YEAR 1, WEEK 48, Day 2, Tuesday, 26 November 2024

https://esv.literalword.com/?q=genesis+23

Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Tuesday, 26 November 2024:

Genesis 23:19-20 — After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. The field and the cave that is in it were made over to Abraham as property for a burying place by the Hittites.

Genesis 23 records the death and burial of Sarai, the mother of many nations, the only woman in the entire Bible whose years of life are numbered (127), signifying how important she is to God’s plan. In fact, Sarah extolled as an example for women more than any other woman in the Bible, even more than Mary (Isaiah 51:1-2; 1 Peter 3:3-6; Hebrews 11:11).

Today’s readings briefly mention that Abraham “mourned” and ‘wept’ for Sarai, but we can only imagine how painful this was for him, having lost the love of his life – words simply cannot describe it. Yet, Abraham demonstrated what it is to mourn as a person of faith, a person with eternal hope:

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 — But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, 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. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (see also 1 Corinthians 15)

The story in Genesis 23 continues, “And Abraham rose up from before his dead,” and immediately set out to negotiate a burial plot for his wonderful bride, which is surprisingly the focus for the rest of the chapter. This significant chapter doesn’t focus on the life of Sarai, and it doesn’t highlight Abraham’s grief; rather it focuses on Abraham’s negotiation with the Hittites for a field and a cave in Canaan, a specific place where Abraham had previously built an altar to God (Genesis 13:18). Why? Abraham is demonstrating that his faith and hope is greater than his grief by intentionally placing the body of his beloved in the future promised land. Rather than wallowing in grief, Abraham rises up, acts upon, and invests in God’s eternal plan, which includes a great, victorious reunion for Abraham and Sarai one day. The Bible focuses on this land deal rather than the loss of Sarai because God’s eternal promise makes the temporary sorrow of death a minor part of the story –

• Psalm 63:3 — Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
• 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 — So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
• Philippians 1:21 — For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
• Luke 23:43 — And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
• 1 Corinthians 2:9 — But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—
• John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
• Isaiah 26:19 — Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.
• Hebrews 11:16 — But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

The Israelites had not taken possession of the promised land of Israel yet, but Abraham’s actions demonstrated his faith that God’s word is certain. He didn’t just plant a flag in Canaan to signify an eventual return, he planted what he held most dear on this earth, his wonderful wife. This is also where Isaac and Ishmael buried Abraham (Genesis 25:9). Isaac and Rebekah were both buried here (Genesis 49:31). Jacob buried Leah here (Genesis 49:31), and Joseph buried Jacob here (Genesis 50:13) after Jacob and Joseph both had made their families promise to take their bones “to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” (Genesis 50:24; Joshua 24:32; Exodus 13:19) In today’s readings, Abraham describes himself to the Hittites as “a sojourner and foreigner among you,” but he lived with the understanding that one day, his people would be the owners. Likewise, the Bible says of us that we are “sojourners and exiles” (1 Peter 2:11) on this earth, but we are to live with the knowledge that Christ will return and restore all things to Him, and we will reign with Him on a new earth –

• Revelation 5:10 — And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.
• Revelation 20:4-6 — And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
• Daniel 7:27 — Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”
• Zechariah 14:9 — And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be— “ The LORD is one,” And His name one.
• 1 Corinthians 6:1-3 — Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
• 2 Timothy 2:12 — If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

Let us not only grieve and mourn as those who have unshakable faith and hope, let us also live as those who know “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 10:7) Let us proclaim the sovereignty of the LORD of Lords and King of Kings, Jesus Christ, and let us live out the motto, “Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” And “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 26 November 2024: Today, show proper respect and graciousness to others, but don’t miss the opportunity to communicate the truth of Jesus and His Lordship over all creation. Don’t focus on what is being demanded of you; focus on how you are glorifying God through your response. Proclaim the Gospel in word and deed.