Book of Genesis - Ch. 23, Vs. 1-Ch. 24, Vs. 7 (11/05/2000)

Before we get into the book of Genesis, I'd like for you to turn to the book of John, chapter 1, verse 7. I want to show you something that Brother David touched on this morning, and I recognized it as he was reading.

I nearly stood up and said something, but I didn't. Bill, read that verse. Let's listen now. Verse 7, it says that all men through him might believe, and the word men is italicized. In the Greek it says that all sons might believe, and sons is not italicized.

Sarah’s Death and Burial in Genesis 23

So it's the sons of God that's going to believe. That thrilled my heart when I found that. Maybe it didn't yours. Chapter 23 in the book of Genesis, this is a short chapter. It has to do with the death of Sarah.

Sarah is the only woman in the scripture whose age, death, and burial are mentioned. Probably to do honor to the mother of all Hebrew children. Sarah was 107 and 20 years old. These were the years of the life of Sarah.

I saw just yesterday, was it, yes, on the news that the oldest woman died. What was she, 115? I was surprised they said that was, well, maybe it was right to say the oldest woman, which they did, didn't they?

Because there's men older than that in Peru. A whole lot older. All right, verse 2. Sarah died in Curith Abba, the same as Hebron in the land of Canaan. And Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

Now, it says he came. Their lifestyle was somewhat different than ours. If you look in chapter 22, verse 19, someone go back and read that to me, Bill. Okay, so it appears that Abraham had settled in Beersheba.

And that's where we find that he received the word when Sarah died. Now, more than likely, this wasn't but about 24 miles distance. And for the convenience of feeding and looking after his numerous flocks, he probably had several dwelling places.

And one of them was here at Beersheba as a temporary residence. And that's where we find him when news comes. So he came to mourn his wife. Abraham stood up from before his dead, speaking to the sons of Hath, saying.

Now, he stood up, meaning when the period of mourning was over. And it lasted several days, if not weeks. He said, I am a stranger and a sojourner with you. Give me a possession of a burying place with you that I may bury my dead out of my sight.

Well, the first question I have is, he says, I'm a stranger and a sojourner. Bill, what's the difference? He had been living there for quite a while. But he was still a stranger, much like moving into Corsicana.

You can live here for years and still be strangers. He says, I am a sojourner. We learn from that, that this, we're all sojourners. This world's not our home. Even to the unsaved, this world's not their home either.

And we see that the death of a relative should remind us that this is not our home. When we die, we won't need to be reminded. And the children of Hath answered Abraham, saying unto him, Hear us, O my Lord, thou art a mighty prince among us.

Greg, what made him a mighty prince among them? I thought she said, oh, you said wealth. I thought you said will. Well, it was wealth. A mighty prince among us, in the choice of our sepulchres, bury thy dead.

None of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead. Now, Diane, what did they want to do for Abraham? Well, in the 20, Abraham is asked for a place to bury Sarah. And in verse 6, they say, you're a mighty man among us.

Just the choice of our sepulchres, pick out anyone you want. What's that sound like? Anybody. But they wanted to give it to him. What's that tell us about us? Anything? Well, Abraham was in the world.

We're in the world. What does that tell us about us in the world, David? That's true, but we shouldn't expect them to give it to us. Well, see, here they're trying to give Abraham anything he wants. Well, sure.

And that's probably what they had in mind here, because that's the way the mind of a heathen thinks. Yes. Yes. No. So they offer him any one of his choice. And Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, even the children of Heth.

And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephraim, the son of Zohar, that he may give me the cave of Machpheleth, which he hath, which is in the end of his field.

For as much money as it is worth, he shall give it me for a possession of a burying place amongst you. Abraham wanted to pay for it. Do you remember one other time when he had opportunity to gain personal wealth and he chose not to?

That's right. And what reason did he give for not taking it? That's exactly why the Christian and our church should not expect the world to finance us. We should not expect discounts. We should not expect gifts just because we're a religious entity out here.

Because then they can claim they helped us grow. And God demands that we pay for things that we acquire. Not to expect the world to give things to us. Ephraim dwelt among the children of Heth. And Ephraim, the Hittite, answered Abraham and the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of the city, saying, Nay, my lord, hear me.

The field I give to thee, and the cave that is therein I give it thee. In the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee. Bury your dead. Abraham bowed down himself before the people. I can just see all of this formality going on.

Russell, and it's a very slow process. A whole lot different than we. He spake unto Ephraim and the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me. I will give thee money for the field.

Take it of me, and I will bury my dead there. And Ephraim answered Abraham, saying unto him, My lord, hearken unto me. The land is worth 400 shekels of silver. So he knew what it was worth, didn't he?

What is that betwixt me and thee? Bury therefore thy dead. And Abraham hearkened unto Ephraim, and Abraham weighed to Ephraim the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, 400 shekels of silver, current money with the merchant, and the field of Ephraim, which was in the Mephiliph, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was therein, and all of the trees that were in the field, that were in all of the borders round about, were made sure.

Now, Greg, what do you think he means here by were made sure? That's right. Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth before all that went in at the gate of his city. And after this Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Mephilip, before Mamre, the same as he brung in the land of Canaan.

And the field and the cave that is therein were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a burying place by the sons of Heth, the only piece of real estate that Abraham ever owned. Now, let's open chapter 24, and we'll get a little ways in it.

Abraham Seeks a Wife for Isaac in Genesis 24

The scene changes. This is 1856 BC, if you want to make a note. Probably July the 3rd, 430 in the morning. And Abraham was old and well stricken in age. And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.

Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house that ruled over all that he had. It's important that you notice that. This servant had rule over everything that belonged to Abraham. Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, Yalrak.

Now, in this day and time, when you go to a court of law and you're sworn in as a witness, you must place your hand on the Bible, thus signifying that you will tell only the truth. Abraham did not have a Bible.

So the next best thing that he had was the sign of God's covenant, which was the circumcision. And you take it from there. Verse 3, Abraham is talking, And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I dwell.

Now, people were getting into a section that is very, very relative to today, to the parents of today. I would urge those of you that are still of that age, pray that your child will not marry one of the Canaanites.

If he does, or if she does, he will have the devil as a father-in-law. You know what we mean by Canaanite? You say, well, there are no Canaanites around here. The woods are full of them. Who are they?

Right. Now, there does not appear in all of this the least taint of worldly policy or any of these motives which usually govern men. No mention is made of riches or honors or natural accomplishments, but merely of what related to God.

And is that really not enough, Greg? If we just relate to God. But thou shalt go unto my country. What was his country? Who remembers? Diane? Chicago? Caldes? Was Ur a city or a country? God has so ordered life that everything rests upon faith.

And faith rests upon what? The Word of God. Don't ever forget that. The servant said unto him, All right, peradventure. Now, David, there's a good $10 word. What's that mean, peradventure? What? What is.

What is. The woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land. He immediately thinks of the negative, like a few other people I know. My son, ease, bring thy son again into the land from whence you came.

And Abraham said unto him, beware. Strong word. Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. Very important. Let's see if we can find out why he made that statement. Someone give me their thoughts on verse six.

That's true. Good point. Greg, give me another point. Well, could this be in relation to something in the future? Is this a picture of something that happens later? Russell. Yes. Yeah. Fred. Was he afraid that he'd be back?

Well, he didn't want him to intermarry with Cain and I. That's why he's sending him back to his home country, his own family, to find a wife. But it's important. Beware that thou bring not my son thither again.

In other words, don't take my son into that country. David. David. All right. All right. What did you want to say? Yes. How many times did Jesus come into the world? The world in relation to heaven is a foreign country.

It's true that Isaac himself had never been there, but he was there in his father. His father had been there. And that was enough. The son is not to go back. In other words, again. One time is enough.

Jesus came into the world once seeking a bride. The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father's house and from the land of my kindred, and which speak unto me, and that swear unto me, saying, unto thy seed will I give this land.

He shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence. Now, was there any doubt in Abraham's mind, Diane, do you think of this being a successful trip? Was there any doubt that it would not be a successful trip?

No. He didn't even consider that. Because he said that the Lord God that spoke to me will send his angel before thee. And in this case, his angel is who? Jesus pre-incarnate. So again, we see the sovereign providence of God.

Do we not? Hebrews 1, 13. But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool. Greg, he never said that to an angel. 14. Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

So you see, before you even knew that you belonged to him, you were being protected. And how do I know that? Because you're here today. Most of us would not have lived to be this age had we not had protection of the angels.

I've heard it said that the faith is a leap in the dark. Did you ever hear that? Faith is just a leap in the dark. Anybody hear that? Yes. Is it? Now, all I know is you all said something at the same time.

That's right. Well, it's not a leap in the dark for we have the holy promise of God to supply us. Well, we didn't get far. We're going to have to stop here. It becomes very interesting as we follow along with this servant.

If there is nothing else, and I suppose there isn't, or you'll surprise me. Let's stand, and Greg, would you dismiss us today, please?