Dying in Faith
Hebrews speaks of our predecessors of the promises of God:
Hebrews 11:13 (ESV) These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
For the first time in his life, Abraham has to face the death of someone close to him. His own wife Sarah.
Genesis 23:2 (ESV) 2 And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
How will Abraham handle death? It's the first time Abraham is recorded as crying the Bible. It's also the first time Abraham has to deal with reconciling the promises of God and the ultimate delay of death. For as far as he knew, the land was to be his, but now he has only one son and his wife has passed away. Where are the fulfillments of God's promises from Genesis 12?
For most of the next chapter, the Author spends a great deal of time unpacking the lengths Abraham went to in order to secure land for Sarah's tomb. He purchases land from Ephron the Hittite.
Genesis 23:10–15 (ESV) Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, of all who went in at the gate of his city, 11 “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the sight of the sons of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.” 12 Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. 13 And he said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, “But if you will, hear me: I give the price of the field. Accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there.” 14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 “My lord, listen to me: a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.”
What looks like a gesture of goodwill on Ephron's part is far from it. Commentators say the Hebrew reading implies he is simply showing respect by offering the field for free. In fact, Abraham paid a hefty price for the land - a price from Ephron's lips. Abraham makes the large and perhaps overpriced payment for the land. It seems like they are taking advantage of his faith... and maybe they are. But Abraham will not base his faith on what they may or may not do. He's going to buy this field and bury his wife there because this was the land God showed him and he will not be deterred by the sentiments of those around him - real or sarcastic.
Abraham also knows the customs of the land. If he receives the land as a gift, it could be reclaimed later. These are not exactly upstanding principled nations. Abraham is making a conscious choice to live by faith that God has a better home in mind. And in this case it means paying a heavy price to less-than-admirable characters who may be taking advantage of him.
Sometimes faith looks like that. We don't get the upper hand. We don't get the fair deal. Sometimes we Christians have to pay prices in life that others never do. Yet today we know Abraham and his people. Who was Ephron's son?
Exactly.
The point is simple. Pay the price now for the ultimate plan of God yet to come. Jesus said, "lay up treasure in heaven where thieves cannot steal." Abraham may be getting "robbed" but it won't be for long. That's what dying in faith looks like.
Amen.
Hebrews 11:13 (ESV) These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Genesis 23:2 (ESV) 2 And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
How will Abraham handle death? It's the first time Abraham is recorded as crying the Bible. It's also the first time Abraham has to deal with reconciling the promises of God and the ultimate delay of death. For as far as he knew, the land was to be his, but now he has only one son and his wife has passed away. Where are the fulfillments of God's promises from Genesis 12?
For most of the next chapter, the Author spends a great deal of time unpacking the lengths Abraham went to in order to secure land for Sarah's tomb. He purchases land from Ephron the Hittite.
Genesis 23:10–15 (ESV) Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, of all who went in at the gate of his city, 11 “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the sight of the sons of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.” 12 Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. 13 And he said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, “But if you will, hear me: I give the price of the field. Accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there.” 14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 “My lord, listen to me: a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.”
Abraham also knows the customs of the land. If he receives the land as a gift, it could be reclaimed later. These are not exactly upstanding principled nations. Abraham is making a conscious choice to live by faith that God has a better home in mind. And in this case it means paying a heavy price to less-than-admirable characters who may be taking advantage of him.
Sometimes faith looks like that. We don't get the upper hand. We don't get the fair deal. Sometimes we Christians have to pay prices in life that others never do. Yet today we know Abraham and his people. Who was Ephron's son?
Exactly.
The point is simple. Pay the price now for the ultimate plan of God yet to come. Jesus said, "lay up treasure in heaven where thieves cannot steal." Abraham may be getting "robbed" but it won't be for long. That's what dying in faith looks like.
Amen.
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