10. The Death and
Burial of Sarah (Chapter 23)
Read 1-2. Sarah is . . . (only woman whose at death is recorded in Scriptures – she is the mother of the believers.)
Isaac would have been . . . (37 years old.)
She and Abraham may have been married for . . . (over a century! End of an era.)
What does vs. 2 show us about Abraham? (not a robotic nor a
cold calculated faith – different between crying – like Jesus at grave of
lazarus and weeping and bitterly wailing – two different greek words used.) (
Read 3-6. (vs. 3 – laid right next to Sarah for some
time) Which people possessed the
region around
Note Abraham’s statement in light of Hebrews 11:13-16
All these people were still living by faith
when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them
and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were
aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are
looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had
left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better
country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God,
for he has prepared a city for them.
What did Abraham’s approach to the Hittites show that he realized about his request? (he didn’t have a right to this land.)
Make note of
their response. (name
will be great – literally call him a “prince of God” – glad to have him on
their soil.)
Read 7-11. Note
the great pains Abraham took to make sure his request wouldn’t be turned down:
1. vs. 8 (asked the city officials to ask for him.)
2. vs. 9a (requested a far corner of the field)
3. vs. 9b (offered to pay the full price)
Abraham didn’t live with . . . (a sense of entitlement as God’s chosen one. Respected culture.)
It might seem strange that Ephron offered the field to Abraham after he offered to pay just for the cave. From what we know of Hittite law, ownership of an entire field may have brought the obligation of military service or something; sort of like a tax. His intent may have been . . . (to use it as a tax write off?)
Read 12-16. According to land values discovered in Babylonian records, this was an exorbitant amount. Think about how people usually go about buying things. . . (start high and then go low. Abraham doesn’t do that – gives him full price.)
Abraham accepted his first offer . . . (Ephron couldn’t claim to have been pressured to take less than he wanted, Abraham was being generous as God wants.)
Psalm 37:25-26 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.
2 Corinthians
1 Timothy 6:17-19 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
The purchase was a precursor to the fact that . . . (they would own all of that land.)
Read 17-20. This field had significance to Abraham’s descendants in the years to come . . . (was a beacon and anchor for his descendants to return to.)
Genesis 49:29-30 Then he gave them these instructions: “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite, along with the field.
Genesis 50:12-13 So Jacob’s sons did as he had commanded them: They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, which Abraham had bought as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite, along with the field.
PB:
Abraham could have returned to his relatives in Haran and found a family
burial site for Sarah there, Abraham’s actions declared: “Haran is not my home any more. The future of my family lies in Canaan,
because God has said so. Here is where
God’s great plan will reach fulfillment, and here is where I am determined to
remain.” (193)