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!”

 

============

 

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?