Please take your Bibles and open them up this morning to Genesis chapter 23.
!
Sarah lived 127 years.
These were the years of the life of Sarah.
And Sarah died at Kiriath Arba, that is Hebron, in the land of Canaan.
And Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites,
I am a sojourner and a foreigner among you.
Give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
The Hittites answered Abraham,
Hear us, my lord.
You are a prince of God among us.
Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs.
None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.
Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land.
And he said to them,
If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight,
hear me and entreat for me Ephron, the son of Zohar,
that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns.
It is at the end of his field.
For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as property or a burying place.
Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites,
and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites,
of all who went in at the gate of his city,
Know, my lord, hear me.
I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it.
In the sight of the sons of my people, I give it to you.
Bury your dead.
Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land,
and he said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land,
But if you will hear me, I give the price of the field.
Accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there.
Ephron answered Abraham,
My lord, listen to me.
A piece of land worth 400 shekels of silver,
what is that between you and me?
Bury your dead.
Abraham listened to Ephron,
and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named
in the hearing of the Hittites,
400 shekels of silver,
according to the weight current among the merchants.
So the field of Ephron and Machpelah,
which was to the east of Mamre,
the field with the cave that was in it,
and all the trees that were in the field throughout its whole area,
was made over to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites,
before all who went in at the gate of his city.
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.
The grass withers,
the flower fades,
but the word of the Lord endures forever.
Father, we ask now once more,
would you speak?
Would you teach us?
Would you lead us through the preaching of your word?
Give us ears to hear.
May it land on fertile soil this morning.
We pray in Christ's name.
Amen.
You may be seated.
Christ, the sure and steady anchor
as we face the wave of death.
I was at a wedding several years ago,
and it's always interesting to me
to kind of analyze and see
what sort of scriptures are selected
to be read during the wedding ceremony
and what the vows are
that are pronounced by the husband and the wife.
And in this particular wedding ceremony,
the scripture that was supposed to be read
was from Ruth chapter 1 verse 16,
which says this,
where you go, I will go.
Where you lodge, I will lodge.
Your people will be my people
and your God will be my God.
Very romantic.
But instead,
the reader mixed it up
and accidentally read the very next verse,
which says this,
where you die, I will die.
And there I will be buried.
It's not quite as romantic, is it?
It was funny.
We laughed about it afterwards.
You know, that's not really the time
that you really want to focus in on death
and being grim.
That's supposed to be a joyful time
celebrating a wedding.
But even so,
it was still appropriate,
I think,
if you think about it.
You know,
most weddings do have reference to death.
And most vows that are pronounced
have this ending at the end of it.
It's till death do us part.
Right?
And there's good biblical reason for that.
For one thing,
biblically speaking,
the promises
and the vows that you make to your spouse,
they end at death.
You are biblically released
from your vows in marriage.
You're free to go marry again
if you so choose.
That applies to everybody except Amanda.
I've told her
she has to remain a widow
if I go first.
But for another reason,
another reason,
perhaps the greatest reason,
is that marriage is meant to be a pointer
to an even greater union, isn't it?
Now, this temporary earthly marriage
is a case study,
is a lesson
in an even greater marriage
in the gospel
between Christ and his church.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 5
that the gospel is pictured,
it's shown forth
in the marriage relationship.
This temporary union
points us to an eternal union.
The joys we experience in marriage
point us to greater joys in Christ.
The grief and the loss
that we might experience
at the death of a spouse,
they're meant to point us
to greater and truer promises
that do not end in death.
Praise God,
his promises to us in Christ
are not till death do us part.
In fact, I think that seems to be
the main idea of our chapter this morning.
It's this,
God's promises to us in Christ
extend beyond the grave.
In our passage this morning,
Abraham has to do
one of the most difficult things
that anyone has to do in this life,
which is deal with the death of a spouse.
And this problem of death,
it looms large here in this passage.
It looms large here in this world
cursed by sin.
But even so,
even in the presence of death,
we see the persistence
of God's promises.
This will be our outline this morning.
If you're taking notes,
it's two parts here.
First, the problem of death.
And second,
the persistence of God's promises.
First,
we see the problem of death.
And we see here in verses one and two.
Look there with me,
starting in verse one.
It says,
Sarah lived 127 years.
These were the years of the life of Sarah.
And Sarah died at Kiriath Arba
in the land of Canaan.
You know,
this continues that sort of cyclical refrain
that we heard all the way back in chapter five.
If you remember,
that was a fun chapter,
wasn't it?
It is a long list of life and death.
Adam lived 930 years,
and he died.
Seth lived 912 years,
and he died.
Enosh lived 905 years,
and he died.
On and on and on it goes.
It was a pretty depressing chapter that week,
if you were here for that.
It's an unavoidable reality
in the world that we live in,
isn't it?
The world in which we live
is cursed with the problem of death.
You know,
apart from the word of the Lord,
you will not really understand why.
You might just think that,
well,
death is just a natural part of life, right?
Well,
you live,
you age,
you die,
the fittest survive,
the longest.
That's just how life works.
Death is a natural part of life,
right?
We who know the word
know better,
don't we?
Death is not natural.
In fact,
death is about the most unnatural thing
that there is.
We are not designed by God to die.
Death is a stranger.
It's an intrusion into God's design.
And we remember why,
don't we?
As we look all the way back
to the beginning
of the book of Genesis,
there's a reason for this thing
called death.
What is it?
Death came into the world
because of what?
Because of sin.
Genesis chapter 2,
God gives Adam and Eve
a command
and a consequence.
Do not eat from the tree
of the knowledge
of good and evil
for consequence
in the day
that you eat of it.
What does he say?
You shall surely die.
Death on a physical level
and death
on a spiritual level
both exist
in the world
because
of sin.
So Paul tells us
in Romans 5
that death came into the world
through one man's sin.
Death spread to all
because all sinned.
He says in chapter 6,
the wages of sin
is death.
We ought to recognize death
for what it is.
It's a terrible enemy.
And it's a constant reminder
for us
of the seriousness
and the widespread nature
of sin.
And it's a universal problem,
isn't it?
Well, this problem,
all people,
all people
come into the world
spiritually dead.
And all people
eventually
will be
physically dead as well.
Who can escape it?
It comes for everybody.
Death is the great equalizer
of all people.
It doesn't really matter
if you're rich
or poor.
Sometimes it doesn't matter
if you're young
or old.
In good health
or not in good health.
Sometimes it seems
random.
It doesn't matter
if you're educated
or uneducated.
If you're important
in the eyes of the world.
If you're unimportant
in the eyes of the world.
All people
are under
this curse
of death.
This is what the writer
of Ecclesiastes
tells us.
He says,
the same event,
death,
happens to the righteous
and the wicked,
to the good
and to the evil,
to the clean,
to the unclean.
And to him
who sacrifices
and him who does
not sacrifice,
as the good one is,
so is the sinner.
And he who swears
is as he who shuns
an oath.
At some point,
death comes
for everybody.
And here,
after 127
good long years,
it is Sarah's time.
Now just think about
how significant
this death is.
John Currid
points out that
this death,
this is the first
death and burial
recorded in Hebrew history.
Now this is a big deal.
Sarah is incredibly
significant,
isn't she?
Abraham gets most
of the attention
most of the time,
but just consider
how important Sarah is.
She's the mother
of the Jewish people.
She is the matriarch here.
She's the mother
of the promised
child Isaac.
She is Abraham's
beloved wife.
And yet,
for all of her significance,
death still finds her.
It's unavoidable,
isn't it?
Now I've referenced
Brian Johnson before.
Maybe you'll remember
that name,
Brian Johnson.
He's now famous
for his attempts
to not die.
He's done everything
to optimize
the years of his life
and to live
as long as he possibly can.
His life is about
not dying.
So he downs
about 54 pills
for breakfast.
He spends about
$2 million a year
avoiding death.
And I'm all for
healthy living,
right?
Eating right,
exercising,
optimizing your life.
That's all well
and good.
But church,
one day we will read
about Brian Johnson's death.
death.
No amount of money,
no amount of effort,
no amount of success,
no amount of prosperity
can ultimately end
the problem of death.
It is universal.
Now if you're depressed,
I want you to know
I do have good news for you.
We'll get there.
Okay?
I promise.
But we need to let
the reality of death
sit here with us
for a minute.
We need to understand
this is a terrible issue
that all people,
everybody in this room,
everybody in this town,
everybody in this world,
we all share this problem
in common.
We're all trying
to avoid it.
And we have to understand
that this curse of death
is real,
it's serious,
it's universal,
it is inevitable.
But we also see here
that it is profoundly sad.
Death is sad,
isn't it?
We've seen the presence
of death already
in Genesis,
but this is really,
this is the first time
we get to just sit
with its impact
for a little bit.
And we see here
in verse 2,
Abraham goes to mourn
!
For Sarah!
To weep!
For her!
I'm confident
every single one of us
can think of a time
when we have grieved
the loss
of a loved one,
a family member,
some of you a spouse,
some of you even a child,
a friend.
We should know
that it is right
to grieve
in the face of death.
It is okay,
even as Christians
who have hope
beyond the grave,
it is good
and right
and appropriate
to understand
the sadness
of death
and to grieve
and mourn
when it comes.
It's right
and appropriate
to do so.
We know Jesus himself
mourned,
he wept
at the tomb of Lazarus,
didn't he?
Christ himself
who knew exactly
what he was about to do
in raising Lazarus
from the dead,
Christ himself
who is himself
the resurrection
and the life,
Jesus felt
and experienced
the sadness
that you and I feel
in the presence
of death.
Jesus stepped
into that experience
and he knows
what it's like
to mourn
in the face
of death.
So we see here
that it's good,
it's right,
it's appropriate
to grieve
in the face of death
but praise God,
here's the good news,
church,
in Christ
we don't grieve
without hope.
Amen?
Yes,
death is a terrible enemy,
yes,
death is a terrible
universal problem,
yes,
death is profoundly
sad
but
we who know
the Lord
we face
death
differently
than those
who don't know
the Lord.
Why?
It's because
we believe
by faith
that God's promises
to us
in Christ
extend
beyond
the grave.
We're going to see this
here in our second point
this morning.
We see the problem
of death
now second.
We see the persistence
of God's promises.
Abraham believes this.
Abraham clearly believes
that God's promises
extend beyond the grave.
We saw that last week,
didn't we?
God commands him
to sacrifice
that which is
most precious
to him,
his beloved son
Isaac.
He is willing
to do so
in obedience
to the command
of the Lord.
Why?
We saw from
Hebrews 11
he believed
that God
was able
even to raise
him from the dead.
That promise
of God
would not be
nullified
by the presence
of death.
We see that same
faith in the promise
of God
is active
here again
in the rest
of this passage
and his behavior
and what he's doing
here.
It's all rooted
in this belief
God's promises
don't end
at death.
Look there
to verse 3.
Abraham ends
his time of mourning
for Sarah
and now he needs
to bury her.
But that's a problem
isn't it?
Because he doesn't
actually own
any land
here yet.
You remember
God's called him
out of his homeland
to come here
to the promised land.
God has
promised this land
to him
but it's not
actually his yet.
He doesn't own
any of the land
and now he's got
a body on his hands
and he doesn't
know what to do.
He needs to bury it.
So verse 3
Abraham rises up
from before his dead
and he starts speaking.
He says to the Hittites
I am a sojourner
and a foreigner
among you.
Give me property
among you
for a burying place
that I may bury
my dead
out of my sight.
He makes his request
and then he enters
into a little bit
of bargaining here.
And notice how
all of this goes down
at the gates
of the city
in the presence
of all the people.
Did you notice
he kept telling us that?
In the presence
of all the people.
In the presence
of all the people.
In the presence
of all the people.
Why is he doing that?
It's because this is
a legal transaction
that's happening here.
In fact the end
of the passage
there in verses 25
onward
it reads kind of
like a legal document.
The front gate
is basically
the courtroom
of the ancient
near east.
Anything judicial
or official
would be happening
right here
in the presence
of many witnesses.
Abraham's making sure
that everything
that's said here
is formalized
and ratified
is official
is all above board
and there's no
under the table
exchange here.
So the Hittites respond
and they respond
graciously.
Verse 6
They say
hear us my lord
you are a prince
of God among us
bury your dead
wherever you want
and none of us
will withhold from you
their own tomb
to hinder you
from burying your dead.
Take your pick.
So Abram
again bows down
he makes his request
a little bit more specific
he says
if you are willing
that I should bury
my dead
out of my sight
well then
hear me
and entreat for me
Ephron
the son of Zohar
that he may give me
that cave
of Machpelah
which he owns
it's at the end
of his field
and let me pay him
full price
and let him
give it to me
in your presence
as a property
for a burying place.
Verse 10
says Ephron
was there
and he's
listening to this
so he speaks up
again
verse 10
says
in the hearing
of all the Hittites
know my lord
hear me
I'll give it to you
I give you the field
and I give you the cave
that's in the field
in the sight
of all the sons
of the people
let me give it to you
bury your dead
that seems incredibly
generous
doesn't it
Abraham only asked
for the cave
and now Ephron
says
I'll just give you
the field
and the cave
but really
we should
recognize
that
this is a little
bit of posturing
here
this is how
negotiation
was done
here in the ancient
near east
in this culture
they want to appear
to be gracious
and giving
so he says
you can have it
but really
in the back
of his mind
he is fully
expecting
Abraham
to come back
and offer to pay
and in fact
that's exactly
what he does
again he bows
down
and he says
again
quote
in the hearing
of all the people
of the land
let me pay for it
I'll give you the price
whatever it is
and so Ephron
again responds
my lord
listen
really
a little piece
of land
worth
I don't know
exactly
400 shekels
of silver
what's the big deal
don't worry about it
it sounds
it appears
so gracious
doesn't it
but what's he doing
he's naming
his price
and honestly
the price
is not
good
this is not
a discount
it's like
if he said
a new car
worth
about
200 grand
what's that
between us
right
but Abraham
he hears him
name the price
he knows
all the witnesses
are all around
they've all heard
him name his price
he doesn't even
haggle at all
he weighs it
all out
exactly what
Ephron named
again in the hearing
of everyone
there at the gate
he pays him
exactly what
he asked
and now
the deal
is done
Abraham is a
proud owner
of a new cave
in the promised land
so now verse 7
the field
of Ephron
the whole field
with the cave in it
all the trees
that were in the field
the whole area
all of this
was made over
to Abraham
as a presence
as a possession
in the presence
of the Hittites
before all
who went in
at the gate
of the city
it isn't much
and it cost him
a fortune
but just think
about the significance
of that transaction
now this
is the
first
official
piece of property
that Abraham
owns
in the promised land
and if you look
ahead
you'll see
it would prove
to be a pretty
good investment
Abraham buries
Sarah here
eventually
Abraham will be
buried here
then Rebecca
will be buried
here
then Leah
will be buried
here
then Jacob
will be buried
here
all here
in this tomb
but I have a question
and maybe you're
wondering the same
thing
right
why did Abraham
go through
all of this
trouble
to bury
Sarah
here
think about
that
for a minute
he
has
a homeland
right
why go
through all
the trouble
to negotiate
with the Hittites
as a foreigner
with no property
to his name
Abraham
his wife
is dead
it seems
like a natural
thing to do
just to pick up
and go back
home
go back
to Ur
of the Chaldeans
go back
to be around
your people
your family
mourn for her
and bury her
there
why is he
so insistent
to buy
a cave
and a field
at such a
large sticker
price
why did he
not turn
back
here's the
answer
Abraham
believes
in the
promises
of God
you remember
the promises
do you remember
what God
promised
Abraham
God
promised him
a child
promised
offspring
not just
one
but he
promised
a multitude
of offspring
more numerous
than the stars
of the sky
more numerous
than the sand
on the shore
now Isaac
is here
this proof
of God's
faithfulness
but it's just
one child
the fullness
of the promise
has yet to come
in Abraham's life
he does not
see the stars
in the sky
multitude
here
does he
he doesn't
see the fullness
of the fulfillment
of God's
promise
does he
God
promised
Abraham
land
the land
of Canaan
as far as
he could see
from east
to west
and north
and south
God
promised him
this land
and now
finally
he gets
this little
sliver
of fulfillment
it's not much
just a cave
just a field
just some trees
but it's something
he has a piece
of land
here in Canaan
Abraham
doesn't turn
back home
because God
promised him
this land
would be his
he believes
him
more specifically
Abraham believes
that these
promises
extend
even
beyond
the grave
think about it
Abraham's
going to be dead
within 40 years
how easy
would it have
been for him
just to go
home
bury his
wife
live out
his years
around his
kinsmen
die in
peace
but that
seems like
a reasonable
thing to do
doesn't it
it's clear
to me
nothing is
clear to
Abraham
he is not
going to
get to
enjoy the
fullness
of these
promises
in this
life
is he
Abraham
won't get
to see
the multitude
he won't get
to enjoy
life
in the
promised
land
not now
but he
does this
because he
believes
by faith
that even
death
cannot
nullify
the promises
of God
listen again
to what
it says
in Hebrews
chapter 11
the passage
that was read
this morning
it says
by faith
he
Abraham
went to
live in
the land
of promise
as in a
foreign land
living in
tents
with Isaac
and Jacob
heirs
with him
of the
same
promise
why
verse 10
for he
was looking
forward to
the city
that has
foundations
whose designer
and builder
is God
is that
Canaan
no
keep reading
these all
died in
faith
not having
received the
things promised
but having
seen them
and greeted
them from
afar
and having
acknowledged
that they
were strangers
and exiles
on the earth
for people
who speak
thus
make it
clear
that they
are seeking
a homeland
if they
had been
thinking
of that
land
from which
they had
gone out
they would
have had
opportunity
to return
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
church
Abraham's
promised
land
and
our
promised
land
is much
bigger
much
better
much
more
glorious
than
Canaan
and here
he gets
just the
smallest
sliver
of what
God
has in
store
for him
but Abraham
believed
by faith
God's
promises
to him
extend
even
beyond
the grave
do you
believe
that
do you
believe
that God's
promises
to you
do not
end at
death
but will
blossom
and multiply
in ways
that we
can hardly
fathom
in the
age to
come
do you
believe
that
Abraham
didn't
quite
know
how
but by
faith
he trusted
yes
God's
promises
will
not
fail
every
word
of the
Lord
will
prove
true
he
will
accomplish
all
that
he
promised
Abraham
didn't
clearly
see
how
the
church
on
this
side
of
the
cross
we
do
where
do
we
look
for
assurance
of
all
of
God's
promises
where
do
we
look
to be
reminded
that
even
death
can't
overcome
his
promises
to
us
that
his
word
is
good
and
trustworthy
and
true
no matter
what's
gained
or lost
in this
life
where do
we
look
church
we
look
to
Christ
Jesus
to
see
God's
promises
extend
even
beyond
the
grave
what's
the
answer
to
the
problem
of
death
there's
only
one
Christ
Jesus
has
conquered
sin
and
overcome
the
grave
he
has
lived
sinlessly
the
only
person
not
to
earn
death
by
his
sin
and
yet
he
died
in
our
place
and
rose
from
the
grave
to
save
sinners
like
us
by
faith
in
him
do
you
want
to
know
the
solution
to
the
problem
of
death
it
is
Christ
Jesus
the
Lord
Christ
is
the
resurrection
and the
life
we know
that
God's
promises
to
us
extend
beyond
the
grave
because
Christ
himself
is
living
proof
and
so
we
say
with
Paul
in
Romans
chapter
8
nor
angels
nor
rulers
nor
things
present
nor
things
to
come
nor
height
nor
depth
nor
anything
else
in
all
creation
will be
able to
separate us
from the
love of
God
in
Christ
Jesus
our
Lord
Christ
has
conquered
death
for us
and
because of
this
we
get
to
look
forward
to
the
future
fulfillment
of
all
of
God's
promises
at
his
return
you know
Christian
the
challenge
for us
is that
you and
I like
Abraham
we do
not
enjoy
the
fullness
of
God's
promises
to us
in
Christ
not
yet
not
in
this
life
we
get
little
slivers
of it
just
little
foretaste
of it
yes
we have
his
spirit
in
full
measure
yes
we are
sons
and
daughters
of
God
right
now
yes
we
get
taste
of
victory
over
sin
we
have
glimmers
of
joy
we
get
these
partial
pictures
of
our
fellowship
with
one
another
and
our
fellowship
with
him
but
Christian
don't
you
know
the
fullness
of
these
promises
is
yet
to
come
don't
you
know
that
there
are
greater
and
more
glorious
truths
yet
to
be
fulfilled
!
hardly
begin
to
imagine
in a
place
without
the shroud
of death
and the
weight
of sin
when Christ
returns
you
and I
and all
who are
in Christ
will finally
and fully
know the fullness
of God's promises
to us
in him
don't
you
long
for
that
day
God
has
promised
you
Christian
you
will
be
glorified
in his
presence
can you
imagine
that
God
has
promised
you
Christian
you
will
be
freed
completely
from the
presence
of sin
in your
life
can you
even
imagine
God
has
promised
you
Christian
death
will
be
no
more
grief
and sadness
will be
swallowed
up
God
has
promised
you
eternal
life
with
him
and
with
one
another
in a
multitude
that no
one
could
count
more
numerous
than
the
stars
in the
sky
dwelling
together
in the
true
promised
land
the
new
heavens
the
new
earth
and
the
age
to
come
our
hope
beyond
the
grave
is
tied
up
with
a
king
who
conquered
the
grave
as
long
as
he
lives
God's
promises
to
us
live
with
him
this is
good
news
for us
church
one day
we believe
Christ
will come
for his
bride
we will
feast
with him
at the
wedding
supper
of the
lamb
don't
you
long
to
be
there
and
we
will
enjoy
the
fullness
of
his
presence
with
us
for the
rest
of
eternity
truly
for us
to live
as
Christ
to die
is
gain
do
you
believe
that
I was
putting
our
boys
to bed
the other
night
and you
get
every
now
and
mostly
it's
chaos
right
every
now
and
then
you
get
these
sweet
moments
sometimes
at
bedtime
I
was
competing
with
one
of
them
about
who
loved
the
other
one
more
right
we
do
that
and
he
said
dad
I
will
love
you
even
when
you're
dead
and I
was able
to say
son
I'll
love
you
even
when
I'm
dead
it's
a promise
it's
a promise
that can
only
be kept
in
Christ
the
power
of
the
resurrected
Lord
eternal
life
in the
age
to
come
God's
promises
to
us
do
not
end
at
death
life
for the
Christian
doesn't
end
at
death
joy
and
pleasure
do
not
end
at
death
for
you
Christian
love
itself
does
not
end
at
death
life
is
yet
to
come
do
you
have
certain
hope
that
goes
even
beyond
the
grave
and
if
not
friend
what
keeps
you
from
repenting
of
your
sin
and
putting
your
faith
in
the
risen
Lord
Christ
this
morning
and
if
so
Christian
church
as
we
wait
for
the
fullness
of
these
promises
in
the
age
to
come
we
walk
now
by
faith
as
strangers
and
sojourners
in a
land
that
is
not
ours
but
one
day
will
be
we
walk
by
faith
trusting
in
the
eternal
promises
of
God
clinging
to
Christ
looking
backwards
to
the
cross
and
the
empty
tomb
and
looking
forwards
to
his
return
in
the
age
to
come
father
we
thank
you
that
your
promises
to
us
are
not
till
death
do
us
part
but
God
that
Christ
has
truly
conquered
the
grave
and
that
eternal
life
is
available
to
us
who
believe
by
faith
by
your
grace
Lord
we
pray
would
you
fill us
with
hope
and joy
in
believing
these
promises
we pray
in Jesus
name
amen
holy