(Genesis 23:1-20) Now Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan; and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. 3 Then Abraham rose from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, 4 “I am a stranger and a sojourner among you; give me a burial site among you that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” 5 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 graves; none of us will refuse you his grave for burying your dead.” 7 So Abraham rose and bowed to the people of the land, the sons of Heth. 8 And he spoke with them, saying, “If it is your wish for me to bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and approach Ephron the son of Zohar for me, 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he owns, which is at the end of his field; for the full price let him give it to me in your presence for a burial site.” 10 Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the sons of Heth; even of all who went in at the gate of his city, saying, 11 “No, my lord, hear me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the sons of my people I give it to you; bury your dead.” 12 And Abraham bowed before the people of the land. 13 He spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, “If you will only please listen to me; I will give the price of the field, accept it from me that I may bury my dead there.” 14 Then Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, 15 “My lord, listen to me; a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between me and you? So bury your dead.” 16 Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, commercial standard.
17 So Ephron’s field, which was in Machpelah, which faced Mamre, the field and cave which was in it, and all the trees which were in the field, that were within all the confines of its border, were deeded over 18 to Abraham for a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city. 19 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field at Machpelah facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 So the field and the cave that is in it, were deeded over to Abraham for a burial site by the sons of Heth.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
Abraham didn't want to owe any favors to anyone or have to argue over a bit of land with someone in the future, and so, insisted on buying a burial site. Again, he demonstrated wise business practices with witnesses and a fair purchase price. But before managing this piece of business, Abraham took some time to weep and mourn the loss of Sarah. After a loved one dies, it is never a good idea to make any quick or big decisions or changes in one's life, not just in business but in one's personal day-to-day.
In the previous chapter, we were reminded to give our loved ones to God and trust Him in His perfect timing to heal, protect or allow someone to go. In doing so, whether they are still with us or not, we can trust the Lord to give us peace, comfort and strength. And while everyone mourns differently and requires a different amount of time, for believers - there isn't any reason to make this go on and on, or say things like the world says, "One never is done mourning..." Of course, we will still miss them, but we cannot will anyone back to life or change the past, nor do we have to prove how much we loved someone by how long we mourn.
Think about the one who just passed away - would they want us to continue on in sorrow? No. They would want us to move on in God's strength, peace and joy! Now also think about our loved ones who are still here with us. It is very important for us to be in the present, showing our love to them right now. For loved ones who were not believers, we don't know what their final thoughts were, if they turned to God at the last minute or not. But it's critical to keep in mind that God desires all come to know Him, therefore if He knows that anyone will become a believer, He will not allow anyone to pass away before that time.
For loved ones who are believers, what is very comforting to know is that it is just a temporary loss. We will see them "soon", and then for eternity. And - they are NOT watching over us. Someone suggested that at my mom's funeral and I thought, "No, and good thing! The poor woman would be slapping her forehead saying, 'Child, this again? What are you thinking?'" It is enough that the omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent Lord and Savior is watching over us!!! And the Lord has given us purpose, and desires that we continue on striving in His will, to His glory.
No-no-no, our loved ones are enjoying a wonderful heavenly sleep. We can actually be very happy for them!!! Noticed that Abraham wanted to bury Sarah "out of his sight". It's one thing to have a burial site as a place to go to reminisce, but we cannot talk to them. They have no idea that we are even there. Let our visits and conversations be with the Lord, and with the ones who are still with us!
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. 15 For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
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