Face like Flint
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Isaiah 50:
Pray
Turn to Genesis 14
A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
Abram learned that Lot had been taken captive during this conflict.
Abram immediately took action.
He gathered 318 men and went out in pursuit of the 4 kings who laid siege to Sodom.
I must remind you of the ferocity of this group of kings.
Remember we talked last week about how they were going throughout the land and conquering various tribal groups.
We talked about the Rephaim, Zuzim and Emim.
Goliath was a descendant of the Rephaim.
These people groups were formidable.
Therefore the kings who were overpowering them must have been equally as formidable.
Abram heard of his nephew Lot being taken by this group pf kings.
He immediately responded.
It says that he took 318, as I mentioned.
318 men against the armies of 4 kings.
Not sure how many men would have been part of these armies.
Not just any army, they were armies that were battle hardened and capable of securing victory against difficult enemies.
Abram responded to this situation in faith.
He responded in trust toward God.
Abram remembered the covenant that God extended to him in chapter 12.
Remember, the invitation to the Abrahamic covenant.
Turn back to Genesis 12
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Abram remembered these words from the Lord and he responded to them.
Abram responded in faith to the Word of God.
He did not hesitate.
He did not question.
He did not doubt.
He walked in confidence knowing that God would uphold His Word.
Turn back to Genesis 14:15-16
During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
Abram defeated the armies of Four kings.
He recovered the people who were taken captive.
And he also recovered all of the stuff.
It was not like Abram snuck into the camp at night and recovered what was taken.
The text says, Abram attacked them.
He rescued all of the people and he got back all of the possessions.
Not only that, after he defeated the kings in battle, Abram ran them off.
Verse 15 says that Abram and his men pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.
Damascus is not even in Israel.
Remember, Sodom was located in the southern region of Israel.
Damascus is 135 miles north of Israel.
It is located in the modern day country of Syria.
Abram ran this group of kings out of the country.
Abram refused to tolerate the influence of evil as it tried to do harm to his family.
He drove these kings out of the neighborhood, out of the region and out of the country.
Turn to Isaiah 50
Isaiah 50 is one of what are referred to as Servant Songs
There are 4 parts of the book of Isaiah that called servant songs.
Isaiah 42; Isaiah 49; Isaiah 50 and then 52 and 53.
Pastor Chris did a series on these verses.
The Servant Songs give us considerable detail regarding the person and work of Jesus.
In these verses, Jesus is referred to as the Servant.
He is the servant of the Lord who has taken bodily form to carry out the will of the Father.
The beginning of chapter 50, we have the voice of God, the Father.
Where is your certificate of divorce.
He is addressing covenant with His people.
Specifically speaking to Israel, stating that no one has taken them, nor have they been sold to a creditor.
God Has given them over to exile in an effort to correct and draw them back.
God reminds the reader that His arm is not too short to save.
Look at Verses Isaiah 50:4-5
The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away.
This is the voice of the Servant.
The voice of Jesus.
He is referring to His purpose.
His purpose to give hope to the weary.
I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.
This is a direct reference to the crucifixion.
The book of Isaiah dates to 700 years prior to the incarnation of Jesus.
The voice of the Servant, the voice of Jesus is speaking.
Jesus is looking to the time where He would be beaten for the sake of those He loves.
Jesus reflects on the anguish of having His beard pulled out.
He was mocked and spit on.
Yet, He did not hide His face.
He did not hide His face because of Verse 7
Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.
Jesus incarnate, took on human form to accomplish the will of the Father.
The will of the Father is Redemption of His children
This is why Jesus was not disgraced, nor did He hide His face.
He set His face like flint.
Explain flint.
Jesus set his face like flint, because He was determined to win victory through the cross.
He was determined to Redeem those who are His.
Click for verses
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.
The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me! It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me. Who will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up.
Turn back to Genesis 14
When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
Abram responded in the authority of God.
We need to respond in the authority of God.
Jesus did not hesitate to rescue us.
Abram did not hesitate
Abram walked in Gods authofity.
We must walk in His authority
Jesus enters into our hearts without hesitation
he confronts our problems without hesitation