Abraham Buys Sarah’s Tomb

Abraham Buys Sarah’s Tomb

Genesis 23: ¹⁴ And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, ¹⁵ “My lord, listen to me; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver. What is that between you and me? So bury your dead.” ¹⁶ And Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed out the silver for Ephron which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, currency of the merchants.

 

¹⁷ So the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded ¹⁸ to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city.

 

¹⁹ And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. ²⁰ So the field and the cave that is in it were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth as property for a burial place.

 

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Ephron the Hittite was very wealthy and owned a field with a cave fit to bury a king. Abraham asked that he purchase the cave from Ephron, but Ephron insisted on giving it to Abraham. Knowing this “gift” would be forgotten, Abraham insisted on paying for the tomb.

 

My Observations:

• This is the first mention of record keeping such as a deed, so the Hittites were advanced.
• Abraham understood currency and was able to purchase Sarah’s tomb.
• Silver was the currency of choice since gold was rare and highly sought after as a part of the Garden of Eden.

 

Living amongst the Hittites may have been rewarding and challenging at the same time. This group of raiders were strong, which would probably keep Abrahm ready to fight at all times. But on the other hand, no outside raiders would dare to attack. This seemed like a suitable place to bury Sarah.

 

Abraham became rich in land through this purchase. He probably stationed guards around the land to keep people from squatting. He received a deed and buried Sarah in the tomb. He paid more for the land than CHRIST was offered for HIS life.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD go into detail about how much ‘Abraham paid for Sarah’s tomb and how he got a deed?
• Has anyone ever offered to pay for something for you, but you sensed it would be wise for you to pay for it yourself?
• What is GOD’s wisdom saying to you about dealing with someone who does not have your best interest in mind?

Favor Recognized

Favor Recognized

Genesis 23: ⁵ And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, ⁶ “Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.”

 

⁷ Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, the sons of Heth. ⁸ And he spoke with them, saying, “If it is your wish that I bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and meet with Ephron the son of Zohar for me, ⁹ that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he has, which is at the end of his field. Let him give it to me at the full price, as property for a burial place among you.”

 

¹⁰ Now Ephron dwelt among the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the presence of the sons of Heth, all who entered at the gate of his city, saying, ¹¹ “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field and the cave that is in it; I give it to you in the presence of the sons of my people. I give it to you. Bury your dead!”

 

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Sarah had come to the end of her life. Abraham wanted to bury her some place special. Ephron had a cave that would have been suited for a ruler of that day. Abraham offered to pay for the cave, but Ephron wanted to give it to him.

 

My Observations:

• Ephron recognized the favor GOD had on Abraham.
• Even in a land of people who did not follow GOD’s ways, Abraham was seen as special.
• Abraham and Sarah were feared because of the many supernatural things that happened in their lives.

 

The Hittites were powerful from a human perspective. They probably took what they wanted, when they wanted it. But Abraham did not want a gift from Ephron, probably for the same reason he did not want money from the king of Sodom.

 

Ephron and the other Hittites saw Abraham as someone who could bring on destruction to their city and respected GOD’s power, but only out of fear. They still did not follow GOD. Abraham’s relationship with GOD seemed known, even by those who did not believe in HIM.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about these conversations?
• Have you ever been in a place where you were the only follower of CHRIST?
• Do you realize that when JESUS called you light, you brighten up dark places just by being present?

Ain’t Too Proud to Beg

Ain’t Too Proud to Beg

Genesis 23: Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. ² So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

 

³ Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, ⁴ “I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”

 

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Thirty-seven years after Isaac was born, Sarah died in the land of Canaan. Abraham spoke to the descendants of Heth, son of Canaan, asking for a place to bury Sarah.

 

My Observations:

• Abraham mourned Sarah’s death.
• Abraham lived among people who did not believe in following GOD’s ways.
• Abraham had to humbly ask for a place to bury Sarah.

 

Living in a place that had people who did not follow beliefs in GOD seemed difficult, yet Abraham was able to do this with humility. He seemed like he did not try to change the people, rather live for GOD. He moved to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites without worry of being tainted away from GOD.

 

He was getting older and had learned that fighting was not the answer. He did not just gran the first place and bury Sarah, rather he asked for a place that could be recognized as her grace.  Abraham showed tremendous humility.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the conversation between Abraham and the Sons of Heth?
• Have you ever felt like a foreigner in a group of people you may even be familiar with?
• Can you know and understand that GOD is with you even when you feel alone?

All in the Family

All in the Family

Genesis 22: ²⁰ Now it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham, saying, “Indeed Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: ²¹ Huz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, ²² Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” ²³ And Bethuel begot Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. ²⁴ His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Thahash, and Maachah.

 

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After the flood, GOD said to Noah’s family, “Be fruitful and multiply” just like HE said to Adam and Eve. Generations passed and Terah, father of Abraham, Nahor and Haran, was born. Haran died and tore Terah apart. Abraham and Nahor got a plan. They would get married and bring some joy to Terah.

 

Abraham married Sarah and Nahor married Haran’s daughter Milcah. Someone from Milcah’s family told Abraham about her children.

 

My Observations:

• Milcah was watched over by the LORD.
• Milcah and Nahor also shared in the blessing from GOD.
• Milcah had a child named Bethuel who was the father of Rebekah, who will be discussed later.

 

Though the family faced the difficulties of death, they lived for GOD in a way that HE mentioned them to Moses. JESUS, the Angel of the LORD, seemed close to this family and must have spoken to them regularly. The heartache of losing Haran was filled with joy through Nahor and Milcah.

 

Milcah was opposite of Sarah as she had eight children. They remained in the area that Terah left, amongst the Chaldeans. JESUS’ human lineage would come through this family. To clarify, I believe JESUS was the one who made numerous appearances in the Old Testament.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD give Moses this conversation and lineage?
• Have you ever thought you were not seen by GOD?
• Do you realize you are part of GOD’s family and HE sees you and loves you?

Reason for Blessing

Reason for Blessing

Genesis 22: ¹⁵ Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, ¹⁶ and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— ¹⁷ blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. ¹⁸ In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” ¹⁹ So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.

 

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Abraham was told by GOD to leave his father’s place to go to a place GOD did not tell him the location. He then faced all kinds of issues like famine, raiders, liars and a decadent city.

 

My Observations:

• Abraham was the example of total obedience to GOD
• Abraham believed in GOD like a child and he kept this belief all his life.
• Anything GOD told Abraham to do, he obeyed.

 

JESUS called to Abraham out of heaven a second time and gives Abraham the reason HE was providing the blessing. As if to say “See, that’s what I’M talking about,” JESUS tells Abraham why the blessing was coming.

 

JESUS did not want a human sacrifice, rather HE wanted to show you and me that there was a human named Abraham who put total trust in HIM. As difficult as it is, obedience to GOD is special to HIM and HE loves when we surrender our ways to HIM.

 

Life is not ours, rather it is GOD’s to use as HE pleases. When GOD says to do something, there should be no question, but action. GOD planned from the beginning to bless Abraham through his lineage. JESUS would become a human, live a sinless life, get murdered by HIS creation and be raised from the dead to open the scroll that held the sentence of Satan.

 

Rebellion was introduced in the Garden of Eden by Satan, JESUS blesses all those who wins the internal battle of disbelief and disobedience. Belief and obedience to JESUS gives life!

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about this conversation between JESUS and Abraham?
• Have you ever been tempted to give up and no longer follow JESUS?
• Is obeying JESUS your first response or is it a struggle?

 

The-LORD-Will-Provide

 

The-LORD-Will-Provide

Genesis 22: ¹³ Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

 

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After being stopped by JESUS, Abraham turned around and saw a ram caught in a thicket. After GOD’s curse on the planet, weeds and thorny bushes were allowed to grow along side of fruit. Abraham built an altar to sacrifice his son, whom he loved. Instead of sacrificing his son, GOD provided a ram.

 

My Observations:

• Abraham would have seen the ram as he built the altar, so it must not have been there.
• GOD stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac and then, at that moment, provided the ram.
• Abraham had a mountain top experience and named the place, “The-LORD-Will-Provide.”

 

Making an example out of Abraham, GOD waited until the very last second to provide. Abraham needed total dependence on GOD to come through with a solution, otherwise he could have said that he found it.

 

This example is scary, strange and difficult to swallow. BUT GOD meant business. HE needed someone who would place total belief and faith in HIM without any doubts. I believe HE wants you and me to do the same. GOD wants total reliance on HIS abilities to guide and provide. HE knows what we need way before we ask. HE can also say “No” or “Wait.”

 

Isaac was supposed to die, but GOD provided another sacrifice. We were supposed to die because of our sins. BUT GOD provided another sacrifice, namely JESUS. GOD is our provider.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD waited until the very last moment to provide a substitute sacrifice?
• Do things GOD told you have to go the way you think?
• What provision are you trusting GOD for and do you have total belief that HE will provide it?

Commitment Level Set

Commitment Level Set

Genesis 22: ⁹ Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. ¹⁰ And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

 

¹¹ But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”

So he said, “Here I am.”

 

¹² And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”

 

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GOD knows all. HE is omniscient.  HE did not discover Abraham’s commitment level when Abraham raised the knife to slay his son Isaac, rather GOD may have set the commitment level within him.

 

My Observations:

• Abraham was committed to GOD from his youth.
• Abraham heard and believed many passed down stories from his father and from his ancestors, Enoch and Shem.
• Abraham had no doubt that GOD would do as HE said HE would do, so he almost went through with the strange sacrifice.

 

This example of commitment was shown by Abraham for you and me. GOD did not have anything different for Abraham to do that required more training. GOD shared this commitment level with everyone who seeks to follow HIM, because, I believe, we can sometimes get so enamored with the thing GOD gives us, that we lose sight that the thing is still HIS.

 

HE may give us a vision, or a gift or earthly wealth and we hold onto it like it is ours. Every human is HIS, every animal and every place we build are HIS. Even our very lives are HIS. We may think we can do what we want to do, but followers of CHRIST are willing to sacrifice things that are precious to us, just because we love GOD. HE is willing to set a higher level of commitment within you and me.

 

Challenge

• Why did JESUS call to Abraham from heaven?
• Do you spend time worrying about something GOD has given you and now you may lose it?
• Are you willing to sacrifice the thing you love so your level of commitment to GOD can increase?