Abraham Buries Sarah
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
6/30/2019 PM
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Text:
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Genesis 23:1-4
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Psalters: |
402, 97, 104, 28 |
- Her death.
- Sarah died at 127 (the only woman whose life span is recorded in Scripture) when Abraham was 137 – lived another 38 years.
- Scripture gives Sarah significant importance (Genesis, Heb. 11:11,12; I Peter 3:6).
- Sarah’s death brought Abraham great sorrow.
- Weep and mourn, but there is a duty which must be performed: Abraham knew an immediate responsibility to bury his dead.
- His faith told him that we came from the dust and shall return to it (3:19b).
- And his faith saw the sowing of the believer’s body to be as the sowing of a seed in the hope of better (I Cor. 15:42ff).
- In a man of faith, the burying of a believing loved one evidences a belief in the resurrection of the body (like Job 19:25,26).
- To bury Sarah’s body Abraham, the sojourning stranger (4), needed to purchase a piece of land.
- Abraham had a specific location in mind: the cave in the field of Machpelah (8,9).
- While making this purchase Abraham knew God’s promise that the whole country would belong to him and his seed (12:7).
- Abraham opened negotiations with the people of the land and them approach Ephron, so it was known to all.
- Abraham carefully and legally purchased an exact parcel (17,18), so it was firmly acknowledge by all to be Abraham’s.
- The significance.
- Abraham lived as a pilgrim and a stranger (owning nothing after 62 years) dwelling in tents, looking for a city (Heb. 11:9,10).
- If he was really seeking an earthly possession he was well capable of gaining some by conquest or by alliances.
- His patience arose also out of his seeking something better than earthly, the heavenly (Heb. 11:10,14,16).
- Tenderly and in steadfast hope Abraham entrusted the earthly remains of this princess in God’s kingdom to the earth of the land of promise, believing/expecting her to inherit the heavenly Canaan.
- Abraham’s purchase of Machpelah was for himself as well (he made pre-arrangements for his funeral).
- This same hope, based on God’s promises, is what is to live in our minds and hearts.