February 2nd, 2013
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

A Long-lasting Memorial

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Opening Prayer

Lord, may I learn who I am through trust in You, the One who can make more than I can imagine.

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.

Meditate

Can you think of something God has done for you that you would like to be remembered by family and friends when you are gone?

Think Further

Two millennia after Abraham bought a cave in Hebron, Herod the Great built a massive structure over it to accommodate the pilgrims of his day. Fast forward another 2,000 years and this burial site is visited by tourists from all over the world. Muslims, Christians and Jews come to remember this couple who remained faithful to the one Eternal God and his promises, as they remained faithful to each other through the ups and downs of a lifelong marriage.

We have seen how Abraham loved his sons and was torn at the thought of parting from them. But now we glimpse his love for Sarah through his grief at her death at Hebron (2). Nearby is Mamre, always associated with great trees, where they lived and built an altar to the Lord after parting from Lot (Gen. 13:18). There Sarah heard the Lord’s angel announce her imminent pregnancy (Gen. 18:1,10). It was a place of good memories. Abraham wants to be sure her body remains there in peace.

Courteous negotiations take place with the local elders. There will always be some reluctance to part with land. They may have seen some advantage in offering a burial place as a favor to Abraham (6,11). He, however, wants ownership that will be recognized in perpetuity. As with the well at Beersheba (Gen. 21:30), he makes it publicly known that he has paid in full. Abraham gets a larger site than he said he needed–a field with trees as well as the cave (17). The price is reckoned to be very high, but the result is that Sarah’s memory is established in the land God promised her. At this tomb three generations of rival siblings will meet in peace to bury their parents (Gen. 25:9,10; 35:27-29; 50:13).

Apply

Reflect on how you want to be remembered when you have died. How are you living to make that possible?

Closing prayer

Lord, I want to witness to You in my life, and also through my death. Help me to model the difference You make in life and death.

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