Cave of Abraham
Genesis 23. Today we see the death of a princess. Sarah had been a good wife to Abraham and a good mother to Isaac. Yes, she had her faults, as we all do, but God called her a princess (Gen.17:15) and listed her in the "Hall of Faith" (Heb.11:11).
1. Abraham's Tears: 23:1-2
We can feel Abraham's pain as he weeps over his wife's grave. At funerals I remind people it's okay to cry. Tears are to the soul what soap is to the body--they cleanse the soul. Grieving is one of God's gifts to help heal broken hearts when people we love are taken from us in death. But as believers, our grieving is different. Paul told the Thessalonians not to sorrow "as others who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The grief of a believer should be different from that of an unbeliever, because we have hope: resurrection hope! And remember, the God who washes away all of our sins, will also wipe away all our tears in glory (Rev.21:4).
2. Abraham's Tomb: 23:3-20
The key phrase in this chapter is used seven times "bury my [the, thy] dead". Even though Sarah was gone, Abraham showed respect for her body and wanted to give it a proper burial. When he purchased the cave of Machpelah for a tomb, he was making a statement of faith to all who were there. He did not take Sarah back to their former home in Ur but buried her in the land God had given him and his descendants. He did not ignore the body but gave it a proper burial in view of the promised resurrection. And by the time Genesis ends, it ends with a full tomb. Abraham's tomb is quite full. Sarah was buried there, and then Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah (Gen.49:29-31); and then Jacob joined them (Gen.50:13). Genesis ends with a full tomb, but the four gospels end with an empty tomb! Jesus conquered death and has removed its sting (1 Cor.15:55-58). Because of His victory--His empty tomb, we need not fear death or the grave!
1. Abraham's Tears: 23:1-2
We can feel Abraham's pain as he weeps over his wife's grave. At funerals I remind people it's okay to cry. Tears are to the soul what soap is to the body--they cleanse the soul. Grieving is one of God's gifts to help heal broken hearts when people we love are taken from us in death. But as believers, our grieving is different. Paul told the Thessalonians not to sorrow "as others who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The grief of a believer should be different from that of an unbeliever, because we have hope: resurrection hope! And remember, the God who washes away all of our sins, will also wipe away all our tears in glory (Rev.21:4).
2. Abraham's Tomb: 23:3-20
The key phrase in this chapter is used seven times "bury my [the, thy] dead". Even though Sarah was gone, Abraham showed respect for her body and wanted to give it a proper burial. When he purchased the cave of Machpelah for a tomb, he was making a statement of faith to all who were there. He did not take Sarah back to their former home in Ur but buried her in the land God had given him and his descendants. He did not ignore the body but gave it a proper burial in view of the promised resurrection. And by the time Genesis ends, it ends with a full tomb. Abraham's tomb is quite full. Sarah was buried there, and then Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah (Gen.49:29-31); and then Jacob joined them (Gen.50:13). Genesis ends with a full tomb, but the four gospels end with an empty tomb! Jesus conquered death and has removed its sting (1 Cor.15:55-58). Because of His victory--His empty tomb, we need not fear death or the grave!
posted by Royce Hendry at
6:04 AM
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