All-LICRC-Transcripts / 2020 /Joseph #7—A Coffin Egypt (Sermon)_transcript.txt
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[0.00 --> 6.58] and just by way of reminder two weeks ago as you know Joseph finally revealed himself to his
[6.58 --> 13.04] brothers and the whole clan the whole kit and caboodle moved to Egypt and now it's a number
[13.04 --> 19.64] of years later Jacob has just finished blessing all of his sons and then he says to them and
[19.64 --> 26.00] that's the beginning of our reading in Genesis 49 then Jacob gave them these instructions
[26.00 --> 30.10] I think you had the wrong reading up there
[30.10 --> 34.74] yeah 49 should be 49 verse
[34.74 --> 45.68] yeah that's the wrong reading okay so I'm just gonna maybe you want to take that off sorry folks
[45.68 --> 50.92] I thought that had been correct let's just listen then Jacob gave them these instructions
[50.92 --> 57.72] I am about to be gathered to my people bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron
[57.72 --> 65.36] the Hittite the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre in Canaan which Abraham bought along with
[65.36 --> 72.48] the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite there Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried
[72.48 --> 80.18] there Isaac and his wife Rebecca were buried and there I buried Leah the field and the cave in it
[80.18 --> 87.14] were brought from the Hittites when Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons he drew
[87.14 --> 95.50] his feet up into the bed breathed his last and was gathered to his people Joseph threw himself on his
[95.50 --> 103.60] father and wept over him and kissed him then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his
[103.60 --> 111.88] father Israel so the physicians embalm him taking a full 40 days for that was the time required for
[111.88 --> 121.50] embalming and the Egyptians mourned for him 70 days when the days of mourning had passed Joseph said to
[121.50 --> 129.44] Pharaoh's court if I have found favor in your eyes speak to Pharaoh for me tell father made me swear an oath
[129.44 --> 137.78] and said I am about to die bury me in the tomb I dug for myself in the land of Canaan now let me go up
[137.78 --> 145.88] and bury my father I will return Pharaoh said go up and bury your father as he made you swear to do
[145.88 --> 153.56] so Jacob's sons did as he had commanded them they carried him to the land of Canaan and they buried him
[153.56 --> 159.70] in the cave in the field of Machmela near Mamre him had bought along with the field as a burial place
[159.70 --> 167.02] from Ephron the Hittite after burying his father Joseph returned to Egypt together with his brothers
[167.02 --> 175.98] and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father Joseph stayed in Egypt along with all his
[175.98 --> 185.38] father's family he lived 110 years and saw the third generation of Ephraim's children also the children of
[185.38 --> 195.24] Machir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph's knees then Joseph said to his brothers I am about to die
[195.24 --> 203.90] but God and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham Isaac and Jacob
[203.90 --> 215.16] swear an oath and said God will surely come to your aid and then you must carry my bones up from this place
[215.16 --> 225.50] so Joseph died at the age of 110 and after they embalmed him he was placed in Egypt
[225.50 --> 235.48] and then this New Testament reading one verse Hebrews 11 verse 17 the chapter on the heroes of faith
[235.48 --> 242.64] where we read this by faith Joseph when spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt
[242.64 --> 250.88] and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones this is the word of the Lord
[250.88 --> 264.92] in a time of deep despair in South Africa when there was no sign anywhere in that sad land yet of a better
[264.92 --> 279.22] future for black people Archbishop Desmond Tutu spoke to a group of white leaders who had the power to see to it
[279.22 --> 288.74] that what Tutu so deeply hoped for would never happen and this is what he said to them and I quote
[288.74 --> 299.10] in the enveloping darkness as the lights of freedom are extinguished one by one I have come here to say evil
[299.10 --> 312.70] and injustice and oppression and exploitation cannot prevail you may be very powerful but you are not God
[312.70 --> 323.04] in fact you have already lost we are inviting you to come and join the winning side
[323.04 --> 336.52] this is the message that we as Christians need to hear over and over in a culture and world that ignores and or denies God
[336.52 --> 341.66] where it is very hard to be optimistic about the future
[341.66 --> 346.28] listen if you are a Christian
[346.28 --> 349.64] you are on the winning side
[349.64 --> 353.04] God is going to win
[353.04 --> 356.84] life is going to win over death
[356.84 --> 358.40] love is
[358.40 --> 359.76] and indifference
[359.76 --> 363.64] peace is going to win over terror and violence
[363.64 --> 366.92] righteousness is going to win over injustice
[366.92 --> 370.30] good is going to win over evil
[370.30 --> 372.60] so don't ever
[372.60 --> 373.72] ever
[373.72 --> 374.96] give up hope
[374.96 --> 376.66] not for people
[376.66 --> 377.38] for yourself
[377.38 --> 379.04] not for the church
[379.04 --> 380.72] not for the world
[380.72 --> 382.78] not for God
[382.78 --> 387.18] such hope is what today's text
[387.18 --> 388.24] is all about
[388.24 --> 390.88] although on the surface it sure
[390.88 --> 392.16] doesn't look like it
[392.16 --> 395.68] we have come to the end of the Joseph story
[395.68 --> 397.50] and not only of the Joseph story
[397.50 --> 399.86] but also of the book of Genesis
[399.86 --> 403.90] and on the surface what a sad
[403.90 --> 406.36] anticlimactic
[406.36 --> 408.06] hopeless end
[408.06 --> 414.06] the book that begins with nothing less
[414.06 --> 417.62] than the creation of the entire universe
[417.62 --> 419.74] and all things living
[419.74 --> 421.48] ends
[421.48 --> 423.24] in a pine box
[423.24 --> 424.86] with death
[424.86 --> 427.08] first
[427.08 --> 428.16] Jacob dies
[428.16 --> 429.26] and Joseph
[429.26 --> 430.10] dies
[430.10 --> 430.80] too
[430.80 --> 434.88] remember the very first words
[434.88 --> 436.18] almost the very first words
[436.18 --> 437.00] of the book of Genesis
[437.00 --> 438.40] God said
[438.40 --> 439.80] let there
[439.80 --> 440.50] be
[440.50 --> 441.36] light
[441.36 --> 443.16] and you imagine
[443.16 --> 444.70] this explosion of light
[444.70 --> 445.68] in the universe
[445.68 --> 446.78] that was so dark
[446.78 --> 450.32] the very last words
[450.32 --> 451.58] in Genesis are
[451.58 --> 454.06] Joseph was placed
[454.06 --> 455.18] in a coffin
[455.18 --> 456.52] in Egypt
[456.52 --> 458.54] and can you think of
[458.54 --> 459.64] a darker place
[459.64 --> 461.24] than a coffin
[461.24 --> 465.62] if that doesn't sound
[465.62 --> 466.68] hopeless enough
[466.68 --> 468.74] remember that you have to see
[468.74 --> 469.62] Joseph's story
[469.62 --> 471.40] along with all Genesis
[471.40 --> 473.10] in light of God's covenant
[473.10 --> 474.56] promise to Abraham
[474.56 --> 477.18] a promise that included
[477.18 --> 478.52] descendants as numerous
[478.52 --> 480.16] as the stars in the sky
[480.16 --> 483.00] and the land of their own
[483.00 --> 485.22] but in the end
[485.22 --> 487.28] Jacob is buried
[487.28 --> 489.64] in the cave of Machpelah
[489.64 --> 490.82] in Canaan
[490.82 --> 493.14] a graveyard owned
[493.14 --> 494.78] by grandfather Abraham
[494.78 --> 497.18] the only piece
[497.18 --> 498.66] of the promised land
[498.66 --> 500.54] to which Abraham
[500.54 --> 501.30] held title
[501.30 --> 502.96] when he died
[502.96 --> 505.76] in the end
[505.76 --> 506.98] God's people
[506.98 --> 508.22] are from Canaan
[508.22 --> 510.22] living in Egypt
[510.22 --> 511.98] in the end
[511.98 --> 513.52] Joseph's body
[513.52 --> 514.28] is placed
[514.28 --> 515.50] in a coffin
[515.50 --> 517.06] in Egypt
[517.06 --> 520.22] where on earth
[520.22 --> 521.56] is hope
[521.56 --> 523.60] at the end of Genesis
[523.60 --> 527.44] well that depends
[527.44 --> 528.40] on your perspective
[528.40 --> 530.62] and what we need
[530.62 --> 531.46] is the perspective
[531.46 --> 532.78] of the New Testament
[532.78 --> 535.60] Joseph is mentioned
[535.60 --> 536.74] four times
[536.74 --> 537.56] in the New Testament
[537.56 --> 539.14] twice
[539.14 --> 540.16] his name alone
[540.16 --> 540.68] is mentioned
[540.68 --> 541.44] in passing
[541.44 --> 543.90] and in Acts 7
[543.90 --> 544.94] in Stephen's speech
[544.94 --> 545.64] to the Jewish
[545.64 --> 546.64] religious leaders
[546.64 --> 548.26] before they convict
[548.26 --> 548.82] and kill him
[548.82 --> 549.60] for his faith
[549.60 --> 551.56] the facts
[551.56 --> 552.70] of Joseph's story
[552.70 --> 554.66] are briefly summarized
[554.66 --> 556.86] then there is
[556.86 --> 557.34] Hebrews
[557.34 --> 559.02] chapter 11
[559.02 --> 560.50] part of that
[560.50 --> 561.62] long chapter
[561.62 --> 562.96] about all the heroes
[562.96 --> 563.50] of faith
[563.50 --> 565.84] the only
[565.84 --> 566.58] New Testament
[566.58 --> 567.18] passage
[567.18 --> 568.14] which comments
[568.14 --> 570.10] on Joseph's character
[570.10 --> 571.70] and then
[571.70 --> 573.40] he gets just
[573.40 --> 574.54] one verse
[574.54 --> 577.22] but what a verse
[577.22 --> 577.68] it is
[577.68 --> 578.34] listen
[578.34 --> 580.26] by faith
[580.26 --> 580.82] Joseph
[580.82 --> 582.30] when his end
[582.30 --> 582.88] was near
[582.88 --> 584.42] spoke about
[584.42 --> 585.10] the exodus
[585.10 --> 585.96] of the Israelites
[585.96 --> 586.88] from Egypt
[586.88 --> 589.00] and gave instructions
[589.00 --> 590.70] about his bones
[590.70 --> 593.82] it is such
[593.82 --> 594.60] a striking
[594.60 --> 595.42] verse
[595.42 --> 595.96] isn't it
[595.96 --> 597.02] I mean
[597.02 --> 597.56] Genesis
[597.56 --> 598.18] devotes
[598.18 --> 600.08] 13 chapters
[600.08 --> 601.62] to Joseph's story
[601.62 --> 603.56] and while he's not
[603.56 --> 603.96] perfect
[603.96 --> 604.72] in Joseph's
[604.72 --> 605.14] character
[605.14 --> 605.66] in life
[605.66 --> 606.46] we see this
[606.46 --> 607.54] incredible picture
[607.54 --> 608.20] of faithful
[608.20 --> 608.58] obedience
[608.58 --> 609.20] love
[609.20 --> 610.16] and forgiveness
[610.16 --> 611.16] in the kind
[611.16 --> 611.84] of extreme
[611.84 --> 612.74] circumstances
[612.74 --> 613.54] most of us
[613.54 --> 614.52] will never know
[614.52 --> 617.34] Joseph is one
[617.34 --> 617.76] of the most
[617.76 --> 619.06] winsome characters
[619.06 --> 619.52] I think
[619.52 --> 620.10] in the Bible
[620.10 --> 622.22] yet he gets
[622.22 --> 623.42] only one verse
[623.42 --> 626.58] in the New Testament
[626.58 --> 628.30] and the only
[628.30 --> 629.10] thing for which
[629.10 --> 629.62] the writer
[629.62 --> 630.16] of Hebrews
[630.16 --> 630.88] goes out
[630.88 --> 631.28] of his way
[631.28 --> 631.76] to commend
[631.76 --> 632.26] Joseph
[632.26 --> 634.30] are his
[634.30 --> 635.12] dying words
[635.12 --> 637.40] by faith
[637.40 --> 637.88] Joseph
[637.88 --> 638.52] when his end
[638.52 --> 639.06] was near
[639.06 --> 640.40] spoke about
[640.40 --> 641.06] the exodus
[641.06 --> 641.92] of the Israelites
[641.92 --> 642.90] from Egypt
[642.90 --> 643.96] and gave
[643.96 --> 644.82] instructions
[644.82 --> 645.88] about his
[645.88 --> 646.30] bones
[646.30 --> 650.50] but then
[650.50 --> 652.06] to use
[652.06 --> 652.90] the first
[652.90 --> 654.28] four words
[654.28 --> 656.48] that Rick Warren
[656.48 --> 657.42] passed in California
[657.42 --> 659.84] that he wrote
[659.84 --> 661.12] in his 2002
[661.12 --> 662.22] best-selling book
[662.22 --> 663.68] The Purpose Driven Life
[663.68 --> 665.32] the first four words
[665.32 --> 665.86] were
[665.86 --> 667.98] it's not
[667.98 --> 669.72] about you
[669.72 --> 672.66] it's not
[672.66 --> 673.58] about you
[673.58 --> 675.56] it's not
[675.56 --> 676.66] about me
[676.66 --> 677.34] either
[677.34 --> 679.90] it is about
[679.90 --> 681.22] the bigger picture
[681.22 --> 681.92] it is about
[681.92 --> 682.44] God
[682.44 --> 683.36] it is about
[683.36 --> 684.32] God's purpose
[684.32 --> 685.14] for and through
[685.14 --> 685.60] Joseph
[685.60 --> 687.08] God's purpose
[687.08 --> 687.92] for and through
[687.92 --> 688.76] you and me
[688.76 --> 690.10] God's purpose
[690.10 --> 691.24] for and through
[691.24 --> 692.04] his church
[692.04 --> 693.42] God's purpose
[693.42 --> 694.44] for his world
[694.44 --> 696.92] it's about
[696.92 --> 697.76] God's promise
[697.76 --> 698.34] to bless
[698.34 --> 698.80] Abraham
[698.80 --> 700.20] and his descendants
[700.20 --> 700.72] and through
[700.72 --> 701.46] to bless
[701.46 --> 702.36] all people
[702.36 --> 702.80] on earth
[702.80 --> 703.44] and all
[703.44 --> 704.20] means
[704.20 --> 705.12] all
[705.12 --> 709.02] that remains
[709.02 --> 710.52] front and center
[710.52 --> 711.48] especially
[711.48 --> 712.30] at the end
[712.30 --> 713.06] of this story
[713.06 --> 715.20] father Jacob
[715.20 --> 715.92] is dead
[715.92 --> 717.68] and according
[717.68 --> 718.50] to his request
[718.50 --> 719.18] he is buried
[719.18 --> 720.10] in the land
[720.10 --> 721.24] of God's promise
[721.24 --> 722.18] Canaan
[722.18 --> 724.26] and now
[724.26 --> 725.70] 56 years later
[725.70 --> 727.22] Joseph
[727.22 --> 727.76] has come
[727.76 --> 728.32] to the end
[728.32 --> 729.38] of his life
[729.38 --> 731.70] and he remembers
[731.70 --> 732.94] these words
[732.94 --> 734.28] spoken to
[734.28 --> 734.64] great
[734.64 --> 735.32] grandfather
[735.32 --> 735.96] Abraham
[735.96 --> 737.14] words
[737.14 --> 737.84] rehearsed
[737.84 --> 738.84] passed down
[738.84 --> 739.58] from one
[739.58 --> 740.12] generation
[740.12 --> 741.20] to the next
[741.20 --> 743.22] these words
[743.22 --> 744.46] from Genesis 15
[744.46 --> 746.30] know for certain
[746.30 --> 748.40] that your descendants
[748.40 --> 749.44] will be strangers
[749.44 --> 750.38] in a country
[750.38 --> 751.56] not their own
[751.56 --> 753.00] and this
[753.00 --> 753.36] treated
[753.36 --> 754.86] 400 years
[754.86 --> 756.94] but I will punish
[756.94 --> 757.50] the nation
[757.50 --> 758.14] they serve
[758.14 --> 758.72] as slaves
[758.72 --> 759.74] and afterward
[759.74 --> 760.84] they will come
[760.84 --> 761.14] out
[761.14 --> 762.32] with great
[762.32 --> 762.84] possessions
[762.84 --> 766.72] we are not
[766.72 --> 767.10] told
[767.10 --> 768.34] if it was
[768.34 --> 769.02] faith alone
[769.02 --> 770.22] or faith
[770.22 --> 770.70] and fact
[770.70 --> 771.14] together
[771.14 --> 772.64] that made
[772.64 --> 773.44] Joseph focus
[773.44 --> 773.90] on this
[773.90 --> 774.70] old promise
[774.70 --> 775.48] that was
[775.48 --> 776.08] generations
[776.08 --> 776.58] old
[776.58 --> 777.60] and generations
[777.60 --> 779.02] from fulfillment
[779.02 --> 781.70] Joseph had been
[781.70 --> 782.18] in Egypt
[782.18 --> 782.56] now
[782.56 --> 784.10] for 93
[784.10 --> 785.12] years
[785.12 --> 787.08] his family
[787.08 --> 788.60] for 73
[788.60 --> 789.14] years
[789.14 --> 790.98] the famine
[790.98 --> 791.84] was long
[791.84 --> 792.26] over
[792.26 --> 793.66] Joseph had
[793.66 --> 794.12] no doubt
[794.12 --> 794.96] long since
[794.96 --> 795.52] retired
[795.52 --> 796.98] and at the
[796.98 --> 797.56] time of his
[797.56 --> 797.80] death
[797.80 --> 798.28] the children
[798.28 --> 798.84] of Israel
[798.84 --> 799.46] were not
[799.46 --> 800.16] yet slaves
[800.16 --> 801.12] or prisoners
[801.12 --> 801.94] in Egypt
[801.94 --> 803.88] all we know
[803.88 --> 804.62] is that Joseph
[804.62 --> 806.00] somehow knew
[806.00 --> 806.52] the truth
[806.52 --> 806.94] of what
[806.94 --> 807.70] Exodus 1
[807.70 --> 808.20] verse 8
[808.20 --> 809.10] tells us
[809.10 --> 810.18] that a new
[810.18 --> 810.54] king
[810.54 --> 812.00] who did not
[812.00 --> 812.80] know Joseph
[812.80 --> 814.08] would come
[814.08 --> 815.18] to power
[815.18 --> 816.14] and that
[816.14 --> 816.60] everything
[816.60 --> 817.66] would change
[817.66 --> 819.12] for the worse
[819.12 --> 821.08] that hardship
[821.08 --> 821.86] was coming
[821.86 --> 822.80] for his
[822.80 --> 823.22] brothers
[823.22 --> 824.68] slavery
[824.68 --> 825.80] for his
[825.80 --> 826.16] people
[826.16 --> 827.96] we also
[827.96 --> 828.50] know that
[828.50 --> 828.80] Joseph
[828.80 --> 829.48] believes
[829.48 --> 830.62] all of the
[830.62 --> 831.06] promises
[831.06 --> 832.28] that the
[832.28 --> 832.72] end
[832.72 --> 833.82] will be
[833.82 --> 834.22] glory
[834.22 --> 836.46] I am
[836.46 --> 837.32] about to
[837.32 --> 837.66] die
[837.66 --> 838.20] he tells
[838.20 --> 838.68] his brothers
[838.68 --> 840.16] but God
[840.16 --> 840.98] will surely
[840.98 --> 841.96] come to
[841.96 --> 842.50] your aid
[842.50 --> 843.80] that is
[843.80 --> 844.14] you will
[844.14 --> 844.74] need to
[844.74 --> 845.28] be rescued
[845.28 --> 845.92] by God
[845.92 --> 846.60] and God
[846.60 --> 847.30] will rescue
[847.30 --> 847.64] you
[847.64 --> 848.34] and take
[848.34 --> 848.74] you up
[848.74 --> 849.16] out of
[849.16 --> 849.64] this land
[849.64 --> 850.30] to the
[850.30 --> 850.74] land he
[850.74 --> 851.28] promised
[851.28 --> 852.02] on oath
[852.02 --> 852.66] to Abraham
[852.66 --> 853.28] Isaac
[853.28 --> 854.10] and Jacob
[854.10 --> 857.06] then Joseph
[857.06 --> 857.64] makes his
[857.64 --> 858.70] family swear
[858.70 --> 859.22] an oath
[859.22 --> 860.60] and with his
[860.60 --> 861.48] very last
[861.48 --> 861.86] words
[861.86 --> 862.36] says
[862.36 --> 863.58] God
[863.58 --> 864.46] will surely
[864.46 --> 865.06] come to
[865.06 --> 865.60] your aid
[865.60 --> 866.98] and then
[866.98 --> 867.54] you must
[867.54 --> 868.14] carry my
[868.14 --> 868.70] bones up
[868.70 --> 869.66] from this
[869.66 --> 870.10] place
[870.10 --> 872.58] so
[872.58 --> 872.94] Joseph
[872.94 --> 873.42] died
[873.42 --> 875.60] and
[875.60 --> 876.28] verse 26
[876.28 --> 877.10] tells us
[877.10 --> 878.10] after they
[878.10 --> 878.72] embalmed
[878.72 --> 879.00] him
[879.00 --> 880.04] he was
[880.04 --> 880.72] placed in
[880.72 --> 881.22] a coffin
[881.22 --> 882.34] in Egypt
[882.34 --> 884.78] they
[884.78 --> 885.36] embalmed
[885.36 --> 885.64] him
[885.64 --> 887.74] they
[887.74 --> 888.22] don't
[888.22 --> 889.08] bury
[889.08 --> 889.48] him
[889.48 --> 891.64] why not
[891.64 --> 892.08] because
[892.08 --> 892.74] they're
[892.74 --> 893.46] supposed to
[893.46 --> 893.86] carry
[893.86 --> 894.82] his bones
[894.82 --> 895.40] out when
[895.40 --> 895.88] they go
[895.88 --> 897.26] because
[897.26 --> 897.66] God
[897.66 --> 898.10] is coming
[898.10 --> 898.48] for them
[898.48 --> 899.10] to rescue
[899.10 --> 899.42] them
[899.42 --> 899.98] and they
[899.98 --> 900.44] need to
[900.44 --> 900.86] be ready
[900.86 --> 901.42] to pick
[901.42 --> 901.74] up his
[901.74 --> 902.10] bones
[902.10 --> 903.06] and leave
[903.06 --> 904.52] Joseph's
[904.52 --> 904.88] coffin
[904.88 --> 905.44] becomes
[905.44 --> 906.06] a symbol
[906.06 --> 907.06] of hope
[907.06 --> 907.68] that the
[907.68 --> 908.10] gathering
[908.10 --> 908.56] storm
[908.56 --> 908.96] that is
[908.96 --> 909.34] coming
[909.34 --> 910.12] slavery
[910.12 --> 910.44] and
[910.44 --> 910.88] hardship
[910.88 --> 911.72] is not
[911.72 --> 912.10] going to
[912.10 --> 912.74] be terminal
[912.74 --> 913.38] that the
[913.38 --> 913.78] present
[913.78 --> 914.32] darkness
[914.32 --> 915.12] will not
[915.12 --> 915.78] be forever
[915.78 --> 916.66] don't
[916.66 --> 917.58] bury me
[917.58 --> 918.00] because
[918.00 --> 918.46] God
[918.46 --> 918.86] will come
[918.86 --> 919.14] back
[919.14 --> 919.76] for us
[919.76 --> 921.00] and when
[921.00 --> 921.60] you must
[921.60 --> 922.14] carry my
[922.14 --> 922.42] bones
[922.42 --> 922.84] home
[922.84 --> 923.98] and bury
[923.98 --> 924.34] me
[924.34 --> 925.12] in the
[925.12 --> 925.36] land
[925.36 --> 925.52] of
[925.52 --> 926.04] promise
[926.04 --> 929.44] you see
[929.44 --> 929.80] the end
[929.80 --> 929.96] of
[929.96 --> 930.34] Genesis
[930.34 --> 931.78] is all
[931.78 --> 932.08] about
[932.08 --> 932.44] hope
[932.44 --> 933.46] after all
[933.46 --> 935.20] and the
[935.20 --> 935.46] Bible
[935.46 --> 936.18] says a lot
[936.18 --> 936.74] about hope
[936.74 --> 938.22] that biblical
[938.22 --> 938.92] hope does
[938.92 --> 939.74] not disappoint
[939.74 --> 941.42] that it's
[941.42 --> 941.76] not an
[941.76 --> 942.06] empty
[942.06 --> 942.54] wish
[942.54 --> 943.70] that biblical
[943.70 --> 944.44] hope is a
[944.44 --> 945.10] given because
[945.10 --> 945.58] it is a
[945.58 --> 945.84] hope
[945.84 --> 947.06] in God
[947.06 --> 949.74] Lewis
[949.74 --> 950.14] Meads
[950.14 --> 950.86] once pointed
[950.86 --> 951.14] out
[951.14 --> 952.24] that when
[952.24 --> 952.66] it comes
[952.66 --> 953.22] to ordinary
[953.22 --> 953.98] human
[953.98 --> 954.44] hoping
[954.44 --> 955.72] there are
[955.72 --> 956.36] three things
[956.36 --> 957.02] going on
[957.02 --> 958.62] one is
[958.62 --> 959.52] desire
[959.52 --> 960.30] we want
[960.30 --> 960.62] what we
[960.62 --> 961.24] hope for
[961.24 --> 964.16] two is
[964.16 --> 965.06] belief
[965.06 --> 966.78] we believe
[966.78 --> 967.30] that what we
[967.30 --> 967.70] hope for
[967.70 --> 968.40] is possible
[968.40 --> 970.26] though not
[970.26 --> 970.72] inevitable
[970.72 --> 972.80] which leads
[972.80 --> 973.14] to number
[973.14 --> 973.58] three
[973.58 --> 974.90] doubt
[974.90 --> 976.72] we fear
[976.72 --> 977.10] that what
[977.10 --> 977.58] we hope
[977.58 --> 978.06] for
[978.06 --> 979.34] may not
[979.34 --> 979.64] happen
[979.64 --> 981.38] hope for
[981.38 --> 982.18] the difference
[982.18 --> 982.84] in Christian
[982.84 --> 983.44] and biblical
[983.44 --> 983.92] hope
[983.92 --> 986.58] has to do
[986.58 --> 986.90] with that
[986.90 --> 987.68] third element
[987.68 --> 989.02] doubt
[989.02 --> 991.36] Christian hope
[991.36 --> 991.86] is not
[991.86 --> 992.16] evil
[992.16 --> 993.38] it is a
[993.38 --> 994.06] conviction
[994.06 --> 995.30] about what
[995.30 --> 996.16] is sure
[996.16 --> 997.22] because it is
[997.22 --> 997.76] a faith
[997.76 --> 998.86] not in human
[998.86 --> 999.58] possibility
[999.58 --> 1001.26] but in God's
[1001.26 --> 1001.72] promise
[1001.72 --> 1003.96] that's why
[1003.96 --> 1004.72] hope rules
[1004.72 --> 1005.22] at the end
[1005.22 --> 1005.50] of the
[1005.50 --> 1006.30] Joseph story
[1006.30 --> 1006.98] and at the
[1006.98 --> 1007.38] end of
[1007.38 --> 1007.80] Genesis
[1007.80 --> 1008.44] even though
[1008.44 --> 1009.00] we know
[1009.00 --> 1009.62] when as
[1009.62 --> 1010.02] Genesis
[1010.02 --> 1010.64] closes
[1010.64 --> 1012.14] hardship
[1012.14 --> 1013.58] slavery
[1013.58 --> 1015.04] brick making
[1015.04 --> 1015.98] genocide
[1015.98 --> 1016.80] through the
[1016.80 --> 1017.28] murder of
[1017.28 --> 1017.66] their male
[1017.66 --> 1018.08] children
[1018.08 --> 1019.24] one generation
[1019.24 --> 1020.46] after another
[1020.46 --> 1021.80] and yes
[1021.80 --> 1022.62] all the while
[1022.62 --> 1023.28] the silence
[1023.28 --> 1023.82] of God
[1023.82 --> 1024.96] is deafening
[1024.96 --> 1027.44] there is no
[1027.44 --> 1027.92] word from
[1027.92 --> 1028.26] God
[1028.26 --> 1029.42] there is no
[1029.42 --> 1030.10] message from
[1030.10 --> 1030.42] heaven
[1030.42 --> 1032.02] and so
[1032.02 --> 1032.74] where is the
[1032.74 --> 1033.52] hope in all
[1033.52 --> 1034.00] of this
[1034.00 --> 1037.08] it is in
[1037.08 --> 1038.24] Joseph's
[1038.24 --> 1038.66] coffin
[1038.66 --> 1041.10] Joseph's
[1041.10 --> 1041.52] coffin
[1041.52 --> 1042.08] becomes
[1042.08 --> 1042.98] the message
[1042.98 --> 1043.58] of hope
[1043.58 --> 1044.36] it is the
[1044.36 --> 1045.06] box if you
[1045.06 --> 1045.32] will
[1045.32 --> 1046.42] that speaks
[1046.42 --> 1048.00] it is the
[1048.00 --> 1048.60] symbol that
[1048.60 --> 1049.44] says this
[1049.44 --> 1049.92] suffering
[1049.92 --> 1050.72] is not
[1050.72 --> 1051.18] forever
[1051.18 --> 1052.94] God has
[1052.94 --> 1053.64] not forgotten
[1053.64 --> 1054.04] you
[1054.04 --> 1055.00] someday he
[1055.00 --> 1055.42] will come
[1055.42 --> 1056.00] back for
[1056.00 --> 1056.26] you
[1056.26 --> 1057.26] by faith
[1057.26 --> 1057.72] Joseph
[1057.72 --> 1058.16] when his
[1058.16 --> 1058.58] end was
[1058.58 --> 1058.84] near
[1058.84 --> 1059.80] spoke about
[1059.80 --> 1060.46] the exodus
[1060.46 --> 1060.82] of the
[1060.82 --> 1061.26] Israelites
[1061.26 --> 1061.88] from Egypt
[1061.88 --> 1062.74] and gave
[1062.74 --> 1063.44] instructions
[1063.44 --> 1064.52] about his
[1064.52 --> 1065.04] bones
[1065.04 --> 1066.24] as the
[1066.24 --> 1066.72] children of
[1066.72 --> 1067.08] Israel
[1067.08 --> 1067.70] suffer
[1067.70 --> 1068.72] year after
[1068.72 --> 1069.16] year
[1069.16 --> 1070.04] of awful
[1070.04 --> 1070.62] slavery
[1070.62 --> 1071.34] and life
[1071.34 --> 1072.02] is hard
[1072.02 --> 1072.58] and the
[1072.58 --> 1072.88] future
[1072.88 --> 1073.22] seems
[1073.22 --> 1073.88] hopeless
[1073.88 --> 1076.08] fathers
[1076.08 --> 1077.40] and mothers
[1077.40 --> 1079.20] will walk
[1079.20 --> 1079.78] with sons
[1079.78 --> 1080.58] and daughters
[1080.58 --> 1081.84] past the
[1081.84 --> 1082.44] place where
[1082.44 --> 1083.08] the coffin
[1083.08 --> 1083.94] lays
[1083.94 --> 1084.84] and
[1084.84 --> 1085.42] generation
[1085.42 --> 1085.78] after
[1085.78 --> 1086.50] generation
[1086.50 --> 1087.14] will ask
[1087.14 --> 1088.06] what does
[1088.06 --> 1088.72] that box
[1088.72 --> 1089.36] mean
[1089.36 --> 1091.40] and fathers
[1091.40 --> 1092.00] and mothers
[1092.00 --> 1093.06] will tell
[1093.06 --> 1093.64] their children
[1093.64 --> 1094.82] as hard
[1094.82 --> 1095.22] as life
[1095.22 --> 1095.56] is
[1095.56 --> 1097.04] as hopeless
[1097.04 --> 1097.78] as the future
[1097.78 --> 1098.32] seems
[1098.32 --> 1100.04] this box
[1100.04 --> 1100.90] this coffin
[1100.90 --> 1101.46] means
[1101.46 --> 1102.40] that one
[1102.40 --> 1103.02] day soon
[1103.02 --> 1103.44] we're gone
[1103.44 --> 1105.36] we close
[1105.36 --> 1105.98] with Joseph
[1105.98 --> 1106.74] in a coffin
[1106.74 --> 1107.84] in Egypt
[1107.84 --> 1109.30] and from the
[1109.30 --> 1110.12] outside looking
[1110.12 --> 1110.48] in
[1110.48 --> 1112.30] things don't
[1112.30 --> 1113.14] look all that
[1113.14 --> 1113.48] hopeful
[1113.48 --> 1115.70] but the
[1115.70 --> 1116.46] last verse
[1116.46 --> 1117.08] of Genesis
[1117.08 --> 1118.66] is part
[1118.66 --> 1118.92] of this
[1118.92 --> 1119.54] larger
[1119.54 --> 1120.00] biblical
[1120.00 --> 1120.60] story
[1120.60 --> 1121.72] that lets
[1121.72 --> 1122.22] us know
[1122.22 --> 1123.34] this is
[1123.34 --> 1123.86] not the
[1123.86 --> 1124.20] end
[1124.20 --> 1125.90] not by
[1125.90 --> 1126.62] a long
[1126.62 --> 1127.06] shot
[1127.06 --> 1128.26] it isn't
[1128.26 --> 1130.16] the road
[1130.16 --> 1130.68] ahead will
[1130.68 --> 1131.08] not be
[1131.08 --> 1131.44] easy
[1131.44 --> 1133.00] but some
[1133.00 --> 1134.42] 430 years
[1134.42 --> 1134.98] Joseph was
[1134.98 --> 1135.50] sold in
[1135.50 --> 1136.02] Egypt as
[1136.02 --> 1136.52] a slave
[1136.52 --> 1139.30] God
[1139.30 --> 1139.90] called up
[1139.90 --> 1140.46] another
[1140.46 --> 1141.34] deliverer
[1141.34 --> 1142.50] Moses
[1142.50 --> 1144.20] and as
[1144.20 --> 1144.62] Moses
[1144.62 --> 1145.22] leads the
[1145.22 --> 1145.72] children of
[1145.72 --> 1146.10] Israel
[1146.10 --> 1146.54] out of
[1146.54 --> 1146.70] their
[1146.70 --> 1147.08] slavery
[1147.08 --> 1147.70] in Egypt
[1147.70 --> 1148.70] you read
[1148.70 --> 1149.18] this in
[1149.18 --> 1150.24] Exodus 13
[1150.24 --> 1151.18] Moses
[1151.18 --> 1152.00] took the
[1152.00 --> 1152.66] bones of
[1152.66 --> 1153.02] Joseph
[1153.02 --> 1154.10] with him
[1154.10 --> 1155.62] because
[1155.62 --> 1156.14] Joseph
[1156.14 --> 1156.86] had made
[1156.86 --> 1157.42] the sons
[1157.42 --> 1157.98] of Israel
[1157.98 --> 1159.10] swear an
[1159.10 --> 1159.46] oath
[1159.46 --> 1160.64] he had
[1160.64 --> 1161.02] said
[1161.02 --> 1161.80] God
[1161.80 --> 1162.58] will surely
[1162.58 --> 1163.04] come to
[1163.04 --> 1163.62] your aid
[1163.62 --> 1164.70] and then
[1164.70 --> 1165.24] you must
[1165.24 --> 1165.70] carry
[1165.70 --> 1166.64] my bones
[1166.64 --> 1167.26] up with
[1167.26 --> 1167.60] you
[1167.60 --> 1168.70] from this
[1168.70 --> 1169.18] place
[1169.18 --> 1172.14] through 40
[1172.14 --> 1173.06] years of
[1173.06 --> 1173.62] their desert
[1173.62 --> 1174.48] pilgrimage
[1174.48 --> 1176.32] along with
[1176.32 --> 1177.14] everything else
[1177.14 --> 1177.76] they carried
[1177.76 --> 1178.20] for their
[1178.20 --> 1178.58] journey
[1178.58 --> 1180.54] they carried
[1180.54 --> 1181.42] that coffin
[1181.42 --> 1182.62] through the
[1182.62 --> 1183.18] Red Sea
[1183.18 --> 1184.62] to the foot
[1184.62 --> 1184.98] of Mount
[1184.98 --> 1185.42] Sinai
[1185.42 --> 1185.92] where God
[1185.92 --> 1186.38] renewed
[1186.38 --> 1187.26] his covenant
[1187.26 --> 1187.74] with his
[1187.74 --> 1188.08] people
[1188.08 --> 1189.68] through years
[1189.68 --> 1190.44] of doubts
[1190.44 --> 1191.24] and murmuring
[1191.24 --> 1192.04] and complaining
[1192.04 --> 1194.26] through years
[1194.26 --> 1194.86] of struggle
[1194.86 --> 1197.26] until finally
[1197.26 --> 1197.68] they took
[1197.68 --> 1198.18] possession
[1198.18 --> 1198.66] of the
[1198.66 --> 1199.10] land of
[1199.10 --> 1199.50] promise
[1199.50 --> 1200.22] and at
[1200.22 --> 1200.62] the end
[1200.62 --> 1201.06] of the
[1201.06 --> 1201.46] book of
[1201.46 --> 1201.86] Joshua
[1201.86 --> 1202.60] you read
[1202.60 --> 1203.36] these words
[1203.36 --> 1204.70] Joseph's
[1204.70 --> 1205.16] bones
[1205.16 --> 1206.34] which the
[1206.34 --> 1206.80] Israelites
[1206.80 --> 1207.52] had brought
[1207.52 --> 1207.88] up from
[1207.88 --> 1208.32] Egypt
[1208.32 --> 1210.00] were buried
[1210.00 --> 1210.66] at Shechem
[1210.66 --> 1211.62] in the
[1211.62 --> 1212.28] tract of
[1212.28 --> 1212.88] land that
[1212.88 --> 1213.58] Jacob bought
[1213.58 --> 1214.60] for 100
[1214.60 --> 1215.42] pieces of
[1215.42 --> 1215.82] silver
[1215.82 --> 1216.82] from the
[1216.82 --> 1217.24] sons of
[1217.24 --> 1217.68] Hamor
[1217.68 --> 1219.30] this became
[1219.30 --> 1220.08] the inheritance
[1220.08 --> 1221.78] of Joseph's
[1221.78 --> 1222.78] descendants
[1222.78 --> 1225.60] no coffin
[1225.60 --> 1226.20] in Egypt
[1226.20 --> 1227.42] is going
[1227.42 --> 1228.08] to stop
[1228.08 --> 1228.68] the Lord
[1228.68 --> 1229.88] God Almighty
[1229.88 --> 1230.66] from fulfilling
[1230.66 --> 1231.42] his promise
[1231.42 --> 1232.10] to Abraham
[1232.10 --> 1233.04] Isaac
[1233.04 --> 1233.96] Jacob
[1233.96 --> 1235.78] and Joseph
[1235.78 --> 1238.04] nor will
[1238.04 --> 1238.78] anything
[1238.78 --> 1239.58] stop
[1239.58 --> 1240.44] the Lord
[1240.44 --> 1241.60] God Almighty
[1241.60 --> 1242.48] from fulfilling
[1242.48 --> 1243.42] his promise
[1243.42 --> 1244.50] to us
[1244.50 --> 1246.84] I know
[1246.84 --> 1247.34] the people
[1247.34 --> 1247.76] of God
[1247.76 --> 1248.06] throughout
[1248.06 --> 1248.52] history
[1248.52 --> 1249.02] have had
[1249.02 --> 1249.54] their share
[1249.54 --> 1250.04] of hard
[1250.04 --> 1250.46] times
[1250.46 --> 1250.82] I know
[1250.82 --> 1251.28] violence
[1251.28 --> 1251.94] and terror
[1251.94 --> 1252.72] of hunger
[1252.72 --> 1253.40] and poverty
[1253.40 --> 1254.26] of crime
[1254.26 --> 1255.00] and immorality
[1255.00 --> 1255.66] of sickness
[1255.66 --> 1256.40] and pandemic
[1256.40 --> 1258.62] I know
[1258.62 --> 1259.22] that the evil
[1259.22 --> 1259.96] and the injustice
[1259.96 --> 1260.74] and the oppression
[1260.74 --> 1261.94] and the exploitation
[1261.94 --> 1262.98] that Archbishop
[1262.98 --> 1264.06] Tutu spoke
[1264.06 --> 1264.72] about still
[1264.72 --> 1265.28] prevails
[1265.28 --> 1266.12] in almost
[1266.12 --> 1267.08] every corner
[1267.08 --> 1267.72] of our world
[1267.72 --> 1268.82] also frankly
[1268.82 --> 1269.84] in our corner
[1269.84 --> 1270.64] of the world
[1270.64 --> 1272.90] I know
[1272.90 --> 1273.64] that we are
[1273.64 --> 1274.28] not winning
[1274.28 --> 1275.02] the battle
[1275.02 --> 1275.98] in our culture
[1275.98 --> 1276.56] to reach
[1276.56 --> 1277.66] the whole world
[1277.66 --> 1278.90] for Jesus Christ
[1278.90 --> 1280.24] all the adversity
[1280.24 --> 1281.06] that the church
[1281.06 --> 1281.84] has faced
[1281.84 --> 1282.58] and that we face
[1282.58 --> 1283.64] up to this day
[1283.64 --> 1284.62] we don't have
[1284.62 --> 1285.38] this box
[1285.38 --> 1286.04] this coffin
[1286.04 --> 1287.36] that talks to us
[1287.36 --> 1289.64] we have no
[1289.64 --> 1290.64] unburied bones
[1290.64 --> 1291.38] to revive
[1291.38 --> 1292.38] our flagging faith
[1292.38 --> 1295.98] we have something
[1295.98 --> 1296.64] far better
[1296.64 --> 1297.18] don't we
[1297.18 --> 1299.28] we have
[1299.28 --> 1301.02] an empty grave
[1301.02 --> 1303.50] an empty grave
[1303.50 --> 1304.54] where the son of God
[1304.54 --> 1305.16] on a Friday
[1305.16 --> 1306.22] that was good for us
[1306.22 --> 1307.32] but not very good
[1307.32 --> 1307.78] for him
[1307.78 --> 1309.74] because he died
[1309.74 --> 1311.76] for our sin
[1311.76 --> 1313.60] a grave
[1313.60 --> 1314.34] now empty
[1314.34 --> 1315.72] because on the third day
[1315.72 --> 1316.78] he rose from the dead
[1316.78 --> 1318.48] and walked out of that grave
[1318.48 --> 1319.68] for our life
[1319.68 --> 1322.00] we have an empty grave
[1322.00 --> 1323.10] that reminds us
[1323.10 --> 1323.96] that this earth
[1323.96 --> 1325.70] is not our real home
[1325.70 --> 1327.74] that God has prepared
[1327.74 --> 1328.74] a better city
[1328.74 --> 1329.34] for us
[1329.34 --> 1330.30] a new heaven
[1330.30 --> 1331.40] and a new earth
[1331.40 --> 1332.80] the land of glory
[1332.80 --> 1334.74] we have an empty grave
[1334.74 --> 1335.90] to revive our hope
[1335.90 --> 1337.32] that God is coming
[1337.32 --> 1338.66] to our aid
[1338.66 --> 1340.00] God is coming back
[1340.00 --> 1340.54] for us
[1340.54 --> 1341.60] God is coming
[1341.60 --> 1342.52] to deliver us
[1342.52 --> 1343.56] from our bondage
[1343.56 --> 1344.12] to death
[1344.12 --> 1345.08] and decay
[1345.08 --> 1346.16] and the devil
[1346.16 --> 1349.10] Genesis 50
[1349.10 --> 1349.48] you see
[1349.48 --> 1350.22] is far
[1350.22 --> 1351.06] from the end
[1351.06 --> 1351.70] of the story
[1351.70 --> 1352.74] it is only the end
[1352.74 --> 1353.10] of the book
[1353.10 --> 1353.72] of Genesis
[1353.72 --> 1355.48] Moses still has
[1355.48 --> 1356.28] four more books
[1356.28 --> 1356.88] to write
[1356.88 --> 1357.98] and the spirit
[1357.98 --> 1358.60] of God
[1358.60 --> 1360.12] has 61
[1360.12 --> 1361.32] more to write
[1361.32 --> 1362.70] before the final
[1362.70 --> 1363.56] chapter
[1363.56 --> 1364.78] is written
[1364.78 --> 1367.22] listen
[1367.22 --> 1368.48] Revelation
[1368.48 --> 1369.76] 21
[1369.76 --> 1372.24] these familiar words
[1372.24 --> 1373.66] then I saw
[1373.66 --> 1374.44] a new heaven
[1374.44 --> 1375.90] and a new earth
[1375.90 --> 1377.90] for the first heaven
[1377.90 --> 1379.16] and the first earth
[1379.16 --> 1380.12] had passed away
[1380.12 --> 1381.30] and there was no longer
[1381.30 --> 1382.28] any sea
[1382.28 --> 1384.42] I saw the holy city
[1384.42 --> 1385.54] the new Jerusalem
[1385.54 --> 1386.76] coming down
[1386.76 --> 1387.28] out of heaven
[1387.28 --> 1387.92] from God
[1387.92 --> 1389.32] prepared as a bride
[1389.32 --> 1390.58] beautifully dressed
[1390.58 --> 1391.46] for her husband
[1391.46 --> 1393.22] and I heard
[1393.22 --> 1394.26] a loud voice
[1394.26 --> 1394.94] from the throne
[1394.94 --> 1395.48] saying
[1395.48 --> 1397.04] now the dwelling
[1397.04 --> 1397.64] of God
[1397.64 --> 1398.64] is with men
[1398.64 --> 1400.34] and he will live
[1400.34 --> 1400.80] with them
[1400.80 --> 1401.84] they will be
[1401.84 --> 1402.52] his people
[1402.52 --> 1403.90] and God himself
[1403.90 --> 1404.92] will be with them
[1404.92 --> 1406.20] and be their God
[1406.20 --> 1407.20] he will wipe
[1407.20 --> 1408.22] every tear
[1408.22 --> 1409.28] from their eyes
[1409.28 --> 1410.74] there will be
[1410.74 --> 1411.58] no more death
[1411.58 --> 1412.72] or mourning
[1412.72 --> 1414.52] or crying
[1414.52 --> 1415.88] or pain
[1415.88 --> 1417.32] for the old
[1417.32 --> 1418.28] order of things
[1418.28 --> 1420.20] has passed away
[1420.20 --> 1422.54] as God's people
[1422.54 --> 1423.58] in the days of Joseph
[1423.58 --> 1425.74] so now it's true
[1425.74 --> 1426.50] we still live
[1426.50 --> 1427.36] in the midst of death
[1427.36 --> 1429.38] those who put
[1429.38 --> 1429.86] their hope
[1429.86 --> 1430.44] in God
[1430.44 --> 1431.58] and his promise
[1431.58 --> 1432.50] that today
[1432.50 --> 1434.12] still die
[1434.12 --> 1435.92] are placed
[1435.92 --> 1436.98] in coffins
[1436.98 --> 1438.42] and carried
[1438.42 --> 1439.14] to their graves
[1439.14 --> 1441.78] you and I too
[1441.78 --> 1442.52] are not home yet
[1442.52 --> 1444.42] as believers
[1444.42 --> 1444.88] we live
[1444.88 --> 1446.50] in an in-between time
[1446.50 --> 1448.94] between the already
[1448.94 --> 1449.70] of the kingdom
[1449.70 --> 1450.40] of God
[1450.40 --> 1451.08] that invaded
[1451.08 --> 1451.72] our world
[1451.72 --> 1452.32] and the person
[1452.32 --> 1453.22] of Jesus Christ
[1453.22 --> 1454.66] and that has been
[1454.66 --> 1455.68] born in our hearts
[1455.68 --> 1456.40] through God's word
[1456.40 --> 1457.14] and God's spirit
[1457.14 --> 1459.44] and the not yet
[1459.44 --> 1460.22] of the fully
[1460.22 --> 1461.30] realized kingdom
[1461.30 --> 1461.84] of God
[1461.84 --> 1462.82] that will come
[1462.82 --> 1463.54] with Jesus
[1463.54 --> 1464.52] returning glory
[1464.52 --> 1466.12] when God
[1466.12 --> 1466.88] will be all
[1466.88 --> 1467.26] in all
[1467.26 --> 1467.78] everything
[1467.78 --> 1469.68] to everyone
[1469.68 --> 1472.36] but as God
[1472.36 --> 1473.40] spoke in the beginning
[1473.40 --> 1475.00] and there was light
[1475.00 --> 1476.48] and there was life
[1476.48 --> 1479.06] so an empty grave
[1479.06 --> 1480.14] declares to us
[1480.14 --> 1481.02] that in the end
[1481.02 --> 1482.02] God will speak
[1482.02 --> 1482.74] light
[1482.74 --> 1483.66] and life
[1483.66 --> 1484.70] once again
[1484.70 --> 1485.72] and make
[1485.72 --> 1486.88] everything
[1486.88 --> 1487.84] new
[1487.84 --> 1490.94] we await
[1490.94 --> 1491.58] that voice
[1491.58 --> 1493.44] even as we hear
[1493.44 --> 1494.56] whispers of it already
[1494.56 --> 1495.90] now
[1495.90 --> 1496.64] through the spirit
[1496.64 --> 1497.16] of God
[1497.16 --> 1498.88] both in his word
[1498.88 --> 1500.48] and at this table
[1500.48 --> 1501.16] stands here
[1501.16 --> 1502.30] before me
[1502.30 --> 1503.10] where we had hope
[1503.10 --> 1504.04] to celebrate communion
[1504.04 --> 1505.10] again this morning
[1505.10 --> 1507.30] this table
[1507.30 --> 1508.30] also
[1508.30 --> 1509.46] a reminder
[1509.46 --> 1510.94] that the Lord
[1510.94 --> 1511.88] gave us
[1511.88 --> 1512.42] to revive
[1512.42 --> 1513.24] our hope
[1513.24 --> 1513.92] on a journey
[1513.92 --> 1515.56] to the promised land
[1515.56 --> 1517.74] when your children
[1517.74 --> 1518.14] ask you
[1518.14 --> 1519.50] what's with this table
[1519.50 --> 1521.52] what's that about
[1521.52 --> 1522.42] this bread
[1522.42 --> 1523.00] this wine
[1523.00 --> 1524.02] right
[1524.02 --> 1524.72] you tell them
[1524.72 --> 1525.44] this table
[1525.44 --> 1526.26] means that God
[1526.26 --> 1527.52] came to our aid
[1527.52 --> 1528.40] in Jesus
[1528.40 --> 1529.82] and that because
[1529.82 --> 1530.72] Jesus died
[1530.72 --> 1531.56] and rose again
[1531.56 --> 1532.90] he will come for us
[1532.90 --> 1533.28] again
[1533.28 --> 1534.42] one day soon
[1534.42 --> 1536.02] God will deliver us
[1536.02 --> 1536.84] from our bondage
[1536.84 --> 1537.36] to death
[1537.36 --> 1537.98] and decay
[1537.98 --> 1538.64] and the devil
[1538.64 --> 1539.54] and bring us
[1539.54 --> 1540.44] to a new land
[1540.44 --> 1541.66] this table
[1541.66 --> 1542.60] placed in front
[1542.60 --> 1543.58] of our sanctuary
[1543.58 --> 1544.94] means rescue
[1544.94 --> 1546.06] means salvation
[1546.06 --> 1547.48] it proclaims
[1547.48 --> 1547.92] the death
[1547.92 --> 1548.74] and resurrection
[1548.74 --> 1550.92] until he comes
[1550.92 --> 1551.72] again
[1551.72 --> 1554.98] and then you tell them
[1554.98 --> 1557.66] and you tell yourself
[1557.66 --> 1558.82] every Sunday again
[1558.82 --> 1561.02] if we are on God's side
[1561.02 --> 1563.34] we are on
[1563.34 --> 1564.66] the winning side
[1564.66 --> 1566.98] life is going to win
[1566.98 --> 1568.04] over death
[1568.04 --> 1569.66] love is over hate
[1569.66 --> 1571.38] peace is going to win
[1571.38 --> 1572.40] over violence
[1572.40 --> 1573.06] righteousness
[1573.06 --> 1574.34] is going to win
[1574.34 --> 1575.22] over injustice
[1575.22 --> 1577.26] good is going to win
[1577.26 --> 1578.20] over evil
[1578.20 --> 1579.38] so don't ever
[1579.38 --> 1581.38] ever give up hope
[1581.38 --> 1583.54] not for people
[1583.54 --> 1584.08] you love
[1584.08 --> 1585.78] not for yourself
[1585.78 --> 1587.56] not for the church
[1587.56 --> 1589.68] not for the world
[1589.68 --> 1592.02] not for God
[1592.02 --> 1593.96] this is
[1593.96 --> 1595.62] our Father's world
[1595.62 --> 1597.14] oh let us
[1597.14 --> 1597.88] not forget
[1597.88 --> 1598.94] that though the wrong
[1598.94 --> 1600.04] is great and strong
[1600.04 --> 1600.60] God
[1600.60 --> 1602.22] is the ruler
[1602.22 --> 1603.28] yet
[1603.28 --> 1606.30] especially
[1606.30 --> 1607.04] especially as we are
[1607.04 --> 1607.90] about to begin
[1607.90 --> 1609.62] the season of Advent
[1609.62 --> 1612.18] leading up to the good news
[1612.18 --> 1612.94] of Emmanuel
[1612.94 --> 1614.72] God with us
[1614.72 --> 1616.18] in Jesus
[1616.18 --> 1616.74] his son
[1616.74 --> 1618.96] may that hope
[1618.96 --> 1620.02] give each of you
[1620.02 --> 1621.30] and us together
[1621.30 --> 1622.38] renewed
[1622.38 --> 1624.08] spiritual energy
[1624.08 --> 1625.12] even in this
[1625.12 --> 1626.12] difficult time
[1626.12 --> 1627.44] of COVID-19
[1627.44 --> 1629.76] the spiritual energy
[1629.76 --> 1630.38] we need
[1630.38 --> 1631.52] to dream
[1631.52 --> 1632.44] God's dreams
[1632.44 --> 1633.94] to strive
[1633.94 --> 1634.54] for the good
[1634.54 --> 1635.34] God's word
[1635.34 --> 1636.00] commands
[1636.00 --> 1637.02] and promises
[1637.02 --> 1638.90] and to work
[1638.90 --> 1639.84] for God's
[1639.84 --> 1640.84] promised future
[1640.84 --> 1641.60] by shaping
[1641.60 --> 1642.90] our lives
[1642.90 --> 1643.56] that's come
[1643.56 --> 1644.80] coming
[1644.80 --> 1646.26] for to carry
[1646.26 --> 1647.54] us home
[1647.54 --> 1649.60] in the name
[1649.60 --> 1650.18] of the Father
[1650.18 --> 1650.90] the Son
[1650.90 --> 1652.48] and the Holy Spirit
[1652.48 --> 1654.12] let's pray
[1654.12 --> 1656.80] gracious God
[1656.80 --> 1657.56] we thank you
[1657.56 --> 1660.00] for the hope
[1660.00 --> 1660.80] that is ours
[1660.80 --> 1662.62] in Christ Jesus
[1662.62 --> 1664.88] for the hope
[1664.88 --> 1665.76] that we will celebrate
[1665.76 --> 1666.92] again and anew
[1666.92 --> 1668.16] in the season of Advent
[1668.16 --> 1669.34] beginning next week
[1669.34 --> 1671.24] leading up to the
[1671.24 --> 1671.80] celebration
[1671.80 --> 1673.64] of the day
[1673.64 --> 1674.58] that we have marked
[1674.58 --> 1676.98] to celebrate
[1676.98 --> 1678.90] the incarnation
[1678.90 --> 1680.22] God
[1680.22 --> 1680.88] you
[1680.88 --> 1681.48] coming
[1681.48 --> 1682.66] in our flesh
[1682.66 --> 1683.98] in Jesus
[1683.98 --> 1684.62] your son
[1684.62 --> 1686.68] to remind us
[1686.68 --> 1688.60] that our hope
[1688.60 --> 1689.42] is real
[1689.42 --> 1690.76] our hope
[1690.76 --> 1691.96] has flesh and blood
[1691.96 --> 1694.38] and so we pray
[1694.38 --> 1696.42] together with Joseph
[1696.42 --> 1697.92] may our faith
[1697.92 --> 1698.28] too
[1698.28 --> 1699.80] remain strong
[1699.80 --> 1700.46] may our hope
[1700.46 --> 1701.50] remain alive
[1701.50 --> 1703.42] and may we live lives
[1703.42 --> 1704.00] consistent
[1704.00 --> 1705.42] with that faith
[1705.42 --> 1706.70] and that hope
[1706.70 --> 1707.78] every day
[1707.78 --> 1709.50] in Jesus name
[1709.50 --> 1709.98] we pray
[1709.98 --> 1711.10] amen