Overcoming loss is a part of life
As we consider the death of Sarah, the character and wisdom of Abraham is revealed.
Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story
How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.
Genesis 23:2-4
“So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
“Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, “I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”
Grief
When a spouse dies, a part of you dies. It was a tragedy for Abraham to lose his wife, regardless that she lived for over a hundred years, regardless that GOD’s promise had been fulfilled and Sarah bore a son to Abraham. He mourned.
Abraham and Sarah were not at home when she died; he had to bury his wife outside his locality. It would seem her passing was not expected. More shock, more tragedy.
Abraham communed with GOD, so why didn’t he expect her passing?
Is it ever a good time to lose a loved one?
Abraham was a man of character. He grieves but he does not give up in despair. We shall see, he looks after his son’s welfare, and ensures his wife’s respectful and complete burial. He deals with the circumstances with dignity, diplomacy, and wisdom.
The deal
“And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, “Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.”
“Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, the sons of Heth. And he spoke with them, saying, “If it is your wish that I bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and meet with Ephron the son of Zohar for me, that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he has, which is at the end of his field. Let him give it to me at the full price, as property for a burial place among you.”
“Now Ephron dwelt among the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the presence of the sons of Heth, all who entered at the gate of his city, saying, “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field and the cave that is in it; I give it to you in the presence of the sons of my people. I give it to you. Bury your dead!”
“Then Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land; and he spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, “If you will give it, please hear me. I will give you money for the field; take it from me and I will bury my dead there.”
“And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, “My lord, listen to me; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver. What is that between you and me? So bury your dead.” And Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed out the silver for Ephron which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, currency of the merchants.”
“So the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city.
“And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. So the field and the cave that is in it were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth as property for a burial place.”
Pain overcome
In dealing with the death of a loved one, certain details such as the burial, need to be worked out. This enables the person suffering the loss to process the tragedy, “keeping busy” while they get over the shock.
Business sense is a part of this process; Abraham demonstrates an astute sense of business when he insists on paying for the land granted as a burial sight. He shows foresight, considering the long term — the consequence of his paying for the site has meant the land has never been disputed. To this day, the land belongs to the Jews. He extended his borders even with the death of his wife.
Grief is not easy. But handled with grace and dignity allows the one who grieves and those around him to grow beyond the pain, and move into the new season with hope and healiing.