WEBVTT 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:12.480 This sermon was recorded at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:40.719 Our story begins with a very old man, a man who had spent his years blazing his own trail through life. 00:00:41.520 --> 00:00:44.000 He accomplished it quite successfully. 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:47.520 So successfully that he'd become quite wealthy. 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:51.039 But along the way, he angered people. 00:00:51.679 --> 00:00:55.520 He burned every bridge that was possible to be burned. 00:00:56.399 --> 00:00:58.560 He lived as a hypocrite. 00:00:58.960 --> 00:01:04.239 We could probably accurately call him a trickster or maybe even a master manipulator. 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:17.200 Late in life, filled with grief and loss, death by starvation seemed possible and near. 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:26.640 As we hear the story of this man's life, we are left to wonder how this particular life could ever turn out for good. 00:01:28.400 --> 00:01:37.200 It would make perfect sense if this man was left alone, all alone, to die alone because of the way he had treated people throughout his life. 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:44.159 It would be a tragedy, but it would be a tragedy brought on by his own decisions. 00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:49.120 But that's not at all the way this story ends. 00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:51.040 Not at all. 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:58.400 This man was once named Jacob, but that's no longer his name. 00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:09.120 He is Abraham's grandson, Isaac's son, whom God met one night by a stream of water. 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:14.080 And near that stream of water, God and Jacob wrestled during the night. 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:15.360 That was ironic. 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:30.319 Because Jacob had spent his life wrestling, wrestling with people, figuratively, wrestling with life itself in order to manipulate everything to his own benefit. 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:36.319 He even tried to do that with the angel of God that dark night. 00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:42.879 But that night, God claimed ownership of that scoundrel of a man. 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:45.280 He changed his name. 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:51.039 Changing someone's name was a sign of authority or ownership over a person. 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:58.319 And before that night of wrestling with God ended, Jacob demanded a blessing from the angel of the Lord. 00:02:58.400 --> 00:03:01.360 And the blessing he received was a name change. 00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:08.719 No longer would this scoundrel be named Jacob, but he would be called Israel. 00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:14.240 No longer would he connive his way through life, but he would belong to God. 00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:27.599 This morning we are embarking on a four-week path of seeing through the scriptures how God unveiled his Redeemer, his promised Redeemer. 00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:32.000 And our primary text for this morning is Genesis chapter 48. 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:38.719 There, Israel, Abraham's grandson, is an old man. 00:03:39.520 --> 00:03:44.479 He's on his deathbed, giving his final blessing to his children. 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:56.400 And as part of the blessing, he has formally adopted two of his grandchildren, the sons of Joseph, his son, who would take their place alongside Jacob's biological children. 00:03:56.800 --> 00:04:04.879 And in his blessing of these two grandsons turned sons, Jacob invoked the help of God. 00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:35.040 He said in chapter 48 of Genesis and verse 15, the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil blessed the boys, and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. 00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:38.079 There's much to Israel's statement there. 00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:47.920 There's a wealth of detail about his faith, about his trust in God, but we're going to have to be satisfied this morning with just a simple summary. 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:51.680 This is very near the end of his life. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:05:07.040 So at the end of 147 years of life, this conniving scoundrel of a man has finally humbly recognized the hand of God in his life, submitting to him as his shepherd. 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:29.199 The same God who called Abraham to leave his family and to go out to an unknown land, all in faith, the same God who passed on those promises given to Abraham to his son Isaac is the same God whom Israel knows has been his shepherd all the days of his life. 00:05:30.240 --> 00:05:34.879 Even when he didn't think or know that he was there, he believes that he was. 00:05:36.959 --> 00:05:47.279 Then he humbly asks that the same blessing that's been passed on from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob would now be passed on to Joseph's sons, adopted as his own. 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:58.319 But before that, really kind of couched in the middle of this is this intriguing statement the angel who has redeemed me from all evil. 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:01.519 Who is this angel? 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:06.480 Well, we have some hints throughout the later chapters of Genesis. 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:10.639 For example, back in chapter 31, Jacob had a dream. 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:13.439 And he related that dream to his wives. 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:23.279 And he said in Genesis 31, verse 11, the angel of God said to me in the dream, and a little bit later he says in verse 13, here I am. 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:28.480 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:31.839 Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred. 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:36.240 Very similar to the command given to Abraham many, many years earlier. 00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:41.360 But what's interesting here is in this dream there's this angel of God that speaks to him. 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:44.959 And then he immediately identifies himself. 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:47.360 I am the God of Bethel. 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:51.519 Did you know that God could appear as an angel? 00:06:52.319 --> 00:06:59.199 It says it very clearly right there that in this dream, the angel is the God of Bethel. 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:02.800 Now, that parallels what we see here in chapter 48. 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:08.399 This is the God before whom his fathers walked, the God who has been his shepherd, this is the angel who has redeemed him. 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:11.120 They are all couched together. 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:31.120 Interestingly, after that dream in chapter 31, where the God of Bethel speaks to him as an angel, Jacob finds himself wrestling with a man in the middle of the night. 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:34.879 A man who identifies himself as God. 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:37.920 As God in the flesh. 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:42.240 And whom Jacob even identifies as God. 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:45.439 That's why he called the place Peniel, the face of God. 00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:48.240 I have seen the face of God and survived. 00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:53.040 And now in chapter 48, Jacob praises that angel. 00:07:53.279 --> 00:08:00.959 This angel is God himself who took on a form of an angel and took on the form of a human being at different points in Jacob's life. 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:09.279 And it is that angel who is clearly identified as God himself, whom Israel now worships on his deathbed. 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:16.639 This is the one, Jacob said, who has redeemed him from all evil. 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:22.240 Redemption is a hard word to describe in our times. 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:25.920 It's hard, I think, because we don't use that term in everyday language. 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:30.319 Probably the most common way we use it is redeeming a coupon, right? 00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:34.480 Or redeeming a gift certificate or something like that. 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:47.600 But we need to be able to think clearly about redemption as we watch God unveiling his redeemer through the pages of Scripture. 00:08:47.919 --> 00:08:56.000 Now, Redeemer and redemption is a very common biblical theme, and in fact, it's foundational to our salvation. 00:08:56.240 --> 00:09:04.000 The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 7, speaking of Jesus, he said, In him we have redemption. 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:09.759 And that redemption comes through the shedding of his blood that provides the forgiveness of our sins. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:15.679 There's a concept here of exchange. 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:18.240 Exchanging one thing for another. 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:28.879 So Christ gave his blood, he gave his life so that we might be redeemed, we might be rescued. 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:34.320 The same truth occurs in Scripture in other ways, non-spiritual ways. 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:44.480 For example, in the book of Ruth, Ruth's mother-in-law, Naomi, and her husband, left the land of Israel to find food in another country because there was a famine. 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:46.960 In doing that, they had to sell off their land. 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:49.600 They sell off their inherited land. 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:51.679 It didn't belong to them anymore. 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:55.200 So when Naomi and Ruth went back, they didn't have a place to go to. 00:09:55.440 --> 00:09:56.879 What does Boaz do? 00:09:57.120 --> 00:10:04.000 Boaz comes along as a relative redeemer and says, I'm going to buy that property back for the family. 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:07.840 I'm going to exchange money in return for the property. 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:09.600 I'm going to redeem it. 00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:16.399 Sometimes, though, the idea of exchange is absent. 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:27.440 And in its place, we simply have this image of power or of strength of a person reaching out to rescue someone. 00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:37.200 That's what God is meaning in Exodus chapter 6, verse 6, when he's speaking to the whole nation of Israel that had been in slavery in Egypt for 400 years. 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:43.759 He says to them, I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 00:10:44.559 --> 00:10:46.480 There's no exchange there. 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:50.159 God's just saying to Israel, I'm going to do it. 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:52.559 And everybody else better watch out. 00:10:53.120 --> 00:10:57.360 It's my strong hand, it's my greatness that will do this. 00:10:58.080 --> 00:11:07.039 But regardless of what the details are in redemption, there is one constant in the biblical theme of redemption. 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:12.320 There's one thing that is the same all the way through every page of scripture when you see redemption. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:18.639 There is always a person redeeming. 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:26.639 There is always someone initiating or carrying out the redeeming act. 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:28.399 There is a person involved. 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:36.879 And that's going to be our focus throughout this holiday season: to move toward a clearer biblical understanding of God's promised redeemer. 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:45.519 The first step is to work towards a fuller grasp of this angel, this redeeming angel. 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:53.360 And we don't have time, unfortunately, this morning to work through a detailed theology of redemption or theology of the angel of the Lord. 00:11:53.440 --> 00:12:04.240 Instead, I want to point out three specific elements of the theme of redemption and see how they tie into this statement that Israel made. 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:15.919 Now, the very first element of redemption that I think we need to notice that Israel makes very clear in this statement is that God himself is the ultimate redeemer. 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:19.200 That's how he starts his statement three times. 00:12:19.440 --> 00:12:25.919 The God before whom my fathers walked, the God who's been my shepherd, the angel who has redeemed, this is the God who's done it. 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:30.320 But to illustrate this, I'd like you to turn with me to Isaiah 44. 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:33.440 It's a longer passage, so it's harder to put on the screen. 00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:37.360 So if you if you want to follow along, you can just look at Isaiah 44. 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:48.639 Beginning in verse 6, the speaker identifies himself. 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:52.559 Thus says Yahweh, the king of Israel. 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:55.440 So God is speaking. 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:58.960 He's speaking through the prophet Isaiah. 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:06.159 And as we go on from verse 6 all the way to the end of the chapter, God is telling his people about himself. 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:16.879 Telling his people, this is who I am. 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:22.080 Reminding his people, you need to understand who your God is. 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:23.919 So how does he describe himself? 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:28.799 Well, in verse 6, he shows us that he is the commander of all hosts. 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:30.559 He is Yahweh of hosts. 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:34.879 It doesn't matter where the army comes from, it doesn't matter who composes the army. 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:44.639 God is Lord, He is God of hosts. 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:49.120 He commands every single host there is. 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:53.600 Then he says, I am the first and I am the last. 00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:56.320 Besides me, there is no God. 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:01.679 Unequivocally, he says, There is no one like me. 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:06.159 Any other so-called God cannot and does not compare. 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:09.600 He is unparalleled in his uniqueness. 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:12.960 Being the first and the last means he has no beginning and no end. 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:14.320 He is eternal. 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:16.240 Verse 7, who is like me? 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:17.120 Let him proclaim it. 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:19.679 Let him declare and set it up before me. 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:24.559 Let them declare what is to come and what will happen, because God knows it. 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:28.240 He is omniscient, he knows all things. 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:37.039 In case there was any confusion in verse 8, he says, listen, is there a God besides me? 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:39.360 There is no rock. 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:42.000 I know not any. 00:14:43.519 --> 00:15:02.159 Then he goes on in verse 9 through verse 20 of Isaiah 44 to talk about idolatry, about the things that ancient peoples would craft out of wood or of stone or of precious metals, perceiving some sort of deity in their work. 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:03.679 And they would begin to worship that. 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:08.080 And God says, listen, they're just there's worth they're worthless. 00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:13.600 No man-made object can compare with this Yahweh of hosts, who is the king of Israel. 00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:16.720 Even more, verse 21. 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:20.080 He is the one who forms people. 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:23.759 He forms people. 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:26.559 Verse 22, he forgives sin. 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:31.600 Verse 24, he's the creator. 00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:33.759 I formed you from the womb. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:40.240 I am the Lord who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself. 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:41.360 You get that emphasis? 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:42.720 Alone, by myself. 00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:47.039 There was no one around when God stretched out the heavens and created all that is. 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:49.600 There's no one who compares with him. 00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:53.840 And he is so great and so awesome that he can do all of these things. 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:58.080 Verse 25, he's present in the affairs of human beings. 00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:01.039 Verse 27, he controls creation. 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:02.799 He dries up rivers. 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:14.320 Verse 28, he speaks of King Cyrus, telling us that God himself directs international affairs and international individuals to accomplish his purpose. 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:18.159 This is a God who is sovereign over all things. 00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:21.679 He is in sovereign control and has ultimate authority. 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:24.879 But go back to verse 6 and look again at who this God is. 00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:29.440 This is Yahweh, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer. 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:31.919 And his Redeemer. 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:35.600 Verse 21. 00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:42.080 Remember these things, O Jacob and O Israel, for you are my servant. 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:44.080 I formed you. 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:46.159 I have redeemed you. 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:47.759 Verse 22. 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:54.000 Verse 23, for Yahweh has redeemed Jacob and will be glorified in Israel. 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:57.519 Verse 24, thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer. 00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:08.559 These statements about the greatness of God are surrounded by statements of God's redemption. 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:11.839 He is the Redeemer. 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:25.519 In the context of ultimate authority and sovereign power as the creator, God says, I am ultimate, I am sovereign, I am powerful, but I am your redeemer. 00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:27.839 I am your redeemer. 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:35.440 Imagine needing a deliverer of desperately requiring rescue. 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:43.440 You have no way to help yourself, and you need someone to step in and act on your behalf. 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:48.400 Who else would you want as your redeemer? 00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:58.160 Who else, other than the one who is in ultimate control and exercises ultimate power? 00:17:58.559 --> 00:18:00.319 Who else would you want? 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:05.279 This is what God wanted Israel to know during the time of Isaiah. 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:13.680 They needed to remember that God Himself was their ultimate Redeemer because this is during a time period of relative peace and prosperity. 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:16.559 And what happens during peace and prosperity? 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:18.319 Well, we get comfortable, right? 00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:25.039 We get comfortable and pretty soon we're thinking about how good we have it and what we've been able to accomplish and what we've been able to do in life. 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:29.920 And pretty soon we're trusting in our things and we're trusting in who we are instead of trusting in the Redeemer. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:32.400 That's exactly what Israel was doing. 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:36.400 Their hearts were not looking to their Redeemer, they were looking away. 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:45.519 So God spoke these things to Isaiah during that time, when a time where people needed to remember that redemption was from God and from no one else. 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:53.920 That's why he said a little bit earlier in chapter 43, verse 11, I, I am Yahweh, and besides me there is no Savior. 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:55.119 None. 00:18:57.920 --> 00:19:01.920 Now you might find yourself in a similar situation this morning. 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:12.160 Your life may be mostly peaceful and prosperous, but you're not loving Christ with all of your heart. 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:19.920 Perhaps you are reluctant to take up your cross and follow Jesus because of what it might cost you. 00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:23.680 Well, take this reminder to heart. 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:27.279 Peacefulness can be lost. 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:32.319 In a moment, prosperity can be snatched away. 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:39.680 Where will you be then if this God is not your redeemer? 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:46.240 Maybe you've made no secret of your lack of belief in God. 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:52.079 Perhaps you've failed to honor Him and worship Him as He demands. 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:58.720 Maybe even what Isaiah says in chapter 43, verse 24, it describes you. 00:19:59.119 --> 00:20:03.839 God says to his people, you have burdened me with your sins and you have wearied me with your iniquities. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:05.599 Imagine God saying that about you. 00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:07.759 Maybe that's you. 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:15.440 If that is you, then take the message of chapter 43, verse 25, to heart. 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:22.960 Where God says, I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for the sake of my name. 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:25.680 I will not remember your sins. 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:34.000 Take this message to heart and trust in him as the ultimate redeemer of your sins. 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:41.680 Jacob, Israel, clearly trusted in God as the ultimate redeemer of his sins. 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:47.680 And if God can redeem that scoundrel, then he's got you too. 00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:50.400 He's got you too. 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:57.119 Second element of redemption that we need to note is highlighted in the Psalms, in Psalm 130. 00:20:57.440 --> 00:21:00.799 God is not stingy with his redemption. 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:05.599 During this season, we are often reminded of Dr. 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:07.680 Seuss's character, the Grinch, right? 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:10.000 The Grinch who stole Christmas. 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:12.640 I had to play that character in grade school. 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:21.920 I don't know why they chose me, but the ultimate redeemer is not stingy. 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:28.640 He does not arbitrarily hold back his good and gracious gifts. 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:30.720 No, what does the psalmist say? 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:41.359 He says, Oh Israel, hope in Yahweh, for with Yahweh there is steadfast love, and with him is plenteous or plentiful redemption. 00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:46.240 Not just a little, not just enough. 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:51.839 Not enough for some, but lacking for others. 00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:59.599 God's redemption doesn't just scratch the surface, it's abundant, it's overflowing. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:09.119 This is what Israel meant when on his deathbed he praised God with the words, He has redeemed me from all evil. 00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:15.119 Let me tell you, if you read the life of Jacob, there's a lot of evil. 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:22.319 He wanted his people to know, God has redeemed me from all of it. 00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:24.799 Not just a little bit, but all of it. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:29.440 In his commentary on the book of Psalms, John Calvin wrote this. 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:50.880 He describes this redemption as plenteous, so that the faithful, even when reduced to their very last extremity, may sustain themselves, may encourage themselves from the consideration that there are in the hand of God many and incredible means by which to save them. 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:59.920 If I can be so bold as to rephrase John Calvin, God's got you. 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:12.400 Doesn't matter how lost you are, it doesn't matter how mired in your sin you are, God's redemption is plentiful. 00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:19.920 And he has ways to rescue and redeem. 00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:28.319 The command to hope in him makes sense now, doesn't it? 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:35.440 It makes sense why Israel would trust in God as his redeemer on his deathbed. 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:44.880 Why would we not hope in the one who is abundant in his redeeming work and is gracious and merciful to pour out that redemption? 00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:57.279 If you are resisting, believing in him and hoping in him, it's because of your own pride and your own arrogance and resistance, not in his strength or his ability to redeem you. 00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:03.599 You remember Job, right? 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:14.480 In the throne room of heaven, Satan and his minions asked God to let them at Job. 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:21.519 See, they saw Job as being protected by the sovereign hand of God, and they said, Take away that protection, God, and Job will curse you. 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:23.279 He'll turn his back on you and walk away. 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:24.480 So let us add him. 00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:29.680 And it seems as though they were right at times. 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:35.440 Listen to Job's own words in Job 16, beginning in verse 7. 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:40.559 Surely now God has worn me out. 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:43.920 He has made desolate all my company. 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:46.559 God has shriveled me up. 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:48.720 It's a witness against me. 00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:52.000 Verse 9, He has torn me in His wrath. 00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:53.119 He has hated me. 00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:55.599 God has gnashed His teeth at me. 00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:00.559 Verse 11, God gives me up to the ungodly. 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:03.039 God casts me into the hands of the wicked. 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:06.160 I was at ease, but God broke me apart. 00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:09.359 God seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces. 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:11.519 He has set me up as his target. 00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:13.200 His archers surround me. 00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:16.000 He slashes open my kidneys and does not spare. 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:18.240 He pours out all my gall on the ground. 00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:21.119 He breaks breaks me with a breach upon breach. 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:23.680 He runs upon me like a warrior. 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:27.039 That's Job. 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:38.880 From his perspective, it seems, that God was not one who was full of plentiful redemption, but a God who crushes. 00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:49.759 That's why we would say in chapter 17, verse 1, My spirit is broken, my days are extinct, the graveyard is ready for me. 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:52.559 Talk about hopeless. 00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:57.759 He says later in chapter 17, verse 15, where then is my hope? 00:25:58.559 --> 00:26:00.480 Who will see my hope? 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:06.240 Chapter 19 shows Job's frustration. 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:10.960 For all he knows, God has turned against him. 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:15.440 His family has abandoned him, his closest friends abhor him. 00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:20.400 Now remember, Job doesn't know anything about what happened in the throne room of heaven at the beginning of the book. 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:25.839 He doesn't know that Satan has asked permission to crush him, and God has said, yes, go ahead. 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:30.319 All he knows is he didn't do anything to deserve this. 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:35.039 So he's crying out to God, saying, God, what's going on here? 00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:44.319 From what we see to this point, Job might laugh at God's redemption being plentiful. 00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:50.640 But if you don't know anything about Job, you need to know this about him. 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:55.119 There is far more to him than it appears on the surface. 00:26:56.400 --> 00:27:08.000 When everything in his life screams the opposite, he says in chapter 19, verse 25, for I know that my Redeemer lives. 00:27:09.920 --> 00:27:12.799 I know that my Redeemer lives. 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:16.400 And at last he will stand upon the earth. 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:19.599 Here Job teaches us much about redemption. 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:25.440 And I think we can state it like this: God is the personal redeemer. 00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:27.519 He is the personal redeemer. 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:29.119 And we see that in a couple of ways. 00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:33.119 First, God is the personal redeemer in his redeeming activity. 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:35.039 In his redeeming activity. 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:44.079 When God moves to bless out of his abundant redemption, it is personal. 00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:46.640 Now sometimes it's greater in scope than that. 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:50.559 Sometimes he pours out his redemption on the whole nation of Israel. 00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:53.200 But he's not limited to that. 00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:57.519 He's not just limited in a way that it's overarching and it's general. 00:27:57.680 --> 00:28:01.680 No, he can be very specific and give his redemption specifically. 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:05.200 His redeeming activity can be focused and personal. 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:09.920 Israel on his deathbed would say it like this: He has redeemed me. 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:11.920 Me. 00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:17.920 Job says, I know that my redeemer lives. 00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:19.759 That's personal. 00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:25.839 He points to a relationship that exists by which God acts on Job's behalf. 00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:28.400 God is his redeemer. 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:35.279 Job knows and trusts that God is interested in him as an individual. 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:37.440 How amazing is that? 00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:39.759 Really, how amazing is that? 00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:45.279 Job is able to view God's redemption in light of eternity. 00:28:47.119 --> 00:28:49.359 For all Job knew he was going to die. 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:53.440 All of his suffering was leading right to death's doorway. 00:28:53.599 --> 00:28:57.039 But somehow, in some way, he knew that God would redeem him. 00:28:58.400 --> 00:29:06.880 Let me tell you, suffering, suffering can drive us away from God if our focus is on ourselves. 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:16.880 But suffering with our eyes on God will enable us to see that He cares for us in a personal way. 00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:32.960 Job had enough trust and eternal sight to know that God was his redeemer, even though he goes on to say, My skin is being destroyed, my flesh is rotting away, but I know that I shall see my God. 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:43.119 Secondly, notice that God is a personal redeemer through his redeeming presence. 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:46.160 His redeeming presence. 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:56.400 Job expresses hope here in a living redeemer who will live even when Job dies. 00:29:58.640 --> 00:30:00.079 Job expects to die. 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:01.759 He knows he's going to die. 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:08.000 But he knows that even when his skin has been destroyed, I shall see God. 00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:10.079 God will still be living, he will still be there. 00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:12.160 Death does not impact this God. 00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:18.319 Neither suffering nor death can separate the true believer from the redeeming presence of God. 00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:21.519 Never forget that, child of God. 00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:28.559 Neither suffering nor death can separate the true believer from the redeeming presence of God, and Job knows it. 00:30:29.359 --> 00:30:31.920 Deep down inside, he knows it. 00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:43.519 And that's implied when Israel on his deathbed praised God as the redeemer who was his shepherd all of his long life. 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:46.000 Through all the ups and downs. 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:52.559 Job knew, and Job trusted, that God was present in his suffering. 00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:56.319 And God would be present after his death. 00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:59.359 Do not doubt this truth. 00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:04.079 The one who trusts in the redeeming God will see him personally. 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:10.319 The one who trusts in the redeeming God will see him personally. 00:31:12.880 --> 00:31:18.400 After my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God. 00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:26.880 If you haven't read the book of Job, at the end of the book, God steps in and intervenes. 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:33.519 He speaks to Job in chapter 42, verse 7. 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:36.079 We have an interesting statement here. 00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:42.640 After God had spoken these words to Job, God said to Eliphaz the Temenite, this is a quote, God is speaking. 00:31:50.960 --> 00:32:00.720 So God has challenged Job in his understanding of who God is, but he's taken a step further in criticizing the friends. 00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:10.319 What I want you to note here is that we see in this statement the personal connection between Job and his God. 00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:17.440 You have not spoken what is right as my servant Job has. 00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:22.400 It's there that we see this personal connection. 00:32:22.640 --> 00:32:26.799 God is Job's redeemer, and Job is the servant of God. 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:32.160 That's very interesting to me because of what David wrote in Psalm 34, 22. 00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:37.759 The Lord redeems the life of his servants. 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:42.480 None of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. 00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:49.839 Here is Job taking refuge in his God as his servant. 00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:51.839 And God steps in. 00:32:52.880 --> 00:32:58.559 Job entrusted himself to a redeemer he could not see in the midst of his suffering. 00:32:59.119 --> 00:33:02.799 And that redeemer would not allow his servant to be condemned. 00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:08.640 Now I want you to go back again and look at Job 19 another time, verse 26. 00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:18.160 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold. 00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:24.799 Do you see a hint of resurrection theology there? 00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:31.039 How else could dead decayed eyes see? 00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:39.440 No matter what happened to Job, he trusted that he would lay eyes on his Redeemer. 00:33:39.680 --> 00:33:45.599 Even if his skin rotted away and his eyes decayed, he said, I'm going to see, these eyes are going to see God. 00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:47.119 How can that happen? 00:33:47.519 --> 00:33:48.720 How is that possible? 00:33:48.880 --> 00:33:51.039 How is that faith, that belief possible? 00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:54.240 It's only possible if the Redeemer lives forever. 00:33:56.720 --> 00:34:03.039 It's only possible if the Redeemer is strong enough to redeem. 00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:11.920 And it's only possible if that strong Redeemer actually intervenes in the life of his people. 00:34:15.280 --> 00:34:19.599 We begin with God as the ultimate Redeemer. 00:34:20.320 --> 00:34:24.400 A Redeemer who is not at all stingy with his redemption. 00:34:26.239 --> 00:34:35.039 And in Job, we see that that abundant redemption is found in a personal Redeemer who cares about individuals. 00:34:35.840 --> 00:34:48.559 And that redeeming God is absolutely worthy of our trust because while he may be veiled from our eyes in these days of faith, he is there, he is present, and Job knew it. 00:34:51.599 --> 00:35:03.519 Now tell me, do you not see all of that in the one declaration from the lips of aged Israel? 00:35:03.760 --> 00:35:05.280 Look at it again. 00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:07.199 Genesis 48. 00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:14.880 The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked. 00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:26.400 Here is God, the ultimate, eternal Redeemer who goes on and on, who always lives, no matter what generation is living at the time. 00:35:26.639 --> 00:35:27.440 He is God. 00:35:27.760 --> 00:35:28.719 He is there. 00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:34.800 The God who has been my shepherd all of my life to this day. 00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:41.280 Here's the personal redeemer acting on the benefit of this one-time scoundrel. 00:35:43.679 --> 00:35:48.480 The angel who has redeemed me from all evil. 00:35:49.679 --> 00:35:52.639 There is the Redeemer who's not stingy. 00:35:53.440 --> 00:35:56.000 Let me tell you, there was a lot to forgive in that man. 00:35:56.800 --> 00:35:58.400 I couldn't have done it. 00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:03.920 But abundant redemption. 00:36:05.840 --> 00:36:11.360 The time of Israel's death is far, far away from us in time. 00:36:14.559 --> 00:36:33.280 But it's brought very near to us when we begin to realize that Israel's angel, Israel's angel who redeemed him, is the God who took on flesh to wrestle with him. 00:36:35.760 --> 00:36:47.679 Helping us, preparing us to know that when the eternal word of God took on flesh and dwelt among us, we could believe it. 00:36:49.119 --> 00:36:50.239 We could trust it. 00:36:51.440 --> 00:36:54.559 He'd done it before in a different way. 00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:04.639 Changing his name and saying, I'm purchasing you for my own. 00:37:06.880 --> 00:37:14.000 But the eternal God took on flesh to dwell among us to purchase our redemption. 00:37:15.039 --> 00:37:16.800 But that's not so far away, is it? 00:37:17.920 --> 00:37:18.719 Could you pray with me? 00:37:19.199 --> 00:37:22.960 Lord Jesus, we come to you and we lift up our hearts to you. 00:37:23.519 --> 00:37:30.159 Thanking you and praising you that you've been working this out for ages and ages. 00:37:30.559 --> 00:37:32.000 It's not a surprise to you. 00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:40.559 Thank you that we can trust in your power and your power to save and your power to redeem. 00:37:41.360 --> 00:37:44.880 Thank you that we can trust in your act actions to actually do that. 00:37:45.039 --> 00:37:46.000 You came. 00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:50.320 You came to take on flesh so that you might die. 00:37:52.480 --> 00:38:04.320 You might shed blood, your body might be broken, so that you might taste death and crush it and rise again to give us hope of resurrection life. 00:38:04.639 --> 00:38:06.639 That is true redemption. 00:38:07.360 --> 00:38:19.280 We give you thanks for that, and we want to praise you and remember that as clearly as we can through what you've given us to do and to be together. 00:38:20.239 --> 00:38:21.519 Jesus' name.