Genesis 23:1-20

Abraham and Sarah left Ur together at the calling of God in order to go to a land and give birth to a nation.  There have been many twists and turns along the way of their lives together, but at the time of Sarah’s death they had only one son.  I am sure that when they started their journey they had imagined something far different than what actually took place.  It is important for us to always remember that God’s ways are not always the way that we would choose.  They are, however, the right ways and we must adjust our expectations and not give in to disappointment with God.
THE DEATH OF SARAH:  Sarah lived to be 120 years old, so Isaac was twenty when she died.  It is important to remember that Moses just gave us snap shots of some of the highlights and lowlights of their lives.  Sarah stood by Abraham’s side all along the way.  She definitely had her imperfections and times when her faith wavered.  The Bible paints the pictures of its characters with warts and all.  Perhaps what impresses me most about Sarah is the fact that she followed her husband and was faithful to him through many difficult days.  I am sure that it would have been more comfortable for her to stay “home” in Ur.  It seems like it would have been easy for her to be overcome with bitterness when Abraham asked her to lie and be taken as a wife of another in order to protect his life.  We don’t know the details of their relationship, but we do know that they stayed together until the Lord took her away in death.  Our marriages today need to demonstrate this type of commitment.  There is much that all of us can learn from this woman who God chose to be the matriarch of the nation through which Christ would come.
THE DEALINGS FOR A SEPULCHER: Abraham wants to purchase a burial ground for Sarah.  Up until this point, Abraham has lived on land that was not his own.  He was a nomad that wandered from place to place with his servants, family and animals.  However, on this occasion he needs a permanent place for him to burry Sarah.  When he approaches the people in the place where he lives, they tell him that they will simply give him the land.  They have great respect for him.  However, Abraham insists on being able to pay for the land.  The exchange is very interesting and reveals innuendoes about the mid eastern culture.  It would have not been culturally acceptable for the owner of the field to tell him a price right away in such a difficult time as the death of his wife.  It would have also been culturally offensive for Abraham to take the owner at his word and claim the field as his own.  In these sensitive business dealings it was important for this “haggling” to take place so that both parties came away looking to be very generous and understanding.  I think it important for us to always be sensitive to the different cultures in which we live.  Good manners are fundamental in being able to spread the fame of Christ.  

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