WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:01.280 Jump into our message this morning. 00:00:01.360 --> 00:00:05.200 Jesus, thank you so much for all that you have for us, for all that you are. 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:07.360 And God, I love you. 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:08.640 We love you. 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:10.240 We want you to speak right now. 00:00:10.400 --> 00:00:11.679 We want to experience you. 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:13.119 We want to feel your presence. 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:14.400 We don't just want to think about you. 00:00:14.480 --> 00:00:18.960 We don't just want to dwell on you, but we actually want to encounter you in this place. 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:24.719 We want to feel you stir our hearts and make us better than when we came. 00:00:25.839 --> 00:00:27.199 Change us from the inside out, Lord. 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:27.839 We trust you with that. 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:29.440 We ask all this in your name, Jesus. 00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:30.320 Amen. 00:00:31.120 --> 00:00:34.000 Well, we are close to wrapping up a series that we've been on for a while. 00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:37.200 I think it's one of the longest-running series that I know I've ever been a part of. 00:00:37.280 --> 00:00:39.200 And it's called By Faith. 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:42.399 We want to be people who live by faith. 00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:47.679 I love when God simplifies things for me because I'm the type of person that needs things simplified. 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:49.039 I really enjoy that. 00:00:49.119 --> 00:00:51.200 And sometimes life can be so complicated. 00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:52.719 There are so many approaches. 00:00:52.880 --> 00:00:59.679 There are so many ways that we can go about living our lives, goals that we can pursue, dreams that we can go after. 00:00:59.840 --> 00:01:00.880 And it can be confusing. 00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:06.400 If you've ever been to a restaurant that has a really large menu, that can be a stressful experience, right? 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:08.640 Because you know they don't cook all of those things well. 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:09.359 There's no way. 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:11.359 There's no way they do all of that really well. 00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:14.640 So when you order, you're nervous because you're like, ah, I probably got the bad one. 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:15.120 I know it. 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:16.400 There's 50 things on the menu. 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:17.519 No one does 50 things well. 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:19.680 It's gotta be, it's gotta be the one I ordered. 00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:21.439 I love it when things are simple. 00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:24.159 And I love that God simplifies life for us so often. 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:25.760 2 Corinthians 5, 7. 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:28.000 It's been the foundation verse for this series. 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:31.840 It's we are called to live by faith and not by sight. 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:36.000 You see, in this verse, God is saying, hey, there's two approaches that you can take in life. 00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:38.079 You can choose to live by sight. 00:01:38.239 --> 00:01:47.359 And if you live by sight, your life will be limited by what you can see, by what you can envision, what you can imagine, and what you can dream up. 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:50.000 We all know that our lives are limited by something. 00:01:50.159 --> 00:01:55.760 And if we live by sight, we are limiting the scope of our lives to what we can see and what we can't see. 00:01:56.640 --> 00:02:01.120 But when we live by faith, our lives become limited by a limitless God. 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:06.319 And so all of a sudden, our lives are no longer limited by what we can see. 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:08.319 We're limited by what God can see. 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:10.400 And is there anything He cannot see? 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:23.199 See, I have to be a person that lives by faith because I just know from experience, I know from experience that I don't dream big enough, I don't think big enough, I often underestimate what God can do. 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:26.800 And I want to live a life like I'm sure many of us do. 00:02:26.879 --> 00:02:27.360 All of us do. 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:29.680 I want to live a life where I see God things happen. 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:32.560 And that happens when we live by faith. 00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:40.400 And so we've been going through Hebrews chapter 11, this chapter in the New Testament, in the book of Hebrews, that gives us this list of amazing men and women who live by faith. 00:02:40.479 --> 00:02:41.439 We want to learn from them. 00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:47.919 We want to follow their example because they give us a blueprint for how to live lives of faith. 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:55.599 The story we're going to look at this morning, it's honestly one of the most challenging and confusing stories in the Bible. 00:02:55.919 --> 00:02:57.599 It's a story that trips many people up. 00:02:57.680 --> 00:03:07.039 It's one that if we look at through the wrong lens, it can make us really question the nature of God and the character of God and what God is really like. 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:17.840 But if we see it from the right angle, if we see it in the right way, we understand how encouraging and how powerful this story is and how much it can strengthen our faith. 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:30.240 So before we jump into this story, because it does bring up these tough questions about the nature of God, I want us as much as possible to get some agreement about the nature of God, about what God is really like. 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:33.759 What does he want his relationship with us to be like? 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:43.520 So I want to start by asking a really simple question, one that I know you can relate to, high school students, grandparents, everyone in the room, you've experienced something that relates to this question. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:44.319 All of us have. 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:45.919 It's simple. 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:49.199 Is it important to you to be known by name? 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:53.599 Do you value being known by name? 00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:57.439 So if you would say, Yes, I I love the theme song of cheers. 00:03:57.520 --> 00:03:58.879 I want to go where someone knows my name. 00:03:59.039 --> 00:03:59.680 I value that. 00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:03.039 Would you just raise your hand if you like to be called by name, if you value that? 00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:03.520 Okay? 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:06.319 If you're someone that says, you know what, I really don't care. 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:07.520 It really doesn't bother me at all. 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:08.400 Would you raise your hand? 00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:10.080 Okay, some of us in the room. 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:14.080 Now, now, those of you that just raised your hand, I'm not, I'm not gonna tell you you're wrong. 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:15.360 Okay, I'm not gonna do that. 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:27.120 This was not a trap, this was not a trick question, you did not take the bait or anything like that, but I do want to explore this just a little bit more because so often in my life I have answered questions and then I've thought about it, and I wish I could go back and answer differently. 00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:28.399 It's called marriage, right? 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:30.399 You do that so often. 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:35.600 Hey, when you ask me that early, oh, okay, yeah, yeah, you know what I'm talking about. 00:04:35.759 --> 00:04:37.759 Or students, it's called being a kid, right? 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:40.000 When your parents ask you questions, wait. 00:04:40.160 --> 00:04:41.360 Just wait before you answer. 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:43.120 Like if they say, Do you think I'm stupid? 00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:44.480 Do not answer that question. 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:47.279 Don't even, there's no right answer to that question. 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:50.160 You just nod your head and kind of like this and see what happens. 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:51.279 That's all you can do. 00:04:51.439 --> 00:04:51.759 Okay? 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:55.759 So I want to explore this a little bit, and then I want to ask that same question again. 00:04:55.920 --> 00:04:58.639 I want to see if any of us changed our minds. 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:03.680 So I want you to imagine a few scenarios and put yourself in these situations. 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:06.720 You've been in these situations before, you don't have to raise your hand or anything like that. 00:05:06.800 --> 00:05:08.079 But let's start with this one. 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:17.680 You meet someone, a mutual friend introduces you to someone, you just talk for a few seconds, you don't see them again for a few months, but when you bump into them, they remembered your name. 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:19.519 Does that impress you? 00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:21.439 Does that make an impression on you? 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:24.879 Does that person gain a few bonus points in your heart? 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:27.279 They remembered your name. 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:30.560 More than likely, you're naturally gonna say, Hey, I kind of like that person. 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:33.920 I don't know them very well, but I know they know me, and I like that. 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:35.279 Or how about this situation? 00:05:35.360 --> 00:05:36.319 It's a little different. 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:39.279 You know someone that should know your name. 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:40.720 They should know your name. 00:05:40.800 --> 00:05:48.399 You have met them so many times, you've engaged in lengthy conversations with them, you know their name, but it becomes clear to you that they don't know yours. 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:50.800 And you know this because they refuse to use a name. 00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:55.759 So they speak in these very general terms like friend, buddy, you, they'll do that. 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:58.959 Hey, you hey, how have you been? 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:00.319 Oh, you're awesome. 00:06:00.560 --> 00:06:02.639 You, you, I like you. 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:05.199 And you know that if you ask them, do you know my name? 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:06.879 They would say, No. 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:15.439 And it would be so awkward and so embarrassing, and so you choose not to ask the obvious question, but you know, you know they don't know your name, and they should. 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:17.360 Does that bother you a little bit? 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:18.720 Does that get under your skin? 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:21.439 Does it make you go, come on, you should know my name? 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:24.079 How about when someone calls you the wrong name? 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:26.160 So my name's Justin. 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:28.000 Is there anyone else in the room named Justin? 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:29.120 Any other Justins? 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:31.360 Raise your hand high if that's the case. 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:32.240 I'm the only one. 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:33.519 Oh, I feel so lonely. 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:34.720 I feel so lonely. 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:37.279 Okay, how about any Jasons? 00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:38.879 Any Jasons in the room? 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:39.519 Boom. 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:40.879 All right, me, how old are you, Jason? 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:41.360 Do you mind? 00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:42.079 37. 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:45.199 37, 31, so you know, I'm younger. 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:48.480 Um, but uh that just means I'm not as wise. 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:50.560 So this has been my experience, Jason. 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:56.639 My name's Justin, and in the 31 years of my life, I have probably been called Jason a thousand times. 00:06:56.800 --> 00:07:00.399 And I know that some of you in here right now are panicking because you have called me Jason recently. 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:01.199 It's okay. 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:02.079 It's okay. 00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:03.759 My name is Justin. 00:07:03.839 --> 00:07:04.480 That is my name. 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:06.160 I get where you made the mistake. 00:07:06.319 --> 00:07:08.639 There's a J, there's an N, there's an S in the middle. 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:09.680 I understand. 00:07:10.399 --> 00:07:11.839 But my name is Justin. 00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:14.160 And so, Jason, have you ever been called Justin? 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:14.959 Has that happened to you? 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:15.839 Yeah, it happens a lot. 00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:17.279 It's just feel bad for us. 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:19.279 It is hard to be named Jason or Justin. 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:21.519 It's the plight of our lives, right? 00:07:21.839 --> 00:07:23.680 And it's funny because that shouldn't bother me. 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:25.040 It shouldn't bother any of us, right? 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:26.160 That's close. 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:29.120 But doesn't it bother you just a little bit? 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:33.040 Do you feel a compulsion to correct people when they call you by the wrong name? 00:07:33.279 --> 00:07:38.079 There's just part of you that wants to go, uh, hey, that's that's not my name. 00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:41.120 Or how many of us say, you know what, I don't care? 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:44.240 Kelly, Karen, if it starts with a ka, I'm happy, right? 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:45.920 I mean, how many of us really feel that way? 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:48.319 Or how about this if your name is just spelled wrong? 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:51.040 And it's even spelled wrong in a place where it doesn't even matter. 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:55.920 You're at some office, they don't know you, they just wrote your name down, and there's a million different ways to spell a lot of names. 00:07:56.079 --> 00:08:02.639 I meet people all the time that will say, Oh, my parents spelled my name differently, and I want to say, I think your parents spelled your name wrong. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:04.800 I think that's what actually happened. 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:12.879 You know, your your mom sent your father to sign the birth certificate and he had no clue, he hadn't paid any attention, and he's like, I think it ends in an I, I'm not sure. 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:15.199 And so you've had that your whole life, right? 00:08:15.519 --> 00:08:27.759 But if you go to some convention and they put name tags out, and your names are already on the name tags, and you pick yours up and you're like, there's a letter in my name that is not supposed to be there, it bothers you just a little bit. 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:31.759 And some of us might just accept it, put it on, and feel ashamed. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:33.360 I'm not this person. 00:08:33.679 --> 00:08:35.600 Some of us might demand a new name tag. 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:37.120 We are not gonna be an imposter. 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:39.120 We're not gonna lie to people, right? 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:47.600 We've all been in situations like that, and how you respond to those situations will definitely inform the answer to that question we just asked. 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:50.480 How many of us value being called by name? 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:51.840 Can I see a show of hands again? 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:53.360 We value being called by name. 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:55.679 Some of you are holding out, like, I don't care. 00:08:55.759 --> 00:09:02.080 And if that's because you have an alias and you don't want us to know your name, just keep that to yourself, okay? 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:03.440 We're okay. 00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:06.240 You know, I love this verse in Isaiah 43. 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:09.840 God says, Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:12.799 I have called you by name. 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:14.159 You're mine. 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:16.960 I've called you by name. 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:20.879 One of my favorite books is How to Win Friends and Influence People. 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:24.240 It was written by Dale Carnegie in the 1930s, and he has this quote in that book. 00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:29.679 He says, A person's name is to that person the sweetest, most important sound in any language. 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:33.039 And if you remember my name, you add to my sense of meaning. 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:35.919 You showed me that I was important enough to remember. 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:37.360 And to remember by name. 00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:42.720 There is something about us, naturally, where we just value being called by name. 00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:43.759 But why? 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:45.200 Why is that? 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:50.159 What is it about us that cares about something so small? 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:53.519 See, I think I think it's because we're made in the image of God. 00:09:53.840 --> 00:09:55.440 Because God cares about that. 00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:59.519 Genesis 1 tells us that God created us and he created us in his image. 00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:01.679 In other words, we're the image-bearers of God. 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:03.120 We're supposed to reflect God. 00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:09.919 Sometimes we are broken mirrors, but we reflect God more than anything else he created. 00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:11.440 That's why we have compassion. 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:14.399 Most creatures on this planet do not have compassion. 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:19.919 If they see another creature suffering, they don't stop and go, oh, I feel bad for that other creature. 00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:23.919 If that creature had food and they were wounded, they'll just take the food and move on, right? 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:25.039 That's the animal kingdom. 00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:26.399 But see, we're not like that. 00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:32.000 We hurt with each other, we cry with each other, we feel pain when other people we love feel pain. 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:38.720 We even feel pain when people halfway across the world that we have never met or will ever meet feel pain because we're compassionate. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:42.960 And we're that way because God is compassionate and we are made in his image. 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:44.320 We reflect God. 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:48.480 I believe that's why we care about being known. 00:10:48.799 --> 00:10:51.840 Because God cares about being known. 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:53.759 See, we're talking about the nature of God. 00:10:53.919 --> 00:11:00.240 We have to understand the nature of God before we look at this story, so we can see it in the right way. 00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:07.120 I had a really interesting conversation a few months ago with a man that had some tough questions for me. 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:11.279 They're like philosophical deep questions, and I am not a philosopher. 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:13.039 And he asked me this question. 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:23.039 I'm sure many of us have thought this or heard this, at least in some way, shape, or form, maybe not worded exactly like this, but he said, Hey, what does God care if we call him Jesus or Zeus or whatever? 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:24.159 What does that matter to God? 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:25.440 I mean, he's God. 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:30.080 Why would he care if we call him by the right name? 00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:32.559 And this was my super deep answer. 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:33.919 I thought about it. 00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:40.000 I said, Well, I guess that it only matters to God if it matters to God. 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:45.759 In other words, God is a person, he has a personality. 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:47.600 He's not a human being, but he's a person. 00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:52.639 He has a personality, and when you have a personality, things are important to you that don't always make sense, even. 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:56.960 It is very important to my wife that I do not speak while brushing my teeth at night. 00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:58.159 That is very important to her. 00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:03.360 If I come in the bedroom and I'm I'm brushing my teeth, I'm like, hey, I was thinking, and she's like, no, stop it. 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:06.240 And I don't know, to me, that's just efficiency, right? 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:09.200 That's just wow, I'm getting through my day and I'm getting it all out. 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:10.559 My head hits the pillow, I'm done. 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:12.559 I don't need to talk anymore. 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:14.399 But it bothers my wife. 00:12:14.559 --> 00:12:16.879 I don't know why, but it does. 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:22.240 It matters to her because she's a person, she has a personality, she values certain things. 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:27.360 But see, it goes deeper than that with God because when when people ask that question, what would it matter to God? 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:29.679 There's an assumption about the nature of God. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:32.960 And the assumption is this that God doesn't really care that much. 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:43.200 I mean, if God's just this big great being who made the world and then left it and said, hey, you guys, I made it, I put you on it, do your thing. 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:48.240 If that's God, yeah, he probably wouldn't care that we know his name. 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:51.039 In fact, he may prefer we not. 00:12:52.320 --> 00:13:06.879 But if God desires relationship with us, if God desires intimate relationship with you and me, then I would imagine it would be important to him that we could call him by name. 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:12.960 Because you cannot have an intimate relationship with someone that you don't even know, you don't even know what their name is. 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:16.720 I mean, I want my wife to know my name. 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:20.960 I want her to know that it's Justin, not Jason. 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:22.799 It's Justin. 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:26.799 That is the man that lives in her house that walks around and makes a mess everywhere he goes. 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:28.720 I want her to know my name. 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:34.320 And if she said, hey, isn't it enough for you that I just acknowledge what you are? 00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:40.399 I just acknowledge that you're a man and you're messy and you're here, I would say, no, that's not enough for me. 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:42.639 I don't want you just to acknowledge what I am. 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:44.080 I want you to know who I am. 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:48.399 I want to be known by you because I desire relationship. 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:50.240 That's how we're wired. 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:53.200 We're wired that way because that's how God is wired. 00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:59.039 He desires to know you and to be known by you. 00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:00.960 And see, this is very important. 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:06.639 It's very important because sometimes we'll we'll have this idea of God, and we'll even see it in scripture sometimes. 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:12.000 In certain stories, in certain contexts, and it it almost looks like God is this God who doesn't care. 00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:14.480 That He's just a God that makes demands. 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:27.759 And sometimes his demands are harsh, and he doesn't seem to care how it would impact us, how it would hurt us, and so he doesn't seem like a God that loves us, wants to know us, be known by us, and live life with us. 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:32.639 He just is a God that wants to be appeased. 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:44.480 Other times we get confused because we look at Jesus and we look at the relationship that he pursued with people, and it's almost like we have two different gods and we try to reconcile that, and it's difficult at times, but it is the same God. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:49.039 The story we're gonna look at today, it's an amazing example of that. 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:53.440 And it's an example of a God that wants to be known by name. 00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:56.559 The Hebrew name for God was Yahweh. 00:14:56.879 --> 00:15:07.360 We may have heard that before, and oftentimes they would they would add a name at the end of Yahweh that would almost be like a nickname, it would be a descriptor of God, it would define his character a little bit more. 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:09.919 So we might do that in our lives. 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:13.279 We might have we might have nicknames that reflect something about our personality. 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:17.519 It's why everyone here in the office calls me Justin the problem solver. 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:19.759 And just so you know, no one calls me that. 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:22.080 But I would really like them to, okay? 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:25.279 I would like, I've had some nicknames in the past that I did not appreciate. 00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:28.240 They highlighted things about me I did not want highlighted. 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:33.039 So if we could just get that going, Justin, the problem solver, I like the ring of that. 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:35.279 I'd like to define my own nickname for once in my life. 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:36.799 So so use that. 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:39.919 Start, put it on Facebook, say Justin, the problem solver, it'll catch on. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:41.360 I'll finally have a nickname I like. 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:46.000 Most of the nicknames I had growing up were uh related to how much I talk and that I talk too much. 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:50.159 Uh one of my friends just joked with me that if he could create a nickname for me, it would be the loser. 00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:51.919 And what he meant was, didn't that mean? 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:53.759 It was Bill Thrasher, jerk. 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:58.720 Uh and then he was like, no, no, no, not that you're like a loser. 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:00.240 You lose things all the time. 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:01.279 And I do. 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:05.360 In fact, I haven't had a wallet for three weeks, and that's not a joke. 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:06.480 I lost it. 00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:07.279 It's gone. 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:09.279 I gotta get a new driver's license. 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:11.519 I am justin' the loser. 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:15.360 We're gonna change that to the problem solver, okay? 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:16.960 Just for me, please. 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:24.879 So they would do this thing with God where they would add words at the end of Yahweh, and these words would would further illustrate what God is really like. 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:26.879 And there's some really cool ones in the Old Testament. 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:31.360 One was Yahweh Rophike, and it was the God who heals. 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:34.720 That was Hebrew for the God who heals. 00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:38.320 Think about living in a time when there is no medicine. 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:41.919 And if you're sick, you have you have one hope. 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:43.919 And that is the God who heals. 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:45.279 That is Yahweh Rufike. 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:49.120 They also called him Yahweh Elion, which meant God most high. 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:53.039 Because they lived in a time where there were all these other gods people were talking about. 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:56.879 And they were little gods, and literally they were little, they were like made out of wood and stone. 00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:59.519 And people would carry them and be like, hey, I've got my God in my pocket. 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:02.639 And if your God can fit in your pocket, you need a different God. 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:03.120 Okay? 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:06.400 I don't want to be like, is that God or is that Pez? 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:07.599 I don't know which of the two it is. 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:12.400 Like, I want I want I want a big God in my life. 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:16.559 And so they said, no, no, our God is Yahweh Elion. 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:18.400 He is the God most high. 00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:21.440 There is nothing greater than our God. 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:25.759 There's another name that we're gonna become really familiar with today. 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:31.759 And it's one that I actually want us to become comfortable using in our own relationship with God. 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:34.160 And it's Yahweh. 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:35.759 It's so good. 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:36.160 I love this. 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:37.680 Yahweh Yere. 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:39.680 It kind of has a ring to it. 00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:41.200 Yahweh Yere. 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:43.119 In fact, would you mind saying that really quickly? 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:44.079 Yahweh Yere. 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:44.720 Say it with me. 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:45.920 Yahweh Yere. 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:51.839 Okay, we're gonna say that later, but I'm I know it's gonna have more emphasis, not because you did it wrong, but because we're gonna know what it means. 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:54.480 So Yahweh Yere. 00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:58.160 It means the God who provides. 00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:01.680 My God, my provider. 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:10.720 And the origin of this name just so happens to be a story that, if looked at the wrong way, paints God as anything but Yahweh Yereh. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:12.400 But I want us to look at that right now. 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:14.880 It's it's Hebrews 11, 17. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:20.640 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:30.960 Abraham, who had received God's promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted. 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:34.960 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:39.440 And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead. 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:42.079 If you're familiar with this story, it's a tough one. 00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:50.960 God promises Abraham a son in his old age, and a son who is going to end up becoming a great nation. 00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:58.000 His descendants will become this mighty nation that the whole world will be blessed through because Jesus is going to come through that nation. 00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:10.400 But then, after God fulfills the promise, years later, God says to Abraham, I want you to take your son up a mountain and offer him as a sacrifice. 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:13.680 And at that time, they would make sacrifices to God. 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:15.440 It was like their version of giving. 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:17.359 They didn't have money. 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:19.759 They offered animals. 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:20.960 That was almost their currency. 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:22.000 And so they would offer sheep. 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:25.200 They would sacrifice those as burnt offerings to God. 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:29.200 But God says, I want you to do that with your son, and that's confusing. 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:31.599 Because what kind of a God would ask that, right? 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:37.279 That does not sound like Yahweh Yere, the God who provides. 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:43.359 That sounds like whatever it would be that would mean the God who takes what's most precious. 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:46.559 See, God loves kids. 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:50.000 He's passionate about children. 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:55.119 In fact, one of the most strong things Jesus ever said is a severe warning. 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:57.519 Jesus said this in Matthew chapter 18, verse 5 and 6. 00:19:57.680 --> 00:20:01.200 Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:13.039 But if you cause one of these little ones who trust in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:16.000 And that is a very clear picture that Jesus paints. 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:20.240 There is no room for interpretation there. 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:23.680 So it's bad to mess with kids and to hurt kids. 00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:26.720 Yes, God is so passionate about children. 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:29.519 So what is going on? 00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:31.519 What is happening in this story? 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:40.240 How is this story an example in the origin of the name Yahweh Yereh, the God who provides? 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:43.759 I want us to look at the actual story that it's referencing in Genesis. 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:47.359 But as we read this, I want you to understand something very, very much. 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:49.119 Abraham knows God. 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:51.440 I mean, Abraham knows God. 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:54.640 And you might have had someone in your life that you know really, really well. 00:20:54.720 --> 00:21:00.720 And they may ask you to do something that seems out of character, and if anyone else asked you to do it, you would be like, no, you're crazy. 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:02.000 But you know this person. 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:09.359 And you know them so well that you know there has to be a legitimate reason they're asking this, and you trust them, and so you go along with it for whatever, whatever reason. 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:11.279 We've all been in certain situations like that. 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:15.279 Abraham knows God so intimately, he knows. 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:18.240 He knows that he's coming back with his son. 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:21.359 He knows that he is not going to lose Isaac. 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:22.319 He knows it. 00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:25.279 And so as we read this, I want you to understand that. 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:28.400 Genesis 22 is this story. 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:31.759 Sometime later, God tested Abraham's faith. 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:33.839 Abraham, God called. 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:36.400 Yes, he replied, Here I am. 00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:38.960 I want you to notice that there's a period after here I am. 00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:39.680 Just a statement. 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.720 Yes, here I am. 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:42.720 We'll get to that in a minute. 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:48.480 Take your son, your only son, yes, Isaac, whom you love so much, and go to the land of Moriah. 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:53.039 Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you. 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:55.599 The next morning, Abraham got up early. 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:56.720 That's crazy. 00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:58.480 He didn't even delay that. 00:21:58.720 --> 00:21:59.519 He got up early. 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:02.079 He saddled his donkey. 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:04.720 He took two of his servants with him along with his son Isaac. 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:07.839 And he chopped wood for fire, for a burnt offering. 00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:09.519 He set out for the place God had told him about. 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:13.759 On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and he saw the place in the distance. 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:18.400