R.I.P. Sarah
Opening Prayer
Lord, as I read Your Word today, increase my faith. Teach me by Your Holy Spirit now, I pray.
Read Genesis 23:1-20
[1] Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. [2] She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her. [3] Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, [4] “I am a foreigner and stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.” [5] The Hittites replied to Abraham, [6] “Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead.” [7] Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. [8] He said to them, “If you are willing to let me bury my dead, then listen to me and intercede with Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf [9] so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you.” [10] Ephron the Hittite was sitting among his people and he replied to Abraham in the hearing of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city. [11] “No, my lord,” he said. “Listen to me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.” [12] Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land [13] and he said to Ephron in their hearing, “Listen to me, if you will. I will pay the price of the field. Accept it from me so I can bury my dead there.” [14] Ephron answered Abraham, [15] “Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.” [16] Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weight current among the merchants. [17] So Ephron’s field in Machpelah near Mamre-both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field-was deeded [18] to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city. [19] Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan. [20] So the field and the cave in it were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
Why do you think Abraham insisted on buying the field?When Sarah’s long life came to an end, it was important to Abraham that she be honored, properly mourned, and buried. In order to buy property as a foreigner, he needed the intercession of a third party (8), and he paid a hefty price (16). The family was now deeply entrenched in their adopted land. Generation upon generation has passed since Sarah was laid to rest in the cave in the field of Machpelah. She had lived by faith, and she “was still living by faith when [she] died. [She] did not receive the things promised; [she] only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting [she] was a foreigner and stranger on earth” (from Heb. 11:13,14). We now live in a new era of waiting, having received the promise of a Messiah but waiting, for awhile, until his kingdom fully arrives. Sarah is one of a “great cloud of witnesses” (Heb. 12:1) who have gone before us, inspiring us to live faithfully, joyfully and hopefully, until the great plan of redemption is complete.
Apply
Who has inspired you most in your faith? Are you living such that you are an inspiration to others?
Closing prayer
Lord, I’m grateful for those who’ve inspired my faith and I want to inspire others. Show me who and how.
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