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we will begin brother and sisters by singing anthem 39 by singing anthem 39 followed by a word of prayer followed by a word of prayer anthem 39 anthem 39 the lord is in his holy temple the lord is in his holy temple let all the earth keep silence let all the earth keep silence before him before him and them 39. and them 39. [Music] great gods the god and father of our lord jesus the god and father of our lord jesus christ christ through whom we can approach unto thee through whom we can approach unto thee to call thee our father to call thee our father we bless and we praise thy name this day we bless and we praise thy name this day and ask thy blessing upon and ask thy blessing upon our meditations upon thy word our meditations upon thy word that the entrance of thy word that the entrance of thy word may give us understanding may give us understanding and make us wise and make us wise who are simple who are simple lead us lord lead us lord in the ways of righteousness in the ways of righteousness and the ways of peace and the ways of peace through christ jesus we ask this through christ jesus we ask this amen brothers and sisters are based very largely upon the second and third largely upon the second and third chapters chapters of the book of genesis of the book of genesis the book of genesis the book of genesis the beginning the first book in the word the beginning the first book in the word of god of god is the key to the understanding of is the key to the understanding of much that follows later much that follows later it is the cornerstone and i don't think it is the cornerstone and i don't think it's pitching it too strongly to say it's pitching it too strongly to say that if we that if we underestimate underestimate or we don't value or we don't value the information that's given to us in the information that's given to us in the book of genesis the book of genesis that we are very easily likely to go that we are very easily likely to go astray astray when we come to later things when we come to later things i say i think that the book of genesis i say i think that the book of genesis is just about one of the most important is just about one of the most important of the books in the word of god of the books in the word of god and yet because we've read it so often and yet because we've read it so often we read it at the beginning of the year we read it at the beginning of the year these first few chapters of the book of these first few chapters of the book of genesis genesis many of us can practically recite them many of us can practically recite them off by heart off by heart because of our familiarity with them i because of our familiarity with them i see see we tend to miss we tend to miss many of the intriguing the fascinating many of the intriguing the fascinating details that god has given us details that god has given us in these chapters in these chapters with your permission this morning i hope with your permission this morning i hope i should be able to bring some of these i should be able to bring some of these wonderful things out wonderful things out for you having said that i'd also like to say i'd also like to say that the men and that the men and or the men who wrote the new testament or the men who wrote the new testament under the inspiration of god under the inspiration of god were our leaders were our leaders in our attempt to understand the book of in our attempt to understand the book of genesis genesis the lord jesus christ himself you recall the lord jesus christ himself you recall on many on occasion quoted from the book on many on occasion quoted from the book of genesis of genesis he quoted to prove the validity of one he quoted to prove the validity of one man one woman man one woman he quoted other passages he quoted other passages the writers of the new testament the the writers of the new testament the rest of the new testament quote the book rest of the new testament quote the book of genesis several times over of genesis several times over they refer to adam they refer to eve they refer to adam they refer to eve they refer to all manner of things in they refer to all manner of things in the book of genesis the book of genesis and i say we will use them as our and i say we will use them as our leaders in our efforts to understand leaders in our efforts to understand what genesis is trying to tell us what genesis is trying to tell us and so let us go in then to the book of and so let us go in then to the book of genesis genesis to look at to look at this man this man adam adam his wife his wife eve eve the place where god put them the place where god put them and the reason for which god put them and the reason for which god put them there before we actually go into the book go into the book i'd like to i'd like to ask you to bear with me while i express ask you to bear with me while i express a personal feeling a personal feeling i sometimes wonder i sometimes wonder what it is that makes what it is that makes committees choose people like me to come committees choose people like me to come and speak to people and speak to people like you like you and i think that the reason must be and i think that the reason must be something like this something like this like this like this story story there was a vacancy for a mississippi there was a vacancy for a mississippi boat pilot boat pilot and three men applied for the job and the first one went in and said i've been sailing this river for i've been sailing this river for 10 years 10 years and i've never hit a sandbank a reef and i've never hit a sandbank a reef a sunken log a rock or anything else so the second one went in and said well i've been sailing this river for 15 well i've been sailing this river for 15 years and i've never hit a sand bank a years and i've never hit a sand bank a reef a sunken rock or anything else for reef a sunken rock or anything else for that matter and the third one went in and said i've been sailing this river for five years been sailing this river for five years and i've hit every rock reef sandbank and i've hit every rock reef sandbank mud flat and everything else i know mud flat and everything else i know where they all are i am very much in the position of that third pilot who applied for the of that third pilot who applied for the job job and therefore i think and therefore i think i may be qualified for this particular i may be qualified for this particular task that has been laid before me this task that has been laid before me this day day let us then go into chapter 2 of the let us then go into chapter 2 of the book of genesis genesis chapter 2 and let us begin by considering the and let us begin by considering the garden itself garden itself first first chapter 2 and verse chapter 2 and verse 8 and the lord god planted a garden planted a garden eastward eastward in eden in eden and there he put the man and there he put the man whom he had formed whom he had formed and out of the ground may the lord god and out of the ground may the lord god to grow every tree that is pleasant to to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight the sight and good for food and good for food the tree of life also in the midst of the tree of life also in the midst of the garden the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and evil and the river went out of eden to water and the river went out of eden to water the garden the garden and from thence it was partied and and from thence it was partied and became four heads became four heads and then it tells us that the name of and then it tells us that the name of the first is paisan and give the name of the first is paisan and give the name of the other three but dwell on these words for a few moments dwell on these words for a few moments brother sisters because the details tend brother sisters because the details tend to elude us to elude us first of all let's remark first of all let's remark on the fact that this is a strange thing on the fact that this is a strange thing for the lord to do for the lord to do the lord god planted a garden eastward the lord god planted a garden eastward in eden in eden if you turn back with me to chapter 1 if you turn back with me to chapter 1 and verses 11 and 12 and verses 11 and 12 you'll see why i say it is a strange you'll see why i say it is a strange thing for god to do thing for god to do and god said and god said let the earth bring forth grass let the earth bring forth grass the herb yielding seed and the fruit the herb yielding seed and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind whose tree yielding fruit after his kind whose seed is in itself upon the earth and it seed is in itself upon the earth and it was so and the earth brought forth grass was so and the earth brought forth grass and herb yielding seed after his kind and herb yielding seed after his kind and the tree yielding fruit whose seed and the tree yielding fruit whose seed was in itself after his kind and god saw was in itself after his kind and god saw that it was good that it was good but what that but what that statement or those two verses are saying statement or those two verses are saying to me to me is that god had just finished not very is that god had just finished not very long before chapter two begins he had long before chapter two begins he had just finished planting up the whole of just finished planting up the whole of the planet with all of the vegetation the planet with all of the vegetation that is upon it that is upon it grass herb flower fruit tree the lot grass herb flower fruit tree the lot all of these things all over the planet all of these things all over the planet and now and now he finds it necessary he finds it necessary verse 8 of chapter 2 again verse 8 of chapter 2 again to plant a garden to plant a garden eastward in eden eastward in eden and that's a strange fact if it doesn't and that's a strange fact if it doesn't strike you as strange i think it should strike you as strange i think it should why does god bother to plant this garden the ninth verse ouch of the ground made the lord god to ouch of the ground made the lord god to grow every tree that is pleasant to the grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight sight and good for food notice that the man has already been made made in verse 7 in verse 7 the lord god formed man of the dust of the lord god formed man of the dust of the ground the ground and he takes him and puts him into this and he takes him and puts him into this garden after he has planted it why has he planted this garden can we turn over to the book of isaiah can we turn over to the book of isaiah to chapter 61 isaiah chapter 61 i think gives us i think gives us the clue to all of this chapter 61 and these verses you know well verse 1 the spirit of the lord god is upon me the spirit of the lord god is upon me jesus because the lord has anointed me jesus because the lord has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek to preach good tidings unto the meek he has sent me to bind up the he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted to proclaim liberty to the brokenhearted to proclaim liberty to the captives the opening of the prison to captives the opening of the prison to them that are bound them that are bound verse 3 to comfort all that mourn verse 3 to comfort all that mourn to give unto them beauty for ashes the to give unto them beauty for ashes the oil of joy for mourning oil of joy for mourning the spirit of praise for the spirit of the spirit of praise for the spirit of heaviness heaviness excuse me excuse me that they might be called that they might be called trees trees of righteousness of righteousness the planting of the lord the planting of the lord that he might be glorified those words remind me unmistakably of the garden of eden the garden of eden that they might be called that they might be called trees of righteousness trees of righteousness out of the ground made the lord god to out of the ground made the lord god to grow every tree grow every tree the planting of the lord the planting of the lord the lord god planted a garden eastward the lord god planted a garden eastward in eden in eden so this so this men and women here in isaiah chapter 61 men and women here in isaiah chapter 61 are trees of righteousness planted are trees of righteousness planted so that he might be glorified where is god glorified answer answer the lord god is glorified the lord god is glorified in temples in temples in temples sometimes made with hands as in temples sometimes made with hands as in days of old in days of old and nowadays in temples not made with and nowadays in temples not made with hands spiritual temples men and women hands spiritual temples men and women planted that planted that he the lord god he the lord god might be glorified might be glorified and i suggest to you and i suggest to you that with that in mind that this is the that with that in mind that this is the reason why god planted this garden reason why god planted this garden eastward in eden eastward in eden it was the temple of the living god it it was the temple of the living god it was where adam and his wife were to meet was where adam and his wife were to meet with the lord god with the lord god to worship him to worship him to praise him to praise him and the more one thinks about that idea and the more one thinks about that idea the more attractive it becomes the more attractive it becomes for you now think of the new testament for you now think of the new testament in ephesians where we are called living in ephesians where we are called living stones being built into a holy temple stones being built into a holy temple for the lord fit for his habitation for the lord fit for his habitation yes yes and this garden doesn't have people in and this garden doesn't have people in it it has living stones these trees it it has living stones these trees which god has planted which god has planted living structures in this living structures in this living temple living temple it also makes sense of the fact that it also makes sense of the fact that there is no temple here there is no temple here it's the most striking omission i think it's the most striking omission i think there is no temple in the garden of eden there is no temple in the garden of eden why not why not it is a temple it is a temple and perhaps you'd like to look with me and perhaps you'd like to look with me at the last at the last book of the bible book of revelation book of the bible book of revelation and see the similarity of ideas between and see the similarity of ideas between what i've been expressing what i've been expressing and what is described and what is described in revelation chapter 21 and 22. chapter 22 first where we can't miss we cannot mistake where we can't miss we cannot mistake the similarity between here and the the similarity between here and the garden of eden again no possibility of garden of eden again no possibility of error error first one first one and he showed me a pure river of water and he showed me a pure river of water of life clear as crystal proceeding out of life clear as crystal proceeding out of the throne of god and of the lamb and of the throne of god and of the lamb and in the midst of the street of it and on in the midst of the street of it and on either side of the river was there the either side of the river was there the tree of life which bear 12 manner of tree of life which bear 12 manner of fruits and yielded her fruit every month fruits and yielded her fruit every month the river of life the river of life trees of life planted on either side of trees of life planted on either side of this river this river it's a reconstruction of the garden of it's a reconstruction of the garden of eden again eden again but look back in our chapter 21 and but look back in our chapter 21 and verse 22 it's a description of jerusalem verse 22 it's a description of jerusalem the new jerusalem the new jerusalem and i saw and i saw no temple therein there wasn't a temple no temple therein there wasn't a temple there there why not why not for the lord god almighty and the lamb for the lord god almighty and the lamb are the temple of it and the city has no are the temple of it and the city has no need of the sun neither of the moon to need of the sun neither of the moon to shine upon it for the glory of god did shine upon it for the glory of god did lighten it and the lamb is the light lighten it and the lamb is the light thereof thereof you see i think you see i think that the whole city has become a temple that the whole city has become a temple to the living god to the living god similarly similarly in genesis the garden of eden in genesis the garden of eden is a temple to the living god is a temple to the living god where adam was to meet and to worship where adam was to meet and to worship him him it's a wonderful thought brother sisters it's a wonderful thought brother sisters so let's go back to the genesis the so let's go back to the genesis the genesis record genesis record and let's now attempt to visualize this and let's now attempt to visualize this garden garden i think it will repair us i think it will repair us because of its sheer beauty because of its sheer beauty and the wonder of it all and the wonder of it all genesis chapter 2 again genesis chapter 2 again and verse and verse 10 and the river went out of eden went out of eden to water the garden to water the garden therefore brother sisters therefore brother sisters this garden must have been up on a this garden must have been up on a mountain side on the top of a mountain mountain side on the top of a mountain because rivers flow downhill because rivers flow downhill therefore since this river goes out of therefore since this river goes out of eden to water the garden eden to water the garden then it must have been as i say then it must have been as i say pretty high up somewhere pretty high up somewhere and what is more this is an and what is more this is an extraordinary river most peculiar it's extraordinary river most peculiar it's back to front back to front totally back to front totally back to front look at the next bit look at the next bit from thence from thence it was parted and became into four heads it was parted and became into four heads now every river that i know now every river that i know collects tributaries running into it collects tributaries running into it forming one main river forming one main river this one's the wrong way around it this one's the wrong way around it starts off as one river and splits up starts off as one river and splits up into four into four it was parted into it was parted into four heads four heads and not four little fiddling tiny heads and not four little fiddling tiny heads either either you notice the name of these rivers you notice the name of these rivers there's guy hun there's guy hun there's hiddekel which is a an enormous there's hiddekel which is a an enormous river there's euphrates another enormous river there's euphrates another enormous river so there must have been a colossal river so there must have been a colossal source of water where this river began source of water where this river began and it reminds me doesn't it it must and it reminds me doesn't it it must remind you as well remind you as well of the prophecy in ezekiel where the of the prophecy in ezekiel where the water issues out of the temple water issues out of the temple comes down and runs along and in a very comes down and runs along and in a very very short time is so deep that a man very short time is so deep that a man can't walk over because it the water can't walk over because it the water flood is so heavy the depth is so great flood is so heavy the depth is so great the current is so strong the current is so strong sounds very much like that and you sounds very much like that and you remember that that was a prophecy of remember that that was a prophecy of water coming out of a temple of the water coming out of a temple of the living god living god so we come back to the same idea so we come back to the same idea once again once again by another root what feature is there about a garden that distinguishes it from a field that distinguishes it from a field brothers and sisters brothers and sisters in england in england all the gardens every single garden that all the gardens every single garden that i've ever seen there i've ever seen there if it's if it's in reasonable condition in reasonable condition has got has got a wall a wall a barrier a fence or something around it a barrier a fence or something around it therefore the garden of eden must have therefore the garden of eden must have had one as well had one as well and we can prove this to you and we can prove this to you from chapter three from chapter three can you stand over there with me chapter can you stand over there with me chapter 3 and verse 24. so it says he drove out the man he drove out the man and he placed at the east of the garden and he placed at the east of the garden of eden the caribbean of eden the caribbean and a flaming sword which turned every and a flaming sword which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life way to keep the way of the tree of life well it wouldn't have been very bright well it wouldn't have been very bright would it would it to put the caribbean on the east to put the caribbean on the east if all that adam had to do was to nip if all that adam had to do was to nip smartly round to the west up over and smartly round to the west up over and get in get in wouldn't have been too clever would it wouldn't have been too clever would it so therefore brother sisters we come to so therefore brother sisters we come to this this conclusion conclusion that the garden of eden was on this that the garden of eden was on this mountainside that i've described before mountainside that i've described before it must have had a wall and must have it must have had a wall and must have been inaccessible on three sides for been inaccessible on three sides for some reason or the other some reason or the other it had a wall or something like that it had a wall or something like that around it around it a bit more about the garden of eden a bit more about the garden of eden let's go back again to verse 9 of let's go back again to verse 9 of chapter 2. perhaps you've not thought about this but but it makes sense when we try to visualize it makes sense when we try to visualize this thing to take these details that this thing to take these details that are given to us are given to us seriously seriously verse nine verse nine and out of the ground and out of the ground made the lord god to grow made the lord god to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food every tree that is pleasant to the sights sights and good for food and good for food how many trees does that make the furs the poplars the poplars the palms the oaks the palms the oaks the spruces the spruces the the hundreds of different species genera the hundreds of different species genera the different kinds of different kinds of all over the place one specimen of each all over the place one specimen of each that the lord god takes to put in his that the lord god takes to put in his garden garden to grow to become these enormous great to grow to become these enormous great trees described in ezekiel trees described in ezekiel how many trees do you think there were how many trees do you think there were that were pleasant to the eyes that let that were pleasant to the eyes that let alone good for food alone good for food let's suppose there were two or three let's suppose there were two or three hundred of them hundred of them let's suppose for the sake of argument let's suppose for the sake of argument if there were 200 trees enormous ones as if there were 200 trees enormous ones as i say ezekiel said i say ezekiel said and each one takes up an area about i and each one takes up an area about i don't know don't know 200 square feet or whatever 200 square feet or whatever that argues that this garden here was that argues that this garden here was not like a garden as we understand it not like a garden as we understand it but rather like a park but rather like a park a much greater area a much greater area extending probably as far as the eye extending probably as far as the eye could see in many directions a huge could see in many directions a huge place place a large spacious a large spacious well well distributed well distributed well laid out laid out garden park perhaps would be a better garden park perhaps would be a better idea idea to express it and what about the next bit the tree of life also the tree of life also in the midst of the garden in the midst of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and evil notice those words notice those words in the midst of the garden in the midst of the garden by that i understand that this was the by that i understand that this was the geographical center of the garden that geographical center of the garden that god had measured it carefully god had measured it carefully and then drawn the diagonals as it were and then drawn the diagonals as it were and planted those two specific trees and planted those two specific trees plum center plum center in the midst of the garden as a in the midst of the garden as a centerpiece as it were to all the other centerpiece as it were to all the other beautiful trees that he'd got all the beautiful trees that he'd got all the way around it takes the breath away to try and imagine that it's just my imagination again but i rather believe that the center of but i rather believe that the center of the garden was perhaps led up to those the garden was perhaps led up to those two trees with an area of grass around two trees with an area of grass around it with flowers growing around the edges it with flowers growing around the edges all leading up to this great centerpiece all leading up to this great centerpiece with these two wonderful trees there with these two wonderful trees there and perhaps from between the two trees and perhaps from between the two trees come running the waters of the tree of come running the waters of the tree of life that the source was there it began life that the source was there it began there and came out there and came out to run to run out of the garden of eden it must have been a wonderful place brother sisters brother sisters there can't have been any trees like there can't have been any trees like that before our sins that god planted that before our sins that god planted and caused to grow and caused to grow but more about that but more about that on sunday now let's have a look at adam himself at adam himself because he is the one that is the focal because he is the one that is the focal point of our attention this morning point of our attention this morning god makes adam verse 7 god makes adam verse 7 of the dust of the ground of the dust of the ground breathed into his nostrils the breath of breathed into his nostrils the breath of life life and man became a living soul a living and man became a living soul a living creature creature and he gets up and he gets up no he doesn't let's imagine this again no he doesn't let's imagine this again the lord god forms him makes a model of the lord god forms him makes a model of him of clay him of clay there he is there he is and then god leans over him and then god leans over him and breathes into his nostrils the and breathes into his nostrils the breath of life as it says breath of life as it says and he opens his eyes and the first thing that he sees is the face of the angel is the face of the angel that has given him life the face of god the first thing the first thing that he beheld that he beheld isn't that a wonderful thought isn't that a wonderful thought reminding one so much reminding one so much of the lord jesus christ of the lord jesus christ who died lay in his tomb and maybe the who died lay in his tomb and maybe the angel came and breathed into his angel came and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and he opens nostrils the breath of life and he opens his eyes his eyes and there's the angel of god that he has and there's the angel of god that he has sent sent to do this wonderful thing but god is not going to give him eternal god is not going to give him eternal life life just like that just like that he has to do something he has to do something verse 15 verse 15 and the lord god took the man and put and the lord god took the man and put him into the garden of eden him into the garden of eden to dress it to dress it and and to keep it what does that mean to address to address it and to keep it it and to keep it what does dress mean what does dress mean it means to do the work that a gardener it means to do the work that a gardener normally does normally does what does a gardener have to do normally what does a gardener have to do normally well if you don't like gardening well if you don't like gardening the way i don't like gardening the way i don't like gardening then you'll know only too well what a then you'll know only too well what a gardener has to do gardener has to do because if you don't do it because if you don't do it and your wife has words to say to you and your wife has words to say to you about the matter every now every so about the matter every now every so often to keep you on your on on your often to keep you on your on on your toes toes what does a gardener have to do to dress what does a gardener have to do to dress his his well well he has to get the weeds out aha i heard you thinking there weren't any weeds in the garden of there weren't any weeds in the garden of eden eden you're wrong you're wrong i'll prove it to you shall i i'll prove it to you shall i there were weeds there there were weeds there you're thinking you're thinking thorns and thistles shall it bring forth thorns and thistles shall it bring forth unto thee there weren't any thorns and unto thee there weren't any thorns and thistles before then were there thistles before then were there it wasn't maybe not have been thorns and it wasn't maybe not have been thorns and thistles thistles but there was something much worse can but there was something much worse can we go back to chapter 1 we go back to chapter 1 and verse 11. chapter 1 and verse 11 and verse 11 and god said and god said let the earth let the earth bring forth bring forth grass grass grass grass grass is the enemy of all gardeners in grass is the enemy of all gardeners in england england it grows everywhere it grows everywhere it grows where you want it to grow and it grows where you want it to grow and it grows where you don't want it to grow it grows where you don't want it to grow it grows most prolifically where you it grows most prolifically where you don't want it to grow and you don't want it to grow and you you know it just grows everywhere and you know it just grows everywhere and this brother says this is the beginning this brother says this is the beginning of all things the beginning of the world of all things the beginning of the world the soil is absolutely fertile to the the soil is absolutely fertile to the nth degree and you drop one grain of one nth degree and you drop one grain of one seed of grass on the ground there and 25 seed of grass on the ground there and 25 plants come up plants come up and not only tiny little ones like that and not only tiny little ones like that either but they grow that height weeds either but they grow that height weeds he had to do that he had to do that he had to get that grass out he had to he had to get that grass out he had to get all the seeds that were fluttering get all the seeds that were fluttering about the place because these things about the place because these things brought forth seed he had to get those brought forth seed he had to get those plants out from where they ought not to plants out from where they ought not to have grown he had to look after these have grown he had to look after these things things and these trees that god put there were and these trees that god put there were fruit trees fruit trees every tree that was good for food there every tree that was good for food there were hundreds of fruit trees everywhere were hundreds of fruit trees everywhere and he couldn't eat them all and he couldn't eat them all not him and eve between the two of them not him and eve between the two of them so what happened to the fruit then so what happened to the fruit then they ripened they dropped off onto the they ripened they dropped off onto the ground and would have rotted there if a ground and would have rotted there if a gardener didn't come around to pick him gardener didn't come around to pick him up so he had that to do as well up so he had that to do as well but it was rather a big job brother and but it was rather a big job brother and sisters sisters if this place was an enormous park as if this place was an enormous park as i'm suggesting to you that it was i'm suggesting to you that it was if it was a great large expanse of if it was a great large expanse of garden he'd have a job cut out doing all garden he'd have a job cut out doing all this looking after all this area this looking after all this area but he had two jobs one was to dress it but he had two jobs one was to dress it to look after it as i've been suggesting to look after it as i've been suggesting to you there and the other was to keep to you there and the other was to keep it it and that word in the hebrew is related and that word in the hebrew is related to the word for a watchman he had to act to the word for a watchman he had to act as a watchman over this garden to as a watchman over this garden to prevent things enemies from getting in prevent things enemies from getting in enemies enemies from getting in from getting in there weren't anybody else around to there weren't anybody else around to come in and steal come in and steal yes there were yes there were yes there were yes there were supposing brothers and sisters supposing brothers and sisters in the beginning of all things god in the beginning of all things god created this great created this great massive herd of brontosauruses massive herd of brontosauruses and supposing these brontosauruses and supposing these brontosauruses decided to take a canter through the decided to take a canter through the garden of eden what do you think would garden of eden what do you think would be left after they had finished be left after they had finished not a lot i suggest to you and so adam not a lot i suggest to you and so adam had to keep these things out had to keep these things out to keep it to keep it to stop it from being flattened to stop to stop it from being flattened to stop it from being eaten from stop the trees it from being eaten from stop the trees from being damaged from being damaged he had to do all that he had his work he had to do all that he had his work cut out but while he was dressing the cut out but while he was dressing the garden garden he couldn't be keeping it he couldn't be keeping it and while he was at the gate on that on and while he was at the gate on that on the east side the east side he couldn't be dressing it he couldn't be dressing it so he was split down the middle between so he was split down the middle between dressing and keeping dressing and keeping and god sees that this isn't right and god sees that this isn't right verse 18 verse 18 the lord god's head the lord god's head it is not good that the man should be it is not good that the man should be alone alone i will make him and help i will make him and help meet meet for him for him and so and so he made he made his wife his wife let's get those words again verse 18 of let's get those words again verse 18 of genesis chapter 2 it is not good that genesis chapter 2 it is not good that the man should be alone i will make him the man should be alone i will make him and help and help meet for him meet for him this is the function of his wife first this is the function of his wife first of all a help of all a help meet fitting answering meet fitting answering for him but now we see the problems beginning we see the problems beginning notice brother and sister that this is notice brother and sister that this is the world's first wedding the world's first wedding verse 21 the lord god caused a deep verse 21 the lord god caused a deep sleep to fall upon adam and he slept sleep to fall upon adam and he slept and he took one of his ribs and closed and he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh instead thereof and the rib up the flesh instead thereof and the rib which the lord god had taken from the which the lord god had taken from the man made he into a woman and brought her man made he into a woman and brought her unto the man unto the man and adam said this is now born of my and adam said this is now born of my bones and flesh of my flesh she shall be bones and flesh of my flesh she shall be called woman called woman because she was taken out of man because she was taken out of man therefore shall a man leave his father therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh this is the first wedding in the world brother sisters brother sisters and notice it takes place if you'll and notice it takes place if you'll pardon the expression pardon the expression in church in church because because the garden of eden is a temple the garden of eden is a temple and the first marriage takes place in a and the first marriage takes place in a temple before the living god temple before the living god but there's something of great but there's something of great importance that must be mentioned here importance that must be mentioned here if this was a temple if this was a temple if this was the beginning of the people if this was the beginning of the people of god of god then there must have been a high priest then there must have been a high priest in all this in all this there must have been someone whose job there must have been someone whose job it was and would have been to the it was and would have been to the worship worship of the people of the people who was it who was it answer answer adam adam the high priest the first high priest the high priest the first high priest in the house of god in the house of god and the high priest speaks the word of and the high priest speaks the word of god god he prophesies at least he did in he prophesies at least he did in later times and you notice those words later times and you notice those words in chapter in verse 24 of chapter 2 in chapter in verse 24 of chapter 2 therefore shall a man leave his father therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh and the wife and they shall be one flesh and the lord jesus says that he which made them lord jesus says that he which made them at the beginning at the beginning said this so god said that said this so god said that it wasn't it wasn't anybody else it was god who said that anybody else it was god who said that but when you read it in verse 23 but when you read it in verse 23 brethren just says does it not strike brethren just says does it not strike you as if it is adam who's saying this you as if it is adam who's saying this this is now born of my bones and flesh this is now born of my bones and flesh of my flesh she shall be called woman of my flesh she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man because she was taken out of man therefore shall a man leave his father therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh it wife and they shall be one flesh it reads almost as if it's adam that's reads almost as if it's adam that's saying that saying that you see if adam is god's high priest you see if adam is god's high priest then it is really god speaking through then it is really god speaking through him him on this particular occasion on this particular occasion and that makes sense but the function of and that makes sense but the function of a high priest is also to convey a high priest is also to convey knowledge to the people the priests lips knowledge to the people the priests lips should keep knowledge and we notice in should keep knowledge and we notice in all our reading that nowhere does it say all our reading that nowhere does it say that god commanded eve that he should that god commanded eve that he should not touch the two trees the tree of the not touch the two trees the tree of the knowledge of good and evil nowhere is knowledge of good and evil nowhere is god tell eve that he tells adam verse 16 god tell eve that he tells adam verse 16 and the lord god commanded the man and the lord god commanded the man saying every of every tree of the garden saying every of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat but of the tree thou mayest freely eat but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for in the day that shalt not eat of it for in the day that thou eat is thereof thou shalt surely thou eat is thereof thou shalt surely die die didn't tell eve didn't tell eve therefore we have here a picture that therefore we have here a picture that god is conveying knowledge to his priest god is conveying knowledge to his priest who is to convey it to his people who is to convey it to his people and this is where and this is where the tragedy begins the tragedy begins because adam didn't do his job because adam didn't do his job as he should notice now the third chapter verse one verse one and two and two temptation comes temptation comes trouble comes trouble comes trials come trials come now the serpent was more subtle than any now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the lord god beast of the field which the lord god had made had made and he said unto the woman and he said unto the woman yea yea hath god said ye shall not eat of every hath god said ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden adam did not do his job as he should brother and sisters brother and sisters you remember one of his functions was you remember one of his functions was to to keep keep the garden the garden to watch over it as a watchman to watch over it as a watchman he adam had named that serpent he adam had named that serpent and the word for serpent seems in the and the word for serpent seems in the hebrew to be very closely related for hebrew to be very closely related for that word for a deceiver therefore that word for a deceiver therefore somehow i don't know how adam knew or somehow i don't know how adam knew or had the idea that this serpent was had the idea that this serpent was deceptive deceptive therefore he should have kept it out of therefore he should have kept it out of the garden the garden therefore he should have got a stick therefore he should have got a stick and at the first appearance of it he and at the first appearance of it he should have beaten it black and blue to should have beaten it black and blue to get it out of the garden get it out of the garden he should have done he should have done but he didn't but he didn't what's more there are conversations here what's more there are conversations here with the serpent you see that first word with the serpent you see that first word and he said unto the woman it's a continuation of a conversation that's taking place previously yey has that's taking place previously yey has god said there's been some talk between god said there's been some talk between them before them before why didn't adam chase that thing out why didn't adam chase that thing out i don't know i don't know how did it get there how did it get there it flew it flew it flew into the garden it flew into the garden because when god curses it says on your because when god curses it says on your belly shalt now go therefore it either belly shalt now go therefore it either walked or it flew walked or it flew and i suggest to you that it flew and and i suggest to you that it flew and this is the origin of the legends this is the origin of the legends concerning all these winged dragons and concerning all these winged dragons and whatnot whatnot it flew into the garden landed on this it flew into the garden landed on this wonderful tree wonderful tree and begins to talk and begins to talk to this woman to this woman now brother sisters put yourself in the now brother sisters put yourself in the position of a serpent for a moment position of a serpent for a moment you've just flown into the garden of you've just flown into the garden of eden you're just landing on this tree eden you're just landing on this tree and there are some wonderful looking and there are some wonderful looking fruit there what would you be tempted to do what would be your inclination what would be your inclination i'll tell you what mine would be i'll tell you what mine would be i'd be tempted to have a taste see what i'd be tempted to have a taste see what it looked like it looked like because remember these two trees are because remember these two trees are trees of wonder trees of wonder magnificent beyond description magnificent beyond description wonderful things i'd be tempted to eat it and i feel sure in my own mind that this and i feel sure in my own mind that this is what did happen is what did happen that the serpent did eat that the serpent did eat of that fruit of that fruit and these words in verses and these words in verses 4 and 5 4 and 5 and so on make a little bit more sense and so on make a little bit more sense if we think that imagine the force of this brother and sisters and the serpent said unto the woman said unto the woman ye shall not chomp munch ye shall not chomp munch to to surely die crunch for god does know chomp chomp that in the day that you eat thereof that in the day that you eat thereof much too your eyes shall be opened and much too your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as gods knowing good and ye shall be as gods knowing good and evil saw she saw she saw that the tree was good for food that the tree was good for food and that it was pleasant to the eyes and that it was pleasant to the eyes and the tree to be desired to make one and the tree to be desired to make one wise wise she took of the fruit she took of the fruit she saw all that number one it was good she saw all that number one it was good for food number two it was pleasant to for food number two it was pleasant to the eyes and number three it was going the eyes and number three it was going to make her wise how could she see such to make her wise how could she see such a thing a thing brother and sisters put yourself in the brother and sisters put yourself in the position of someone beginning to learn position of someone beginning to learn chemistry you go into the chemistry chemistry you go into the chemistry laboratory and the professor says to you laboratory and the professor says to you look you see that glass of stuff over look you see that glass of stuff over there look you see it have a good look there look you see it have a good look it contains arsenic it contains arsenic it'll poison you if you drink it it it'll poison you if you drink it it looks like water but it's not looks like water but it's not don't touch it well you know that the professor knows his job you know that all that he has his job you know that all that he has said so far has come to pass said so far has come to pass would you therefore think about going to would you therefore think about going to drink that drink that drink out of that glass drink out of that glass now they knew that whatever god had said now they knew that whatever god had said had come to pass after all they were the had come to pass after all they were the products of his word would they touch that tree would they eat that tree unless eat that tree unless unless unless they saw something that made them think they saw something that made them think otherwise otherwise look at how strongly adam had planted look at how strongly adam had planted this idea in this woman's mind verse 2 this idea in this woman's mind verse 2 the woman said to the serpent we may eat the woman said to the serpent we may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden of the fruit of the trees of the garden but of the fruit of the tree which is in but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden god hath said ye the midst of the garden god hath said ye shall not eat of it neither shall ye shall not eat of it neither shall ye touch it lest ye die touch it lest ye die eve said adam that is a poison tree eve said adam that is a poison tree there if you even touch it you're gonna there if you even touch it you're gonna die die exaggerating touch it he was convinced of this he was convinced of this that was poison that was poison that was not to be touched far less that was not to be touched far less eaten eaten and there she is now and there she is now bold enough bold enough to take that fruit to take that fruit and to eat it she saw and to eat it she saw that it was good for food she saw that that it was good for food she saw that it was pleasant to the eyes she saw that it was pleasant to the eyes she saw that it would make her wise like it had done it would make her wise like it had done to the serpent which could now speak and to the serpent which could now speak and reason reason in a way that it never had been able to in a way that it never had been able to do before do before i wonder if it was like that brother and i wonder if it was like that brother and sister sister but now let's consider adam's role in but now let's consider adam's role in all this all this where was adam at this time answer he where was adam at this time answer he was standing right there was standing right there verse verse six six she gave also unto her husband with her she gave also unto her husband with her and he did eat he was with her he was and he did eat he was with her he was right there brother sisters i think i think if i was adam if i was adam at that juncture at that juncture if i had any respect at all for what god if i had any respect at all for what god had told me had told me i'd have said to eve i'd have said to eve eve eve you see the stick here you see the stick here if you touch that tree i shall beat you if you touch that tree i shall beat you black and blue black and blue don't you dare touch it since i had beaten her black and blue on many previous occasions but did he do that did he stand there saying eve don't did he stand there saying eve don't touch it eve don't eat it eve touch it eve don't eat it eve no way and he did it willingly willingly and with malice a forethought and with malice a forethought he cures he cures voluntarily willingly with his eyes wide voluntarily willingly with his eyes wide open open knowingly knowingly to to do what god had said he should not do do what god had said he should not do he chose to do wrong and therefore he chose to do wrong and therefore although eve was deceived adam went into although eve was deceived adam went into this with his eyes his mind and this with his eyes his mind and everything else wide open everything else wide open why because he wanted to be as it says why because he wanted to be as it says as god as god knowing good and knowing good and what a remarkable thing that a man what a remarkable thing that a man should choose that should choose that instead of all those privileges that god instead of all those privileges that god had given to him had given to him but insisted it infuriates me but insisted it infuriates me that this man should do a thing like that this man should do a thing like this this make no mistake about it this is not make no mistake about it this is not merely eating of a fruit it is a lifting merely eating of a fruit it is a lifting up of the hand against god it is a up of the hand against god it is a rebellion against everything that god rebellion against everything that god had told him it is had told him it is willful perverse rebellious action willful perverse rebellious action you know that there's a law in physics you know that there's a law in physics don't you that says every action has an don't you that says every action has an equal and an opposite reaction you know equal and an opposite reaction you know that as well as i do that as well as i do therefore from that one act since all therefore from that one act since all the sin all the misery all the disease the sin all the misery all the disease all the suffering all the death that has all the suffering all the death that has come upon mankind since that time has come upon mankind since that time has flowed from that one action then this is flowed from that one action then this is no little sin it is a sin of the highest no little sin it is a sin of the highest most perverse and evil character brothers and sisters we don't do well to say that it was eve's fault say that it was eve's fault the new testament is a makes it the new testament is a makes it abundantly plain that it wasn't abundantly plain that it wasn't i'd like to show this to you in the i'd like to show this to you in the fifth chapter of the letter to the fifth chapter of the letter to the romans romans romans chapter 5 perhaps if you got your pencil or your pen there you might like to number these pen there you might like to number these as we go along and make sure that i've as we go along and make sure that i've got the number correct got the number correct and perhaps we can agree on one point and perhaps we can agree on one point before we actually look at this passage before we actually look at this passage here is a point i'd like to have your here is a point i'd like to have your agreement on agreement on if god says something one time if god says something one time he is serious about it if he says it he is serious about it if he says it twice twice then it is really really serious then it is really really serious if he says it three times well if he says it three times well would you believe would you believe would you believe god if he says it ten would you believe god if he says it ten times let's count them chapter 5 chapter 5 and verse 12. and verse 12. mark a little number as we go along by mark a little number as we go along by the side of these to get the number the side of these to get the number right right wherefore wherefore as by number one as by number one one one man man sin entered into the world sin entered into the world and death through sin and death through sin verse 14 verse 14 nevertheless nevertheless death reigned from death reigned from adam not eve adam not eve adam adam to moses to moses even over them that had not sinned after even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of number three the similitude of number three adam's transgression adam's transgression who was a figure of him that was to come who was a figure of him that was to come in the middle of verse 15 in the middle of verse 15 for if through the offense of one for if through the offense of one four times that's adam four times that's adam may be dead may be dead verse 16 verse 16 and not as it was by one adam and not as it was by one adam that sinned that's five times so is the that sinned that's five times so is the gift gift for the judgment was by one adam six to for the judgment was by one adam six to condemnation but the free gift is of condemnation but the free gift is of many offences unto justification many offences unto justification for number seven if by one man's offense for number seven if by one man's offense death reigned by one eight that's adam death reigned by one eight that's adam again again verse 18 verse 18 therefore as by the offense of one man therefore as by the offense of one man adam judgment came upon all men to adam judgment came upon all men to condemnation condemnation verse 19 for as by one man's verse 19 for as by one man's disobedience ten times disobedience ten times many were made sinners and so by the many were made sinners and so by the obedience of one shall many be made obedience of one shall many be made righteous righteous ten times it says it there unless i'm very sadly mistaken ten times that it was adam who mistaken ten times that it was adam who sinned first sinned first not eve we have all said for so many years that it was eve's fault that it was eve's fault well what about that passage in first of well what about that passage in first of timothy should we have a look at that first of timothy chapter 2 for adam was first formed was first formed and then eve and then eve and adam was not deceived and adam was not deceived but the woman but the woman being deceived being deceived was in the transgression was in the transgression and the greek creates in my mind and the greek creates in my mind attenuates that she became involved or attenuates that she became involved or caught up in the transgression that she caught up in the transgression that she was not a prime mover in it was not a prime mover in it at all so brother let's look seriously again let's look seriously again at the position and the privileges that at the position and the privileges that god gave to this man god gave to this man and to this woman and to this woman he was god's high priest he was put into he was god's high priest he was put into god's temple he was the one who should god's temple he was the one who should have conveyed knowledge to his wife and have conveyed knowledge to his wife and to his children when they had children to his children when they had children he was the one that in the most he was the one that in the most ideal of circumstances ideal of circumstances chose to do that which was wrong chose to do that which was wrong evil in the sight of god evil in the sight of god and here are we today and here are we today in in idyllic idyllic idol wildlife idol wildlife circumstances circumstances husbands husbands wires wires children of the most high god children of the most high god to become kings to become kings and priests unto him and priests unto him in the ages to come in the ages to come let us brother and sisters this day let us brother and sisters this day resolve resolve that as we have seen that this man has that as we have seen that this man has sinned so sinned so sadly and so evilly before god sadly and so evilly before god choosing to turn his back on the things choosing to turn his back on the things of god put them behind him and thereby of god put them behind him and thereby bring sin death misery and suffering bring sin death misery and suffering upon all of his children upon himself upon all of his children upon himself that we ourselves when the time comes that we ourselves when the time comes and we shall expand upon this later in and we shall expand upon this later in the week the week when the time comes we shall value our when the time comes we shall value our privileges privileges and act as if we deserve them and we are and act as if we deserve them and we are going to do something to deserve going to do something to deserve what god has given to us what god has given to us let us not forsake our privileges let us not forsake our privileges we shall enumerate them we shall go into we shall enumerate them we shall go into them in great detail them in great detail but let us this day if nothing else but let us this day if nothing else resolve that here are our privileges resolve that here are our privileges exceeding great and precious promises exceeding great and precious promises we shall treat them we shall treat them as such

Transcript

let us begin brothers and sisters by singing together singing together hymn number 37 hymn number 37 which will follow with the word of which will follow with the word of prayer prayer hymn number 37 hymn number 37 the lord's my shepherd the lord's my shepherd i'll not want oh lord our god the shepherd of israel the shepherd of israel the shepherd of our lord jesus christ the shepherd of our lord jesus christ who has guarded us and guided us who has guarded us and guided us through our lives up to this very day through our lives up to this very day we bless and we praise thy name we bless and we praise thy name thanking thee for thy word thanking thee for thy word which is able to make us wise unto which is able to make us wise unto salvation salvation thanking thee for our lord jesus christ thanking thee for our lord jesus christ through whom we may have forgiveness of through whom we may have forgiveness of our sentence our sentence thanking thee for his kindness and his thanking thee for his kindness and his tenderness tenderness that he leads his that he leads his little ones little ones and those who are with young tenderly and those who are with young tenderly and with compassion and with compassion look down with compassion and mercy upon look down with compassion and mercy upon us this day oh god us this day oh god open our hearts and our eyes and our open our hearts and our eyes and our ears ears to the messages contained in thy word to the messages contained in thy word that seeing and hearing them we may take that seeing and hearing them we may take them and put them into practice in our them and put them into practice in our lives that we may be better pleasing lives that we may be better pleasing servants of thine servants of thine hear our prayer prayer oh lord for we hear our prayer prayer oh lord for we offer it through jesus name offer it through jesus name amen as an introduction brother sisters brother brian mccloud will lead us in brother brian mccloud will lead us in the reading of genesis chapter 4 verses the reading of genesis chapter 4 verses 1 to 17 inclusive now adam knew eve his wife and she conceived and bore cain and she conceived and bore cain saying saying i have gotten a man with the help of the i have gotten a man with the help of the lord and again she bore his brother abel now abel was a keeper of sheep and cain now abel was a keeper of sheep and cain a tiller of the ground a tiller of the ground in the course of time came in the course of time came brought to the lord and offering of the brought to the lord and offering of the fruit of the ground fruit of the ground and abel brought of the firstlings of and abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions his flock and of their fat portions and the lord had regard for abel in his and the lord had regard for abel in his offering offering but for cain in his offering he had no but for cain in his offering he had no regard regard so cain was very angry so cain was very angry and his countenance fell and his countenance fell the lord said to cain the lord said to cain why are you angry and why has your why are you angry and why has your countenance fallen countenance fallen if you do well if you do well will you not be accepted will you not be accepted and if you do not do well and if you do not do well sin is couching at the door sin is couching at the door desire is for you desire is for you but you must master it cain said to abel his brother let us go out to the field let us go out to the field and when they were in the field and when they were in the field cain rose up against his brother abel cain rose up against his brother abel and killed him and killed him then the lord said to cain then the lord said to cain where is abel your brother where is abel your brother he said he said i do not know am i my brother's keeper i do not know am i my brother's keeper and the lord said and the lord said what have you done the voice of your what have you done the voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the brother's blood is crying to me from the ground ground and now you are cursed from the ground and now you are cursed from the ground which has opened its mouth to receive which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand your brother's blood from your hand when you till the ground it shall no when you till the ground it shall no longer yield to you its strength longer yield to you its strength you shall be a fugitive and a wanderer you shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth on the earth [Music] [Music] cain said to the lord my punishment is cain said to the lord my punishment is greater than i can bear greater than i can bear behold thou hast driven me this day away behold thou hast driven me this day away from the ground from thy face i shall be from the ground from thy face i shall be hidden hidden and i shall be a fugitive and a wanderer and i shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth and whoever finds me will on the earth and whoever finds me will slay me slay me and the lord said to him not so and the lord said to him not so if anyone slays cain vengeance shall be if anyone slays cain vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold taken on him sevenfold and the lord put a mark on cain and the lord put a mark on cain must any who come upon him should kill must any who come upon him should kill him him then cain went away from the presence of then cain went away from the presence of the lord the lord and dwelt in the land of nod and dwelt in the land of nod east of eden cain knew his wife and she conceived and bore enoch bore enoch and he built a city and called the name and he built a city and called the name of that city after the name of his son of that city after the name of his son enoch i understand rather than sisters that they're they're been a large number of inquiries as to been a large number of inquiries as to just where i come from who i am and what just where i come from who i am and what i do i do so so [Applause] [Applause] so perhaps to save you so perhaps to save you asking too many more questions perhaps i asking too many more questions perhaps i can just tell you can just tell you briefly who i am briefly who i am my name's wilfred ali my name's wilfred ali i was born in the west indies in a i was born in the west indies in a country called british guyana as was country called british guyana as was it's now called guyana it's on the north it's now called guyana it's on the north coast of south america coast of south america i lived for about eight years in i lived for about eight years in trinidad two more years or thereabouts trinidad two more years or thereabouts in barbados in barbados and for the last 10 or so years i've and for the last 10 or so years i've been living in birmingham in england been living in birmingham in england with my wife sue who's sitting over with my wife sue who's sitting over there looking very red so i hope that settles any questions in i hope that settles any questions in your mind remember that south america is your mind remember that south america is just below north america over just below north america over on that side this morning we are going to we are going to deal with deal with kane and abel kane and abel but first of all i just like to recover but first of all i just like to recover or recapitulate a few of the things we or recapitulate a few of the things we said yesterday said yesterday we saw that we saw that the garden of eden i suggested to you the garden of eden i suggested to you was a temple to the living god was a temple to the living god we suggested that adam was god's high we suggested that adam was god's high priest priest that eve and the children that they that eve and the children that they would later have would have been the would later have would have been the people of god people of god we suggested that we suggested that the fault the fault or the remain sin in the or the remain sin in the in this unhappy incident in genesis in this unhappy incident in genesis chapter 3 chapter 3 was really adam's fault was really adam's fault and god himself puts the blame on adam and god himself puts the blame on adam ten times in romans chapter five ten times in romans chapter five and all in all and all in all you have probably gathered that i don't you have probably gathered that i don't have a particularly high opinion have a particularly high opinion of adam himself i have a far higher of adam himself i have a far higher opinion of eve in this particular opinion of eve in this particular instance here instance here because because notice that to her is the promise of the notice that to her is the promise of the messiah messiah between thy seed between thy seed and her seed and her seed and if that's not a blessing i'm not and if that's not a blessing i'm not quite sure what is quite sure what is and my impression of adam is and my impression of adam is rather confirmed rather confirmed when we come into the fourth chapter of when we come into the fourth chapter of the book of genesis the book of genesis we find in the first verse we find in the first verse this this simple statement simple statement perhaps to which you've not given you perhaps to which you've not given you wait wait and adam knew and adam knew eve his wife eve his wife and she conceived and bear cain and she conceived and bear cain and and she said she said i have gotten a man i have gotten a man from the lord from the lord now there's a problem in the translation now there's a problem in the translation of that verse of that verse many of the versions have have it in many of the versions have have it in different ways and the problem arises different ways and the problem arises from one peculiar fact about hebrew from one peculiar fact about hebrew in hebrew there is a particle in hebrew there is a particle a small word which cannot be translated a small word which cannot be translated into english and it's the word is into english and it's the word is and it always or very very very very and it always or very very very very often marks out the object of a sentence often marks out the object of a sentence so when we read that she said i have so when we read that she said i have gotten a man gotten a man from the lord from the lord the problem in translation is the problem in translation is that that it really says i have gotten a man it really says i have gotten a man is is the lord the lord in other words the word the lord is the in other words the word the lord is the object of that sentence object of that sentence which which means i suppose that what she is really means i suppose that what she is really saying that i have gotten a man and that saying that i have gotten a man and that man is the lord man is the lord that eve is really saying that this man that eve is really saying that this man cain who i have now begotten is probably cain who i have now begotten is probably the one who god promised me the one who god promised me back in genesis chapter three back in genesis chapter three thy seed and her seed who is going to thy seed and her seed who is going to bruise thy head bruise thy head and if you accept that concept and if you accept that concept then you see that eve is exercising the then you see that eve is exercising the greatest faith greatest faith in the promise of god in genesis chapter in the promise of god in genesis chapter three three and it's it's another little mark and it's it's another little mark another little pointer in the direction another little pointer in the direction that this woman really was a woman of that this woman really was a woman of faith and you notice it's not her faith and you notice it's not her husband that name's a child husband that name's a child he doesn't seem to be interested he he doesn't seem to be interested he doesn't seem to care doesn't seem to care maybe that's pitching it too strongly maybe that's pitching it too strongly but certainly it is eve who does the but certainly it is eve who does the naming of cain naming of cain but nevertheless let's leave that point but nevertheless let's leave that point there for a moment and we'll return to there for a moment and we'll return to it later on it later on and now let's have a look at the other and now let's have a look at the other concept that concept that there was a very great amount there was a very great amount of knowledge of god and of his laws of knowledge of god and of his laws in the book of genesis in the book of genesis remember i suggested to you yesterday remember i suggested to you yesterday that the garden of eden was a temple that the garden of eden was a temple a temple is not without its rights a a temple is not without its rights a temple is not without its laws its temple is not without its laws its regulations and the regulations and the instructions which govern the behavior instructions which govern the behavior of those who go into it of those who go into it now now we also notice in chapter 3 that there we also notice in chapter 3 that there is the institution of sacrifice because is the institution of sacrifice because the lord god makes courts of skins and the lord god makes courts of skins and clothe them to cover their nakedness to clothe them to cover their nakedness to cover their skin cover their skin and in that one verse we also have the and in that one verse we also have the institution of animal sacrifices as institution of animal sacrifices as distinct from plant sacrifices distinct from plant sacrifices that the sacrifice of an animal the that the sacrifice of an animal the shedding of blood would put away sin shedding of blood would put away sin i think sometimes we do the people in i think sometimes we do the people in the book of genesis particularly a great the book of genesis particularly a great injustice in thinking that they were injustice in thinking that they were well they didn't have quite as much well they didn't have quite as much understanding as we have understanding as we have i think that's completely wrong i think that's completely wrong these men in the book of genesis these men in the book of genesis described from the very beginning here described from the very beginning here and coming down to our time these men and coming down to our time these men were our fathers were our fathers and the children are very literally and the children are very literally greater than their fathers and since we greater than their fathers and since we with our brains and modern technology with our brains and modern technology our inventions and so forth have our inventions and so forth have produced all of these wonderful things produced all of these wonderful things in we see in our cities in we see in our cities then the potential at least must have then the potential at least must have been present in the brains of these men been present in the brains of these men they weren't fools they were intelligent they weren't fools they were intelligent logical reasonable people logical reasonable people wicked yes wicked yes but none not thick not stupid but none not thick not stupid and now let's have a look brothers it and now let's have a look brothers it says through the book of genesis just a says through the book of genesis just a quick scamper through the book of quick scamper through the book of genesis let's look at some of the genesis let's look at some of the indications of how much was known about indications of how much was known about the sacrifices and the demands of god the sacrifices and the demands of god have a look with me for instance at have a look with me for instance at verse 16 of chapter four verse 16 of chapter four and cain went out and cain went out from the presence of the lord from the presence of the lord how can you go out from the presence of how can you go out from the presence of the lord the lord the presence of the lord is everywhere the presence of the lord is everywhere god is everywhere by his spirit god is everywhere by his spirit therefore this expression the presence therefore this expression the presence of the lord must mean something else and of the lord must mean something else and what i take it to mean is that it means what i take it to mean is that it means the place where god had put his name the place where god had put his name where god was worshiped where god met where god was worshiped where god met with men with men the place where the lord was present the place where the lord was present cain goes out from the presence cain goes out from the presence of the lord of the lord let's go down a bit into chapter 14 let's go down a bit into chapter 14 of genesis of genesis and notice there the description of and notice there the description of melchizedek melchizedek genesis chapter 14 and verse 18 and melchizedek king of salem brought forth bread and wine forth bread and wine and he was and he was priest priest of the most high god of the most high god and he blessed him and he blessed and and he blessed him and he blessed and said blessed be abraham of the most high said blessed be abraham of the most high god possessor of heaven and earth and god possessor of heaven and earth and blessed be the most high god which had blessed be the most high god which had delivered thine enemies into thy hand so delivered thine enemies into thy hand so there were priests melchizedek was a there were priests melchizedek was a priest abraham you recall islam says was priest abraham you recall islam says was also a prophet also a prophet look down a bit further and we see there look down a bit further and we see there in the in the where are we in the where are we in the 14th verse i'm sorry the 24th verse 14th verse i'm sorry the 24th verse i'm sorry i've lost my reference i'm sorry i've lost my reference verse 21 verse 21 and the king of sodom says to abram give and the king of sodom says to abram give me the persons me the persons and take the goods to thyself i'm sorry i've really lost this verse where it says that abram gave him tithes where it says that abram gave him tithes he paid him tithes of all that he had he paid him tithes of all that he had taken from these men taken from these men verse verse 20 20 that's right i'm sorry thank you very that's right i'm sorry thank you very much much and blessed be the most high god which and blessed be the most high god which has delivered thine enemies into thine has delivered thine enemies into thine hand and he gave him tithes a tenth of hand and he gave him tithes a tenth of all all so they had the practice of tithing so they had the practice of tithing as well as well let's think also let's think also of of noah noah offering up the sacrifices after he came offering up the sacrifices after he came out of the ark out of the ark let's think also of abraham offering let's think also of abraham offering sacrifices unto god sacrifices unto god let's think into the book of exodus let's think into the book of exodus where jethro is described as a priest of where jethro is described as a priest of midian midian let's think also of tamar who was let's think also of tamar who was threatened with being burnt threatened with being burnt because she was an adulteress because she was an adulteress and you begin to see that there are and you begin to see that there are great deal there's a great deal more great deal there's a great deal more to suggest that these people worship god to suggest that these people worship god in the way that is appointed in the law in the way that is appointed in the law of moses then perhaps you would first of moses then perhaps you would first thought thought and at this point i'd like to suggest to and at this point i'd like to suggest to you that you have a good look you that you have a good look at blunt undesigned scriptural at blunt undesigned scriptural coincidences coincidences he goes into great detail there and he goes into great detail there and collects a lot of this information into collects a lot of this information into a very short space and i couldn't do a a very short space and i couldn't do a better job than he has done better job than he has done blunts on design blunts on design scriptural coincidences is a book which scriptural coincidences is a book which is highly recommended reading for every is highly recommended reading for every crystalline who believes that this is crystalline who believes that this is the word of god it is a most wonderful the word of god it is a most wonderful compilation compilation but let's go back to the story of cain but let's go back to the story of cain and abel and abel back to genesis chapter four now let's put ourselves into the picture correctly here correctly here it says in verse 1 that she it says in verse 1 that she bear cain bear cain and said i have gotten a man and said i have gotten a man even the lord whose is the lord she even the lord whose is the lord she thought that cain was the seed who would thought that cain was the seed who would deliver them from the sins deliver them from the sins verse 2 she again bare his brother verse 2 she again bare his brother abel abel and abel was and abel was a keeper a keeper of sheep of sheep but cain was a tiller of the ground but cain was a tiller of the ground so abel was a shepherd so abel was a shepherd cain was cain was an agriculturalist an agriculturalist a farmer a farmer now there's nothing wrong with being an now there's nothing wrong with being an agriculturalist a farmer there's nothing agriculturalist a farmer there's nothing wrong with being a shepherd there's wrong with being a shepherd there's nothing no great virtue in being a nothing no great virtue in being a shepherd over being someone who deals shepherd over being someone who deals with produce from the ground there is no with produce from the ground there is no great virtue in it great virtue in it but what there is expressed very clearly i think in the story story is the principle of obedience to the is the principle of obedience to the will of god will of god let's read the next verse let's read the next verse it came to pass it came to pass in the process of time in the process of time that cain brought of the fruit of the that cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering ground an offering unto the lord unto the lord and when it says in the process of time and when it says in the process of time if you have a look in your margin there if you have a look in your margin there it helps us where it says at the end of it helps us where it says at the end of days days it means at the end of the year it means at the end of the year the days of the year a year had gone the days of the year a year had gone round and it had come to its end round and it had come to its end what's so special about the end of a what's so special about the end of a year year well brother sisters think back with me well brother sisters think back with me into the law of moses now into the law of moses now you recall that the first month you recall that the first month was the month that the passover took was the month that the passover took place month of nice and place month of nice and so in the seventh month so in the seventh month was the day of atonement was the day of atonement the feast of tabernacles the feast of in the feast of tabernacles the feast of in gathering the feast of trumpets in the gathering the feast of trumpets in the seventh month and the seventh month was seventh month and the seventh month was also the first month of the jewish civil also the first month of the jewish civil year so it was the beginning of a new year so it was the beginning of a new year and the end of an old one year and the end of an old one and i suggest you this is what's and i suggest you this is what's happening here happening here it is at that time it is at that time of the year of the year round there in that part of the calendar round there in that part of the calendar that the feast of in gathering or a that the feast of in gathering or a feast of in gathering is taking place feast of in gathering is taking place and they're all coming to the lord with and they're all coming to the lord with these fruits of the ground on keane's these fruits of the ground on keane's part and abel bringing the flocks that part and abel bringing the flocks that he had he had brought that he had reared he had he had brought that he had reared but but there's trouble there's trouble trouble in the family trouble in the family kin is the older brother kin is the older brother abel is the younger abel is the younger now the older brother in all of the now the older brother in all of the families of scripture going down up to families of scripture going down up to the time of the time that god chose levi the time of the time that god chose levi the eldest brother was always the one the eldest brother was always the one who was the priest of the family who was the priest of the family you remember god took levi instead of you remember god took levi instead of the first born the eldest the first born the eldest the eldest brother was the priest of the the eldest brother was the priest of the family so in this case here family so in this case here kin is the priest of the family kin is the priest of the family abel is less than him abel is inferior abel is less than him abel is inferior but since cain is the priest of the but since cain is the priest of the family and the priest should keep family and the priest should keep knowledge and he should know about the knowledge and he should know about the regulations that god has commanded cain regulations that god has commanded cain knew knew cain should have known that god did not cain should have known that god did not want want vegetable sacrifices vegetable sacrifices instead of animal sacrifices for the instead of animal sacrifices for the putting away of sin putting away of sin he knew there's no doubt about it in my he knew there's no doubt about it in my mind he knew full well that that was the mind he knew full well that that was the case case and he brings of the fruit of the ground and he brings of the fruit of the ground and offering to the lord here god this and offering to the lord here god this is what i've got you take it or you is what i've got you take it or you leave it leave it abel on the other hand is different abel on the other hand is different notice that fourth verse notice that fourth verse and abel and abel he he also brought also brought and i think you should read that as and i think you should read that as meaning that abel brought in addition to meaning that abel brought in addition to the first links of the flock he also the first links of the flock he also brought the fruit of the ground brought the fruit of the ground it's two sets of things that are being it's two sets of things that are being described here he also brought of the described here he also brought of the first links of his flock and of the fact first links of his flock and of the fact thereof thereof notice brother and sisters notice brother and sisters the first links of his flock that which the first links of his flock that which was demanded for but that's which was was demanded for but that's which was demanded by god in sacrifice demanded by god in sacrifice notice the fat thereof notice the fat thereof remember in the law of moses the fact remember in the law of moses the fact was especially holy to the lord and you was especially holy to the lord and you they were it was not to be eaten abel they were it was not to be eaten abel brings animal sacrifices brings animal sacrifices and the fact thereof clear evidence that and the fact thereof clear evidence that they knew what god wanted and that god they knew what god wanted and that god had told them what he wanted to had told them what he wanted to abel is careful able brings exactly what abel is careful able brings exactly what god demands god demands and a bit more and a bit more cain cain who cares says cain who cares says cain i don't i don't and it says in the fifth verse i'm sorry and it says in the fifth verse i'm sorry the end of the fourth verse and the lord the end of the fourth verse and the lord had respect unto abel and to his had respect unto abel and to his offering offering and one of the versions one of the and one of the versions one of the ancient versions translates that as he ancient versions translates that as he sets it on fire sets it on fire he sets it on fire he sets it on fire as it were that he offers it on the as it were that he offers it on the altar and down from heaven comes fire altar and down from heaven comes fire consumes the offering of abel and there consumes the offering of abel and there is the offering of cain sitting there in is the offering of cain sitting there in his basket and god doesn't really want his basket and god doesn't really want to know to know and so and so it took verse five and to his offering it took verse five and to his offering he had not respect he didn't want to he had not respect he didn't want to know know and so kane is angry and so kane is angry and cain was very rough and cain was very rough and his countenance fell and his countenance fell i think brothers and sisters that this i think brothers and sisters that this is what we might describe as a public is what we might describe as a public humiliation of cain humiliation of cain don't think for one moment that these don't think for one moment that these are little boys are little boys they are not little boys they are not little boys they are in their 30s i'm fairly sure they are in their 30s i'm fairly sure they are grown men and by this time they are grown men and by this time adam and eve must have had other adam and eve must have had other children as well and those children must children as well and those children must have had children and i would not be have had children and i would not be surprised in the slightest to find out surprised in the slightest to find out that cain had got children and that abel that cain had got children and that abel had had children i don't know had had children i don't know but i would not be surprised at all to but i would not be surprised at all to find that out find that out and everybody's gathered as we are today and everybody's gathered as we are today perhaps to worship the lord there's cain perhaps to worship the lord there's cain bringing his offering there and abel bringing his offering there and abel bringing his offering there and down bringing his offering there and down from heaven comes the fire burns up the from heaven comes the fire burns up the sacrifices and leaves cain untouched sacrifices and leaves cain untouched and everybody says to themselves and everybody says to themselves well god doesn't want cain suffering well god doesn't want cain suffering and cain is very roth and cain is very roth and his countenance fell and his countenance fell and the lord said unto cain and the lord said unto cain why art thou wroth why art thou wroth why is thy countenance fallen why is thy countenance fallen if thou doest well if thou doest well if you do the right thing that which i if you do the right thing that which i have commanded you have commanded you shalt thou not be accepted shalt thou not be accepted and that doesn't make sense and that doesn't make sense but if we look at the marginal rendering but if we look at the marginal rendering of that you'll see it says of that you'll see it says if thou doest well if thou doest well shalt thou not shalt thou not have the excellency and that doesn't make much sense either does it does it but if you turn with me now to the 49th but if you turn with me now to the 49th chapter of the book of genesis chapter of the book of genesis to genesis chapter 49 and the third verse you'll see another instance of the law you'll see another instance of the law of moses of moses or the law which was codified in the law or the law which was codified in the law of moses in operation here of moses in operation here genesis 49 and verse 3 genesis 49 and verse 3 reuben reuben thou art my first born thou art my first born my might and the beginning of my my might and the beginning of my strength strength the excellency the excellency of dignity of dignity and the excellency of power and the excellency of power unstable as water thou shalt not revise unstable as water thou shalt not revise version have the version have the excellency because thou wentest up to excellency because thou wentest up to thy father's bed thy father's bed then defile it thou it he went up to my then defile it thou it he went up to my couch couch in other words in other words reuben had defiled his father's bed and reuben had defiled his father's bed and had been thrown out from being the first had been thrown out from being the first born he had been thrown out from the born he had been thrown out from the privileges of being the eldest son he privileges of being the eldest son he had lost it and they had been had lost it and they had been transferred to joseph unto judah transferred to joseph unto judah now in genesis chapter 4 it's the same now in genesis chapter 4 it's the same thing thing if thou doest well shalt thou not have if thou doest well shalt thou not have the excellency be the firstborn be the the excellency be the firstborn be the priest be the one that i accept the one priest be the one that i accept the one that has all the rights and the that has all the rights and the privileges yes of course you would privileges yes of course you would because he doesn't want to he doesn't because he doesn't want to he doesn't want to know want to know next bit of the sentence makes even less next bit of the sentence makes even less sense sense and if thou doest and if thou doest well if thou doest not will well if thou doest not will sin sin lieth at lieth at the door the door that's the most difficult piece of that's the most difficult piece of scripture to understand but let's see scripture to understand but let's see what it means what it means first of all if he doesn't do well first of all if he doesn't do well sin is lying at the door sin is lying at the door what door what door answer the door of the tabernacle the answer the door of the tabernacle the door of the place where they were door of the place where they were meeting the door described of the place meeting the door described of the place the door of the place described as the the door of the place described as the presence of the lord presence of the lord is a door what about is a door what about sin lieth at the door sin lieth at the door well i understand that in hebrew the well i understand that in hebrew the word for sin word for sin can just as easily be understood to mean can just as easily be understood to mean a sin offering a sin offering and what this could mean is and what this could mean is that if thou doest not well that if thou doest not well a sin offering is lying at the door a sin offering is lying at the door in other words in other words abel his brother had brought sheep to abel his brother had brought sheep to and put them and left them outside the and put them and left them outside the door of the tabernacle up there door of the tabernacle up there as a sin offering as a possible sin as a sin offering as a possible sin offering for his brother if only his offering for his brother if only his brother would accept it brother would accept it if thou doest not well if thou doest not well there's a wave to cleanse your sin there's a wave to cleanse your sin it's outside there lying at the door it's outside there lying at the door you've got to take it you've got to take it and and unto thee shall be unto thee shall be his desire a bell's desire abel will his desire a bell's desire abel will look up to you because once more you are look up to you because once more you are the high priest instead of him the high priest instead of him and thou shalt rule over him abel and thou shalt rule over him abel because of your iniquity kane you are in because of your iniquity kane you are in this miserable position i have rejected this miserable position i have rejected you but there's a way back you but there's a way back take it take it and you will have the excellency once and you will have the excellency once more well there are some people you can talk to like that to like that and there's some people you can't and there's some people you can't and cain is obviously one of those that and cain is obviously one of those that you can't you can't and cain verse 8 talked with abel his and cain verse 8 talked with abel his brother brother and it came to pass when they were in and it came to pass when they were in the field that cain rose up against abel the field that cain rose up against abel his brother and slew him his brother and slew him brothers and sisters if ever you needed brothers and sisters if ever you needed proof that these were not little boys proof that these were not little boys here it is little children don't get up here it is little children don't get up and smash stoned into the skulls of and smash stoned into the skulls of their brothers their brothers but this is a grown man but this is a grown man full of hatred full of anger full of full of hatred full of anger full of wrath picking up a stone or a knife or wrath picking up a stone or a knife or something and smashing his brother into something and smashing his brother into the ground with it the ground with it breaking his collin breaking his collin there's abel lying on the ground there's abel lying on the ground quite dead but cain isn't a fool he buries him he buries him he must bury him he can't leave him to he must bury him he can't leave him to lie out in the field like that lie out in the field like that and we know this because of the 10th and we know this because of the 10th verse verse thy the voice of thy brother's blood thy the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me crieth unto me from the ground brackets from the ground brackets where you have buried him and dug a hole where you have buried him and dug a hole and stuck to stuck him in okay where is abel thy brother where is abel thy brother as if god didn't know as if god didn't know brothers and sisters this is a brothers and sisters this is a consistent feature of scripture all the consistent feature of scripture all the way through that god gives them a chance way through that god gives them a chance to turn around to turn around and to repent cain and to repent cain where is abel thy brother where is abel thy brother where is he where is he god knew god knew adam adam where out thou where out thou he knew where he was he knew where he was saul saul saul why persecutors thou me saul why persecutors thou me he knew he knew but he's not asking him to improve his but he's not asking him to improve his knowledge knowledge he's asking him to give him an he's asking him to give him an opportunity to repent where is abel my opportunity to repent where is abel my brother had cain said brother had cain said i have slain him i have slain him then you can see that the relationship then you can see that the relationship should have been different should have been different but not cain but not cain i don't know i don't know am i my brother's keeper am i my brother's keeper and he said and he said what hast thou done he's still asking what hast thou done he's still asking i know what you've done what has thou i know what you've done what has thou done done confess the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me crieth unto me from the ground from the ground i can hear him crying i can hear him crying says god says god i can hear him i can hear him he's dead and i know that you've killed he's dead and i know that you've killed him and now him and now cursed art thou from the ground cursed art thou from the ground which has opened her mouth to receive which has opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood thy brother's blood from thy hand from thy hand when thou tillest the ground it shall when thou tillest the ground it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her not henceforth yield unto thee her strength strength a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth another sister we come to the strangest i think quite the strangest part of the i think quite the strangest part of the story story this this 13th and 14th verse i think and i may be pitching it too strongly and i hope you'll forgive me if strongly and i hope you'll forgive me if you think i am you think i am i think that in this verse i think that in this verse cain confesses cain confesses and cain is forgiven look at the proof for this cain said unto the lord cain said unto the lord margin margin my iniquity my iniquity is greater is greater than that it may be forgiven than that it may be forgiven my iniquity is greater my iniquity is greater than than that it may be forgiven that it may be forgiven he admits to god the enormity of the he admits to god the enormity of the crime that he has committed crime that he has committed i have killed him and it's too much to i have killed him and it's too much to expect forgiveness for this expect forgiveness for this behold verse 14 behold verse 14 behold thou has driven me out this day behold thou has driven me out this day from the face of the earth and from thy from the face of the earth and from thy face shall i be hid because i've sinned face shall i be hid because i've sinned you will not turn your face towards me you will not turn your face towards me you will turn away from me your god you will turn away from me your god and i shall be a fugitive and i shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth and a vagabond in the earth and here now in the next verse and the and here now in the next verse and the next part of the verse is another next part of the verse is another illustration of the law of moses illustration of the law of moses that it shall come to pass that that it shall come to pass that everyone our revised version whosoever everyone our revised version whosoever findeth me shall slay me findeth me shall slay me it's an element of the law of moses when it's an element of the law of moses when someone was slain someone was slain the avenger of blood the avenger of blood went after him to kill him went after him to kill him and he says this is the avenger of blood and he says this is the avenger of blood that cain's worried about here maybe that cain's worried about here maybe abel's children i don't know and god says this is not going to be so this is not going to be so now brother and sisters we have this now brother and sisters we have this question mark question mark of this of this sign or this mark that is put upon cain sign or this mark that is put upon cain what exactly was it what exactly was it well just before we try to answer that well just before we try to answer that question question can i just review briefly the elements can i just review briefly the elements of the law of moses that we found in of the law of moses that we found in this chapter so far this chapter so far there's blood sacrifice there's blood sacrifice there is fat there is fat there's a priesthood there's a law of there's a priesthood there's a law of the firstborn there's a law of the the firstborn there's a law of the avenger of blood avenger of blood there's a law of displacing the first there's a law of displacing the first born if he didn't behave himself born if he didn't behave himself we see sin offerings we see a tabernacle we see sin offerings we see a tabernacle we see the law against murder we see the law against murder we see punishment of crime we see punishment of crime all these things are elements of the law all these things are elements of the law of moses of moses and now can it be a surprise and now can it be a surprise that this last 15th verse here that that this last 15th verse here that we've come to we've come to contains another one contains another one when a man was going to flee from the when a man was going to flee from the avenger of blood avenger of blood where did he go where did he go answer he went to a city of refuge answer he went to a city of refuge and i think this is what is happening and i think this is what is happening here that god appoints a place of refuge here that god appoints a place of refuge for cain where he would be safe from the for cain where he would be safe from the avenger of blood so that he would not be avenger of blood so that he would not be slain by that man who had come after him slain by that man who had come after him and where is that place likely to be and where is that place likely to be there weren't any cities or not that there weren't any cities or not that we're told of we're told of there weren't any cities but there is there weren't any cities but there is there was a place there was a place verse 16 verse 16 and cain and cain went out went out from the presence from the presence of the lord you remember when solomon sent sent his captain his captain to slay joab to slay joab do you remember what joab did do you remember what joab did joab fled joab fled joab ran where to the tabernacle and joab ran where to the tabernacle and took hold of the horns of the altar and took hold of the horns of the altar and solomon said go and get him out of there solomon said go and get him out of there and kill him and kill him because the horns of the altar the because the horns of the altar the tabernacle was one of the places of tabernacle was one of the places of refuge one of the cities of refuge refuge one of the cities of refuge and therefore i suggest that what's and therefore i suggest that what's happening here is that god has god says happening here is that god has god says to cain right cain i will appoint a to cain right cain i will appoint a place of refuge for you but it is in my place of refuge for you but it is in my tabernacle you have got to stay there if tabernacle you have got to stay there if you go out you will be slain and your you go out you will be slain and your blood will be on your own head well the tabernacle is the tabernacle it's the place of worship of god it's the place of worship of god it is a place where those whose hearts it is a place where those whose hearts are right before god will find some rest are right before god will find some rest and some ease and be glad and rejoice and some ease and be glad and rejoice but king but king the atmosphere of holiness is far too the atmosphere of holiness is far too much for people like him he can't stand much for people like him he can't stand it it and he stays there for a while and he stays there for a while and then he can't stand and he goes out and then he can't stand and he goes out verse 16 verse 16 and cain went out from the presence of and cain went out from the presence of the lord and dwelt in the land of nod on the lord and dwelt in the land of nod on the east of eden the east of eden and cain knew his wife and she conceived and cain knew his wife and she conceived and bear enoch and he builded a city and bear enoch and he builded a city why does he build a city why does he build a city it's his own city of refuge where he it's his own city of refuge where he thought he was going to be safe thought he was going to be safe and he calls the name of the city and he calls the name of the city after his son after his son enoch enoch and so brother sisters another and so brother sisters another sorry story sorry story a man a man forsaking willfully deliberately with forsaking willfully deliberately with malice the forethought the privileges malice the forethought the privileges which god has given to him let us as i said yesterday take time out once a week or twice a take time out once a week or twice a week or more if possible week or more if possible to sit down to sit down and reckon up our privileges before god and reckon up our privileges before god and say to ourselves just how much do we and say to ourselves just how much do we value these privileges and let us act as value these privileges and let us act as if we do and what about abel the blood of the lord jesus it says the blood of the lord jesus it says speaketh better things speaketh better things than that of abel than that of abel i just to this point that i'd like to i just to this point that i'd like to diverge a bit diverge a bit for the rest of for the rest of this session for the next 10 minutes or this session for the next 10 minutes or so abel was a shepherd so was the lord jesus so was the lord jesus out of thee shall come forth he that out of thee shall come forth he that shall be ruler or shepherd shall be ruler or shepherd of my people israel and those in the new testament are also called called shepherds shepherds can we turn to the first of peter can we turn to the first of peter and look briefly at some of the and look briefly at some of the functions functions of shepherds of shepherds look briefly at look briefly at that which the shepherds that which the shepherds had to do and verses 1 1 to 4 as are profound excitations that come from this and some which need to be drawn out at length the elders verse one which are among you i exhort i exhort who am also an elder who am also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of and a witness of the sufferings of christ christ and also a partaker of the glory that and also a partaker of the glory that shall be shall be revealed revealed now notice carefully that this is to the now notice carefully that this is to the elders the senior members of the meeting elders the senior members of the meeting the arranging brethren feed the flock of god which is which is among you among you taking the oversight thereof taking the oversight thereof not by constraint because somebody's not by constraint because somebody's twisting your arm to do it twisting your arm to do it but willingly but willingly not for filthy luca not for filthy luca because you're getting paid for it because you're getting paid for it but of a ready mind because you want to but of a ready mind because you want to do the job do the job neither as being lords over god's neither as being lords over god's heritage heritage but being examples but being examples to the flock to the flock and when the chief shepherd shall appear and when the chief shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away that fadeth not away those words need serious thought those words need serious thought the elders are being called the the elders are being called the shepherds shepherds what's a shepherd what's a shepherd a shepherd is somebody who looks after a shepherd is somebody who looks after his sheep his sheep another and says a shepherd must be a another and says a shepherd must be a man man or a woman or a woman who knows the state of the flock who knows the state of the flock who cares about the state of the flock who cares about the state of the flock who cares about his or her brethren and who cares about his or her brethren and sisters we are all when it boils down to sisters we are all when it boils down to it somebody's shepherd or the other look around your meeting there are those there there are those there who are strong in the faith they've been who are strong in the faith they've been there for years they are firm they can there for years they are firm they can resist all manner of temptations and resist all manner of temptations and problems problems they are the pillars they are the pillars of the meeting of the meeting those need to turn in their turn now and those need to turn in their turn now and help others help others those who are young in the faith those who are young in the faith those who have marital problems those those who have marital problems those who have difficult children those who who have difficult children those who have teenage children that are have teenage children that are pre-presenting problems all of these and pre-presenting problems all of these and many more situations arise which need many more situations arise which need the compassionate eye of a shepherd the compassionate eye of a shepherd which shepherd you think would say to which shepherd you think would say to himself right this sheep of mine is sick kick him out of the flock i have done well i m my flock is now i have done well i m my flock is now safe safe which shepherd would do that which shepherd would do that it would be a grievous loss to him it would be a grievous loss to him if he did such a thing brothers and if he did such a thing brothers and sisters sisters and so it should be when one of our and so it should be when one of our brethren is sick he wants to leave the brethren is sick he wants to leave the meeting because he has believed meeting because he has believed something that is not we think is not something that is not we think is not true true what's the first step that we should what's the first step that we should take take the last step that we should take is to the last step that we should take is to kick him out of the door kick him out of the door the first step should never ever be that the first step should never ever be that it should be to go to him with the it should be to go to him with the attitude that we are a shepherd we are attitude that we are a shepherd we are shepherds we care about this manner of shepherds we care about this manner of this woman we are interested in your this woman we are interested in your problems problems let's talk about it let's talk about it discuss it sympathetically rather than discuss it sympathetically rather than with a rod with a rod i very rarely read in scripture anywhere i very rarely read in scripture anywhere else about a shepherd taking a rod and else about a shepherd taking a rod and beating his sheep very very rarely and beating his sheep very very rarely and yet so often this is our attitude yet so often this is our attitude that the very first sign of trouble we that the very first sign of trouble we cut off cut off we chop we shove to one side we axe we we chop we shove to one side we axe we do everything that a shepherd would do everything that a shepherd would never do never do yes there comes a time yes there comes a time when the infection is too great when the infection is too great when it does need cutting off when it does need cutting off but it should then be done if at all but it should then be done if at all with with love with great sorrow love with great sorrow with regret rather than saying to with regret rather than saying to ourselves oh well he's gone now problems ourselves oh well he's gone now problems are finished are finished we can get on with the business of being we can get on with the business of being in the truth in the truth too often is it like that brother and too often is it like that brother and sisters tend the flock of god which is sisters tend the flock of god which is among you among you feed them feed them heal them heal them give them water to drink give them water to drink look after them because sheep are look after them because sheep are basically stupid basically stupid and if it and if it doesn't please you to be likened to a doesn't please you to be likened to a sheep then please rest assured it's not sheep then please rest assured it's not me that's doing it it's the word of god me that's doing it it's the word of god sheep are basically stupid and those who sheep are basically stupid and those who have intelligence need to be the ones have intelligence need to be the ones that take great care of these sheep that take great care of these sheep i'm very much minded brothers and i'm very much minded brothers and sisters of the 40th chapter of the book sisters of the 40th chapter of the book of isaiah perhaps i can just draw your of isaiah perhaps i can just draw your attention briefly to them attention briefly to them to that to that passage isaiah chapter 40 passage isaiah chapter 40 it needs a bit of serious it needs a bit of serious meditation meditation concerning the lord jesus christ concerning the lord jesus christ wonderful passage wonderful passage dealing with jesus dealing with jesus verse 10 verse 10 behold the lord god will come with behold the lord god will come with strong hand and his arm shall rule for strong hand and his arm shall rule for him ah there we have it we're gonna beat him ah there we have it we're gonna beat them black and blue behold his reward is with him his reward is with him and his work before him and his work before him he shall feed his flock he shall feed his flock like a shepherd like a shepherd he shall gather the lambs in his arm he shall gather the lambs in his arm because they're too little their legs because they're too little their legs just won't hold them up for the journey just won't hold them up for the journey that they're going that they're going he shall carry them in his bosom he shall carry them in his bosom and he shall gently lead those that are and he shall gently lead those that are with young with young [Music] [Music] is that a description of the way is that a description of the way you shepherd your particular flock you shepherd your particular flock your hus you husbands your hus you husbands your wife your wife and your children and your children you mothers your children and your you mothers your children and your neighbors and their acquaintances neighbors and their acquaintances you preachers is this how you preach to you preachers is this how you preach to the outside or do you take the stick and the outside or do you take the stick and beat them over the head with it until beat them over the head with it until they see the truth or at least see stars they see the truth or at least see stars brothers and sisters is is brothers and sisters is is this is so this is so totally totally removed from that sort of spirit isn't removed from that sort of spirit isn't it it he shall feed his flock like a shepherd he shall feed his flock like a shepherd when they need food he'll take him to when they need food he'll take him to the right place where they can get some the right place where they can get some grass that they might enjoy and eat grass that they might enjoy and eat he shall gather the lambs in his arm and he shall gather the lambs in his arm and carry them in his bosom there's a carry them in his bosom there's a picture of a shepherd with picture of a shepherd with one lamb there perhaps another lamb one lamb there perhaps another lamb there walking along going to back to the there walking along going to back to the fold or wheresoever but taking care of fold or wheresoever but taking care of them so that the big bullies the rams them so that the big bullies the rams and the others won't trample on them and the others won't trample on them won't but them won't won't but them won't show them to one side show them to one side he shall gently lead those that are with he shall gently lead those that are with young young the pregnant use the pregnant use the ones who are bearing the ones who are bearing children the ones who are preaching in children the ones who are preaching in our midst the ones who are about to give our midst the ones who are about to give birth to children you can't treat a birth to children you can't treat a mother who's just about to have mother who's just about to have a baby seven months long and you can't a baby seven months long and you can't treat her like a long distance runner he shall gently lead those that are with young young push them if they need help but push them if they need help but certainly help certainly help you see the spirit of it you see the spirit of it it's not at all one of it's not at all one of beating pushing beating pushing pounding kicking pounding kicking biting gouging scratching it's loving that's the word i think that describes that's the word i think that describes this he loves his sheep he laid down his this he loves his sheep he laid down his life for his sheep life for his sheep brothers and sisters before you cut one brothers and sisters before you cut one of those sheep off of those sheep off before you amputate them before you before you amputate them before you throw them to the wolves outside there throw them to the wolves outside there think once twice 10 times because that think once twice 10 times because that is a person for whom christ died you is a person for whom christ died you didn't die for them maybe if you died didn't die for them maybe if you died for him you could throw him out think feed the flock feed the flock of god of god which is among you which is among you let us each look round in our own let us each look round in our own circles and see those for whom we are circles and see those for whom we are shepherds let us see whether we are shepherds let us see whether we are giving them the appropriate and correct giving them the appropriate and correct instruction whether we are building them instruction whether we are building them up rather than tearing them down up rather than tearing them down brothers and sisters brothers and sisters the theme of a shepherd is a wonderful the theme of a shepherd is a wonderful one one and it demands much more meditation than and it demands much more meditation than unfortunately we can give this morning unfortunately we can give this morning cain cain killed his brother killed his brother because his brother was good because his brother was good let us follow the example of that man let us follow the example of that man and the lord jesus and the lord jesus and do good to our brethren however and do good to our brethren however ungrateful and ungracious they might be ungrateful and ungracious they might be as a result of it as a result of it that's what god would have us do we'll conclude with a word of prayer after we sung hymn number 73 oh lord the almighty our shepherd our shepherd our keeper our keeper our guard our guard our guide and our friends our guide and our friends we raise our hearts to thee this morning we raise our hearts to thee this morning in thanks and in love in thanks and in love and in adoration and in adoration for the wonders of thy word for the wonders of thy word and for the beauty that is in his pages and for the beauty that is in his pages and thanking thee for the love that has and thanking thee for the love that has shown to us the sinful sons of men shown to us the sinful sons of men to call us to call us thy children thy children help us oh lord to value or write our help us oh lord to value or write our privileges privileges that we that we should take them up with strong hands should take them up with strong hands and walk with faith and with love and walk with faith and with love and with hope and with hope before thee before thee in the paths of righteousness in the paths of righteousness all the days of our life all the days of our life hear our prayer oh lord our god and our hear our prayer oh lord our god and our shepherd and accept our thanksgiving shepherd and accept our thanksgiving through christ jesus who died for us through christ jesus who died for us amen

Transcript

let us begin brethren sisters by singing together hymn number 289 together hymn number 289 most glorious things are spoken most glorious things are spoken jerusalem jerusalem of the of the number two please remain seated while we offer a word of prayer oh great god god of abraham god of abraham of isaac of isaac and of jacob and of jacob who was promised to raise from the dead who was promised to raise from the dead those who serve thee those who serve thee and believe in thy promises and believe in thy promises to thee this day we lift our hearts in to thee this day we lift our hearts in thanksgiving thanksgiving to bless thee and to praise thy name to bless thee and to praise thy name for all our wondrous goodness for all our wondrous goodness and for all thy bountiful kindness to us and for all thy bountiful kindness to us the children of men the children of men and all lord we thank thee for the great and all lord we thank thee for the great and precious promises which we espouse and precious promises which we espouse made to thy servants to abraham to isaac made to thy servants to abraham to isaac and to jacob and to jacob on this day as we on this day as we contemplate the lives of jacob and his contemplate the lives of jacob and his brother esau brother esau we pray that thou would turn our feet we pray that thou would turn our feet aside from the paths of evil aside from the paths of evil that we may choose that which is good that we may choose that which is good and so please thee and so please thee our god and our father our god and our father through christ jesus we ask these things through christ jesus we ask these things amen as an introduction to the subject broadcasters we shall read together broadcasters we shall read together how we should be led together in the how we should be led together in the reading of genesis chapter 25 reading of genesis chapter 25 verses 19 through to the end verses 19 through to the end and brother jim priest has kindly and brother jim priest has kindly consented to leaders in that reading genesis chapter 25 chapter 25 verse 19. verse 19. and these are the generations of isaac and these are the generations of isaac abraham's son abraham beget isaac abraham's son abraham beget isaac and isaac was 40 years old when he took and isaac was 40 years old when he took rebecca to wife rebecca to wife the daughter of bethule the syrian of the daughter of bethule the syrian of paranaram paranaram the sister to laban the syrian the sister to laban the syrian and isaac entreated the lord for his and isaac entreated the lord for his wife because she was barren wife because she was barren and the lord was entreated of him and and the lord was entreated of him and rebecca his wife conceived rebecca his wife conceived and the children struggled together and the children struggled together within her within her and she said and she said if it be so why am i thus if it be so why am i thus and she went to inquire of the lord and she went to inquire of the lord and the lord said unto her and the lord said unto her two nations are in thy womb two nations are in thy womb and two manner of people shall be and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels separated from thy bowels and the one people should be stronger and the one people should be stronger than the other people than the other people and the elder shall serve the younger and the elder shall serve the younger and when her days to be delivered were and when her days to be delivered were fulfilled fulfilled behold they were twins in her womb behold they were twins in her womb and the first came out red and the first came out red all over like a hairy garment all over like a hairy garment and they called his name esau and they called his name esau and after that and after that came his brother out and his hand took came his brother out and his hand took hold on esau's heel hold on esau's heel and his name was called jacob and his name was called jacob and isaac was three score years old when and isaac was three score years old when she bare them she bare them and the boys grew and the boys grew and esau was a cunning hunter and esau was a cunning hunter a man of the field a man of the field and jacob was a plain man and jacob was a plain man dwelling in tents dwelling in tents and isaac loved esau because he did eat and isaac loved esau because he did eat of his venison of his venison but rebecca loved jacob but rebecca loved jacob and jacob sawed pottage and jacob sawed pottage and esau came from the field and he was and esau came from the field and he was faint faint and esau said to jacob feed me i pray and esau said to jacob feed me i pray thee with that same red pottage prime thee with that same red pottage prime faint faint therefore was his name called edom therefore was his name called edom and jacob said and jacob said sell me this day thy birthright sell me this day thy birthright and esau said and esau said behold i am at the point to die and what behold i am at the point to die and what prophet shall this birthright do to me prophet shall this birthright do to me and jacob said swear to me this day and jacob said swear to me this day and he swear unto him and he swear unto him and he sold his birthright unto jacob and he sold his birthright unto jacob then jacob gave esau bread and pottage then jacob gave esau bread and pottage of lentils and he did eat and drink of lentils and he did eat and drink and rose up and went his way and rose up and went his way thus esau despised his birthright we have in this story this before us this morning story this before us this morning brother sisters brother sisters the third example this week the third example this week of a man of a man who despised who despised a man who forsook a man who forsook all of the mighty privileges which god all of the mighty privileges which god gave him gave him and it is from that that we shall take and it is from that that we shall take our lessons this day our lessons this day let's go in then at the 19th verse these are the generations of isaac abraham's son abraham's son abraham begat isaac abraham begat isaac and isaac and isaac was 40 years old was 40 years old when he took rebecca to wife the when he took rebecca to wife the daughter of bethel the syrian of daughter of bethel the syrian of padanaram the sister of laban the syrian you notice that in verse 26 that it states there that isaac was that it states there that isaac was sixty three score years old sixty three score years old when she bare the children when she bare the children which means that there was a gap there which means that there was a gap there of 20 years of 20 years in which in which she was barren she was barren in which she had no child in which she had no child and this was obviously a matter of and this was obviously a matter of considerable distress a matter of considerable distress a matter of considerable concern considerable concern so the logical thing is that isaac does so the logical thing is that isaac does in verse 21 is to entreat the lord for in verse 21 is to entreat the lord for his wife his wife because because she was barren i'd like to pause there for a minute brother sisters and think around this brother sisters and think around this question here that is before us question here that is before us isaac isaac not having a child not having a child for 20 years for 20 years entreats the lord that he might have a entreats the lord that he might have a child child abraham his father abraham his father had been for a much longer time had been for a much longer time without a child without a child and yet we never ever read of abraham and yet we never ever read of abraham begging god for a child begging god for a child the nearest we come to it is when the nearest we come to it is when abraham says to god lo i have no child abraham says to god lo i have no child and one born in my house is my ear and one born in my house is my ear abraham doesn't seem to abraham doesn't seem to demand or entreat or ask god for a child demand or entreat or ask god for a child because god had promised him a child because god had promised him a child in thy seed shall all nations of the in thy seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed and abraham takes this earth be blessed and abraham takes this at its face value accepts it and doesn't at its face value accepts it and doesn't seem to go on and on at god about it seem to go on and on at god about it isaac is different isaac is different maybe he is provoked to do so by rebecca maybe he is provoked to do so by rebecca who was a very intelligent very clever who was a very intelligent very clever woman woman he may or have kept on at him saying ask he may or have kept on at him saying ask god ask god and he does god ask god and he does but god is entreated of him but god is entreated of him yet it had been said in scripture that yet it had been said in scripture that in isaac shall thy seed be called in isaac shall thy seed be called therefore isaac was going to have therefore isaac was going to have children children and yet he sees fit to intrigue the lord and yet he sees fit to intrigue the lord for a child for a child i wonder whether this is not this is a i wonder whether this is not this is a suggestion that i'm putting to you now suggestion that i'm putting to you now to consider to consider that whether in point of fact that whether in point of fact he did right he did right god had stated i will give you children god had stated i will give you children in isaac shall thy seed be called in isaac shall thy seed be called god had stated he would give him god had stated he would give him children children did isaac do right to intrigue god did isaac do right to intrigue god did god give to isaac and to rebecca did god give to isaac and to rebecca before he was ready to do so because of before he was ready to do so because of their entreaty did the fact that they their entreaty did the fact that they kept on at him make him act as it were kept on at him make him act as it were before his time before his time certainly the consequence of this is certainly the consequence of this is very serious very serious verse 22 she conceived and the children verse 22 she conceived and the children struggled together within her struggled together within her it's not just it's not just normal kicking movements of normal kicking movements of children within the womb that's that's children within the womb that's that's being described here being described here the children the children struggled together within her struggled together within her so much so that she says if it be so if so much so that she says if it be so if this is the way i am this is the way i am why do i live as the revised version why do i live as the revised version says wherefore do i live it was agony says wherefore do i live it was agony having those children inside her having those children inside her they were kicking they were struggling they were kicking they were struggling they were squirming they were probably they were squirming they were probably punching and beating one another i don't punching and beating one another i don't know within the womb know within the womb and the poor woman was sort of standing and the poor woman was sort of standing there watching this going on and it must there watching this going on and it must have hurts intensely have hurts intensely they were enemies from the time of their they were enemies from the time of their conception it looks like conception it looks like she went she went to inquire to inquire of the lord of the lord where did she go to inquire of the lord where did she go to inquire of the lord it doesn't say it doesn't say shall we speculate shall we speculate yes yes of course i suggest brother says he went to one of two places two places she either went to see melchizedek the she either went to see melchizedek the king of salem the priest of the most king of salem the priest of the most high god who was the prophet of the lord high god who was the prophet of the lord presumably presumably or she went to see abraham or she went to see abraham isaac's father who was also described as isaac's father who was also described as you know as a prophet of the lord she you know as a prophet of the lord she went to inquire she asked one of them went to inquire she asked one of them the consequences of the inquiry are set the consequences of the inquiry are set before us here before us here the lord said unto her the lord said unto her two nations are in thy womb two nations are in thy womb two manner of people shall be separated two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels the one people shall be from thy bowels the one people shall be stronger than the other people stronger than the other people and and the elder the elder shall serve the shall serve the younger younger and of course rebecca having received and of course rebecca having received this message from the lord goes home and this message from the lord goes home and doesn't say a word about this to isaac doesn't say a word about this to isaac do you think so do you think so never never she went straight home and she said do she went straight home and she said do you know what the lord said to me isaac you know what the lord said to me isaac and then she quotes this and says the and then she quotes this and says the elder shall serve the younger elder shall serve the younger so from that time forward isaac must so from that time forward isaac must have known that when those children were have known that when those children were born that god had intended that the born that god had intended that the elder was going to serve the younger he elder was going to serve the younger he knew this knew this and brothers and sisters i ask you to and brothers and sisters i ask you to put that in a mental pigeonhole and take put that in a mental pigeonhole and take it out later it out later when we come to the subsequent when we come to the subsequent thoughts in this address thoughts in this address isaac knew isaac knew god had made it plain to rebecca who god had made it plain to rebecca who made it plain to isaac isaac knew made it plain to isaac isaac knew verse 24 verse 24 and when her days to be delivered were and when her days to be delivered were fulfilled fulfilled behold there were twins in her womb behold there were twins in her womb and the first came out red all over like and the first came out red all over like a and hairy garment a and hairy garment and they called his name and they called his name esau must have been an extraordinary sight this child this child it wasn't blood it wasn't blood it was hairs all over this child it was hairs all over this child red hairs she must have been like my wife did been eating too many tomatoes been eating too many tomatoes during her during her pregnancy came out during her during her pregnancy came out red all over like an hairy garment must red all over like an hairy garment must have been a sight to see have been a sight to see called his name esau called his name esau and after that and after that came his brother out came his brother out and his hand took hold on esau's heel and his hand took hold on esau's heel and his name was called jacob so the and his name was called jacob so the boys are born boys are born twins they've been fighting in the womb twins they've been fighting in the womb as they are born as they are born jacob grabs hole on ethor's heel jacob grabs hole on ethor's heel and notice they're 60 years old when she and notice they're 60 years old when she bear him isaac was 60 years old when she bear him isaac was 60 years old when she bare them bare them and now brother and sisters we have and now brother and sisters we have before us before us verse 27 verse 27 a little verse which i would earnestly a little verse which i would earnestly ask you ask you to put in a little box because that to put in a little box because that verse there verse there is a summary of the two men that they is a summary of the two men that they developed into it's a little developed into it's a little encapsulated encapsulated epitome epitome of all that they were of all that they were and scripture summarizes it for us so and scripture summarizes it for us so beautifully and simply beautifully and simply and the boys grew and the boys grew and esau was a cunning and esau was a cunning hunter hunter a man of the field a man of the field and jacob was a plain man and jacob was a plain man dwelling dwelling in tents in tents now i want to consider to dwell and now i want to consider to dwell and meditate a little bit on meditate a little bit on both of those statements both of those statements let's take esau first let's take esau first a cunning a cunning hunter hunter a man a man of the field if you are going to be a cunning anything anything a cunning gardener a skillful cook a cunning gardener a skillful cook a skillful a skillful cunning clever cunning clever pianist or guitarist pianist or guitarist a great photographer a great photographer i'm a strong powerful athlete i'm a strong powerful athlete a good a good outstanding weight lifter outstanding weight lifter whatever whatever whatever you are going to be cunning at whatever you are going to be cunning at you have got present sisters to practice you have got present sisters to practice diligently at it because it nothing diligently at it because it nothing that's worth having as it were comes that's worth having as it were comes without a great deal of effort without a great deal of effort uncertainly esau is an outstanding uncertainly esau is an outstanding hunter he is a cunning hunter he is a cunning hunter a good clever hunter a good clever hunter hunter so what does that mean in terms of in so what does that mean in terms of in practical terms practical terms answer he had to spend a great deal of answer he had to spend a great deal of time hunting he had to spend much time time hunting he had to spend much time learning how to track animals through learning how to track animals through the forest he had to spend much time the forest he had to spend much time learning how to shoot straight with his learning how to shoot straight with his bow and his arrow he had just learned to bow and his arrow he had just learned to spend much time spend much time learning how to stay on his horse as he learning how to stay on his horse as he charged through the forest suit he charged through the forest suit he wouldn't get knocked off it he had to wouldn't get knocked off it he had to spend a great deal of time as i say spend a great deal of time as i say practicing practicing practicing at practicing practicing practicing at being a hunter before he could be called being a hunter before he could be called a cunning hunter a cunning hunter a man of the field a man of the field which in its own turn which in its own turn means that he didn't have much time to means that he didn't have much time to spend at home spend at home you can't be learning to hunt while you you can't be learning to hunt while you are at home are at home there are not very many wild beasts there are not very many wild beasts there so he's got to spend a lot of time there so he's got to spend a lot of time chasing after them and never be at home chasing after them and never be at home practice practice practice makes perfect practice practice practice makes perfect and that's what esau did and that's what esau did scripture calls him scripture calls him a man a man of the field he lived out there he of the field he lived out there he breathed the open air he was one of breathed the open air he was one of these probably hill hearty how do you do these probably hill hearty how do you do types types his brother on the other hand his brother on the other hand is different jacob was was a plain a plain man man dwelling in tents dwelling in tents now do you notice how those two now do you notice how those two sentences are set in direct opposition sentences are set in direct opposition to one another to one another esau was a cunning hunter esau was a cunning hunter jacob was a plain man jacob was a plain man esau was a man of the field jacob dwelt esau was a man of the field jacob dwelt intense exact parallels to one another intense exact parallels to one another what's a plain man what's a plain man does that mean he was plain to look at does that mean he was plain to look at he wasn't particularly good looking or he wasn't particularly good looking or what what it's a bit more than that it's a bit more than that look at the margin look at the margin a plain man my revised version tells me a plain man my revised version tells me that that word plain means quiet that that word plain means quiet or harmless or harmless hebrew perfect hebrew perfect perfect perfect that word also occurs in the 37th psalm that word also occurs in the 37th psalm which you probably remember which you probably remember mark the perfect man and behold the mark the perfect man and behold the uprights uprights so perfect or plain in this case means so perfect or plain in this case means an upright man a man who was not crooked an upright man a man who was not crooked a man who was honest straight in his a man who was honest straight in his dealings before god dealings before god and yet we brothers and sisters have and yet we brothers and sisters have gone on for years and years and years gone on for years and years and years saying that jacob was a crook saying that jacob was a crook he was a deceiver he was a rogue he was he was a deceiver he was a rogue he was a cheat and a swindler a cheat and a swindler scripture says directly the opposite of scripture says directly the opposite of that in this verse jacob was a perfect that in this verse jacob was a perfect and upright man and upright man dwelling in tents dwelling in tents now let's take the second part of that now let's take the second part of that dwelling dwelling in in tents tents would you turn over with me to the would you turn over with me to the letter to the hebrews letter to the hebrews to chapter 11 to chapter 11 and see there and see there how this word is used how this word is used or how this expression is used or how this expression is used hebrews chapter 11 hebrews chapter 11 and we want the ninth verse hebrews 11 verse nine by faith abraham abraham became a sojourner revised version became a sojourner revised version in the land of promise in the land of promise as in a strange country as in a strange country dwelling dwelling in tents in tents with isaac with isaac and jacob and jacob the heirs with him the heirs with him of the same promise of the same promise now notice it's now notice it's a question now of a bit more than just a question now of a bit more than just simply what they lived in simply what they lived in scripture is not telling us that they scripture is not telling us that they didn't have a house to live in didn't have a house to live in i think it's telling us a bit more i think it's telling us a bit more this tent or these tents that are this tent or these tents that are described here described here are probably special tents are probably special tents i believe and i put it to you as a very i believe and i put it to you as a very serious suggestion that it wasn't only a serious suggestion that it wasn't only a tent it was the tent of worship the tent it was the tent of worship the place that they met with god place that they met with god if you go back now with me to genesis 26 if you go back now with me to genesis 26 to verse 5 to verse 5 you'll see there that there's you'll see there that there's considerable considerable considerable evidence that they must considerable evidence that they must have had some sort of tent some sort of have had some sort of tent some sort of place to worship god to meet with him place to worship god to meet with him it was looked after by abraham then by it was looked after by abraham then by isaac in his turn isaac in his turn and then by jacob who dwelt in tents and then by jacob who dwelt in tents with abraham and isaac genesis 26 and with abraham and isaac genesis 26 and verse 5 verse 5 because he says that abraham obeyed my because he says that abraham obeyed my voice and notice all these individual voice and notice all these individual items now items now abraham obeyed my voice and kept my abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge charge my commandments my commandments my statutes my statutes and and my laws my laws there are at least one two three four there are at least one two three four five items there five items there commandments commandments statutes statutes laws laws charge charge that word charge is of interest that word charge is of interest because the word charge is used later on because the word charge is used later on in the law of moses to describe the in the law of moses to describe the charge that was given to the children of charge that was given to the children of levi over the tabernacle and its levi over the tabernacle and its appertenances appertenances so abraham must have had so abraham must have had a tabernacle a tabernacle and it's a pertinencies and places to and it's a pertinencies and places to worship it's those tense that is being worship it's those tense that is being described there in verse 27 dwelling in described there in verse 27 dwelling in tents the tents of worship tents the tents of worship now brother sisters now brother sisters supposing we accept that thought supposing we accept that thought for a moment for a moment let us see where it leads us if jacob dwelt in tents that means he performed with abraham with isaac the performed with abraham with isaac the office of a priest office of a priest but i'd like to remind you at this point but i'd like to remind you at this point now of the privileges that attach to now of the privileges that attach to being the firstborn son being the firstborn son if you happen to be the firstborn son of if you happen to be the firstborn son of a family a family then three things automatically came then three things automatically came your way number one when your dad died your way number one when your dad died they would split if you are there were they would split if you are there were two of you let's suppose two of you let's suppose when your father died when your father died the goods would be divided up into three the goods would be divided up into three and two of those and two of those three parts would be given to you you three parts would be given to you you inherited a double portion of your inherited a double portion of your father's goods when he died father's goods when he died secondly secondly if it was a kingly or a royal family if it was a kingly or a royal family like the house of david then if you were like the house of david then if you were the eldest son you are automatically in the eldest son you are automatically in line to become the king very much as line to become the king very much as prince charles in england is the ear to prince charles in england is the ear to the throne because he is the eldest son the throne because he is the eldest son and not prince andrew or one of the and not prince andrew or one of the others others thirdly and most important of all in our thirdly and most important of all in our considerations this morning considerations this morning is that if you happen to be the eldest is that if you happen to be the eldest son son then then you became automatically the priest of you became automatically the priest of the family when you became of age the family when you became of age you remember that the tribe of levi was you remember that the tribe of levi was taken instead of the firstborn to serve taken instead of the firstborn to serve god god therefore i say brothers and sisters therefore i say brothers and sisters esau esau was the priest of god was the priest of god esau was the firstborn esau was the firstborn esau it was who should have been esau it was who should have been dwelling in tents with abram and isaac dwelling in tents with abram and isaac heirs with him of the same promise heirs with him of the same promise where was he hunting off in the bushes off in the bushes off in the plains off in the hills off off in the plains off in the hills off in the mountains off in the savannahs in the mountains off in the savannahs off in the desert off in the desert hunting hunting never here on the sabbath to worship god never here on the sabbath to worship god never here to take charge of the things never here to take charge of the things that he should have taken charge of that he should have taken charge of never here to bother too much about the never here to bother too much about the commandments the statutes the laws the commandments the statutes the laws the voice and the charge of god never there voice and the charge of god never there who did it instead who did it instead [Music] [Music] jacob jacob he dwelt in tents he dwelt in tents his heart was there his heart was there that's where he belonged that's the that's where he belonged that's the thing that he wanted thing that he wanted and brothers and sisters now if you and brothers and sisters now if you think of it like that can you not see think of it like that can you not see that this man's heart was right before that this man's heart was right before god and what he wanted above all else god and what he wanted above all else was to stop this endless wicked was to stop this endless wicked trampling upon the high privileges that trampling upon the high privileges that god had given to esau by his brother god had given to esau by his brother god had given to esau his greatest god had given to esau his greatest privilege to be his high priest privilege to be his high priest esau was never there esau trampled over esau was never there esau trampled over these privileges and there was jacob these privileges and there was jacob doing that job and wanting so badly to doing that job and wanting so badly to be the priest of the family be the priest of the family that he was saying for years i wish i that he was saying for years i wish i could do it could do it i wish i could have that job i wish i could have that job his heart was there his heart was there and now and sisters look at the next and now and sisters look at the next couple of verses and isaac loved esau because he did eat of his venison because he did eat of his venison but rebecca but rebecca loved jacob loved jacob let's take the first point first let's take the first point first the first born son the first born son if he did not do as he ought to have if he did not do as he ought to have done if he misbehaved done if he misbehaved could be ousted from his office by the could be ousted from his office by the father father i'd like to show you an instance of that i'd like to show you an instance of that if you'll stick your hand there in if you'll stick your hand there in genesis 25 and come with me to first of genesis 25 and come with me to first of chronicles chapter five chronicles chapter five first of chronicles chapter five and first of chronicles chapter five and verse one verse one is an outstanding illustration of that is an outstanding illustration of that here here of chronicles chapter 5 of chronicles chapter 5 and verse 1. and verse 1. now the sons of reuben the firstborn of now the sons of reuben the firstborn of israel israel brackets brackets for he was the firstborn he was born for he was the firstborn he was born first he was the eldest son first he was the eldest son but far as much as he defiled his but far as much as he defiled his father's bed father's bed by going into bilhah by going into bilhah his birthright was given unto the sons his birthright was given unto the sons of joseph the son of israel of joseph the son of israel and the genealogy is not to be reckoned and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright after the birthright in other words the privilege of in other words the privilege of firstborn was taken away from reuben and firstborn was taken away from reuben and handed over to the sons of joseph and so the same thing the same thing should have obtained with esau should have obtained with esau esau didn't care about the the temple esau didn't care about the the temple and the and the tabernacle rather and the worship of god tabernacle rather and the worship of god and isaac is a good father who served and isaac is a good father who served god and who was true to god she just god and who was true to god she just thrown him out of the job thrown him out of the job get out of it get out of it but no but no what the scripture say what the scripture say isaac loved esau isaac loved esau because because he did eat of his venison he did eat of his venison just so long as esau kept him supplied just so long as esau kept him supplied with venison he could be the priest he with venison he could be the priest he could do what he liked just as much as could do what he liked just as much as he wished he wished i say brother sisters in this isaac is i say brother sisters in this isaac is very reprehensible very reprehensible he should have thrown him out he should have thrown him out he did not he did not and as a result of it and as a result of it trouble came trouble came but there's another very important point but there's another very important point that comes out here which i must make that comes out here which i must make you notice that there's a split in the you notice that there's a split in the family family isaac loved esau isaac loved esau rebecca rebecca loved jacob loved jacob and because of this enmity came between and because of this enmity came between the two of them the two of them and brother and sisters it happens so and brother and sisters it happens so often doesn't it often doesn't it in almost every family you care to look in almost every family you care to look at and you care to name at and you care to name that if there are two children or more that if there are two children or more than one then one of those children or than one then one of those children or two of those children two of those children will be very dissimilar will be very dissimilar you'll have the extrovert type you'll you'll have the extrovert type you'll have the introvert type you'll have the have the introvert type you'll have the outgoing thought you'll have the quiet outgoing thought you'll have the quiet gentle thought you'll have the good gentle thought you'll have the good you'll have the badge you'll have the badge and because one of them is better and because one of them is better looking is more winning in their ways is looking is more winning in their ways is more something or the other more more something or the other more appealing appealing the family tends to split because the family tends to split because you love the one you love the one more than the other and this can bring more than the other and this can bring about extreme jealousy and extreme anger about extreme jealousy and extreme anger extreme frustration in some of those extreme frustration in some of those children children and i beg of you that if you have a and i beg of you that if you have a family that has more than one child in family that has more than one child in it that you make very very sure as far it that you make very very sure as far as in your eyes as in your eyes not to show favoritism to the children not to show favoritism to the children if you're a school teacher if you're a school teacher make very very certain that you make very very certain that you don't show favor to the bright ones the don't show favor to the bright ones the good looking ones the whatsoever ones good looking ones the whatsoever ones above the others above the others it's a very very bad thing and many of it's a very very bad thing and many of you have probably got bad experiences in you have probably got bad experiences in your mind your mind what happened to you when you were what happened to you when you were children because of this very thing jacob isaac loved esau rebecca love jacob and isaac loved esau rebecca love jacob and jacob himself later on very unwisely jacob himself later on very unwisely does the same thing to his own children does the same thing to his own children as i say as i say isaac isaac sorry jacob himself does the very same sorry jacob himself does the very same thing when he gets older and as a result thing when he gets older and as a result although he had nearly come nearly been although he had nearly come nearly been murdered by his brother because of this murdered by his brother because of this favoritism he himself now goes and shows favoritism he himself now goes and shows favoritism to joseph and to benjamin favoritism to joseph and to benjamin natural understandable natural understandable but wrong but wrong [Applause] [Applause] shall we go on shall we go on verse 29 verse 29 the day the day came at last came at last jacob jacob sod pottich sod pottich and esau came in from the field and esau came in from the field and he was faint and he was faint and esau said to jacob and esau said to jacob feed me feed me i pray thee with that same red cottage i pray thee with that same red cottage for i am faint for i am faint therefore was his name called therefore was his name called edom and the opportunity had come at last jacob as i said for years had been jacob as i said for years had been watching his brother trampled gayly over watching his brother trampled gayly over these privileges that god had given to these privileges that god had given to him for years he had wanted to be the him for years he had wanted to be the priest of the family priest of the family and he says and he says sell me this day thy birthright sell me this day thy birthright i want that job that i should have that i want that job that i should have that you don't want give it to me sell it to you don't want give it to me sell it to me out behold i am at the point i am at the point to die and what profits shall this birthright shall this birthright do to me here is the man standing nakedly revealed for what he is standing nakedly revealed for what he is before you before you behold he says behold he says i am at the point of dying i am at the point of dying rubbish rubbish as we have had experiences in england as we have had experiences in england just recently just recently men and women can live for up to 30 60 men and women can live for up to 30 60 days without food before dying and he days without food before dying and he certainly had been hunting for 30 or 60 certainly had been hunting for 30 or 60 days without food most certainly not he days without food most certainly not he probably was a great big strong robust probably was a great big strong robust healthy fellow he wouldn't have died healthy fellow he wouldn't have died not at all sell me this day thy birthright put it like this brother sisters a man comes to you and says i'll give you five million dollars on one condition think about it i'll on one condition think about it i'll come back tomorrow and i'll tell you the come back tomorrow and i'll tell you the condition condition and you sit there and you say to and you sit there and you say to yourself now what could i do with five yourself now what could i do with five million dollars million dollars and you start building your castles in and you start building your castles in the sky the sky the trips around the world and i don't the trips around the world and i don't know what else know what else five million dollars into an awful lot five million dollars into an awful lot like five billion dollars you can have like five billion dollars you can have ten swimming pools in your backyard if ten swimming pools in your backyard if you've got a big enough back garden i you've got a big enough back garden i know all sorts of things you can do with know all sorts of things you can do with five million dollars five million dollars [Applause] [Applause] comes back the next day comes back the next day he says have you thought about it he says have you thought about it yeah what's the condition so i'll give it to you so i'll give it to you on one condition on one condition that you never again that you never again pick up your bible pick up your bible and you never again go near to a and you never again go near to a christophian church or anything like christophian church or anything like that that what would you tell him i hope you do as i would do and give him a swift kick where it hurts a swift kick where it hurts i hope you would i hope you would but five million dollars is a lot of but five million dollars is a lot of pressure pressure and you might consider it and you might consider it but supposing he came to you and said but supposing he came to you and said never read your bible again never go never read your bible again never go near to the christian election church near to the christian election church and i'll give you a hamburger with and i'll give you a hamburger with mustard on it mustard on it what would you do then what would you do then you really would kick him where it hurts you really would kick him where it hurts wouldn't you yes you would wouldn't you yes you would and here's the situation before us and here's the situation before us sell me this day your birthright the sell me this day your birthright the privileges that god has given you to be privileges that god has given you to be his high priest his high priest sell that to me says jacob and i'll give sell that to me says jacob and i'll give you a plate of beans you a plate of beans and what did the man do and what did the man do he sold him his birthright he sold him his birthright he sold his birthright unto jacob he he sold his birthright unto jacob he gave him gave him princess says it's so princess says it's so abominable that he should have done this abominable that he should have done this thing thing he could cook he could cook he must have come back from hunting with he must have come back from hunting with something something he could cook you remember when his he could cook you remember when his mother cooked that that goat's meat for mother cooked that that goat's meat for his father his father was unable to tell his father his father was unable to tell the difference between his mother's the difference between his mother's cooking and esau's cooking cooking and esau's cooking therefore he could cook and he could therefore he could cook and he could cook well he could have waited cook well he could have waited sell me this day thy birthright sell me this day thy birthright and he gave away and he gave away the greatest privilege that god could the greatest privilege that god could possibly have given him for a plate of possibly have given him for a plate of beans and jacob by way of extras gives beans and jacob by way of extras gives him a piece of bread as well brothers and sisters isn't it shameful isn't it disgusting that a man could isn't it disgusting that a man could sell such a thing so cheaply is it any sell such a thing so cheaply is it any wonder now that the next verse goes on wonder now that the next verse goes on to say and he did eat and drink and rose to say and he did eat and drink and rose up and went his way thus esau up and went his way thus esau despised his birthright despised his birthright brothers and sisters those words or that brothers and sisters those words or that word despised is one of the strongest word despised is one of the strongest words in scripture words in scripture when when nathan came to david and said to him nathan came to david and said to him wherefore hast thou despised the word of wherefore hast thou despised the word of the lord because you have slain your eye the lord because you have slain your eye the hittite with the sword and has taken the hittite with the sword and has taken his wife his wife that's the word that's used despised his that's the word that's used despised his birthright he had total contempt for the birthright he had total contempt for the things of god the shameful story doesn't end there verse 34 again verse 34 again then jacob gave esau then jacob gave esau bread bread and potage and potage of lentils of lentils and he did eat and he did eat and drink and drink and rose up and went his way and rose up and went his way simple words simple words but they only occur as far as i can tell but they only occur as far as i can tell in one other place in the old testament in one other place in the old testament in exodus chapter 32 would you like to in exodus chapter 32 would you like to look with me look with me at that exodus chapter 32 and verse 6. and they rose up early on the morrow early on the morrow and offered burnt offerings and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings and brought peace offerings and the people sat down to eat and the people sat down to eat and to drink and to drink and rose up and rose up to play to play you notice how similar that is to what you notice how similar that is to what was said in genesis was said in genesis and what were they playing and what were they playing well it wasn't hopscotch well it wasn't hopscotch it was something rather more serious it was something rather more serious than that than that neither let us commit fornications as neither let us commit fornications as the apostle paul as they committed they the apostle paul as they committed they went off to commit fornication and i went off to commit fornication and i read that verse there in genesis 25 as read that verse there in genesis 25 as meaning precisely that meaning precisely that that esau ate and drank and rose up and that esau ate and drank and rose up and went his way after one of the idolatrous went his way after one of the idolatrous temples and brothels that temples and brothels that dotted the land in which they dwelt dotted the land in which they dwelt and the letter to the hebrews again if and the letter to the hebrews again if you'll turn with me to chapter 12 you'll turn with me to chapter 12 makes this point very forcibly indeed makes this point very forcibly indeed hebrews chapter 12. hebrews chapter 12. [Applause] [Applause] and it's the and it's the 16th verse 16th verse and notice the context in which this is and notice the context in which this is placed placed hebrews 12 hebrews 12 and verse 16 and verse 16 lest there be lest there be any any fornicator fornicator or profane person or profane person as esau as esau who for one who for one morsel of meat morsel of meat soul his birthright soul his birthright so the selling of the birthright is so the selling of the birthright is placed in the same context as a profane placed in the same context as a profane person and a fornicator person and a fornicator and that's where he went and that's where he went that day unthinking is this man brothers and sisters sisters that he goes off to this idolatrous that he goes off to this idolatrous brothel brothel and there he has to tell his sorry story and there he has to tell his sorry story about his brother who has robbed him he about his brother who has robbed him he says of his privilege of his birthright says of his privilege of his birthright brother sisters how can we dare brother sisters how can we dare to say then to say then that that jacob jacob deceived isaac deceived isaac do you think this day when he bought do you think this day when he bought this thing of this thing of esau do you think he didn't take esau do you think he didn't take witnesses witnesses do you think that he didn't get he do you think that he didn't get he sought to sign some piece of paper to sought to sign some piece of paper to say this and do you think that he didn't say this and do you think that he didn't show it to his father show it to his father do you think his father didn't know do you think his father didn't know about that about that and yet his father persisted in giving and yet his father persisted in giving the blessing of the firstborn to this the blessing of the firstborn to this unworthy unworthy evil evil man man so evil was he so evil was he that so often he went to these places that so often he went to these places that he took his wives from them that he took his wives from them one of his their names is a holy bomber one of his their names is a holy bomber which means which means a tent a tent of a high place of a high place which high place which high place certainly not the high place of god certainly not the high place of god the high place is that he had found one the high place is that he had found one day wandering through the forests day wandering through the forests i can almost see how it was you know i can almost see how it was you know brother sisters brother sisters one day he was off chasing this deer one day he was off chasing this deer on his horse and he chased after it and on his horse and he chased after it and shot through a thicket up to the top of shot through a thicket up to the top of this hill this hill and the deer disappeared but at the top and the deer disappeared but at the top of this hill was this high place of of this hill was this high place of worship worship and there they were doing interesting and there they were doing interesting things things they interested him they interested him so he went the once and he went again so he went the once and he went again and he went again and he went again and he went again and he went again a profane person a profane person or a or a fornicator fornicator such as he saw who found his wife such as he saw who found his wife and married her from one of those places it's a sad story brother sisters and you and you doubtless have blamed jacob all these doubtless have blamed jacob all these years years for being for being a crook a cheat a crook a cheat a swindler a swindler i hope this day we have said enough to i hope this day we have said enough to convince you that that was not the case convince you that that was not the case but now let us take some words of but now let us take some words of excitation from this excitation from this first of all from esau first of all from esau excitation from esau excitation from esau yes if you want to become a cunning hunter or a cunning or a cunning whatever a guitarist a photographer a whatever a guitarist a photographer a painter a gardener i don't know what if painter a gardener i don't know what if you want to be a cunning one of these you want to be a cunning one of these then what happens is this then what happens is this you become interested in it you become interested in it you you practice practice you buy the best equipment you join a you buy the best equipment you join a club club and sooner or later what happens is off and sooner or later what happens is off you go to the clubs regularly and pretty you go to the clubs regularly and pretty soon you're doing things and seeing soon you're doing things and seeing things that you ought not to see things that you ought not to see and you go there again and again and you and you go there again and again and you find people there who think the way you find people there who think the way you think you find women there who interest think you find women there who interest you because they think about the same you because they think about the same things that you're thinking about you things that you're thinking about you find men there who are very interesting find men there who are very interesting and very personable and lo and behold and very personable and lo and behold before you know it before you know it you're involved with one of them you're involved with one of them possibly in adultery possibly marrying possibly in adultery possibly marrying out of the truth possibly being led away out of the truth possibly being led away your time ever been taken your time have your time ever been taken your time have been consumed been consumed by all of these extracurricular by all of these extracurricular activities activities brothers and sisters watch this brothers and sisters watch this carefully because it is so easy to fall carefully because it is so easy to fall into into it's so easy to do it's so easy to get it's so easy to do it's so easy to get lost lost in this particular forest in this particular forest what about jacob what about jacob jacob spent his life jacob spent his life dwelling in tents dwelling in tents with abraham with isaac heirs with him with abraham with isaac heirs with him of the same promise he wanted the of the same promise he wanted the promises of god he thought about very promises of god he thought about very little else he concentrated on that little else he concentrated on that he grabbed up in this particular he grabbed up in this particular instance here he grabbed the opportunity instance here he grabbed the opportunity when it came his way he bought it he when it came his way he bought it he took it up took it up he he held it to himself held it to himself and the opportunities come our way too and the opportunities come our way too very very often very very often all the arranging brethren say look all the arranging brethren say look we're up organizing a preaching effort we're up organizing a preaching effort in thus and so in thus and so and you think to yourself and say well and you think to yourself and say well um um i can't do it that week because i can't do it that week because because because because because you're losing the opportunity you're losing the opportunity and if you're not bent towards preaching and if you're not bent towards preaching then there are lots of other then there are lots of other opportunities to buy up opportunities to buy up they're the sick that needs visiting they're the sick that needs visiting there's good that needs doing their there's good that needs doing their friend they're people who need friends friend they're people who need friends there are people who need company to there are people who need company to talk to they're those who talk to they're those who you should be reading the word of god you should be reading the word of god with with are we brothers and sisters have these are we brothers and sisters have these exceeding great privileges given to us exceeding great privileges given to us for we shall be kings and priests unto for we shall be kings and priests unto god god we who are brethren let us take up the we who are brethren let us take up the fact that god has put within our hands fact that god has put within our hands the privilege of being the heads of our the privilege of being the heads of our families families and let us act as heads of our families and let us act as heads of our families and lead and lead lead in the ways of righteousness lead in the ways of righteousness not in the ways of laziness and of not in the ways of laziness and of iniquity and of uselessness iniquity and of uselessness and sisters let us take up all the and sisters let us take up all the opportunities that our children our opportunities that our children our grandchildren afford us they are grandchildren afford us they are privileges did you know that the book of privileges did you know that the book of deuteronomy for example said that you deuteronomy for example said that you are to teach your children and your are to teach your children and your children's children concerning the children's children concerning the things of god your grandchildren things of god your grandchildren privileges that come privileges that come our way our way let us not despise them let us not sell let us not despise them let us not sell them for things that are passing for them for things that are passing for things that are merely things that are merely transient i'd like to conclude with a look again a final look at the with a look again a final look at the 12th chapter of the letter to the 12th chapter of the letter to the hebrews hebrews because it brings us face to face because it brings us face to face with the firstborn with the firstborn the one who did not sell his privileges the one who did not sell his privileges at any price at any price hebrews chapter 12 hebrews chapter 12 and verse 16 once more and verse 16 once more lest says the writer lest says the writer there be any there be any fornicator or profane person as saw fornicator or profane person as saw who who for for one mess of meat sold his own birthright one mess of meat sold his own birthright and that word for is a very interesting and that word for is a very interesting one one in greek it's the preposition anti a n in greek it's the preposition anti a n and it normally means a commercial sort and it normally means a commercial sort of transaction i give you five dollars of transaction i give you five dollars in exchange for in exchange for this roll of film this roll of film i give you ten dollars for this thing i give you ten dollars for this thing the word that would be used there in the word that would be used there in greek is anti it is greek is anti it is a commercial exchange a commercial exchange he saw a commercial transaction sold his he saw a commercial transaction sold his birthright for a mess of pottage birthright for a mess of pottage look now with me verse 2 look now with me verse 2 looking unto jesus looking unto jesus the author and finisher of our faith the author and finisher of our faith who who in in exchange for same word anti exchange for same word anti in exchange for the joy that was set in exchange for the joy that was set before him endured the cross before him endured the cross despising machine despising machine and is set down and is set down at the right hand of the throne of god at the right hand of the throne of god it was a small price to pay jesus it was a small price to pay jesus thought for the great thought for the great joy that was set before him joy that was set before him and we ourselves let us forsake these and we ourselves let us forsake these things that so easily come upon us so things that so easily come upon us so easily draw us away from the truth easily draw us away from the truth endure the cross endure the cross despise the shame despise the shame that we might be set set down at the that we might be set set down at the right hand of the throne of god when the right hand of the throne of god when the time comes we shall conclude this session with a prayer please remain standing after we a prayer please remain standing after we have sung hymn number 179 oh god of abraham of isaac and of jacob of isaac and of jacob in whose name is enshrined the promise in whose name is enshrined the promise of the resurrection from the dead of the resurrection from the dead and the hope of life eternal and the hope of life eternal we thank thee for the privilege of we thank thee for the privilege of reading and meditating upon thy word reading and meditating upon thy word and ask that and ask that in thy mercy and in thy strength in thy mercy and in thy strength we may go forth during the coming days we may go forth during the coming days to serve thee faithfully to serve thee faithfully to buy up the opportunity to buy up the opportunity to lay up lay aside the to lay up lay aside the weight that so easily beset us weight that so easily beset us to esteem our privileges are right to esteem our privileges are right and to worship thee and to worship thee our one true and living god our one true and living god through christ jesus through christ jesus our lord and our mediator our lord and our mediator at thy right hand at thy right hand amen

Transcript

to briefly recap on what we've learned yesterday brother sisters yesterday brother sisters i tried to convince you or to put it i tried to convince you or to put it across to you across to you that the struggle in the battle between that the struggle in the battle between jacob and etha jacob and etha was not merely that of a cheat was not merely that of a cheat trying to do trying to do his brother his brother out of what belonged to him out of what belonged to him i tried to show you that i tried to show you that jacob in wanting and desiring to have jacob in wanting and desiring to have the birthright was really after the the birthright was really after the things of god that he was trying to things of god that he was trying to remove from esau's hands remove from esau's hands the privilege of being the priest the privilege of being the priest that privilege over which that privilege over which esau had trampled so blithely and so esau had trampled so blithely and so gayly for so long gayly for so long and so we come today and so we come today to to what what has been described by many brethren and has been described by many brethren and his sisters his sisters as the deception as the deception the guile the subtlety that is practiced the guile the subtlety that is practiced upon isaac i'd like to say that my opinion is not quite that quite that isaac you recall was the one who was isaac you recall was the one who was told i'm certain by rebecca that the told i'm certain by rebecca that the elder shall serve the younger elder shall serve the younger isaac was the one to whom doubtless isaac was the one to whom doubtless jacob took the jacob took the deeds of the transaction between him and deeds of the transaction between him and esau esau and showed it to his father and said and showed it to his father and said look look i have bought the blessing from my i have bought the blessing from my brother brother isaac was the one who isaac was the one who as the father the head of the family was as the father the head of the family was the one who in the position of leader of the one who in the position of leader of ruler as it were should have put esau ruler as it were should have put esau out of the position of head of the out of the position of head of the family as priest of the family because family as priest of the family because of his dereliction of duty of his dereliction of duty isaac did not choose to do so isaac did not choose to do so and therefore if anyone is at fault in and therefore if anyone is at fault in this whole incident i maintain that it this whole incident i maintain that it is isaac it is not jacob and it is is isaac it is not jacob and it is certainly not rebecca certainly not rebecca let's look into the details of the story let's look into the details of the story in genesis 27 in genesis 27 and see if we can and see if we can pick some useful lessons up pick some useful lessons up from here from here verse 1 or chapter 27 verse 1 or chapter 27 it came to pass when isaac was old it came to pass when isaac was old and his eyes were dim and his eyes were dim so that he could not see so that he could not see that he called he saw his eldest son his that he called he saw his eldest son his elder son elder son and said unto him and said unto him my son my son and he said unto him and he said unto him behold behold here am i here am i and isaac is old isaac is expecting to and isaac is old isaac is expecting to die die isaac is not in good health and there isaac is not in good health and there are several indications of that in this are several indications of that in this chapter perhaps you'd like to look at chapter perhaps you'd like to look at them with me them with me verse two and he said behold now verse two and he said behold now i am old i am old i know not the day of my death as if he i know not the day of my death as if he was waiting he was expecting it was waiting he was expecting it to be soon to be soon now we all know that jacob went to now we all know that jacob went to paranaram and jacob came back and before paranaram and jacob came back and before isaac died but at this time isaac died but at this time isaac was in a very powerless state of isaac was in a very powerless state of health health i know not the day of my death verse 4 i know not the day of my death verse 4 that my soul may bless thee before i die that my soul may bless thee before i die flick over the page to flick over the page to the the 19th verse 19th verse and see what jacob says to his father and see what jacob says to his father there and see there another indication there and see there another indication that he's not well that he's not well and jacob said to his father and jacob said to his father i am ethel by first born i am ethel by first born i have done according as thou burst me i have done according as thou burst me arise i pray thee arise i pray thee sit sit and eat of my venison that my soul that and eat of my venison that my soul that thy soul may bless me thy soul may bless me almost as if isaac was lying down in bed almost as if isaac was lying down in bed arise get up sit here let's prop you up arise get up sit here let's prop you up in bed in bed so that you might bless me so that you might bless me and there are other indications verse 33 and there are other indications verse 33 when he finds out that he has been when he finds out that he has been deceived deceived isaac trembled very exceedingly isaac trembled very exceedingly and if you've got an authorized version and if you've got an authorized version margin you'll see that it says there he margin you'll see that it says there he trembled with a great trembling greatly trembled with a great trembling greatly he was petrified he was he was petrified he was shaking like a leaf shaking like a leaf and although fright maybe may have been and although fright maybe may have been natural in a situation like that it is natural in a situation like that it is probably an indication of the fact that probably an indication of the fact that he wasn't really well he wasn't really well isaac's not well isaac's about to die isaac's not well isaac's about to die he thinks he thinks and scripture underlines this and scripture underlines this his mental state now back in the first his mental state now back in the first verse when isaac was old verse when isaac was old and his eyes were dim and his eyes were dim so that he could not see so that he could not see is that scripture's way of saying he is that scripture's way of saying he couldn't see that he should have given couldn't see that he should have given that birthright to his son to jacob and that birthright to his son to jacob and not to esau not to esau one wonders about that one wonders about that anyway anyway he says verse 3 take i pray thee he says verse 3 take i pray thee by weapons thy quiver and i bow to go by weapons thy quiver and i bow to go out to the and go out to the field out to the and go out to the field and take me some venison and take me some venison and make me and make me savory meat savory meat such as i love i don't like the ordinary such as i love i don't like the ordinary stuff here i can't stand it but this is stuff here i can't stand it but this is the one thing i do love savory meat the one thing i do love savory meat bring it to me that i made and that my bring it to me that i made and that my soul may bless me before i die soul may bless me before i die and rebecca wasn't this must have been and rebecca wasn't this must have been watching like a hawk watching like a hawk she must have been expecting that at she must have been expecting that at some time soon some time soon isaac was going to isaac was going to give his blessing give his blessing and that he would have done it he had and that he would have done it he had given it to esau she is waiting for this given it to esau she is waiting for this now she knows that this is going to come now she knows that this is going to come the day has come the day has come verse 5 verse 5 and rebecca heard and rebecca heard when isaac speak to esau his son when isaac speak to esau his son and esau went to the field to hunt for and esau went to the field to hunt for venison and to bring it venison and to bring it and now you know the rest of the story and now you know the rest of the story from here on from here on she says to jacob go and kill two kids she says to jacob go and kill two kids of the goats of the goats and i will make it i'll cook it so in and i will make it i'll cook it so in the same way that your dad loves the same way that your dad loves and jacob verse 11 says behold esau my and jacob verse 11 says behold esau my brother is an hairy man and i'm a smooth brother is an hairy man and i'm a smooth man man my father will feel me and i shall seem my father will feel me and i shall seem to him as a deceiver to him as a deceiver and i shall bring a curse upon me and i shall bring a curse upon me and not a blessing and not a blessing jacob's worried jacob's worried you see his conscience is involved here you see his conscience is involved here he's not as heartless and as he's not as heartless and as deceptive as deceptive as he's been made out to be he doesn't he's been made out to be he doesn't really want to do this really want to do this but it has to be done but it has to be done because brothers and sisters had it not because brothers and sisters had it not been done that day in that way what been done that day in that way what would have happened would have happened ethan would have received the birthright ethan would have received the birthright ether would have received all the ether would have received all the blessings that are pertained to it blessings that are pertained to it and had ether died and had ether died then the blessing and the birthright then the blessing and the birthright would have passed directly to ethos would have passed directly to ethos children and have bypassed jacob children and have bypassed jacob forever so it was that day it was now or forever so it was that day it was now or never either it was going to go the never either it was going to go the right way or it was going to go the right way or it was going to go the wrong way wrong way and they decided that this was or and they decided that this was or rebecca decided that this is the way to rebecca decided that this is the way to do it do it verse 15 verse 15 and rebecca and rebecca took the goodly raymond took the goodly raymond of her eldest son esau of her eldest son esau which were with her which were with her in the house in the house and put them upon jacob her younger son and put them upon jacob her younger son it's a great day it's a great it's a great day it's a great occasion occasion and so the best clothes come out and so the best clothes come out but it's not just the best clothes but it's not just the best clothes brothers and sisters that expression brothers and sisters that expression there for the goodly raymond there for the goodly raymond is very often used in the rest of the is very often used in the rest of the old testament of the clothing of the old testament of the clothing of the priest and perhaps of the high priest priest and perhaps of the high priest even even so this is these are the priests so this is these are the priests garments that garments that jacob is now putting on jacob is now putting on and we have in this fact here in this 15 and we have in this fact here in this 15 verse verse further evidence that ether didn't care further evidence that ether didn't care about his privileges about his privileges esau hated his mother he really didn't esau hated his mother he really didn't love her very much love her very much he was a married man he probably lived he was a married man he probably lived elsewhere by this time elsewhere by this time and there it says that the goodly and there it says that the goodly raiment of her eldest son esau which raiment of her eldest son esau which were with her in the house he hadn't were with her in the house he hadn't used them for years used them for years he didn't care he didn't bother he he didn't care he didn't bother he hadn't used them so they were with hadn't used them so they were with her her and this concept that it's the priest and this concept that it's the priest garment is supported very nicely in garment is supported very nicely in verse 27. verse 27. he came near he came near he kissed him he kissed him he smelled the smell of his raiment he smelled the smell of his raiment now if it was the priest's garment now if it was the priest's garment and the priest burnt incense before the and the priest burnt incense before the lord then the garments would be lord then the garments would be impregnated with the smell of that impregnated with the smell of that incense incense so he comes near so he comes near and he smells it and he smells it and it's the smell perhaps of the and it's the smell perhaps of the incense that he gets incense that he gets the smell of his sea the smell of my son the smell of his sea the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the is as the smell of a field which the lord hath blessed lord hath blessed possibly another indication that this is possibly another indication that this is in fact the priest garments so isaac so jacob comes in now in the 18th verse 18th verse to his father to his father and he came in unto his father and he came in unto his father and said and said my father my father and he said here am i and straight away and he said here am i and straight away the antenna quivering who art thou my the antenna quivering who art thou my son son the voice the voice he knows the voice he knows the voice the blind hear better than those with the blind hear better than those with eyesight because they've got to listen eyesight because they've got to listen harder harder and isaac's eyes are dim you can't see and isaac's eyes are dim you can't see so his ears are sharper than usual so his ears are sharper than usual who art thou my son who art thou my son and jacob said to his father and jacob said to his father i am e thought i first born i am e thought i first born i have done according as thou baddest me i have done according as thou baddest me arise i pray thee arise i pray thee sit sit and eat of my venison and eat of my venison that thy soul may bless thee that thy soul may bless thee suspicion still quivering in in isaac suspicion still quivering in in isaac the antennae is still going the antennae is still going how is it that thou has found it so how is it that thou has found it so quickly my son quickly my son jacob gives the whole game away and he said because the lord thy god brought it unto because the lord thy god brought it unto me me it's a statement that ethan would it's a statement that ethan would probably never have made in a thousand probably never have made in a thousand years years and straight away isaac's suspicions are and straight away isaac's suspicions are even more a financial brighter flame even more a financial brighter flame come near come near i pray thee i pray thee my son that i may feel thee my son that i may feel thee my son my son whether thou be my very son esau whether thou be my very son esau or not or not you see he saw wouldn't have said a you see he saw wouldn't have said a thing like that thing like that the lord thy god the lord thy god brought it to me brought it to me oh no oh no and so he comes and and so he comes and feels him feels him now notice what it says now notice what it says isaac says isaac says the voice the voice is jacob's voice is jacob's voice but the hands are the hands of esau and but the hands are the hands of esau and he discerned him not because his hands he discerned him not because his hands were heary as his brother's esau's hand were heary as his brother's esau's hand you notice he doesn't feel his face because he's got a beard just as esau had and that would not have been any had and that would not have been any sort of indication at all sort of indication at all but the hands but the hands are the hands of are the hands of esau brothers and sisters it does create esau brothers and sisters it does create in my mind the question of what in my mind the question of what what did this man esau look like what did this man esau look like did he or had he been living today did he or had he been living today would they have put him in the would they have put him in the smithsonian institute as smithsonian institute as as evidence of the fact that evolution as evidence of the fact that evolution actually did take place actually did take place one wonders to be as hairy as a goat one wonders to be as hairy as a goat now goats have short hair some of them now goats have short hair some of them but many of the goats in the middle east but many of the goats in the middle east apparently have pretty long hair apparently have pretty long hair and there's this goat skin on the back and there's this goat skin on the back of his hand of his hand and he feels this long hair and he feels this long hair i wonder what he was like i wonder what he was like one of our brother in england has made one of our brother in england has made the rather the rather amusing comment he said amusing comment he said he wonder what esau must have smelled he wonder what esau must have smelled like like because because when jacob when isaac smells him when jacob when isaac smells him he smells a goat's skin he smells a goat's skin and he says look and he says look this is what my son smells this is what my son smells like but it smelled like a goat as well maybe it was like that maybe it wasn't i i don't know i don't know but here it is but here it is he brings it near he brings it near and he eats of it and he eats of it and all this is taking time and all this is taking time he's got to feel him he's got to inquire he's got to feel him he's got to inquire of him he's got to talk to him he's got of him he's got to talk to him he's got to to ask of him what all these details and i ask of him what all these details and i thought jacob must have been getting a thought jacob must have been getting a little bit quivery because he now has to little bit quivery because he now has to eat the meal verse 20 ender verse 25 he eat the meal verse 20 ender verse 25 he brought it near to him he did eat he brought it near to him he did eat he brought him wine he drank brought him wine he drank and the time is going past and ethos is and the time is going past and ethos is out there getting his deer and he might out there getting his deer and he might come in at any moment come in at any moment that long last his father isaac says that long last his father isaac says unto him and jacob probably breathes a unto him and jacob probably breathes a sigh of relief sigh of relief come near now and kiss me my son come near now and kiss me my son and he came near and he came near and kissed him and kissed him and he blessed him he's and he blessed him he's he smelled the smell of his raiment he smelled the smell of his raiment and he blessed him and he blessed him number one says let's just pause here number one says let's just pause here for a moment before we actually go into for a moment before we actually go into this this look at the blessing briefly and see look at the blessing briefly and see what's going on what's going on the birthrights is a legal title to the birthrights is a legal title to those things we have described to the those things we have described to the double portion of the father's goods double portion of the father's goods it is a title to being king in the it is a title to being king in the family if it's a royal family family if it's a royal family it's the title to being the priest of it's the title to being the priest of the the family all that is involved in the title family all that is involved in the title first born in the birthright first born in the birthright but the blessing that's being given here but the blessing that's being given here i believe is the actual ceremony of the i believe is the actual ceremony of the legal confirmant of this title when the legal confirmant of this title when the father is about to die father is about to die there was an occasion a ceremony a point there was an occasion a ceremony a point in time at which the father actually in time at which the father actually conferred this at the time of his death upon his son and this is what is happening here and this is what is happening here this is the time of the confirment or this is the time of the confirment or the conferral i don't know which one it the conferral i don't know which one it is and it's being given now to jacob is and it's being given now to jacob see see the smell of my son the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the is as the smell of a field which the lord hath blessed lord hath blessed therefore god gives thee of the jew of therefore god gives thee of the jew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of corn and wine and plenty of corn and wine let people serve thee and nations bow let people serve thee and nations bow down to thee be lord over thy brethren down to thee be lord over thy brethren now this is a surprising word now this is a surprising word brethren he only had one brother ethel brethren he only had one brother ethel and i've wondered about this brothers and i've wondered about this brothers and sisters and perhaps the suggestion and sisters and perhaps the suggestion that i make is just that that i make is just that that the word brethren is only used that the word brethren is only used loosely doesn't necessarily mean only loosely doesn't necessarily mean only brothers but it means relatives kinsmen brothers but it means relatives kinsmen as well that etho at this time had got as well that etho at this time had got children their wives his wives relatives children their wives his wives relatives be lord over thy brethren your family be lord over thy brethren your family and especially let thy mother's sons bow and especially let thy mother's sons bow down before thee i don't understand why down before thee i don't understand why it says sons instead of son it says sons instead of son cursed me everyone that curseth me and cursed me everyone that curseth me and blessed be he that blesseth thee blessed be he that blesseth thee the great blessing that god had given to the great blessing that god had given to abraham had been passed down to isaac is abraham had been passed down to isaac is now passed now passed to jacob to jacob it came to pass it came to pass as soon as isaac had made an end of as soon as isaac had made an end of blessing etho and jacob was yet blessing etho and jacob was yet gone out from the presence of isaac his gone out from the presence of isaac his father father that he saw his brother came in from his that he saw his brother came in from his hunting hunting he had just made it he had just made it i don't know that is not true i don't know that is not true he didn't just make it he didn't just make it god kept etha out of there until the god kept etha out of there until the time was right time was right it wasn't just by chance that that it wasn't just by chance that that happened the hand of the almighty is happened the hand of the almighty is here protecting jacob from the wrath of here protecting jacob from the wrath of esau had he saw come in then at that esau had he saw come in then at that time i have no doubt in my mind that time i have no doubt in my mind that he'd whipped his sword out and had his he'd whipped his sword out and had his head off head off i have no doubt in my mind that that was i have no doubt in my mind that that was what would have happened what would have happened in fact he says as much later on if you in fact he says as much later on if you look just look over into verse 41 it look just look over into verse 41 it says and jacob and esau hated jacob says and jacob and esau hated jacob because of the blessing where with his because of the blessing where with his father blessed him and ethos said in his father blessed him and ethos said in his heart the days of mourning for my father heart the days of mourning for my father at hand then will i slay my brother at hand then will i slay my brother jacob jacob he would have killed him he would have killed him in the heat of the moment in his wrath in the heat of the moment in his wrath and his anger he would have chopped his and his anger he would have chopped his head off i'm fairly certain of that head off i'm fairly certain of that but god says but god says no no this is how it is going to be this is how it is going to be not otherwise not otherwise verse verse 32 32 isaac his father said unto him isaac his father said unto him who art thou who art thou art that art that and he said and he said i am thy son i am thy son my firstborn esau of course who else and isaac trembled very exceedingly very exceedingly and said who and said who where is he that has taken venison and where is he that has taken venison and brought it me and i have eaten of all brought it me and i have eaten of all before thou camest before thou camest and have blessed him and have blessed him ye ye and he shall be and he shall be the trembling brothers and sisters i'm the trembling brothers and sisters i'm sure is a function of his illness but it sure is a function of his illness but it is even more a function of the fact that is even more a function of the fact that he realized how near he had come he realized how near he had come to wrecking god's plan and god's purpose to wrecking god's plan and god's purpose with his son jacob with his son jacob he is now afraid before god of what he is now afraid before god of what could have been would have happened to could have been would have happened to him had he not done what him had he not done what had he had not done right albeit had he had not done right albeit unwillingly unwillingly that's why he trembles like this so that's why he trembles like this so fearfully and so desperately fearfully and so desperately and isaac and esau now and isaac and esau now cries cries i'd like to ask you just briefly to turn i'd like to ask you just briefly to turn back to the 12th of hebrews back to the 12th of hebrews and look at that verse again and look at that verse again which for some time bothered me which for some time bothered me i never read it i never read it quite in the same way i never read it quite in the same way i never read it quite in this way before quite in this way before hebrews chapter 12 hebrews chapter 12 and verse and verse 17. we commented on this yesterday and 17. we commented on this yesterday and we won't repeat the comments but the we won't repeat the comments but the 17th verse says 17th verse says for ye know for ye know how that afterward when he would have how that afterward when he would have inherited the blessing inherited the blessing notice birthright and blessing are the notice birthright and blessing are the same thing almost in the eyes of the same thing almost in the eyes of the writer writer when he would have inherited the when he would have inherited the blessing he was rejected for he found no blessing he was rejected for he found no place of repentance though he thought it place of repentance though he thought it carefully or diligently carefully or diligently with tears with tears where are these tears where are these tears they're here they're here in the 27th of genesis in the 27th of genesis and when esau heard the words of his and when esau heard the words of his father he cried with a great and father he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry and said unto his exceeding bitter cry and said unto his father bless me even me also o my father and he said thy brother came with subtlety thy brother came with subtlety and hath taken away thy blessing he's and hath taken away thy blessing he's still persisting in this still persisting in this and he said and he said is not he rightly named jacob for he has is not he rightly named jacob for he has supplanted me these two times supplanted me these two times he he noticed now he took away my birthright noticed now he took away my birthright taking a birth right out of the hand of taking a birth right out of the hand of a great big strong healthy man like that a great big strong healthy man like that he took away my blessing and now he has he took away my blessing and now he has is my birthright and behold now he has is my birthright and behold now he has taken away my blessing and he said hath taken away my blessing and he said hath thou not reserved the blessing for me thou not reserved the blessing for me he thought it he thought it diligently carefully diligently carefully with tears with tears verse 38 and esau said unto his father verse 38 and esau said unto his father hast thou but one blessing my father hast thou but one blessing my father bless me even me also o my father and bless me even me also o my father and ethan lifted up his voice ethan lifted up his voice and wept and wept it is sad to see a grown man cry it is sad to see a grown man cry like this like this but there's no doubt about it esau loved but there's no doubt about it esau loved his father and his father loved esau his father and his father loved esau and here and here he feels he has been done he feels he has been done he has been deprived he has been cheated he has been deprived he has been cheated and swindled and swindled and he cries and he cries so isaac does his best so isaac does his best isaac his father answered and said unto isaac his father answered and said unto him him behold behold thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth and of the dew of heaven from earth and of the dew of heaven from above above and by thy sword shalt thou live and and by thy sword shalt thou live and thou shalt serve thy brother thou shalt serve thy brother and it shall come to pass and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion when thou shalt have the dominion that thou shalt break his yoke that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck from off thy neck what do you make of those two last what do you make of those two last sentences brethren it shall come to pass sentences brethren it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion when thou shalt have the dominion that thou shalt break his yoke from off that thou shalt break his yoke from off my neck my neck as far as i can recall there hasn't been as far as i can recall there hasn't been a time in history when esau has ruled a time in history when esau has ruled over jacob esau has participated over jacob esau has participated participated in the destruction of participated in the destruction of israel several times israel several times but not but not have the dominion have the dominion is this telling us brethren that at some is this telling us brethren that at some time in the future time in the future future to our time future to our time that the arabs the descendants of esau that the arabs the descendants of esau are in fact going to have dominion over are in fact going to have dominion over the children of jacob over israel it the children of jacob over israel it seems most highly unlikely at the moment seems most highly unlikely at the moment the way the jews are going on the way the jews are going on tearing their way into lebanon tearing their way into lebanon defeating being conquerors winning the defeating being conquerors winning the yom kippur war winning the six days war yom kippur war winning the six days war establishing their state with great establishing their state with great might and power it seems highly unlikely might and power it seems highly unlikely but here it is but here it is it shall come to pass it shall come to pass when thou when thou shalt have shalt have the dominion that thou shalt break his the dominion that thou shalt break his yoke yoke from off my neck from off my neck i believe that that is still to come i believe that that is still to come and that is something that we shall see verse 41 and he saw hated jacob because of the and he saw hated jacob because of the blessing where with his father blessed blessing where with his father blessed him and esau said in his heart the days him and esau said in his heart the days of mourning for my father are at an end of mourning for my father are at an end are at hand then will i slay my brother are at hand then will i slay my brother jacob jacob and rebecca hears this thy brother esau and rebecca hears this thy brother esau as touching the discomfort himself as touching the discomfort himself purposing to kill thee now therefore my purposing to kill thee now therefore my son obey my voice and arise flee thou to son obey my voice and arise flee thou to label my brother to hiran and turn and label my brother to hiran and turn and tarry with him a few days tarry with him a few days until thy brother's fury turn away until until thy brother's fury turn away until my brother's anger turn away from thee my brother's anger turn away from thee and he and he forget forget that which thou that which thou hast done hast done to to him i've not read brother sisters words him i've not read brother sisters words more savagely condemnatory of a son more savagely condemnatory of a son than those than those and and he he forget forget that which thou hast done to him that which thou hast done to him he knew him he knew him he knew him well that he knew him well that he was going to forget about it that he was going to forget about it that this important thing this great this important thing this great privilege of being high priest unto god privilege of being high priest unto god would be would be forgotten forgotten by esau by esau it's an incredible comment on it's an incredible comment on esau's esau's love for the things of god or love for the things of god or lack of love for the things of god lack of love for the things of god he he forget that which thou has done to him forget that which thou has done to him and now and now rebecca produces a stratagem rebecca produces a stratagem i think it's one of the more cunning i think it's one of the more cunning things that women are recorded as doing things that women are recorded as doing in scripture in scripture she wants he thought to sorry she wants she wants he thought to sorry she wants jacob to go to here and jacob to go to here and how can she get it done how can she get it done well she says well she says she comes to isaac verse 46 she comes to isaac verse 46 i am weary of my life because of the i am weary of my life because of the daughters of heath daughters of heath if jacob take a wife of the daughters of if jacob take a wife of the daughters of heth such as these which are of the heth such as these which are of the daughters of the land daughters of the land what good shall my life what good shall my life do me do me she's not really too worried about it she's not really too worried about it there must be some truth in it and isaac there must be some truth in it and isaac must know that there's some truth must know that there's some truth but really what she's getting at is i but really what she's getting at is i want jacob to go away want jacob to go away and she chooses this way to approach it and she chooses this way to approach it i want him to marry someone of my own i want him to marry someone of my own family of my own kindred family of my own kindred it's a very clever way of doing it it's a very clever way of doing it diverts his attention from the real diverts his attention from the real issue to a side issue as it were issue to a side issue as it were but isaac sees the point and our but isaac sees the point and our brothers and sisters look at verse 1 of brothers and sisters look at verse 1 of the 20th chapter because this is the 20th chapter because this is where it seems to me that reconciliation where it seems to me that reconciliation takes place takes place between father and son between father and son and isaac called jacob and isaac called jacob and blessed him and blessed him and charged him and said unto him thou and charged him and said unto him thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters shalt not take a wife of the daughters of canaan arise go to padanaram to the of canaan arise go to padanaram to the house of bethuel my mother's father and house of bethuel my mother's father and take via wife from thence of the take via wife from thence of the daughters of laban thy mother's brother daughters of laban thy mother's brother brother sisters if this if you've not brother sisters if this if you've not married yet married yet you are about to get married or you are you are about to get married or you are coaching someone coaching someone please do as abraham did please do as abraham did please do as isaac does here please do as isaac does here and choose someone who believes the same and choose someone who believes the same things that you do things that you do if you fail to do this if you fail to do this the consequences are the consequences are incalculable incalculable you cannot foresee where it will go you you cannot foresee where it will go you may be fortunate enough to be one of may be fortunate enough to be one of those who marries out of the truth and those who marries out of the truth and their husband comes in their husband comes in i've never yet met anyone who recommends i've never yet met anyone who recommends the practice the practice never yet never yet and some of the consequences are almost and some of the consequences are almost beyond belief beyond belief you start off by marrying someone you you start off by marrying someone you think is thus and so and only to think is thus and so and only to discover to your horror that he's not or discover to your horror that he's not or that she is not she turns out to be that she is not she turns out to be something totally different to that something totally different to that which you expected which you expected abraham was careful to get a son abraham was careful to get a son get a wife for his son who believed the get a wife for his son who believed the same things same things isaac is here showing some care for his isaac is here showing some care for his own son jacob own son jacob esau marries the daughters of the land esau marries the daughters of the land and his life and the life of his wife and his life and the life of his wife rebecca must have been a misery rebecca must have been a misery brother and sisters if you are brother and sisters if you are contemplating contemplating marrying someone out of the truth marrying someone out of the truth then then take the words of caution and warning take the words of caution and warning that are given to us here that are given to us here they are warning given for good reasons they are warning given for good reasons you cannot tell what will happen if you you cannot tell what will happen if you do do beware beware so he blesses jacob and jacob proceeds so he blesses jacob and jacob proceeds and i'd like now to go to the 10th verse and i'd like now to go to the 10th verse of of genesis 28 genesis 28 and look now at a rather interesting and look now at a rather interesting thought a rather interesting theme that thought a rather interesting theme that comes out here comes out here verse 10 verse 10 of genesis 28. of genesis 28. and jacob went out from beersheba and jacob went out from beersheba and went towards iran and went towards iran and he lighted upon and he lighted upon a certain a certain place place and carried there all night and carried there all night because the sun because the sun was set now if you read the authorized version here it doesn't really make too much here it doesn't really make too much sense sense and he took of the stones of that place and he took of the stones of that place and put them for his pillows and put them for his pillows it doesn't make sense because you it doesn't make sense because you wouldn't take a stone and put it under wouldn't take a stone and put it under your head for a pillow your head for a pillow unless you happen to have rather a hard unless you happen to have rather a hard head head i don't think that's what he did i think i don't think that's what he did i think he got a large flat stone he got a large flat stone rolled up his rolled up his um baggage such as he had put there is um baggage such as he had put there is his pillow and lay down on this large his pillow and lay down on this large flat stone to sleep flat stone to sleep but the word i want to draw your but the word i want to draw your attention to is that word attention to is that word place it only looks like a small word place it only looks like a small word and it only means a certain location and it only means a certain location in our in the way we normally speak in our in the way we normally speak but in scripture it takes on rather but in scripture it takes on rather different meaning different meaning can we turn back for a moment to genesis can we turn back for a moment to genesis chapter 13. chapter 13. and see there and see there the origin of this specialized meaning the origin of this specialized meaning of the word of the word place place genesis chapter 13 genesis chapter 13 and it's and it's verse 3. verse 3. and abram went on his journeys from the south even to bethel to bethel onto the place onto the place where his tent had been at the beginning where his tent had been at the beginning between bethel and ai unto the place of between bethel and ai unto the place of the altar the altar which he had made there which he had made there at the first at the first so here the word place is associated so here the word place is associated with an altar with an altar a place of worship a place of sacrifice a place of worship a place of sacrifice not just a certain spot not just a certain spot come over with me to verse 14 come over with me to verse 14 of the same chapter of the same chapter and see there and see there and the lord was said unto abraham after and the lord was said unto abraham after that lot was separated from him lift up that lot was separated from him lift up now thine eyes and look from the place now thine eyes and look from the place where thou art he's at his altar he's where thou art he's at his altar he's worshipping where thou art northward worshipping where thou art northward southward eastward and westward southward eastward and westward and verse 18 abraham removed his tent and verse 18 abraham removed his tent came and dwelt in the plain of mammary came and dwelt in the plain of mammary which is in hebron and built there an which is in hebron and built there an altar unto the lord another place altar unto the lord another place chapter 18 chapter 18 and verse 33 the same phrase occurs again and the lord went his way and the lord went his way as soon as he had left communing with as soon as he had left communing with abraham abraham and abraham returned onto his place back and abraham returned onto his place back to his altar back to his place of to his altar back to his place of worship worship chapter chapter 22 22 of genesis of genesis and i think here it's even more obvious and i think here it's even more obvious than it has been in the last verse than it has been in the last verse abraham is taking abraham is taking taking isaac to sacrifice him taking isaac to sacrifice him verse four verse four i'm sorry verse three end of verse three i'm sorry verse three end of verse three and claimed the wood for the burnt and claimed the wood for the burnt offering and rose up and went on to the offering and rose up and went on to the place of which god had told him there's place of which god had told him there's an altar there an altar there it's in it's in it's in mariah verse 4 then on the third it's in mariah verse 4 then on the third day abraham lifted up his eyes and saw day abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off on the top of this the place afar off on the top of this hill somewhere hill somewhere there is this altar he could see it there is this altar he could see it verse 9 and they came to the place verse 9 and they came to the place which god had told him of which god had told him of and abraham built and abraham built revised version changes that the altar revised version changes that the altar there there there was an altar there it had been there was an altar there it had been knocked down by the enemies of the lord knocked down by the enemies of the lord and abraham has to rebuild it he lays and abraham has to rebuild it he lays the wood in order and binds isaac and the wood in order and binds isaac and puts him on the altar upon the wood puts him on the altar upon the wood now so far it's a place of worship of now so far it's a place of worship of the true god the true god but if you come over with me now to but if you come over with me now to genesis chapter 38 genesis chapter 38 there you'll see that it also means a high place or a place of worship of the place or a place of worship of the heathen gods as well heathen gods as well and it's always associated or it seems and it's always associated or it seems to me to me with idolatry and with prostitution with idolatry and with prostitution genesis 38 genesis 38 and and verse 14. verse 14. you may recall the story it's judah and you may recall the story it's judah and tamar tamar tamar is waiting for the son of judah's tamar is waiting for the son of judah's son and nothing's happening so she son and nothing's happening so she decides to do something about it decides to do something about it verse 14 verse 14 and she put her widow's garments off and she put her widow's garments off from her from her and covered her with a veil and covered her with a veil and wrapped herself and wrapped herself and sat in an open place and sat in an open place a prostitute sitting by an open place a a prostitute sitting by an open place a place place a place of worship of the false gods a place of worship of the false gods and now let's go down a bit further into and now let's go down a bit further into the chapter and see what happens there the chapter and see what happens there when judah goes into her when judah goes into her it says it says that she takes this stuff this signet that she takes this stuff this signet this bracelet this bracelet that is in his hand as a sign that is in his hand as a sign verse 20 judah sends his friend verse 20 judah sends his friend he found her not he found her not verse 21 verse 21 then he asked the men of her place then he asked the men of her place saying saying where is the harlot that was openly by where is the harlot that was openly by the wayside the wayside the men of the men of her place revised version which her her place revised version which her the her i believe is ashtarith or one of the her i believe is ashtarith or one of the the false gods that they worshipped false gods that they worshipped where is the harlot and that word harlot where is the harlot and that word harlot is the word kadesha which is used of the is the word kadesha which is used of the sacred prostitutes the one dedicated to sacred prostitutes the one dedicated to these these places of impure worship and they said places of impure worship and they said there's no harlot here there's no harlot here but now let's turn back to chapter 26 but now let's turn back to chapter 26 because there because there this helps us to understand perhaps a this helps us to understand perhaps a bit more of what happened to isaac bit more of what happened to isaac when he went into abimelech's land genesis 26 and the seventh verse and the seventh verse let's go at verse six perhaps let's go at verse six perhaps and isaac dwelt in jerard and isaac dwelt in jerard and the men of the place and the men of the place the men who are organizing this evil the men who are organizing this evil worship the men of the place worship the men of the place asked him of his wife asked him of his wife who is she who is she and she said she is my sister for he and she said she is my sister for he faired to say she is my wife lest said faired to say she is my wife lest said he the men of the place should kill me he the men of the place should kill me for rebecca and take her and turn her for rebecca and take her and turn her into one of these kadeshas into one of these kadeshas verse 8 when he'd been there a long time verse 8 when he'd been there a long time abimelech looks out and sees isaac abimelech looks out and sees isaac sporting with rebecca his wife and sporting with rebecca his wife and abimelech call isaac and said behold of abimelech call isaac and said behold of a surety she is thy wife house said thou a surety she is thy wife house said thou she is my sister she is my sister and isaac said because i said let's i'd and isaac said because i said let's i'd die for her die for her verse 10 and abhinavalek said what is verse 10 and abhinavalek said what is this that was done unto us this that was done unto us one of the people might lightly have one of the people might lightly have lying with thy wife and thou should have lying with thy wife and thou should have brought guiltiness upon us all brought guiltiness upon us all thinking that she was one of the thinking that she was one of the kedeshas kedeshas who belonged to that place who belonged who belonged to that place who belonged there let's go back to chapter 28 now and see what happens now and see what happens here here to jacob and jacob went out from beersheba verse 11 and he lighted upon a verse 11 and he lighted upon a certain place certain place and carried there all night and carried there all night because the sun was set because the sun was set he comes to a place of worship of the he comes to a place of worship of the true god and this stone that he has true god and this stone that he has lying down upon lying down upon is in fact one of the altar stones it's is in fact one of the altar stones it's a great big stone and he lies on on that a great big stone and he lies on on that and this is confirmed by his dream and and this is confirmed by his dream and what happens verse 16 and jacob awaked what happens verse 16 and jacob awaked out of his sleep and she said surely the out of his sleep and she said surely the lord is in this place and i knew it not lord is in this place and i knew it not and he was afraid and said how dreadful and he was afraid and said how dreadful is this place this is none other but the is this place this is none other but the house of god a temple house of god a temple and this is the gate and this is the gate of heaven of heaven and jacob rose up early in the morning and jacob rose up early in the morning and took the stone that he had put for and took the stone that he had put for his pillow and set it up for a pillar it his pillow and set it up for a pillar it was an enormous great stone was an enormous great stone and this weakling this mickling this man and this weakling this mickling this man who you probably thought was a milkshop who you probably thought was a milkshop picks up this great stone sets it on its picks up this great stone sets it on its on its end pours oil on the top of it on its end pours oil on the top of it and anoints it and anoints it verse 22 and this stone which i have set verse 22 and this stone which i have set up for a pillar shall be god's house and up for a pillar shall be god's house and of all that thou shalt give me i will of all that thou shalt give me i will surely give the tenth unto thee surely give the tenth unto thee brother sisters as we are here brother sisters as we are here perhaps i can defend jacob again perhaps i can defend jacob again i'm always seeming to do that but let me i'm always seeming to do that but let me defend him again defend him again we have all said verse 20 means that we have all said verse 20 means that here is jacob proving that he's a he's here is jacob proving that he's a he's that sort of a man here he is arguing that sort of a man here he is arguing and bargaining with god saying if god and bargaining with god saying if god will be with me and will keep me in this will be with me and will keep me in this way that i go and will give me bread to way that i go and will give me bread to eat and raymond to put on so that i come eat and raymond to put on so that i come again to my father's house in peace then again to my father's house in peace then shall the lord be my god is he bargaining with god i i don't believe it don't believe it for one moment for one moment let's look back let's look back at the 13th verse at the 13th verse behold the lord stood above it behold the lord stood above it and said i am the lord god of abraham and said i am the lord god of abraham thy father and the god of isaac the land thy father and the god of isaac the land whereon thou liest to thee will i give whereon thou liest to thee will i give it and to thy seed and thy seed shall be it and to thy seed and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth and thou shalt as the dust of the earth and thou shalt spread abroad to the west and to the spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south east and to the north and to the south and in thee and in thy seed shall all and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed and the families of the earth be blessed and behold i am with thee i will keep thee behold i am with thee i will keep thee in all places with the though goes i in all places with the though goes i will bring thee again into this land will bring thee again into this land and jacob is merely taking up the and jacob is merely taking up the promise that god makes promise that god makes if god will be with me as he says if god will be with me as he says then then if god does feed me then if god does feed me then if i do come again to my father's house if i do come again to my father's house in peace then in peace then he is taking the promises of god and he is taking the promises of god and laying hold of them he is not bargaining laying hold of them he is not bargaining with god how can we say such a thing with god how can we say such a thing how could god say for example at the end how could god say for example at the end of the 14th verse in thee and in thy of the 14th verse in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed words which he had used to be blessed words which he had used to abraham abraham how could god use those words about a how could god use those words about a a conniving a conniving schemer schemer it makes no sense at all brothers and it makes no sense at all brothers and sisters sisters this is a man of god it's not just this is a man of god it's not just a bargainer a bargainer and a schemer and a schemer and so he leaves and so he leaves so he goes to palanaram so he goes to palanaram and there he suffers and there he suffers the brethren says the brethren says the main excitation that comes out of the main excitation that comes out of this for me this for me is the fact that in that land there is the fact that in that land there dwelt all these people who were so full dwelt all these people who were so full of impure worship who were so immoral of impure worship who were so immoral who were not above murder who were who were not above murder who were the most the most disreputable sort of people and in the disreputable sort of people and in the midst of all that here is a man who midst of all that here is a man who keeps himself from the world keeps himself from the world he goes to lebanon and laban goes and he goes to lebanon and laban goes and invites the men of the place to his invites the men of the place to his wedding wedding where he cheats him where he cheats him he keeps himself unspotted from the he keeps himself unspotted from the world is what jacob does world is what jacob does and perhaps we'll conclude with a brief and perhaps we'll conclude with a brief glimpse again at the 12th chapter of the glimpse again at the 12th chapter of the letter to the hebrews letter to the hebrews because because this is the object lesson that the this is the object lesson that the writer of the hebrews is trying to get writer of the hebrews is trying to get across to us across to us hebrews 12 and verse 16 again hebrews 12 and verse 16 again just be careful just be careful be very careful lest there be any be very careful lest there be any fornicator or profane person as esau who fornicator or profane person as esau who for one mess of meat sold his birthright for one mess of meat sold his birthright he gave it up he gave it up he left the truth he went out to enjoy he left the truth he went out to enjoy himself and have a good time he says you himself and have a good time he says you are not to be like that you are not to are not to be like that you are not to be fornicators you are not to be profane be fornicators you are not to be profane persons you are not to leave the truth persons you are not to leave the truth for you know that if you do that for you know that if you do that afterwards when he would have inherited afterwards when he would have inherited the blessing when he wanted it with all the blessing when he wanted it with all his heart it was too late his heart it was too late he found no place of repentance he found no place of repentance though he sought it carefully though he sought it carefully with tears with tears you leave the truth you go away from it you leave the truth you go away from it and you're possibly dead and you're possibly dead if he found if he found no place of repentance and the writer no place of repentance and the writer warns don't you do it either because you warns don't you do it either because you might not find such a place might not find such a place brothers and sisters you may be weak in brothers and sisters you may be weak in the faith you may be rocking you may be the faith you may be rocking you may be in a meeting where it's not pleasant you in a meeting where it's not pleasant you may be in a meeting where the brethren may be in a meeting where the brethren don't particularly like you you don't don't particularly like you you don't get on you don't fit you're not but get on you don't fit you're not but under no circumstances are you to leave under no circumstances are you to leave the truth the truth for if you do so you may find no place for if you do so you may find no place of repentance once you are there the of repentance once you are there the possibility of the forgiveness of sins possibility of the forgiveness of sins exists once you have left exists once you have left it is gone it is gone and the day of opportunity and the day of opportunity is finished i'd like to conclude with a word of prayer prayer after we've sung him number 15. lord for thy mercy extended towards us the sinful sons of men the sinful sons of men for the forgiveness of sins which we for the forgiveness of sins which we have have through our lord jesus christ through our lord jesus christ through whom we can sit in heavenly through whom we can sit in heavenly places at thy right hand places at thy right hand be blessed and praise thy name this day be blessed and praise thy name this day and ask thee that the example of thy and ask thee that the example of thy servants of old servants of old who lived amid such dangers who lived amid such dangers such moral problems such moral problems such uncertainties such uncertainties but live victoriously in but live victoriously in the faith which they had in thee the faith which they had in thee knowing that thou would be with them in knowing that thou would be with them in all their ways all their ways despite the troubles that came upon them despite the troubles that came upon them help us in our turn to rely upon thee help us in our turn to rely upon thee as thy servant jacob did as thy servant jacob did knowing that thou art with us knowing that thou art with us by lord and my staff by lord and my staff they shall comfort us that thou shalt in they shall comfort us that thou shalt in no wise no wise forsake us forsake us or leave us or leave us in the weeks and the months and the in the weeks and the months and the years that lie ahead oh god years that lie ahead oh god please please dwell with us dwell with us abide with us abide with us for christ's sake we ask this for christ's sake we ask this amen