise of God for the redemption of the nations of the world 491 00:35:51,580 –> 00:35:53,679 hangs on them being brought back together 492 00:35:55,179 –> 00:35:58,379 Friends when you’re in a situation where a husband and wife are alienated 493 00:35:58,459 –> 00:36:01,459 There is always more at stake than the interest of two people 494 00:36:01,459 –> 00:36:02,439 Always 495 00:36:03,179 –> 00:36:06,219 Always more at stake than the interest of two people 496 00:36:06,219 –> 00:36:08,699 and nowhere is that seen more clearly than here 497 00:36:08,699 –> 00:36:13,120 Never underestimate what God may do through your faithfulness 498 00:36:13,120 –> 00:36:14,939 and your obedience 499 00:36:14,939 –> 00:36:17,459 and your pressing forward 500 00:36:17,459 –> 00:36:21,540 even when it is difficult in order to honor the Christ 501 00:36:21,540 –> 00:36:24,260 who calls you to faithfulness 502 00:36:24,699 –> 00:36:29,459 And if that is what we learn standing in the shoes of Sarah 503 00:36:29,459 –> 00:36:33,300 Guys, what should we learn especially 504 00:36:33,300 –> 00:36:36,899 Standing in the shoes of Abraham? 505 00:36:36,899 –> 00:36:39,699 Quit deceptions 506 00:36:39,699 –> 00:36:41,679 Quit deceptions 507 00:36:41,679 –> 00:36:48,120 It is so easy to drift through life as evidently Abraham had done 508 00:36:48,120 –> 00:36:53,320 as a man of faith, jusr accommodating this deception 509 00:36:54,320 –> 00:36:57,820 This secret sin 510 00:36:57,820 –> 00:37:01,179 You get away with something and then, though you know it is wrong, 511 00:37:01,179 –> 00:37:04,979 after a while you begin to convince yourself that you’ll get away with it always 512 00:37:04,979 –> 00:37:08,060 and that there’s a reason why you should be able to accommodate it 513 00:37:08,060 –> 00:37:10,300 Nothing much will come of it 514 00:37:10,300 –> 00:37:14,439 I’m telling you something WILL come of it 515 00:37:14,439 –> 00:37:17,520 Every sin has its wages 516 00:37:17,520 –> 00:37:20,639 So quit deception 517 00:37:20,659 –> 00:37:24,120 And if you have a secret sin that you have managed to keep hidden, 518 00:37:24,120 –> 00:37:27,679 I call on you to renounce it today 519 00:37:27,679 –> 00:37:31,360 and be done with it before it brings destruction to YOU 520 00:37:31,360 –> 00:37:38,600 and destruction to the people you love who God has placed around you 521 00:37:38,600 –> 00:37:41,820 And then this, from standing in the shoes of Abraham 522 00:37:41,820 –> 00:37:46,100 Stop thinking about yourself 523 00:37:46,159 –> 00:37:50,580 This was Abraham’s problem, and all guys recognise this with him 524 00:37:50,580 –> 00:37:52,260 he is thinking about himself 525 00:37:52,260 –> 00:37:57,540 Sarah, when they see how beautiful you are, they are going to kill me 526 00:37:57,540 –> 00:38:00,760 So let us just say that you are my sister so that it will go well with me 527 00:38:00,760 –> 00:38:08,020 Abraham, you are so focused on protecting yourself 528 00:38:08,020 –> 00:38:10,840 Me! Me! Me! 529 00:38:10,840 –> 00:38:12,100 All that I have to do 530 00:38:12,100 –> 00:38:15,699 Why do I have to carry this difficulty and this responsibility? 531 00:38:16,080 –> 00:38:20,020 Abraham well you just stop thinking about yourself 532 00:38:20,020 –> 00:38:23,179 and start thinking about your wife 533 00:38:24,260 –> 00:38:29,340 How much pain could have been avoided if he had just done that 534 00:38:29,340 –> 00:38:35,300 How much more pain would be avoided if you would start thinking that way 535 00:38:35,300 –> 00:38:37,780 and doing that today 536 00:38:39,060 –> 00:38:44,479 And then Abraham, as we are applying the lesson from his life to ours 537 00:38:44,479 –> 00:38:47,919 Face your fears with faech 538 00:38:47,919 –> 00:38:49,780 with faith 539 00:38:49,780 –> 00:38:51,659 Guys, you know 540 00:38:51,659 –> 00:38:56,159 We know the stuff that we are made of and fear lies at the bottom of 541 00:38:56,159 –> 00:39:02,100 so many of the disasters that threaten our own lives 542 00:39:02,100 –> 00:39:04,280 and that was clearly the case with Abraham 543 00:39:04,280 –> 00:39:07,320 He’s afraid of what people might do 544 00:39:07,320 –> 00:39:10,780 people killing him and and so forth and so on 545 00:39:11,659 –> 00:39:13,959 Fear of losing face 546 00:39:14,800 –> 00:39:17,580 Fear of not measuring up 547 00:39:18,159 –> 00:39:22,260 fear of what might happen 548 00:39:22,260 –> 00:39:25,080 It’s at the root of so many foolish choices 549 00:39:25,080 –> 00:39:31,580 Would you just tell God today what it is that you are afraid of? 550 00:39:31,580 –> 00:39:35,000 You’ll find there’s a marvelous liberation just to come before God and say 551 00:39:35,000 –> 00:39:38,500 Lord, I’m so afraid of this 552 00:39:38,500 –> 00:39:39,760 losing face 553 00:39:39,760 –> 00:39:42,100 whatever it is 554 00:39:42,139 –> 00:39:44,679 spit it out in prayer 555 00:39:44,679 –> 00:39:45,979 say it to God 556 00:39:45,979 –> 00:39:49,639 and then ask him for his help 557 00:39:49,639 –> 00:39:51,699 Face your fears with faith 558 00:39:51,699 –> 00:39:53,100 Abraham’s known as the man of faith 559 00:39:53,100 –> 00:39:58,699 The problem is, he’s simply not applying this faith that everyone says he has 560 00:39:58,699 –> 00:40:02,860 To the realities of his own situation in which he’s experiencing some fears 561 00:40:02,860 –> 00:40:03,840 Abraham you’ve got to do that 562 00:40:03,840 –> 00:40:07,379 You’ve got to apply your faith to your fears 563 00:40:07,379 –> 00:40:10,780 Every leader has to do this 564 00:40:10,879 –> 00:40:14,179 And then persevere in your calling 565 00:40:14,179 –> 00:40:18,760 because whenever we’ve failed badly the easiest thing in the world is just to give up 566 00:40:18,760 –> 00:40:21,300 You feel like you want to give up on yourself 567 00:40:21,300 –> 00:40:23,139 You feel like you want to give up on God 568 00:40:23,139 –> 00:40:26,379 You feel like you want to just slink off and waste the rest of your life 569 00:40:26,379 –> 00:40:29,879 and Abraham doesn’t do that 570 00:40:29,879 –> 00:40:31,219 God has promised to bless him 571 00:40:31,219 –> 00:40:34,860 and so he steps out in the obedience of faith 572 00:40:34,860 –> 00:40:37,199 and then after all the trials and the traumas of Egypt 573 00:40:37,199 –> 00:40:41,139 he just keeps going 574 00:40:41,139 –> 00:40:42,459 and that’s what you need to do 575 00:40:42,459 –> 00:40:44,139 when you feel your failure 576 00:40:44,139 –> 00:40:48,260 and the mess that you’ve made of your testimony 577 00:40:48,260 –> 00:40:57,040 and the pain that you’ve allowed and brought into the lives of others 578 00:40:57,040 –> 00:41:00,719 And the very last thing is just this 579 00:41:00,719 –> 00:41:04,379 Who’s like Jesus in this story? 580 00:41:04,439 –> 00:41:06,840 I love just to ask that question of any story in the Bible 581 00:41:06,840 –> 00:41:09,439 Who is like Jesus? 582 00:41:09,439 –> 00:41:13,020 You kind of expect that it’s going to be Abraham that’s like Jesus 583 00:41:13,020 –> 00:41:16,939 but Abraham is not like Jesus at all in this story, is he? 584 00:41:16,939 –> 00:41:20,659 Who is like Jesus in this story? 585 00:41:20,659 –> 00:41:22,260 Answer 586 00:41:22,260 –> 00:41:26,899 Sarah is like Jesus in this story 587 00:41:26,899 –> 00:41:29,120 Here’s Sarah, this beautiful, godly woman 588 00:41:29,379 –> 00:41:32,500 And she is the gift to Abraham 589 00:41:34,560 –> 00:41:38,580 And he does not cherish the gift 590 00:41:38,580 –> 00:41:42,600 but he gives her up 591 00:41:42,600 –> 00:41:44,219 And then we read in verse 16 592 00:41:54,600 –> 00:41:56,540 Sarah, the one who should have been honoured 593 00:41:59,739 –> 00:42:02,899 who Abraham had failed so badly 594 00:42:02,899 –> 00:42:07,679 for her sake, for the sake of the given one 595 00:42:07,679 –> 00:42:13,260 the king dealt well with Abraham 596 00:42:13,260 –> 00:42:18,439 And here God sends His Son into the world 597 00:42:18,439 –> 00:42:20,939 and we are given the gift of gifts 598 00:42:20,939 –> 00:42:24,459 and here we are fools who do not realise 599 00:42:24,459 –> 00:42:26,139 the gift that we’ve been given 600 00:42:26,139 –> 00:42:28,620 and instead of cherishing him 601 00:42:28,639 –> 00:42:33,419 when that happens, we give him up 602 00:42:33,419 –> 00:42:35,199 And while Sarah is remarkably 603 00:42:35,199 –> 00:42:37,120 protected by the grace of God 604 00:42:37,120 –> 00:42:39,600 when He is given up He is scourgeed 605 00:42:39,600 –> 00:42:41,120 and He is pierced 606 00:42:41,120 –> 00:42:45,560 and He is violated in the vilest of manners 607 00:42:46,419 –> 00:42:51,639 yet, for His sake 608 00:42:51,639 –> 00:42:58,379 the king treats us well 609 00:42:58,479 –> 00:43:02,679 For His sake, grace comes to 610 00:43:02,679 –> 00:43:08,679 fools and sinners like us 611 00:43:08,679 –> 00:43:10,020 And you may be at a point today 612 00:43:10,020 –> 00:43:15,120 where you feel a complete fool 613 00:43:15,120 –> 00:43:17,159 where your awareness of your own sin 614 00:43:17,159 –> 00:43:19,280 and your own folly and your own failure 615 00:43:19,280 –> 00:43:20,939 and the pain that you’ve brought in 616 00:43:20,939 –> 00:43:25,959 to the life of others is all around you 617 00:43:25,959 –> 00:43:27,600 And I’m saying to today 618 00:43:27,600 –> 00:43:31,419 is that God will deal well with you 619 00:43:31,419 –> 00:43:34,659 for Christ’s sake 620 00:43:34,659 –> 00:43:37,199 And so, however flawed, however fractured 621 00:43:37,199 –> 00:43:39,439 your life is today 622 00:43:39,439 –> 00:43:45,959 Embrace Him. Trust Him. Return to Him. 623 00:43:45,959 –> 00:43:50,459 Love Him. Walk with Him. 624 00:43:50,459 –> 00:43:54,020 He will receive you with grace 625 00:43:54,100 –> 00:43:59,459 And for Christ’s sake, the King Eternal 626 00:43:59,459 –> 00:44:04,760 will deal well with you. 627 00:44:04,760 –> 00:44:13,020 Father, this story is just speaking into our life in a hundred ways 628 00:44:13,020 –> 00:44:19,280 And we pray that in all the ways that it touches each of us individually 629 00:44:19,280 –> 00:44:23,540 it will help us to respond to you with repentance 630 00:44:23,540 –> 00:44:28,959 and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 631 00:44:28,959 –> 00:44:33,379 so that the redeeming grace that goes on throughout a lifetime in us 632 00:44:33,379 –> 00:44:36,699 fractured sinners 633 00:44:36,699 –> 00:44:39,840 may advance in its work 634 00:44:39,840 –> 00:44:42,639 for the good of Your people, for the good of marriages, 635 00:44:42,639 –> 00:44:45,739 for the good of families 636 00:44:45,739 –> 00:44:50,379 and for the sake the name of the Lord Jesus Christ 637 00:44:50,379 –> 00:44:52,939 through whom we pray and everyone together said, Amen.