Grief, Longing and Wisdom

Genesis 23

Grief

A. Sarah and Abraham had been together for a very long time.

B. They were faithful to God and each other!

C. They also made some mistakes.

A Sojourner

A. Abraham was promised the land but had not yet received it.

B. He understood his “HOME”

Genesis 17:8 ESV

8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

C. They were in the land of Canaan now!

Hebrews 11:9 ESV

9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.

He lived in tents. His home was Heavenly!

This is the land promised but for now, they are foreigners.

Wisdom

A. Abraham was not part of the Hittites.

B. Abraham would not be given anything.

C. Abraham mourns but understands that he must go on. This is not OUR end.

Ephron Started the Barter

A. It was customary in this day to do this. It still is!

Evan, you want to buy my bike? $10,000. What is he gonna say.

B. Abraham’s response.

-He gave him his first price. Abraham was moving on with the living!

What do we see through the death of Sarah? What did Abraham learn?

Allow death to teach us the lesson but we must not stay there.

The cave at Machpelah had two openings. One way in, another way out. The grave is not the end.

Abraham did not want to leave any debts behind.

Abraham has hope!

What about you?