Lesson 19
Inevitable Changes in Life
Genesis 23
Me-
One of the things that I have learned over my life time is that change is inevitable. All I have to do is look in the mirror to see the results of the aging of my body. No longer can I do the things that I once took for granted. I once was able to run a mile in less than six minutes now I would be fortunate to walk a mile in twice that time.
There are some decisions that have dramatically affected my life. Accepting Christ ranks at the top of list. When my wife and I got married who knew that we would now be celebrating our fiftieth wedding anniversary.
As I reflected on the lesson that we will be discussing today, I have been reminded of the finiteness of life. As we get older we begin to lose family and friends.
Spiritually, I am a much different person than I was when I accepted Christ at nine years old. Over the years as I have grown in my walk, God’s word has taken on greater importance. What started with many starts and stops has become a passion as I try to spend time in His word every day.
We-
The church is not exempt from changes. Although many would like for everything to remain static, there has never been a time from the beginning of the church to the present when it is facing many new challenges. If we think about it, the reason the church has flourished has been its ability to take the unchangeable truth found in God’s Word and adapt it to the ever changing culture in history.
We are now members of a church that is built on the foundation of the faith of those who have gone before us. Each of them faced challenges and upheaval taking place in society and held firm to his or her faith that we might have the place where we worship, study and serve. What is the legacy that we are going to leave the next generation? The only thing that should never be altered is God’s Word. Other than that one immutable thing all else is up for adaptation to the world in which it will serve and proclaim the message of Christ.
God-
The lesson will begin with the death of Sarah. Next week the marriage of Isaac will be covered as he moved from the relationship with his parents to taking on a new role of husband to Rebekah.
Genesis 23:1-2
Sarah lived one hundred twenty-seven years. The marriage of Abraham and Sarah had lasted for sixty-two years. The family at some point during that time had moved from the land of the Philistines and came to live in the city of Hebron. Hebron later would play an important part in the lives of Caleb and David. It was while they were living in Hebron that she died.
Abraham went into her and mourned her passing with weeping. The loud lament that is seen in the New Testament at the death of Lazarus and others was a formal way of expressing grief. Once this, for lack of a better term, ceremony was complete Abraham rose and went about the task of finding a proper burial place for Sarah.
- Why are we given Sarah’s age?
- What had happened since we last left the family?
- What was the importance of the city of Hebron in the history of the Israelites?
- In what ways have we not changed much in the way we mourned for our love ones?
- What is different for us?
Genesis 23:3-4
Abraham had no other option but to go to the people living in the land to find a place to bury Sarah. He approached them with the acknowledgment that he was dependant on them because he was a stranger and sojourner in their land. In this statement he admitted that he had no property and was living in their land temporarily as an outsider. Hebron was not his home in contrast to the Hitites to whom he was about to request for final resting place for the dead.
Even though the text reads, “Give me a burial site,” this did not imply that Abraham expected to receive anything for free. He fully intended to enter into a contractual agreement for the land.
- Why did Abraham go to the Hitites to obtain a burial spot for Sarah?
- What did he mean by using the terms stranger and sojourner?
- What kind of attitude did he exhibit before the citizens of Hebron?
Genesis 23:5-6
The answer given by the Hitites reflected the high regard they had for Abraham. They first addressed him as lord which would be equivalent to sir today. Then he was called a mighty prince. There are two possible translations of the word. Both prince and Elect of God would show the recognition by the people that Abraham was truly blessed by God.
Out of respect for him they offered him the best of the land. They went so far as to tell him that no one would deny him the right to bury his dead wherever he desired.
- How do we know that the Hitites respected Abraham?
- What did they mean by calling him “Mighty prince?”
- Why did they offer him the best of the land?
Genesis 23:7-9
Out of gratitude Abraham rose up from the place where he had been sitting as he spoke to the men in the gate and bowed before them as he made his formal request. The spot he had chosen belonged to a man named Ephron. He asked for the cave of Machpelah located at the end of a field. Here Abraham made it clear that he expected to pay full price for the land.
- Why would the Mighty prince bow before the people of Hebron?
- What was his request?
- What did Abraham say that indicated that he did not expect the cave be given to him?
- Why did he not name a price?
Genesis 23:10-16
Although Ephron made an offer to give Abraham the cave, everyone in that day would have known that was not his intention. In fact he would have probably become angry if Abraham had taken him up on his offer. Both Ephron and Abraham knew that Abraham did not have other options. He had to bury Sarah. Rather than haggling Abraham immediately said again that he would pay the full price.
What appeared to be generosity on the part of Ephron was really a ploy to get the price he wanted for the land. Whether it was a fair price, Abraham paid it willingly before witnesses so there would be no question of ownership later on. It was a practice at that time that if partial payment was made on a piece of property that the original owner could come back and reclaim it. Abraham wanted to make sure that he had the title free and clear.
- Why did Ephron offer to give Abraham the cave if he did not really plan to do so?
- What did Abraham do by refusing the gift and stating once again that he plan to pay for it?
- Why did Abraham not haggle over the price of the land?
Genesis 23:17-18
The entire contents of the field including the cave and all vegetation were deeded over to Abraham. All of the people of Heth who entered the gate of the city witnessed the transaction. God had promised that He would give all of the land to Abraham as a possession and yet he now owned one little strip of land. Here was the man whose family would one day control all of the land and he had to pay for the one small spot in all the land to bury his wife.
- Why are we given such a complete description of the land Abraham bought?
- Why was it important for so many people to witness the transaction?
- What is the irony of this whole event?
Genesis 23:19
After the transaction was complete, the writer indicates that only then did Abraham bury Sarah. The exact location of the burial site was given. It was in the field of Machpelah facing towards Mamre which was the other name for Hebron.
- Why did the Moses give such a detail description of the place where Sarah was buried?
Genesis 23:20
Moses repeated the fact that Abraham had bought the land and it was deeded over to him. The land was to be used as a burial site and nothing else. Abraham had a possession in the land that God would one day give to His people.
- Why did Moses tell us once again about the sale of the property?
- Why did Moses write that the land was deeded over as a burial site by the Hitites?
- What does this transaction indicate about His plans for His people?
You-
- Think back on the events that stand out in your life both good and bad. In what ways do you believe God was working through them?
- What changes are you willing to make that others may benefit from your actions?
- What have been some of the most difficult times in your life? How did you handle them?
- Be willing to continue to grow in God’s grace.
- When your time is finished on earth, what would you like your legacy to be.
We-
Abraham faced a very difficult time in his life with humility and courtesy. By doing so he was able to work out the solution. We can learn from him. Remember, that people who are our guests every Sunday are looking to see how we behave. If we are courteous to each other and show genuine love then they will respond in a positive way. Our actions do truly reflect the character of our church. Let us keep it as our responsibility to show that we truly have a relationship with God and are thankful for what He has for us. One last thought that comes from looking at Abraham. More than any other attribute of our church the world is watching to see how we handle adversity and conflict. May the world recognize that God is truly living in our lives. We may not be called The Prince among men. Better than that let us all to be called little Christs.
Additional Notes-
BL- The lesson last Sunday began with a brief look at Chapter 23 which covered the death and burial of Sarah, Abraham’s wife and Isaac’s mother. Sarah was 127 years old when she died in Hebron, Canaan. This meant that Isaac was 36 years old (127-91).
Abraham approached the Hittites living there about purchasing a lot for the burial site. A deal was struck and Sarah was buried in a cave there. This was the first time Abraham became a legal landowner in the Promised Land. This also was the beginning of Israel’s roots as a nation being planted in Palestine.
C-Sarah died at the age of 127 in Hebron. (Gen. 23:1-2)
C-As with all of mankind, Abraham mourned the loss of his life-long companion. (Gen. 23:2)
C-Abraham became a land owner upon purchasing the field and the cave of Machpelah near Mamre became his. There he buried Sarah and there he and Jacob would also be buried. This piece of land is all that he, Isaac or Jacob ever owned in the land which his descendents would possess as their inheritance from God. (Gen. 23:6-17, 20)