WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2009                                                       READ: Genesis 23: 1 – 20                                                                                                        

SARAH DIED AND WAS BURIED

MEMORIZE: “Sarah Lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah.”         Genesis 23: 1

There is a certain kind of blessings associated with being permitted to live a long life. Here in our text for today’s reading, Genesis 23: 1 – 20, we are told that Sarah was permitted by God to live for one hundred and twenty-seven years. She was ninety years old when Abraham was ninety-nine years old (cf. 17: 17, 24; 21: 5). By my irregular type of math, we can reckon that she was ninety-one years old when Isaac was born. God gave her the opportunity, to see and care for her son, Isaac for thirty-six years. How do you think that she related to Isaac, her only son? Do you think that that is a reasonable question to ask? Would it be a stretch to wonder how much of an input Abraham was allowed to have in, or, over the life of his son? Could Sarah have wondered if her husband still missed Ishmael, and might still have had preference for him, as his older son (cf. 16: 5)? Would it be unusual for Sarah to have felt that Abraham could not do as an effective a job as she could administering the life of her son? Is it possible that Sarah could have experienced a residual sense of insecurity and still felt inferior? Actually those two emotions serve as the basis for and the root of other emotions and attitudes through which the devil choose to afflict us. Do you have a Bible map? Can you identify Kirjiath Arba (that is, Hebron)? In vv. 3 – 20, we are able to see how Abraham purchased a burial field for Sarah and his descendants in the cave of Machpelah, in Mamre (that is, Hebron). Abraham was looking ahead. He knew full well that God had already given the land to his descendants after him (cf. 25: 9; 49: 29-32; 50: 12, 13). By purchasing the burial site, he was possessing the site and the land for his descendants. He could visualize his own descendants living in the land, as God had promised (cf. 22: 17). Abraham buried Sarah there. He did not leave the purchasing of the site for someone else to (cf. Proverbs 13: 22). He provided for his descendants for all times. The word Machpelah had the idea of “winding, “ ”spiraling,” “doubling” (cf. Genesis 15: 18-20). Israel never really pressed to possess all of the land that God had bequeathed to them by His will. The modern world of nations still hassles over whether or not the Israelites, the descendants of Abraham, through Isaac, have a right to possess the land of Canaan as an “… everlasting possession.”. What do you think? Does God’s word still stand true? They are in the predicament that they are in, because of their disobedience to God. He still obligates Himself to fulfill His word.

So, Sarah lived to the age of one hundred and twenty-seven years old and she died. Abraham purchased the burial site, in which he buried her. After mourning and grieving for her, he then had to carry on the task of fathering his son, his heir. No matter how influential or beneficial we become, our lives and mission on the earth will come to an end.

PRAY: LORD, God Almighty, I lift Your name on high. LORD, I love to sing Your praises. LORD, I am so glad that You are in my life. I am so glad that I can enjoy a sense of Your presence and involvement in my life. You have given me a mission to fulfill with my life. I do not need to feel insecure nor inferior, for I can do all things that I am supposed to do, through the enabling that Christ gives to me. I praise You and thank You, in Jesus’ strong name. Amen.